A newer River Walk restaurant can now brag that it’s a cut above the rest. The San Antonio outpost of Brenner’s was the only Texas restaurant to earn honors on booking and review platform Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants, besting its famous Houston sibling.
For 25 years, the annual awards have highlighted a diverse array of global dining experiences, from hidden neighborhood gems to white tablecloth restaurants. The rankings are culled from the site’s user reviews, and each honoree is in the top one percent of all listings.
“Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Restaurants are celebrated for their extraordinary cuisine, attentive service, and remarkable locations, where most importantly, diners go to make special memories, explains Tripadvisor President Kristen Dalton, in a release. “From hidden local gems to one-of-a-kind destinations, Tripadvisor’s community guides travelers to restaurants that become cherished favorites or once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all backed by trusted reviews.”
Brenners on the River Walk came in at No. 6 in the United States fine dining category, a bracket that heavily favored steakhouses. Unexpectedly, the two Houston outposts of the mini-chain did not receive a nod, despite being one of the city’s most recognizable restaurants.
The posh steakhouse is a relative newcomer to the River Walk, opening in summer 2023. Though officially part of the Landry’s conglomerate, which includes touristy spots like Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Brenner’s takes a more classic approach to dining.
Although Tripadvisor did not provide context in the award announcement, over 200 of the site’s users have rated Brenner’s as “excellent.” The potatoes au gratin, filet mignon, and seafood tower were particular favorites of the travelers.
“Brenner’s provided one of the best fine dining steakhouse experiences of my life — and I am a big fan of steakhouses,” fawned a representative reviewer. “The atmosphere is charming, the location is beautiful, the people are all very professional and kind, and the food was out of this world!”
Dining and Cooking