This is an updated review, as I have been here 3 times now, each time, just as good as the last!! I would eat here more often, but it is more than a hour away. Everything about our meal was outstanding!! From the awesome complementary bread & herb olive oil, to the caesar salad, wine, service, atmosphere, and last but not least, the entrees, and dessert!! Our waiter, Raymond, was friendly, responsive, patient, and just awesome!! They were busy, but not crowded, so everything flowed at whatever pace we wanted. As in previous visits, I could tell that the chef takes pride in their work, and the end results were superb. The owner is hands on, and makes sure every aspect of your visit is spot on! Is this the best Italian food in SA? Maybe, maybe not. I enjoy it!! Does it have the best personal service? Perhaps!! I think so. I still stand by my original statement, that this is, by far the best overall Italian experience I have had in central TX. This establishment, is under-rated!!
(5)
Wendy N.
La focaccia is a great little Italian restaurant in a quaint part of downtown San Antonio known as King William. We have been here many times and anything on the menu is good. Good service and friendly staff. Their bread and their dipping sauce is fabulous.
(4)
Randy B.
I eat here for lunch on a regular basis, weekly. Tried them on a Saturday night. Service was poor. Food quality not as good as during the lunch hours.
(1)
Victoria R.
Yum, YUm, YUM! I was hesitant by the look of the bldg, but once we walked in... the smell, the hostess, the old chairs & atmosphere, along with the keyboard player....it brought a sweet, romantic atmosphere. And the food! OMG! Delicious!!!! Def recommend the: any pizza & chicken Alfredo fettuccine! Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Amanda R.
This is mine and my husbands date spot. My husband is very picky when it comes to food and every time we eat Italian he always compares it to the food here and says it is still the best he's had. The bread and oil is amazing! I love the Caesar salad and they're huge! We usually share one when we come. My husbands favorite is the house special pizza and i love the chicken Parmesan here. Big portion and the butter garlic noodles are amazing. we have never had a bad experience here and have been more times than I can count. our servers have always been very attentive. We will continue to come here as long as they're open! :)
(5)
Maya H.
We have dined here several times. Each time the food was excellent. The service was warm and friendly. Today I had the tenderloin. It was amazing.
(5)
Daniel G.
The server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu and beer choices. I had the Pizza it was very good. This place is a little noisy, but then their was a table with a few unruly kids very loud. All in all good place for Italian.
Good food although the fish is a bit fishy. The actual focaccia bread is fantastic but the oil is a bit bland. Live music on the weekends is a bit elderly. Atmosphere is a little confusing too. It's almost like they can't decide what look they are going for. Overall good experience though.
(3)
Reina B.
This place was pretty good. We ended up here after the place we were trying to go to wasn't open until 6. I ended up ordering the sauteed spinach, and the mussels appetizer with a side of angel hair pasta. The sauteed spinach was good, but REALLY heavy on the oil. Spinach cooks up well with very little oil - no need to have a pool of it left on the plate! The mussels were good, and I liked the spicy sauce. Couldn't really go wrong with the angel hair pasta. Throughout dinner a man was on the keyboard playing musical music. Nice!! One thing that was kinda funny was anytime you said anything, the waiter would answer "myyyyy pleasure." Every time. Like I think I heard that probably 40 times throughout the dinner! Is this something the employees are instructed to say? I almost wanted to ask but didnt haha
(4)
Yevette H.
It may have been because we came in kinda late 9ish. The server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu and beer choices. We made our decision and after waiting for what seemed like forever, BTW they weren't that busy at all only a couple tables, the food came obviously out of the microwave. My friend could only eat a couple bites before he gave up. I had half and took the rest home. Why? I don't know because it was just as bad the 2nd day. The only reason I can see why they're still in business all these years was because of the tourists that stumble in there. Sorry I can't recommend this to my friends or family that come to visit from outta town. There's so many more cool places to go in Southtown.
(2)
Jackie S.
Our friend recommend this place to us. We were greeted right when we walked in. The decor and ambience is warm & quaint, very old Sinatra like...Focaccia bread is gooooddd along with olive oil dipping sauce. Yummm!!! However didn't want to eat too much because it would ruin my main course appetite. Staff was friendly but not overly..hey you win some and lose some :P just an FYI...none of the dressings are homemade ..salad was fresh but what's a salad without a good house dressing? It's an Italian restaurant and you would think they would have at least one signature dressing?!? Anyways I opted for the brick oven pizza with fresh basil and sausage....the sausage used was almost like a deer sausage or german like...too strong and different...the pizza was lacking sauce & for the crust type it was pretty cheesy but the cheese & actual dough they used was good quality and tasty. In my opinion Grimaldi's is way better. They used the same type of sausage in the lasagna it wasn't very appetizing. There salads were wayyy overpriced for what was served & no refills on soda...that's kinda of weird in a higher priced restaurant. This establishment is unfortunately is overpriced and now I can kinda tell why it was pretty dead when we arrived in the evening :-( Probably would come again, first impressions are important.
(2)
Crystal C.
I came here for dinner by myself on a Monday night. It can be awkward to go to a sit-down place by oneself, but of my several dinners alone in San Antonio, the staff here were the friendliest to me! Food wasn't spectacular but I felt that it was pretty good for the price. I'd come back if I was spending another night in this city.
(4)
Shannon Z.
This was a recommend by the hotel! However, has I looked at the previous yelp reviews, I would have decided not to go there! I was expecting great service, great italian food! I would have been better off at the Olive Garden ! I ordered oysters rockerfellar, and they did not taste right, perhaps not fresh! This should have been an indicator for me to go. I ordered the meat cannoloni, and a ceasar salad with blue cheese crumbles. They don't have blue cheese but they did have Gorgonzola which was fine. When the server brings me the salad he says the Gorgonzola was mixed in with the salad. When I picked up the lettuce with my fork I discovered it was two large chunks ! When I stop him he says he is new and didn't have a grater, so he just put in the salad! Really?!? Then my entree came, and it not what I expected! It was aldenti noodles, covered in heavy sauce that ragu could have made test better! I asked for my check and paid . Upon exiting I saw the manager, and told him as well as shared the pick of the chunks of cheese. He basically asserted that it was my fault for ordering it that way!!! Seriously?!? Ultimately this place is a do not recommend and I can assure you I will always make sure this is off my places to eat list while In San Antonio
(1)
Laurie D.
Actually didn't want to pick this restaurant, but one in the area was closed on Mondays. The restaurant was packed with people. It appeared that it was really run by an Italian family. It look like we had walked into a restaurant decorated in the 60s but had never been updated. I kind of liked it and got a big kick out of the decorating. Our waiter was so friendly and outgoing. Chose a special called Vegetale spaghetti and the Eggplant Parmesan. My husband and I both liked our food and shared each others as well. The waiter kept us eating breadsticks and olive oil and herbs. It was a fine choice and we were glad we went.
(4)
Freddy V.
The food was delicious and the service very attentive... higly recommend this place! The fantasia pizza was great to share with my wife.
(4)
Jesus C.
Pasta dishes were great and service was above average. The ambiance is outdated and dingy, overall experience was good.
(3)
David C.
Went here Sat Dec 6 2014, after failing to find anywhere else without a significant wait. Here's the over and under: The bad: 1. When we walked in, the reception area was delapidated. The ceiling is peeling, the benches have paint wearing off, and there is a dirty plank over the join between the two parts of the building. There are also random strange items in a display case under the counter, such as a plasitc Florida tourist mug. The latter is forgiveable, the former not so much. 2. The dining room has messy, confused decor and is very dated. Whatever. 3. There was an elderly man playing music in a synthesiser keyboard - weird but inoffensive. 4. The big problem - the entrees were awful. The sauce was watery in both the ravioli with marinara and the carbonara - how do you even make a watery carbonara? Presentation was uninviting, slopped into a plain white bowl. The good: 1. The dining room was spotlessly clean - I even did the Ramsay trick of checking under the seating. 2. The service was excellent. Our waiter was a recovered meth addict, and I admire the owner for giving him an opportunity. 3. The bread and oil "amuse bouche" was excellent too. Overall - a family run restaurant run badly to seed, serving the same menu as a chain like Macaroni Grill, but at a much lower quality. Needs to be on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
(1)
Michelle J.
This is an older appearing establishment, but I would definitely visit again. The decor could definitely use some updating, but at the same time adds to it's quaintness. The staff were extremely accommodating, the blue cheese dressing was either made in house or from one amazing distributor. I ordered the fetticini Alfredo and asked to add mushrooms and it was very good flavor. Prices are very reasonable.
(4)
Derek T.
Again two and a half stars but not three. The service was great, friendly with a good sense of humor and honest in telling what desserts were made there and which were not. The atmosphere was unique and had some character. The food not so much - the chicken marsala was a little bland and the chicken itself was not trimmed well. The tomato sauce and the marinara were both good but not great. The combo manicotti and cannelloni was ok the cheese was decent but the meat was kinda mushy and a bit odd - the flavor was decent but could have been better. I would like to go back just because I like locally owned restaurants and want to give them another chance.
Wait time from walking in to actually getting our food was 2 hours. Food was decent, service was not good.
(2)
Vanessa N.
My best friend and I went here on a whim. We were originally thinking of going to Madhatters for an early dinner. But after circling the area we caved in and stopped here. I'm really glad we did. The ambiance is lovely and quaint. Our waiter Arnold was very nice and he was a great listener when I specified that I couldn't stomach most pastas with marinara sauce so what could he recommend. He recommended a great dish for myself. My friend got the chicken parm with a side of spaghetti. The food and company were the best part of this place. I only have a few complaints. We told our waiter it was our first time there and we didn't know or see on the menu that they had a fix your own salad bar so when we saw a couple sitting behind us get up and serve themselves we had already been done with our meal. In other words our server should've let us know or offered the salad bar in the beginning because I sure do love a great side salad. Also, the creepy old man playing the keyboard. The music he was playing was old and boring and his "background music" which was a premade setting on the keyboard was off beat from the music he was playing it was just weird. Last is the parking, it's non-existent! They have a small lot in front of the entrance where maybe 5 cars can fit comfortably including one handicapped space. If it wasn't for the sign, we wouldn't know how to get in the place after parking. I really appreciated the owner walking around talking to his guests and asking if we enjoyed our food and encouraging us to come back again. I will be going back again!
(4)
Tara R.
Everything we ordered was delicious! The special for the night included manicotti, chicken Parmesan and fettuccini Alfredo. It was SO good! No fast food Olive Garden flavored food here. Authentic and yummy! Kids ordered spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese pizza and we also ordered mozzarella sticks for an appetizer! Service was excellent! We will be back!
(5)
Chris B.
The Food was great and so was the service, I was very surprised with the pricing for their lunch specials. A nice find!
We ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was an oily, tasteless, mess. The chicken was tough and the sauce tasted like brown gravy in a jar with a splash of cheap wine. Yuck!! And it gets worse. We also ordered the grilled snapper which turned out to be boiled somehow. It had some bitter red pepper seasoning and heaping side dish of over cooked vegetables. The pasta, which is hard to mess up, was undercooked and bland--the bread? Even the bread was bad. I was hoping that I'd found a nice Italian restaurant to take my out of town relatives and guests....but believe me. This ain't it!
(1)
Cathy B.
The Spinach salad and soup was awesome! The waitress was very friendly and provided some excellent tips for choices.
(4)
whitney g.
The first time I dined here was around 2pm in the afternoon. The service was great and my linguine pescatora was delicious. I figured I would have a similar evening tonight. I just left with my family and was disappointed with the slow service. I was also surprised that considering all of the high prices on the menu, they only offer complementary refills on iced tea and coffee. The bread was fresh and warm, however the oil was not as tasty as I remembered. Appetizers: my husband had calamari, which was horribly under-seasoned and we ended up sending it back; I ordered the oysters Rockefeller, which was good, but slightly overcooked. Entre: I had the stuffed flounder, which was delicious, but my fish came out nearly 10 minutes before my pasta; my husband had the linguine pescatora, which he enjoyed, but had to keep removing pesky chilli seeds. My daughter had a basic black olive pizza, which came out shortly after our appetizers were served. Overall, I will likely dine here again, but I doubt I will be coming after 5pm...I definitely will not order the calamari again.
(3)
Jes'ka W.
I went here on a Saturday night to carb load for a big run the next day. First of all one of the friendliest places I had been in a long time. Became very personal with the waiter and joked and laughed...the owner came by several times to check on us and our drinks were never empty. It was also nice to have the pianist walking around taking requests. It was a true family atmosphere with a smooch of love. The food was awesome! Starting with the free flatbread that was cooked right there in a stone oven. Authentically wonderful!!!! I ordered the Alfredo and added spinach and shrimp...big delightful shrimp and it was some about the sauce that made me darn near lick the bowl. Its like when it settled at the bottom it just got better. There were four of us and no complaints from anyone. Really enjoyed it and it was a nice way to prepare for a major run.
(5)
Carissa B.
Love this place! A very lovely restaurant to come to have a nice, quiet dinner. Staff is super friendly as well.
(4)
Jazmin T.
Came here because I saw some great reviews on Yelp. Was in town on vacation and excited to try something new. When we first pulled up that parking lot was full, so to me that was a good sign that there were a lot of people dining in. We then got in and the restaurant looked a little old and run down, but it looked like it was a family owned place. We sat down and order the fried mozzarella. It was so good with a fresh crust and just wanted more. Then I ordered the alfredo with chicken and it was one of the best alfredo sauces that I had ever tried. My friend who was with me also noticed how good the food looked so she ordered the same thing I did! My husband ordered a pizza and all the toppings were fresh and the dough was amazing. There is nothing better than a good pizza dough!! We will definitely be back when we go to visit San Antonio again recommend this place!
(5)
Stephen C.
I have driven by this place too many times to count and have often want to give them a try. After attending a very important business meeting with Shawn G. we decided to give this place a try as we were just down the street. I was not sure what to expect but I was very happy with my experience here and not only would recommend but would come back. They start you out Focaccia bread and the olive oil. Nice fresh hot and very tasty. Shawn G. order the Oyster Rockefeller and was most gracious in sharing. These oysters were absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend them. For an entree I order the Seafood Pizza. Perfect crust and perfect toppings. This place does justice to pizza. I would try the pizza with other toppings. Go Italian, go here!
(4)
Christa L.
I want to give this place 3 stars because I blame myself for my overall food experience. We went for a weekday lunch..... my friend and I didn't want to stuff ourselves. Because we all know what happens when you throw a rowdy munch at an Italian eatery; the food coma sets in. So the menu sounded pleasant, however the waiter had mention buffet. Well, that's perfect I can taste a little bit of everything and not overeat myself into a carb coma. Sadly, it wasn't what I expected.... while it was decent. The pizza that sits under the heated lamps were dry and empty. The pasta dishes in the metal food warmers hadit lost it's flavor. I should have known.... so to wrap it up; I'll give them another chance although this time no buffet. Strictly menu ordering only.
(2)
Samuel L.
Went to La Focaccia for my birthday dinner and it was an OKAY experience. The bread and oil were fantastic and hot. The appetizers were okay but nothing to write home about. Dishes came and I feel like they were a bit small in comparison to other restaraunts of the same price range. Quality was OKAY. Our server was pretty good and brought out my birthday cake. It wasn't the same La Focaccia that I had been to YEARS ago, but I guess I shouldn't have expected that with different owners and all.
(3)
Alsor S.
Ok, I admit it. I enjoy fine Italian food, but rarely do I experience extraordinary Italian food in Texas. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my Italian culinary expectations were set very high based off of sampling the delicious cuisine of the Italian immigrants who migrated to the wine country part of California. I went to this restaurant because a co-worker wanted to go. I was not impressed with La Focaccia Italian Grill. I have been several times and I always get an uncomfortable feeling that the servers/owners have an inflated opinion of themselves and the food. We went about 1:30 p.m., and the place had only 12 people dining for lunch (including my party of 6), so the two servers should have been very attentive. They weren't. We had to motion to the servers to get our drinks refilled and we had to ask for more bread and dipping oil. The servers did not bring all of the meals out at the same time so two members of our parties had to wait. While dining, one of the servers walked up to me and said, "isn't that just the best fettuccine that you have ever tasted?" In my mind I thought-- well actually, no! As for me--I found the food and the service at La Focaccia Italian Grill to be mediocre. The dining room is a little gloomy, dark and outdated. The bread could have been really good, but some of it was burnt. I was truly unimpressed by an up charge that I received when I substituted Fettuccine Noodles for plain old spaghetti for a Carbonara dish I ordered for lunch. The server charged me an extra $2.00 or $3.00 and did not tell me in advance that there would be a price increase for making this change. Plus, the parking situation is not so great. Bottom line, I have no desire to go back to La Focaccia Italian Grill.
(2)
Hunter H.
This place is great! The sauces on all of the dishes we ordered were delicious, the Alfredo, sherry cream, and tomato sauces were all amazing. Desert topped it off with a great chocolate mousse. Great service!
(5)
Susan M.
This is one of those restaurants that is not that great for food, but evokes memories of fun times for San Antonians. We met up with some friends for dinner one Saturday night. Lots of large groups enjoying boisterous times, a la Shakey's Pizza. We tried the Toasted Ravioli to start, Spaghetti alla Carbonara for main, and Insalata Suprema for last course. The complimentary house Focaccia was indeed, addictive, copious, and very delicious. The French musician playing old skool synth was amusing and played any song requested. The Toasted Ravioli app was a generous portion, decent, but not that flavorful. The raviolis could be smaller to be more appetizer- like - maybe that would help eliminate the excess bland breading. The much anticipated Spaghetti alla Carbonara was terrible, I am sorry to say. Bland, flavorless, greasy. I didn't finish mine. Then the salad...sounded good in theory, but our server forgot we ordered it so it never came. Our companions enjoyed the Oysters Rockefeller with a side of more Sauteed Spinach - looked really good. Two bottles of Chianti helped smooth the mood, but I don't think I will return here anytime soon.
(2)
Nicolas G.
La Focaccia? More like La Forgot Ya... I had lunch there after the noon rush ended and was pleased to see few tables occupied; I hoped I'd be in and out. But after waiting several minutes for the waiter to realize he had a table, I knew that the relaxed post-rush atmosphere of the restaurant was having too heavy of an influence on him. It seemed like every time he stepped away, he was gone for so long that I wanted to greet him each time he returned as if he were an old friend I ran into by chance at the supermarket. "Oh my gosh, how are you?! It's been, what, like.. 20 minutes?! You look good! Can I have some more water, please? Thanks..." Aside from the lack of attentive service, the food was OK AT BEST, but way over-priced for what I received. $8.25 for a lunch "special" that comes with only spaghetti? Doesn't every Italian dish come with spaghetti? What about a salad or a drink? Seems like a lunch special should come with more add-ons, but hey, when in Rome. I decided against the "special" and ordered a calzone called Il Vesuvio. The thing definitely looked like it could've destroyed the city of Pompeii (which occurred in 79 A.D., thank you very much, high school Latin). But I have a feeling that if the city of Pompeii had been served the marinara sauce that accompanied my calzone, a lot of lives would have been spared since most of them would have run screaming and ashamed out of Italy altogether; it was flat and lacked the zest that I'm used to in other sauces, but the calzone itself was pretty good. I'd probably only go back there again on someone else's tab. The food wasn't horrible, it was just a little steep for the quality (especially for an afternoon lunch). So I'm rating the food three stars. My overall experience would have to be two. Vale!
(3)
Augie R.
Everything about La Focaccia was fine--not exceptional and not bad. The decor is comfortable--sort of a cross between an Italian restaurant and a wedding hall. It's bigger than you think from the outside but the place manages to feel relatively intimate. We arrived at 9:30 on a Friday night and La Focaccia was just about empty. In fact, we asked when they stopped serving and were told 10:25--not 10:30, 10:25. Service was fine but unremarkable. What bothered me was that, while two tables were still seated, the servers started putting chairs up on tables. Then they started switching off lights. It felt very unwelcoming--like they wanted their customers to rush out and get out of their way. We left, but one table was still waiting for their food to be delivered. I think this sort of "don't let the door hit you in the @ss" behavior says a lot of the place. Food was fine. The bread was cold and a little bland, but the olive oil was very good. One person in our party ordered Stuffed Flounder and raved about it. I had Chicken Parmigiana and it was good, but I've had better--the chicken wasn't as tender as it should've been. My wife had Manicotti and said the cheese was not as flavorful as she expected. La Focaccia is fine. There aren't a lot of Italian restaurants in San Antonio--it just doesn't seem to be a cuisine this town embraces--and this is above average for the ones we've tried here. But, compared to the great Italian places at which I've eaten in the other cities I've lived, La Focaccia is pretty middling.
We went here for a wedding dinner. We are vegetarians and they were very helpful providing us with vegetarian options. Everyone said the food was great and the service awesome.
(4)
Sara I.
Went here for lunch with coworkers. We had a party of 9. Service was fine until the food arrived....or didn't arrive. Most of us ordered the special, which is already made. Everyone else ordered salads, which doesn't require any bake time. From the time we ordered to the time food started to arrive, it was 30 minutes. Orders were wrong, and when we tried to notify our waitress she got major attitude. The salads, which were entree salads and over $10 each, were served on the same size plate as the side salads. Drinks were not refilled, we had to flag down other staff to inquire about the food that was missing...our waitress basically ignored us for the rest of the meal. She could have salvaged the situation with an apology and a real attempt to fix the problem. We stopped the manager who informed us that the salads should have been larger, but he did nothing about it. The cashier up front took off the automatic gratuity and comped one chicken breast that had been added to an order. Between the kitchen taking too long and skimping on portion sizes to the poor, poor service, I suggest you skip this place, at least during the lunch hour. Maybe their dinner crowd gets better treatment.
(1)
Matthew L.
A friend of mine recently hosted a movie night at his south town home, so we ordered pizzas from La Focaccia, We got one pizza with pepperoni, one with spinach and one with cheese, costing just under 30 bucks. The pizzas were a little on the small side. The crust was okay, I like it a little thinner, the sauce tasted like it was straight out of a can, they should up their game in the sauce department, the cheese they used was super heavy but I loved that! The cheese was the pizza's saving grace, because the pepperoni was the kind you can get from your local grocery store next to the pre-made pizza crust. The spinach was fresh, and the cheese was excellent. But just based on the quality of their pizza ingredients I would think twice before going there for pasta. But it was local so it automatically makes it better than Pizza Hut or Dominos!
(3)
Ellynn S.
Food was ok, but overpriced for what I received. The bread in the beginning was awesome though.
(2)
Erika B.
La Focaccia is a good Italian restaurant and is reasonably priced. Parking is horrible around here so if there is no parking just go down a street and park wherever you can find a spot. It is what it is, so park and start walking. When you walk in it is kinda dark but that's okay you can easily see what you need to see. When you sit down they will bring some tasty bread and oil which is hard to resist but do resist a little because the portions are large. We typically get the lunch special and so far everything has been very tasty. It comes with the meat and a side of pasta. My favorite is the chicken with eggplant on top and I typically get the oil on the pasta. Very tasty and I'm not an eggplant fan. Friends have gotten the Stromboli and love it. But bring your appetite for that dish - it is huge. The service is not always fast, but the food is good so sit back relax and enjoy the food. Eat well
(4)
Brandon S.
The service was very poor and the food tasted like it came right out of a Chef Boyarde can.
(1)
Angela F.
Stopped by on Fri night...not overly crowded, considering it was 1st Friday. The inside is charming and cute. We were seated immediately and sat in a cool corner booth. Had the mussels marinara for the appetizer...ok, but don't think I'd order it again. The marinara sauce was spicy and good to dip the delicious focaccia bread in. We all split the Garden of Eden pizza - had spinach, pine nuts, artichokes - the crust is great and it was a solid pizza. My friend also ordered the shrimp and tomato pizza, sounded gross, but tasted ok. The waiter gave us two wine samples but generously gave us two full glasses. Great service!
(3)
Elle J.
I'd rather go to Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill -- and that's saying alot since I'm really into local food. I went for lunch. For starters, it took forever to get a table. We even called in ahead of time. The restaurant was almost empty when we arrived around 11:40 am. They have a policy where they won't seat you unless your whole party is there. I get that if the restaurant is busy, but they had us stand around waiting for the rest of our party for about 10 min while we stared at an empty restaurant. When our whole party arrived, they didn't realize there was so many of us (but wait, didn't we call in ahead??). We had to wait an extra 5-10 min for them to add a table to our set up. Our waiter was ok. He didn't do anything wrong, but his demeanor was somewhat lackluster. I'll give him a gold star for being knowledgeable of the menu. The prices are fairly on par with most other Italian restaurants. Lunch menu items are $8.95 and everything else is about $10-20. However, I thought it was ridiculous how if you wanted to add chicken to your fettuccine alfredo, it would cost $5.50 extra. They better provide you with at least half a chicken at that price. I had the chicken piazziola lunch special. It was nothing to rave about but just about what I expected for a lunch menu item. When the food came out, it erred on the side of room temp. As Yelp says, "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)
Long T.
Came here recently to carb up before the marathon and I have to say I left satisfied. I had the Garden of Eve pizza with bacon added and even the leftovers were tasty the next day. Staff was definitely super busy with the marathon crowds, but our waitress worked her butt off to tend to our needs. Overall, I was happy we came out to support this local gem.
(4)
C B.
Focaccia bread and olive oil = great Small but nicely done salad bar = very good A solid presentation of spaghetti at a reasonable price (under $12) = good Pizza with sausage and pepperoni for a reasonable price = very good Lot of future options to try at varying prices = very good and we look forward to it The staff = very good/super friendly The place is a little worn out on the outside, but don't let that deter you. They were worth the walk from the Hyatt Regency and the food was way better than what is served down on the river.
(4)
Marc M.
If you looking for Italian food don't go to this place is sucks! Go to MaGiano's on the Riverwalk is much better and less expensive.
(1)
Narce P.
I don't remember what I had for dinner, but do remember it was very good. They have a very romantic atmosphere. There was someone playing the piano which made it even more romantic. Nice place downtown!
(4)
Fred S.
A pleasant and inexpensive alternative to all the Riverwalk drivel. I ate there twice while in town for a convention. Give it a try!
(4)
Sarah V.
was here when it opened for the second time and it was bad the food was cold
(2)
Angie P.
I will sum it up; very good food, pleasant interior but the glorified bus boy who served us ruined the experience on a $350+ dinner. The boy who severed us seemed more annoyed than excited to be helping a table of 15- could he at least have faked it??? He messed up the order of one of my associates, wouldn't take responsible and was EXTREMELY rude when confronted about the problem (an associate and I both ordered a seafood dish, but the sever wrote down the same dish for both of us, and when my associate pointed it out, the server's response was to pull out his note pad, say "No, this is what you ordered- I have it written down" and walk off). I will never go back there until that kid is fired.
While the food is pretty lousy, it is the owner that earned this review. Our waiter was nice and we enjoyed our appetizer (crab in mushroom caps and a sherry sauce). But, for dinner, we ordered the shrimp with mushrooms in a tomato sauce with pasta and the manicotti. The tomato sauce is just not good. It doesn't taste fresh - perhaps adding some basil would help, but really, I would start over. The shrimp pasta tasted like sea water. Perhaps that was added on purpose? But, typcially, I would prefer the shrimp to not taste like it came directly from the ocean. Since the tomato sauce was pretty bad, it certainly did not help. After trying to eat just the pasta and failing due to the gag reflex, we decided to send it back. I think I send maybe one or two dishes back a year, but this was beyond terrible. Then the owner came over to ask why we sent it back and we explained that it was just too fishy. He said that he personally tasted our plate (ew by the way - surely there are health codes about that sort of thing), and that it was impeccable and that there was something wrong with our palettes. We replied that it was nothing personal, but we just do not like really fishy tasting food. He told us that we had personally offended him and that we were wrong and his food is excellent. He was not quiet or subtle about any of this - it was very embarassing. We were so surprised at how rude he was that we didn't even say much. Of course, after we walked out, I thought of several things that I wish I had said. If you want good Italian food (and I tend to base Italian restaurants on their tomato sauce), go elsewhere. If you believe the customer is always right, go elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you believe in paying for lousy food, eat here. If you think that it is appropriate to berate a customer's palette - loudly and publically, stay here and have fun. If you like overpaying for bad food, knock yourself out here.
(1)
Alex C.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. The first time I dined there, WOW, it hit all the correct gastronomical spots! Obviously I returned and... Wow, was I repeatedly disappointed. First of all, the service isn't that great, in fact it's pretty bad, especially during lunch. Often times the staff does not know the special of the day, and when you ask about ingredients in the meal, they are clueless. The food is somewhere between eh and ok. Like I siad, our very first visit was absolutely yummy, but this depends on your palette and your server. Never eaten Italian food outside of San Antonio? By all means, go here and enjoy the food. It is always hot, but it may be authentic, and othertimes (which is most) it just isn't. Good wines, and yes, good for groups of friends to enjoy family-style. Give it a shot, but I can't give it more than the star presented- it almost received two stars. Inconsistency and not so good service is the problem here.
(1)
Cassandra S.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The sauces have really great flavors, and are not too bland, which I find to be a problem at many Italian restaurants. It's a very quaint, cozy, restaurant.....it's not very fancy, in fact, it's more like a hole in the wall, but as they always say, those are usually the best!! La Focaccia's food is consistently good in my opinion and the prices are good as well. I really enjoy their food and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Austin C.
It looks a bit like a VFW hall, but the food is excellent.
(4)
Christina S.
Service was good... Food.. Well, lets just say I was pretty bummed that I came here and had my last dinner in San Antonio here. I liked the bread that came out, the Caprese salad was a mess. The worst that I have ever had. It was a mountain of lettuce on the bottom with slice of tomato and mozzarella on top. That is what I recall of it a mountain of color lacking taste. I didn't finish it. I was even more so disappointed with my entree that I left it there. Sorry.. The Chicken Romana was a flop. The restaurant is in a cute area (King Williams District) and I like supporting a local establishment opposed to some massive food chain restaurant. But, I wasn't feeling the food. Olive Garden could do better and I loathe that place. I did hear however that the pizzas here are good. I should of just gone with that.
(3)
Eugene L.
Service is good. Food is good. I love the complimentary focaccia bread and the olive oil. And the best part is that it's close to home and affordable.
(4)
Arthur G.
My friends and I are from out of town and we were looking for a good place to eat. As we made the decision go eat at the hotel restaurant we came across the quaint Italian restaurant and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did. Orlando offered great service professionally and personally. The food was just what we were looking for...satisfying and delicious!!! When in San Antonio TX will definitely be back.
(3)
Rachel A.
Ate tonight with a small group as a last minute meal since our desired destination, Rosario's, had a horrendous wait. I ordered the manicotti and was not at all impressed by the food. Out dated interior, looks like the place has seen better days. However, our waiter Pre was wonderful. Would not recommend...
(2)
Bob C.
La Focaccia has been a favorite of ours for many years, but we were again disappointed last week. The focaccia bread was doughy, a omen of things to come. My favorite has been the Oysters Rockefeller and they were good with a lot of bacon pieces but the sauce or something was different, and not near as good as a year or so ago. The Funghi Ripieni, which my wife ordered were good but had a thick, brown, wine sauce on them. Kind of ruined the delicate mushroom and crab flavor. For my entree I had the Linguine Pescatora. There was a thin, watery, red sauce and the seafood was overcook. My wife had the Linguine with Fresh Clams in red sauce. Her red sauce was like mine and hers was swimming in olive oil and the clams were overcooked. We brought our leftovers home and poured spaghetti sauce from a jar on them. Much better tasting.
(2)
Kay T.
I'm a strong advocate for tourists leaving the Riverwalk and heading to Southtown/ King William District to find tastier, more locally-owned dining options. When I used to work downtown, I was often stopped by hungry out of towners looking for a place to eat. (What can I say? Something about my look says, "Follow me, I know where good food is!") La Focaccia was always in my top 5 rec's for "Off the Riverwalk Fare" so I'm"m a bit surprised at some of the reviews! Quick tip: Parking here and anywhere else in the neighborhood is a nightmare. So plan ahead, allow yourself time to find parking. The lot has enough room only for a few cars and then you're on your own but parallel parking is available all along the street. Now, the interior. Super cool, dark, mysterious, very stereotypically Italian. The corner booths are great and perfect for groups - and bring a group because this place is most fun when enjoyed family style. And I love the food. And I don't even really particularly like Italian food! But, it's very good, tastes homemade, and always wows me. The chicken marsala is my favorite, but I have also enjoyed really tasty pizzas here! And of course, if all else fails, get some wine. They do a great wine presentation here and have good selections available. If you're downtown SA and on a seemingly impossible hunt for locally owned and tasty food, head a couple blocks south, enjoy the quirky neighborhood and have some delicious Italian food and wine at La Focaccia!
(4)
Ruth F.
this was the first visit for my friend linda and i to the la focaccia italian grill for lunch. we ordered the fried calimari with marinara sauce and their steamed mussels. we asked our server michael (who was very efficient and accommodating) if we could have the mussels in white wine broth.the mussel dish was so good, we suggested that they add this to their menu. we also shared the artichoke pizza, not realizing how big the portions were. needless to say we walked out with a big to- go bag. the restaurant has a comfortable old style atmosphere. the food was excellent and of great value. give la focaccia a try. we will definitely be back and ask for michael ....
(4)
Jesse S.
Came in for lunch. Calamari was good. Not over cooked and the tomato sauce was nice. 3/5 Oysters were excellent and fresh. 4.5/5 Like the Focaccia for free, even better with a side of marinara. 4/5 The Veal Piccata was OK. I didn't partically like the meat. It was tough. Lemon sauce was good and not overbearing. 2.5/5 Fish lunch special was OK. The fish was a little mushy. 2/5 Shrimp scampi was also good. Had nice sized shrimp. 3.75/5 The pasta had a strange taste, I think it might be San Antonio water I was not used too. 1/5 Penne arabiata was good and the sauce was not too hot. 3.75/5 The service was excellent. 4.5/5 Bottom line, stick with the red sauce and seafood.
(3)
Emily H.
Super mediocre. But I was warned ahead of time so I didn't got with high expectations at all. In fact, I planned not to ever go to La Focaccia, notwithstanding that it is a 5 minute walk from my house, but I got talked into a girls' dinner there. I had a Lady Fantasia pizza which had spinach, ricotta, olive oil and sausage (I replaced the grilled chicken that it was supposed to have). It was fine but nothing to write home about. Everyone else thought their pizzas and pastas were "fine," but there were no rave reviews. Other than convenience, this place doesn't have a lot going for its. Note: They have a hilarious (but also sort of annoying) guy that plays this electronic organ thing and he putters around asking people what they want to hear -- lots of Sinatra.
(2)
Chelsie S.
During a business convention in San Antonio, my colleagues and I were referred to a restaurant named La Focaccia by the concierge at our downtown hotel. Our server, Celeste, was very courteous and attentive. We were impressed by the selection of items on the menu, but what caught my eye was the Spaghetti Carbonara, which has been an Italian family favorite since I was a child. Interestingly, my colleagues inquired about a specialty pizza they often enjoy in Chicago and were exceptionally pleased the pizzaiolo already knew how to prepare a Puttanesca pizza (which was outstanding at La Focaccia!). The Puttanesca pizza has a savory blend of bold flavors - rich tomato sauce, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, olives, basil, capers, and anchovies. Overall, the food and the service was great and we really appreciated Celeste and the pizzaiolo accommodating our special request. Many thanks from the Windy City. We will be back!!!
(5)
Chris B.
I remember first finding this restaurant years ago on a trip to San Antonio. It was memorable because I was in a small group with a notoriously picky eater and he asked the kitchen to prepare him something using a handful of ingredients he listed. They not only obliged...they produced something wonderful. My family visited again this weekend and it was just as good as I remembered it. My girls order a simple cheese pizza and it was one of the best I've had in a while. My chicken parmigiana was juicy and tasty. All around great meal. A terrific find for anyone wanting to get off the River Walk for some quality food.
(4)
Thefoodie F.
Rapini or broccoili raab with olive oil an garlic so dang good my new favorite green's All was good server was the best
(4)
Phx D.
Food is good. Pizza was awesome. Decor is dated, but clean and comfortable. Service was good too.
(4)
Frank D.
Old fashioned Italian restaurant, with well prepared food at reasonable prices. Staff were efficient for a slow night. Pasta and eggplant dishes were very well prepared, no soupy sauces as you find so frequently elsewhere. The pasta premavera was prepared perfectly and to order. There was even an old-time piano/synthesizer player working in the background. A few blocks away from the riverwalk, so you get a mix of tourista and locals. If you depend on local business, you better be good and consistant. Unlike places on the river which generally don't give a c**p.
(4)
Becky T.
So really 3.5 stars, but being the first to review this place for some reason I feel obligated to round up. My friend and I randomly chose this place for lunch since we needed a Tex-Mex break. Plus the fact that it is in Southtown sorta makes it better in my eyes since its my favorite neighborhood out here in San Antonio. Overall the restaurant was nice and very spacious (everything is bigger in Texas) which is quite the departure from the smaller more intimate restaurants that I think of when I think Italian food. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs because it's a dish that usually makes me happy. The noodles and sauce were average and the meatballs were too dense for my liking, though the sausage flavor of it was good. I probably wouldn't order it again. My friend had their wood fired "Lady Fantasia" pizza which was basically chicken and spinach, which was a much better choice. For their bread, they served up slices of warm focaccia bread which had a nice flavor but were a little tough. But once you soak it in a bajillion calories of the herbed olive oil they were really good. If I go again I would order a pizza or maybe one of their seafood pasta dishes.
(4)
Foug C.
I went to this place because my friend and I didn't feel like walking further, or driving. We were hungry at that moment. The place was ok, too expensive for the quality though. Good service. I don't know if I'd go back
(3)
Angelo A.
I was in town for a business convention. One night along with a few business partners we were searching for a place to eat and stumbled across La Focaccia's Italian Grill. I had the spaghetti w/meatballs...boy it was delicious, just scrumptious. Orlando, our waitperson, was so attentive and did not hurry us to place our order, but answered whatever questions we had. Great food, great atmosphere. I will be back! Keep up the great work!
(4)
Chad T.
Okay, food was okay, service was okay, ambiance was okay. Okay!
(3)
Bro F.
Ok, back for a few updates: This is a great, all around basic Italian place. Great pizza, great salads, great calamari, great atmosphere, and it's in SouthTown, so it's all great!! Been there many time, one of my local places that I always fall back on, and I can always count on them to have great food service and atmosphere.... they even have a piano player there some nights. I recommend this place for folks that want good Italian food, off the beaten track, and away from the river. Oh yea, excellent focaccia bread and oil before your meal!
(4)
N L.
Mediocre and nothing special, especially considering the price. If anyone knows where I can get GOOD Italian in San Antonio, I'm all ears!
(2)
Ruth F.
Big Disappointment every time I have been there. The first two times there was a horribly long wait for our food and other tables had bread but we never got anything. The third time was slightly better in that we got bread for our wait but the food was even worse than the first two times. I do not pick to go back but will go if asked by others who say they think it looks like it would be good and do not believe me when I say it isn't. The first time I got pizza and it was bland and sad. The second time I got salad and it was not fresh. I used to live down the street and almost never saw customers there. I'm not sure how they stay in business. A friend was joking that they were a front for the mob...I don't think San Antonio has a mob and find this a little racist...but the fact that they wondered how they stay in business tells you something.
(1)
Felix D.
Honestly I have been here numerous times and have not made it past the appetizer menu. I usually order a bottle of wine and 1-2 orders of the Mussels Marinara (Spicy). The mussels are superb and make an excellent meal. So if you are in the mood for wine and spicy mussels this is your place!!
(4)
M B.
The dining rooms isn't fancy and has seen better days, but the staff is friendly. The portions are large and a good value for the money. However, they won't make the daily specials on any other day which is a bit dissapointing. I would return again for lunch with co-workers but it isn't really a good dinner/date kind of place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
David M.
This is an updated review, as I have been here 3 times now, each time, just as good as the last!! I would eat here more often, but it is more than a hour away. Everything about our meal was outstanding!! From the awesome complementary bread & herb olive oil, to the caesar salad, wine, service, atmosphere, and last but not least, the entrees, and dessert!! Our waiter, Raymond, was friendly, responsive, patient, and just awesome!! They were busy, but not crowded, so everything flowed at whatever pace we wanted. As in previous visits, I could tell that the chef takes pride in their work, and the end results were superb. The owner is hands on, and makes sure every aspect of your visit is spot on! Is this the best Italian food in SA? Maybe, maybe not. I enjoy it!! Does it have the best personal service? Perhaps!! I think so. I still stand by my original statement, that this is, by far the best overall Italian experience I have had in central TX. This establishment, is under-rated!!
(5)Wendy N.
La focaccia is a great little Italian restaurant in a quaint part of downtown San Antonio known as King William. We have been here many times and anything on the menu is good. Good service and friendly staff. Their bread and their dipping sauce is fabulous.
(4)Randy B.
I eat here for lunch on a regular basis, weekly. Tried them on a Saturday night. Service was poor. Food quality not as good as during the lunch hours.
(1)Victoria R.
Yum, YUm, YUM! I was hesitant by the look of the bldg, but once we walked in... the smell, the hostess, the old chairs & atmosphere, along with the keyboard player....it brought a sweet, romantic atmosphere. And the food! OMG! Delicious!!!! Def recommend the: any pizza & chicken Alfredo fettuccine! Can't wait to come back!
(5)Amanda R.
This is mine and my husbands date spot. My husband is very picky when it comes to food and every time we eat Italian he always compares it to the food here and says it is still the best he's had. The bread and oil is amazing! I love the Caesar salad and they're huge! We usually share one when we come. My husbands favorite is the house special pizza and i love the chicken Parmesan here. Big portion and the butter garlic noodles are amazing. we have never had a bad experience here and have been more times than I can count. our servers have always been very attentive. We will continue to come here as long as they're open! :)
(5)Maya H.
We have dined here several times. Each time the food was excellent. The service was warm and friendly. Today I had the tenderloin. It was amazing.
(5)Daniel G.
The server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu and beer choices. I had the Pizza it was very good. This place is a little noisy, but then their was a table with a few unruly kids very loud. All in all good place for Italian.
(4)Liz L.
I have driven by this place for YEARS and never have gone in...until this past week. Even though it was a week night it was really empty. Only 3 other tables. The décor is very dated and there are many details missed like a ton of light bulbs burnt out. Also, the bathroom is near the kitchen and I just hate looking at what the dishwashers are doing ect. when in a restaurant. The "salad bar" is also located near there and leaves a salad lover wanting way more options. Go look at it before you order it. All that being said, the staff was very nice and the food was pretty good. I fell in love with the focaccia and dipping sauce they give you when you sit down. Put some parmesan in it and an old boot would taste delicious! On a side note because things like this matter to me, their parmesan is the powder kind in a little shaker on the table. -Will probably go back, but it's not a "nice" as I have always thought it was.
(3)matthew c.
Good food although the fish is a bit fishy. The actual focaccia bread is fantastic but the oil is a bit bland. Live music on the weekends is a bit elderly. Atmosphere is a little confusing too. It's almost like they can't decide what look they are going for. Overall good experience though.
(3)Reina B.
This place was pretty good. We ended up here after the place we were trying to go to wasn't open until 6. I ended up ordering the sauteed spinach, and the mussels appetizer with a side of angel hair pasta. The sauteed spinach was good, but REALLY heavy on the oil. Spinach cooks up well with very little oil - no need to have a pool of it left on the plate! The mussels were good, and I liked the spicy sauce. Couldn't really go wrong with the angel hair pasta. Throughout dinner a man was on the keyboard playing musical music. Nice!! One thing that was kinda funny was anytime you said anything, the waiter would answer "myyyyy pleasure." Every time. Like I think I heard that probably 40 times throughout the dinner! Is this something the employees are instructed to say? I almost wanted to ask but didnt haha
(4)Yevette H.
It may have been because we came in kinda late 9ish. The server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu and beer choices. We made our decision and after waiting for what seemed like forever, BTW they weren't that busy at all only a couple tables, the food came obviously out of the microwave. My friend could only eat a couple bites before he gave up. I had half and took the rest home. Why? I don't know because it was just as bad the 2nd day. The only reason I can see why they're still in business all these years was because of the tourists that stumble in there. Sorry I can't recommend this to my friends or family that come to visit from outta town. There's so many more cool places to go in Southtown.
(2)Jackie S.
Our friend recommend this place to us. We were greeted right when we walked in. The decor and ambience is warm & quaint, very old Sinatra like...Focaccia bread is gooooddd along with olive oil dipping sauce. Yummm!!! However didn't want to eat too much because it would ruin my main course appetite. Staff was friendly but not overly..hey you win some and lose some :P just an FYI...none of the dressings are homemade ..salad was fresh but what's a salad without a good house dressing? It's an Italian restaurant and you would think they would have at least one signature dressing?!? Anyways I opted for the brick oven pizza with fresh basil and sausage....the sausage used was almost like a deer sausage or german like...too strong and different...the pizza was lacking sauce & for the crust type it was pretty cheesy but the cheese & actual dough they used was good quality and tasty. In my opinion Grimaldi's is way better. They used the same type of sausage in the lasagna it wasn't very appetizing. There salads were wayyy overpriced for what was served & no refills on soda...that's kinda of weird in a higher priced restaurant. This establishment is unfortunately is overpriced and now I can kinda tell why it was pretty dead when we arrived in the evening :-( Probably would come again, first impressions are important.
(2)Crystal C.
I came here for dinner by myself on a Monday night. It can be awkward to go to a sit-down place by oneself, but of my several dinners alone in San Antonio, the staff here were the friendliest to me! Food wasn't spectacular but I felt that it was pretty good for the price. I'd come back if I was spending another night in this city.
(4)Shannon Z.
This was a recommend by the hotel! However, has I looked at the previous yelp reviews, I would have decided not to go there! I was expecting great service, great italian food! I would have been better off at the Olive Garden ! I ordered oysters rockerfellar, and they did not taste right, perhaps not fresh! This should have been an indicator for me to go. I ordered the meat cannoloni, and a ceasar salad with blue cheese crumbles. They don't have blue cheese but they did have Gorgonzola which was fine. When the server brings me the salad he says the Gorgonzola was mixed in with the salad. When I picked up the lettuce with my fork I discovered it was two large chunks ! When I stop him he says he is new and didn't have a grater, so he just put in the salad! Really?!? Then my entree came, and it not what I expected! It was aldenti noodles, covered in heavy sauce that ragu could have made test better! I asked for my check and paid . Upon exiting I saw the manager, and told him as well as shared the pick of the chunks of cheese. He basically asserted that it was my fault for ordering it that way!!! Seriously?!? Ultimately this place is a do not recommend and I can assure you I will always make sure this is off my places to eat list while In San Antonio
(1)Laurie D.
Actually didn't want to pick this restaurant, but one in the area was closed on Mondays. The restaurant was packed with people. It appeared that it was really run by an Italian family. It look like we had walked into a restaurant decorated in the 60s but had never been updated. I kind of liked it and got a big kick out of the decorating. Our waiter was so friendly and outgoing. Chose a special called Vegetale spaghetti and the Eggplant Parmesan. My husband and I both liked our food and shared each others as well. The waiter kept us eating breadsticks and olive oil and herbs. It was a fine choice and we were glad we went.
(4)Freddy V.
The food was delicious and the service very attentive... higly recommend this place! The fantasia pizza was great to share with my wife.
(4)Jesus C.
Pasta dishes were great and service was above average. The ambiance is outdated and dingy, overall experience was good.
(3)David C.
Went here Sat Dec 6 2014, after failing to find anywhere else without a significant wait. Here's the over and under: The bad: 1. When we walked in, the reception area was delapidated. The ceiling is peeling, the benches have paint wearing off, and there is a dirty plank over the join between the two parts of the building. There are also random strange items in a display case under the counter, such as a plasitc Florida tourist mug. The latter is forgiveable, the former not so much. 2. The dining room has messy, confused decor and is very dated. Whatever. 3. There was an elderly man playing music in a synthesiser keyboard - weird but inoffensive. 4. The big problem - the entrees were awful. The sauce was watery in both the ravioli with marinara and the carbonara - how do you even make a watery carbonara? Presentation was uninviting, slopped into a plain white bowl. The good: 1. The dining room was spotlessly clean - I even did the Ramsay trick of checking under the seating. 2. The service was excellent. Our waiter was a recovered meth addict, and I admire the owner for giving him an opportunity. 3. The bread and oil "amuse bouche" was excellent too. Overall - a family run restaurant run badly to seed, serving the same menu as a chain like Macaroni Grill, but at a much lower quality. Needs to be on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
(1)Michelle J.
This is an older appearing establishment, but I would definitely visit again. The decor could definitely use some updating, but at the same time adds to it's quaintness. The staff were extremely accommodating, the blue cheese dressing was either made in house or from one amazing distributor. I ordered the fetticini Alfredo and asked to add mushrooms and it was very good flavor. Prices are very reasonable.
(4)Derek T.
Again two and a half stars but not three. The service was great, friendly with a good sense of humor and honest in telling what desserts were made there and which were not. The atmosphere was unique and had some character. The food not so much - the chicken marsala was a little bland and the chicken itself was not trimmed well. The tomato sauce and the marinara were both good but not great. The combo manicotti and cannelloni was ok the cheese was decent but the meat was kinda mushy and a bit odd - the flavor was decent but could have been better. I would like to go back just because I like locally owned restaurants and want to give them another chance.
(2)A T.
FOOD: My friend and I only came here for dessert. We were served bread and olive oil before they took our order. The bread is amazing! Warm, soft, and even better when dipped in oil. As for the dessert, the creme brûlée is decent and the cappuccino is watery. SERVICE: Adam is an amazing waiter. He stepped in when the waiter assigned to our section refused to serve us because he was "overbooked". I have never heard of a waiter refusing to work before but I guess there's a first time for everything. Adam was attentive and apologetic, especially since we waited 15 minutes to have our order taken. PRICE: $8 creme brûlée could be better LAST WORD: Would give it a try and ask for Adam as your waiter!
(3)Lacy M.
Wait time from walking in to actually getting our food was 2 hours. Food was decent, service was not good.
(2)Vanessa N.
My best friend and I went here on a whim. We were originally thinking of going to Madhatters for an early dinner. But after circling the area we caved in and stopped here. I'm really glad we did. The ambiance is lovely and quaint. Our waiter Arnold was very nice and he was a great listener when I specified that I couldn't stomach most pastas with marinara sauce so what could he recommend. He recommended a great dish for myself. My friend got the chicken parm with a side of spaghetti. The food and company were the best part of this place. I only have a few complaints. We told our waiter it was our first time there and we didn't know or see on the menu that they had a fix your own salad bar so when we saw a couple sitting behind us get up and serve themselves we had already been done with our meal. In other words our server should've let us know or offered the salad bar in the beginning because I sure do love a great side salad. Also, the creepy old man playing the keyboard. The music he was playing was old and boring and his "background music" which was a premade setting on the keyboard was off beat from the music he was playing it was just weird. Last is the parking, it's non-existent! They have a small lot in front of the entrance where maybe 5 cars can fit comfortably including one handicapped space. If it wasn't for the sign, we wouldn't know how to get in the place after parking. I really appreciated the owner walking around talking to his guests and asking if we enjoyed our food and encouraging us to come back again. I will be going back again!
(4)Tara R.
Everything we ordered was delicious! The special for the night included manicotti, chicken Parmesan and fettuccini Alfredo. It was SO good! No fast food Olive Garden flavored food here. Authentic and yummy! Kids ordered spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese pizza and we also ordered mozzarella sticks for an appetizer! Service was excellent! We will be back!
(5)Chris B.
The Food was great and so was the service, I was very surprised with the pricing for their lunch specials. A nice find!
(4)Jane V.
I had a great time in this throw back, gaudy Italian restaurant. The spinach salad (really more like sautéed spinach with lemon and salt) looked disappointing, but after the first bite I was reminded that looks can be deceiving. It was sooooo good!!!! Friend had mussels and spaghetti and was happy with it. Great focaccia bread, as the name suggests.
(4)Gretchen's M.
We ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was an oily, tasteless, mess. The chicken was tough and the sauce tasted like brown gravy in a jar with a splash of cheap wine. Yuck!! And it gets worse. We also ordered the grilled snapper which turned out to be boiled somehow. It had some bitter red pepper seasoning and heaping side dish of over cooked vegetables. The pasta, which is hard to mess up, was undercooked and bland--the bread? Even the bread was bad. I was hoping that I'd found a nice Italian restaurant to take my out of town relatives and guests....but believe me. This ain't it!
(1)Cathy B.
The Spinach salad and soup was awesome! The waitress was very friendly and provided some excellent tips for choices.
(4)whitney g.
The first time I dined here was around 2pm in the afternoon. The service was great and my linguine pescatora was delicious. I figured I would have a similar evening tonight. I just left with my family and was disappointed with the slow service. I was also surprised that considering all of the high prices on the menu, they only offer complementary refills on iced tea and coffee. The bread was fresh and warm, however the oil was not as tasty as I remembered. Appetizers: my husband had calamari, which was horribly under-seasoned and we ended up sending it back; I ordered the oysters Rockefeller, which was good, but slightly overcooked. Entre: I had the stuffed flounder, which was delicious, but my fish came out nearly 10 minutes before my pasta; my husband had the linguine pescatora, which he enjoyed, but had to keep removing pesky chilli seeds. My daughter had a basic black olive pizza, which came out shortly after our appetizers were served. Overall, I will likely dine here again, but I doubt I will be coming after 5pm...I definitely will not order the calamari again.
(3)Jes'ka W.
I went here on a Saturday night to carb load for a big run the next day. First of all one of the friendliest places I had been in a long time. Became very personal with the waiter and joked and laughed...the owner came by several times to check on us and our drinks were never empty. It was also nice to have the pianist walking around taking requests. It was a true family atmosphere with a smooch of love. The food was awesome! Starting with the free flatbread that was cooked right there in a stone oven. Authentically wonderful!!!! I ordered the Alfredo and added spinach and shrimp...big delightful shrimp and it was some about the sauce that made me darn near lick the bowl. Its like when it settled at the bottom it just got better. There were four of us and no complaints from anyone. Really enjoyed it and it was a nice way to prepare for a major run.
(5)Carissa B.
Love this place! A very lovely restaurant to come to have a nice, quiet dinner. Staff is super friendly as well.
(4)Jazmin T.
Came here because I saw some great reviews on Yelp. Was in town on vacation and excited to try something new. When we first pulled up that parking lot was full, so to me that was a good sign that there were a lot of people dining in. We then got in and the restaurant looked a little old and run down, but it looked like it was a family owned place. We sat down and order the fried mozzarella. It was so good with a fresh crust and just wanted more. Then I ordered the alfredo with chicken and it was one of the best alfredo sauces that I had ever tried. My friend who was with me also noticed how good the food looked so she ordered the same thing I did! My husband ordered a pizza and all the toppings were fresh and the dough was amazing. There is nothing better than a good pizza dough!! We will definitely be back when we go to visit San Antonio again recommend this place!
(5)Stephen C.
I have driven by this place too many times to count and have often want to give them a try. After attending a very important business meeting with Shawn G. we decided to give this place a try as we were just down the street. I was not sure what to expect but I was very happy with my experience here and not only would recommend but would come back. They start you out Focaccia bread and the olive oil. Nice fresh hot and very tasty. Shawn G. order the Oyster Rockefeller and was most gracious in sharing. These oysters were absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend them. For an entree I order the Seafood Pizza. Perfect crust and perfect toppings. This place does justice to pizza. I would try the pizza with other toppings. Go Italian, go here!
(4)Christa L.
I want to give this place 3 stars because I blame myself for my overall food experience. We went for a weekday lunch..... my friend and I didn't want to stuff ourselves. Because we all know what happens when you throw a rowdy munch at an Italian eatery; the food coma sets in. So the menu sounded pleasant, however the waiter had mention buffet. Well, that's perfect I can taste a little bit of everything and not overeat myself into a carb coma. Sadly, it wasn't what I expected.... while it was decent. The pizza that sits under the heated lamps were dry and empty. The pasta dishes in the metal food warmers hadit lost it's flavor. I should have known.... so to wrap it up; I'll give them another chance although this time no buffet. Strictly menu ordering only.
(2)Samuel L.
Went to La Focaccia for my birthday dinner and it was an OKAY experience. The bread and oil were fantastic and hot. The appetizers were okay but nothing to write home about. Dishes came and I feel like they were a bit small in comparison to other restaraunts of the same price range. Quality was OKAY. Our server was pretty good and brought out my birthday cake. It wasn't the same La Focaccia that I had been to YEARS ago, but I guess I shouldn't have expected that with different owners and all.
(3)Alsor S.
Ok, I admit it. I enjoy fine Italian food, but rarely do I experience extraordinary Italian food in Texas. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my Italian culinary expectations were set very high based off of sampling the delicious cuisine of the Italian immigrants who migrated to the wine country part of California. I went to this restaurant because a co-worker wanted to go. I was not impressed with La Focaccia Italian Grill. I have been several times and I always get an uncomfortable feeling that the servers/owners have an inflated opinion of themselves and the food. We went about 1:30 p.m., and the place had only 12 people dining for lunch (including my party of 6), so the two servers should have been very attentive. They weren't. We had to motion to the servers to get our drinks refilled and we had to ask for more bread and dipping oil. The servers did not bring all of the meals out at the same time so two members of our parties had to wait. While dining, one of the servers walked up to me and said, "isn't that just the best fettuccine that you have ever tasted?" In my mind I thought-- well actually, no! As for me--I found the food and the service at La Focaccia Italian Grill to be mediocre. The dining room is a little gloomy, dark and outdated. The bread could have been really good, but some of it was burnt. I was truly unimpressed by an up charge that I received when I substituted Fettuccine Noodles for plain old spaghetti for a Carbonara dish I ordered for lunch. The server charged me an extra $2.00 or $3.00 and did not tell me in advance that there would be a price increase for making this change. Plus, the parking situation is not so great. Bottom line, I have no desire to go back to La Focaccia Italian Grill.
(2)Hunter H.
This place is great! The sauces on all of the dishes we ordered were delicious, the Alfredo, sherry cream, and tomato sauces were all amazing. Desert topped it off with a great chocolate mousse. Great service!
(5)Susan M.
This is one of those restaurants that is not that great for food, but evokes memories of fun times for San Antonians. We met up with some friends for dinner one Saturday night. Lots of large groups enjoying boisterous times, a la Shakey's Pizza. We tried the Toasted Ravioli to start, Spaghetti alla Carbonara for main, and Insalata Suprema for last course. The complimentary house Focaccia was indeed, addictive, copious, and very delicious. The French musician playing old skool synth was amusing and played any song requested. The Toasted Ravioli app was a generous portion, decent, but not that flavorful. The raviolis could be smaller to be more appetizer- like - maybe that would help eliminate the excess bland breading. The much anticipated Spaghetti alla Carbonara was terrible, I am sorry to say. Bland, flavorless, greasy. I didn't finish mine. Then the salad...sounded good in theory, but our server forgot we ordered it so it never came. Our companions enjoyed the Oysters Rockefeller with a side of more Sauteed Spinach - looked really good. Two bottles of Chianti helped smooth the mood, but I don't think I will return here anytime soon.
(2)Nicolas G.
La Focaccia? More like La Forgot Ya... I had lunch there after the noon rush ended and was pleased to see few tables occupied; I hoped I'd be in and out. But after waiting several minutes for the waiter to realize he had a table, I knew that the relaxed post-rush atmosphere of the restaurant was having too heavy of an influence on him. It seemed like every time he stepped away, he was gone for so long that I wanted to greet him each time he returned as if he were an old friend I ran into by chance at the supermarket. "Oh my gosh, how are you?! It's been, what, like.. 20 minutes?! You look good! Can I have some more water, please? Thanks..." Aside from the lack of attentive service, the food was OK AT BEST, but way over-priced for what I received. $8.25 for a lunch "special" that comes with only spaghetti? Doesn't every Italian dish come with spaghetti? What about a salad or a drink? Seems like a lunch special should come with more add-ons, but hey, when in Rome. I decided against the "special" and ordered a calzone called Il Vesuvio. The thing definitely looked like it could've destroyed the city of Pompeii (which occurred in 79 A.D., thank you very much, high school Latin). But I have a feeling that if the city of Pompeii had been served the marinara sauce that accompanied my calzone, a lot of lives would have been spared since most of them would have run screaming and ashamed out of Italy altogether; it was flat and lacked the zest that I'm used to in other sauces, but the calzone itself was pretty good. I'd probably only go back there again on someone else's tab. The food wasn't horrible, it was just a little steep for the quality (especially for an afternoon lunch). So I'm rating the food three stars. My overall experience would have to be two. Vale!
(3)Augie R.
Everything about La Focaccia was fine--not exceptional and not bad. The decor is comfortable--sort of a cross between an Italian restaurant and a wedding hall. It's bigger than you think from the outside but the place manages to feel relatively intimate. We arrived at 9:30 on a Friday night and La Focaccia was just about empty. In fact, we asked when they stopped serving and were told 10:25--not 10:30, 10:25. Service was fine but unremarkable. What bothered me was that, while two tables were still seated, the servers started putting chairs up on tables. Then they started switching off lights. It felt very unwelcoming--like they wanted their customers to rush out and get out of their way. We left, but one table was still waiting for their food to be delivered. I think this sort of "don't let the door hit you in the @ss" behavior says a lot of the place. Food was fine. The bread was cold and a little bland, but the olive oil was very good. One person in our party ordered Stuffed Flounder and raved about it. I had Chicken Parmigiana and it was good, but I've had better--the chicken wasn't as tender as it should've been. My wife had Manicotti and said the cheese was not as flavorful as she expected. La Focaccia is fine. There aren't a lot of Italian restaurants in San Antonio--it just doesn't seem to be a cuisine this town embraces--and this is above average for the ones we've tried here. But, compared to the great Italian places at which I've eaten in the other cities I've lived, La Focaccia is pretty middling.
(3)John H.
South Town's hottest club is LA FOCACCIA Inside a large bar, small bar, brick oven and short Italian man playing showtunes on a Yamaha keyboard greet you. The waiters are all Hispanic, the food is Italian and the bartender is Russian. Yummy! The décor is late 20th Century Corsese. Corsese is what it looks like when Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese decorate your restaurant after the Vatican has a yard sale. The entrees are large with a side of spaghetti and your choice of sauce. *covers face and giggles* The bread is amazing. There are no refills on soda which is good for Stephan's figure. The tables are small, so Stephan recommends a booth. LA FOCACCIA is the perfect place to take your friends for non-mob related fun.
(5)Txasnani A.
We went here for a wedding dinner. We are vegetarians and they were very helpful providing us with vegetarian options. Everyone said the food was great and the service awesome.
(4)Sara I.
Went here for lunch with coworkers. We had a party of 9. Service was fine until the food arrived....or didn't arrive. Most of us ordered the special, which is already made. Everyone else ordered salads, which doesn't require any bake time. From the time we ordered to the time food started to arrive, it was 30 minutes. Orders were wrong, and when we tried to notify our waitress she got major attitude. The salads, which were entree salads and over $10 each, were served on the same size plate as the side salads. Drinks were not refilled, we had to flag down other staff to inquire about the food that was missing...our waitress basically ignored us for the rest of the meal. She could have salvaged the situation with an apology and a real attempt to fix the problem. We stopped the manager who informed us that the salads should have been larger, but he did nothing about it. The cashier up front took off the automatic gratuity and comped one chicken breast that had been added to an order. Between the kitchen taking too long and skimping on portion sizes to the poor, poor service, I suggest you skip this place, at least during the lunch hour. Maybe their dinner crowd gets better treatment.
(1)Matthew L.
A friend of mine recently hosted a movie night at his south town home, so we ordered pizzas from La Focaccia, We got one pizza with pepperoni, one with spinach and one with cheese, costing just under 30 bucks. The pizzas were a little on the small side. The crust was okay, I like it a little thinner, the sauce tasted like it was straight out of a can, they should up their game in the sauce department, the cheese they used was super heavy but I loved that! The cheese was the pizza's saving grace, because the pepperoni was the kind you can get from your local grocery store next to the pre-made pizza crust. The spinach was fresh, and the cheese was excellent. But just based on the quality of their pizza ingredients I would think twice before going there for pasta. But it was local so it automatically makes it better than Pizza Hut or Dominos!
(3)Ellynn S.
Food was ok, but overpriced for what I received. The bread in the beginning was awesome though.
(2)Erika B.
La Focaccia is a good Italian restaurant and is reasonably priced. Parking is horrible around here so if there is no parking just go down a street and park wherever you can find a spot. It is what it is, so park and start walking. When you walk in it is kinda dark but that's okay you can easily see what you need to see. When you sit down they will bring some tasty bread and oil which is hard to resist but do resist a little because the portions are large. We typically get the lunch special and so far everything has been very tasty. It comes with the meat and a side of pasta. My favorite is the chicken with eggplant on top and I typically get the oil on the pasta. Very tasty and I'm not an eggplant fan. Friends have gotten the Stromboli and love it. But bring your appetite for that dish - it is huge. The service is not always fast, but the food is good so sit back relax and enjoy the food. Eat well
(4)Brandon S.
The service was very poor and the food tasted like it came right out of a Chef Boyarde can.
(1)Angela F.
Stopped by on Fri night...not overly crowded, considering it was 1st Friday. The inside is charming and cute. We were seated immediately and sat in a cool corner booth. Had the mussels marinara for the appetizer...ok, but don't think I'd order it again. The marinara sauce was spicy and good to dip the delicious focaccia bread in. We all split the Garden of Eden pizza - had spinach, pine nuts, artichokes - the crust is great and it was a solid pizza. My friend also ordered the shrimp and tomato pizza, sounded gross, but tasted ok. The waiter gave us two wine samples but generously gave us two full glasses. Great service!
(3)Elle J.
I'd rather go to Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill -- and that's saying alot since I'm really into local food. I went for lunch. For starters, it took forever to get a table. We even called in ahead of time. The restaurant was almost empty when we arrived around 11:40 am. They have a policy where they won't seat you unless your whole party is there. I get that if the restaurant is busy, but they had us stand around waiting for the rest of our party for about 10 min while we stared at an empty restaurant. When our whole party arrived, they didn't realize there was so many of us (but wait, didn't we call in ahead??). We had to wait an extra 5-10 min for them to add a table to our set up. Our waiter was ok. He didn't do anything wrong, but his demeanor was somewhat lackluster. I'll give him a gold star for being knowledgeable of the menu. The prices are fairly on par with most other Italian restaurants. Lunch menu items are $8.95 and everything else is about $10-20. However, I thought it was ridiculous how if you wanted to add chicken to your fettuccine alfredo, it would cost $5.50 extra. They better provide you with at least half a chicken at that price. I had the chicken piazziola lunch special. It was nothing to rave about but just about what I expected for a lunch menu item. When the food came out, it erred on the side of room temp. As Yelp says, "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)Long T.
Came here recently to carb up before the marathon and I have to say I left satisfied. I had the Garden of Eve pizza with bacon added and even the leftovers were tasty the next day. Staff was definitely super busy with the marathon crowds, but our waitress worked her butt off to tend to our needs. Overall, I was happy we came out to support this local gem.
(4)C B.
Focaccia bread and olive oil = great Small but nicely done salad bar = very good A solid presentation of spaghetti at a reasonable price (under $12) = good Pizza with sausage and pepperoni for a reasonable price = very good Lot of future options to try at varying prices = very good and we look forward to it The staff = very good/super friendly The place is a little worn out on the outside, but don't let that deter you. They were worth the walk from the Hyatt Regency and the food was way better than what is served down on the river.
(4)Marc M.
If you looking for Italian food don't go to this place is sucks! Go to MaGiano's on the Riverwalk is much better and less expensive.
(1)Narce P.
I don't remember what I had for dinner, but do remember it was very good. They have a very romantic atmosphere. There was someone playing the piano which made it even more romantic. Nice place downtown!
(4)Fred S.
A pleasant and inexpensive alternative to all the Riverwalk drivel. I ate there twice while in town for a convention. Give it a try!
(4)Sarah V.
was here when it opened for the second time and it was bad the food was cold
(2)Angie P.
I will sum it up; very good food, pleasant interior but the glorified bus boy who served us ruined the experience on a $350+ dinner. The boy who severed us seemed more annoyed than excited to be helping a table of 15- could he at least have faked it??? He messed up the order of one of my associates, wouldn't take responsible and was EXTREMELY rude when confronted about the problem (an associate and I both ordered a seafood dish, but the sever wrote down the same dish for both of us, and when my associate pointed it out, the server's response was to pull out his note pad, say "No, this is what you ordered- I have it written down" and walk off). I will never go back there until that kid is fired.
(1)Stacey C.
Great Shrimp Alfredo, great wine and great company...I enjoyed the décor as there were some nice antiques to look at...and it was a nice quiet atmosphere.
(5)Amanda S.
While the food is pretty lousy, it is the owner that earned this review. Our waiter was nice and we enjoyed our appetizer (crab in mushroom caps and a sherry sauce). But, for dinner, we ordered the shrimp with mushrooms in a tomato sauce with pasta and the manicotti. The tomato sauce is just not good. It doesn't taste fresh - perhaps adding some basil would help, but really, I would start over. The shrimp pasta tasted like sea water. Perhaps that was added on purpose? But, typcially, I would prefer the shrimp to not taste like it came directly from the ocean. Since the tomato sauce was pretty bad, it certainly did not help. After trying to eat just the pasta and failing due to the gag reflex, we decided to send it back. I think I send maybe one or two dishes back a year, but this was beyond terrible. Then the owner came over to ask why we sent it back and we explained that it was just too fishy. He said that he personally tasted our plate (ew by the way - surely there are health codes about that sort of thing), and that it was impeccable and that there was something wrong with our palettes. We replied that it was nothing personal, but we just do not like really fishy tasting food. He told us that we had personally offended him and that we were wrong and his food is excellent. He was not quiet or subtle about any of this - it was very embarassing. We were so surprised at how rude he was that we didn't even say much. Of course, after we walked out, I thought of several things that I wish I had said. If you want good Italian food (and I tend to base Italian restaurants on their tomato sauce), go elsewhere. If you believe the customer is always right, go elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you believe in paying for lousy food, eat here. If you think that it is appropriate to berate a customer's palette - loudly and publically, stay here and have fun. If you like overpaying for bad food, knock yourself out here.
(1)Alex C.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. The first time I dined there, WOW, it hit all the correct gastronomical spots! Obviously I returned and... Wow, was I repeatedly disappointed. First of all, the service isn't that great, in fact it's pretty bad, especially during lunch. Often times the staff does not know the special of the day, and when you ask about ingredients in the meal, they are clueless. The food is somewhere between eh and ok. Like I siad, our very first visit was absolutely yummy, but this depends on your palette and your server. Never eaten Italian food outside of San Antonio? By all means, go here and enjoy the food. It is always hot, but it may be authentic, and othertimes (which is most) it just isn't. Good wines, and yes, good for groups of friends to enjoy family-style. Give it a shot, but I can't give it more than the star presented- it almost received two stars. Inconsistency and not so good service is the problem here.
(1)Cassandra S.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The sauces have really great flavors, and are not too bland, which I find to be a problem at many Italian restaurants. It's a very quaint, cozy, restaurant.....it's not very fancy, in fact, it's more like a hole in the wall, but as they always say, those are usually the best!! La Focaccia's food is consistently good in my opinion and the prices are good as well. I really enjoy their food and would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Austin C.
It looks a bit like a VFW hall, but the food is excellent.
(4)Christina S.
Service was good... Food.. Well, lets just say I was pretty bummed that I came here and had my last dinner in San Antonio here. I liked the bread that came out, the Caprese salad was a mess. The worst that I have ever had. It was a mountain of lettuce on the bottom with slice of tomato and mozzarella on top. That is what I recall of it a mountain of color lacking taste. I didn't finish it. I was even more so disappointed with my entree that I left it there. Sorry.. The Chicken Romana was a flop. The restaurant is in a cute area (King Williams District) and I like supporting a local establishment opposed to some massive food chain restaurant. But, I wasn't feeling the food. Olive Garden could do better and I loathe that place. I did hear however that the pizzas here are good. I should of just gone with that.
(3)Eugene L.
Service is good. Food is good. I love the complimentary focaccia bread and the olive oil. And the best part is that it's close to home and affordable.
(4)Arthur G.
My friends and I are from out of town and we were looking for a good place to eat. As we made the decision go eat at the hotel restaurant we came across the quaint Italian restaurant and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did. Orlando offered great service professionally and personally. The food was just what we were looking for...satisfying and delicious!!! When in San Antonio TX will definitely be back.
(3)Rachel A.
Ate tonight with a small group as a last minute meal since our desired destination, Rosario's, had a horrendous wait. I ordered the manicotti and was not at all impressed by the food. Out dated interior, looks like the place has seen better days. However, our waiter Pre was wonderful. Would not recommend...
(2)Bob C.
La Focaccia has been a favorite of ours for many years, but we were again disappointed last week. The focaccia bread was doughy, a omen of things to come. My favorite has been the Oysters Rockefeller and they were good with a lot of bacon pieces but the sauce or something was different, and not near as good as a year or so ago. The Funghi Ripieni, which my wife ordered were good but had a thick, brown, wine sauce on them. Kind of ruined the delicate mushroom and crab flavor. For my entree I had the Linguine Pescatora. There was a thin, watery, red sauce and the seafood was overcook. My wife had the Linguine with Fresh Clams in red sauce. Her red sauce was like mine and hers was swimming in olive oil and the clams were overcooked. We brought our leftovers home and poured spaghetti sauce from a jar on them. Much better tasting.
(2)Kay T.
I'm a strong advocate for tourists leaving the Riverwalk and heading to Southtown/ King William District to find tastier, more locally-owned dining options. When I used to work downtown, I was often stopped by hungry out of towners looking for a place to eat. (What can I say? Something about my look says, "Follow me, I know where good food is!") La Focaccia was always in my top 5 rec's for "Off the Riverwalk Fare" so I'm"m a bit surprised at some of the reviews! Quick tip: Parking here and anywhere else in the neighborhood is a nightmare. So plan ahead, allow yourself time to find parking. The lot has enough room only for a few cars and then you're on your own but parallel parking is available all along the street. Now, the interior. Super cool, dark, mysterious, very stereotypically Italian. The corner booths are great and perfect for groups - and bring a group because this place is most fun when enjoyed family style. And I love the food. And I don't even really particularly like Italian food! But, it's very good, tastes homemade, and always wows me. The chicken marsala is my favorite, but I have also enjoyed really tasty pizzas here! And of course, if all else fails, get some wine. They do a great wine presentation here and have good selections available. If you're downtown SA and on a seemingly impossible hunt for locally owned and tasty food, head a couple blocks south, enjoy the quirky neighborhood and have some delicious Italian food and wine at La Focaccia!
(4)Ruth F.
this was the first visit for my friend linda and i to the la focaccia italian grill for lunch. we ordered the fried calimari with marinara sauce and their steamed mussels. we asked our server michael (who was very efficient and accommodating) if we could have the mussels in white wine broth.the mussel dish was so good, we suggested that they add this to their menu. we also shared the artichoke pizza, not realizing how big the portions were. needless to say we walked out with a big to- go bag. the restaurant has a comfortable old style atmosphere. the food was excellent and of great value. give la focaccia a try. we will definitely be back and ask for michael ....
(4)Jesse S.
Came in for lunch. Calamari was good. Not over cooked and the tomato sauce was nice. 3/5 Oysters were excellent and fresh. 4.5/5 Like the Focaccia for free, even better with a side of marinara. 4/5 The Veal Piccata was OK. I didn't partically like the meat. It was tough. Lemon sauce was good and not overbearing. 2.5/5 Fish lunch special was OK. The fish was a little mushy. 2/5 Shrimp scampi was also good. Had nice sized shrimp. 3.75/5 The pasta had a strange taste, I think it might be San Antonio water I was not used too. 1/5 Penne arabiata was good and the sauce was not too hot. 3.75/5 The service was excellent. 4.5/5 Bottom line, stick with the red sauce and seafood.
(3)Emily H.
Super mediocre. But I was warned ahead of time so I didn't got with high expectations at all. In fact, I planned not to ever go to La Focaccia, notwithstanding that it is a 5 minute walk from my house, but I got talked into a girls' dinner there. I had a Lady Fantasia pizza which had spinach, ricotta, olive oil and sausage (I replaced the grilled chicken that it was supposed to have). It was fine but nothing to write home about. Everyone else thought their pizzas and pastas were "fine," but there were no rave reviews. Other than convenience, this place doesn't have a lot going for its. Note: They have a hilarious (but also sort of annoying) guy that plays this electronic organ thing and he putters around asking people what they want to hear -- lots of Sinatra.
(2)Chelsie S.
During a business convention in San Antonio, my colleagues and I were referred to a restaurant named La Focaccia by the concierge at our downtown hotel. Our server, Celeste, was very courteous and attentive. We were impressed by the selection of items on the menu, but what caught my eye was the Spaghetti Carbonara, which has been an Italian family favorite since I was a child. Interestingly, my colleagues inquired about a specialty pizza they often enjoy in Chicago and were exceptionally pleased the pizzaiolo already knew how to prepare a Puttanesca pizza (which was outstanding at La Focaccia!). The Puttanesca pizza has a savory blend of bold flavors - rich tomato sauce, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, olives, basil, capers, and anchovies. Overall, the food and the service was great and we really appreciated Celeste and the pizzaiolo accommodating our special request. Many thanks from the Windy City. We will be back!!!
(5)Chris B.
I remember first finding this restaurant years ago on a trip to San Antonio. It was memorable because I was in a small group with a notoriously picky eater and he asked the kitchen to prepare him something using a handful of ingredients he listed. They not only obliged...they produced something wonderful. My family visited again this weekend and it was just as good as I remembered it. My girls order a simple cheese pizza and it was one of the best I've had in a while. My chicken parmigiana was juicy and tasty. All around great meal. A terrific find for anyone wanting to get off the River Walk for some quality food.
(4)Thefoodie F.
Rapini or broccoili raab with olive oil an garlic so dang good my new favorite green's All was good server was the best
(4)Phx D.
Food is good. Pizza was awesome. Decor is dated, but clean and comfortable. Service was good too.
(4)Frank D.
Old fashioned Italian restaurant, with well prepared food at reasonable prices. Staff were efficient for a slow night. Pasta and eggplant dishes were very well prepared, no soupy sauces as you find so frequently elsewhere. The pasta premavera was prepared perfectly and to order. There was even an old-time piano/synthesizer player working in the background. A few blocks away from the riverwalk, so you get a mix of tourista and locals. If you depend on local business, you better be good and consistant. Unlike places on the river which generally don't give a c**p.
(4)Becky T.
So really 3.5 stars, but being the first to review this place for some reason I feel obligated to round up. My friend and I randomly chose this place for lunch since we needed a Tex-Mex break. Plus the fact that it is in Southtown sorta makes it better in my eyes since its my favorite neighborhood out here in San Antonio. Overall the restaurant was nice and very spacious (everything is bigger in Texas) which is quite the departure from the smaller more intimate restaurants that I think of when I think Italian food. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs because it's a dish that usually makes me happy. The noodles and sauce were average and the meatballs were too dense for my liking, though the sausage flavor of it was good. I probably wouldn't order it again. My friend had their wood fired "Lady Fantasia" pizza which was basically chicken and spinach, which was a much better choice. For their bread, they served up slices of warm focaccia bread which had a nice flavor but were a little tough. But once you soak it in a bajillion calories of the herbed olive oil they were really good. If I go again I would order a pizza or maybe one of their seafood pasta dishes.
(4)Foug C.
I went to this place because my friend and I didn't feel like walking further, or driving. We were hungry at that moment. The place was ok, too expensive for the quality though. Good service. I don't know if I'd go back
(3)Angelo A.
I was in town for a business convention. One night along with a few business partners we were searching for a place to eat and stumbled across La Focaccia's Italian Grill. I had the spaghetti w/meatballs...boy it was delicious, just scrumptious. Orlando, our waitperson, was so attentive and did not hurry us to place our order, but answered whatever questions we had. Great food, great atmosphere. I will be back! Keep up the great work!
(4)Chad T.
Okay, food was okay, service was okay, ambiance was okay. Okay!
(3)Bro F.
Ok, back for a few updates: This is a great, all around basic Italian place. Great pizza, great salads, great calamari, great atmosphere, and it's in SouthTown, so it's all great!! Been there many time, one of my local places that I always fall back on, and I can always count on them to have great food service and atmosphere.... they even have a piano player there some nights. I recommend this place for folks that want good Italian food, off the beaten track, and away from the river. Oh yea, excellent focaccia bread and oil before your meal!
(4)N L.
Mediocre and nothing special, especially considering the price. If anyone knows where I can get GOOD Italian in San Antonio, I'm all ears!
(2)Ruth F.
Big Disappointment every time I have been there. The first two times there was a horribly long wait for our food and other tables had bread but we never got anything. The third time was slightly better in that we got bread for our wait but the food was even worse than the first two times. I do not pick to go back but will go if asked by others who say they think it looks like it would be good and do not believe me when I say it isn't. The first time I got pizza and it was bland and sad. The second time I got salad and it was not fresh. I used to live down the street and almost never saw customers there. I'm not sure how they stay in business. A friend was joking that they were a front for the mob...I don't think San Antonio has a mob and find this a little racist...but the fact that they wondered how they stay in business tells you something.
(1)Felix D.
Honestly I have been here numerous times and have not made it past the appetizer menu. I usually order a bottle of wine and 1-2 orders of the Mussels Marinara (Spicy). The mussels are superb and make an excellent meal. So if you are in the mood for wine and spicy mussels this is your place!!
(4)M B.
The dining rooms isn't fancy and has seen better days, but the staff is friendly. The portions are large and a good value for the money. However, they won't make the daily specials on any other day which is a bit dissapointing. I would return again for lunch with co-workers but it isn't really a good dinner/date kind of place.
(3)