Lüke

walked to luke’s with a coworker and it was a great experience. it is very nicely decorated with enough space for everyone. our server was very attentive and friendly. I ordered the shrimp and grips with gumbo. yumm! the gumbo has a lot of flavor and the same for the shrimp and grips. really enjoyed the warm bread too. if you walk outside you can see the water fall. I emailed the restaurant to see when happy hour is and got a message from the GM:
Our happy hour hours are Monday, Wednesday-​Sunday 3pm-​6pm and Tuesday, we have a extended happy hour from 3pm-​8pm with live jazz.
i’ll be back!

Chose this restaurant for a Father’s Day celebration for my husband. The location is beautiful, plenty of light and wonderful details throughout the dining room. The staff was friendly and kind to my two step-​sons, who were being a little rambunctious.
Our dinner order consisted of:
Steak Frites
Petite Fried Gulf ‘Bam’ Bam’ (appetizer menu)
Hush Puppies (appetizer menu)
Chicken Tenders x 2 for the boys
First of all, the portion sizes are fantastic. The children’s meals came with plenty of chicken and french fries and a side salad. The boys really seemed to enjoy their meals, and even though it’s hard to go wrong with chicken tenders it’s less common to find them made with quality and care. My husband’s steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the black olive chimichurri was phenomenal. I enjoyed the Bam Bam Shrimp but for me the hero of the meal was the Hush Puppies. Golden brown and topped with crispy fried kale, they were a wonderful mix of comforting with a kick from the sauce they were served over.
Dessert:
Brendan’s Bread Pudding
«Gâteau Basque»
If I could only have one of these I would have to take the «Gâteau Basque» for sure. It was warm but light and delicious. The Bread Pudding was the culinary equivalent of slipping into a warm tub at the end of a long day. Too often I’ve had bread pudding that gets overly soggy but this was wonderfully balanced.
With a family of four we rarely have a chance to dine out at upscale restaurants affordably, but the price point was great and the meal made it worth every dime. Will definitely be returning for special occasions and maybe even a date night or two.

A beautiful restaurant, well situated just above the hub-​bub of San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Luke serves a delicious European and New Orleans styled menus. The food is absolutely delicious, and a nice change from San Antonio’s typical strong point, Tex-​Mex. This may be the classiest joint in town, and the best spot for a fun, but refined date.
To note, they did make a mistake on my first — from a misunderstanding of my request– and brought out my food too quickly when my guest and I were eating outdoors. The food was amazing, but we had to eat it too fast. Well, they more than made up for it on my second visit. There is something golden to be said about a responsive staff that cares so much about their customers. So nice to feel valued!
I would advise you give Luke a minimum of two tries! The menu will not bore you.

My significant other took me here before watching a show at the Majestic Theater which is just a short walk from the restaurant. We were seated next to the refreshing glimpse of the Riverwalk. The food was delicious. We had a chicken dish and I had a martini. Service was very nice. I love the place!

Started out with oysters Rockefeller and it was Sunday so the beingnets were complimentary. Wife had the poor boy shrimp and I had the grilled shrimp. Both were excellent but the grilled shrimp flavors were out of this world. The shrimp was spicy and the accompanying salad complimented so well. We finished with the bread pudding which is the best we ever had when in New Orleans. This one was even better. Thanks for the great food

That gumbo though!
I love this spicy concoction and would be willing to make a deal with the devil to have a personal endless supply of this oh-​so-​deliciousness. The Seafood Gumbo à la Creole is heavenly and leaves you filling pleasant and not that ugly feeling of being bloated. It’s a great dish to have if you’re wanting to grab a quick bite to eat before you need to catch a performance at the Majestic or Empire!
If you’re able to go to Lüke’s on a Tuesday, you’ll be in luck! Make sure to enjoy their exclusive HH!
Another neat feature is the private dining room located on the second floor. It’s great for cocktail hours, wedding receptions, or any special occasion in your life.

Sit at the bar, great service and the food was very good. Ordered the shrimp and grits is was lovely. I also tried the local IPA beer and it was very good. If you are ever in San Antonio this us a good place to come to. You will not be disappointed unless you’re cheap. Lol

We arrived at 10:30 PM near closing time and sat at the bar. Upon looking at the menu we tried to figure out just what type of theme the chef was trying to convey. The menu appeared to be a bar, appetizer menu. We ordered drinks while we attempted to interpret the various confusing dishes on the very questionable menu. The person sitting next to us received their fish chowder but not before the barkeep placed what appeared to be a dirty bar rag on top of the bar serving as a placemat once we saw the weird presentation of a dirty bar rag used for a placemat, we decided against Luke’s and went across the street for some Tex-​Mex.
I think the chef should rethink his menu and make it simpler to understand just what he is trying to feed his guest. The only crystal clear dish on the menu was the $ 14 hamburger. Being avant-​garde is only cool when you can somewhat interpret what the artist is trying to accomplish.

I was surprised to see a French restaurant in San Antonio, especially by a notable chef. We were visiting and wanted to have a good dinner no matter the cuisine. Luckily, it wasn’t packed on a Wednesday during spring break. We were in a group of 4 adults and 5 kids and were seated outside in the beautiful weather. The interior looked a bit fancy but sitting outside I didn’t feel so bad wearing shorts and sandals.
The kids loved the food. My 3-​year-​old decided she wanted steak and she loved it. Prepare to pay $ 10 a plate for the kids, but they are generous portions.
My fave dishes were the fried quail and rabbit pâté. For the entrees we had the king salmon special and duck andouille sausage, neither were spectacular.
Would I come back? Perhaps to hang out at the bar and munch on appetizers.

Happy Hour Review:
Fried Oysters: ⁵⁄₅ (extremely delicious)
Raw Oysters: ⁵⁄₅ (large and cleaned well)
Charbroiled Oysters: ¹⁄₅ (fishy tasting, not good) Cocktails: ⁵⁄₅ (all were tasty)
Atmosphere: ⁴⁄₅ (great but a little conservative for me)
Service: ⁵⁄₅ (no complaints)
*Happy Hour is daily, 4 to 6:30, i believe.

This was almost a 4 star review, I just found the experience underwhelming when I weighed the pros and cons.
Even though half the deck was open we were told we couldn’t be seated outside. Bummer, but maybe they had a ton of reservations specifically requesting outdoor seating, I dunno. Otherwise the staff was very friendly. They just seemed kind of clueless. Our server didn’t know the menu very well and was very timid. Backwaiting staff also just felt off. Our silverware was cleared with the appetizers, but then we never received new silverware, and even when we requested it, received one more fork. Similarly, water was refilled inconsistently, and even though we ordered vegetable sides for the table to share, we weren’t given any side plates. Also, I ordered an appetizer and a bowl of soup. Rather than staggering them, both came out at the same time, so I had finished my meal by the time my companions got their entres. All around just… weird.
Food was good but I wasn’t blown away. Oysters were delicious but not well cleaned so we were spitting out a lot of shell pieces. The crawfish bisque was quite good, but the fried green tomatoes were terribly underseasoned. Kind of tasted like nothing. Apparently the ettoufe was fabulous though so maybe I just ordered the wrong things.
I’m guessing they were having something of an off night. I’d consider coming again, but with so many options in the River Walk area, I’d probably try somewhere else first.

While traveling to San Antonio for business I stayed downtown and was very close to Luke. I stopped in with a local friend on a weeknight around 830 for dinner. There was no wait and we had excellent service. I love the open concept, but it was very loud even half full.
I had the duck sausage and it was incredible, a bit on the salty side. It was plated beautifully, and was a very generous portion size. The menu isn’t terribly varied but there is something for everyone. The beverage list was also very welcome. The cocktail list offered interesting options and we had fun trying out several.
I’d return!

OK, I read all the reviews and expected a fabulous dinner, WRONG! If you like food that you might get in a senior rest home which is bland and tasteless, this is the place for you. What happened to the Cajun type of food, it was totally absent, they had to bring sliced jalapeño peppers to the table to add to our food in an effort to spice it up a bit.
Regarding the oysters described by others as fabulous were thin and skimpy when we ordered a dozen of the most expensive Bluepoints. Sad. The «Luke Burger» made a McDonald’s basic hamburger seem tasty by comparison. The Pork Loin Schnitzel was crispy but the capers and crawfish butter did not help with the lack of taste, and this was supposedly a signature dish.
On the plus side the service was outstanding. Our server was very attentive with a delightful personality. The restaurant was clean, neat and the décor was pleasant. The manager came by to find out how we were enjoying our meal, when we told him that the food was bland he offered to buy us some oysters the next day which we turned down. The Seafood Gumbo a La Creole was outstanding and the highlight of the whole meal.
Bottom line: go for a bowl of soup and eat the rest of your meal somewhere else.

Great food and drinks. David was a great server. Oysters were amazing. Jazz was great and the ambience!

Not sure why this place is rated 3 and ½ stars, but it’s a five star place.
This is our favorite place for oysters and atmosphere.

I’m shocked by the bad reviews for this place. Matches up against premium spots like Bliss with no problem. Happy hour was an amazing value, but even at full price I think we’d be satisfied. Great service, top-​quality seafood/​raw bar items, and well-​made cocktails.
Go early and enjoy yourself

Terrible service! Actually, no service at all. We were seated and waited 15 minutes and no one said a word to us. At least 5 employees walked past us. We finally decided to leave after being ignored for so long.

Terrible service. Got there at 5:40 and waited 40 minutes for food that didn’t have to be cooked… oysters and boiled shrimp. Our waiter/​bartender forgot us was not engaged. Needs better execution of details. Take classes at Pappadeaux Univ.

Update: The restaurant contacted me almost immediately after my previous review and has gone out of their way to apologize and make things right. I will be back!

Almost turned around and left. Noise is worse than most sports bars and the level increased over time as folks tried to out shout each other in an effort to communicate. While an open concept can be visually pleasing one tends to be unable to see due to the noise.
The menu appears to be confused with parings from different areas and tastes. I found my ears starting to hurt as I finally settled on a Luke burger for seventeen USD. The burger was good but not great and the handcut fries where bits and pieces of over salted skins.
By the time I was almost done with half the burger the bottom bun was soaked through and mushy. i wasn’t able to eat more than half of it.
Meal completed my wife and I will always remember this as a young chefs attempt to create a new failed concept.

I came here with a big group of people and we wanted to try everything so everyone decided to order something different and share. The atmosphere here is very nice. It’s clean and orderly and I love the natural light that shines in the from the big windows all around. Our server was very friendly and attentive. He made the experience great and pleasant.
HOUSE-​MADE CHARCUTERIE– pickles, mustard, marmalade, and crisps
The pates were divine! They were so good and flavorful! I loved the meatiness and the saltiness, and the sweetness all on one plate. I took a bite of everything together. The depth of flavors that was in that one bite was amazing. You get the pâté, the acidity from the pickled shallots and pickles, the sweetness from the marmalade, and the freshness from the meat all on some nice crisp bread. They all work together and give you a combination of flavors all around.
MOULES ET FRITES– prince edward island mussels, steamed with garlic and thyme, and house made fries
These mussels were really good and I love that they were flavorful and had really nice seasoning. I could really taste the garlic and the freshness of the mussels. The fries were really crispy and golden brown. They had the right amount of salt.
GULF TUNA TARTARE– grilled baby artichokes, squash blossom, and rouille
The tuna was so fresh and I love the texture of the thick rouille sauce. It added some nice flavors when eaten with the smooth texture of the tuna. The chips were crispy and gave that crunch. It complemented the texture of the tuna.
GRILLED NEW YORK STRIP– potatoes brabant and perigeaux sauce
I was really disappointed in this dish because it was tough and chewy. The flavors did not really settle into the meat, but rather it became bland and flavorless when eaten. The potatoes had a nice crisp exterior, but also could’ve used more seasoning.
PEELER FARMS CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS
This dish was very flavorful to say the least. I love the dumplings and chicken. It tasted wonderful together. Each bite was flavorful and each ingredient added a different texture and taste note to the overall dish. It was so hearty, but light.
GATEAU BASQUE– vanilla cake, pear william sabayon, and seasonal jam
This dessert was light and not overly sweet. The cake was moist and the jam added a hint of fresh, fruity sweetness.
BRENDAN’S BREAD PUDDING– vanilla bean ice cream and hot buttered pecan sauce
The cold ice cream complemented the warm bread pudding. I also liked the moist inside of the bread pudding. It was fluffy and light, but very flavorful. The ice cream was not overly sweet and worked well with the buttered pecans.
Overall, I would definitely come back if I’m in the area. The food was great and service was wonderful. I really like the atmosphere and the presentation of the dishes. I would like to order different things and try a variety of what they have to offer.

This place had everything I wanted in a happy hour: 1) at least one stellar half-​priced drink (the French 75), 2) great snack food (oysters, meat pies, and cajun themed sliders), and 3) attractive clientele (what can i say? apparently, i’m as shallow as the kiddie pool). Throw in some great conversation with the expert oyster shucker Malachi and you have one heck of a great start to an evening of light alcoholic debauchery. I’d really like to see how this New Orleans transplant functions during the dinner hour as the ambiance is grand enough for a really fun date night. In any event, I’ll plan on coming back here at least for more oysters.

Lukewarm food, but excellent service!
We dined here as a large party on a Friday night, and were really excited to try a little taste of New Orleans in San Antonio. The restaurant itself is very pretty, open, airy, with white tablecloths and dark wood chairs, a large bar along the wall. It was very reminiscent of a cool NOLA restaurant, somewhere that the locals love.
The host seated us quickly (make reservations), and we were greeted by a bright server who was familiar with the menu and able to provide plenty of helpful recommendations. This restaurant allows you to bring your own wine with a $ 20 corkage fee, so he was more than happy to open the bottles of Pinot Noir we brought along.
The majority of our party started their meals with soup — trying the Gumbo. The gumbo was loved by everyone, with juicy oysters and huge lumps of fresh fish. It was delicate on the spice but still had a refreshing kick, topped with fluffy white rice. For entrees, there were mixed reviews at our table, but below are the favorites:
Ceviche: small portion, but great if you are looking for a light dinner with a cup of gumbo.
Petite Fried Shrimp Bam Bam: same as ceviche, perfect with a cup of gumbo.
Shrimp & Grits: the BEST dish, hands down. Jumbo shrimp, creamy grits, it was a hit!
On the other side… our not so favorites. The Gulf Oyster & Tasso Cavatelli was a miss. The cavatelli was more like gnocchi, and very, very heavy. The Brisket dish was also a miss, which was actually sent back because of the fattiness of the meat. The manager and server did an excellent job of taking care of the situation, immediately offering to replace the dish with the roasted chicken, which was very good. We were impressed with how they handled everything.
We also had items from the raw seafood bar. The gulf oysters were HUGE, and the shrimp was good, but they did not have king crab or any East Coast oysters available, something we were looking forward to trying.
Overall we had a nice dining experience and would try it again on a future trip, impressed by the service and the quality of the food that was well-​received.
Cheers!

I make it a point to come here for the cheap oysters when we go to San Antonio. We came here the day after Christmas. I was expecting 75 cent raw oysters and $ 1 charbroiled oysters. Well now it’s $ 1 for raw oysters and $ 8 for ½ dozen of charbroiled oysters. I’m beginning to think it’s not such a great HH place anymore since our bill came out to be more than I intended. Tried their meat pies as well which was filled with some shrimp etoufee filling. That was 3 for $ 5…wasn’t too impressed with it. $ 2 catfish sliders which was ok for the price. Place is definitely not meant for a cheap kid’s menu. We wanted just a side of mac n cheese for our toddler, but it ended up being a $ 10 meal with fries and a side salad… and seriously… kids are going to eat a side salad? Just felt that was a rip off. French 75 was nice and strong… I remembered it being tastier before.

I made a reservation yesterday for today and requested the patio. I called later in the afternoon today to lower my numbers on the table. They asked me if I still wish to be outside… Yes, of course it’s a beautiful day in Dec… and I’m downtown to see the lights on Downtown Tue! I arrive at the hostess stand this eve, the hostess walks two steps away to seat me. I shake my head, um no, my reservation is for the patio. She walks back to the hostess stand to look at table chart, then we are off to head outside. My table obviously is not ready or they would have taken me directly to my table in the first place. What is the use of making reservations if the hostess can’t follow through. As I walk through the restaurant, I see other tables set up for big parties and reservations… what happened to mine?
Server comes over and we start talking about the specials…
$ 1 oysters raw or broiled … WHAT? what happened to 50 cent raw oysters?
3 for $ 5 meat pies… WHAT? what happened to 50 cent meat pies?
My brain just shut down… that was a huge jump in price that I didn’t expect. I don’t care if it is to pay for the band I just saw inside the restaurant, it’s too loud in there in the first place, who needs a band?! It’s another reason why I like sitting outside. It’s crazy inside.
I won’t be back to Luke. I have tried and tried to like this place. Service always sucked (Tue HH) but I loved the Downtown Tue specials… so changing up DT HH by raising the prices has just pushed me over edge and into the river… I’m done. Au Revoir John Besh.

We were downtown one Sunday checking out wedding venues, and a sweet concierge recommended Luke for lunch. Turns out it was the middle of their Sunday Champagne Brunch, which includes complimentary beignets that are more delectable than the famous Café Du Monde. The menu during brunch must be limited, because I’ve seen photos posted here on Unilocal of a menu with double the options I was given, but that wouldn’t deter me from heading back next Sunday! Everything looked delicious, with no option I wouldn’t be interested in trying.
I ordered the fried green tomatoes, which came on a thick piece of toast, piled with a perfectly fried sweet tomato, sauce, and crispy strings on top. My fiancé ordered the braised pork loin and grits, with a poached egg and a whole lot of spicy heat to the meat. I thought it was a nice balance, but he said he actually would’ve preferred a little less spice. My step-​son ordered the fried battered quail and sweet waffles, and although he loved the flavor, you definitely have to have a strong sweet tooth to finish this dish. I was impressed with all 3, and will be back to try out a few more. I believe I will be scheduling my bridal luncheon next year at Luke!
My Unilocal rating system:
5 stars= Driving across town just for this!
4 stars= I would recommend visiting.
3 stars= Average, acceptable, positive.
2 stars= You might be able to drag me in.
1 star= I will definitely not be returning.

I recently went back to Luke’s for their happy hour. I can now confirm that the happy hour oysters have increased in price from 50 to 75 cents. Nevertheless, I still ate 2 dozen oysters along with multiple meat pies. Worth every penny during happy hour. I would skip on the fish sliders if they’re offered during your visit. Not much flavor going on with those, and they cost more. To get the most bang for your buck, stick with the oysters (raw, baked, or fried) and the meat pies!

The best happy hour in San Antonio. All their cocktails are half off and the oysters are $.75 each. You can get a great view of the River Walk sitting at the patio.
Always ask the waiter for their happy hour specials because they update their options daily.

After my last visit, which was disappointing, I was contacted by the restaurant. They made a generous offer inviting me back to rectify my last visit. Having taken Luke up on their offer, I can say they have redeemed themselves. The management was apologetic for the previous visit, service was great, as was the food.
I’m glad to see Luke takes reviews serious and strives to do their best. Based on this last visit, I will definitely continue to frequent this establishment.

Great service, food I ordered was delicious; risotto was $ 30+ and other menu items were pricy but I didn’t care because I was 100% satisfied. There is a happy hour with half priced drinks and appetizers. The dining area is crowded, actually the day I ate there an elderly person fell and had to be taken away by ambulance. The dress code is casual but can be dressy. There is an entry from the Embassy Suites (no connection so food can’t be charged to the room) so many people are in lounge around clothes. It’s a French themed restaurant so lots of seafood options. I will definitely eat here again and try another dish.

Okay guys, listen carefully: 75 cent oysters during happy hour everyday 3 – 6. Did you hear that? 75 cent oysters every day. Sign me up! Glad I don’t live in San Antonio because I would probably come here WAY too much. The outside patio is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or two. The Bloody Mary was on point and was only $ 5 during happy hour. Definitely come here for drinks and appetizers from 3 – 6.

For all of the hype, I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. I came with a group this evening and I’ll start off by saying the service was great. The staff was friendly and very attentive. Where everything fell short was in the food. I started with a mixed salad that felt a bit underdressed and just bland. For the entrée, I ordered the rib eye. I asked for it to be cooked medium and it was a solid medium rare. In addition, the meat itself was extremely fatty. I know a rib eye should be marbled with fat but this one had huge chunks of grizzle to the point that about 40% was left sitting on the plate. The dessert I ordered was a chocolate spiced cake. The cake was dry and crumbly and had clearly been overcooked.
I’m not sure if the group (there were about 15 of us) was a bit overwhelming for the restaurant or if this is normal, but for an acclaimed chef, I truly expected more from this restaurant.

As I was browsing Unilocal last week in the events calendar, I discovered a link that displayed the many restaurants in the San Antonio area that were participating in Restaurant Week. I bookmarked nearly 50 for future tasting engagements and decided on Sunday to dine at Luke on the River walk, within the Embassy Suites Hotel. I consider myself a Foodie/​Southern Belle and found some of the Southern items a bit pricey for the portions offered. I also found it hard to pay $ 27 for a bowl of Shrimp and Grits but did see some HH menu items i.e. oysters and empanadas I’d like to return and try. After browsing Unilocal photos I ultimately went with the menu items for restaurant week.
The Meal~
Appetizer: Grilled Watermelon — The helpful hostess offered this over the other item (can’t remember what it was) but this was an EPIC Fail. The watermelon was slightly burnt and served alongside some brown sauce that did not taste edible. The plate arrangement was beautiful but the food looked better than it tasted. I believe the fruit of peaches and watermelon were served atop a bed of feta (putrid) smelling cheese. No bueno~
Entrée: Blue Crabmeat Cavatelli /​gnocchi — This dish righted the wrong of the first selection and was an elegant arrangement of lump blue crab meat, heirloom baby tomatoes and gnocchi mixed in a light tomato sauce. It was seasoned to perfection and the gnocchi was prepared in house and was a perfect al dente. I wanted to savor every bite and could not believe how well the flavors and spices married together to complete this amazing dish.
Desert: Peach upside down cake with Vanilla Ice Cream — this was yet another amazing selection that was recommended as a favorite by the manager who made rounds in the dining area. The desert hit the spot and was the perfect curtain call to this Restaurant Week meal. Not to sweet but just enough sugar to get the glucose up and flowing in the arteries. I savored every bite and was glad it was offered in the $ 35 round up of their three course meal.
All in all a great meal minus the app. The hotel offers valet parking and if you get your ticket validated parking is only $ 7.00. While there are many more places to hit on my RW food tour, this location is definitely on the return list so that I can rummage around the Happy Hour menu~
Ms. Foodie~

Came to Luke’s for a project team dinner and had a great time. It was pretty loud but our team is as well, so be aware if you’re looking for a quiet date spot.
Overall, the food was spot on, although not as good as the original in New Orleans (they also don’t have the same menu items). Highlights include the hush puppies, oysters, shrimp and grits, and the bread pudding.