The Palm - San Antonio

Reviews

• GR

  Giovanna Torres Reyes

  2 days ago
  1.0
  Beautiful establishment with great atmosphere but the concept of salt seems to be foreign to this restaurant. Steak was burned and flavorless, chicken rubbery and sadly Danielle, our bar tender/ waitress is much kinder to patrons that appear to be above the age of 65 that appear to have a bigger wallet although we are both professionals in our 30s. Wish I could say we will be back but most likely won’t. Beautiful place but quite a bit of room for improvement.
• JE

  John Esquivel

  2 days ago
  1.0
  A Disappointing Pre-Theatre Dinner at The Palm, San Antonio We recently visited The Palm for a pre-theatre dinner, hoping for a classic, high-end experience before an evening performance. Unfortunately, our visit proved to be an overall disappointment, marked by poor cocktail execution, mediocre food quality, and a deeply concerning hygiene incident. The Cocktails: A Shaky Start The evening began with a request for two Sidecars. Upon arrival, the drinks were noticeably diluted and served with standard, low-quality "well ice," resulting in a watery and unenjoyable experience. Our server, Nazar, who provided attentive service throughout the meal despite the kitchen and bar's failings, graciously took them back. We confirmed that the bar stocked craft or cubed ice before re-ordering. My wife opted for an Old Fashioned, and I chose a simple Bombay Sapphire martini. These were better than the Sidecars, but still not up to the standard expected. The initial sidecar attempt felt amateurish, suggesting an inexperienced bartender who may have been referencing a recipe for the first time. The Main Course: Mediocre at Best We skipped appetizers and went straight to the main course. My wife chose the Sicilian Salmon, and I ordered the Center-Cut 8oz Filet with a Petite Lobster Tail. The issues continued upon the meal's arrival. The lobster tail was served at room temperature, not warm, and crucially, was delivered without any accompanying drawn butter or lemon, a basic omission for any seafood serving. The 8oz filet was surprisingly flavorless and lacked the depth and richness expected of a premium cut. Frankly, it wouldn't make a top-ten list of fillets in San Antonio; those seeking a truly memorable steak would be better served next door at Bohanan’s. My filet lacked any recommended accompaniments like a brandy peppercorn sauce or a house topping, and the flavor profile itself was flat, with an odd, earthy note that reminded me of liver. The entire main course felt uneventful and utterly failed to justify the price point. The Unacceptable Incident and Management Response Midway through the meal, while my wife was finishing her Old Fashioned, we discovered a bug floating on the cubed ice inside the glass. We immediately alerted Nazar, who informed the manager. The management's response to this severe hygiene breach was underwhelming. While they removed the two initial Sidecars and the contaminated Old Fashioned from the bill, the manager did not approach our table to offer an apology or express any real concern about the discovery, even after we showed them a picture of the insect. The speed of the service, while normally a plus before a show, also felt rushed and transactional. We were in and out in less than an hour, which is highly unusual for a high-end dining experience and suggested a general lack of effort. Conclusion and Post-Dinner Issues This visit confirms why we had stayed away for the past five or six years. The Palm failed to deliver on quality, execution, or customer service commensurate with its reputation. The final and most concerning aspect of the evening was that my wife became ill later that night, which we can only attribute to the Sicilian Salmon. This possible case of food poisoning underscores the fundamental issues with food preparation and handling we observed. Considering the cocktail failures, the mediocre food, the management’s disregard for a serious hygiene issue, and the resulting illness, this will be our final visit to The Palm. There are simply too many other establishments in San Antonio that offer superior quality and a truly upper-end dining experience.
• IV

  Iyana Vee

  Nov 11, 2025
  5.0
  I had the Ahi tuna salad for lunch and it was super fresh great quality fish and the flavors went so well together. The service was always very good and attentive, would 100% recommend!
• JG

  Jim Guy

  Nov 8, 2025
  1.0
  Never ate there, never will Was researching for our trip to San Antonio and saw this restaurant. If the owner has so little time that they cut and paste responses to reviews without even reading the review we will pass.
• OF

  oksana Fish

  Nov 4, 2025
  3.0
  The atmosphere at The Palm in San Antonio was lovely, and both our server and the manager were very kind and attentive. Unfortunately, the food did not match the level of service. We ordered the wedge salad, which came swimming in dressing and lacked balance — it just wasn’t enjoyable. Then we tried the wagyu steak, and it arrived cold with very little flavor. It was served on a large plate with a small piece of meat and a boiled-looking onion on the side — the presentation felt disappointing and not what you’d expect for that price point. Unfortunately, not the dining experience we hoped for.

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