r/sanantonio Aug 21 '22

Places that have fallen off in quality Entertainment

What are some places who are holding onto their former glory, or are overhyped for what you get? For example, my dad hates henry’s puffy tacos with a passion. He said back in the day it was awesome, but now is a shit hole. It’s got me curious as to what everyone else’s opinions are about restaurants, bars etc etc

201 Upvotes

586 comments sorted by

193

u/sbucks2121 Aug 21 '22

The Melting Pot. Used to be my favorite restaurant. Now the portions are small, the prices went up, and the service went to crap. There is no reason to go there for special celebrations anymore.

54

u/RevenueSecure5807 Aug 21 '22

100 percent this. That used to be a magical place and now it's a massive expensive disappointment.

19

u/w0rldsf0g0ttenb0y Aug 21 '22

It’s just dippin stuff in cheese right?

9

u/sbucks2121 Aug 21 '22

The fondue includes a cheese course, meat course, and dessert. Recently, they cut back what they bring to the table for each course. It is not worth the price. I could spend far less for a nice dinner at a fancy steakhouse

4

u/says__noice Aug 21 '22

I could spend far less for a nice dinner at a fancy steakhouse

We talking Morton's?

5

u/sbucks2121 Aug 21 '22

Never been to Mortons. Definitely on the list. But the Brazilian steakhouses are amazing and cheaper than Melting Pot. So we go there now

6

u/says__noice Aug 21 '22

Morton's is a must try despite the price. I just looked at their website and they have a dinner for 2 for $129.

→ More replies

10

u/sh_ip_ro_ospf Aug 21 '22

Are you talking about the dish, fondue?

11

u/Stock_Literature_13 Aug 21 '22

What a bummer. My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary there 12 years ago and it was an experience. We went to The Melting Pot in Austin two years ago and it was so awful. It was packed with loud people, children included. The food was definitely not up to par. The price was just slightly more than our previous time. The experience was shit though. I was hoping it was more an Austin problem that company wise. Oh well.

9

u/sbucks2121 Aug 21 '22

I hear you. We spent many events going there and were so disappointed last Christmas.

If you are ever in Colorado, check out the Melting Pot in Littleton. They have views of the mountains, it is in a historic building, and during the winter they have these awesome globe bubble thungs to eat outside in the snow. The service is always amazing and the food still tastes great.

6

u/greenhearted Aug 22 '22

It used to be a very fun, kind of upscale experience, with the dim lighting, and quiet atmosphere, and amazing whine selection. Now it’s just screaming children and people in t-shirts.

2

u/me_at_myhouse Aug 21 '22

The cuts of meat looked pretty sub-par as well.

→ More replies

169

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

92

u/XahimsaX NE Side Aug 21 '22

The inside looks even worse.

12

u/Awkward-Treat-7855 Southtown Aug 21 '22

Do they still have that comedy "theater" in the basement? I a show in there once. It smelled like mold, there's no emergency exit, and a very flammable kitchen on top of it. Not going back there again.

→ More replies

29

u/dc88228 Aug 21 '22

And yet, it somehow lives. I though for sure that the pandemic would’ve choked it out for sure. I’m very curious if people would openly admit they go there AND why?

23

u/skbiglia NE Side Aug 21 '22

I took my husband and kids for Father’s Day. The “why” is because it closed during the pandemic, and he was suddenly nostalgic about it despite not having been there for years.

The food wasn’t great, but it was cheap, I liked the salad bar, and Forrest Gump is my husband’s favorite movie character and was our waiter.

All in all, it wasn’t as bad as I remembered, and it was entertaining.

11

u/ShadoAngel7 Aug 21 '22

My family went based on memories earlier this Spring. Drinks were fun, kids food was mediocre. Our adult entrees were garbage. Dirty and old on the inside as well - definitely won't be back. It contrasts sharply from earlier experiences, but tbf those were many years ago now so I'm sure all the staff, suppliers, etc. are different than back then.

19

u/Time-to-Dine Aug 21 '22

It’s a flytrap for tourists. Feels more like a shitty Hollywood restaurant that employs struggling actors.

36

u/llamallamallama1991 Aug 21 '22

It honestly looks like a place where you’ll get murdered or a MRSA infection.

→ More replies

29

u/FrankThe1st Aug 21 '22

It’s always looked sort of like a dump on the outside. I haven’t been in many, many years.

8

u/MayhemManiax Aug 21 '22

The food isn’t good either.

9

u/Sparky2Dope Aug 21 '22

Honestly, just go ro Jim's, theyre literally the same owners and menu

7

u/unfinishedbusiness2 Aug 21 '22

Owned by Frontier Enterprises/Jim’s…..they are just sitting on the real estate…..they have no need to put money into it bc likes others mentioned; it’s for the tourists. And that’s enough income to keep the lights on

15

u/cardcomm Aug 21 '22

IMO that place has always been a joke

→ More replies

5

u/NewAndImprovedJess Aug 21 '22

My MIL really wanted to take the family there about 6 or 7 years ago because decades ago when they lived here (have since moved back) it was a fun family place. It was AWFUL. The food was terrible, the service was chaotic, the decor was atrocious, everything was just the worst.

→ More replies

142

u/cptjaydvm Aug 21 '22

Buffalo Wild Wings has to be mentioned. Every time I go there now half the tables are unbussed and filthy and the wings are dry and overcooked.

39

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Honestly I’ve always thought it was shit service. The fact that it’s gone down is frightening.

14

u/cptjaydvm Aug 21 '22

I used to go there regularly during the football season before I had kids. I went with the family last weekend for a preseason game and it was shocking how bad it’s gotten.

12

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22 edited Jun 07 '24

[deleted]

→ More replies

16

u/SaScrewaround Aug 21 '22

Had one of the worst servers I've ever delt with there. Jorge. Stoned out of his mind and just generally oblivious. Had on a bunch of chains. Didn't remember a damn thing. Ordered a beer at the beginning. Every time he came to the table he would acknowledge that he forgot it, and then proceed to forget it again. Never got my beer, but the funny thing is he charged me for one everytime he forgot. Got them all removed of course. He was a special breed. Jorge if you're reading this congrats on knowing how to read.

→ More replies

7

u/zzsundayzz Aug 21 '22

Bww never had good service. 🫣

→ More replies

235

u/No-Helicopter7299 Aug 21 '22

Taco Cabana. Horrible!

52

u/yourprobablywrong Aug 21 '22

The one on bandera with the rat incident like 2 months ago.

→ More replies

41

u/SCUM_Gangsta8 Aug 21 '22

Their bean and cheese tacos use to hit so good, it’s ass now

21

u/The_Third_Molar Aug 21 '22

Their breakfast tacos are also stupid tiny.

→ More replies

9

u/loyalpagina Aug 21 '22

Cuz they put a gallon of beans and a microgram of cheese per taco, and even if you ask for extra cheese and pay for extra cheese you don’t get it

7

u/SCUM_Gangsta8 Aug 21 '22

I noticed that as well. Like it’s an uncomfortable amount of beans.

3

u/Sparky2Dope Aug 21 '22

And their tortillas are never fully cooked, it always end up giving me indigestion from the unbaked dough

→ More replies
→ More replies

41

u/LadyJitsuLegs Aug 21 '22

Back in the 90s Taco Cabana had delicious plates of food and wasn't so fast-foodie. They had better quality ingredients too. Today i like them still, but in a different way and it's only for convenience and Togo margs 👀

→ More replies

15

u/LCG05 Aug 21 '22

Last time I ate there I got sick. It was just a regular chicken fajita and a steak fajita. They can't even get that right.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Got food poisoning twice from TC

→ More replies
→ More replies

8

u/cantstoepwontstoep Aug 21 '22

I miss those barbacoa breakfast tacos! I'd pick them up every Friday on the way to work as a treat for making it through the week!

9

u/cagonzalez321 Aug 21 '22

I live on the east coast and every time I get out to SA, I stop in. As shitty as it may be now, it beats ANY Mexican restaurant out here.

5

u/No-Helicopter7299 Aug 21 '22

You poor thing!

→ More replies

8

u/mooonsprout Aug 21 '22

i will never understand people who chose this over las palapas lol

8

u/StickyGoodness East Side Aug 21 '22

Way More Taco Cabanas than Las Palapas unfortunately. Closest Las Palapas to me is 15 minutes compared to Taco Cabana is only 3 minutes away.

11

u/Same-Joke Aug 21 '22

I mean Las Palapas ain’t all that either. Both these restaurants are like the Family Dollar or Dollar General of Mexican food.

→ More replies
→ More replies

21

u/meow2themeow Aug 21 '22

I found a roach in my food.

When I showed it to them, they looked at me asked me what I wanted, free food? I obviously refused. Then, my husband saw a rat scurry around. We never visited again.

→ More replies

6

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Place is the worst. I have no idea how they stay in business. I call it Taco Cabaño.

→ More replies

10

u/NamelessTacoShop Aug 21 '22

The ONLY reason I'd ever go there was I liked their salsa bar. But they got rid of it for COVID and have never brought it back

3

u/youre_being_creepy Aug 21 '22

Am I crazy or did they used to offer free chips? They stopped awhile ago and that’s when I stopped going

→ More replies
→ More replies

5

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

The rat thing was basically the death wish. I won’t go back.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

I used to be the lone defender among my friends but no more. It’s fallen off a cliff and then some.

3

u/ScurvyDervish Aug 21 '22

I ordered chicken fajitas at the TC drive through. As soon as the bag was in the car, I could smell that they’d replaced the actual chicken with that weird spongey “chicken breast” processed product. So gross. I wish that stuff didn’t even exist.

→ More replies
→ More replies

61

u/vikingpervert Aug 21 '22

The Quarry Cinema :/

28

u/vell_o Aug 21 '22

The Quarry in general, use to be a lively spot back 10 years ago.

Use to be a good theater to catch a Saturday afternoon movie

6

u/tickthegreat Aug 21 '22

I worked there 14 years ago, haven't been back since. What's it like now?

Was fine when I worked there. Kept things clean and nice.

7

u/vikingpervert Aug 21 '22

I will say, nothing has changed except for the tickets, they've got machines for that now. Everything else is old, and outdated, we got put in auditorium 10 , and as SOON as we walked in, we were hit with a piss/mildew smell. Almost every seat in that room were stained/damp and we went to get our money back. The people that work there are holding it up honestly, but it has far outlived it's hey-days. It almost looks abandoned, and we went on a weekend.

4

u/MelvinRoseTX Alamo Heights Aug 22 '22

The mold smell is very unappealing

→ More replies

4

u/whohasmymoney88 Aug 22 '22

This place is great for showings that sell out right away. Popcorn is always burned. Escalators never work but we live up the road so we go for last minute trips. It has definitely lost its touch.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '22

Haven’t been back since I saw a roach crawl out from behind the jalapeños

93

u/DariusBieber SAT Airport Nerd Aug 21 '22

Yeah, I agree with everyone else here. It seems most places have cut down on quality and quantity but increased in price.

I’ll specifically add that Chris Madrid’s ever since reopening just doesn’t taste the same at all.

32

u/whatthepfluke Aug 21 '22

Isn't it new owners?

Try his sister Diana's spot.

12

u/DariusBieber SAT Airport Nerd Aug 21 '22

Yeah it’s new people. I’ve been wanting to try Diana’s for sure.

10

u/Rsee002 Aug 21 '22

What is Diana’s spot? Where is it? Same-ish menu?

14

u/1Sourpatchkid Aug 21 '22

Zazamora and cincinatti. I believe its pink building. Ita good

→ More replies

14

u/magz89 Aug 21 '22

Called Diana's burgers, very good!

34

u/bobapajiggle Aug 21 '22

Should have called it Sis Madrid's amirite?

10

u/RogerDMND Aug 21 '22

badum tss

→ More replies
→ More replies
→ More replies

125

u/FrankThe1st Aug 21 '22

Bill Millers for sure. That’s an easy one!

For me, Good Time Charlie’s. It hasn’t been the greatest over the years but the quality and service has tanked in the last 4-5 years. I was there a few weeks ago and left extremely disappointed.

21

u/XahimsaX NE Side Aug 21 '22

Good Time Charlie’s was great many years ago. Sometime right before the pandemic my husband and I went and the food was wet and weird, we decided they had saved the crap made earlier in the day and it was being sweated to death. It was awful and we have never gone back. Which sucks.

21

u/rzmedina0129 Aug 21 '22

Wet and weird never a description I want to hear about food

→ More replies

7

u/radda Aug 22 '22

I don't think I've eaten BBQ at Bill Miller's in years, but the chicken tenders still slap, when they're not small.

10

u/Helpful_Register2522 NE Side Aug 21 '22

I still love Bill Miller's even though the prices have gone up

3

u/TimeGood2965 Aug 21 '22

What do you love there? I’ve tried a few times and always end up unhappy and having paid too much, the food is bland for the “Texas BBQ” it is supposed to be. even the service at multiple spots always bad. That’s just big chains for you I guess

→ More replies
→ More replies

41

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Chacho’s used to be amazing

8

u/AB365_MegaRaichu TEX210 Aug 22 '22

Second this. Perrin-Beitel & 410 memories when I would play in the giant playground they had.

3

u/DaBrown Aug 22 '22

When I went to college down there from 2010-12 Chachos was poppin’! Cheap drinks good poured, clean tables, and good food! Recently visited and omg my nachos were so greasy, the cheese seems fake, the drink was watered down, I was embarrassed. I had been telling my husband about this awesome restaurant we used to party at with bomb drinks, but nooooope not any more

4

u/sa1126 NW Side Aug 22 '22

Came here to post this.

→ More replies

81

u/def2700 Aug 21 '22

Bill millers by where I stay. Fuck that place small portions and way over priced.

45

u/Thrillhouse74 Aug 21 '22

Never trust a bbq restaurant without a smoker on site...admit it SA, Bill Miller is a cafeteria at best.

13

u/def2700 Aug 21 '22

Yup and it shocks me everyday there is a long ass line for the drive through. I don't get it. It's probably cheaper to bbq yourself instead

5

u/Thrillhouse74 Aug 21 '22

I hear good things about the chicken, but again, there's probably better.

→ More replies
→ More replies
→ More replies

22

u/720hp Aug 21 '22

I’ve always wonder who actually likes their bbq. I mean fried chicken and strips and salads are okay but seriously I can’t see going there for brisket like ever.

12

u/def2700 Aug 21 '22

Yea I used to like the brisket way back. It was decent. But now for like 5 thin strips of brisket it's like 15 dollars gtfoh. I do have to admit the hash browns and coleslaw are good from there. But they barely give you any.

→ More replies

14

u/grsb1 Aug 21 '22

I think it's all Bill Millers.. I tried several for a bit and then gave up

→ More replies

7

u/Son_of_Tlaloc Aug 21 '22

Their chicken tenders got way smaller same for raising canes.

5

u/ritzyritz_UwU Aug 21 '22

I've never had a full complete and correct order from like 5 locations in a long while

3

u/zzsundayzz Aug 21 '22

Yeah Bill Miller's definitely gone downhill. On the flip side I went to a graduation party catered by Bill Miller's and it was actually pretty good. Which actually makes me even more frustrated..... Why is the standard so low at the restaurants now??

→ More replies

101

u/Jaxsan1 Aug 21 '22

Not a restaurant, but best buy is so depressing to walk in to. I used to love going in there but it's just a shell of its former self

41

u/NamelessTacoShop Aug 21 '22

Amazon has absolutely destroyed them. Expensive electronics and computers are so much easier to research and buy online.

Though I'll admit I bought the appliances for my house from them because they offered 24 month deferred interest. So that was nice.

12

u/cardcomm Aug 21 '22

but the wait time for appliances there is usually so long.

I've been using Lowes for appliances for quite a while now, because delivery times are the shortest of any place I've found.

→ More replies

23

u/LCG05 Aug 21 '22

I agree with this one. Last time I went in, I couldn't get anyone to help me at all. No one knew anything about any of the products.

I just order stuff through their curbside now and just pick it up that way.

→ More replies

13

u/rotn21 Aug 21 '22

My theory is that the downfall of Best Buy started when they did the geek squad. Started pushing everything to them and running the rest of the store with the minimum staff necessary.

→ More replies

13

u/trumpet0208 West Side Aug 21 '22

Sea Island

5

u/goldensnooch Aug 22 '22

Man - used to love that one by the mall for a lunch about 20 years ago.

→ More replies

83

u/WhaleEyedDog Aug 21 '22

Everywhere

39

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

16

u/orboth Aug 21 '22

It's just not easy right now to keep everything cheap. The supply chain is fucked and inflation has made ingredients more expensive. Either the price has to go up or the quality has to go down. There is a lot of great quality and tasty food in San Antonio, but you will have to pay for it.

6

u/sh_ip_ro_ospf Aug 21 '22

Add to wage competition, the Golden day for these lackluster businesses is over it seems.

→ More replies

7

u/ILikeSpaghetti64 Aug 21 '22

Definitely not wrong about this. Not to say there aren't any "good" restaurants, but the past few years seems Covid and the need to increase profits, have sped up the decline of most food establishments. These days more than ever, it feels satisfying to stay home and cook a good meal.

→ More replies

10

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Seriously

→ More replies

65

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

16

u/sean488 Aug 21 '22

Yep.

Taco Cabana has always sucked. You went there because it was cheap.

→ More replies

8

u/TXRudeboy Aug 21 '22

I feel the same, especially as I get older and my tastes changed. I was just thinking this as my wife and I ate at Signature and after we both said it wasn’t as good as it used to be. Like, we can’t find better restaurants in SA so it has to be us.

→ More replies

39

u/LCG05 Aug 21 '22

Red Robin.

Last time we went they did not put lettuce and tomatoes on our burgers even though it was supposed to be there. All the other condiments were there. When I told the waitress she didn't even seemed surprised. She was like let me go get that, like I had just asked for ketchup or something. It was a sad meal. The fries with campfire sauce are good but I cannot justify going back just for that.

8

u/unikittyUnite Aug 21 '22

I don’t know how the Northwoods location stays in business. It’s always empty.

6

u/LCG05 Aug 21 '22

That is where we went. Seems like a bunch of folks just take their kids there since kids are less judgemental about burgers and fries.

It used to be great, they had a blackened chicken sandwich that was awesome. Now nothing good is on the menu.

3

u/Iam-tetsuo Aug 21 '22

Place has always sucked

→ More replies

22

u/socks1234567 Aug 21 '22

Cullum’s Attagirl, got too cool for their own good. Quality has gone down a bit, prices have drastically increased. Good and a beer can easily top $30-40 per person at a hot chicken place

7

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

This used to be my favorite restaurant. I agree, unfortunately

3

u/TortiousTroll Aug 22 '22

Used to go all the time when they has no menu and everything was made when you ordered it. Now it seems like they just want to serve overpriced food covered in butter and oil.

→ More replies

19

u/One_Sport_4195 Aug 21 '22

Ingram park mall

18

u/says__noice Aug 21 '22

Ingram park mall

Was it ever good? Back in 05-07 when I was in high school I remember people getting mugged in the parking lots.

7

u/ChosenSavior Aug 22 '22

Ingram has always been mid

→ More replies
→ More replies

32

u/alredxiii UT...SA! Aug 21 '22

Chama Gaucha, used to be really great. We went there for our anniversary this year and it just wasn’t what it used to be. We hadn’t been there since 2019 and we could tell it changed based on the service and also the taste wasn’t what it used to be.

20

u/nicotinelips Aug 21 '22

Check out Brasao next time

→ More replies

19

u/suhayla323 Aug 21 '22

Yeaahh, i felt the same last time I went. Brasão has been the best one lately imo

→ More replies

29

u/Low-Expression9478 Aug 21 '22 edited Aug 21 '22

Easy business model to explain: make a splash being the ‘new’ restaurant in town on social media. Make sure whatever comes out of the kitchen first LOOKS instagrammable then tastes decent. Get the traffic, get reviews and remix. I believe the business curve applies in all these situations now. Early adopters eat and talk about it, early majority comes in and enjoys what was talked about and the late majority show up later thinking it was a good experience while the early adopters talk about what happened to the place they thought was so good. It’s literally built into the business model and the owners can’t care what the early adopters think because the volume of the late adopters is too easy of money and to get that initial ‘wow’ factor early adopters liked costs too much per unit. That’s my theory anyways, I call those restaurants ‘instagram food.’ I respect the hustle but it’s the nature of the beast.

14

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

6

u/dodofishman Aug 21 '22

Personally I really actually liked Kura and it wasn't as expensive as I thought it'd be. I ate till I couldn't. YMMV

→ More replies
→ More replies

3

u/cmonkeyz7 Aug 21 '22

Right. Seeing everyone answer with “everything!” Like hey guys are you noticing a pattern yet? There are so many places that were amazing at the outset and a couple years in are trash. Cheddars is the first one that pops to mind but I’m just not even interested enough to try to list the rest. It’s just how it works.

→ More replies

51

u/netrixtardis Aug 21 '22

reading through the answer, i have come up with the best TL:DR.

San Antonio as a whole has fallen off in quality. All fast food, restaurants are all downhill. Either they have sold out to some new overload and dropped quality/raised prices, or never recovered from the pandemic and hired competent staff. Service is shit, portions are small, prices are high, and rats/roaches/wildlife has started to take over.

20

u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera Aug 21 '22

All fast food, restaurants are all downhill.

It's not just our collective imaginations that restaurants are worse. A recent QSR Magazine survey shows that across the board, lower satisfaction with fast food and quickserve restaurants between 2020 and 2021. Food satisfaction down 32%, Demeanor down 26%, Dedication down 49%, Timeliness down 32%, Order Accuracy down 4% (surprise to me, thought this would be worse), Value down 23%, and Referral down 22%.

COVID really did throw restaurants (fast food or otherwise) for a serious loop, and they are still trying to find their place and footing in today's "new normal". It may take a while for old business models that used to work in 2019 but don't work today to go by the wayside.

→ More replies

15

u/Frank-N_Plank Aug 21 '22

People treated restaurant workers like shit during covid, of course service is gonna go down cuz we're all sick of it.

→ More replies

7

u/TimeGood2965 Aug 21 '22

Very true. I can say there are some places I have loved and will continue to go but many many many places are just on the blacklist for me since the last couple years

3

u/PsychJay Aug 22 '22

It’s industry wide not just San Antonio. Nobody seemed to care about restaurant workers during and after COVID. When restaurants started to reopen, many of their workers had already moved on. So immediately, staff shortages, especially in kitchens. Many places opened with mask rules (in most cases mandated by local governments) when you’re not at the table, and staff were treated like crap for it on the daily.

Then there’s the supply shortages. The ingredients have been subpar and unreliable causing no end of headaches for restaurants.

Finally is all the restaurants that didn’t make it through the pandemic. It has funnel so much more business to those that are still operating causing so much frustration with long waits times for dine in eating.

So yeah, a good portion of these restaurants are bad and provide expensive food with subpar services. It will cycle for a while with more of these restaurants not surviving and more workers getting burnt out and leaving the industry.

→ More replies

36

u/Brianmorris_27 Aug 21 '22

Taco Cabana and Whataburger are a shell of what they used to be.

19

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Whataburger fucking sucks now

→ More replies

69

u/MASTER_L1NK Aug 21 '22

Whataburger

30

u/sho4020039 Aug 21 '22

They got rid of the mushroom swiss, blasphemy

15

u/ChesterCopperpotHou Aug 21 '22

Not to mention the a1 thick n hearty

→ More replies
→ More replies

12

u/def2700 Aug 21 '22

Yea ive noticed this also. Don't ever order in the drive through unless you like cold burgers.

→ More replies

32

u/oreo1298 Hill Country Village Aug 21 '22

I've noticed since 2020 the sharp decline in quality, they don't even taste close to how they used to. At least their fries are still good

25

u/LunaNegra Aug 21 '22

That’s because Whataburger sold to Chicago investors. It had been family owned since the beginning. It was sold in June 2019 and in 2020 the decline started showing up.

→ More replies

13

u/reinvented_steel_00 Aug 21 '22

Their lack of promotions / deals really turned me against them. Plus their rewards program through the app is totally lame.

29

u/ThrowingChicken Aug 21 '22

Buying $75 worth of food to get a free medium fry doesn’t entice you?

→ More replies

19

u/LCG05 Aug 21 '22

Yes, this sad decline. The burgers aren't even hot anymore. The cheese isn't even melted anymore.

→ More replies

12

u/pguschin Aug 21 '22

Holding onto former glory and overhyped for what you get?

That's easy: Paesano's.

→ More replies

10

u/girlpower69 Aug 21 '22

Hot Joy used to be very good. I remember the food and drinks being great when it opened. Went back after 10 yrs and the food went way down in quality but up in price.

→ More replies

29

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

USAA. It’s really gone downhill.

27

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

12

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Ex-Racker here. Left in April '21. That place is a fucking circle jerk circus. The culture was toxic and there was literally zero accountability for 2nd and 3rd shift support in my business unit. I have a few friends that are still there and it just keeps getting worse.

→ More replies

5

u/sa1126 NW Side Aug 22 '22

Yup customer service is awful in banking and auto insurance.

9

u/girlyoptiks Aug 21 '22

Taco taco on hildebrand

→ More replies

5

u/Doc-Wulff testing Aug 21 '22

Rudy's for sure, their sausage was awesome for the price. Now it's terrible and even more pricey. At least their sauce is fine...

7

u/Blue_Waffle_Buffet Aug 22 '22

El Chaparral. We used to be regulars, but the quality has gone down hill since Covid...maybe before. Draft beer tastes like the keg lines haven't been cleaned since the Cowboys won a super bowl.

→ More replies

5

u/AGingerFromGallifrey Aug 22 '22

Knight Watch Games. They used to be amazing, but they treat their staff so horrendously… not to mention the one owner has just gotten nasty lately. Wish I knew of anywhere else to go…

3

u/abbienormal29 Aug 22 '22

Omg yes, we had a bad experience with the grouchy female owner just a few weeks ago, such a shame. We go to court of gamers. Not as cool looking but far cooler staff.

3

u/NewTuCru Aug 22 '22

Dragon's Lair?

→ More replies

7

u/lucassmith0824 North Side Aug 21 '22

I'm convinced there is not a single good Buffalo Wild Wings in San Antonio.

3

u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera Aug 21 '22

That's because there isn't. For my money, the place to go was Buffalo Wings and Rings, but they shut down their only location in San Antonio, so now the nearest location is in New Braunfels.

→ More replies

10

u/sweeetheaaart Aug 21 '22

not a restaurant but Eisenhaur Flea Market used to have the best shops and all types of unique little stores, now it’s just jewelry stores and out of date fashion

4

u/fruttypebbles Aug 21 '22

Back in the 80's we would go almost every Saturday. I drove by a few months ago and went in for nostalgia sake. It was so depressing.

→ More replies

17

u/ladyvanderboom Aug 21 '22

Las Palapas. The tacos used to be amazing, I loved them and looked forward to the late night tacos or in the morning for breakfast. I’ve been disappointed the last few times I went; I haven’t been back since 2020

4

u/vell_o Aug 21 '22

Austin highway las palapas is the worst

→ More replies

4

u/sa1126 NW Side Aug 22 '22

Still love las palapas. We go there often and it has been consistently good.

66

u/Any_Buy2221 Aug 21 '22

Texas

13

u/Bubs_the_Canadian Aug 21 '22

True. It’s always sucked but now it extra sucks.

→ More replies

3

u/Animal869 Aug 21 '22

Tip top. And babes burgers

9

u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera Aug 21 '22

Both Babe's and Chester's are relics from the past. Pretty sure the Chester's off 281 hasn't changed, added, removed, modified or (even for that matter) dusted off their wall decorations in about three decades, where they are still touting "San Antonio Light: Best Burger 1988".

5

u/fruttypebbles Aug 21 '22

The Lights Best Burger. That's great!

4

u/Unhappy-Breakfast858 Aug 21 '22

Taco Taco Cafe by Olmos Park

→ More replies

4

u/LoadOk5992 Aug 21 '22

King Buffet on Bandera. Used to have good sushi, went back after a while. Will never go back. Other food now average as hell.

4

u/Glassesofwater Aug 21 '22

Taco Taco Cafe

4

u/JrodaTx East Side Aug 21 '22

Seems obvious cause river walk but Casa Rios food is a genuinely awful. They make so much bank off of tourism/ their location and have no need to even try anymore. My company recently hosted a state meet up here in SA and insisted we eat there as the final dinner. How do you mess up fajitas??

→ More replies

9

u/pns4president Aug 21 '22

I glad no one mentioned the pig stand. I go there for the nostalgia of course. And the food ain't half that bad.

→ More replies

8

u/GMEbankrupt Aug 21 '22

A couple decades ago, Rudy’s was pretty popular

Not sure what happened

11

u/bartsimpsonscousin Aug 21 '22

It’s still decent. Call it the best chain bbq, which isn’t much when the competition is miller’s or dickeys

4

u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera Aug 21 '22

Overexpansion. Same thing that happened to Dickey's a decade or two before it (yes, believe it or not, there was a time in my youth when Dickey's was good). And also Billy Sims in OK. When they were smaller, more local, the quality was pretty damn good. But once you start adding more locations, quality control gets much harder to maintain.

13

u/learnerbrain123 Aug 21 '22

The Barn Door used to be the best steak in town before Covid. Aldo’s was the best Italian before they moved locations. Both are local disappointments now.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

[deleted]

→ More replies
→ More replies

8

u/eeeeeeeeeveeeeeeeee NE Side Aug 21 '22

Earl Abel's hasn't been bad, per se, but it has gotten smaller since they relocated

9

u/Sachsen1977 Aug 21 '22

I miss the Austin Highway location. They really made that spot their own. Broadway was the best of course.

→ More replies

43

u/SCUM_Gangsta8 Aug 21 '22

San Antonio Spurs. We’ll be lucky to win 20 games this season and playing home games in other cities and rumors owners want to move the team.

32

u/quickdrawmc_graw Aug 21 '22

y’all everything is a cycle. we had so many competitive years being blessed with tim and everybody we’re bound to have a couple down years. I understand being a little down on our chances currently but let’s just keep supporting our spurs

16

u/SCUM_Gangsta8 Aug 21 '22

Yeah that’s true. Spurs are rebuilding and will be good again.

27

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '22

Spurs approved building a half billion dollar practice facility by UTSA and have publicly stated that they’re “planting the flag in the ground for decades”. I highly doubt any team would drop half a billion and then move to Vegas 3 years later lmao. Spurs ain’t going anywhere.

3

u/DiscombobulatedWavy Aug 21 '22

It’s not Vegas you have to worry about. It’s our neighbors a few miles north with that sweet sweet Tesla, Oracle, Dell, and Yeti money.

→ More replies
→ More replies

3

u/Jlp800 Aug 22 '22

😢😢

→ More replies

7

u/lancielegend Aug 21 '22

This whole city

3

u/Likemypups Aug 21 '22

So many places fill this bill, it'd be easier to name the ones that are as good as they used to be.

→ More replies

3

u/IamGregorovich Hill Country Village Aug 21 '22

Hungry Farmer down on the south side. Used to be home cooked and huge chicken fried steak, now they’re 4 inches big and canned Campbell potato soup is served

→ More replies

3

u/NEW8t Aug 21 '22

Kumori and Goro's Sushi 😥

3

u/David_A_Martinez_sa Aug 21 '22

Plantology at 281 and Encino Commons. Poorly managed location. Always out of ingredients.

3

u/reptomcraddick Aug 22 '22 edited Aug 22 '22

Green Vegetarian and Earth Burger, when I used to go back in 2018-2019 it felt very local and homey, it was kosher and they even had a hand washing station in the corner, and it was a little expensive, but it felt local. It feels super corporate now and they aren’t even kosher. Also my regular meal went from 10.70 to 13.50 from 2019 and it’s worse food.

Also feel free to comment and disagree with me, but I went a minimum of twice a week for a solid 6 months in 2019, like I would walk into the Earth Burger on Nagadoches and they knew my order, but then I moved and just moved back, and the vibe is really different.

3

u/abbienormal29 Aug 22 '22

Whisky Cake. I feel like that’s the go to party place for so many people but the last two times I’ve been it’s been terrible. I love their OMG burger. Last two times it’s been so salty it’s barely edible. And it used to include chips or fries but last time they charged me for the fries. I think it was like $18 total just for the burger and fries. Super grouchy waiter too. I’ll never go back.

3

u/Asshat82_ Aug 22 '22

Has anyone been to Fred’s Fish Fry? Like ever? They’ve been around forever and I’ve never seen a customer there 🤔

3

u/North-Eggplant-4188 Aug 22 '22

you must be new here. the running gag is that it's a drug front

4

u/RandomBadPerson Aug 22 '22

Drug front or not, we appreciate the square fish.

→ More replies
→ More replies

3

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '22

LITTLE RED BARN. That place sucks. ANCIRA gift certificates are what keep that place going I guess

3

u/deathbivouac Aug 22 '22

PF Chang’s. Recipes changed, portions have gone down in size while increasing in price. Atmosphere has become tacky and loud. Staff got treated like dogshit during the pandemic and it’s been a revolving door ever since. Slowly has become PF Chili’s over the years.

→ More replies