Hole in the wall location on blanco but definitely worth the stop. Went in on a rainy Friday night for date night. The bar side was packed but the dining room had plenty of tables. The owner was our server and he was very accommodating. Started off with the house fries with maybe the best chipotle ketchup ever (finally a spicy ketchup that delivered on being spicy). I ordered the margarita pizza and it was delicious. Definitely will stop by again.
Review Source:i decided to check out tost for brunch last sunday and called in a few days ahead to make a reservation for 12:30pm. when we got there, the place was packed and i was relieved that i had a reservation. the host looked like he was going crazy with all the people needing to be put down on the wait list. he was running around the restaurant non-stop and it wasn't until 10 minutes after we had arrived that he finally came back and asked for my name. after finding it on the list, he mumbled something and took off without explanation. another 15 minutes pass and eventually, a different host steps into the booth and starts taking down more names. we keep waiting, and finally host #1 comes back, and asks for my name again. runs off again -- to look for an open table i guess? omes back again without saying anything... by this time it's well past 1pm and plenty of people who came without a reservation had been seated already. finally, a few minutes after we asked about the wait time again, he showed us to an open table way in the corner of the restaurant. the tables were arranged with almost no space in between -- pretty sure it probably broke all sorts of fire codes -- but we didn't mind squeezing through. the slightly secluded corner was a welcome change from the noisy and hectic lobby we had been standing in. but we didn't realize that it would mean we would get the most terrible service for the next hour or so that we were there.
after we were seated, the host assured us that someone would be right with us. however, the pattern continued... took forever for anyone to come by our table. a guy finally came and asked if our order had been taken. he was very surprised to find out that it hadn't. turns out he was the bartender? but he took our order. food took its sweet time too... they did have some interesting choices though -- fried chicken & waffles, bacon omelette with bacon jam (turns out it's just some sauce with a bunch of spices but they call it jam), etc. we got the shortrib burger and the eggs benedict. the bartender/server suggested the shortrib burger be cooked medium rare, so we went with that... but i didn't know restaurants were allowed to do that. the burger was okay... but really really really greasy -- so much so that the bun was pretty much soggy. and it was much too rare for our taste. the eggs benedict wasn't anything special either. it was a teeny tiny portion and the egg was over a small square sausage patty that looked like a generic pre-packaged frozen breakfast sausage. the best part was probably the potatoes, but half of them were soggy rather than crisp. it wasn't until the very end of our meal that our server finally came over to ask if we needed more water. he tried to take our plates away even though it was clear that we were still finishing up.. awkward. and then when the original bartender/server guy came to clear our plates, he made an awkward comment that we should smile more... we were pretty much just spacing out from all the waiting around due to the terrible service. as he was talking, he picked up all our plates without really paying attention and knocked stuff over and let a used fork slide off my plate onto my lap. he walked away without even noticing.. took another 20 minutes to pay.
the food here was a 3 at best and the service was below a 0. prices were pretty ridiculous too. for my two-bite benedict that i could have made at home, i paid $12. some of the photos on yelp for dinner entrees look good, so if i ever run out of places to go in san antonio i mightttt consider going back to give them another chance.. but definitely never if i want a quick in and out meal.
I went here for dinner with my best friend, who suggested it. Lovely place. It was a nice way to celebrate the end of a busy semester. I had the roast chicken, which was perfectly seasoned. The vegetables may have been slightly on the salty side, but nothing that a glass of pinot grigio can't fix. G ordered the mussels which were to die for, oh, my goodness. Perfectly prepared, imo. The frites were excellent as well. We were finished before the bar crowd arrived, but I think I may enjoy having a few drinks at their charming-looking bar in the future. I would recommend this place for dinner and I'm curious about their offerings for brunch, which I hear you need a reservation for because it's so popular. I believe it.
Review Source:We ate in the lounge area - the atmosphere was perfectly relaxing. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We had the grilled shrimp (cooked perfectly) and their soup of the day which was cream of mushroom (flavorful, SO good). The fries with truffles were AMAZING. They were happy to accommodate GF requirements. The wine by the glass list is small, but thoughtful. It was incredibly relaxing to sit on a couch and enjoy good food and good drinks. We will be back. Hopefully we will pick a night where they DON'T have a fundraiser going on - our evening was a little cut short.
Review Source:I've been eyeing this place for a while now since I moved closer to this area of town. First let me say the atmosphere was amazing. It was well past midnight but it wasn't too crowded, plenty of room at the bar which is where we sat. Service was great! I was ready for some appetizers but the kitchen was already closed. Will def go back during happy hour and grab a drink and a bite to eat.
Review Source:Whoa! I'd heard great things about Tost. Found out today they were all true. Couldn't decide on sweet or savory for Sunday brunch, so my fellow diner and I split the French Toast (with lemon curd and blueberries) and Eggs Benedict with potatoes. Holy Cow! I didn't even need the syrup for the French Toast. The potatoes that came with the Eggs Benedict were just crispy enough and just salty enough. The eggs -- superb. The only reason I didn't rate this place 5 stars was because making a reservation was kind of a hassle and the music in the restaurant was too loud. The food -- fabulous! Will be back.
Review Source:I'm always surprised by the quality of the food at Tost. I don't come here often, but I always enjoy it.
It doesn't look like much from the outside-it's wedged in to a strip mall center and looks tiny from the outside. Inside, it's rather large with a covered patio. They seem to do a great bar business.
The atmosphere is definitely striving for a bistro feel, but it comes off more La Madelaine than actual bistro. But too kitschy.
The food itself is great. I went on a recent Saturday night and they didn't have any specials, which I found odd. Luckily, the roast chicken and shrimp and grist were great, as were the french fries and brussel sprouts. I love sprouts, and these come with bacon, blue cheese, and a balsamic reduction.
One note-they have a number of two tops along the wall with mesh screens separating them. We initially sat at one of these, but it became awkward as we realized that the couple sitting on the other side of the screen was close enough to see and hear. We listened to their first date. Awkward! We changed tables.
If you're looking for good standard fare and pretty good prices that's not crowded, try Tost.
I have returned a handful of times and experienced wonderful meals. Â The Brussel Sprouts are amazing and inspired me to recreate them in my own kitchen. Â Roasted Beet Salad, Truffle Fries and the Pizza rounded out the four dishes I shared with 2 other girls.
I have done brunch with a couple and the baby and most recently just a mom and daughter early dinner. Â The service was perfect at my date with the daughter. Â Even though it was just us splitting a Pizza and a glass of wine for me. Â It was warming to be treated so nicely.
My other visits still had the service issues mentioned in previous reviews. Â The night out with the girls was decidedly cold and slow, the server did not introduce himself, more interested in getting drink orders after jogging to our tableside ten minutes after being sat. Â Lack of serving utensils for our shared dishes and keeping cash I had asked to be reduced to smaller bills to pay the sitter was just plain flaky at best.
Either way, the food is tasty, the wine is perfectly priced and I truly love the ambiance but the dining service has missed the mark more than once.
Yet, the four stars remain 'till we meet again Tost.
I've been to Tost around five times now. Every time I got something different off of the menu and I haven't had a bad experience yet! Brunch is definitely my favorite. Bottomless mimosas, crabcakes bendict and a fantastic playlist really make for an excellent experience. I'll definitely return.
Review Source:If I could give this place no stars I would. I had made a reservation for a large party which they were ready to accommodate, and they had set up a nice dining area for us. The problems started when we began to order. Our waiter was not knowledgeable about the menu at all. Anytime someone had a question he would say I will get back to you on that or I'm not sure. They were out of spinach so as a vegetarian the options were limited. We asked if they could do the items with spinach, simply without it. He said the chefs wouldn't be able to do that because everything is sectioned out. I ended up with a omelet with carrots celery and onion. The chefs at Tost Bistro should be embarrassed! They simply put a mirepoix in an omelet. I don't understand how hard it is to put onions, peppers, mushroom, and cheese into an omelet! It was ridiculous. As far as other peoples food, it was cold, bland, just unappetizing. We got there at 12:30 and didn't leave till 3- it took so long to get our food.The music was incredibly loud, the waiter couldn't even hear our orders. We had to ask numerous times for them to turn down the music, it was like we were in a club. The best part of our meal was what I brought from Nothing Bundt Cakes! I would NEVER return to this bistro again! It was a horrible experience. If you want a good brunch stick to Magnolias- better food and better service.
Review Source:The wine recommendations were horrible. The male bartender was snotty and rude. If I come back I will not attempt the bar. I heard the food was good, but when I asked Mr. Diva about it he seemed incredibly bothered, apparently the thought of taking a food order is incredibly taxing.
Really want to try again but I will have to force myself through the doors.
Tost tries to be trendy but felt a little off to me. Â I went with my mom for brunch. Â I had something like Chicken and Waffles but the bird was a game bird; it wasn't very good. Â I see it's no longer on the menu.
I'd try the place again if I'm looking for a brunch place or dinner place in the area.
Bloody Mary is awesome but overpriced. NO substitutions available for menu- service could be a little more friendly. Music is great but a tad too loud. Initially we had no reservation and waited for about 10 minutes. We were served water right away but there lacked something to wet our appetite while we waited for our entree. The entrees were delicious but too small to share. Overall expectations were met would recommend to friends and family. With a little adjustments they would get 5 stars.
Review Source:What's that you say? Â There's a bar less than a block away from me? Â With a killer happy hour and $5 bar grub? Â I'm there. Â Tried out their brunch a few times but on Halloween, I decided to get the full Tost experience.
For Halloween I was looking for a place to imbibe that was close and cheap and Tost fit the bill with an all-night long Happy Hour along with full menu service. Â Walked in all Minnie'd up ready to be the only person letting my Halloween flag fly but was pleasantly surprised to have a pirate lead me to a table (insert joke about her booty here).
I ordered the Brisket Burger while my partner in crime ordered Lobster Carbonara, both made it out quickly with the highlight being my burger. Â Cooked to a perfect medium and had a great smoky flavor, I inhaled this bad boy. Â Now onto the great stuff, cheap booze! Â Every Wednesday, Tost offers 6-7 $5 martinis and I finally got to try a Spicy Cucumber Martini. Â Ermagerd, so so yummy! Â The all important pica on the rim with freshly pureed cucumber (I happen to be a cucumber expert), this martini went down so smooth! Â I had originally planned to sample the whole martini menu but ended up sipping on these the rest of the night. Â
Like I said, Tost is walking distance from me (which works out perfectly considering how addictive their drinks are..) and it's my new fave spot for Wednesday night drinking!
While San Antonio has a bunch of great places to eat, there aren't a ton I consider truly unique and different. However, Tost definitely fits that mold.
While it's not quiet, it still gives off an intimate vibe. The tables are close, but you don't realize it because of the way they have it set up.
The bar is hopping and they've got great happy hour prices. And it appears that the only time it ISN'T happy hour is between 8 and 10. We got there at about 630 and enjoyed happy hour prices with our meal.
For the appetizer we got the Brussel Sprout Salad, on our server's recommendation. While I'm not normally a fan of those smelly little veggies, I got a little emotional the minute I tasted it. This is hands down the BEST appetizer I've had in this great city. If my mother was standing between this appetizer and I, I would strongly consider pushing her down to get to it. Wow! Mixed with bacon, balsamic and a few other ingredients....just, wow!
For the entree I had the braised beef with mushrooms, mashers and carrots. Very tasty. The meat fell apart when cutting and it had a great flavor. My wife had a special which was tenderloin and fried quail with bacon mashers. Again, amazing.
Between the ambiance and the food, this is going to be one of our new GO-TO places. There are a lot of other things on the menu I'm looking forward to trying.
First timer at Tost's happy hour last week and it was a success.
I had already had my own happy hour before this happy hour- it's not as bad as it sounds, promise- so I was only able to try one glass of the cabernet on special. It was tasty at only $3 a glass. Are you kidding me? I felt like a thief.
I couldn't wait to try the fries that I had heard so many things about, and they certainly lived up to my high expectations. The truffle oil came through loud and clear, but you will never hear me complain about overly truffled fries. We also had the brussels and the watermelon & feta salad. The brussels won out as my favorite, probably mostly because they had gorgonzala- duh. But really because they were lightly fried and crispy with the subtle hint of bacon fat.
Our server was extremely attentive and nice, and you could tell she knew the menu really well and was able to make great suggestions. I look forward to coming back to Tost many times in the future, this is right up there with some of the best happy hours in San Antonio.
We took advantage of the "Restaurant Week" price fix menu last night. Â The 3 of us really enjoyed our meals and thought that the regular menu looked very good too. Â
First course was a grilled watermelon and cucumber salad, Â It was very flavorful but could have been two squares of each rather than one.
The second course I had was the scallops, which were very light and tender. Â The sauce that it came with complimented them very well.
For the next course I had the risotto with quail. Â The risotto had bleu cheese in it, I'm not a fan of bleu cheese, but I decided to chance it, and am glad that I did. Â The cheese was more like a flavoring rather than being overpowering, so I was able to get over my fear and enjoy every last grain of the risotto.
For the dessert course they had a carrot cake gilato, which was so full of carrot flavor, I thought I saw Bugs Bunny giving me stink out of the corner of my eye. Â The only thing I didn't like about the gilato was that it was only one small scoop, it was only about a tablespoon worth, it should have been two of them.
All in all, it was a great meal and we will go back to eat here.
This is our absolute favorite San Antonio spot -- outstanding food, unbelievable prices. Â
We've been to Tost so many times that its difficult to speak to all its strengths. Â The menu is perfection - and, to top it off, they have a wonderfully affordable wine list. Â
A few favorites we get every time we visit: Â the fried oysters - which are almost tempura in texture; and, the brussel spout salad - warm, savory, with the perfect bit of citrus acidity in the dressing.
The main dishes do not disappoint. Â Everything we've had here is fabulous. Â Find time to sit and enjoy some top-notch culinary offerings with a few glasses of wine. Â This is the perfect spot for a slow, enjoyable, dining experience!! Â
Bliss.
Just finished dinner with a party of eight. Started with a calamari appetizer -- tasty. Followed by a grilled Caesar salad -- outstanding. Main course--pork belly --very good. Only down side was waiter--made sure very knew he was a vegan and this was his "second job". Not very attentive. This was our 2nd trip. I will keep coming back--the food is good and reasonably priced considering its quality.
Review Source:I like this place, I came here twice, once at the bar and we ordered Mussel of the day and it was delicious! The second time was on a Friday night and I took my friend out for her Bday, we ordered special of the day (I wish I could  remember what they are) and they are delicious as well.
My only knock on the place is that their home made Sangrita isn't to my liking, they are ok, Not great IMO.
My friend and I had a great time and we really enjoyed the food.
My best friend and i had the homemade Sangria..Yummy!
The Sliders were delicious and the oysters we had to order them twice.. I love this place.. and its so hard to please my bestfriend and i so i give this 10 Stars. WE will be goin back soon with our Shellmates!! HOT HOT HOT.. Thank you Jaime n Mustache guy and kisses to the cook!! SMoochies
Located in a small shopping center on Blanco Road near Bitters, it's easy to see why this gem en française could be overlooked... which would be a shame.
The restaurant itself is lovely - not too fussy, but elegant - and the food and service are terrific. Since we have some special dietary needs (my fiance is gluten intolerant), it's always nice when we can find a restaurant which is accommodating, and a service staff which is knowledgeable. At Tost, you have both.
In addition to a delicious menu, Tost has great happy hour prices  - 1/2 priced bottles of wine Wednesday nights, and a delicious bar menu (along with the occasional live music combo or DJ). Some favorites on the dinner or bar menus: lobster risotto, brisket burger, mushroom risotto, the cheese plate, grilled Caesar salad... oh, my, I could go on.
We also love coming to Tost for a leisurely Sunday Brunch, where the crab cake eggs Benedict and the Smokes Salmon omelet do not disappoint. Bonus: there's no pressure to hurry (translation: we can read our Sunday paper in peace).
Bon appétit!
Excellent prices with a feeling of fine dining!
Went here for a party in the bar area on a Saturday and we ended up being early, and starving, so we grabbed a table in the dining room and had some dinner. We were blown away at the reasonable prices despite the "fancy" feeling of the restaurant. Dinner was great and when we finished our friends started showing up and we continued the night in the bar area. The staff made us feel very welcome and they have excellent drink specials! All in all a great experience!
A mixed review for one reason and one reason only. Cockroaches. Now I don't mean to scare away potential diners from this restaurant but in an effort to be honest to my fellow patrons, you must know they may have a roach problem!
When we first sat down there was a roach crawling all over our table. After seriously (very seriously) contemplating leaving, we decided, what the heck and asked to be moved to a different area of the restaurant. The bug sighting was explained to the very french (and slightly unkempt) looking owner/hostest and we were given a short explanation that they had just sprayed and he followed it up with "you aren't the first people to complain about that unfortunately". Now, I'm not a business owner, but this was definitely not comforting as someone that was about to spend money to eat at your establishment.
Now, one might ask, after a roach sighting how could I still give this place 3 Stars? Because I loved the atmosphere, I thought the decor was well done and the food was delicious. The waitstaff was very friendly and although the other reviews complain about the music, I really enjoyed the new age relaxing atmosphere they created at Tost. It reminded me of some of the more posh lounges in LA or OC that I used to enjoy.
I ordered the salmon and my guest ordered the Steak with Mac&Cheese. The salmon over pearled pasta was cooked perfectly, however, the Mac & Cheese left something to be desired. I would say stick with the more traditional french dishes here. The food style was french fusion and definitely modern plating (IE: not the largest portions but good food!).
We did see that they had a great happy hour (till 8pm) and that they had a very nice bar area. But we decided we wanted a particular wine so we brought our own bottle which they uncorked for only $10 (super PLUS!).
All in all I would still recommend this restaurant although I'm not sure how long it will take to muster the courage to go back myself.
::Shudders:: I hate bugs!
I love this place so much! The food is delicious and priced very well. I think the fanciest thing on the menu is the rib eye for 20 bucks. I usually order the moules frites. I love their frites. They are crispy and delicious and served w a herb aioli.
They have a list of $15 bottles of wine which aren't going to impress the sommeliers in the crowd but they wash down the tasty food just fine. The service is always good . I like hanging out in the bar for a few pre or post dinner cocktails. The French 75 is really delicious if you're looking for something different to drink.
The happy hour menu looks pretty amazing with truffled french fries and other delectable things plus there is some sort of all you can drink during happy hours thing. I don't remember the details but I filed away a "must go for happy hour" note in the back of my brain so it must have been worth revisiting.
I highly recommend this place. Great value, family owned, good service and delicious food!
We found Tost on a Yelp site which was very fortuitous since we were looking for a fantastic dinner place in a city that we visit only occasionally. Â We were looking for casual yet not sports bar-y, unusual food offerings that we don't normally get in our hometown at a reasonable cost. Â A pretty tall order!! Â
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Well we found exactly what we wanted in Tost and they threw in an extremely attentive & accomodating waiter & a comfortable yet classy atmosphere. Â The menu was varied & fun and gaspacho was the soup of the day - Yum!! Â We were drooling over the mussels which were cooked in a garlic wine sauce, but the pasta with mussels looked more filling but it was in a red sauce. Â So our wonderful waiter, Trey, suggested ordering the mussels with the white sauce & he would add the pasta to that order. Â Then as we were visiting I mentioned the pate which was on the appetizer menu & he promptly brought out three varieties of pate for me to taste. Â All three were delicious & I will definitely order those as part of my meal next time we are in San Antonio.
Since we arrived late we did not avail ourselves of the bar area, but it was just lovely & extremely inviting. Â The owner came over to ask how our food and service was and it appeared that he was very involved with the restaurant and the customers.
All in all it was a very enjoyable experience, made even  better with the owner having his young son with him who was entertaining all those who chose to interact with him.
I had a lot of great meals in San Antonio, but I think dinner at Tost may have been my favorite. It's a small-ish space, and given that we rolled in on a Friday night, we were facing a bit of a wait. Just a great excuse to check out the bar! It's partitioned in a separate room off to the right and has some tables and couches throughout for a mix of seating options. There was a long wait to order a drink; but the poor bartender was handling a pretty full bar as well as diners' drinks with no bar-back. She was apologetic and seemed to be working as speedily as she could. But she could use some help! I started with the Aviator drink -- wonderfully crafted and with a nice lavender top note. My second cocktail was the Formoso, and it was no less delicious & different.
When we were seated (within the quoted time!) I was a little disappointed to be less than a foot to the right of our neighboring table -- a flimsy see-through screen was all that was dividing us -- so I could hear their first-date awkwardness pretty keenly. But the other tables in the house seemed to be less infringing.
We started with the crabcake small plate -- and it was small -- just one cake! Surprising since during my TX visit I was getting accustomed to huge portions everywhere I went. It was good though. But what really took my breath away was the main course. When ordering, I felt a little silly asking for the burger. Having worked in restaurants, I remember being annoyed when folks would order off the sandwich/burger menu and write off the entree menu. Was I behaving that way? And in a fancy French restaurant no less!
But the brisket burger called to me -- and it was my last opportunity to try some brisket during this TX trip. I have to tell you, I wasn't disappointed in the decision in the slightest. It absolutely melted in my mouth -- I don't even remember the cheese pairing and other toppings -- the flavors melded so well, and I wolfed it down. A week later, I still think of it fondly!
I pulled into Tost on a Friday night with a friend in tow looking for a great place to have a girl's night. We were immediately met with a half-panicked response from the waiter, "You don't have a reservation?!" but then found out it would only be a 15 minute wait, so we walked up to the bar to grab a pre-dinner cocktail and wait for our table.
The specialty drinks here are scrumptious and happy hour lasts until 8 pm, so we were able to get a glass of wine and an Aviator for $9+tip, which was delightful.
After our table was ready, we were led through the quaint dining room space. Bistros tables are tucked everywhere and the space is set up in such a way that you almost get a communal dining experience. Tables touch but are partitioned by screens, so this would not be an ideal place to go should you find yourself in need of discussing top-secret info. Otherwise, it'll work. I thought the atmosphere was delightful.
After a couple drinks, we ordered the crab cake appetizer because they were out of calamari. Really yummy, served on a bed of tangy greens with an aioli that I loved. Next, I order the crispy salmon plate with an almost sweet mapley sauce and fingerling potatoes. My friend had a brisket burger that was so exceptionally mouthwatering I can't foresee ever eating anything else from the menu.
Great service, lovely ambiance, and delightful company made for a really fantastic meal here!
I highly recommend Tost Bistro both as a foodie destination and a swinging happy hour spot. Â I first tried it during restaurant week and I was blown away! Â It's next door to a dry cleaners, so I didn't expect much. Â The food was delicious. Â They have really interesting signature cocktails. Â I had one called The Aviation that had a lavender scented liquer. Â
If you're looking for a nice dinner destination and are tired of the same old joints, I must suggest Tost!
Intrigued by the "Restaurant Week" menu, my wife and I visited Tost on an early Friday evening. Â Not much of a crowd when we arrived but by the time we left a few hours later, it was getting packed. Â
The crab cake as the first course was fantastic. Â Plenty of flavor, and I'm not a big crab fan but wanted to try it along with the chipotle mayo, which was perfect and not too spicy. Â
2nd course, my wife tried the cabbage soup with chorizo which was surprisingly refreshing on a summer day with a hint of cucumber. Â I tried the Heirloom tomato salad with watermelon, bleu cheese, crusty bread and a red wine vinaigrette. Â The watermelon added a nice little surprise in a few bites but didn't overpower the salad. Â
The one negative was the size of my wife's entree. Â The short rib braised in Shiner Bock tasted great and fell apart to the touch. Â Not dry, just soft. Â We were disappointed with the portion. Â Looked maybe 2 ounces. Â Compared to the 3 scallops I received, her's looked more like an appetizer. Â The scallops were perfectly cooked and the hint of ginger mixed well with the chili brown butter. Â I wasn't a huge fan of the corn puree that was served with it but the mushrooms were a great addition. Â
Dessert was fantastic. Â Fresh beignets served with a chocolate espresso sauce. Â An interesting twist on churros con chocolate. Â We could go back just for those. Â
The price was $35 for each dinner, the special during Restaurant Week, which I felt was a very good deal for the quality of food. Â Also, wine bottles are 1/2 off Fridays before 6:30. Â The selection isn't huge, but I'm not much of a oenophile. Â We found one we liked and were happy. Â
Definitely would recommend.