Cookhouse

Awesome Food and Service! Chef Pieter and team knocked it out of the park yet again! Excellent

Another great experience at The Cookhouse! From the time my girlfriend and I walked in we felt so welcomed. Walking into Chef Pieter’s restaurant feels like being invited over to a friends house for dinner (except this friend can really cook!).
We sat at the bar, which I recommend to see how the magic happens. We were greeted by Matt, a newer member of the kitchen staff. He made us feel so welcomed and was so informative about new menu items. The redfish collar was so well cooked it melted in your mouth. The duck and dumplings was such a well thought out entrée. We tried 3 other items and each was better than the last. We finished with the Pena cotta and I’m still thinking about it.
Meeting Matt shows that Chef Pieter’s restaurant is producing more than just great food. The talent in the kitchen and enthusiasm in the front of the house is just a few things that makes this place special.
We can’t wait till our next visit!

WOW. Discovered some great food in SA. BBQ shrimp, red fish collar, red fish on the half shell. Oysters. This place is a true gem. I can’t wait to go back.

While living in south Louisiana for the last five years I grew very fond of Cajun/​Creole cooking. After moving back to Texas and getting my fill of breakfast tacos I started craving some Louisiana-​cooking and asked around what places in SA were good. My boss recommended Cookhouse and I went in for dinner with a friend.
I showed up early for my reservation and the host was very friendly and accommodating.
The food was very good– just as great as any other place in Nola. Ordered Charbroiled Oysters and Fired Boudin Balls to start– both were amazing, but I would have liked a bit more sauce with the Boudin Balls. Entrees were Fried Oyster and Artichoke Carbonara and the Pork Cutlet. I think the Carbonara was amazing! The Pork Cutlet was good.
Wine selection is amazing, with some very nice wines on there. Beer selection is great too– especially if you’re yearning for Louisiana beer.
The only issue I had was with the waiter. While he was present and responsive, the entire time we were there he seemed apathetic, hurried, and really only interested in running away with whatever tip you left. For example, after we were done with our dinner, but before we were ready to leave he grabbed for the signed ticket… before he could scurry away I asked a couple of questions about the restaurant. He answered with his body half-​twisted to talk to us… one foot out the door and giving the most basic answers. I don’t know– I guess I think if I’m going to drop $ 150 on a dinner I’d like the waiter to make me feel welcomed.
Still, I’ll be back– but likely sitting at the bar next time.

The Cookhouse is a fantastic dining experience top to bottom. Wonderful food, great ambiance, live music, and a chef that cares about his finished product in both the food and the customer service. BBQ shrimp are out of sight! I agree with a previous reviewer that the sauce should be bottled!
I took some time looking through the reviews and noticed chef pieters took the time to personally comment on every review I looked at. Wether it was a positive review (which they should all be), or a negative one (idiots), he took the time to ask the customers what he could do better or what made the experience so great for them. That type of customer service is rare nowadays.
Great job chef. Keep up the good work. I’ll be dining with you tomorrow on my Birthday and I know I can expect the same wonderful food and top notch customer service.

Located near downtown in a what appears to be a residential neighborhood. Stopped by for lunch and started with the boudin balls which were fantastic. This would be the first time I’ve ever ordered a poor boy that didn’t come with fries or a side which was a bit disappointing considering the prices for lunch. I was bummed out that there was no crawfish étouffée on the menu considering this is a Cajun joint. Not sure if I’ll return… looking forward to reading other reviews.

I love food and in my travels I find the opportunity to have a great meal. This week I find myself in San Antonio at Ft. Sam Houston. My daughters a DC Chef so I think I know a thing or two about what constitutes a great meal. Googled «top San Antonio restaurants» and after reading several reviews decided to give The Cookhouse a try. Jump in a cab and on my way. Certainly off the beaten path and as I pulled up and looked at the outdoor décor I felt I was In For something special. Inside the colors and simple art made me feel like I was in Nola. I ordered the Bezinger (spelling) cab which was ok and the server recommended the andouille and grits. While I waited for the appetizer I told the server that the Chef could cook up what tickled his fancy for me. Minutes later Chef was at my side and we had a great conversation. He recommended the BBQ shrimp and the smoked beets. He also told me that they make their own sausage among other awesome things you find real Chefs doing. No «Sysco» type food here. The shrimp was orgasmic and the flavors were awesome «citrus». The beets were the best mix of flavors I ever had. I felt like I was in NOLA. I had coffee that reminded me of Café Du Munda, bread pudding and of course a beignet. Tonight I was in NOLA heaven. The décor was on point with great music. Anybody can open a restaurant but it takes someone special to craft the art and translate it into a authentic holistic experience. This place got NOLA right. Congratulations. I will be back!

Saturday’s nights services was spot on. We sat at the bar where we watched Chefs Saints Peter, Patrick and the rest of the apostles prepared heavenly dishes for us. Chef Peter prepared and amazing off the menu dish for our 13 year old vegetarian daughter. He made her feel appreciated and special with his delicious dish just for her. Our waiter Ruben was super helpful and knowledgeable. We will be back for sure. Thanks for a great culinary experience.

Very good overall experience. Boudin balls were delicious, wine list is pretty good. Had the gumbo, some of the best I’ve ever had. That being said, the service was very, very slow and the food did seem to be a little overpriced to me. Definitely worth coming out, though.

Straight up one of the best meals in SATX. I am in town from time to time for business and this place is a must during any stay here. It really captures true Southern Gulf Coast food with a perfect NOLA vibe. My last visit was on a Friday night and they had a jazz trio cranking out authentic acoustic Jazz. I made a reservation for 4 and invited 2 of my friends from SATX who have never been here or heard of the place. They were both raving about how awesome everything was and already making plans to come back… I had the redfish on a halfshell which was right on point My partner had the duck and dumplings and shared a few bites and this dish was amazing full of flavor with very rich zesty finish… The boudin balls were full of flavor and perfect to share with the table… They had a house special shrimp cake that we all shared and it awesome… Their gumbo is one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth… Give the place a try and I am sure you will be back often… Growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast this place brings to life real southern coastal cuisine… I am glad to see the place being success and with them the best. I will be back every time I visit SATX.

Booked the «Chef’s Table» for our Anniversary dinner and we were pleased with our meal. We didn’t know what to expect for the chefs table as we’ve never experienced that before, but I thought with my husbands love of cooking he would watch the chef cook and maybe talk to him a bit. Turns out, we were never even acknowledged and the chefs table seemed to have no meaning whatsoever. I was also asked at the time of booking the reservation if we were celebrating anything which I replied our anniversary. That was never acknowledged either.
However, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. We still had fun talking to each other, sharing our plates and enjoyed the music. We both loved all of our meals which were the charbroiled oysters, redfish collar, blackened drum and BBQ shrimp with grits. Everything was fantastic with lots of flavor and heat. My husband tried a nice beer from New Orleans and we also had beignets and pecan pie for dessert.
The food was excellent and we had fun so we would visit this restaurant again. Although this time, we won’t be booking the chefs table.

I don’t profess to be a foodie but I do believe dinner should be an event– be it an inexpensive burger or whatever. It just needs to be good.
I’ve been exploring many great places in SA (cured, feast, bliss, il sogno, bite etc– all very good) and then one day a couple months ago my significant other and I decided to try Cookhouse really not knowing what to expect
Wow– both she and I (and she appreciates Cajun) were blown away. Seriously — we are regulars here– the food, the staff and the experience is that good. You must try it!
First off the décor is so inviting– unlike a restaurant — you feel like family here. The staff — from host, waiters and «behind the stove crew» incredible. Attention details matter here.
The food– we’ve tried almost everything — and I can honestly say it’s all good. I love the trout and pork but I’d say one of the favorites is the BBQ shrimp — the sauce itself should be bottled. Oh yeah we did have appetizers– boudin balls– perfect and their oysters rival the seafood houses
Dessert if you have room? Panna cotta is my favorite but I had to admit to the chef that the bread pudding (I am not a bread pudding fan) was very good– not heavy etc.
Lastly — if you want to have total atmosphere: Thursday — Saturday is live jazz– and we recommend sitting at the bar to interact with the staff– tons of fun!

I’m an incredibly picky eater and a foodie. I have read every review on this restaurant, and after dining here for the first time tonight I have this to say… for all of those reviews that said that this restaurant has no flavor… where the heck did you eat?
We started with the chargrilled oysters. They were just as good if not better than the grilled oysters at Felix’s. If you don’t know what that is, then you are a poser and have no idea what grilled oysters should taste like.
We moved on to the pork cracklings next. These are «make your eyes roll to the back of your head» «slap yo’ mamma» good appetizers. If they don’t put a smile on your face then you have the soul of a dementer. Why are you here?
For our mains, I had the blackened drum over shrimp creole. This was seriously as good if not better than anything I have had in New Orleans over the year I lived there. I would have picked up the plate and licked it clean had that not been something that would have been frowned upon. My husband had the oyster carbonara. Two words… MIND. BLOWING! That smokey carbonara pasta and those perfectly fried oysters and we were transported to somewhere between Frenchman St and the Bywater District.
And, even though we were so full from what we ordered, our waiter arranged for us to have a little lagniappe… one beignet each of us. It was a delicious and perfect way for us to end our meal.
We also had the opportunity to visit for a few minutes with the chef/​owner. Super nice guy and New Orleans home town boy. Will we be going back to Cookhouse? Hell yes! You can bet your bippee!

Cracklin’s aren’t the only thing cracking at this restaurant resembling your favorite Cajun aunt’s home in the Bayou…
Head Notes — If you don’t have a reservation and have to endure the pre table wait, don’t bother saddling up to the bar, because this seating is reserved too. The waiting and reception area is awkward and small during the winter. Enjoy the outside yard come summer.
Base Notes — We sat at the high table facing the kitchen like a bar without the cocktails but plenty of oysters in sight. We started with the cracklings paired with a California Cab. The wine list is well curated with a good mix. Looking for a decent Verdejo? Boom! It’s there.
Heart Notes — When it comes to the entrees. The cookhouse shines best! I had the blackened drum and it was very good.
I would recommend you bring an out of towner here or make a strong impression for a second date to share a bottle of wine with while rapping about French influence in the gulf.

We frequently dine at the Cookhouse due to our love of Cajun food and the taste of New Orleans style food. This restaurant offers limited seating, so a reservation is a must. Dimly lit with a relaxing dining experience, most patrons are dressed business casual and tend to consist of an older cliental.
For an appetizer, their Boudin Balls were amazing! Hot, fresh, with an crispy exterior drizzled in a remoulade sauce. Their entrées are just as delicious. The Blackened Drum and BBQ Shrimp were both just as tasty as they sound.
For anyone wanting to eat Cajun food in San Antonio in a more upscale restaurant, this is the place to go!

That BBQ shrimp… mmm…makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I took Angela F.‘s advice and ordered a side of grits to sop up all that wonder sauce. Then proceeded to lick the bowl clean. Waste not want not. Seriously good stuff, folks!
Other dishes we tried were also quite tasty. See my pics for reference. Rabbit, fish, sweet breads, boudin balls, gumbo… everything was expertly prepared and delighted our taste buds. I especially liked the charbroiled oysters. So, oysters + bbq shrimp = wining combo.
There’s also a good selection of desserts to complete your dining experience. We’ve ordered a few. But to be honest, I haven’t personally tried any yet because I tend to overstuff myself on the apps and entrees. My hubs and dining companions seem to enjoy them though.
Service is outstanding. From the time we enter to the time we leave, we feel welcomed and appreciated.
I was shocked to read some reviews regarding how certain people felt discriminated against because of color/​race. My dining group had every color of the rainbow represented and we did not feel that way at all.
My only small complaint is the parking situation. But, of course, Cookhouse can’t control that. It’s located in an old neighborhood. Only street parking is available. During weekends and peak dining times, wear comfy shoes and be ready to hoof it.
Highly recommend.

I went back for dessert (okay fine, and some fried boudin balls too) and left stuffed. The bread pudding with cherries was very filling and well worth the price for all that you get.
I have to note that there is something very pleasant about dining at Cookhouse alone. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the chefs prepare the dishes. It was a feeling of contentment watching the staff plate something so beautiful with so much care. I’m sure I may have creeped them out by staring hah, but at least they let me hang around!

Wow. The food was amazing. We planned a lunch setting but that fell through. So we decided to try the dinner menu. Keep in mind the doors reopen at 5:30 for dinner. Our waiter John quickly sat us down. Explained in detail their two dinner specials for the evening. It’s a very cute and cozy setting.
We started off with half a dozen of charbroiled oysters. They were so yummy we ordered another half a dozen. Our next appetizer were the Cajun cracklings. Mmm. Next came the gumbo. Then the stuffed zucchini with crab meat. Wow. Delicious. We also got amazing boudin balls. So yummy. For dessert we shared the cornbread cake with a side of ice cream and diced fruit. As stated before EVERYTHING was delicious and all items had their own unique touch of flavor. Towards the end they had a live band come in. It felt like we were somewhere on Bourbon street in NOLA without having to leave San Antonio.
The entire staff were helpful and professional.
We will be returning for their casual lunch menu in the near future. So glad I found this hidden gem in our neighborhood.

Had a spectacular time at the Cookhouse with my friends. Everything was delicious! We had oysters, beet salad, gumbo, duck, beignets and bread pudding. My favorite thing on the menu– the humble grits. I found the flavors in everything totally on point. Not too heavy handed with the spices and salt, perfect cook on the meats and beautifully presented. The chefs really know what they are doing here.
It is hard getting a table on the weekends without reservations and the place is small so plan in advance.

Let’s start with the most important thing: shrimp in BBQ sauce! Huge prawns in a spicy, tangy, flavor bomb sauce… I could eat it all day. I recommend getting a side of grits to help sop up all of said wonder sauce.
The gumbo is very good & worth ordering… the seasonal citrus shrimp & squid salad was a party of flavors & oh so palette pleasing. The pork shoulder entrée was comfort food & ok tasting but paled in comparison to all the other dishes’ jazz.
For dessert, def order up the banana bread pudding! Thick, delicious, & rummy. Mmm.
Cookhouse is situated on the edge of the neighborhood so you have to park on the street in front of folks’ homes. The Chef’s [from NOLA] adorable pregnant wife kindly came by our table to chat.
My only dislike? We felt rushed by our server even though there were plenty of available tables. He was good, but he tried to clear our half eaten plates several times, came by to get the pen from our check, then picked up the actual paid check a minute later, etc.