Ocho

Outstanding margaritas in a town known for them. Food was all fresh and well prepared.
Check out the ladies room, it’s huge and has a chandelier.

Ocho is funky but really great food and inexpensive. Good drinks and good service, too.

Ocho is such a cool little establishment. It’s visually stunning– bright and cheerful when the sun is out and super cool lighting and setting when the sun goes down. We had Daniel as a server and he was full of personality and had great customer service– getting us what we needed quickly as well as suggesting other items (but not in a pushy way). I had the SHRIMP & CRAB CAMPACHENA and it was delicious. A bit spicier than I anticipated, but fresh and yummy. Also had the Chocolate Pot de Crème, which was delicious, though richer than I would have preferred without a LOT of whipped cream or a glass of milk! Music was also awesome the night I went. Take the time to come here and also explore the Hotel Havana if you have a bit of time! It’s a gorgeous building. Parking was a bit tight but it’s free if you are eating at Ocho. Ultimately, we’ll be back!

I’m so glad my friend decided on Ocho for her graduation dinner! First off, I was really surprised by how small it was, but I loved it at the same time? My friend said Ocho didn’t accept reservations, so our party of 9 had to wait for seating, that is until we decided to just sit outside-​much to my reluctance since it had been raining and it looked like it could still rain at any moment (gotta love SA weather!). But the most amazing thing happened, the manager (I believe) invited us to sit in a private room! YAY FOR FEELING SPECIAL. The room was very nice, and we were able to play our own music in there. THAT aside, the service and attention we received were impeccable. And I don’t use that word often! It was incredibly nice of Ocho to offer this room even after we had settled on sitting outside, and our waitress was extremely sweet and patient. And the food? Fantastic. I had the cuban sandwich, and fell in love with the bread. I really cannot wait to go back, maybe for brunch?! Gotta love brunch.

I loveeee Ocho!!! It is situated on the riverwalk away from all of the noise. The entrance is an alley way which makes you feel like you’re headed to a secret bar in Havana! The inside is beautiful. It’s like being in a greenhouse, even sitting inside you feel like you’re outside. The furniture is fun, Victorian style and very colorful. The food is awesome. I ordered the hippy which is a sandwich with just veggies but somehow they make it delicious. I forget the name of the beverage but the name ends in punch and it tastes so good! You will love this place trust me.

I was blown away by this place, and quite by accident, as we found Ocho randomly as we were driving nearby and running out of inspired options.
Better lucky than good. Ocho looked kind of sketchy from the outside, and the parking just adequate, and we ventured in through the hotel entrance and made our way to the high-​ceilinged dining room.
The place was near full, so we settled on a table near the bathroom and started on the gin drinks. Our server gave us plenty of time to talk business for a while, and then we put her on the spot to just order for us. It’s a Cuban restaurant and neither of us had a sense of what to order. All’s well that ends well– the meals were excellent.
Ocho is a Nueve+ on ambiance. I really had the sensation I was in Havana, or New Orleans. Maybe it was the gin.

My mom and I came to Ocho on Mother’s Day and the staff could not have been any less friendly. The restaurant was a bit over half full and they had about 5 waiters. But most of the waiters acted like it was a nuisance that we were there and attended us all hastily.
We were seated in a tiny table where the food could barely fit. As a result, my mom’s butter plate fell on the floor. We asked to get more butter and when it had been a while since we had asked, we asked another waiter. To which he reacted by picking up my mom’s bread basket to make sure that there was in fact no butter in it. That was so rude and weird!
I give them an A for the food and a D for the staff.

I stopped by for a quick bite with my mom before a morning of shopping and sight-​seeing. Arriving at Ocho we managed to find a parking space in their very small lot and headed in.
Walking towards the restaurant I kept feeling like I was in the wrong place. There was no hostess booth and as we wandered in a server casually told us to sit anywhere.
Once we found a table we were helped quickly. I ordered a water and espresso. The espresso was fantastic! For breakfast I opted for the banana bread. When it arrived it was not what I imagined but it was excellent! The bread was nutty and sweet and topped fresh peanut butter and sliced bananas. I’m not usually one for sweets but this dish tempted me and I am so glad I tried it. My mom got a yogurt and granola dish and juts raved as well.
We sat next to a wide open window and enjoyed the morning breeze and sights while eating leisurely. I’ll definitely be back to try their more traditional Cuban entrees!

We had lunch here yesterday at about 2 PM. The lunch rush was over and there were only four other tables occupied. My daughter at the vegetarian sandwich and she said it was one of the best she had ever had. I have the pulled pork Cuban sandwich and wild pulled pork was hot the slices of ham or room temperature or even cool. I don’t know how they managed this in a Cuban sandwich which is hot pressed. So, I don’t give a very high ranks on the Cuban sandwich for that reason only. The service was great as our waitress was very attentive and smiling. They also have Mexican Coca-​Cola! My daughter thought that was great. I just had a nice tea. I read that the cocktails here are fantastic but I had to drive to Austin right after lunch so we were not imbibing.
It is a very charming place with a terrific view of the river walk in it’s a very quite quiet section of the Riverwalk. I will definitely be returning here in the evening so I can sample more food and the cocktails.

We came here at an awkward time around 4 pm and ended up being the only people in the restaurant. This restaurant is perfect for instagramming, it has the most pretty blue theme complete with chandeliers and pretty guppy fishes in an octagon shaped fishbowl.
We were lucky to come during happy hour time and I proceeded to order two of their items of the HH menu. I ordered the abondigas and the quesadilla. We also ordered the chorizo con queso, papas bravas, and spicy mushroom tacos.
My favorite of the items we ordered were the chorizo con queso, and the spicy mushroom tacos. The papas bravas were also pretty tasty but not spicy at all. The abondigas were delightfully spicy but I think even the HH price of $ 5 is not worth it for 3 meatballs. The quesadilla was tasteless, I mean I didn’t taste any cheese or anything, even with the guacamole on top it tasted like I was eating tortillas and guacamole. The chorizo con queso was basically crumbled chorizo with some melted cheese on top, I was envisioning a more Tex — mex style dish but it was presented in a more unique way, in which if you waited to eat it it would end up cold and not scoopable anymore. This dish had a lot of flavor compared to the other dishes.
The spicy mushroom tacos are a must Oder !!! The mushrooms add such a meaty flavor to a meatless dish.
Come here to take pics and for light bites!

AMAZEBALLS.
THIS PLACE IS AMAZEBALLS.
Heard so many great things about Ocho. Was interviewing in the area at a certain museum, when a friend invited me out to do lunch so we choose Ocho. I’m going to be honest, I totally forgot what I had, but it was freaking delicious! I remember a sandwich? FRIES FOR SURE. And some coconut-​y libation. The inside is freaking amazeballs (not going to stop using that word). It’s kind of rare for me to be very impressed with the interior of a venue.
I just want to you to know if you’re considering Ocho, GO FOR IT!

Step away from the handful of touristy restaurants and bars along the Riverwalk, and follow the beaten path over to Hotel Havana’s Ocho.
Not only does Ocho have lovely interior, but it’s a great place to grab a quality meal and cocktails. The menu features a variety of Cuban, Mexican and Texan items.
Our group was at Ocho for quick work lunch, and we started with their tostones, cocktails, wine … I wasn’t too hungry, but I spotted huitlacoche quesadillas on the menu — LOVE huitlacoche — so I was sold. Portions are large, even the apps, so keep that in mind. I do rec ordering the huitlacoche quesadillas … do it. I got to taste my colleague’s Salmon al Sarten over a bed of saffron risotto. The salmon was perfectly cooked. I haven’t had a salmon like that in years. Again, another strong rec.
Put Ocho on your SA-​town list.

This place is simply gorgeous. I love the décor and the colors and location. It is situated facing the river walk but the most impressive view is of the main dining hall. It features bright blue hues with chandeliers throughout. Customer service is on point, since we entered the waiter was very attentive and nice. I was there to try the churros and asked the waiter if they were quite popular. He suggested the banana nut bread french toast. His description had us drooling so we ordered both. The Banana nut bread french toast was absolutely amazing! I would definitely pick this over the churros any time. The churros were definitely good but not great. They fell apart and were coated way too much with sugar and cinnamon. I even had to shake a lot of it off. There were a lot of patrons that were feasting on meals and they all looked equally appetizing. This is a great place for a date, girls night out, brunch, or just because. You will not regret it!

Not 100% Authentic (I lived in Miami for 35 years) but ITS GREAT!!!
They have a awesome Cuban Sandwich that I added a fried egg to which was the perfect remedy for my late night activities ;)
Drinks are made with all fresh ingredients and the ambiance is super cool!

Didn’t realize Ocho had a breakfast menu. Fabulous! Highly recommended on every front. Maybe a slightly friendlier bartender/​waiter, but that’s a minor issue easily overcome by good strong coffee and an exotic flavor palette. The service was very good, but I like my service «with a smile!» Still, a real «staycation» on the cheap, at least compared to a trip to Calle Ocho Miami.

Went in for lunch. The food is not cuban authentic. Service was good tho. Nice location. They need a real cuban chef.

I love the way Ocho looks. Besides it being a really cool place, the food is really good but not amazing. I went for dinner but I would really like to try their brunch as I’ve heard good things about it. Maybe it’s just what I ordered but there wasn’t anything that special or memorable about the fish I ordered. I also found the portions to be smaller than I expected.
I really wanted to like this place because I think it’s really neat so I will definitely be back to give it another try.

El servicio es muy malo, esperamos más 15 min y no había gente. Y el mesero fui muy antipático y nos tuvimos que ir. No lo recomiendo
The service is very bad, we waited over 15 min and no people. And the waiter was very unfriendly and we had to go. not recommend

This place is awesome and beautiful! My wife and I are in town from Houston for a few days and have been trying different bars/​happy hours since about noon. Edward, the bartender, the hostess and the other waiter (Forgot his name) were all beyond nice and welcoming! We will probably come back on Friday. Beautiful architecture, great drinks and a wonderful staff!

We popped into Ocho for a late night bite after watching the light show at the San Fernando Cathedral this past Sunday. We were seated at a half booth/​table right away and our server was friendly but warned us that the kitchen was closing. We ordered the Havanas Patatas Bravas, and Fried Plantains. Our server also recommended the Salsa Platter and the Queso with Chorizo. Since one of my friends is a vegetarian I asked if they could make the queso without the chorizo and he said it was possible. Our drinks and food came out quickly. The patatas bravas were nicely spiced but they were dry and needed a sauce of sorts. The plantains were dry and chewy, I wouldn’t order those again. The star of the salsa platter was definitely the guacamole. I kind of wish we had just ordered that. Unfortunately, the «queso» we ordered without chorizo was ALL chorizo with a sprinkling of cheese on top. They really should call this chorizo y poco de queso, because that’s really what it is, and it wasn’t that great.
About 15 minutes after we got our food, our server told us that they were closing the upstairs but we were free to go downstairs with our food and drinks if we wanted to. At this point we saw a cockroach crawling on the wall of the booth behind us. I get that it’s an old building on the riverwalk, but shouldn’t they have spray and treatments for that? Based on our experience plus the cockroach, I’m not sure if I’ll be coming back. :(

This is our 2^nd time eating here, 1^st for breakfast and now for lunch. Both times the food and drinks were outstanding. For breakfast we had Jo’s Toasted Banana Nut Bread and all I can really say is OMG and I dislike that saying. It was so freaking good, entertainment for the taste buds. For lunch we had the Pollo Tinga Torta (chicken sandwich) with avocado and it too was phenomenal. The drinks are outstanding, definitely try the Hemingway Daiquiri (not frozen, think martini but with rum as the liquor of choice) and my wife swears by their Bloody Mary. Now for the service review: this is a laid back atmosphere, neither fast nor slow. Relax enjoy the San Antonio River view, if you want to be in and out fast then go find the downtown Whataburger. We will definitely have to come here for dinner and by the way, the hotel offers cozy charming boutique rooms to stay in (and yes we have stayed in them)

Looking for a place to have light dinner around the hotel that we can walk. Decided on Ocho due to great reviews on Unilocal.However, most of the restaurants here in San Antonio closed on Sundays snd Mondays. Too bad I don’t have a chance to try a few restaurants that on my lists to go.
Anyway, our server was great but food was a let down. The pulled pork sandwich nun was too charred aka burnt! The meat was hard too! The tostones was too dry. Only my drink, Havana Margarita was good. However, it’s quiet and right by the river located at hotel Havana. Go for drinks but not their good though.

This is one of them most beautiful restaurants in town. In the old Havana Hotel, old iron and glass walls and ceiling, old brick floor with oriental carpets, overlooking RiverWalk, plush with green plants and trees. Stunning atmosphere. With the name «Ocho,» you are reminded of the great food on Calle Ocho in Miami. Sorry, nothing similar. Very anemic Cuban/​Caribbean food. Cubano sandwich’s bread tasted more like, well, cardboard with a few small greasy pieces of cheese and meat. ($ 16 with French fries). Tortilla soup was basically good, very good, but expensive ($ 8 bowel), and served only warm. What a cute dainty afternoon teahouse this spot would make. But, hearty Cuban food with rice, black beans and chunky spicy beef… it is not. My golden rule question, would I go back? Not until it changes hands with a new menu.

Tasty and solid dining in a beautiful venue, that would be a great place for a first meet up. I would imagine even better when the walls are opened.

The music and charm grabbed my attention from down on the river walk, nice Latin music and as I walked in, I was charmed by the very chic but minimalist terrace. I ordered the salsa sampler, it is a generous portion of chips and variety of salsas bursting with flavor. Then I ordered the Cuban Sandwich LOVED IT! To compliment I ordered the Xplorador Chardonnay from Chile, very vibrant and crisp. Servers very attentive and pleasant. Pricing very reasonable. If ever in San Antonio, this is a must stop for lunch.

Incredible service, exquisite atmosphere. Authentic Cuban taste. One of my top dining experiences anywhere in the world.

I went with three coworkers during a business trip and we actually walked pretty far for it but it was all worth it. when we walked in, it looked small but the size of where we were at made up for everything else. The service here was amazing. we didn’t know what to eat so we had the gentleman, our server give us some suggestions and ended up ordering all the suggestions. wee got three diff drinks. the mojito tastes like reg lime and soda so it didn’t wow me. we got a banana rum with Cranberry oj and it was okay too. then my coworker who got 2 margaritas raved and raved about it… I finished my mojito and the girls and I did three more margaritas. the first one came out amazing like she had described — smooth. the two after came other really bitter and not smooth. the bar tried to fix it but it came out even worse… the server decided to remake all of them. they were so nice about it and we were so satisfied.
oh, iforgot to talk about the food! we had a salad, quesadilla, sliders and some tots with amazing spice n sauce!!! they’re to die for!!! everything was so good!!!

Another restaurant week venture.
Bartender Scoot steered me in the right direction with one of his original recipes, ‘Sweet Boy’ Ended up ordering a second.
Shiner Beer Cheese Soup — Absolutely amazing. The bread dusted with Asiago on top. Great portion size not to fill you up before the main course.
Entrée was Beer-​Braised Venison. Great flavor, maybe a little heavy with the sauce but mixed well with the rice. The vegetables in the rice still crisp. Very mild flavor by itself, again great when mixed with the sauce from the venison.
The black cake stout was the least impressive of the three courses. A little sense for a cake but maybe that’s where the name of stout comes into okay. The mixed berry compote might have been its saving grace.
A definite must during restaurant week, one of their fantastic happy hours or just a romantic date by the river. Will be coming back for brunch soon!

I live in Austin, and I’d make a special trip to San Antonio just to eat here. It’s great. My husband and I ate 2 meals here (dinner and breakfast) while staying at Hotel Havana.
For dinner we got the Chorizo Con Queso as an appetizer to share, and that was about as good as chorizo and cheese with made-​from-​scratch tortillas can be. The tortillas… omg. We shared 2 platos, the Pollo Envuelto and the Beef Tenderloin. Both dishes had so much depth of flavor and were cooked perfectly. We had the Fresh Fried Churros with lemon curd and a mocha café con leche for dessert, and they were a great end to the meal.
For breakfast we got the Basket of Griddled Flour Tortillas with blackberry butter and honey, and really I could have just eaten that whole basket by myself (with coffee) and been totally satisfied not ordering anything else. The Avocado, Bacon and Queso Blanco omelet was one of the best omelets I’ve ever had, however, and the Berries, Banana and Seasonal Fruit bowl was nice and fresh. Be forewarned that the fruit bowl is BIG. It’s probably best ordered as a main side to be shared between 2 – 4 people.
Will be dreaming of those puffy, buttery, perfect tortillas tonight.

Well, maybe we came in on the wrong night, so 3 stars until next visit. They were having a private event on the patio so we went to the basement bar to have dinner (wanted to go for the patio experience)
The basement bar is actually pretty cool. Had a very basement-​y feel, very dark, but kind of stuffy.
Seating was a challenge, it was 6 of us total and trying to push together small tables and chairs in the semi cramped space was difficult and no one that worked there was accommodating. My sister was asked to move because she was slightly in the walkway and we honestly had no where else we could move it scoot. I just thought it was inconsiderate of the workers not to help accommodate us.
Our server was very nice. Helpful and attentive! Food took about 30 minutes though. Had a few cocktails and micheladas. Those came quickly.
We had the Tostones, spicy mushroom tacos, and Havana papas bravas wth added egg and avocado ($ 3 though-​_​– for like a quarter of avocado)
The food was actually very good. The Tostones were a bit hard, but tasted good. The tacos were SPICY but
very very delicious. And the papas bravas were good, home fries style, definitely needed the egg and avocado, if not I think it would’ve been really dry.
Over all, we had an okay experience. Dealing with the seating situation was definitely the reason why I gave it 3 stars. Food was good. Will check it out again though. Hopefully the patio won’t be closed.

Went for a Sunday brunch date and it was AWESOME! I ordered the Cubano Con Huevo which consisted of achiote roasted pork shoulder, griddled ham, swiss cheese & fried egg, served with home fries & pickles. It was kind of like a Cuban sandwich but breakfast style.
My date had the Sweet Plantain Griddle Cakes and she let me sample them — they were just as good as they looked.
It was a beautiful morning so we sat outside on the shaded patio overlooking a quiet section the river walk and enjoyed mimosas.
After we finished, we meandered inside to check out the place. Inside the restaurant, they have tables and a bar facing out onto the river walk and it is opened up to the outside. So whether you sit inside or outside, you get the awesome view.

I have to admit I’m skeptical about hotel restaurants. Most of the time they have mediocre overpriced food with lacking service. Ocho is totally not one those restaurants!
We went here for dinner on a Sunday night and as expected, it was not crowded. We were greeted right away and told to pick where we wanted to sit. We opted for the outside patio since it was such nice weather. Service was attentive and friendly. But the true test came with the quality of the food and drinks.
We were not disappointed in the slightest. From the drinks, appetizer, entrees, all the way to the dessert, were all delicious. Since Ocho is a Cuban restaurant we had to order mojito for drinks and sandwiches for our entrees. If you are thinking about ordering a sandwich, I would recommend the Hamburguesa. The El Cubano is good as well, but the Hamburguesa had so much more flavor. Get the papas bravas as a side instead of the fries or potato chips. You will not regret it! Plus the papas bravas is big enough to share.
Ocho is good for a casual dinner and intimate enough for a special occasion. Come as you are and try it out! I’m so glad I tried this place and will be back in the future.

The top of my places I like to go to for lunch list!!!
I love the setting overlooking a beautiful and very peaceful section of the river walk. So very peaceful and relaxing. The service has always been very friendly and efficient. When one has a limited lunch hour good service is of critical importance.
Each week they offer a soup of the week and a salad of the week. The first time I went the soup of the week was a chilled cream of broccoli with lump crab added. That was so good.
The Fruit Mixta is sized for a meal with a nice assortment of fresh fruits. The Traditional Pork Pozole Rojo is very good. I like a good soup for lunch. The Shrimp and Crab Campachena is delicious and filling without being heavy. The Ocho Chopped Salad also makes a good filling light lunch (if you want you can add chicken or crab).
They offer a nice selection of Tortas on the menu. I’ve tried the Havana Hippie, the Havana Cubana and the Hamburguesa and enjoyed all three. The tortes come with house made potato chips.
Good food with a great view and awesome service.

The oh so sexy décor of this spot made me swoon. The little details are everywhere. If you’re a person who loves aesthetically pleasing details (and I do) you’ll be in heaven here. If you’re on a date… ummm how to put it lightly? You’re sure to have many, many more here. There is magic in the air at Ocho. So much so that I can only envision proposals, weddings and anniversary celebrations here and here only. It’s that special.
The food was out of this world and the service was great but oh that atmosphere. I fell in love 1000 times with a guy I loved a thousand times already.
Huge props to Joi. Thanks for the review that lead us here.

This place is so picturesque! I love the clear garage doors that serve as one wall and although the river isn’t spectacular, it still makes for an awesome view. The chairs, decorations, chandeliers all fit so well together and I felt so swanky eating here.
Tostones — this one didn’t quite impress. It was a little tough/​hard and a little cold. Almost as if it had been sitting for a while and toughened up — not as good as the others I’ve had before. The aoili was great.
Ocho Salsa Platter — the guacamole and the salsas were ok. Especially for the price, I would have rather tried another app for just a little more.
Salmon al Sarten — I’ve only been impressed one time before with restaurant salmon and this time was pretty good. The salmon was not as moist as I’ve had but also huge plus — it wasn’t dry. There was more thin portion to the salmon than thick cut which I worried would be overcooked, but to my surprise it was not. There was also I nice crisp/​crunchy outer later. The risotto also had a rich flavor and was not overcooked nor undercooked. Also a plus — I do not like peas because of their texture. There were a lot of peas in this dish and I hardly even noticed them.
Banana Bread French Toast — I’m not a total sweets fan so this was a little too sweet for me. All I needed was a bite or two and I was good. The ice cream was homemade and perfectly soft. The bread was moist and the sauce was good.
Fresh Fried Churros — man, is it sad to say I think I’ve only had churros at costco? This was delicious. I was kind of curious at what it would taste like as the outside was pretty dark brown. I tore a piece off and the inside was… I don’t know how to explain it… It almost looked as if it would be undercooked but when you take a bite, it was a perfect texture. I was going to shy away from the lemon curd sauce as the two don’t quite sound like they go well together but man it was delicious. It was perfect lemon tang and a perfect hint of curd.

Papas bravas!