Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pinkerton's Barbecue

    4.4 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Pinkerton's Barbecue Photos

    Business Info

    PINKERTON'S BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Pinkerton's Barbecue

    Recommended Reviews - Pinkerton's Barbecue

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Brisket, ribs, beans and jalapeno rice
    Lyssa C.

    Ok we waited in line for about 45 min. The line kept moving but wish there had been fans set up. You order at a counter and meats are by the weight so you can order a slice and ribs are by the bone. Example I ordered one slice of brisket and 3 ribs. Everything was well worth the wait and some of the most delicious bbq I have ever had. I didn't love the beans but they were decent. They loved the potato salad and my husband said the slaw was amazing. That jalapeno riche I am going to dream about. It was amazing. Big industrial type room where you just seat yourself. They have a bar you can order drinks at. We had the World Cup on and tables flipped quickly. Everything was clean and they attended to cleaning the tables quickly. Highly recommend and would go back in a heartbeat!

    Brisket, ribs and pulled pork
    David H.

    I'm a backyard BBQ guy. I know what to look for and what goes into making great brisket and ribs. Pinkerton's BBQ is the real deal. First of all-- they have a parking lot down the street with a gate which they provide free parking. Otherwise parking can be pretty pricey around the area. If you get there before 4:30 like we did, you can avoid the lines. It's cafeteria style where you order first and get the food at the end when you pay. I ordered 1/4lbs each of brisket, ribs and pulled pork. While I still believe that mine are close or slightly better, I can truly say you won't be disappointed with this Texas BBQ. There was a group of 8 of us and we were able to get a nice picnic table for ourselves. The sides were as good as the BBQ. My brisket, ribs, pulled pork, beans and a beer were all I needed.

    Yvonne T.

    Outstanding! From getting in line to food in hand was an hour, but well worth it. Many restaurants have a 30 minute wait to be seated and another 30 minutes to order and receive food, so not really a longer wait here. Just be ready to stand in line outside - the A/C will feel sooo good once you get in! The staff was friendly and helpful. I would definetly recommend the chopped brisket sandwich, pulled pork, mac n cheese, and jalapeno cheese rice! Skip the coleslaw unless you want a container of just purple cabbage. Self-seating in a fun, casual atmosphere and reasonable prices. This is a can't miss restaurant when visiting San Antonio!!!

    Pimento cheese, turkey, brisket, Mac and cheese, potato salad, beans and sides
    Jamie S.

    We were downtown for a staycation celebrating a wedding, and I was so excited to have some bbq. I was not disappointed. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The decor was just homey, lots of wood, taxidermy on the wall, photos and tack. I was surprised to walk in and see a full bar, I was not complaining. And the food was so tasty, from the moist meat to the creamy pimento cheese and hot beans. Watch the line, it can get pretty long, but it moves pretty quickly.

    Anney L.

    Coming from a girl from Los Angeles, this is honestly my favorite barbecue spot I've been to so far! I haven't tried a ton of BBQ places yet, but this one completely impressed me. The pork ribs were so flavorful and tender, and the brisket was absolutely delicious ; definitely the stars of the meal for me. Everything tasted fresh, smoky, and cooked perfectly. The service was amazing too. The staff were incredibly nice, welcoming, and super helpful with recommendations, which made the whole experience even better. You can really tell they care about the food and the customers. Just a little heads up for anyone visiting: if you want to try their most popular items, definitely come earlier! We got there around 7 PM and they were already sold out of quite a few things, which honestly says a lot about how popular this place is. Even with some items gone, the food we did get was amazing and totally worth it. I'd 100% come back next time I'm in town!

    The Trinity (pork ribs, jalapeno cheese link, and brisket). 2 lbs of ribs
    Michael S.

    A MUST have if you're in San Antonio. 1 of the best BBQ meats I've ever had - right up there along with Phil's BBQ at San Diego. Yes, Pinkerton's is THAT good! (IYKYK) Best BBQ in Texas is what I've heard and that's precisely what I experienced. Parking lots are nearby at a price ($28 for 2.5 hrs), unless you get lucky with street parking. Took us 30 min in the line, 10 min to order, and 1 hr to eat - plenty of time left on the parking meter which we prefer rather than cutting it close and getting a ticket. 2.5 hrs for parking felt rather safe for us, if you're wondering. Indoor and outdoor seating is available with plenty of tables. TVs inside for game days to indulge in 2 loves at the same time - food and sports. Ambience is warm, welcoming, and simply chill. Line up, be patient, and order to your liking. Ordering process - request for bread, ordered cold items first (potato salad), moved forward to order hot items (beans, Mac and cheese), grabbed a blueberry cobbler on the counter, and moved forward again to order precisely what we came for... the MEATS! Paid our dues, got fountain drinks, and found an open table to accommodate our party of 4. Open seating! TIP 1: They open at 11 AM, we got there at 3 PM, and they were out of beef ribs already. So keep that in mind if you're there specifically for that. TIP 2: They have 2 sauces from what I could tell - Original and Sweet Sauce. Sweet Sauce was my favorite, but just make sure both are on your table to try out. Live dangerously and mix them! Sooo good... THE TRINITY is what we ordered - or at least, that's what the server told us. The Trinity = Pork ribs, Brisket, and jalapeno cheese link. Omg... every single bite sent us to Heaven and back. Jalapeno cheese link was packed with jalapeno flavor and as if it was soaked in cheese yet didn't look like it. The brisket was the best I've EVER had - thick, juicy, savory, and now set the bar high for all future briskets. Pork ribs - 2 lbs and glazed. Oh man.. just thinking about it makes me depressed like a long lost distant relationship I know won't work out (we live in Nor Cal). Melted off the bone, juicy, smoked and cooked perfectly to... perfection. Slather your favorite BBQ sauces however you'd like and enjoy Nirvana throughout your time at Pinkerton's!

    Raven E.

    BIG fan of Pinkerton's! The line is always long but definitely worth the wait. We got: Hot sides - bacon mac n cheese & jalapeño cheese rice Meats - brisket, pulled pork, & pork ribs Desserts - blueberry cobbler & bananas foster pudding Loved that they also had a few games on the tvs while you eat.

    Beef rib, brisket, jalapeno cheddar link, bacon mac and cheese with brisket on top, small potato salad.
    James S.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 Great bbq! Food was delicious, every dish I ordered was great. Beef rib was juicy, brisket was moist, sides were on point. They even have blueberry cobbler as one of their desserts on offer, and it was really great. I liked how every dish was executed well, similar to Franklin bbq in Austin. Some places are known for one or two items and then kind of rest on their laurels for the other items, but not here. Servers were friendly and the space is nice. High ceilings, plenty of seats and tables. They play country music and have taxidermy on the walls. It is very expensive though, as I paid $140 for my meal. The beef rib is $38/lb and brisket is $35/lb. Hopefully the Iran war ends soon and fertilizer costs and feed costs can come down so that beef prices won't be so insane in the future.

    CW from top: Pulled Pork, Duck Sausage Jambalaya, Mac & Cheese, Potato Salad, White Bread
    Steve G.

    Wow! My first experience with Texas barbecue was definitely not a disappointment. Pinkerton's was everything I hoped it would be. There appears to always be a line. During the 1-1/4 hours we were on line and as we left after eating, we never saw it get any shorter. This was a Sunday afternoon. The wait was definitely worth it. Everything is setup pretty efficiently, with different stations for each part of your meal; cold sides, hot sides, meats, and then the bar. The staff is incredibly friendly and ready to offer suggestions. They're also generous; I got a extra piece of brisket for free just because. Meats are sold by the pound, but you can mix and match whatever you want. Two of us got the glazed pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and smoked sausage. For sides we got Mac & Cheese, Potato Salad, and Duck Sausage Jambalaya. All were incredible! Unfortunately, they had run out of Beef Ribs while we were on line. Note that the sides are big, even for two people. They have a nice selection of beers on tap and everything is reasonably priced (drinks and food). We gave it our best try, but couldn't finish everything, and left very full and very satisfied.

    Bacon Mac and cheese
    Felina S.

    Friday evening during Fiesta- definitely a popular place! Wait was about 30 min in line from outside to inside to order to sitting down! But they did have it under a good control. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming with big smiles! The restaurant is big enough to hold plenty of crowd and there is some outdoor space to sit as well! The food was so tasty- brisket was meaty, Mac and cheese was delicious! Potato salad was creamy and good taste of green onions in it too! Sausage was not greasy! Overall worth the wait! Coming back soon

    Thao R.

    I've heard good things about Pinkerton's so we decided to bring some out of town family here for dinner. There was a line out the door! No one likes to wait, but it was an indicator that the food must be worth it. The staff was very friendly when we said it was our first time and explained the process. We got the brisket, pork ribs, potato salad and bacon mac and cheese. For dessert, we got some banana foster pudding too! I thought the brisket was going to outshine the pork ribs, but it was actually the other way around. It leaned on the dry side, or this would have actually been a 5 star review. Still had great flavor though! The pork ribs were very tender and had a great glaze. The sides were good as well! The banana foster pudding is great if you have a huge sweet tooth. The place was casual and had plenty of seating in the dining area. It would have been great to have a bigger line area though, so that you don't have to spend most of it outside in the weather!

    Hot sides menu
    Jennifer H.

    Be ready to wait in a line. Got in line at 4 pm and didn't make it to the door until 20 minutes later. You order in one line and receive your food when you pay. No grabbing a number and waiting for them to bring it to you. Make sure to ask the person working the door if anything is sold out for the day. On the day I was here (Thursday), the beef ribs were gone by 4 pm You order the cold sides first, then hot sides and finally meat. If you want an alcoholic beverage, you can order it at the bar (end). The bar is around the corner after paying for your food. The meat is ordered by weight. I ordered one slice of brisket and two pork ribs. Pay attention to the sample portion sizes on the counter so you know how much to get. The glazed pork ribs were the hit of the dinner. The brisket was decent. I've had better and worse. I need to make a mental note that I don't like Texas style beans. This was the third time I ordered Texas style beans in my lifetime and I discovered yet again that I don't like them. They taste too much like chili beans. Not for me. I like thick sweet beans with brown sugar. This is not what I ordered. The Mac n cheese was not overly cheesy. I barely tasted the bacon. It was fine. Nothing outstanding. They need a corn dish. I love eating corn with ribs especially if it is off the cob. Why don't they have cornbread?!?! Once you got inside there was plenty of seating. Getting through the line to order your food was the challenge. Rough estimate that 90 could be seated inside. Great if you have a larger party. I sat at the bar and ordered a cocktail while watching March madness. Big tourist place! Would I recommend -- not sure.

    Amesha R.

    If you are ok with risking being popped on by 1,000,000,001 birds, standing in line for almost 2 hours, getting a leg cramp and having your spouse mad at you for leg cramp then this will work. We met people that could stick out the wait some said it was worth the wait and some who went for a drink to help with the wait. So obviously we stuck it out. The staff greets you at the door to regulate the flow of people going in. Some stopped to ask questions about what's good to get. How they smoke thier meats. He also let's you know if they ran out of something before you head in. Once inside you start with a cold option I got potato salad (to me tasted like a deviled egg potato salad and it was good). Then your hot sides i got the Mac and cheese with bacon ( this was really good and cheesey). Now choose your meats. Right before we got to that part the announcement was made no more sliced brisket but they still had chopped. So we got that and ribs the meat is order by the pound. Now what you to know was it worth the 2 hour wait in line. Hmm I will let you decide. But I will say the food was good. Meat was seasoned and ribs were falling off the bone. This a family style restaurant so they encourage you to order and sit in that way.

    Dirty rice, sausage, ribs, potato salad

    See all

    Photo of Val G.
    0
    119
    3

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David H.
    227
    1628
    1426

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dolores D.
    759
    1704
    15590

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cara T.
    316
    933
    3994

    5 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali R.
    296
    344
    2049

    2 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dane B.
    1
    15
    11

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joani O.
    297
    1132
    3747

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Boo C.
    2
    19
    9

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 32

    Pinkerton's Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pinkerton's Barbecue

    Is there a drive thru?

    No, walk-in only.

    Do they only sell by the pound? Or can you buy 1/2 pound of meats?

    You can buy in whatever quantity you wish.

    Hey y'all! Are any of the meats and/or sides gluten free friendly?

    The menu says all meats are prepared gluten-free. I'm gluten intolerant (not celiac) and had the Potato Salad with no issues! Just be sure to tell them right away that you can't eat gluten because the default is to throw some white bread on your… Read more

    Same ppl from Houston?

    Yes they are

    Is your patio dog friendly?

    Actually, while I was there, there were multiple people with their dogs on leashes since its outdoors. I'm sure as long as your dog is well behaved, it wouldn't be such a big deal to have your dog with you.

    Hi y'all, was wondering does their mac and cheese have bacon in it? Is it possible to get it without the bacon? Thanks!

    Hello, Kiran! To answer your question, YES, the mac and cheese does have bacon in it. I was wondering if I could get it without bacon, too because the mac and cheese looks really good! My best bet is that they don't make mac and cheese without bacon… Read more

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Barbeque 14,334 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Four Brothers

    Four Brothers

    4.2
    (233 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Another great meal! Our server Brahim provided the perfect service: attentive, thoughtful, kind…read more Really enhanced our meal. For a starter we shared the cornbread with another couple and it was plenty for 4 people. If you are from out of town and looking for some Texas-shaped vittles or just want something substantial to stretch your meal I recommend it! Very tasty and filling. For my main I had the scallops with creamed corn risotto. It was a dainty portion but the flavors were nice. My husband had the short rib tagliatelle which he loved. It was very rich and filling. We had the buttermilk pie again for dessert and this time it tasted sweeter than I remembered. It was good but we couldn't finish it. Idk if it was my tastebuds or if it was different. Anyways still a great meal overall and we will be back!

    We arrived in San Antonio after an 11+ hour road trip from New Orleans. By 7 pm hubs wanted dinner…read moreas soon as we checked into our hotel. Checked Yelp for dinner suggestions so Doc drove us to the paid lot next to where all the Cinderella lit up carriages drawn by horses were lined up. It seemed the boats going up and down the River portion of the Walk were busier. While we were walking I had my eyes open for a table with a view. We stopped at Four Brothers. The receptionist went over suggestions on the menu on her outdoor podium. Cornbread in the shape of Texas, shareable items like Dino ribs for $82, plus Pork Shank and ice tea completed our order. Everyone was very friendly. We had an exceptional view and we had more than enough food that we had to ask for take out boxes. My favorite was the Mac & cheese though I'm usually not a fan. This dish used cork screw shaped pasta and it was moist and not stuck together. I had to share a photo of it with Sweetie who is in Tokyo right now. Doc liked the pimento for the cornbread. As it was almost 9 pm we decided to pass on the boat ride but just walk on the other side with shops and more eateries. We're back on the road again tomorrow to Arizona.

    Photos
    Four Brothers
    Four Brothers
    Four Brothers

    See all

    Q Kitchen | Bar

    Q Kitchen | Bar

    3.8
    (149 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    We stayed at the Hyatt for four nights and had breakfast here each day, so we got to try a ton!…read moreAlso, the atrium area of the hotel where Q kitchen is located is strikingly beautiful. Favorite item was the Alamo huevos rancheros. This was a rare treat to enjoy a dish with brisket, cheese, and salsa without some kind of heartburn afterwards. But this was lighter than expected and tasted amazing! Other dishes we tried: Egg white frittata: very good and a nice touch that it is served in a skillet! Texas waffle: was one of the best waffles either of us has had in a long time Blueberry pancakes: very good. I really enjoyed the stewed blueberry Chilaquiles: this we felt was the only miss. Didn't like that it was prepared with tortilla chips instead of fried tortillas Steak and eggs: ask for extra chimichurri sauce and maybe add some extra salt. Once you do that, this dish is fantastic Avocado toast: this definitely needs smoked salmon or other protein. Otherwise it isn't very substantial. I had it with smoked salmon and it really hit the spot. The service was polite and attentive. We're excited to return for our next visit

    Nice restaurant in Hyatt Agency downtown overlooking the Riverwalk. Beware, parking is expensive in…read morethe lot next door and they do not validate parking. My Ancho Chile Short Rib and my friend's Pasta with Chicken were both tasty and the chocolate dessert was delightful.

    Photos
    Dining Area
    Dining Area
    Huevos rancheros
    Huevos rancheros
    Beer & Wine

    See all

    Beer & Wine
    Carriqui

    Carriqui

    4.4
    (751 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I uploaded the pictures of these restaurant last year but somehow didn't write a review. Wow …read more. So where do I begin. I still remember how tasteful everything was. It was probably our most favorite place that we ate while in San Antonio. The ambiance was great, beautifully decorated restaurant with great service. The cocktails were delicious so we had a few. The food was flavorful and unique. We had a wonderful dinner with my family at Carriqui.

    Great restaurant located near the Pearl and I love the fact that they have their own private…read moreparking lot. Y'know it's impossible to find street parking especially on the weekends normally. I had made reservations to meet some friends here for brunch/lunch 1145 am on a Sunday. This place is bigger than it looks! There's seating at the main building, plus a huge outdoor patio seating area, and an entire other building beautifully decorated. The hostess was welcoming and friendly and our server was excellent. We were seated in the other building near the windows. The menu wasn't huge, but just right with a few lunch and brunch items. After debating for a while of what to order, I decided on the Texas Gulf Shrimp plate. Agua Fresca of the day per our server was strawberry pineapple. Our server was able to water mine down slightly- since it was very sweet, but love knowing that it was freshly made. Complimentary chips and salsa always a plus, and we were able to order some spicy salsa to accompany at no charge. My shrimp plate was delicious! 2 skewers of nicely cooked and seasoned shrimp atop salsa with perfectly cooked cilantro rice and a fresh leaf salad. A half slices avocado accompanied my plate. Oh how I love avocados. I thoroughly enjoyed my plate. The chicken al carbon was also a good choice - half a chicken that was juicy, not dry. The avocado toast was beautiful and the pecan salsa was quite interesting. The female performers during our brunch in the room, made it very hard for all of us to have conversations. The volume echoed loudly in the room, so it was very hard to speak and understand each other. Although a great idea, maybe outdoor patio area might be more suitable. Beautiful space, great service, good food.

    Photos
    The interior atrium above the Carriqui Bar brings fills the space with natural sunlight.
    The interior atrium above the Carriqui Bar brings fills the space with natural sunlight.
    Carriqui's award winning margaritas are perfect for good times and great stories.
    Carriqui's award winning margaritas are perfect for good times and great stories.
    Guacamole - simple, fresh, and perfect for getting started.

    See all

    Guacamole - simple, fresh, and perfect for getting started.
    Curry Boys BBQ

    Curry Boys BBQ

    4.6
    (482 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Initially I wasn't sure what to think about mixing BBQ with curry, but I was quickly won over!…read more We are in Texas, so naturally I had to try the brisket. It is served over green curry, which also happens to be my favorite! The brisket is served on top of the curry bowl, so I first tried just the meat. It was fall apart tender, perfectly moist, and full of flavor! I would pick their brisket over most other BBQ joints in a heartbeat! Next up was the curry by itself. It was also delicious and filled with potatoes and carrots! I am used to green curry being pretty spicy, but this is definitely a milder green curry. When I mixed the brisket in it was the perfect combination! The smokey meat blended with the curry spices was a delight to the palette, and it was just the right amount of food for a big and hungry guy like me! I can't wait to go back to try some of the other dishes! Great food! Fair and reasonable price! Friendly service! Definitely worth checking out!

    I'm always a little scared when trying Asian fusion foods, but this place understood the…read moreassignment! I got the brisket smoke show, and the tender brisket paired really well with the green curry. The rice was soft, and all the flavors just melted in your mouth. I do wish that the curry was a little thicker, as the curry felt closer to a broth than the Thai curries I've had before. The service was great and the workers were really helpful in helping me decide what to get. You get to sit wherever you want and you just leave your dishes at the table. Restaurant was decorated in such a homey way. Good bbq and good flavors!

    Photos
    Decor
    Decor
    Thai Green Salad
    Thai Green Salad
    Decor

    See all

    Decor
    The Esquire Tavern

    The Esquire Tavern

    4.1
    (3.6k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Daniel is AMAZING! thanks for the help and making me laugh!!! Love the atmosphere/vibe.read more

    Update to first review below, rating updated from a 3 to a 5 star (drinks & bartender would get 10+…read morestars if we could rate that high): Saturday night: Went back for after dinner drinks at the Downstairs (a "speakeasy" throwback, look up the history of the place to see why). Drinks were AMAZING! Bartender Rob made the best Negroni I've ever had. I asked him to use whatever gin he thought best--result was an artistic smooooooth full-bodied drink. Told him when I was done I'd lick the glass if it wasn't considered so uncouth for a 'mature' lady like myself to do so Hubby's Buffalo Trace bourbon old fashioned was also outstanding. Rob was the bartender last night who did such a great job, and his work was even better tonight. We highly recommend The EsquireTavern for excellent cocktails. We love the long wood bar and high copper ceiling upstairs, but love the intimate speakeasy atmosphere downstairs even more. We'll definitely be back every time we're in San Antonio! First review, Friday night: Drinks were great (Manhattan and Bourbon Old Fashioned). REAL drinks, no complaints at all about those. And the bartenders were very friendly and helpful. Those aspects of the Esquire get 5+ stars from us. But the appetizers were not good, close to inedible. It was about 8:30pm or so, so maybe they were getting ready to close out the kitchen but the chalupitas with chicken tasted like rubber, and no flavor at all. The seafood platter had something in it that was breading with shell inside, but no meat of any kind. We couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. The shrimp was good and the fish was good but those other things... We'll always love the drinks, the long wooden bar, and the ambiance at the Esquire Tavern, but we'll eat somewhere else and come here for before or after dinner drinks. (See update above to this review for when we returned the next night for after dinner drinks.)

    Photos
    Gorgeous full bar
    Gorgeous full bar
    Chicken Fried Steak
    Chicken Fried Steak
    Rum for the Hills
 
 dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro,
 pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara
 SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE

    See all

    Rum for the Hills dominican republic rum, piña amaro, gentian amaro, pamplemousse, pineapple, lime, demerara SERVED ON CRUSHED ICE

    Pinkerton's Barbecue - bbq - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...