Eating San Antonio

15900 La Cantera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 690-3334
www.ztejas.com

Z’Tejas is in the newer section of the La Cantera Shopping Center.  I really like this side of the center, it’s quaint, and has a feel that makes it seem like it’s in its own little world.  Going there on a warm evening is a joy as the streets are lit with strands of lights crisscrossing the roads that run down the middle of the shops.  You can find random outdoor seating areas with comfortable chairs to sit and chat with your friends in between shopping and dining.

I stopped by Z’Tejas one evening for dinner with some friends.  We had a reservation, so my dining companions and I were seated immediately.  I checked-in on foursquare and found that they gave an appetizer of chips and salsa for using foursquare, so we started with that.

I’ve been to other places that give free chips and salsa for checking in on foursquare, and it’s usually the normal small bowl of chips and a single helping of salsa, but not at Z’Tejas.  We received a large bowl of chips and three different types of salsas, each very tasty.  So kudos on the appetizer, well done.

Our waitperson was very prompt and courteous.  He took our drink orders and returned in a reasonable amount of time given the number of other diners in the restaurant.  I decided to order their Baked Seafood Enchiladas.  This meal consists of blackened salmon and tuna, grilled cilantro pesto shrimp, wild mushrooms and baby spinach, topped with Jack and cotija cheeses, a roasted red pepper sauce and sour cream, served with green chile rice and black beans.  It sounded wonderful and I was excited about digging into this tex-mex delight.

Our food arrived in a good amount of time.  The place was pretty hopping, so I expected to have a bit of a wait for the food.  I have to say that the presentation of the food is really good.  Z’Tejas takes time to give their meals a nice curb appeal that gives their entrees that extra special touch.

I took one bite of the enchiladas and realized that even though the wait to receive our food wasn’t that long, it was time enough for my food to reach the cool side of lukewarm.  It was a disappointing turn in what I thought was shaping up to be a good dining experience, so I called my waitperson over and asked if my meal could be reheated.  He obliged in short order and returned with piping hot food, just the way it should be.

Digging into my meal I found that the presentation was better than the taste.  It wasn’t bad by any means, but my impression was "meh, it's just ok."  It was marginally tasteful, and left my taste buds flat.  Mediocre is the best word for it.  The dish looked great, but the meal needs an overhaul to give it the flavor it deserves.

I give Z’Tejas credit for their desire to give their patrons a nice dining experience.  The restaurant is comfortable, with both inside and outside seating.  It’s a nice place to sit and relax with friends, so it’s unfortunate that their food left me wanting for something better.

Give Z’Tejas a try, it’s a decent restaurant and their prices are very reasonable.


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