Garden Bistro Bar — Restaurant in San Antonio

My friends & I bought two bottles for my birthday yesterday. It was twelve of us & we expected to have a good time as this place was really recommended. It was completely the opposite. First, the waitress bought us the bottles and not once served us our drinks. Second, every time we needed her she would disappear. Third, we complained about the coke & sprite, which was completely flat. The waitress addressed this by saying "that's how all our cokes are even if I bring you another one it's going to be the same." We complained about it a second time & spoke with the manager. He addressed the issue, but it shouldn't have taken us TWO times to complain about. After speaking to the manager, the waitresses came back & closed all our tabs. We weren't ready to leave so this really upset us because she said if we needed anything else to go directly to the bar to order our drinks. Excuse me? When we received the tab this girl gave herself a 20 percent tip that was NOT HER worth. She proved HORRIBLE service. I immediately asked to speak to the manger who seemed unbothered by the situation. If we're spending $300+, I expect 300 dollar service. The tip is dependent on service, not on what you think you deserve. Horrible service & horrible drink. Needless to say, first & last time we have an...

Good evening everyone it’s January 27th at 1:40am. I had a section in which the service was very underwhelming. They tried to get me a section in which I did not request. So at that point I just told the girls my family and I will just hang out without the section. The night was great my family and I continue to get drinks and shots and the bartender Louii was absolutely exceptional. He has a great bartender and I appreciated all of his service… I went to the bar to ask for some shots as my family was ordering drinks. As soon as I walked it a tall muscular pale complexion bouncer with a beard told me something I was not able to hear due to the loudness of the club. I asked him, what are you talking about? And he puts me in a chokehold and drags me out of the bar. This club does not have accountability for the bouncers. I cannot believe what happened this evening. I am seeing other negative reviews and they all focus on the security guards and how unfair and short tempered and huge ego they are, this bar is not classy, it is not organized and jt is not accountable. I spent a lot of money on drinks due to the outstanding service I received from Louii, and as a result I got choked out and removed from the bar along with my mother and my brothers. Do...

Garden Bistro Review: 2/5 Stars

Garden Bistro has potential but falls short in delivering a great experience, especially if you're looking to dance without breaking the bank.

First, you're hit with a $15 cover charge just to get in, and drinks are priced steeply at $10-15 each. Once inside, the setup feels unbalanced. The patio, while open to the elements, is where the real dancing happens with upbeat Latin music. However, the indoor area—which you'd assume is the heart of the club—offers a limited dance floor and awkward seating arrangements that are all VIP-only. To sit, you're expected to buy bottle service, starting at $180 (plus tax and service charges), totaling $220. For context, these are bottles you could purchase retail for less than $35, even accounting for mixers.

The vibe inside feels more catered to spectators than dancers, with pole dancers providing entertainment while a mix of non-danceable music plays. This creates a disconnect if you're there for Latin music and dancing.

Overall, if you're looking to dance freely and not overspend, this is not the place. While the outdoor patio offers some charm, the high costs and focus on VIP exclusivity detract from the...