Magic Time Machine — Restaurant in San Antonio

We loved The Magic Time Machine. We have been many times in the past. We had not been in a few years, but had seen all of the Facebook advertisements and decided to give it another shot for my son's 17th Birthday.

It was this past Thursday, June 12th, around 6:30PM. It was a 1 1/2 hour wait. We decided to wait it out and proceeded to the bar area, the bar tender did a great job, giving my sons extra dry ice in their Magic Potion drinks.

We final get a table, Goku was our server. Things started off ok. We placed our order for drinks, chips and queso and our entrees.

There is no longer soup at the Salad Car which was disappointing.

Our food took about an hour to arrive. Everyone's meal was good, except mine, I ordered the Center Cut at $37.99 Medium Well. It was RAW! About 20 minutes later we were able to flag down Goku and explain the problem. He said he could take that steak back to recook or make a new one and I said, yes either, but I would need a separate plate for the steak so I could at least eat the mashed potatoes while my steak was being re-cooked.

Goku brought the other plate and left the table. I placed my RAW steak on the plate, which SAT ON THE TABLE FOR AN HOUR.

Meanwhile, everyone else finished their dinner and I still did not have mine. Goku proceeded to bring my son a Birthday Cookie and sing Happy Birthday, I still did not have my steak.

Goku said he talked to the manager and kitchen manager but still I did not have my steak. We asked for to go boxes for my Sons' plates, and as they were packing up their left overs, Goku handed us the check. I reminded him I still did not have my steak. And the RAW one still was sitting in the middle of the table as well as all of our dirty dishes, chips and queso plates, beer bottles, our table NEVER GOT CLEANED OFF.

I asked Goku for the dry ice and soap thing they do at the end, I mean we waited for two 1/2 hours at this point, I wanted my son to have the full experience for his birthday.

We got our soap explosion, and at that point I asked Goku for a new check without the mandatory gratuity for large parties and I was not paying for the steak I never got so that needed to be removed as well, he took the check and came back with a new one.

And finally, as I was getting my credit card out of my wallet, Goku came back with my steak, which I immediately put in a to go box to eat at home.

I am so frustrated because we remember when this place was good and so much fun and now it's a waste of time and so boring and dirty and horrible customer service. Makes me very sad.

We had a million different places we could have gone for my son's birthday and he chose this place, because of the past memories we had of this place being so good and fun. Now, I am not sure we will...

Growing up in Austin I had always heard of the MTM but had never been. I’ve been in SA since 1998 and we finally made an effort to stop in this past week. The restaurant opened in 1973 and sadly parts of the interior looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since opening night. A lot of the carpet, paint and furniture is dated, aged and almost looks dirty. The upholstered seats were maybe the worst, except for the silverware which looked like it came from 1873 as it was old, bent and tarnished. Maybe the condition of the exterior of the building should have been a clue of what was to come. The loose and missing boards on the exterior wall paint a picture of what’s to come. I will say the concept is unique and fun and your experience will completely and absolutely depend on your server, at least until the food arrives. Regretfully our server wasn’t up to the task so we even missed out on that part of the experience. She was rather lackluster and even hard to understand and seemed less than thrilled at her role. As we watched other tables, other characters were much more into their roles. I guess we drew the short straw on the entertainment. Now for the food, we ordered the superhero pasta and fried shrimp. Despite listing spinach and artichoke hearts as ingredients I didn’t really see much of either in the pasta. It was a fist size serving and was average at best. The shrimp were obviously frozen but tasty. The french fries were almost undercooked and there was visible standing grease on my plate. That is something that should have never happened and never left the kitchen. The smoking and foaming “magic” tricks don’t make up for the aged and disrepair of the interior. I won’t even mention the condition of the tiny restroom. The biggest and funniest part happened far from our table and I must say that “Nacho” rocks his job. Sadly that is the only good thing I can say. I don’t think we will return and I can’t recommend and I may even caution others to avoid. It’s past its prime, in need of repair and more than anything a cleaning.

But the way, it’s not just me. Taken from a KSAT12 article…..

Magic Time Machine in the 900 block of NE Loop 410 may wish they could go back in time to get a higher score. They were zapped with an 80. Food in a cooler that was out of temperature had to be thrown out. Food containers stored as clean were still dirty with debris. Several small roaches were seen emerging from a drain. Two kitchen staffers were handling food without being certified. Several areas needed...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Walking into The Magic Time Machine in San Antonio feels like stepping through a portal into a world where dinner isn’t just served — it’s performed. From the moment you arrive, you’re surrounded by color, quirky décor, and themed rooms that make you want to explore before you even sit down. It’s part restaurant, part interactive theater, and every server is in character from start to finish.

Our night was made unforgettable by our server, Loki — yes, the God of Mischief himself. He was hilarious from the very first hello, staying perfectly in character with quick-witted comebacks, playful banter, and just the right amount of mischief to keep us laughing all evening. Loki didn’t just bring food — he delivered a performance. Every interaction felt like a scene in a comedy skit, and it truly made the evening feel special.

The food was very good — I’d give it a solid 8 out of 10 — with generous portions and fun presentation that matched the playful atmosphere. And the salad bar? Not just a salad bar — it’s built inside a vintage car, with the hood popped open so you’re literally scooping your salad out of the “engine.” It’s a clever, one-of-a-kind touch, and the fresh greens and toppings made it as tasty as it was memorable.

We also had to try their potion drinks, which are just as theatrical as the rest of the experience. Ours came bubbling, fizzing, and smoking from dry ice, and one even changed colors before our eyes. They’re sweet, magical, and perfect for sharing on social media — or just enjoying for the fun of it.

Now, I will say that some of the couches and seating do look stained and a bit outdated, and the carpet could definitely use a deep cleaning or replacement. It doesn’t ruin the experience — the atmosphere and entertainment more than make up for it — but a refresh in those areas would take the overall presentation to the next level.

This is the kind of spot that works for all ages — kids are wide-eyed with excitement, adults appreciate the humor and nostalgia, and everyone leaves with a story. It’s perfect for birthdays, date nights, group outings, or anytime you want dinner to be more than just a meal.

If you go — and you really should — ask for Loki. He’ll keep you laughing, keep the energy high, and make sure your visit is one you’ll be talking about long after...