Range | Steak - Seafood - Field — Restaurant in San Antonio

Having eaten at other Jason Dady restaurants I wasn’t certain what to expect from a chef who currently owns southern Italian, seafood, and barbeque restaurants, but was now trying his hand at a steakhouse. In typical Dady fashion, Range does not disappoint. Located in the Embassy Suites Hotel on the corner of Houston St. and Soledad in downtown San Antonio, Range overlooks the Riverwalk, and is near the theatre district (Majestic, Empire, etc.). Both the upstairs and downstairs are open areas, with an elaborate bar on the first floor and an open kitchen in the center of the second floor.

The décor is slightly upscale without being fussy, and the staff uniforms are meant to mirror traditional butcher’s garb with heavy, full length, leather and cloth aprons. One of the few dings I can give this otherwise lovely restaurant is Dady decided to keep the previous tenant’s dining chairs, and unfortunately that means you are sitting on not too comfortable French bistro style wooden chairs. As the dining experience is meant to be coursed out and rather long (we were there well over two hours), the chairs can put a bit of a crimp in your backside. Ask for one of their banquette tables to avoid this.

Regarding the food… Range masters a precise, and nicely appointed menu that emphasizes traditional Texas steakhouse fare. It might seem odd that a steakhouse is only offering five cuts of beef, but do not panic… the options provide a perfect sampling of classic cuts, and you will not be disappointed.

I ordered the 10oz. tender loan filet, one of my dining companions ordered the 18oz. ribeye, and the other ordered the bacon encrusted pork chop (that’s as amazingly good as you think). I’m extremely particular about how my steak is cooked, as I imagine most carnivores are, and I am happy to report that Range nailed it on the first try. My filet arrived black and blue (slight char and cold in the middle), and on a cold plate. The plate is not Range’s usual practice, but they were more than happy to accommodate me. My dining companions’ ribeye and pork chop were spot on, and an otherwise chatty table fell silent as we thoroughly enjoyed meals.

Please don’t forget to leave room for the family style sides. We tried, and loved, the marble potato confit with bacon cream (bite size potatoes in bacon gravy), and the crispy fried brussels sprouts. In fact, looking at the sides’ menu, you could easily make a meal from it and have no regrets.

Some fun facts about Range… do try the table side martinis. I am not usually a fan of a server having to play cook or bartender at the table, but Range has trained their folks well, and not over complicated the presentation. As you know if you patronize any of Mr. Dady’s other establishments, he has a thing for Nutella. The hazelnut and chocolate spread makes an appearance on Range’s desert menu as well.

Lastly, since at this price range, the dining experience is about so much more than the food alone, I recommend when making your reservation that you ask for David. He was an informed, bright, and enthusiastic server without being overbearing or interrupting the table too often. He will definitely help take your dining experience to the next...

I read the reviews, saw the red flags and against my better judgment, I still went to this restaurant. What a HORRIBLE experience on what was to be a special night. My husband and I should’ve walked away during the ONE HOUR waiting for our mediocre steaks. I saw people walking out with to go bags (🚩). Our reservation was for 9:15, we got seated at 9:06. So far so good. It was a fixed 4 course meal at $125 a plate in a very nice venue. As we waited for our waitress a couple beside us send back their steaks (🚩), a couple behind us complained about their salmon(🚩). We got our two courses without a problem and were tasty. So far so good. Noticed new couple was sat on the other side of us. After about ten minutes, they walked out (🚩). I kept thinking I’m going to be a good sport. It was a busy night. Then saw the manager talking to the couples who returned their plates and apologized. These couples did not receive the main dishes on a timely manner and decided to leave as well with their food to go! Thus, the people with all the to go bags!!!! Should have left at that point! It was 10:49pm when the manager came to our table to apologize for the delay in our steaks. I just wanted to go to bed by then. Decided to be good sport. Our steaks arrived before 11 pm. My steak was not to my liking and was debating to return. I just couldn’t eat it. Returned my steak. In the meantime my husband ate his plate while I ate my cauliflower augratin. I was so hungry at this point. My steak came after my husband finished his plate. It was good, I’ll admit. Worth $125? I don’t think so. I’ve had definitely better for less. Then the dessert came after another 30 minutes. I’m like what the heck don’t they have these already made?!? I mean it’s a fixed menu!! The wait staff kept apologizing. The creme brulee was too warm for my taste and the Mississippi mud pie was an afterthought. Worst dining experience EVER. We were ripped off. They automatically charged 20% service fee. We spent $400 for two and IT WAS NOT WORTH IT. I’ll be surprised if this place makes it. It such a great venue but the service was horrible and the food mediocre. We will never set foot in this place. I want my money back. Don’t go there! You’ll be...

Came here for Mother’s Day which was a bad decision. They were slammed and seemed to be short-staffed. Had made a reservation about ten days in advance - still had to wait in the untidy waiting area for 45 minutes past our reservation time. Hostess was doing her best but didn’t seem to have much support and was fending off angry customers in between doing stuff that’s probably not normally her job. Kudos to her for keeping her cool.

She took us upstairs to a table and literally pulled the dirty tablecloth off in front of us. The huge table next to us had trash all around on the floor. It took about ten minutes for someone to even acknowledge us. The waitstaff were running and saying not very nice things under their breath as they raced by. Meanwhile we waited - without water, menus, or table dressing.

Finally our waiter rushed up and got us water and menus. It was a fixed price menu (we knew this) but he never brought a cocktail menu. Hint: the bar is downstairs which he commented later is a real hassle (which I imagine it would be). Hubby and friend wanted the wine pairing with each course - our first course was done before the first wine appeared. To his credit our waiter didn’t bill us for that first glass.

First two courses - salad and “charcuterie board for the table” - were disappointing. The salad didn’t include all the ingredients it was supposed to - was mostly a bunch of iceberg lettuce. The “charcuterie board” was five pieces of cheese, four pieces of flatbread, two almonds, two blackberries, and a chunk of honeycomb - thrown on a plate.

The main courses were much improved and were absolutely delicious. By this point the kitchen had slowed down (we could see this through the windows into the kitchen - a cool feature). Dessert was also great.

Our friends had never been there and we were trying to introduce them to this great place we’d been to before. This experience wasn’t relaxing at all. Given what we paid, I wish everything had been on point.

Not sure what happened - the staff really was trying but I’m pretty sure the place was overbooked given who was available to work. Too bad because we love this chef’s food. But I will hesitate to go back here for any...