The Food

Father Roderick has made it clear that he especially looks forward to San Antonio cuisine. Let's be honest: when you're touring a city with top-notch restaurants in almost every cultural tradition under the sun, a blogger can't possibly tell you all the best places to eat. Besides, it'd be unfair; you wouldn't make a dent in the list.

That being said, here are the eateries you should visit as a CNMC tourist in San Antonio:

Mi Tierra: In Market Square downtown, this family-owned restaurant never closes. So even if you get the munchies at 3 AM, you can make your way down to Mi Tierra for some Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine at a fair price (given its status as a tourist destination). The atmosphere is colorful, lit with hundreds of lights, and complete with wandering mariachi bands who'll entertain you at a per-song price. (I'd suggest letting your fellow restaurant-goer pay for the music, since the entertainment can get quite pricey.) Be sure to take some delicious Mexican sweet bread, pan dulce, back to your hotel room for breakfast or dessert from Mi Tierra's fantastic bakery near the entrace.

Casa Rio: Another top spot for Mexican food is Casa Rio (which means "River House"), which cooks up a more authentic menu (in my humble opinion) and seats you right on the river, if you so desire.

Rio Rio Cantina: I have great memories here. The Tex-Mex food is delicious, with a Californian twist. Also on the river.

Paesanos Italian (On the River): Though we're known for our Hispanic immigrant community, the Italians have definitely made their mark on San Antonio. Paesano's is one of the finer Italian dining locales in town, with a reputation for good food.

The County Line BBQ: Want a tiny taste of Texas barbeque? The County Line is well-known and located on the river. Enjoy the food, a beer, the river, and the homey atmosphere.

Hard Rock Cafe: Enough said. It's the worldwide restaurant chain, but this one is on the historic San Antonio River. You'll be surrounded be rock and roll music memorabilia from idols like Buddy Holly, the Beatles, Aerosmith, the Grateful Dead - even Madonna. Though the Hard Rock name is not exclusive to San Antonio, the environment makes it one of my favorites on the river. (I'm a sucker for rock and roll.)

Rainforest Cafe: If you have kids with you, you might want to consider shelling out some extra bucks for a unique experience in the "rainforest on the river." You can't miss this place when you're walking along the riverbank: inside, birds call out of a giant tree. While you eat at the Rainforest Cafe, you'll experience life in a rainforest, surrounded by plants and animatronic animals that come to life every few minutes. You'll also experience regular thunder and lightning at the same rate that a real rainforest experiences rainfall -- quite frequently! I think this restaurant is worth the extra cost, and can be lots of fun for a family. A few words to the wise, though: There's probably going to be a line to enter, small children who tend to be timid may be afraid of the "animals",and you shouldn't expect the food to be fabulous just because the prices are higher-than-average.

Of course, everyone has their favorites - and even as a native, I haven't eaten at even half of the wonderful places on the river. I'd suggest walking down the river and browsing. If you can't decide, ask a Parks & Recreation officer or native for suggestions.