Battalion

Our friends from Kansas City recommended we sign up, march on over and extinguish our hunger at Batallion. We are so glad that we did. As you'll read (and see) the Italian restaurant is located in a rehabbed firehouse, hence, Battalion refers to its' heritage. We trekked over on the Saturday of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, after making a reservation that didn't seem to have any time slots unavailable. As we entered the establishment it was obvious that this was a very thoughtful designed and renovated space; beautiful decor, a gorgeous Chihuly-style chandelier above the bar and a hip post-industrialist vibe. So far so good. While there were small groups of people, we did see plenty of empty tables and a smattering of people at the bar, which did give us some pause as to why, on a Saturday night, the place wasn't packed. If their was a concern that the quality of the food or the service wasn't good, that was quickly put aside. Our server, Alexander showed up immediately, was cheerful, knowledgable and on top of things. The menu might not be extensive, it really did offer something for everyone, but the true delight is that it brought it home with unique preparations and delicious tastes. We started with the bread basket (fresh and served with creamy ricotta) and the marinated olives. I loved both, but the olives set the stage for what was to come. They were marinated in a slightly spicey bath of oil and crushed red pepper and mixed in with crumbles of a delectable blue cheese. Yummy!On to our mains, and while we had a very hard time making decisions, Alexander was there with expert descriptions and insights. Ultimately the Eggplant Parmesan, served as lightly breaded thinly sliced patties in a combo red sauce with a bechamel center came to our delight. For me, I had debated over a heartier meat dish and a pasta, but after hearing Alexander describe the Spaghetti with yellow tomatoes in a crushed red tomato sauce, I had to jump in. And boy am I glad that I did. This may have been one of the simplest dishes but best tasting Spaghetti's that I have ever had. And plentiful too. Oh, and speaking of fire houses, it also brought a bit of pleasant heat (yes, pun intended).The meal was accompanied by a terrific bottle of Chianti Reserva from a fairly impressive listing of Italian vino's.You really couldn't be stationed at a better restaurant in downtwon San Antonio. Not just for putting out the flames of hunger, but for a brigade's worth of a wonderful establishment.

Five of us went for dinner and had reservations. We were sat immediately. Menu is ala carte. A portion of Cacio e Pepe, overcooked, was the same price as a side of buttered spaghetti one of us ordered as a side, $16. That's too much. Bread service is cheap. Free refills on bread, garlic and oil was literally garlic cloves mashed in oil. Other places do this better. Whipped ricotta for bread was great. Meatball squares were good. One was undercooked. Chicken Parm = great and huge portion. Eggplant parm = okay. Even chains do it better. NY Strip = steak was phenomenal. Perfect Mid rare. Roasted potatoes sucked. They shouldn't have left the kitchen. Dry and bitter. S'more Panna Cotta was great and unique. Ambiance is eclectic and nice. Fitting for the building. Or waitperson was great. (Noelle) Overall good experience but food quality and recipes were lacking. My wife wanted to add grilled chicken to a salad and they said they only had breaded chicken which was a red flag for me.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Battalion Italian Restaurant, and it was truly an exceptional experience! The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, providing a level of service that made us feel welcomed and valued throughout our visit.The restaurant itself boasts a classy yet comfortable atmosphere, housed in a beautifully converted old firehouse station. The minimalist artsy decor adds a unique charm, making it a delightful setting for a memorable meal.Now, let's talk about the food--absolutely incredible! Each dish we ordered was fantastic, bursting with flavor and showcasing the care put into every preparation. Whether you're a fan of traditional Italian cuisine or eager to explore something new, there's something for everyone on the menu.Overall, I highly recommend Battalion. It's a true gem in San Antonio that offers not just a meal, but an unforgettable dining experience. I can't wait to return!

This is an old firehouse repurposed as a beautiful restaurant! The aesthetic is gorgeous and I love that they left the old fireman's pole covered with plexiglass. Careful if upstairs as it is see through! The service was spectacular and attentive. Our book club made reservations for a Friday evening. Does appear that is the best option as there were quite a few larger parties. Food wise the pork tenderloin was very tasty and moist. Pasta was perfection if you enjoy pasta al dente. Beware Drinks are strong

We diner in for a party of 7 for dinner. Our server Julia was amazing. She kept our drinks full and our belly's happy. The restaurant is very clean and decorated very nicely. I had a pasta dish and many others at the table got the restaurant week deal which I forgot to take a pic of the menu. Ample parking behind the restaurant which you have to pay for. The restaurant is an old fire station with the pole still intact on the 2nd floor. The food was good and fresh. It did take awhile for our food but I could tell it was freshly being made and not opened out of a packet like other Italian chains.

I say maybe because it must have been an off night. The place is a cool remodeled old firewall and when you head to the upstairs dining room you can walk right by the firepower to the 1st floor. The food sounded delicious but all came out tepid at best. After I sent it back 2x the manager came to say that this wasn't normal but that they were having issues. They gave us a free dessert for our trouble. Not sure I would go back just bc too much trouble and plenty of other places to visit.

I was very excited to come here since I saw this restaurant is one of the best in town butLamb wasn't good. It was ok but I can't say it's delicious so couldn't finish it. Oven roasted carrots was good

We dined here on the recommendation of my niece who lives in San Antonio. It was packed with a festive young crowd. We ordered a number of different small plates to share. The drinks were good and food came quickly and hit the spot. The venue is noisy when crowded. It's a great place to go with a group of friends, nice party bar vibe. Definitely ask your server for recommendations. While everything was good, the servers recommended items were superior. I would return.

Restaurant week visit!Reservations were made in advance. Parking was limited- they do not offer parking , but you can find 2 hour parking in the neighborhood or park in a paid lot across the street. This historical 2 story building was located on a corner across from the hemifair. Walking in ..... it's a cool, trendy, elegant, and sophisticated hip spot that originally was a fire station. The fire poles still remain, and have been revamped and surrounded with hard clear acrylic, for views between upstairs and downstairs. We were seated upstairs at a table perfectly nestled in the corner of the room near windows with all around views of the city and the tower. Sexy bar downstairs and their kitchen was located upstairs. We started off with some cocktails . I ordered the A side- Tito, limoncello, and raspberry Wow super strong lol My friend and I asked to have some extra raspberry added. Service was slow in getting the extra raspberry, but we still needed a little extra simple syrup. That took awhile to get....Finally with the addition of the syrup, it was drinkable. Off of the restaurant week menu, I ordered:Pear salad without pecorino- good. The arugula and marinated chunks of pear had a nice light vinaigrette.Apparently, they are known for their 3 cheese pork and beef meatballs. A few others at our table ordered them and let me tell you... they were bomb!! Soo deelish, must order as an app. Pan seared salmon- fabulous! Nice salty, crispy crust and salmon was not fishy at all. A light tomato, olive oil, and caper sauce accompanied the fish. The chicken parm, lamb chops, and eggplant parm were a hit too. Dessert - I chose the apple tart. Not what I expected. In my mind I pictured a small baked circular dough tart filled with an apple compote and topped with a warm sauce. What appeared was a small creamy rectangle topped with a very thin dehydrated apple slice. Not much apple flavor. Do get the tiramisu! Subtle coffee flavor. Overall great location and fabulous vibe. Good food and service, although drink additions were slow...

Attended for restaurant week so the price was good. The food was mediocre compared to various San Antonio Italian restaurants. I was very excited to visit for date night and the atmosphere was everything I was looking for. However, there is room for improvement on the food. I would go back for a special occasion of a guest but, not on my own. We had a reservation and waited over 40 minutes, maybe even an hour.