Mako's on the Creek

Reviews

• No ratings yet Visited Aug 3, 2019

  Upscale Dining, Great Flavor, A Revolving Menu & Artfully Presented Food At Affordable Prices

  An unexpected fine-dining experience in the Cibolo/Schertz area. We stumbled across this new restaurant while heading into a neighboring business, and I’m glad we decided to stop and give it a try. The restaurant has a chef-driven feel that wouldn’t be out of place among some of the more upscale dining spots around San Antonio’s Blue Star or South Town areas. They had only been open about six weeks when we visited, but after experiencing the food and atmosphere, I really hope they stick around.
  
  The interior has a clean, minimalist feel, with geodesic glass terrariums used as table accents, abstract artwork on the walls, and LED greenery along the perimeter. Even the plates and serving dishes are thoughtfully matched to the entrees. Everything feels classy, modern, and well put together.
  
  We started with the fried brussel sprouts, something I don't find on many menus. Our server mentioned they were one of the restaurant's top-selling items. They're served with hazelnuts, ricotta, and a balsamic reduction. Compared with similar dishes I've had elsewhere, these definitely held their own. The addition of cheese and nuts made them quite different from the more common versions served with a mustard-garlic aioli.
  
  For our entrees, we ordered the Southern Fried Chicken, Adobo Chicken, and Summer Schnitzel. I was tempted by the Poke Bowl but wanted an entree rather than an appetizer, and I really wished they offered an entree-sized version.
  
  Our food came out reasonably quickl for a Saturday evening, especially considering the restaurant was about one-third full. The one downside was the noise level. Even with less than half the tables occupied and the bar area essentially empty, the dining room was surprisingly loud.
  
  I ordered the Summer Schnitzel, which came with spaetzle, sauerkraut, and a cucumber salad. The cucumber salad consisted of thinly sliced cucumbers in a Greek-style yogurt and dill sauce and was a nice complement to the dish.
  
  The spaetzle were a bit different from what I've encountered at most Texas restaurants. They weren't especially flavorful on their own, but they worked very well with the rest of the plate and felt much more authentic. They had a good fried finish to the noodle, but were of a good consistency.
  
  Then there was the Schnitzel itself, which honestly surprised me. It was better than many versions I've had in Fredericksburg. The breading was thin and incredibly crisp while the meat underneath remained moist and flavorful. It actually reminded me of a well-prepared Japanese tonkatsu. Schnitzel is one of those dishes where restaurants often get either the breading or the meat right, but rarely both. This one managed to get both right.
  
  At the end of the meal we ordered 3 ice cream sandwiches. They were also good with moist cookies that seemed decently fresh, with a good amount of ice cream between them. It was a good item to finish out the meal.
  
  The visit was a good, as a first time impression, I was surprised. I don't really frequent these types of restaurants, with revolving menus and food items that sometimes have more work put in the appearance than flavor. But this restaurant did a good job at the presentation and flavor. Portion to price is usually bad at this style restaurant as well, but plates here were good sized, and prices weren't much above an average restaurant. I left feeling like this was a place I could consider returning to for another meal in the future.

  — Paul