In the magnetic neighborhood known as the Pearl, this upscale eatery focuses on an unusual and highly refined mix of Peruvian and Asian cuisines.

Web site: botikapearl.com

Address: 303 Pearl Parkway, suite 111

Phone number: 210-6707684

Number of seats: 120

Entrée price range: $15-$24

Popular dishes: Short rib noodles with braised beef short ribs, egg noodles, edamame, mung beans, aji Amarillo and soft yolk emulsion; anticuchos de pollo: skewered chicken in anticuchero sauce, Peruvian potato and corn salad; duck confit & potato empanadas with tangy salsa criolla and rocoto chile aïoli; salmon tiradito with passion fruit tiger’s milk, green onion, potato causa and crispy green plantain.

What others say: “San Antonio is one of the few cities in the country that offer a Peruvian-Asian restaurant, much less one at this level — so this city is setting the trends again.” — Edmund Tijerina, San Antonio Express-News

The dining area

Duck confit and potato empanadas with tangy salsa criolla and rocoto chile aïoli (left); short rib noodles with braised beef short ribs, egg noodles, edamame, mung beans, aji Amarillo and soft yolk emulsion (center)

With a devotion to foods and modes of preparation that existed before the Industrial Revolution, this lauded eatery by chef Michael Sohocki revamped itself with a new-ish lunch program that adopts a new theme (e.g. burgers, southern food, Mediterranean, etc.) that changes monthly.

Website: restaurantgwendolyn.com

Address: 152 E Pecan St. Unit 100

Phone number: 210-222-1849

Number of seats: 37

Entrée price range: $32-$40

Popular dishes: Makhani quail with butter red curry, seared drum, onion khichdi and naan; sprout & beet salad with cumin honey lime vinaigrette, fried chickpeas and cilantro; shrimp alla bursara; chicken liver mousse with citrus marmalade.

What others say: “The cuisine here is simple, refined, restrained and unforgettable.” — Edmund Tijerina, San Antonio Express-News

The interior

White fish

From the brain trust behind the revered Restaurant Gwendolyn, this eatery focuses on Neapolitan-style pizzas made from scratch and kept simple in the manner of Italy’s formidable culinary wisdom.

Website: ilfornosa.com

Address: 22 Nogalitos St.

Phone number: 210-616-2198

Number of seats: 50

Entrée price range: $5-$20

Popular dishes: Antipasto with seasonal vegetables, fruit, olives, prosciutto, cheese and flatbread; green salad with hydroponic greens, Kalamata olives, cucumber, red onion and red wine vinaigrette; Margherita pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil; Parma pizza with extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella, Parmigiano, prosciutto, roasted garlic and greens.

What others say: “When the dude behind Restaurant Gwendolyn (which brought 1850's era recipes and techniques to Downtown San Antonio) and Kimura (San Antonio's first official ramen shop) opens yet another restaurant, you make it a point to get down there, pronto.” — Jessica Elizarraras, San Antonio Current

The dining area

Margherita pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil

In Alamo Heights, this Asian vegetarian destination comes from the team behind Green Vegetarian Cuisine and Earth Burger.

Website: eatbokchoy.com

Address: 5130 Broadway

Phone number: 210-437-2200

Number of seats: 50

Entrée price range: $8-$13

Popular dishes: Vietnamese fried spring roll: crispy rice paper rolls stuffed with tofu, carrots, noodles, onions and mushrooms, served with sweet chile sauce; General Tso chik-n: crispy fried artificial chicken in sweet and spicy “tso” sauce with snow peas, onions, bell pepper and carrots; yellow curry tofu (gluten free): fried tofu with peas, carrots, bell pepper, onions, broccoli, snow peas and yellow coconut curry; Hunan beef: spicy beef-less strips with garlic, ginger, carrots, celery, onions and spinach.

What others say: “I'm [v]egan here in SA, so I only go to a handful of places when I go out to eat. Bok Choy exceeded my expectations and has a menu that is mostly [v]egan with almost all of it able to be easily made [v]egan (everything but the cheese rangoons)!” — HappyCow.net comment

Yellow curry tofu (gluten free): fried tofu with peas, carrots, bell pepper, onions, broccoli, snow peas and yellow coconut curry

Clean stir-fry

This eclectic eatery in Government Hill goes out of its way to be a neighborhood restaurant with comfortable environs (“bring your dog, our patios are pet friendly!” its website says) and comfort food with a worldly spin.

Website: grayzeongrayson.com

Address: 521 E Grayson St.

Phone number: 210-481-8776

Number of seats: 50 inside, 30-100 on the patio

Entrée price range: $12-$29

Popular dishes: Grayze Burger: house blend burger with freedom cheese, aïoli and garden fixings; steak and frites with achiote-rubbed center-cut New York strip, pan fried yucca and chile toreado Béarnaise; The Mac: Gruyère, white cheddar, mozzarella, fontina and caramelized onions; Pork Shank Redemption: slow roasted pork shank with molasses, baked beans and braised Swiss chard.

What others say: “I had a ramen bowl with chicken and a fried egg. I was pretty happy with it. My date had a burger and she said it may have been the best she ever had.” ­— Yelp comment

The patio

Meatball slider