Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard

Great atmosphere, delicious food, and wonderful service. We would definitely recommend Palmer’s on your next visit to San Marcos.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I went with some friends for the Monday Italian night and had a blast! Karley served us and was delightful, I had the Italian pasta and loved it. We will definitely be back very soon

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My husband and I came here for a much-needed date night away from the kids, and it was absolutely perfect. From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly and inviting. They went out of their way to answer all of our questions about both the menu and the restaurant's history.
The vibe was so relaxing and enjoyable that we ended up losing track of time, spending two full hours eating amazing food and just soaking in the wonderful environment around us. We couldn't have asked for a better evening. We will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We have come here for years to celebrate our anniversary-18 and counting. Palmers NEVER disappoints. Ask for Lawson. I believe he is the best waiter we’ve ever had. Lovely place with outstanding drinks and food. I’m so happy we finished a perfect day here with a perfect meal. The Hibiscus Mexitini is absolutely the best drink I’ve had in my life.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve been coming to Palmer’s since I was a child, and it has remained one of my favorite places all these years later. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing warm, inviting, and incredibly comfortable. Whether you’re stopping in for dinner, drinks, or just to relax with family and friends, it always feels like a place you want to stay awhile.

The food and drinks are consistently great, and the staff has always been welcoming and attentive. It’s one of those rare restaurants that has managed to keep its charm while continuing to deliver a wonderful experience. So many great memories have been made here over the years, and I look forward to making many more. I highly recommend Palmer’s to anyone looking for excellent food, a fantastic atmosphere, and a true San Marcos staple.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tried the BLT pasta, the short rib pasta, and the burger. The BLT was the star of the show, 4 stars, but heavy on the bacon grease. The short rib pasta was incredibly oily and heavy 1 star. Burger was so overseasoned and was trying to mask a very poor tasting patty, 0 stars. Mashed potatoes were OK 3 stars. Sangria was good, 4 stars. Service was very good and the courtyard was gorgeous. Romantic and serene atmosphere.

I really hate dissing on a local spot but seeing other recent reviews confirm my experience makes me think there was some kind of change (chef or management). Really hope to come back in the future and have a meal worthy of the atmosphere

This is analyzing place to have dinner. The fried calamari melts in your mouth. The shrimp and grits tastes amazing. Would highly recommend.

I’m so sorry to give Palmers a low rating. I’ve gone there for 30 plus years for special occasions, but won’t go back. Our food was mediocre at best- overcooked salmon and ribeye, and less than stellar service. Manager was wonderful and comped a meal but I’ll think twice before going there again. Greeter at front door was lovely!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

We went here for my brother birthday and the service was horrible. We sat down and ordered and they gave three of us food while the other three watched us eat and then they gave us two wrong orders. We sent it back and they brought out the same and tried gaslighting us into thinking it was different. Then we were asked what dessert we wanted for the birthday and they gave us cheesecake and then decided to charge us for a birthday cheesecake after offering.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

Food was not good. We all got our entrees at different times. A member of our party ended up having to cancel their order because they took too long to remake food after bringing out the wrong dish. Overall, left disappointed.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

I wanted to leave a fair review because I had heard so many good things about Palmer’s and was genuinely excited to try it. I’ve lived in San Marcos for nearly 10 years and attended Texas State, so I was looking forward to showing this place to my family for a birthday dinner.

To start with the positives, the staff took the time to write welcome and birthday notes, which was a thoughtful touch and created a great first impression. Our server was also kind, calm, and pleasant throughout the evening. The appetizers came out quickly, and the queso was good.

Unfortunately, things started to go downhill when the entrees arrived. Our party had nine people, and only about half of the meals came out initially. The rest of the table waited several minutes while others ate. While delays can happen, it wasn’t the best experience for a larger group.

The food itself was mixed. My pasta was fine, exactly what I would expect. However, my fiancée’s burger was honestly one of the worst burgers we’ve had. It tasted overwhelmingly seasoned, almost as if an entire packet of taco seasoning had been mixed into the patty.

The biggest issue was with my mom’s order. She ordered the pecan-crusted chicken after seeing it highly recommended in reviews. What arrived appeared to be a plain grilled chicken breast with glaze and no pecan crust. We brought it to the staff’s attention, but both the server and manager insisted it was the correct dish, despite another person at our table having ordered the same menu item and receiving something visibly different. After sending it back, the same chicken was returned, and eventually we just asked for it to be removed from the bill.

To make matters more confusing, after the issue with the meal, our server offered a complimentary birthday cheesecake. When the check arrived, the cheesecake had been charged to the bill. When we pointed it out, she apologized and said it was supposed to be free.

Overall, I don’t think Palmer’s is a bad restaurant. There were some positives, and several dishes at our table looked good. However, between the inconsistent food quality, the confusion surrounding the chicken order, the delays in service, and the billing mistake, the experience didn’t match the reputation I had heard about. Based on our visit, I wouldn’t personally consider it a 4.5-star experience, and it’s not somewhere I’d be in a hurry to return to.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Food was great always has been. Been coming for 14 years now and never fails. But Lawson, our server, was exceptional and I’m gonna probably be a more frequent customer. That dude handled multiple tables and still managed to keep my sweet tea full. And I drink more than any human should.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had given up hope of finding quality, delicious food in San Marcos, then came across Palmer's. What a find! There were 3 of us, we had the brie appetizer, pecan-crusted chicken, salmon (opted for pecan crusted there as well), and a steak salad. All were delicious, cooked perfectly, and well seasoned. Would definitely return.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a disappointment.....the only highlight was the bartender Trevor. The service was slower than a turtle on Quaaludes. They brought out the water, but no glasses......then we had to ask for our utensils after our appetizer appeared, it was overcooked and over breaded calamari. I ordered the $32 double pork chop and what was brought out looked like 2 separate cuts of chops. One was an overcooked loin cut with no color as if it was cooked in an air fryer, the other was a sad dark piece of what looked like pork shoulder chop that was seared to a state of dryness that can only be replicated in the Sahara. Absolute madness for them to not know what a double pork chop actually is, and then to send out 2 overcooked cuts from different parts of the animal....what a joke of a business. If this is supposed to be what classy dining is in San Marcos than I weep for our community. Try Cody's or Root Cellar, or seek a different city for something better than the facad of this place thats only claim to fame is that it's been there since the 70s, the only people keeping this place open are the people that started going there in the 70s....... Stay away and save yourself the trouble.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

The service left us disappointed. The server was either new or just didn't care! Our drinks took nearly an hour to be served. One of our party was coeliac and it took four times questioning the servers if items on the menu was gluten free.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3