A framed menu From Le Rȇve, where my wife and I celebrated our first anniversary, hangs near the oven in my home kitchen.

Chef and owner Andrew Weissman signed it, and nearly 20 years later, we bring our teenage son to Max’s Sister to enjoy Weissman’s restaurant cooking with us.

If you know Weissman’s career, this new restaurant is a welcome return to somewhat upscale dining from one of the city’s culinary masters. Even if you don’t know about him, the restaurant is worth a visit for the quality of the dishes and atmosphere.

 

Andrew Weissman, Max’s Sister

At Max’s Sister, Weissman brings high-level culinary technique to American comfort food. So expect the best chicken-fried steak you have ever tried, a top sirloin steak that evokes Parisian steak frites and a patty melt that rivals a Daniel Boulud burger in its richness.

Weissman made his name with Le Rêve, which he opened in 1996 as a serious chef-driven contemporary French restaurant. It received raves in the New York Times and helped bring attention to San Antonio as a culinary destination beyond combo plates and margaritas along the River Walk. 

He closed it in 2009 so he could have more time with his family, but he couldn’t keep away. His foray into upscale Italian, Osteria Il Sogno, wowed Gourmet magazine and many others (including me at the San Antonio Express-News). The Sandbar was, during its run, the finest seafood restaurant in the city.

 

Bread Service at Max’s Sister

He left upscale dining in 2018 when he closed Il Sogno and launched Moshe’s Golden Falafel, a foray into casual dining in an Olmos Park strip mall. He closed the falafel spot and converted the location into the first Mr. Juicy in 2019.

He quickly outgrew the Olmos Park spot and moved into a former Jack in the Box location. A second Mr. Juicy opened in 2024 in a converted Whataburger just north of Castle Hills.

Now with one of his children in college and another entering soon, he says he opened the new place to pay for tuition. But there’s always the allure of the kitchen.

“If I were a smart businessperson, I would open a couple of Mr. Juicys,” he said with a chuckle. “There’s an addictive quality to opening a restaurant.”

 

Salmon at Max’s Sister

Many of Weissman’s former fine dining customers followed him to the new place and filled the reservation book. They have some ideas of their own.

“We have had some customers say we’re charging too little for what we’re doing,” he said. “Some of them ask if I could add foie gras to the menu.”

For now, the place isn’t going to evolve into a new version of Le Rêve. He’s aiming to please his older, high-dollar guests and the younger food lovers looking for a great experience.

“I try to walk that line,” he said. “My original intention with this place was to turn fine dining on its head.”

Eat This

Chicken-fried steak

Sirloin and fries

Bread service

 

Max’s Sister

10003 NW Military Highway, Suite 2125

210-383-8416