I followed a robot's restaurant suggestions for a day. Here's how it went.

What do an AI-powered robot and I, a caffeine-powered human, have in common? We're both from San Antonio, and we both live inside a smart phone.

But only one of us gets hungry. That's why when my editors told me to test out the Express-News' AI-powered search engine called "Chowbot" to find my meals for the day, I was a little (OK, very) skeptical.

Chowbot pulls from our Mike Sutter's air-tight restaurant reviews, but what does a robot who cannot feel the pangs of hunger know about a delicious, stick-to-your-ribs meal? How can a machine with no taste buds know the warm comfort of a creamy curry dish, or the pillowy bite of a fresh-fried beignet? 

I'll be real: I'm not a fan of AI. At all. The uncanny, "almost-human-but-not-quite" factor creeps me out, which made me think: Who better to test this tech out than a critic? 

So I took a bite. Several actually, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Here's how it went.

Breakfast: 9 a.m. at NOLA 

Mardi Gras may be over, but at NOLA Brunch & Beignets, the party never stops. At least not when it comes to delicious food, I discovered.

I'd passed by NOLA's new location — at 1101 Broadway Suite 120 — a few times. But I had resigned myself to remaining curious about the kind of fare served there. That is, until I asked Chowbot: "Where can I find the best beignets in San Antonio?" 

NOLA was one of the first search results to pop up, alongside the The Beignet Stand. I decided to go with NOLA since Chowbot said the restaurant boasted beignets "served alongside a full New Orleans breakfast menu," and I'm always, always in the market for a full breakfast.

That's exactly what I got when I ordered a drip coffee, the Blue Crab omelette and a side of sugar-topped beignets. I decided against ordering a grapefruit mimosa, since I didn't want to impair my taste buds. Also, it was 9 a.m., and I was on the clock. So there's that.

Even stone-cold sober, the food gave me a warm-fuzzy sense of fullness. The beignets were pillowy pockets of fresh-fried dough, topped with a generous dose of powdered sugar that tickled my nose as I sunk my teeth in. The savory-seasoned omelette was a rich-yet-airy foldover of eggs, Creole cream cheese (complete with crawfish) and Creole hollandaise, topped with Blue Crab, of course.

I will be returning, and I will be getting tipsy. You win this one, Chowbot. 

Lunch: 12:30 p.m. at La Panadería

I usually go to this San Antonio staple for the vanilla conchas, which are fluffy clouds of sweet (but not too sweet) goodness. 

So when I asked Chowbot: "Where to find quick lunch near downtown San Antonio?" I was curious to see what my designated concha plug had to offer, especially since Sutter called it one of San Antonio's "Top 10 Breakfast Restaurants" in 2024. 

It was both a hit and a miss. I ventured out to 301 E. Houston St., which was inundated with a lunch rush heavy enough to give this former service industry worker nightmares. We were seated immediately, but it was 45 minutes before the food arrived — not a "quick" lunch — but the fare was worth the wait. 

I ordered the Al Pastor bowl, which included grill-hot pork loin Al Pastor laid over a cushy bed of greens, topped with cucumber, pink onions and grilled pineapple. The pork was tender, rich and warmly seasoned, which paired well with the bowl's fresher elements.

For a little post-lunch treat, I decided to try Sutter's monkey bread suggestion. He was right. It's as big as a toddler's birthday cake, and with the amount of white and milk chocolate drizzled on top, it tastes like one, too. I think I'll be sticking with the conchas from now on. 

Dinner: 8 p.m. at Madurai Mes

I had been craving Indian food for a couple of weeks, so when I asked Chowbot where I can find the "best Indian food in San Antonio?" I was looking forward to trying Madurai Mes. It did not disappoint.

At 5152 Fredericksburg Road, the samosas were deliciously crisp pockets of aromatic, spiced potatoes, and the lamb tikka masala was tender, creamy and just the right amount of hot. I also ordered the mango lassi, which was a nice way to cool down in between spicy bites.

Drinks and bar food: 10 p.m. at Double Standard

Is a day of delicious food truly complete without a little drink and some bar snacks? I think not.

Even after pushing my stretchiest pair of pants to the limit, I was excited to try Double Standard — at 114 E Houston St. — after I asked Chowbot where to find the best bar food near downtown San Antonio. 

I ordered the seasonal Sunkissed cocktail, which tasted like an afternoon on the beach. It's made with Texas vodka, amaretto, curaçao fruit, orange, lemon and coconut — a dangerous combo that goes down a little too easy. I finished my drink well before the Boudine balls I ordered came, which were golden brown morsels of spiced sausage served with a side of remoulade. 

The verdict

I'm not one to rub elbows with robots, but Chowbot and I can be friends.