You could go to Chipotle again, or you could go to El Patio. A bar, a full-service restaurant and quick pick-up burrito line all at once, El Patio is a good choice for any occasion.
Plus, it’s located on Water Street, which makes it a convenient place to stop in on the way home for an impromptu dinner with friends or a takeout burrito to sustain you through tonight’s studies.
You can enjoy some complimentary chips and salsa while you wait for your meal. There’s also a selection of slot machines to play while listening to the upbeat, crowd-pleasing tunes.
My Recommendation: The Carnitas
If you go to El Patio, you must try the carnitas. The meal comes with pork, cheesy refried beans, Spanish rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole (no extra charge) and your choice of corn or flour tortillas. That’s all the food groups.
What makes El Patio’s carnitas stand out is that they are tender but also have the seared flavor of a pork chop. The beans are creamy with a surprising tang. Jalapenos on the side add some optional kick.
This dish is not only my favorite meal from El Patio, but I consider it the best Mexican dish I’ve had — in a restaurant or at home. Unlike Chipotle, there’s no need to worry about the portion sizes.
Staff Recommendation: Taco Tuesday
Upon ordering, I learned that it was Taco Tuesday. You can get $2 street tacos all night.
I asked my server Kristal what the best thing was to order on Taco Tuesday. She suggested the al pastor. For the unfamiliar, al pastor is spit-roasted pork cooked in chili and pineapple juice.
The first thing you notice when you bite into the al pastor taco is its fresh, crisp taste, which is due to cilantro and raw onion. It may sound a bit strange to call a taco refreshing, but that’s the best description. In my opinion, al pastor is one of the most underrated flavors in Mexican cuisine.
“If you come here, you have to try the margaritas,” Kristal said.
El Patio’s margaritas come in a variety of fruity flavors, but I went with the classic lime. It was very tasty. Sweet but not too sweet. All the margaritas are served on the rocks. It’s a very short walk from El Patio to Haas Fine Arts Center, so you can call a SafeRide home if you choose to indulge.
For a nonalcoholic refreshment, Kristal suggested Jarritos. Since Jarritos are Mexican, they are made with sugar instead of corn syrup which makes them taste crisper than American soft drinks. They also have some unusual flavors such as tamarind and guava.
If you find yourself walking down Water Street this week with some extra cash and an empty stomach, consider El Patio.
Holmes can be reached at [email protected].
