If I could only give half of a star as a rating, I would. Unfortunetly, my boyfriend and I decided to eat dinner here because the atmosphere looked nice and we wanted to sit outside. Mistake #1. The food was tasteless and cold. The service was horrible. I could go into more detail, however, I do not want to relive the experience. I really wanted to like the place but the food was just so terrible that I can't convince myself. The best thing on the menu are the Coronas, but if you ask for a lime, they give you a lemon.
(1)
Mark D.
If you're a devout carnivore then this is the place to get your fill of Argentinian-grilled meat! The empanadas pale in comparison to Julia's, but the main dishes are fantastic. We got a grilled dish for two which came with chicken, pork, beef, and sausage. The tortas were equally tasty. It comes with two choices of sides...all for $35.00. Guaranteed to fill you up. Service was fantastic and if you're reminiscing about your last trip to Argentina...they have a mini-grocery store inside.
(4)
Juan M.
Rude, rude, rude, very rude waiters. There is this particular one who will just push you if you are in his way. The food is mediocre and pricey, the market is astronomically pricey, and the hostess is an incompetent. I give this place 2 stars, though because they have an excellent wine selection which you can buy at the market. Otherwise forget about it. It looks as if bad service were part of the ambiance --oftentimes waiters in Buenos Aires restaurants are very obnoxious, too. This is one of the very few restaurants I would never go back to. I hate these guys...
(2)
C J.
Our group went for lunch yesterday. I had stopped in briefly one night but didn't have time to eat. But really was intrigued. The empanadas were terrific. I also had the quiche. Which of course had a whole boiled egg in it. My colleagues food was equally as good. The chicken and rice especially. Our only complaint is the fries. It's also pretty reasonably priced.
(4)
Esther W.
This is my first visit and I'm not feeling too keen to visit again. The boyfriend has raved about this place before since it's close to our jobs, and so I jumped at the chance to eat here when my co-workers Unfortunately, my first and next impressions were not favorable. There was no one to greet me and a co-worker when we arrived before the group. After a few mins, I walked up to the cash register, all the way inside the restaurant to request a table for 10. The lady never smiled and asked snarkily if I made a reservation. I looked around the restaurant saw only 4 people eating there and tons of empty tables and chairs. Really? Did I need to really make a reservation? When the group finally arrived, we waited about another 5 minutes for the servers to move tables together to accommodate 10. Who were we, a burden? I ordered empanadas, which were good, but the service was really slow and not friendly. Maybe the boyfriend can convince me to give it another shot another day, but at least now I know what to expect.
(2)
Rita C.
I kind of don't want to post about this place because I want to keep it all to myself. This is such a vibrant little restaurant. The food is spectacular - last time we went, we just got one of each of the empanadas and made a meal of them. The tres leches is some of the best I've ever had and the restaurant is just really cozy (bonus - there is almost always a soccer match on one of the tvs). They even have live music some nights. Really, El Patio is perfect for a low key lunch or dinner no matter what day of the week you stop in.
(5)
Nat B.
I called to make a reservation for the Mothers Day a day before. After putting me on hold several times and reasking me several times why am I calling I eventually made a reservation for 2pm for 5 people and they confirmed it. On the Mother's Day with all the family I call them to say we are 15 minutes late and the girl says they stopped taking reservations a week ago and she doesn't care what am I supposed to do because they don't have my reservation in the system and they are packed now. That ruined our whole day celebration because we were already in a car and we had to search for alternatives and call other restaurants on the go. If they mess up even with a reservation by putting rude and clueless people on the phone I can imagine how they mess up the rest of the service.
(1)
Gabriel G.
I'd like to preface this review by noting the fact I've been to argentina many times. Having said that, this restaurant has a very authentic menu. I usually try to judge an Argentinian restaurant by the quality of the chimichurri. Top notch here. Empanadas, light and fluffy with argentine fillers. Churizo, not spicy like their Mexican counter parts but cooked to perfection. If you're able to request your own seating try to dine in Fernando's section. You will not find finer service. The prices are more than fair. The next time I'm in the DC area I hope to be fortunate enough to dine again with Fernando. Thanks!
(5)
Maria A.
First time. My reservation was online. Came in alone. No welcome. No eye contact. No greetings. The attendant came look at the book asked for my name. My waitress was good and pleasant. The food was good but to pricey. I was expecting to hear in the background more argentine music player than american. I kill my curiosity. Will not come back.
(1)
Mary C.
I've been here twice with groups. I want to return with family soon. They can handle groups easily and still make it seem like individualized service. The server looks you in the eye when you are ordering and helpfully suggests items if it appears you're unfamiliar with the food. At last the software industry has produced software that provides individual receipts for everyone in a group. (As long as you don't switch seats, you'll get an individual receipts for the chair you're sitting in.) The food takes center stage and is the star here. I'm a low carber, so the availability of a meat appetizer and steaks is much appreciated. One time I ordered the sausage appetizer and it was large enough to share with the 6 others at my table. It was prepared perfectly with a crunchy outside and well done inside. The combination of spices was perfect. The empanadas are popular and the native Argentinian in our group declared them to be authentic. I confess I begged a bit of one from someone who had shared my sausage. It made me almost cheat on my diet. So tender inside with a substantial filling. I've had 2 steaks here -- the flank steak and the t-bone -- both were offered to be done Medium and Well and Very well. I went with Medium both times. I think the flank steak is tasty enough to take to well or very well done, if that's your preference in meats. Rare and Medium Rare weren't offered. The grilled vegetables are quite nicely selected and grilled. You can get them steamed, but you will have to forego mushrooms if you do that. I got to taste their variation of french fried yams/sweet potatoes: cut into narrow slices, crunchy outside, soft inside. I noticed that salads came with lettuces that were crispy and green, not off-colored or too old. The most popular dessert for the groups I came with was the flan, a dessert I'd only willingly eat for the delicious sauce. I'm not a fan of flan, but all who ordered it loved it. I noticed that someone ordered something that was cut similar to a Napoleon. She did not offer to share bites of it and I did not hear what it was. Too tasty to share, I guess. There is a place to buy things in the back of the store.
(4)
Connie Y.
It was first time I went and it'll be the last time I go. It would take free food to bring me back! First, I abhor restaurants that automatically charge 18% gratuity for parties greater than 6. I pay according to service and while you may disagree, if you look like you're about to spit in my food because I sent a sub-par dish back, then please quit your job and find one where you don't look like Bitter Betty and can manage your job happily. With that said, I sent my steak back twice and on the third attempt, they gave me a different steak!! I had ordered a NY strip and asked for it rare. Both the first and second attempts came back well-done and even one of the waiters agreed. They eventually gave up and just ordered a skirt steak for me. On a more positive note, the calamari was battered evenly and were quite crispy. Add a spritz of lemon for a tangy flavor! And the choripan, a grilled Argentinean sausage sandwich with chimichurri sauce, was a decent sandwich. I'm not sure if it was due to my unpleasant experience with the waiters or that I didn't order much Argentinean food, I've had better elsewhere. Link: elpatiointernational.com
(2)
Fernando B.
worst Argentinan place ever, is a bakery, bar, retaurant at the same time, manager,owner is so rude with his employees, hw yells at them in of the patrons, waiters stare at you while u eat, food is so disgusting
(1)
Marcela C.
I kind of wish that this little restaurant was closer to DC, but at the same time I'm glad that its isolation makes it feel so cozy. I've only been there twice and it's been great.. The waiters are funny, friendly and straight forward (something very latin american), and the food is great! The last time I went I shared a parrilla for two with a friend, but 3 people could have easily shared it... Believe me. I give them 4 stars, however, because I've been spoiled by many magical restaurants and, even though El Patio is great, it's far from magical. PS: I bought a jar of El Patio dulce de leche and it was so good that I finished it that same week. No regrets.
(4)
Lillian C.
Update 2: Still, lomito proves itself to be the only thing worthwhile. Lomito, lomito, lomito completo con chimi por favor! The milanese is too thick and bland to be worth getting. The empanadas here are pretty mediocre- I know a Bolivian place that makes better empanadas than this place. The medialunas are interesting- not what I expected, but delicious nevertheless. I don't know if my SO ordered the wrong thing but what I got was essentially a flaky croissant with powdered sugar stuffed with DULCE DE LECHE. I couldn't eat these everyday the way I ate medialunas in buenos aires but it's a nice little treat if you like dulce de leche. Update: Ok ok ok, apparently the only thing good here are the sandwiches because when I went back for steak and pasta one time it was abysmal. My SO had the steak and I had a gnocchi with pieces of shredded flank steak and peppers on it. My gnocchi was intolerable- huge portions, but terrible. It was obviously pre-packaged gnocchi too (actually looks like the type they sell in their fridge too). The steak was painfully mediocre and rather bland. Funny enough it was kind of like eating at a subpar restaurant in Argentina (Ever order a steak in Iguazu? Don't. ) It's a bummer because I loved their lomito sandwich! The grilled chicken breast sandwich was not very good either. Just stick to the lomito and everything would be fine. Original review: Try the Lomito completo sandwich and ask for chimichurri on the side. It was so good I couldn't put it down to take a pic (it's not that photogenic anyways). I would have liked a little more spice in the chimichurri but I'm not complaining. Beef is very tender and not chewy despite being well done. It's actually a lot better and flavorful than the casual foods found in Buenos Aires. I'd rank this sandwich in my top 5 MoCo sandwiches (those that surpass this would be pastrami rueben, banh mi, and Max's falafel / schwarma). I haven't tried anything else yet but just browsing their case I'm dying to try a slice of their massive quiche, tortilla, or one of their pastries.
(3)
Shawn M.
Kinda funny but a friend on Yelp had already reviewed this place before I ever knew about it and I went before I had read it. We were actually heading over to Second Story Books and Antiques when we stopped for lunch at the nearby Loeman's Shopping Center. Originally my father-in-law wanted to go to a now defunct deli that had been closed a while ago, but I saw this place and said "Hey, let's try this place because the Subway nearby has next to no seating". Glad I did, too. El Patio is a 'Argentinian' restaurant, but some of the food can actually be found in other South American countries as well. I admit to playing it safe by getting a grilled N.Y. strip steak because I had never experienced food from Argentina before, just Mexico and El Salvadore. I can tell you I wasn't disappointed in the result. Since I like my meat well done (the horror!) I can tell you that the steak was still juicy and full of grilled flavor. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water, and since I am at work that makes me look insane. Regardless, my one big discovery here was Chimichurri sauce. Wow, I had no idea what I was missing. Unlike the traditional use of just putting it on grilled meat, I used it on pretty much everything on my plate: that was how good it was. I was using is as bread dip more than for the meat, because at the time I didn't know that it was actually a type of steak sauce. However, I went home and researched it and now plan on using it correctly (and incorrectly on everything, don't judge me!). The service was excellent. We never had to ask for a single thing, as the waiter had everything quite in hand. In fact, we may make this a future Friday night outing (at which point we will make a reservation. At 2 PM on a Saturday, the place was packed!). So El Patio's food and service were not only top notch, but they very well may have introduced me to a new favorite food of mine.
(4)
Ana B.
Im from Argentina and moved to the US five years ago. Yesterday I went to El Patio with friends to taste the typical meals from home and, unfortunately, I was very very very disappointed. It's a bad example of the argentinean food. The "Tarta de espinaca" (spinach quiche) was made with frozen spinach. The "sandwiches de miga" were stale. The "Parrillada para dos", which is a $50 dish of (supposedly) the typical meats you'll get in an argentinean bbq, was burnt (we asked for the meat to be done "medium"). The "Ensalada rusa" (potatoe salad) was very cold (obviously not fresh) and the mashed potatoes was a joke. The worse of it was the Torta milhojas: it was stale and incredibly dry (its supposed to have a good amount of dulce de leche, its not supposed to be that dry). However, it had some positive things: the prices are more reasonable than other argentinean restaurants and the empanadas were fairly similar to the ones you'll find in an Argentinean restaurant. Other than that, it was a waste of money and I was very sad to not be able to taste real argentinean food.
(2)
Greg S.
First time there. Was impressed overall and the food was really fantastic! I like that they send updates on entertainment. I definitely will need to become a regular here.
(5)
Skye A.
Unpleasantly surprised! Second time here, an awesome place to meet with friends while visiting the area. Unfortunately, the quality and authenticity of the food has changed. Milanesa sandwich, the thickness of the meat, was frustrating, as there was rarely any meet to bite into. Super thin, not what a milanesa sandwich needs to be. The chimichurri, now a red sauce, since when?, why make it super spicy, Argentine's are not about that, yet, we have flavor in our food. Red is not acceptable in such an amazing sauce. Service, clearly not on board with the menu, nothing like the last trip with the nice Argentine server that knew his stuff. So dissapointed! bring it back, or change your theme, clearly, this is not Argentine!
(2)
Mai S.
We dined on a Friday evening. I highly suggest reservations because it was packed. Live music was playing which was a plus. Tried the choripan sandwich, I was expecting more. On the other hand, the carne salteada was delish! The meringue with dulce de leche was delicious as well.
(3)
Julieta R.
I thought I wouldn't find a good Argentinian place until I found El Patio. Awesome empanadas and pastry. Grilled meats are also good to try. They also sell some Argentinian & Uruguayan products. Its also a good place to watch the Boca games!
(5)
Rodolfo S.
great argentinian restaurant. the place is always full and i recommend to make a reservation. try the parrilla for two
(5)
Matt N.
Good food and a nice atmosphere. Not very many people there when I went in for lunch, but the staff was super nice and attentive.
(4)
Abdul T.
Never been here before , I was standing at the front door to be seated for ten mins as the hostess looks at me and my kids while she is putting away menus ... And then walks away and then a family walks in a party of 4 and she seats them immediately .. So my kids and I walk out and it bothered me a lot so I called and asked for the manager and asked them if they only cater to Argentinians ... She said no and then told her what happened all she said was thanks for letting us know and said next time it would not happen .. I said your right because I would never come back .. Have a great night ..... Poor customer service .. Don't recommended any one to go here if your not Argentinian !!!!
So delicious! The empanadas are ridiculously addictive. I get them to go, and all you have to do is heat them up. Everything here is really really good. Just try it once and you will be hooked!
(5)
Stephen P.
I brought a date there last night and was really looking forward to 'El Patio' but ended up being disappointed. Though the restaurant was not crowded, the waiter seemed to be in a rush. He asked if we wanted to order appetizers before we were comfortable in our seats and before either or us had even touched our menus. I politely said, "We need a minute, thank you". The waiter took me literally and returned in about 60 seconds, before we even had an idea of what we wanted. I hurriedly ordered pollo empanadas as an appetizer. The waiter accepted my order, then returned shortly and told me the restaurant was out of chicken empanadas, so I substituted a Choripan sandwich as an appetizer. For the main entree, I ordered Grilled Tilapia and my date ordered Breaded Steak. There was live music, an Argentinian guitar player, who was pretty good as a musician but totally looked like he did not want to be there. We did not see him smile or look at the patrons once. The dinner arrived BEFORE the appetizer and I got to thinking the waiter did not understand I had ordered an appetizer, which was fine with me because the Tilipia dinner was a good size portion. (The appetizer did arrive a short time later). The Tilipia was satisfactory but nothing special. I ordered a side dish of onions and tomatoes. The tomatoes were bland and tasteless, like those carton tomatoes you might find at Safeway in February. My date's breaded steak did not taste fresh. She asked me to taste it to see what I thought. To me, it tasted like Stove Top Stuffing on cardboard. My date ate 20% of it and we had the rest boxed up. I will give it to a feral cat that comes to my house looking for scraps. The Choripan sandwich tasted good but the roll was chewy and bland, which surprised me because this restaurant has its own bakery. After dinner, while my date and I were having a serious conversation, the waiter charged up, positioned himself between us, and used his hands to make the "Time-Out" sign. We stopped talking and were kind of stunned. The waiter asked us if we wanted dessert. It was more awkward than rude (we declined dessert). All things considered, the food was average and the service made us feel stressed rather than relaxed. Looking at most of the reviews, it seems that most patrons enjoy this restaurant, but my experience left me with a bad taste, literally, and I will not return.
(1)
Tara B.
First time here. Visited dollar tree next door. Prices are cheaper than anticipated. I ordered the grilled tilapia and my hubby ordered New York Strip steak. Delicious! I will be coming back. Great customer service and there was a band playing music live.
(4)
Adi G.
Awesome awesome AWESOME empanadas!!!! They label them so you know which is filled with what!My favorite place for them! Everything else I've ever had here is super good, too, and I've been coming here for almost 7 years. Great service and atmosphere, love this place!!
(5)
Jason C.
Most of the reviews on El Patio have been written on the food. There's no doubt that should be the case because El Patio is a restaurant. I will not contest the yelp ratings on the food. I've tried several meals here at lunch and dinner and my ratings would be in line with the yelp crowd. That being said, I haven't seen any review on yelp go into detail about the wines. I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. Towards the back of the restaurant, El Patio carries a sizable number of Argentinian wines. You can purchase these to go or purchase them with your meal. In my opinion, as a whole, these wine selections are the best you can get for the price in a MoCo restaurant/wine shop. Details: 1. Their shelves are filled with Malbecs and Cabernets that received a "legit" 89-91 points (legit in the sense that my palette tells me it's a true 89-91 point wine and not some fudged ratings by the magazines b/c of favoritism or politics) by Wine Advocate and International Wine Cellar at price ranges that go from about $11-$21 a bottle. 2. Prices are very reasonably marked up for a restaurant (10-30% above total wine's price but you have to remember this is a restaurant) 3. The selections were picked quite carefully for great selections In the MoCo area, I can't think of one place that sells a sizable number of wine selections where I can go in blind and pick anything out at ~$10 and have a very enjoyable bottle of red wine. That being said there are two caveats: 1. Malbec or Cabernet for your red. That's pretty much your selection (although they have around ~40 different malbecs and cabernets. 2. Slightly bitter taste. I like Spanish/South American wines. However, many find this repulsive and would much rather have the creamy California reds. If this is your preference, you should stay away. On a final note, I find the decor and atmosphere to be very charming (as LIbby F put it) and the live music on the weekend makes it an extremely pleasurable place to shop for wine at night on the weekends. I mean, where can you hear live music while picking out great bottles of wine! If you get the opportunity, buy, drink, and enjoy!
(5)
Chabi B.
This place fills a hole in my dining desires. Asado, wine, and Rock En Espanol. How can you go wrong? Well there is one way, my blood sausage came out a bit cold on the inside (I am assuming it had been pre-made and recooked), but the steaks were great. I asked for 2 malbecs which they didn't have in stock, but they got me another that was also great. Frankly, this place just felt Argentine--somehow friendly and bombastic at the same time. And I was able to choose not just taragui, but pajarito as well! And they have pan on sale for tostadas!
(4)
B H.
I am impressed stopped here on a whim. Just for wine and dessert. Reasonably priced, big open feel, live music great wine selection especially. Of malbec . Looks like pastries and wine is also to go. We will Def. Be back out likely regulars maybe for breakfast tomorrow.
(5)
Stuart W.
The service wasn't good, the food was average really. The empanadas didn't seem cooked enough and my steak was too fatty. What are really good are the cakes in the back of the shop. I'd go back to get some of them, but not to eat.
(3)
Amber Z.
I went there to get some small items to go. I got an alfajor, which was delicious. I also got one of each of their empanadas. They had two kinds of beef, corn, spinach, chicken, and ham and cheese. The spinach shell was flakier than the rest, and really good. The beef were my favorite. They are on the small side, but only $1.80 each. They heated them up, but they still weren't warm enough, so we heated them more when we got home. While we were waiting I got a house red, which was a good cabernet for $5.50, so good deal. I also got some crackers and they have all kinds of other dried goods and frozen foods that are specialty Argentinian goods. The restaurant seems to have a nice ambiance as well.
(3)
Lorena M.
Being originally from South America, I am always craving for authentic food from the South Cone. So when I first heard from the "hidden gem" El Patio, I did not think twice to give the coffee/deli shop a try. My family and I had been going to El Patio since 2006 and the service was quite nice, but it was not until they moved to their current location over Randolph Rd that their service started to decline. Back in July 2013, I received a terrible service while placing a carry out order at El Patio. The cashier, who is the owner by the way, cut me off to answer her cellphone and walked away as if I was not even there. I know, I should had walked out right away, but I was ordering a specific dish that no other restaurant in the area seems to carry. After being on the phone for a few minutes, the lady walked back to the register and proceeded to take my order with a terrible attitude. I took a sit near the wine rack and started reading the wine labels. Once my order was ready, the lady approached my table and let go of the box. The noise startled me. I could understand that she might had a bad day, but that was no excuse to mistreat a customer. I originally wrote this review on their facebook page, but they took it down shortly after. I noticed that their facebook page only features good reviews, and they take down any review that complains about their services. I decided to give El Patio a chance to redeem themselves and went back with a friend in June 2014. The experience was uncomfortable, to say the least. First, the waiter tried to be funny by trowing jokes from left to right, and some of his jokes were border line inappropriate. Let me clarify that I am South American and I am used to the straight-forward-in-your-face sense of humor, but this was something else. We ordered our food and asked for separate check. The food took longer than it would usually take at most places, which made us think the dishes were being prepared from scratch. However, when our food arrived it was lukewarm, flavorless, and clearly not made from scratch. Not once did our waiter come by our table to ask how things were going or even offer to refill our drinks. Since our waiter vanished, we asked another waiter for the check, and lo and behold our waiter reappeared with his border line jokes and a single check. When we asked him for our separate checks, he said he forgot but we should write down which item was for each person. We wrote our initials next to each of our items and handed our cards, but he refused to process the bill. He asked us to do the math, including tax, for each of us because he had too many tables to tend and didn't have time to run the math at the machine. All I can say is that El Patio seems to try to run a restaurant with a coffee shop attitude. There is a lot of room for improvement!
(2)
Wesley Y.
Awesome Empanadas, Chorizos good, Cappucinos good, everything was awesome with this place. Fairly priced! The patio is super small but the inside decor is beautiful. I sat in the bar area and it was very cute. The place is a grocery store too and they have TONS of bottles of wine! They offer half priced bottles on wednesdays. The empanadas have different sizes and are very well priced at 1.7/2.7. I came here for a quick cappucino but ended up staying for an hour and a half. There is no free wifi here =( so thats a downer. I definitely want to come back for some entrees because I've never had Argentinian food before. The bottles of wine are very cheap compared to other restaurants near by. Definitely a great place to check out. Awesome place to take someone on a date too! It's definitely a very cute restaurant!!!!!!
(4)
Carrie R.
Good food, terrible service. I loved this place when it was a small deli style place off of Rockville Pike. Since they moved to Randolph Road, they expanded the menu- very South American style and awesome, but the service is terrible. It takes forever for the waiter to even come and take the order, and the dishes come out one by one so your party either waits for the food to get cold, or each member eats separately. We've had this experience more than once. The last time we spent an hour there and my husband's plate never arrived. We finally asked for it "to go" and even that took 10 minutes. The good news- the food is good. The Argentinian empanadas are so delicious, the Argentinian wine selection is terrific and the coffee and desserts are tasty. I really love this place and want it to do well. I love the idea of a South American restaurant (we have plenty of Central American restaurants!), but they need to get their act together or they won't be around for long.
(3)
Andrea M.
The menu is authentic Argentine. If you've never been to Argentina, try empanadas, chorizo, and pretty much all the grilled meats. Molleja is an Argentinean delicacy- veal's thymus- which is also worth trying with lemon juice. Excellent sweets as well. The service can be very good, or ok, depending where how busy they are. We never had major problems, though.
(4)
Reggie N.
Wow. This is one of my new favorite resaturants in the DC Area. I've been to El Patio when it was just a cafe, and I thought it was good. Now that's it's a full service restaurant, I absolutely love it. Great steak. Great prices. Nice atmosphere. I only had one dish but will write more after I try a couple more--as I'll definitely return.
(5)
Fernando Y.
Kitchen:very slow,long waiting for the food!!!! Service: teenager waiters unprepared for the job.they forget to take your order to the kitchen. Food: frozen cold empanadas ! Uuugghhhhh!!!! Bad experience !!
(1)
Sharon R.
I used to really like this place a few years ago. I've had a few of their dishes and they were all tasty and authentic (such as empanadas and asado). The service was always friendly too and the prices not too bad for an Argentinian restaurant in Rockville. The last few times my family has gone though the meat didn't taste great, and the last (probably forever) time everyone in the party got sick from it; probably from the meat not being fresh.
(1)
Tim H.
Interesting, unique place. Some issues when I went for dinner but will give it another try and update. My experience of Argentina amounts to two weeks sometime when I was in college, but upon arriving El Patio did have a distinct Buenos Aires feel to it, which was fun and nostalgic. The food was a little mixed. There were few really standout vegetarian options but there was no shortage, so no complaints. Argentinian food is almost exclusively meat based so I was happy for what was available. We got a variety of somewhat smaller dishes (some appetizers, a cold plate, and a few other things) which were filling and satisfying. The cold plate was a bit of a downer--everything was okay, nothing really grabbed me--but the quiche was dy-no-mite. It was clear though that the meat dishes are where the action is. C'est la vie! There were service issues. Our server was a really young guy, who was as composed and professional as he could muster, but just not experienced at all. So there was cork in the wine, empty water glasses, no silverware, and a few other things. I don't exactly blame him given how young he appeared to be but why was he working dinner on a Friday night? Give the guy a little more training. But really we had a good time. The live two-person band was really good and not at all intrusive. The wine list had some choices that would probably be hard to find elsewhere. The prices were also spot on with the quality (excepting the service issues). In general, worth a try, especially for carnivores.
(3)
Crystal J.
Food is good; service is terrible. We had to flag our waiter to get the basics (water, wine, and the check).
(1)
Anita W.
I think that if you are a steak-lover, you would have an entirely different opinion of this Argentinian restaurant. I can't have milk and don't like steak, which left very little on the menu I could eat, most of it boring and hardly distinguishable from American food. I went to the restaurant when a friend recommended the empanadas, but when I asked the server, he said the dough contain milk, so I was out of luck. It's a cute restaurant for a strip mall on the Silver Spring/Rockville border, and they have live music at night, and the servers are extremely attentive and nice. I just didn't find any food I liked, so I probably won't go back.
(2)
Massiel G.
I came back and tried the steak saltado and it's soooo amazing love it we had a different waiter she was nice. And the food was amazing !!! We came back yesterday as well had another server was very slow he was very nice but it just took to long for everything that's why I can give it a 5 stars but overall the food amazing very good and live music it so nice you don't get that in many places. Their mashed potatoe are soooo good enjoy it and there mango drink :-)
(4)
Big K.
Gotta give this place 5 stars considering that I have been to Argentina regularly, and specifically Tucuman which is where the owner is from. The food is on point and they have everything you might ask for (***Empanada Tucumana is not a true Tuc Empanada***). Keep it simple, get an asado dish, choripan, milanesa, and empanadas. Super mega! Everything sweet is on point too with dulce de leche on just about everything. If you are a true Argentine you will love the wine selection, mostly Malbec. They also have a little grocery store where you can buy traditional stuff from the motherland. Im talking the products you grew up with in the house. Serioulsy love this place and everything they offer. I would recommend getting a Lomito. Such a can't miss item. Place in classy and clean too.
(5)
Helen B.
Great Argentine beer quilmes! The key to this restaurant is knowing what to get. If you get simple things like empanadas, choripanes or steaks, you will love it. If you order more elaborate dishes you will not be satisfied. If you understand the limitations, you will have a great experience!
(4)
Eugene H.
cheap lunch specials are pretty solid! sausage and empanada combo is the way to go!
(4)
Joel B.
I'd give it more like 3.5 stars since the first visit was better. First time I loved this place. Drove from Falls Church, VA and thought it was worth it. I couldn't wait to come back to this place. The second visit wasn't as good but still I feel it's a nice place just not for me to drive all the way there.
(4)
Adrian C.
As soon as you arrive to this place, ask for Ricardo, the best waiter in town. Food is great, except for pizzas (never ask for it). Matambre is delicious and also the Argentinian Parrillada. Chairs are no comfy and it is a little dark in door. Very good desserts! Still, everything is great due to this great and professional waiter, Ricky.
(4)
Cameron B.
El Patio used to be about 4 blocks from my office building. Sporting the only real outside dining (besides Hooters) in the area it was the go-to location on beautiful spring afternoon or during a world-cup match! They always greeted you with a smile, had several South American brews in the bottle and even a little grocery area to pick up supplies to try to recreate their delicious empanadas! What they lacked in speed and ambiance they made up for in hearty portions of chicken fried steak cutlets, with an egg on top and a side salad that would bust your gut and induce the mid-day work-nap! I was loyal to them, they moved, and the corner represents the emptiness they left in my heart! I miss you El Patio!
(4)
Daniel S.
Lets talk about the cameras in this place first. My wife and I felt like we were in prison in this tiny place with the 6 cameras we counted (we stopped at 6 but there appeared to be more towards the back of the restaraunt/wine shop/bakery/whatever they wanted this place to be). I can appreciate being a little paranoid but I didn't appreciate being on 4 cameras simultaneoulsy while I ate my food, with 2 sets almost pointing at each other on the opposite walls. If they felt they needed that many cameras to get multiple angles on people eating their food, then they should have tried to disguise the cameras a little more versus mounting them all in plain sight. I ordered the NY Strip steak sandwhich, which was more expensive than their normal steak sandwhich. I wasn't asked for a cooking temerature which was a little odd since my wife was for her hamburger, and when I got the sandwhich the meat was tough with large chunks of fat on it. If this tough steak is the NY Strip, I would hate to see what the regular cheaper one was like (I.E. I don't think I got the version I paid extra for), and they should have cut off the large chunks of fat hanging on the side of the meat that I didn't see until I bit into the sandwhich and had to spit them out. I was not impressed with this sandwhich, and would say the same even if I had paid the the cheaper version rate. My wife's hamburger came out undercooked and had absolutely no flavor. And by no flavor I mean my wife had to put salt, pepper, and ketchup on it to make it edible, and she never salts or peppers hamburgers and only sometimes ketchup! It's inexcusable to create a flavorless hamburger and shows there was no tasting or quality control. The staff there didn't really seem to care or check in until it came close to paying the bill (and tip) and then they were extra attentivie and smiles saying they hoped we really liked the food (which was a little late at that point). My wife and I will never be back again.
(1)
J.p. C.
Came here with my friend to have brunch, our server hazel was amazing ask for her when you go. Food wise we had empanadas, sausages, blood sausages and tira de asado ( short ribs). Myself had lentejas ( lentis with bacon) which was way to salty even tho they prepared a new one still salty. The manager didn't come to see if everything was ok nor say something about the plate.
(4)
Moco's Chubby C.
Strong Menu
(5)
A M.
I've gone twice. For one, this place is really nice inside. the music is a little dated (meaning it's the pop of the 2000s not the 2010s in the latin world) but that's just a small knock. The decor is nice, just a pretty place on the inside that does provide a sense of some other world. Foodwise, the first time was great. I had a tortilla, an espresso coffee and an empanada. The espresso was "ok" but the tortilla and empanada were great! I also saw what others ordered and was excited - all of their meals looked beautiful and smelled delicious. The 2nd time was all empanadas and another tortilla. This time the tortilla was a little burnt and sadly the empanadas weren't at the same level. Moral of the story - don't do take out and don't order an espresso! You'll have a nice time by going here and enjoying it. Four stars for dining in, two stars for take out.
(4)
Abegail A.
Just please don't (go here). I pass by everyday after work and this place is usually always crowded (inside and their outside patio). Must be delicious, right?! Wrong! We had their Parallada para Dos which included two grilled beef short ribs, two pieces of flank steak, two chicken drum sticks, two pieces of Argentinean sausage, two pieces of morcilla (blood sausage), sweet-bread, one long ass piece of chinchulines (pig intestines) and two small sides (we had the fries and tomato/onion salad). All this for $35.75. Great deal in terms of the amount of food you get, but the food itself, that's a different story. The beef short rib and flank steak was semi-tough and were flavorless. The drum sticks, not bad...but who can screw up a drumstick?! The Argentinean sausage seemed like it was cooked too long. Sweet bread...this bread was supposed to be sweet?! Could have fooled me! This tasted like plane bread to me. The morcilla and chinchulines...you think I'm really going to eat that?! The fries were decent and the tomato/onion salad was a poor excuse for a salad. Bleh! I wish I took my $35.75 and went somewhere else instead. **A coworker has also brought in some of their empanadas before (beef, ham/cheese, and spinach). Where's the filling at?! Evidently not in these empanadas! They were just smeared with a little a bit of filling and are pretty much just bread. Don't waste your $1.60 on these!
(2)
paul s.
El Patio, in "Loehmann's Plaza" on Randolph Road, is a breath of fresh air: a small place that narrowly focuses on a regional cuisine (Argentinian) and just about nails it. My lunch today at 11 bucks, (before tip) was something approaching the perfect meal: a big bowl of chicken vegetable soup, a wedge of spinach quiche and a quilmes argentinian beer. The soup was delicious with a real home-made flavor and big chunks of potato in it. The spinach quiche is about 98% cooked spinach and is held together with very little egg and no cheese that I could see, and yet somehow it manages to be awesome. A very unique dish. The tray of freebie empanadas-on-a-toothpick on the main counter was a nice touch too. I had no problem with the service. A little slow, yes, but if that's the way they roll in Argentina, then I'll wait.
(5)
Cindy L.
You know that feeling when you eat something unsatisfying and you're full and then sadness sinks in b/c you didn't leave room for something else much more delectable? Yea, this is the place. Service is beyond terrible. They added 18% tip to a party of 4. i wanted to ask the waitress "why are you like this?!" I had the Bistec con morrones, cebolla y tomate servido con Arroz y huevo frito (Steak with red peppers, onions and tomatoes served w/rice and a fried egg) Egg was almost not cooked, completely bland overall, messy -- rice was that crap weird-smelling yellow kind with some peas & carrots Argentine Barbeque for Two Grilled Short Ribs Beef, Flank Steak, Argentinean Sausages, Morcilla, Sweetbread, Chinchulines short ribs ...meh flank steak...overdone morcilla...sticky and gelatinous sweetbread...ew. chinchulines = tripe = i don't go there i was so sad.
(1)
Jen F.
El Patio is an Argentinian restaurant and store in one. The little store has fresh pastries, boozes, teas, candy bars, etc. Lots of impulse buys to be made. The food was average. The meat plate for two was (as you probably guessed) a heaping pile of assorted meats. Included was chicken, steak, regular sausage, blood sausage, some intestines... ordered it medium but it was more like well-done. I say this plate was average because while it offered a nice variety, it could have been better (e.g. if the meats were juicier, more flavorful). Maybe it's just the herbivore in me talking... The ham and cheese empanada was alright as well. The house wines were actually really good. I loved the savignon blanc. The setting was perfect for a summer night. I came here on a Friday evening and sat outside. There was live music (nothing loud or obnoxious- just some relaxing Spanish tunes). I'd come here again but order something else. And I'd try a pastry. :)
(3)
Jackie Z.
The torta de pollo and torta the choclo were good. Also had the empanada de jamón y queso, which I preferred to the empanada de pollo. The empanadas were on the small side. Overall is was a good dining experience. It is a nice change to have South American cuisine.
(3)
Courtenay M.
I've been to Argentina 3 times in the last few years and have tried all the famous Parillas in Buenos Aires including La Cabrera, Desnival, La Brigada etc etc and upon entering El Patio I got a great authentic vibe. The service was good all the through the meal, no complaints there. The appetizers were good and we sampled several types of empanadas along with the sweet bread, morcilla (blood sausage) and provelata. All good and well made. Of course the key to any neighborhood Parilla is the meat, this is where there were issues. Half the party got the milanesa (chicken and beef) and the rest got steak. The milanesa were good and authentic, fries and salads with salsa golf were good too, the steaks were not. I know the key to an Argentine steakhouse is the argentine beef which tastes so distinctive and is not available in the US. Uruguayan beef is available and tastes nearly identical, they should switch to that because the beef was tough and flavorless, not at all what we were expecting. If I was judging based on the beef alone I would give it 1 star, the rest was great. Deserts were good and the overall experience was good but I'm not sure I would get steak there again,mwhich is too bad.
(3)
Sandy M.
pretty medioche for what they try to be. We dined here because my son has been to Argentina several times and was longing to have some authentic Argentinian food. the appetizers and tapas were good. the salad and steaks were terrible Bad tough poorly cooked steak (not typical of Argentina where grilled beef is their thing) The breaded beef and chicken dishes were fine. Desserts were fair. Some were dry and the crepes were like rubber. Coffee was good. It's a mixed bag. Tread cautiously.
(2)
Alicia K.
I had a nice experience here. The restaurant is a good size, and there was no wait when my fiance and I stopped by on a whim. I think our server started to speak to us in Spanish and then when she realized we were better at English, she switched over for us. Most of the people around us were speaking Spanish to their servers which made it feel very authentic, but I also appreciated that speaking English was A-OK. She was very friendly. You can get a variety of foods (sandwiches, meats, pastas, all of which sound authentic but I am a dumb American and really have no idea) here at various prices. My fiance asked for a water, which came carbonated, which I would expect overseas. I'm not complaining since this is an Argentinian restaurant, just unexpected for us. Our meals were tasty, though I can't say super memorable. Overall we had a positive experience here, and would come back if we were in the area.
(3)
Steven S.
Whenever I am in Rockville, I gotta have my El Patio fix. Yummy pastries from their pastry case - empanadas, and caramel sweets. The actual lunch/dinner menu is impressive and tasty. Anything with meat is fine with me! Potato salad is remarkable unique and tasty. French fries are nothing to be proud of, but hey, when aren't french fries good? I've had the short ribs, breaded meat with cheese on top, and other steaks. Just delicious! Oh - and do not forget the caramel filled churros! Served hot and YUMMY!
(5)
Tyson L.
This place could have been so much better, so much potential. Argentinean food in the suburbs, with outdoor seating and an eclectic ethnic grocery inside. But it just doesnt satisfy. I hardly knew this place existed and was looking forward to trying it as my cousin mentioned a Argentinean joint in Rockville. Turns out I've passed by this place countless times. So what do you order at an Argentinean restaurant? Empenadas and meat and a glass of malbec. I forget which empenadas we got but they were basically cold in the middle. Like they were just reheated.... but WTF! how can you serve it cold inside? Secondly, we get a meat dish, the name I dont remember but its in their specialties list. It LOOKS great. Take a bite out of the meat, eh... over done and chewy. No way to salvage this review. The glass of malbec was fine... nothing notable tho. This place just didnt deliver.
(2)
J R.
This place is fantastic. I love it. I had the steak milanese with eggs on top. I always get the egg.
(4)
Tom D.
Che pibe! OK -- so yesterday I went to Pizzeria Zero and it made me miss Argentine food. Today, I walked out of a client meeting and saw a sign that read Argentine cafe across the street. I hesitated because I didn't want to be disappointed yet again in 24 hours. Good news. The empanadas are good. They also make their own alfahores and other Argentine desserts.....and sell goods from Argentina. I will be back for Milanesa! Also need to try the Argentine style ribs..... The only thing missing was good gelato and Charly Garcia.
(3)
Andrew K.
Really good empanadas, te helado, y pupusas - and personalized service - for muy barato. It's a dive and not worth a trip from D.C., but fun when you're off the beaten path; a good alternative to Bob Evan's or some other god-awful chain.
(3)
Nikki C.
While I really enjoy El Patio, the Argentinian people at my work seem to feel like it's not "authentic". No worries though, because I consider "delicious" to be more important. As everyone else says, the empanadas are good. Although I've found this is one of the places where saying "what's the best thing on the menu/what would you recommend?" works really well. Some of the complaints in other reviews seem to be cultural. Someone mentioned that it took a while to get a check, but that's because they don't interrupt your table every five minutes to ask you questions that you don't want to answer. It's easy to make eye contact and flag them down, and then you get to eat in peace. And of course the empanadas are tiny - they are like $1, and a puff pastry with meat is not a meal in Argentina. Meals generally involve some vegetables too! The staff is clearly close knit, and you can tell they have a great relationship with their regular customers. Also a great place to watch the World Cup this year :) I've probably stopped by once a month, occasionally just for an evening beer, and I love the atmosphere, food, and people.
(4)
Danny M.
When it comes to Argentinean restaurants I have a very specific point of reference to which I always allude - a certain psuedo zen-like state of mind that I think about every time I eat Argentinean food, and that is this: About a year ago I was in Puerto Iguazu. I had just spent a full day at the majestic Iguazu falls and concluded the day by eating amazing food and drinking amazing wine outside on a quiet street in the city. THAT was my ideal situation. THAT is what I would give 5 stars, and although I dont remember the name of that restaurant, it was fantastic nevertheless, and the ambiance, the fun I had, and the food I ate all contributed to the experience. El Patio is the closest thing that comes to me reaching that. Is it fair for me to compare the two experiences? Perhaps not, but this is my review and I am sharing my thoughts through my words. The food at El Patio was great. I had the Parrillada (basically an entire slaughterhouse on a platter). The meat was juicy and cooked well, the intestines were very chewy (as they are supposed to be), and the house wine was dry and bitter (just as I like it). The salad was all right, but trust me, a South American salad is practically an oxymoron The service was friendly and wonderful, and the Paraguayan music was soothing (perhaps i'm biased because I'm half-Paraguayan, but it was still really cool). The empanada was a tad cool but still delicious. That said, if I could give El Patio 4.5 stars I would. It doesnt quite match the best I've ever had, but hey, where else can I get my Yerba Mate, good wine, good food, and good music on a nice Friday night?
(4)
Maria L.
Argentinian cuisine- sounded awesome, so my friend and I tried it. We ordered at the counter, then took a seat. I noticed my friend getting antsy and asked what was wrong- I hadn't realized it was a full 45 minutes since we had ordered- and because there is no wait-staff, no one knew that our order had been misplaced! When we inquired about our order, we didn't even get an apology! The food was bland and just average. When we left, we looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Never again."
(2)
Nicole L.
I've been a patron since they opened in 2001. They are relocating but the last time my family visited here they weren't sure where they were relocating to. This place has some good and bad qualities but I may be somewhat bias since I'm half Argentinian. First of all, if you are ordering some sort of steak dish, be sure to ask for extra chimmichurri because they are stingy. Which is surprising because it's a must in Argentina. Growing up we always had a batch of fresh, home made chimmichurri in the fridge. I usually order the mealanesa sandwich or the carne salteda with mashed potatoes. The empanadas are good but my Tia Eva puts their beef empanadas to shame. If you're ordering emapanadas, be sure to get the cheese and onion. The ham and cheese tea sandwiches are on point though. Please be sure to get some pastries from the counter before leaving. They are the ish and made there in their bakery. Some of the best dulce de leche ever! I can't leave there without eating the dulce de leche crepes (on the dessert menu). OMG I'm salivating at the thought!! Yes, the service is slow but I want people to remember two things. One, they prepare their food fresh as oppose to throwing a pre-made meal in a microwave like so many chain restaurants. Second, practically every other country besides America likes to enjoy their meal; slowly; and let it digest between courses. They also have authentic good to purchse from wine, snacks and Argentina paraphanillia. They also show ALL AFA games on their many TV screens. So many good memories here with my fam. O yea, my brother and my cousin ordered some sort of dish with all kinds of meat piled on it and they tore it up. Even the dreaded pig intestines and blood sausage. They loved all of it!
(4)
Dee B.
Recently went to El Patio for the first time for an office birthday lunch. The birthday boy is Colombian and wanted MEAT. Here's my rundown on the place... The good: -Nice patio -The empanadas. Yum! I tried two - a chicken and a beef, and both were very tasty. -The cappucinos. -The ham, egg, cheese torta I ordered was good. -Two of my co-workers shared the enormous meat platter, and they loved it. The bad: -Sloooow service. We were there for close to 2 hours! Mostly seemed like an issue of not having many people working, and maybe even the kitchen not being big enough. Our food came out bit by bit. Do not come here if you are in a hurry! -Some of the food was not so great. One co-worker had the steak sandwich, and she complained it was just bland and tasteless. Another had a chicken dish which was also on the bland side. -I saw a woman at another table order the spinach and egg torta. Turns out that - as opposed to quiche, where the ingredients are all mixed and intermingled - this contained a hard-boiled egg and lots and lots of spinach around it. Certainly not something that would appeal to me, and the woman who ordered ended up leaving most of it uneaten. So, this is a place I'd stop by for a cappucino or empanadas on a lazy afternoon, but I doubt I'd return for a meal.
(3)
Jeff S.
Really good food. I'd never had Argentinian food before, so I was impressed. They also have a whole bunch of authentic Argentinian deserts and baked goods that you can get after dinner or for takeout. But... really, really bad service. Our waiter went on his break for 20 minutes while we were eating. And judging by the other reviews, the bad service is typical. I would have given this place a 4 or 5 if not for that...
(3)
Brian K.
Hello Yelppers. I wanted to try something new and decided to meet some friends at this place in Rockville. I ordered the Argentine BBQ for Two. Let me tell you this. If your one of those types that wouldn't mind trying something new but afraid you would be right about all the negative things of an establishment/food. WELL THIS PLACE IS IT. 1) The waitress sucked. The only time she came by was ordering food, dropping it off and giving us the check. No hello, refills or anything that could resemble a good/great service. I can understand its all about service if you pay for it but when you automatically charge us the 18% service fee for 4 people I would expect some service. 2) The food seemed either overcooked or had been sitting out from a previous order that nobody wanted and reheated. Short ribs - DRY/Burnt Flank Steaks - DRY Morcilla - I don't remember eating Sweetbread - Nothing sweet about it. Chinchulines - I'm no Andrew Zimmerman but I tried it. It tasted like $hit. I'm sorry if I offend anyone about their culture or food. I really enjoy tripe in soups and all but WOW this tasted disgusting. Have you ever ate anything by accident with the cellophane wrapper still on it? Well that's as close as I can describe it minus the GOD AWFUL after taste. I understand that I could have asked for a refund or something new but i\I'm not those types to make things difficult or cause a scene. I'll pay for what I order and if I like it I'll come back. Pro's: Really? Please read the review. Con's: Is there a limit of characters for this post? Bottom line. I don't mind paying to find out if I ever want to go to that place again. I think this is probably on my top 5 list of never to go. I hope you have a better experience with food at this place but I'm sure that my friends and I will NEVER go back.
(1)
Chris H.
Food was delish, service attentive, wine very good,noise level fair and prices affordable. I'll be back.
(4)
Monica W.
Love the food as well as the ambiance (not to mention that the prices are very reasonable). The portions are more than enough - in fact we took some home. I ordered the Grilled Fish in a Blue Cheese Cream with pieces of bacon served w/ fries and a vegetable medley - simply delicious! My mother ordered the Grilled New York Strip, Fried Sweet potatoes sticks, and a vegetable medley, which she thoroughly enjoyed. For dessert, we ordered (to go) Gourmet Argentine cookies filled with milk caramel, Sweet Roulades filled with milk caramel (which it took a few days for me to eat), and Light puff pastry cake with milk caramel filling.
(4)
Irene F.
This place is such a cute hole in the wall. It's a great place to go on a date if you're looking to try to eat somewhere off the beaten path and eclectic that is affordable and delicious. I have had nothing but great and attentive service every time I've been here. Everything I have eaten there is yummy like home cooking--- if your mom was Argentinian...
(4)
Ryan S.
We love this place. The food is great and the prices reasonable. Highly recommend.
(4)
Tricia K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner on Monday night. We went to the old location, saw the sign on the door for the new location and headed over. I was actually thankful and pleased they had moved because I always thought the spot they were at previously was a little strange. Not much traffic occurs there, plus, with it being at Loehmann's Plaza, there's now a nice outdoor seating area with the (little loud) classical music playing overhead. For dinner we both ordered the gnocchi. My boyfriend also got an empanada. While he said the empanada wasn't great, the gnocchi was DELICIOUS. It said on the menu that it came with a meat sauce, so we were both expecting that typical Italian pasta sauce. What a pleasant surprise it was when the meal came out and two huge slices of roast were sitting on top of the pasta with some red sauce! YUM! The portions were huge, and at only $10.50, a heck of a deal. We ordered the flan to share for dessert. While it wasn't the best and most awesome flan I've ever had, it was still good and pleasant on the palette. Overall, this was a great experience with them and we will definitely be returning!
(4)
F M.
Second time for me having food here. The food was very good in general and the service was excellent. We ordered a "parrillada para dos", which is a collection of different grilled meats, and it tasted delicious. The chorizos were excellent. There are however some critiques that, as an Argentinean, I cannot let pass.The flan is lacking a lot of dulce de leche. A flan in Argentina comes with at least 5 times the dulce de leche than this one (and I'm not exaggerating). Dulce de leche isn't expensive.... please people, make it right!. The provoleta is the worst provoleta I had in my entire life. No flavor or condiments. It tasted like unflavored plastic. Where is the oregano???
(4)
Amanda L.
My boyfriend and I decided to go here on a Friday night. We always would pass by the old location, but never happened to try it. The new location seems bigger than the last, and the food was defiantly good and affordable. The chimi-churri sauce was awesome, that came with the steak, and the bread was fresh ( bakery ).Not that the service was bad but it could have used a little work. The price is for sure affordable.
(4)
Shoshana G.
Yum! I am a huge fan of their milanesa and their empanadas! Delicious! They also have some delicious pastries and the dulce de leche is fabulous. The service is nothing spectacular but I personally don't think it even matters. The food makes up for it.
(4)
David P.
Are you kidding? Not since living in Buenos Aires have I been able to enjoy good old typical Argentine food like this place offers. Dont get me wrong - there's a handful of delicious Argentine steakhouses littered across Chicago, NYC, and DC - but this place definitely hits the spot for affordable Argentine grub. Definitely a fan.... viva la Argentina!
(4)
Libby F.
This place is downright charming! I love the ceramic tiled floor and the cushioned bistro chairs and tables. It is small and cozy. I stopped by here after putting in some extra hours at school today. My little guy was spending the day at the vet being pricked all day and I had an hour to kill before pick-up time. It started pouring as I approached the restaurant. FYI: Don't try to get to this place by heading west on Twinbrook Pkwy. You can't do it without crossing Rockville Pike and turning around to go east. There is a decent sized parking lot waiting for you though. As far as the food goes, it is, as others say authentic Argentine food. Even the tea they serve is imported from Argentina. I had an espinaca empanada filled with spinach, onions and parmesan cheese. The homemade dough was fantastic. Same goes for the pastry on the Queso y Cebolla tarta (traditional Argentine quiche) that I ordered. It definitely was not your mother's quiche. One slice must have contained about one large chopped up onion . It was not made with eggs and milk, only onions and cheese. Had I looked at it in the display case first, I probably would have passed on it. The slice was huge; about a quarter of the tart. It was really, really good and the onions were the sweet variety. I liked it, but left a pile of onions on my plate. But the kicker is the great prices. Empanadas are $1.80 each! (A cup of tea was even more than that!) My tarta was $3.20! My little guy's vet called as I was paying to let me know he was ready for pick up and the rain subsided for the moment. Plus, the service was great! I was the only native English speaker in the place and I did not feel out of place. Don't forget to check out their grocery goods along the back wall. The have some good prices on Argentine beer and wine.
(4)
Mark L.
When in the area, good place for a quick lunch or snack. I enjoyed the various tortillas and the empanadas were decent as well. Downtown locales like Julia's are much better for the latter. I will have to try their grilled meats one day. Its location isn't great but it is what/where it is. I like the fact that it operates as a mini market for Arg food and wine on the side without ruining the cafe feel. It would be an interesting place to catch an Arg futbol game..
(3)
Rajiv D.
The kids and I shared the grill platter. Other than the blood sausage (which I just can't appreciate) everything else was great. The kids loved the steaks too. The desserts are awesome and the service was good. This place is definitely a great place if you like meat.
(4)
Thea C.
So, here's the deal: Small plate of grilled sweet breads and a fat slice of Spanish potato tortilla for under 6? Maybe add a delectable grilled sausage for $2.25 more? All this while a highly competent Spanish guitarist and crooner serenades you? Uh... yes, please! Also of note: $8 bottles of Argentine wine and baked goods filled with sweet potato! YES!
(4)
CW E.
My first visit was fabulous. I experienced Argentinian food for the first time at El Patio. The food was well made, and the menu options offered healthy and authentic selections. Plus the restaurant's size and lighting was intimately cozy while the servicer was efficiently friendly. I plan to eat there again.
(4)
Mauro G.
I have been going to el patio for many years and honestly the place sucks!!! I would recommended to you, only if you don't mind: bad service, waitress that don't ever asked you for a refill, burned up asado, overheated chicken and bad service overall... Now, if you don't mind this things, I'm sure you are going to enjoy your visit to el patio. There is and old man that work there and when we complain for a under cooked piece of meat he said "for the price that you are paying, what do you expect?" Prices are a little bit expensive. One of the reason of the waitresses don't give a sh@t it's because they charge the tip on the bill!!!!! I will to recommended this place to my friends and definitely not coming back.
(1)
Carlos M.
The food was incredible, and the server Hanzel gave us a excellent recommendation in our first visit to this restaurant. El Patio is a must "to go place" if you want to enjoy delicious Argentine appetizers, entries and desserts.
(5)
Alex M.
I had a tiny empanada and a horrible microwaved pizza here. The prices are pretty low but I can easily find better for the same price. It also took a very long time to get my food and even longer to get a check. It looked like some of the other food looked good but I really wouldn't recommend the place.
(1)
martha f.
Disappointed. Entree (pollo salteado) seemed closer to home cooking than restaurant quality, and the chicken did not taste very fresh. It was fine but nothing you could not make yourself. Service was also very slow at times, including when we were waiting for the check and just wanted to get the heck out of there due to the endlessly crying baby (obviously, not the restaurant's fault there).
(2)
George W.
Wife and I were looking forward to Valentines day dinner with entertainment and had made reservations giving our first and last name and phone number ... asking and getting answers about the fixed price menu. When we arrived there was no record of our reservation ... not in their electronic system, not on their handwritten list. The hostess tried to be nice ... offering us a table in the back of the restaurant with poor view ... and suggested we could wait to see if any of their other reservations did not arrive before their holding period expired. But I think she did not believe we had made the reservation we had made ... and made no attempt to determine the employee that took our reservation. We have a phone record of the call. Making a reservation, having the reservation accepted, providing name and phone number ... and then the restaurant not having any record of the reservation is just not acceptable. Word to the wise ... if you make a reservation at this place get the name of the person who takes your reservation ... that way you can at least mention the employees name when you arrive and there is no reservation for you.
(1)
Lydia H.
2.5 stars. Because I work across the street, I have probably patronized El Patio in excess of 30 times. Yesterday's dining experience finally brought me to conclude that their food is almost universally bad. I have tried many things on the menu, always hoping the next one will be better than the last (which would not be a great feat). I wasn't particularly hungry yesterday, so I decided to order two of the small side salads. The first was a tomato and onion salad, and the second was a carrot and hard-boiled egg salad. I asked the girl at the counter if they were good, and she said that I might have to put some salt and pepper on them. I should have taken this as an ominous sign, but I decided to order them anyway, as nothing else on the menu was really appealing to me. My "dish" came out right away, and boy was I disappointed (though perhaps not surprised). The tomatoes and onions had no flavor, and the carrot "salad" was literally a half-plate of shredded carrots (think cheap buffet salad bars) with three paper thin slices of hard-boiled egg on top. The carrots in this salad, worse than the tomato/onion combination, actually tasted like a large, industrial walk-in refrigerator. If you have ever worked in a restaurant you know what I am talking about - that kind of stomach-turning smell that hits you when you have to retrieve something from said refrigerator. It was going to take more than salt and pepper to make this taste okay, so I loaded it up with vinegar. I still ended up leaving three-quarters of it on my plate. My coworker ordered three chicken empanadas and the soup of the day, which for as long as I can remember has been listed on the Specials board as cream of squash. It must be the case that they just never update the board, because what came out appeared to be some sort of chicken vegetable soup. She immediately started looking around for some Tabasco sauce for the empanadas. Worth noting: if customers are looking for salt/pepper/sauces, ANYTHING, to add some spice, seasoning, or flavor to the food, something needs to change. I realize I have cited only a few examples of the food I've ordered, but rest assured, this has been the case with pretty much everything I've had here. For all of this, there are some things that I really like about El Patio. In no particular order: - Bottled Mexican Coke for $1.99 - Coffee is hit or miss but more often than not pretty good - Outdoor patio is one of few in the area - Lomito sandwich - Argentine grocery has some interesting things to offer - Plain pastries in the glass case are usually delicious On a final note, I have often noticed over the years that other diners here seem to be eating delicious-looking food. I usually try to pinpoint what it might be on the menu and can never put two and two together. I am convinced that there is a secret menu here that I don't know about (kind of like Thai Square in Arlington has a menu for regular patrons and another Thai-only menu). Perhaps if I ever figure this out I would find that the food isn't all so bland. Until that happens, however, I imagine I will find myself coming here less and less...
(2)
Semra E.
sex in a sandwich? YES PLEASE!!!! I just ate the most delicious sandwich during my lunch break yesterday. & when I saw everyone elses dishes I realized that it's not just one thing that they're doing right......they're doing it alllllll right. If you have a chance and want something new to look forward to and introduce to your mouth, this is your place.
(5)
A A.
We came to this venue to enjoy the outdoor seating and a nice spanish meal with different wines and beer. As a group of 4, as we entered the gentleman informed us that to sit outside would be a 45 minute wait ( i guess in a scare tactic to push us to sit inside quickly), but when we decided to wait the individual looked as with a stunned look. Being nice patrons we decided to wait outside in the parking lot since it was a nice night. As I walked in 15 minutes later to check the status of our wait, I notice 2 parties in front of us were being seated. I passively informed each group we were in front of them, even though the waiters attempted to seat them first. After a minor dispute between our group and the other patrons, the manager finally comes out and questions who arrived first, upon which the waiter sadly but surely in shameful manner pointed to us. In my eyes the service and hospitablity of the place is slowly declining, and i'm hoping for the food to make up for it. I had the beef empanada, which is nicely seasoned, but in comparison to Julia's empanada's, this place is left in the dust. We decided to properly enjoy an Argentinian meal, so we ordered the grill platter for 2 (iron steak, ribeye, rotiserre chicken, sausage, blood sausage, skirt chicken and intestine). When the order arrived, the quantity of meat was so gigantic and overwhelming it would make even the biggest carnivore sign up for a PETA right's group. Upon digging into our meal, the steaks which were seasoned nicely were tough and chewy, leaving only the chicken to be delicious. Our two included sides we picked were mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Sadly the highlight of my whole platter of meats was the steamed vegetables. Overall the food is nothing memorable or special. I decided to order flan in a last attempt to fix my foul mood and tastebuds. The flan was suprisingly delicious and sweet with a soft texture. (The best flan is at La Limena). When the bill came, for a group of two people for an empanada, two beers, meat platter and dessert it was $65. This restaraunt cannot command such prices. Another setback was tip/gratuity was included for a party for 4. (I guess they knew we were not going to tip 20% due to our horrible experience of having our seats almost stolen in front of us). Normally most places do not add tip unless its a party of 6+. Thus in conclusion, the service was rude and slow, the food was mediorce and the prices were high. Overall if your just looking for a butchers shop this is a place to be. If your a steak affecionado, then this is the place to avoid.
(1)
Robin G.
Love the new location! Much better than before. Delish food!
(5)
Andy L.
We have been going to El Patio for about 10 years now, and it is on our short list of local restaurants that we don't mind going to over and over again. The beef dishes and empanadas are all terrific - you can't really go wrong. I tried their mussels one day, though, and that was less than spectacular. On some days, they have live music which is an added plus. Their new location is nice - nicer ambience and easier parking. I miss the big screen TV with the soccer games, though.
(4)
Patrick H.
***3.5*** Cute cafe ambiance mixed with small grocery store charm. If you're looking for Yerba Matte, this is the place. I've never seen so much Yerba Matte in one place at one time (someone must have gotten a deal) We've heard the rumors that the place is inconsistent and the service is bad, if that's true, we didn't experience last night. We had the Bombitas de Papa con Carne - essentially meat filled mashed potato croquettes, deep fried and served with a spicy, vinegary sauce for a starter. Definitely the best thing we ate all night. We also shared a chicken empanda, but should have ordered the cheese and onion. I had the grilled flank steak topped with two fried eggs, while my dining partner in crime had the pollo ala parilla, (grilled chicken breast). Both came with chimichurri sauce and two sides. We tried the mashed potatoes, a salad and I had the carrot and egg salad, which I thought would be like a potato salad, but which consisted of half a plate of shredded raw carrots and a hard boiled egg. A little odd, but good. My steak was perfectly cooked and the thickest cut of flank steak I've ever seen. It was properly seasoned and extra tender. Very very good. I loved the chimichurri sauce, too! Save room for dessert. As previously noted the homemade alfajores are to die for.
(4)
Hannah K.
I LOVE EL PATIO. After studying abroad in Argentina, I went looking all over for anything remotely similar to the delicious food I'd had there. El Puerto is the closest I've found so far to what you would actually eat in Argentina. The parrillada para dos is amazing-- probably more like parrillada para tres, after its two sides. The flan wasn't the best-- I would definitely recommend the panqueques de dulce de leche after dinner, though! Also-- EXCELLENT empanadas argentine-style. If you're looking for American style service you might be disappointed-- the servers are very business like, just taking your order, dropping off the food, and giving you the check. Personally, I like servers who just leave me in peace, so I love it!
(5)
Katie P.
Dined here for the first time. The place is very tiny and was filled with people. There were three of us, and at first they put us at a table where one person couldn't even sit straight. The table was only about 15in in diameter, and there were two other tables right next to each side. So we asked for another table, and it took them another 20 minutes to move us because they forgot and sat other parties. So the experience from the get go was not very pleasant. So we ordered some empanadas for appetizer and a sausage sandwich which comes with chimichurri. Empanadas were delicious and appetizing. The sausage sandwich was just a grilled sausage with baguette bread. No toppings other than chimichurri....chimichurri was great, but I would not recommend the sausage sandwich....forget what it was called on the menu. The main dish I ordered was the seasoned chicken over rice w/ tomato sauce. It was pretty good. Nothing special though...just tasted like an easy home-made meal. My friends ordered chopped steak entrees, and they didn't like them very much. The portions were pretty large and price was very good. Overall, an interesting place, but I don't see anything special or oustanding...I may go back for empanadas or desserts...but not for dinner...
(3)
Bryce I.
It's obvious that the haters on here have never been to Argentina. I lived there 5 years and El Patio is the best and most authentic Argentine restaurant I've eaten at in the United States. Yeah, the shortribs are tough. Argentines roast them over a fire all day. I don't care for them either, but millions of people do. They're not going to slather BBQ sauce on them to cater to your tastes, you ignorant yankees. The chorizo sausage is rich with the deep meaty flavor signature in Argentine sausage. They import their sausage from the source. I had a choripan for $3.50 at dinner and it stuffed me. And it came with the best, freshest chimichurri I've ever had. The provoleta was phenomenal. It's grilled provolone cheese with herbs. I can't imagine why we don't eat this in America. The empanadas were good, but the only thing I ate that wasn't out of sight.
(5)
Bill D.
Great little restaurant, but I'm giving it four stars due to the inconsistent service. Sometimes the service is good, sometimes it's awful. There doesn't seem to be a correlation with how busy it is, the worst service we've had was when the place was empty one time for an early dinner. The food itself is usually very good, both the steak and the chicken. The portions are pretty good sized. The empanadas are awesome! Sometimes I pick up a dozen and take them to work for lunch for a couple of days--that good. (Note that this comes from someone who has no prior experience with Argentinian food.) The atmosphere itself is good, the patio outside is great if the weather's nice. The inside's cozy and cramped, but nice. We've talked with a few other patrons who are Argentinian, and it's a good sign if they like the place (which they did).
(4)
Lauren P.
Grilled meats are fantastic, as are the empanadas.
(4)
andres l.
The food was very good, and for the price you get a lot. Also, very tradicional flavor, nothing of that new modern mix. The service is very friendly and quick. I would recommend this to anyone that would like to eat like a king while paying like a student.
(5)
N S.
Ok, here's the deal. I would not make this a destination for solely the purpose of food/eating. They make great capuccinos and my friends and I very much enjoy chilling on the patio during the summer and having some wine. You don't have many al fresco dining choices in Rockville - Hooters and Addie's. Now one thing I totally agree with whole-heartedly with fellow reviewers is that the service is extremely lacking. I just think they don't have enough help especially during the summer weekend evenings. I was also turned off because I had asked if we could sit outside and this waiter told me no, sorry. (There was a table with one chair and I was thinking we could round up another chair). Well, fast forward about 30 seconds and my beautiful Colombian friend walks in and requests outside seating to the same waiter who promptly accommodates her. When he got to table in question, turned around and saw me standing with her - he felt stupid cause he had no idea we were together and kind of mumbled an apology. Could it be that she addressed him in Spanish? or was it that he's simply a south american racist f**k? I don't know, but I do know that all customers should be treated the same.
(2)
Tasty P.
The food was decent but nothing to write home about. Lots of menu items with egg. Probably wouldn't go again, though.
(3)
Nora H.
My family has frequented El Patio since they first open in their old location around Twinbrook in Rockville. Now that they are at the Loehmann's Plaza, Rockville, shopping center, they have increased the variety of their food items, wines, and desserts, and they have a much better spot, including a lot of parking space, larger interior, better tables and chairs. They have a vast menu, and unfortunately we have not tried everything, so here is what I can comment on: Appetizers, sides, and other: --The "empanadas" (meat, chicken, cheese, ham, etc. turnovers) have improved over time; really delicious, and especially their "Tucumanas" (fried empanadas with beef, olives, egg, and raisins)--my favorite! --The tongue vinaigrette is pretty good. --The "matambre" (beef roll) is decent. --The "ensalada rusa" (potato salad) is great--similar to a homemade version, and not overly salty. --The "ensalada mixta" (mixed salad) is good and fresh, plus a nice size. --Their "sandwiches de miga" (thin crumb bread with a variety of fillings, very popular in Argentina) are very good. They are mostly made to order, which maintains the bread freshness as it needs to be. --I am generally disappointed when it comes to "chimichurri" (sauce for meats) in about every restaurant offering it, whether it is Argentinian or now also American in all their variations, which are not usually Argentinian, but the one from El Patio is fairly good. Main dishes: --El Patio always has had great "milanesas" (fried breaded beef or chicken steak). --The "asado" [grilled meats (such as "costillitas"--beef ribs--and "vacio"--flank steak), sausages (chorizo and blood sausage), and innards (intestine, sweetbreads)], is offered in a very good selection, quantity, and quality for the price. --The steaks: "bife de chorizo" (Sirloin Strip Steak/Top Loin) is very good, and the "ojo de bife" (Ribeye Steak) is decent. Good size too. Desserts & pastries: --I would say most everything is great, including flan, bread pudding, "arrollado pionono" (sweet roll with "dulce de leche"), various cakes. --I've had the "panqueque de manzana" (caramelized crepe with apple and vanilla ice cream) and it is OK, but missing a little more sugar coating. --The "facturas" (Argentinian-style breakfast/tea pastries) are great!!!!! --The "alfajores" (two cookies with a sweet middle, mostly "dulce de leche"), be it the "de maicena" (corn starch) or chocolate covered, are the best we've had here in the U.S. In fact, the chocolate covered ones rival the well-known Argentinian-made brands--actually, they win by far. --Lately, they've started to bake more cakes, and judging by the ones we've tried, they have succeeded in creating Argentinian bakery quality. Kudos! Wines: --Ever since they moved to the Loehmann's location, the variety of wines increased. They have a great selection and very reasonable prices. Service: --Depends on who you get, but they seem to really try. We particularly like one of their waiters who knows what he's doing (would provide his name, but we don't know it). --Even if you have a party of less than 6 people (the norm for other restaurants), they at times add 18% tip, so make sure you pay attention to your check. --Owners are also very helpful and willing to tend to customers. BOTTOM LINE: We are originally from Argentina, and can attest that El Patio is a truly Argentinian place. Their variety and quality is very good value for the price. You can get a good lunch and spend little money, or a bit more for a full-course dinner meal with wine. They are the only option for Argentinian fare in the area (since the departure of Lola's and the not-good-at-all Chimichurri Restaurant).
(4)
Jennifer K.
3 Stars for the game of roulette that I play every time I come here. Sometimes (many times) I've hit gold & had a great meal with quick, friendly service. Other times, like last week, I come in and there's one person working the register, the wait staff hasn't appeared, service is super slow, and the food is just mediocre (like the barely heated empanadas they served up). I do like their cafe con leche. I generally like the empanadas. The steak sandwich is so yummy - but sometimes it's super tender and flavorful & sometimes it's not. I noticed that they switch their fry brand, too, from time to time. Sometimes it's the thick, serrated fries, sometimes it's matchstick fries. I wish these Argentinians would make up their mind. LOL. A girl just wants to know what to expect. Especially a girl who has been loyal to this joint since 2001. I have to say, I miss the old spot (the one with an *actual* patio) on Twinbrook Pkwy. But, the new location has its perks: larger dining room, more space for the specialty groceries & wine. Sit near the front, though, if you're a data addict - there's no signal in the belly of this beast.
(3)
Scott B.
I have been to El Patio several times and the food is great. First off, this place is more of a cafe than a restaurant so don't expect a fine dining experience. But with that said the service I have had here has been adequate to pretty good. We were here for lunch on a beautiful Saturday and ate outside which was full. Our server was a friendly young guy who checked on us several times throughout our meal. I ordered a grilled flank steak with egg and a side of fries and a mixed salad. The steak was extremely tasty. The french fries were mediocre and the salad was equally unimpressive, but you do not come to this place for salad, you come for the meat! In prior visits I consistently order the steak milanese which is delicious. Their empanadas are also great. They also have good baked goods to purchase and take home as well as a good assortment of Argentinian wines. This is a great place to go for a tasty and fairly inexpensive lunch or dinner.
Yum! Cozy atmosphere, reminded me a lot of my study abroad in Argentina, including an outdoor dining patio. I had wonderful food that I haven't experienced since my trip; the queso y cebolla empanadas are fabulous! Portions and prices are phenomenal for the DC area. The wine list is extensive and incredibly reasonable; house wine $5/glass, and bottles are anywhere from $15-$30. ORDER DESSERT. The flan and bread pudding were excellent. The bread pudding was a huge portion. For $42 we had three empanadas, 2 entrees, 1 glass of wine, and two desserts. Can't beat it! Servers were kind and attentive; they speak English, but I suggest bringing your Spanish skills. :) The tienda portion of the restaurant sells even more reasonably priced wines, yerba matte, and other goodies from Argentina. We will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)
Donna C.
We went here to get some empanadas and ended up staying for dinner. I haven't really had Argentinian food before and I had a large portion of something that had steak and eggs. It was pretty good. The empanadas were okay too. We got a variety of flavors and was only disappointed with the spinach. The most interesting thing was that my bf and I seemed to be the only non-Argentinians there since they were all conversing in their native tongue to the waiters. Overall, it was a fine experience. I'd dine here again.
(3)
Raymond M.
My wife and I live very close to El Patio and have traveled past it on several occasions and always seem to forget that is there. We finally stopped by on Friday night and were overall pleased with our experience. The food was good. However - my steak and my wife's chicken were a touch on the questionable side (think take out mystery meat). The appetizers and side dishes made up for it though; sweet potato fries, empanadas and potato salad (probably the best that I've ever had) were all fantastic. When I went through some of the older reviews, I saw several negative comments about the service. I must disagree. When our waiter saw that I only ate about three bites of my steak he was very apologetic and sent a manager to inquire without any prompting. Overall it was a good experience. A small, one of a kind type place with something different to offer.
(4)
Jeff G.
El Patio is right across the street from my office, but I've avoided it for the better part of a year because I never saw anyone there. It's not that I don't like adventure in my food, it's just that I do not tend to trust places that have no clientele (it has to say something about their food...right???) Well, I gave in yesterday and tried it, and I'm happy to say that I'll be back again and again. The store is a combination Argentinian grocery and cafe. When you walk in, your confronted with glass display cases filled with tortilla (the Spanish kind that's like an omelet), quiches, empanadas, and Argentinian desserts. My mouth was literally watering after about two minutes of staring while we waited in line. I went with the old standby of empanadas, and I'm happy to announce that these beat the pants off of Julia's Empanadas. Not only are they fresh, but they actually have flavor and texture. The menu also includes the aforementioned items as well as grilled meats, sandwiches, and other platters. Because it's also an Argentinian grocery store, you can find an interesting selection of items from abroad. They boast the largest selection of Argentinian wine in the region, so I'm definitely going back to pick up a few bottles (assuming they're reasonably priced). You can also pick up those much needed spices and products for all the Argentinian dishes that you make at home (or plan to make). Overall, a good lunch spot or a great stop-off for an interesting dessert.
(4)
Lisa S.
Having just returned from 5 weeks in Argentina I rushed right over to this place. The food reminded of me what I had left behind, especially the empanadas and alfajores. I can't remember the meals that we had but they weren't anything great - although it did taste like what I had in many of the cafes in Buenos Aires. When you order a drink you get a small dish of nuts/chips just like the many bars/cafes in Argentina. I was very impressed with the grocery selection and will be back to get my fix.
(4)
Ilona C.
This is a great place to go if you miss Argentina. I had a vacio (steak) with rice and tomato salad with a nice, cold Quilmes and I was happy. The food isn't star quality but it was satisfying. What made me even happier was that they sold Alfajores and Malbec wine as well as copious amounts of Mate. The patio itself is pleasant, though the view is of streets. The service sucks, though, so don't come here if you are in a hurry.
(3)
Kate C.
OMG - How have I never gone in this place before? It is way too good. I adore the empandas ... but what really had me were the ham and cheese tea sandwiches that along with the squash was simply to die for....
(5)
Michael W.
This little restaurant/grocery store is a one of many nice options in the Rockville area. The ambiance is very nice and the place is usually full of people, eating some of the typical Argentine dishes. Although I am not a big fan of beef, their meat dishes look quite yummy and huge. I have gone there twice and in both occasions was quite happy with the food and service. The service is not bad and the only complaint I may have is that the food takes a while to arrive. Another couple positive points in this place are the small grocery that sell some very good Argentine wine and the pastry section. I think that El Patio is one of the few places in the DC area where one can find a large variety of pastries (both sweet and salty), I recommend getting some of the empanadas to go, since they are great snacks, cold or hot....yummy....
(3)
Chlo S.
Great food for everyone, no matter if you like to eat all parts of an animal or all parts of a vegetable. I would give this place 4 stars, but there is a "but". Everytime I go, service is horrible. Last week was horrendous- we got there right before the lunch rush and were attended to right away. 30 minutes later the appetizers came out- 2 were missing and 1 was wrong. 20 minutes later, shortly before the main course, we got the right appetizers. By the time we got our entrees the people who came in 20 minutes after us had already paid and left. The waiter seemed to be ignoring us on purpose, and helping everyone else but us. It's good food, but it's not worth the blood pressure.
(3)
patricia K.
great food, the choripan is out of control! you can get authentic argentine classics like dulce de leche and alfajores! great service, very casual yet warm and sometimes entertaining so far everything i've tried was worth the money (if not more) not expensive try the provoletta!
(4)
C.P. S.
El Patio is the best and really the only place for authentic Argentinean food in DC. Empanadas are mostly baked, although they also offer fried ones filled with beef and raisins, absolutely delicious. The choripan offers nice sausage with classic chimmichurri. The assortment of empanadas is deep, with chicken, ham, beef, cheese, spinach and corn. They also have sandwiches de miga - tea sandwiches on thinly sliced, white bread, typical in Buenos. Of course when describing Argentine gastronomy, to not mention the beef, would make this restaurant incomplete. Don't worry, they have beef a plenty. Murcilla (blood sausage, not my taste, but popular for some), vacio (lean flank steak), a full asado (barbecue with all sorts of cuts), lomo (tenderloin), and more cuts. The beef is flavorful and true to the cuts, but not swanky like a Steakhouse with white table cloth. Additionally, the milanesa and other non-parrilla dishes have lots to offer. Also on the menu they offer various Italian based items such as cannellonis and spaghetti. Canyones (puff pastry filled with dulce de leche) are a great treat with a coffee after enjoying all of previously mentioned food. The staff is courteous, helps to speak Spanish, but don't come in a hurry. To get the most from this place it helps to have visited Argentina in some way or go with a guide to make your experience better. I usually go for lunch on the weekends, and cannot speak to best times for dining there. They do a nice job with to go orders, but be sure to specify if you will be eating the empanadas, quiches etc. soon or plan to reheat at home. They also have catering service, but am not familiar with it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kendall G.
If I could only give half of a star as a rating, I would. Unfortunetly, my boyfriend and I decided to eat dinner here because the atmosphere looked nice and we wanted to sit outside. Mistake #1. The food was tasteless and cold. The service was horrible. I could go into more detail, however, I do not want to relive the experience. I really wanted to like the place but the food was just so terrible that I can't convince myself. The best thing on the menu are the Coronas, but if you ask for a lime, they give you a lemon.
(1)Mark D.
If you're a devout carnivore then this is the place to get your fill of Argentinian-grilled meat! The empanadas pale in comparison to Julia's, but the main dishes are fantastic. We got a grilled dish for two which came with chicken, pork, beef, and sausage. The tortas were equally tasty. It comes with two choices of sides...all for $35.00. Guaranteed to fill you up. Service was fantastic and if you're reminiscing about your last trip to Argentina...they have a mini-grocery store inside.
(4)Juan M.
Rude, rude, rude, very rude waiters. There is this particular one who will just push you if you are in his way. The food is mediocre and pricey, the market is astronomically pricey, and the hostess is an incompetent. I give this place 2 stars, though because they have an excellent wine selection which you can buy at the market. Otherwise forget about it. It looks as if bad service were part of the ambiance --oftentimes waiters in Buenos Aires restaurants are very obnoxious, too. This is one of the very few restaurants I would never go back to. I hate these guys...
(2)C J.
Our group went for lunch yesterday. I had stopped in briefly one night but didn't have time to eat. But really was intrigued. The empanadas were terrific. I also had the quiche. Which of course had a whole boiled egg in it. My colleagues food was equally as good. The chicken and rice especially. Our only complaint is the fries. It's also pretty reasonably priced.
(4)Esther W.
This is my first visit and I'm not feeling too keen to visit again. The boyfriend has raved about this place before since it's close to our jobs, and so I jumped at the chance to eat here when my co-workers Unfortunately, my first and next impressions were not favorable. There was no one to greet me and a co-worker when we arrived before the group. After a few mins, I walked up to the cash register, all the way inside the restaurant to request a table for 10. The lady never smiled and asked snarkily if I made a reservation. I looked around the restaurant saw only 4 people eating there and tons of empty tables and chairs. Really? Did I need to really make a reservation? When the group finally arrived, we waited about another 5 minutes for the servers to move tables together to accommodate 10. Who were we, a burden? I ordered empanadas, which were good, but the service was really slow and not friendly. Maybe the boyfriend can convince me to give it another shot another day, but at least now I know what to expect.
(2)Rita C.
I kind of don't want to post about this place because I want to keep it all to myself. This is such a vibrant little restaurant. The food is spectacular - last time we went, we just got one of each of the empanadas and made a meal of them. The tres leches is some of the best I've ever had and the restaurant is just really cozy (bonus - there is almost always a soccer match on one of the tvs). They even have live music some nights. Really, El Patio is perfect for a low key lunch or dinner no matter what day of the week you stop in.
(5)Nat B.
I called to make a reservation for the Mothers Day a day before. After putting me on hold several times and reasking me several times why am I calling I eventually made a reservation for 2pm for 5 people and they confirmed it. On the Mother's Day with all the family I call them to say we are 15 minutes late and the girl says they stopped taking reservations a week ago and she doesn't care what am I supposed to do because they don't have my reservation in the system and they are packed now. That ruined our whole day celebration because we were already in a car and we had to search for alternatives and call other restaurants on the go. If they mess up even with a reservation by putting rude and clueless people on the phone I can imagine how they mess up the rest of the service.
(1)Gabriel G.
I'd like to preface this review by noting the fact I've been to argentina many times. Having said that, this restaurant has a very authentic menu. I usually try to judge an Argentinian restaurant by the quality of the chimichurri. Top notch here. Empanadas, light and fluffy with argentine fillers. Churizo, not spicy like their Mexican counter parts but cooked to perfection. If you're able to request your own seating try to dine in Fernando's section. You will not find finer service. The prices are more than fair. The next time I'm in the DC area I hope to be fortunate enough to dine again with Fernando. Thanks!
(5)Maria A.
First time. My reservation was online. Came in alone. No welcome. No eye contact. No greetings. The attendant came look at the book asked for my name. My waitress was good and pleasant. The food was good but to pricey. I was expecting to hear in the background more argentine music player than american. I kill my curiosity. Will not come back.
(1)Mary C.
I've been here twice with groups. I want to return with family soon. They can handle groups easily and still make it seem like individualized service. The server looks you in the eye when you are ordering and helpfully suggests items if it appears you're unfamiliar with the food. At last the software industry has produced software that provides individual receipts for everyone in a group. (As long as you don't switch seats, you'll get an individual receipts for the chair you're sitting in.) The food takes center stage and is the star here. I'm a low carber, so the availability of a meat appetizer and steaks is much appreciated. One time I ordered the sausage appetizer and it was large enough to share with the 6 others at my table. It was prepared perfectly with a crunchy outside and well done inside. The combination of spices was perfect. The empanadas are popular and the native Argentinian in our group declared them to be authentic. I confess I begged a bit of one from someone who had shared my sausage. It made me almost cheat on my diet. So tender inside with a substantial filling. I've had 2 steaks here -- the flank steak and the t-bone -- both were offered to be done Medium and Well and Very well. I went with Medium both times. I think the flank steak is tasty enough to take to well or very well done, if that's your preference in meats. Rare and Medium Rare weren't offered. The grilled vegetables are quite nicely selected and grilled. You can get them steamed, but you will have to forego mushrooms if you do that. I got to taste their variation of french fried yams/sweet potatoes: cut into narrow slices, crunchy outside, soft inside. I noticed that salads came with lettuces that were crispy and green, not off-colored or too old. The most popular dessert for the groups I came with was the flan, a dessert I'd only willingly eat for the delicious sauce. I'm not a fan of flan, but all who ordered it loved it. I noticed that someone ordered something that was cut similar to a Napoleon. She did not offer to share bites of it and I did not hear what it was. Too tasty to share, I guess. There is a place to buy things in the back of the store.
(4)Connie Y.
It was first time I went and it'll be the last time I go. It would take free food to bring me back! First, I abhor restaurants that automatically charge 18% gratuity for parties greater than 6. I pay according to service and while you may disagree, if you look like you're about to spit in my food because I sent a sub-par dish back, then please quit your job and find one where you don't look like Bitter Betty and can manage your job happily. With that said, I sent my steak back twice and on the third attempt, they gave me a different steak!! I had ordered a NY strip and asked for it rare. Both the first and second attempts came back well-done and even one of the waiters agreed. They eventually gave up and just ordered a skirt steak for me. On a more positive note, the calamari was battered evenly and were quite crispy. Add a spritz of lemon for a tangy flavor! And the choripan, a grilled Argentinean sausage sandwich with chimichurri sauce, was a decent sandwich. I'm not sure if it was due to my unpleasant experience with the waiters or that I didn't order much Argentinean food, I've had better elsewhere. Link: elpatiointernational.com
(2)Fernando B.
worst Argentinan place ever, is a bakery, bar, retaurant at the same time, manager,owner is so rude with his employees, hw yells at them in of the patrons, waiters stare at you while u eat, food is so disgusting
(1)Marcela C.
I kind of wish that this little restaurant was closer to DC, but at the same time I'm glad that its isolation makes it feel so cozy. I've only been there twice and it's been great.. The waiters are funny, friendly and straight forward (something very latin american), and the food is great! The last time I went I shared a parrilla for two with a friend, but 3 people could have easily shared it... Believe me. I give them 4 stars, however, because I've been spoiled by many magical restaurants and, even though El Patio is great, it's far from magical. PS: I bought a jar of El Patio dulce de leche and it was so good that I finished it that same week. No regrets.
(4)Lillian C.
Update 2: Still, lomito proves itself to be the only thing worthwhile. Lomito, lomito, lomito completo con chimi por favor! The milanese is too thick and bland to be worth getting. The empanadas here are pretty mediocre- I know a Bolivian place that makes better empanadas than this place. The medialunas are interesting- not what I expected, but delicious nevertheless. I don't know if my SO ordered the wrong thing but what I got was essentially a flaky croissant with powdered sugar stuffed with DULCE DE LECHE. I couldn't eat these everyday the way I ate medialunas in buenos aires but it's a nice little treat if you like dulce de leche. Update: Ok ok ok, apparently the only thing good here are the sandwiches because when I went back for steak and pasta one time it was abysmal. My SO had the steak and I had a gnocchi with pieces of shredded flank steak and peppers on it. My gnocchi was intolerable- huge portions, but terrible. It was obviously pre-packaged gnocchi too (actually looks like the type they sell in their fridge too). The steak was painfully mediocre and rather bland. Funny enough it was kind of like eating at a subpar restaurant in Argentina (Ever order a steak in Iguazu? Don't. ) It's a bummer because I loved their lomito sandwich! The grilled chicken breast sandwich was not very good either. Just stick to the lomito and everything would be fine. Original review: Try the Lomito completo sandwich and ask for chimichurri on the side. It was so good I couldn't put it down to take a pic (it's not that photogenic anyways). I would have liked a little more spice in the chimichurri but I'm not complaining. Beef is very tender and not chewy despite being well done. It's actually a lot better and flavorful than the casual foods found in Buenos Aires. I'd rank this sandwich in my top 5 MoCo sandwiches (those that surpass this would be pastrami rueben, banh mi, and Max's falafel / schwarma). I haven't tried anything else yet but just browsing their case I'm dying to try a slice of their massive quiche, tortilla, or one of their pastries.
(3)Shawn M.
Kinda funny but a friend on Yelp had already reviewed this place before I ever knew about it and I went before I had read it. We were actually heading over to Second Story Books and Antiques when we stopped for lunch at the nearby Loeman's Shopping Center. Originally my father-in-law wanted to go to a now defunct deli that had been closed a while ago, but I saw this place and said "Hey, let's try this place because the Subway nearby has next to no seating". Glad I did, too. El Patio is a 'Argentinian' restaurant, but some of the food can actually be found in other South American countries as well. I admit to playing it safe by getting a grilled N.Y. strip steak because I had never experienced food from Argentina before, just Mexico and El Salvadore. I can tell you I wasn't disappointed in the result. Since I like my meat well done (the horror!) I can tell you that the steak was still juicy and full of grilled flavor. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water, and since I am at work that makes me look insane. Regardless, my one big discovery here was Chimichurri sauce. Wow, I had no idea what I was missing. Unlike the traditional use of just putting it on grilled meat, I used it on pretty much everything on my plate: that was how good it was. I was using is as bread dip more than for the meat, because at the time I didn't know that it was actually a type of steak sauce. However, I went home and researched it and now plan on using it correctly (and incorrectly on everything, don't judge me!). The service was excellent. We never had to ask for a single thing, as the waiter had everything quite in hand. In fact, we may make this a future Friday night outing (at which point we will make a reservation. At 2 PM on a Saturday, the place was packed!). So El Patio's food and service were not only top notch, but they very well may have introduced me to a new favorite food of mine.
(4)Ana B.
Im from Argentina and moved to the US five years ago. Yesterday I went to El Patio with friends to taste the typical meals from home and, unfortunately, I was very very very disappointed. It's a bad example of the argentinean food. The "Tarta de espinaca" (spinach quiche) was made with frozen spinach. The "sandwiches de miga" were stale. The "Parrillada para dos", which is a $50 dish of (supposedly) the typical meats you'll get in an argentinean bbq, was burnt (we asked for the meat to be done "medium"). The "Ensalada rusa" (potatoe salad) was very cold (obviously not fresh) and the mashed potatoes was a joke. The worse of it was the Torta milhojas: it was stale and incredibly dry (its supposed to have a good amount of dulce de leche, its not supposed to be that dry). However, it had some positive things: the prices are more reasonable than other argentinean restaurants and the empanadas were fairly similar to the ones you'll find in an Argentinean restaurant. Other than that, it was a waste of money and I was very sad to not be able to taste real argentinean food.
(2)Greg S.
First time there. Was impressed overall and the food was really fantastic! I like that they send updates on entertainment. I definitely will need to become a regular here.
(5)Skye A.
Unpleasantly surprised! Second time here, an awesome place to meet with friends while visiting the area. Unfortunately, the quality and authenticity of the food has changed. Milanesa sandwich, the thickness of the meat, was frustrating, as there was rarely any meet to bite into. Super thin, not what a milanesa sandwich needs to be. The chimichurri, now a red sauce, since when?, why make it super spicy, Argentine's are not about that, yet, we have flavor in our food. Red is not acceptable in such an amazing sauce. Service, clearly not on board with the menu, nothing like the last trip with the nice Argentine server that knew his stuff. So dissapointed! bring it back, or change your theme, clearly, this is not Argentine!
(2)Mai S.
We dined on a Friday evening. I highly suggest reservations because it was packed. Live music was playing which was a plus. Tried the choripan sandwich, I was expecting more. On the other hand, the carne salteada was delish! The meringue with dulce de leche was delicious as well.
(3)Julieta R.
I thought I wouldn't find a good Argentinian place until I found El Patio. Awesome empanadas and pastry. Grilled meats are also good to try. They also sell some Argentinian & Uruguayan products. Its also a good place to watch the Boca games!
(5)Rodolfo S.
great argentinian restaurant. the place is always full and i recommend to make a reservation. try the parrilla for two
(5)Matt N.
Good food and a nice atmosphere. Not very many people there when I went in for lunch, but the staff was super nice and attentive.
(4)Abdul T.
Never been here before , I was standing at the front door to be seated for ten mins as the hostess looks at me and my kids while she is putting away menus ... And then walks away and then a family walks in a party of 4 and she seats them immediately .. So my kids and I walk out and it bothered me a lot so I called and asked for the manager and asked them if they only cater to Argentinians ... She said no and then told her what happened all she said was thanks for letting us know and said next time it would not happen .. I said your right because I would never come back .. Have a great night ..... Poor customer service .. Don't recommended any one to go here if your not Argentinian !!!!
(1)Jason F.
This place is the best! These are all my favorite dishes, and I cycle through them all. Specials el patio Sautéed steak el patio served with a choice of rice, french fries or mashed potatoes Sautéed chicken w/ tomato Sauce, sliced onions, green and red peppers and garlic. Served on top of rice or french fries Sautéed flank steak and sausage with jalapeños, french fries, eggs, olives, onions and garlic The owner and his wife are lovely people, and very friendly. The staff is fast, friendly, and courteous. Sometime they have live music, and it's very fun! They also have delicious pastries ( if you want to indulge! ) Support local business, and try this place out! I hope one day to find Lionel Messi inside! =)
(5)Ronald I.
So delicious! The empanadas are ridiculously addictive. I get them to go, and all you have to do is heat them up. Everything here is really really good. Just try it once and you will be hooked!
(5)Stephen P.
I brought a date there last night and was really looking forward to 'El Patio' but ended up being disappointed. Though the restaurant was not crowded, the waiter seemed to be in a rush. He asked if we wanted to order appetizers before we were comfortable in our seats and before either or us had even touched our menus. I politely said, "We need a minute, thank you". The waiter took me literally and returned in about 60 seconds, before we even had an idea of what we wanted. I hurriedly ordered pollo empanadas as an appetizer. The waiter accepted my order, then returned shortly and told me the restaurant was out of chicken empanadas, so I substituted a Choripan sandwich as an appetizer. For the main entree, I ordered Grilled Tilapia and my date ordered Breaded Steak. There was live music, an Argentinian guitar player, who was pretty good as a musician but totally looked like he did not want to be there. We did not see him smile or look at the patrons once. The dinner arrived BEFORE the appetizer and I got to thinking the waiter did not understand I had ordered an appetizer, which was fine with me because the Tilipia dinner was a good size portion. (The appetizer did arrive a short time later). The Tilipia was satisfactory but nothing special. I ordered a side dish of onions and tomatoes. The tomatoes were bland and tasteless, like those carton tomatoes you might find at Safeway in February. My date's breaded steak did not taste fresh. She asked me to taste it to see what I thought. To me, it tasted like Stove Top Stuffing on cardboard. My date ate 20% of it and we had the rest boxed up. I will give it to a feral cat that comes to my house looking for scraps. The Choripan sandwich tasted good but the roll was chewy and bland, which surprised me because this restaurant has its own bakery. After dinner, while my date and I were having a serious conversation, the waiter charged up, positioned himself between us, and used his hands to make the "Time-Out" sign. We stopped talking and were kind of stunned. The waiter asked us if we wanted dessert. It was more awkward than rude (we declined dessert). All things considered, the food was average and the service made us feel stressed rather than relaxed. Looking at most of the reviews, it seems that most patrons enjoy this restaurant, but my experience left me with a bad taste, literally, and I will not return.
(1)Tara B.
First time here. Visited dollar tree next door. Prices are cheaper than anticipated. I ordered the grilled tilapia and my hubby ordered New York Strip steak. Delicious! I will be coming back. Great customer service and there was a band playing music live.
(4)Adi G.
Awesome awesome AWESOME empanadas!!!! They label them so you know which is filled with what!My favorite place for them! Everything else I've ever had here is super good, too, and I've been coming here for almost 7 years. Great service and atmosphere, love this place!!
(5)Jason C.
Most of the reviews on El Patio have been written on the food. There's no doubt that should be the case because El Patio is a restaurant. I will not contest the yelp ratings on the food. I've tried several meals here at lunch and dinner and my ratings would be in line with the yelp crowd. That being said, I haven't seen any review on yelp go into detail about the wines. I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. Towards the back of the restaurant, El Patio carries a sizable number of Argentinian wines. You can purchase these to go or purchase them with your meal. In my opinion, as a whole, these wine selections are the best you can get for the price in a MoCo restaurant/wine shop. Details: 1. Their shelves are filled with Malbecs and Cabernets that received a "legit" 89-91 points (legit in the sense that my palette tells me it's a true 89-91 point wine and not some fudged ratings by the magazines b/c of favoritism or politics) by Wine Advocate and International Wine Cellar at price ranges that go from about $11-$21 a bottle. 2. Prices are very reasonably marked up for a restaurant (10-30% above total wine's price but you have to remember this is a restaurant) 3. The selections were picked quite carefully for great selections In the MoCo area, I can't think of one place that sells a sizable number of wine selections where I can go in blind and pick anything out at ~$10 and have a very enjoyable bottle of red wine. That being said there are two caveats: 1. Malbec or Cabernet for your red. That's pretty much your selection (although they have around ~40 different malbecs and cabernets. 2. Slightly bitter taste. I like Spanish/South American wines. However, many find this repulsive and would much rather have the creamy California reds. If this is your preference, you should stay away. On a final note, I find the decor and atmosphere to be very charming (as LIbby F put it) and the live music on the weekend makes it an extremely pleasurable place to shop for wine at night on the weekends. I mean, where can you hear live music while picking out great bottles of wine! If you get the opportunity, buy, drink, and enjoy!
(5)Chabi B.
This place fills a hole in my dining desires. Asado, wine, and Rock En Espanol. How can you go wrong? Well there is one way, my blood sausage came out a bit cold on the inside (I am assuming it had been pre-made and recooked), but the steaks were great. I asked for 2 malbecs which they didn't have in stock, but they got me another that was also great. Frankly, this place just felt Argentine--somehow friendly and bombastic at the same time. And I was able to choose not just taragui, but pajarito as well! And they have pan on sale for tostadas!
(4)B H.
I am impressed stopped here on a whim. Just for wine and dessert. Reasonably priced, big open feel, live music great wine selection especially. Of malbec . Looks like pastries and wine is also to go. We will Def. Be back out likely regulars maybe for breakfast tomorrow.
(5)Stuart W.
The service wasn't good, the food was average really. The empanadas didn't seem cooked enough and my steak was too fatty. What are really good are the cakes in the back of the shop. I'd go back to get some of them, but not to eat.
(3)Amber Z.
I went there to get some small items to go. I got an alfajor, which was delicious. I also got one of each of their empanadas. They had two kinds of beef, corn, spinach, chicken, and ham and cheese. The spinach shell was flakier than the rest, and really good. The beef were my favorite. They are on the small side, but only $1.80 each. They heated them up, but they still weren't warm enough, so we heated them more when we got home. While we were waiting I got a house red, which was a good cabernet for $5.50, so good deal. I also got some crackers and they have all kinds of other dried goods and frozen foods that are specialty Argentinian goods. The restaurant seems to have a nice ambiance as well.
(3)Lorena M.
Being originally from South America, I am always craving for authentic food from the South Cone. So when I first heard from the "hidden gem" El Patio, I did not think twice to give the coffee/deli shop a try. My family and I had been going to El Patio since 2006 and the service was quite nice, but it was not until they moved to their current location over Randolph Rd that their service started to decline. Back in July 2013, I received a terrible service while placing a carry out order at El Patio. The cashier, who is the owner by the way, cut me off to answer her cellphone and walked away as if I was not even there. I know, I should had walked out right away, but I was ordering a specific dish that no other restaurant in the area seems to carry. After being on the phone for a few minutes, the lady walked back to the register and proceeded to take my order with a terrible attitude. I took a sit near the wine rack and started reading the wine labels. Once my order was ready, the lady approached my table and let go of the box. The noise startled me. I could understand that she might had a bad day, but that was no excuse to mistreat a customer. I originally wrote this review on their facebook page, but they took it down shortly after. I noticed that their facebook page only features good reviews, and they take down any review that complains about their services. I decided to give El Patio a chance to redeem themselves and went back with a friend in June 2014. The experience was uncomfortable, to say the least. First, the waiter tried to be funny by trowing jokes from left to right, and some of his jokes were border line inappropriate. Let me clarify that I am South American and I am used to the straight-forward-in-your-face sense of humor, but this was something else. We ordered our food and asked for separate check. The food took longer than it would usually take at most places, which made us think the dishes were being prepared from scratch. However, when our food arrived it was lukewarm, flavorless, and clearly not made from scratch. Not once did our waiter come by our table to ask how things were going or even offer to refill our drinks. Since our waiter vanished, we asked another waiter for the check, and lo and behold our waiter reappeared with his border line jokes and a single check. When we asked him for our separate checks, he said he forgot but we should write down which item was for each person. We wrote our initials next to each of our items and handed our cards, but he refused to process the bill. He asked us to do the math, including tax, for each of us because he had too many tables to tend and didn't have time to run the math at the machine. All I can say is that El Patio seems to try to run a restaurant with a coffee shop attitude. There is a lot of room for improvement!
(2)Wesley Y.
Awesome Empanadas, Chorizos good, Cappucinos good, everything was awesome with this place. Fairly priced! The patio is super small but the inside decor is beautiful. I sat in the bar area and it was very cute. The place is a grocery store too and they have TONS of bottles of wine! They offer half priced bottles on wednesdays. The empanadas have different sizes and are very well priced at 1.7/2.7. I came here for a quick cappucino but ended up staying for an hour and a half. There is no free wifi here =( so thats a downer. I definitely want to come back for some entrees because I've never had Argentinian food before. The bottles of wine are very cheap compared to other restaurants near by. Definitely a great place to check out. Awesome place to take someone on a date too! It's definitely a very cute restaurant!!!!!!
(4)Carrie R.
Good food, terrible service. I loved this place when it was a small deli style place off of Rockville Pike. Since they moved to Randolph Road, they expanded the menu- very South American style and awesome, but the service is terrible. It takes forever for the waiter to even come and take the order, and the dishes come out one by one so your party either waits for the food to get cold, or each member eats separately. We've had this experience more than once. The last time we spent an hour there and my husband's plate never arrived. We finally asked for it "to go" and even that took 10 minutes. The good news- the food is good. The Argentinian empanadas are so delicious, the Argentinian wine selection is terrific and the coffee and desserts are tasty. I really love this place and want it to do well. I love the idea of a South American restaurant (we have plenty of Central American restaurants!), but they need to get their act together or they won't be around for long.
(3)Andrea M.
The menu is authentic Argentine. If you've never been to Argentina, try empanadas, chorizo, and pretty much all the grilled meats. Molleja is an Argentinean delicacy- veal's thymus- which is also worth trying with lemon juice. Excellent sweets as well. The service can be very good, or ok, depending where how busy they are. We never had major problems, though.
(4)Reggie N.
Wow. This is one of my new favorite resaturants in the DC Area. I've been to El Patio when it was just a cafe, and I thought it was good. Now that's it's a full service restaurant, I absolutely love it. Great steak. Great prices. Nice atmosphere. I only had one dish but will write more after I try a couple more--as I'll definitely return.
(5)Fernando Y.
Kitchen:very slow,long waiting for the food!!!! Service: teenager waiters unprepared for the job.they forget to take your order to the kitchen. Food: frozen cold empanadas ! Uuugghhhhh!!!! Bad experience !!
(1)Sharon R.
I used to really like this place a few years ago. I've had a few of their dishes and they were all tasty and authentic (such as empanadas and asado). The service was always friendly too and the prices not too bad for an Argentinian restaurant in Rockville. The last few times my family has gone though the meat didn't taste great, and the last (probably forever) time everyone in the party got sick from it; probably from the meat not being fresh.
(1)Tim H.
Interesting, unique place. Some issues when I went for dinner but will give it another try and update. My experience of Argentina amounts to two weeks sometime when I was in college, but upon arriving El Patio did have a distinct Buenos Aires feel to it, which was fun and nostalgic. The food was a little mixed. There were few really standout vegetarian options but there was no shortage, so no complaints. Argentinian food is almost exclusively meat based so I was happy for what was available. We got a variety of somewhat smaller dishes (some appetizers, a cold plate, and a few other things) which were filling and satisfying. The cold plate was a bit of a downer--everything was okay, nothing really grabbed me--but the quiche was dy-no-mite. It was clear though that the meat dishes are where the action is. C'est la vie! There were service issues. Our server was a really young guy, who was as composed and professional as he could muster, but just not experienced at all. So there was cork in the wine, empty water glasses, no silverware, and a few other things. I don't exactly blame him given how young he appeared to be but why was he working dinner on a Friday night? Give the guy a little more training. But really we had a good time. The live two-person band was really good and not at all intrusive. The wine list had some choices that would probably be hard to find elsewhere. The prices were also spot on with the quality (excepting the service issues). In general, worth a try, especially for carnivores.
(3)Crystal J.
Food is good; service is terrible. We had to flag our waiter to get the basics (water, wine, and the check).
(1)Anita W.
I think that if you are a steak-lover, you would have an entirely different opinion of this Argentinian restaurant. I can't have milk and don't like steak, which left very little on the menu I could eat, most of it boring and hardly distinguishable from American food. I went to the restaurant when a friend recommended the empanadas, but when I asked the server, he said the dough contain milk, so I was out of luck. It's a cute restaurant for a strip mall on the Silver Spring/Rockville border, and they have live music at night, and the servers are extremely attentive and nice. I just didn't find any food I liked, so I probably won't go back.
(2)Massiel G.
I came back and tried the steak saltado and it's soooo amazing love it we had a different waiter she was nice. And the food was amazing !!! We came back yesterday as well had another server was very slow he was very nice but it just took to long for everything that's why I can give it a 5 stars but overall the food amazing very good and live music it so nice you don't get that in many places. Their mashed potatoe are soooo good enjoy it and there mango drink :-)
(4)Big K.
Gotta give this place 5 stars considering that I have been to Argentina regularly, and specifically Tucuman which is where the owner is from. The food is on point and they have everything you might ask for (***Empanada Tucumana is not a true Tuc Empanada***). Keep it simple, get an asado dish, choripan, milanesa, and empanadas. Super mega! Everything sweet is on point too with dulce de leche on just about everything. If you are a true Argentine you will love the wine selection, mostly Malbec. They also have a little grocery store where you can buy traditional stuff from the motherland. Im talking the products you grew up with in the house. Serioulsy love this place and everything they offer. I would recommend getting a Lomito. Such a can't miss item. Place in classy and clean too.
(5)Helen B.
Great Argentine beer quilmes! The key to this restaurant is knowing what to get. If you get simple things like empanadas, choripanes or steaks, you will love it. If you order more elaborate dishes you will not be satisfied. If you understand the limitations, you will have a great experience!
(4)Eugene H.
cheap lunch specials are pretty solid! sausage and empanada combo is the way to go!
(4)Joel B.
I'd give it more like 3.5 stars since the first visit was better. First time I loved this place. Drove from Falls Church, VA and thought it was worth it. I couldn't wait to come back to this place. The second visit wasn't as good but still I feel it's a nice place just not for me to drive all the way there.
(4)Adrian C.
As soon as you arrive to this place, ask for Ricardo, the best waiter in town. Food is great, except for pizzas (never ask for it). Matambre is delicious and also the Argentinian Parrillada. Chairs are no comfy and it is a little dark in door. Very good desserts! Still, everything is great due to this great and professional waiter, Ricky.
(4)Cameron B.
El Patio used to be about 4 blocks from my office building. Sporting the only real outside dining (besides Hooters) in the area it was the go-to location on beautiful spring afternoon or during a world-cup match! They always greeted you with a smile, had several South American brews in the bottle and even a little grocery area to pick up supplies to try to recreate their delicious empanadas! What they lacked in speed and ambiance they made up for in hearty portions of chicken fried steak cutlets, with an egg on top and a side salad that would bust your gut and induce the mid-day work-nap! I was loyal to them, they moved, and the corner represents the emptiness they left in my heart! I miss you El Patio!
(4)Daniel S.
Lets talk about the cameras in this place first. My wife and I felt like we were in prison in this tiny place with the 6 cameras we counted (we stopped at 6 but there appeared to be more towards the back of the restaraunt/wine shop/bakery/whatever they wanted this place to be). I can appreciate being a little paranoid but I didn't appreciate being on 4 cameras simultaneoulsy while I ate my food, with 2 sets almost pointing at each other on the opposite walls. If they felt they needed that many cameras to get multiple angles on people eating their food, then they should have tried to disguise the cameras a little more versus mounting them all in plain sight. I ordered the NY Strip steak sandwhich, which was more expensive than their normal steak sandwhich. I wasn't asked for a cooking temerature which was a little odd since my wife was for her hamburger, and when I got the sandwhich the meat was tough with large chunks of fat on it. If this tough steak is the NY Strip, I would hate to see what the regular cheaper one was like (I.E. I don't think I got the version I paid extra for), and they should have cut off the large chunks of fat hanging on the side of the meat that I didn't see until I bit into the sandwhich and had to spit them out. I was not impressed with this sandwhich, and would say the same even if I had paid the the cheaper version rate. My wife's hamburger came out undercooked and had absolutely no flavor. And by no flavor I mean my wife had to put salt, pepper, and ketchup on it to make it edible, and she never salts or peppers hamburgers and only sometimes ketchup! It's inexcusable to create a flavorless hamburger and shows there was no tasting or quality control. The staff there didn't really seem to care or check in until it came close to paying the bill (and tip) and then they were extra attentivie and smiles saying they hoped we really liked the food (which was a little late at that point). My wife and I will never be back again.
(1)J.p. C.
Came here with my friend to have brunch, our server hazel was amazing ask for her when you go. Food wise we had empanadas, sausages, blood sausages and tira de asado ( short ribs). Myself had lentejas ( lentis with bacon) which was way to salty even tho they prepared a new one still salty. The manager didn't come to see if everything was ok nor say something about the plate.
(4)Moco's Chubby C.
Strong Menu
(5)A M.
I've gone twice. For one, this place is really nice inside. the music is a little dated (meaning it's the pop of the 2000s not the 2010s in the latin world) but that's just a small knock. The decor is nice, just a pretty place on the inside that does provide a sense of some other world. Foodwise, the first time was great. I had a tortilla, an espresso coffee and an empanada. The espresso was "ok" but the tortilla and empanada were great! I also saw what others ordered and was excited - all of their meals looked beautiful and smelled delicious. The 2nd time was all empanadas and another tortilla. This time the tortilla was a little burnt and sadly the empanadas weren't at the same level. Moral of the story - don't do take out and don't order an espresso! You'll have a nice time by going here and enjoying it. Four stars for dining in, two stars for take out.
(4)Abegail A.
Just please don't (go here). I pass by everyday after work and this place is usually always crowded (inside and their outside patio). Must be delicious, right?! Wrong! We had their Parallada para Dos which included two grilled beef short ribs, two pieces of flank steak, two chicken drum sticks, two pieces of Argentinean sausage, two pieces of morcilla (blood sausage), sweet-bread, one long ass piece of chinchulines (pig intestines) and two small sides (we had the fries and tomato/onion salad). All this for $35.75. Great deal in terms of the amount of food you get, but the food itself, that's a different story. The beef short rib and flank steak was semi-tough and were flavorless. The drum sticks, not bad...but who can screw up a drumstick?! The Argentinean sausage seemed like it was cooked too long. Sweet bread...this bread was supposed to be sweet?! Could have fooled me! This tasted like plane bread to me. The morcilla and chinchulines...you think I'm really going to eat that?! The fries were decent and the tomato/onion salad was a poor excuse for a salad. Bleh! I wish I took my $35.75 and went somewhere else instead. **A coworker has also brought in some of their empanadas before (beef, ham/cheese, and spinach). Where's the filling at?! Evidently not in these empanadas! They were just smeared with a little a bit of filling and are pretty much just bread. Don't waste your $1.60 on these!
(2)paul s.
El Patio, in "Loehmann's Plaza" on Randolph Road, is a breath of fresh air: a small place that narrowly focuses on a regional cuisine (Argentinian) and just about nails it. My lunch today at 11 bucks, (before tip) was something approaching the perfect meal: a big bowl of chicken vegetable soup, a wedge of spinach quiche and a quilmes argentinian beer. The soup was delicious with a real home-made flavor and big chunks of potato in it. The spinach quiche is about 98% cooked spinach and is held together with very little egg and no cheese that I could see, and yet somehow it manages to be awesome. A very unique dish. The tray of freebie empanadas-on-a-toothpick on the main counter was a nice touch too. I had no problem with the service. A little slow, yes, but if that's the way they roll in Argentina, then I'll wait.
(5)Cindy L.
You know that feeling when you eat something unsatisfying and you're full and then sadness sinks in b/c you didn't leave room for something else much more delectable? Yea, this is the place. Service is beyond terrible. They added 18% tip to a party of 4. i wanted to ask the waitress "why are you like this?!" I had the Bistec con morrones, cebolla y tomate servido con Arroz y huevo frito (Steak with red peppers, onions and tomatoes served w/rice and a fried egg) Egg was almost not cooked, completely bland overall, messy -- rice was that crap weird-smelling yellow kind with some peas & carrots Argentine Barbeque for Two Grilled Short Ribs Beef, Flank Steak, Argentinean Sausages, Morcilla, Sweetbread, Chinchulines short ribs ...meh flank steak...overdone morcilla...sticky and gelatinous sweetbread...ew. chinchulines = tripe = i don't go there i was so sad.
(1)Jen F.
El Patio is an Argentinian restaurant and store in one. The little store has fresh pastries, boozes, teas, candy bars, etc. Lots of impulse buys to be made. The food was average. The meat plate for two was (as you probably guessed) a heaping pile of assorted meats. Included was chicken, steak, regular sausage, blood sausage, some intestines... ordered it medium but it was more like well-done. I say this plate was average because while it offered a nice variety, it could have been better (e.g. if the meats were juicier, more flavorful). Maybe it's just the herbivore in me talking... The ham and cheese empanada was alright as well. The house wines were actually really good. I loved the savignon blanc. The setting was perfect for a summer night. I came here on a Friday evening and sat outside. There was live music (nothing loud or obnoxious- just some relaxing Spanish tunes). I'd come here again but order something else. And I'd try a pastry. :)
(3)Jackie Z.
The torta de pollo and torta the choclo were good. Also had the empanada de jamón y queso, which I preferred to the empanada de pollo. The empanadas were on the small side. Overall is was a good dining experience. It is a nice change to have South American cuisine.
(3)Courtenay M.
I've been to Argentina 3 times in the last few years and have tried all the famous Parillas in Buenos Aires including La Cabrera, Desnival, La Brigada etc etc and upon entering El Patio I got a great authentic vibe. The service was good all the through the meal, no complaints there. The appetizers were good and we sampled several types of empanadas along with the sweet bread, morcilla (blood sausage) and provelata. All good and well made. Of course the key to any neighborhood Parilla is the meat, this is where there were issues. Half the party got the milanesa (chicken and beef) and the rest got steak. The milanesa were good and authentic, fries and salads with salsa golf were good too, the steaks were not. I know the key to an Argentine steakhouse is the argentine beef which tastes so distinctive and is not available in the US. Uruguayan beef is available and tastes nearly identical, they should switch to that because the beef was tough and flavorless, not at all what we were expecting. If I was judging based on the beef alone I would give it 1 star, the rest was great. Deserts were good and the overall experience was good but I'm not sure I would get steak there again,mwhich is too bad.
(3)Sandy M.
pretty medioche for what they try to be. We dined here because my son has been to Argentina several times and was longing to have some authentic Argentinian food. the appetizers and tapas were good. the salad and steaks were terrible Bad tough poorly cooked steak (not typical of Argentina where grilled beef is their thing) The breaded beef and chicken dishes were fine. Desserts were fair. Some were dry and the crepes were like rubber. Coffee was good. It's a mixed bag. Tread cautiously.
(2)Alicia K.
I had a nice experience here. The restaurant is a good size, and there was no wait when my fiance and I stopped by on a whim. I think our server started to speak to us in Spanish and then when she realized we were better at English, she switched over for us. Most of the people around us were speaking Spanish to their servers which made it feel very authentic, but I also appreciated that speaking English was A-OK. She was very friendly. You can get a variety of foods (sandwiches, meats, pastas, all of which sound authentic but I am a dumb American and really have no idea) here at various prices. My fiance asked for a water, which came carbonated, which I would expect overseas. I'm not complaining since this is an Argentinian restaurant, just unexpected for us. Our meals were tasty, though I can't say super memorable. Overall we had a positive experience here, and would come back if we were in the area.
(3)Steven S.
Whenever I am in Rockville, I gotta have my El Patio fix. Yummy pastries from their pastry case - empanadas, and caramel sweets. The actual lunch/dinner menu is impressive and tasty. Anything with meat is fine with me! Potato salad is remarkable unique and tasty. French fries are nothing to be proud of, but hey, when aren't french fries good? I've had the short ribs, breaded meat with cheese on top, and other steaks. Just delicious! Oh - and do not forget the caramel filled churros! Served hot and YUMMY!
(5)Tyson L.
This place could have been so much better, so much potential. Argentinean food in the suburbs, with outdoor seating and an eclectic ethnic grocery inside. But it just doesnt satisfy. I hardly knew this place existed and was looking forward to trying it as my cousin mentioned a Argentinean joint in Rockville. Turns out I've passed by this place countless times. So what do you order at an Argentinean restaurant? Empenadas and meat and a glass of malbec. I forget which empenadas we got but they were basically cold in the middle. Like they were just reheated.... but WTF! how can you serve it cold inside? Secondly, we get a meat dish, the name I dont remember but its in their specialties list. It LOOKS great. Take a bite out of the meat, eh... over done and chewy. No way to salvage this review. The glass of malbec was fine... nothing notable tho. This place just didnt deliver.
(2)J R.
This place is fantastic. I love it. I had the steak milanese with eggs on top. I always get the egg.
(4)Tom D.
Che pibe! OK -- so yesterday I went to Pizzeria Zero and it made me miss Argentine food. Today, I walked out of a client meeting and saw a sign that read Argentine cafe across the street. I hesitated because I didn't want to be disappointed yet again in 24 hours. Good news. The empanadas are good. They also make their own alfahores and other Argentine desserts.....and sell goods from Argentina. I will be back for Milanesa! Also need to try the Argentine style ribs..... The only thing missing was good gelato and Charly Garcia.
(3)Andrew K.
Really good empanadas, te helado, y pupusas - and personalized service - for muy barato. It's a dive and not worth a trip from D.C., but fun when you're off the beaten path; a good alternative to Bob Evan's or some other god-awful chain.
(3)Nikki C.
While I really enjoy El Patio, the Argentinian people at my work seem to feel like it's not "authentic". No worries though, because I consider "delicious" to be more important. As everyone else says, the empanadas are good. Although I've found this is one of the places where saying "what's the best thing on the menu/what would you recommend?" works really well. Some of the complaints in other reviews seem to be cultural. Someone mentioned that it took a while to get a check, but that's because they don't interrupt your table every five minutes to ask you questions that you don't want to answer. It's easy to make eye contact and flag them down, and then you get to eat in peace. And of course the empanadas are tiny - they are like $1, and a puff pastry with meat is not a meal in Argentina. Meals generally involve some vegetables too! The staff is clearly close knit, and you can tell they have a great relationship with their regular customers. Also a great place to watch the World Cup this year :) I've probably stopped by once a month, occasionally just for an evening beer, and I love the atmosphere, food, and people.
(4)Danny M.
When it comes to Argentinean restaurants I have a very specific point of reference to which I always allude - a certain psuedo zen-like state of mind that I think about every time I eat Argentinean food, and that is this: About a year ago I was in Puerto Iguazu. I had just spent a full day at the majestic Iguazu falls and concluded the day by eating amazing food and drinking amazing wine outside on a quiet street in the city. THAT was my ideal situation. THAT is what I would give 5 stars, and although I dont remember the name of that restaurant, it was fantastic nevertheless, and the ambiance, the fun I had, and the food I ate all contributed to the experience. El Patio is the closest thing that comes to me reaching that. Is it fair for me to compare the two experiences? Perhaps not, but this is my review and I am sharing my thoughts through my words. The food at El Patio was great. I had the Parrillada (basically an entire slaughterhouse on a platter). The meat was juicy and cooked well, the intestines were very chewy (as they are supposed to be), and the house wine was dry and bitter (just as I like it). The salad was all right, but trust me, a South American salad is practically an oxymoron The service was friendly and wonderful, and the Paraguayan music was soothing (perhaps i'm biased because I'm half-Paraguayan, but it was still really cool). The empanada was a tad cool but still delicious. That said, if I could give El Patio 4.5 stars I would. It doesnt quite match the best I've ever had, but hey, where else can I get my Yerba Mate, good wine, good food, and good music on a nice Friday night?
(4)Maria L.
Argentinian cuisine- sounded awesome, so my friend and I tried it. We ordered at the counter, then took a seat. I noticed my friend getting antsy and asked what was wrong- I hadn't realized it was a full 45 minutes since we had ordered- and because there is no wait-staff, no one knew that our order had been misplaced! When we inquired about our order, we didn't even get an apology! The food was bland and just average. When we left, we looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Never again."
(2)Nicole L.
I've been a patron since they opened in 2001. They are relocating but the last time my family visited here they weren't sure where they were relocating to. This place has some good and bad qualities but I may be somewhat bias since I'm half Argentinian. First of all, if you are ordering some sort of steak dish, be sure to ask for extra chimmichurri because they are stingy. Which is surprising because it's a must in Argentina. Growing up we always had a batch of fresh, home made chimmichurri in the fridge. I usually order the mealanesa sandwich or the carne salteda with mashed potatoes. The empanadas are good but my Tia Eva puts their beef empanadas to shame. If you're ordering emapanadas, be sure to get the cheese and onion. The ham and cheese tea sandwiches are on point though. Please be sure to get some pastries from the counter before leaving. They are the ish and made there in their bakery. Some of the best dulce de leche ever! I can't leave there without eating the dulce de leche crepes (on the dessert menu). OMG I'm salivating at the thought!! Yes, the service is slow but I want people to remember two things. One, they prepare their food fresh as oppose to throwing a pre-made meal in a microwave like so many chain restaurants. Second, practically every other country besides America likes to enjoy their meal; slowly; and let it digest between courses. They also have authentic good to purchse from wine, snacks and Argentina paraphanillia. They also show ALL AFA games on their many TV screens. So many good memories here with my fam. O yea, my brother and my cousin ordered some sort of dish with all kinds of meat piled on it and they tore it up. Even the dreaded pig intestines and blood sausage. They loved all of it!
(4)Dee B.
Recently went to El Patio for the first time for an office birthday lunch. The birthday boy is Colombian and wanted MEAT. Here's my rundown on the place... The good: -Nice patio -The empanadas. Yum! I tried two - a chicken and a beef, and both were very tasty. -The cappucinos. -The ham, egg, cheese torta I ordered was good. -Two of my co-workers shared the enormous meat platter, and they loved it. The bad: -Sloooow service. We were there for close to 2 hours! Mostly seemed like an issue of not having many people working, and maybe even the kitchen not being big enough. Our food came out bit by bit. Do not come here if you are in a hurry! -Some of the food was not so great. One co-worker had the steak sandwich, and she complained it was just bland and tasteless. Another had a chicken dish which was also on the bland side. -I saw a woman at another table order the spinach and egg torta. Turns out that - as opposed to quiche, where the ingredients are all mixed and intermingled - this contained a hard-boiled egg and lots and lots of spinach around it. Certainly not something that would appeal to me, and the woman who ordered ended up leaving most of it uneaten. So, this is a place I'd stop by for a cappucino or empanadas on a lazy afternoon, but I doubt I'd return for a meal.
(3)Jeff S.
Really good food. I'd never had Argentinian food before, so I was impressed. They also have a whole bunch of authentic Argentinian deserts and baked goods that you can get after dinner or for takeout. But... really, really bad service. Our waiter went on his break for 20 minutes while we were eating. And judging by the other reviews, the bad service is typical. I would have given this place a 4 or 5 if not for that...
(3)Brian K.
Hello Yelppers. I wanted to try something new and decided to meet some friends at this place in Rockville. I ordered the Argentine BBQ for Two. Let me tell you this. If your one of those types that wouldn't mind trying something new but afraid you would be right about all the negative things of an establishment/food. WELL THIS PLACE IS IT. 1) The waitress sucked. The only time she came by was ordering food, dropping it off and giving us the check. No hello, refills or anything that could resemble a good/great service. I can understand its all about service if you pay for it but when you automatically charge us the 18% service fee for 4 people I would expect some service. 2) The food seemed either overcooked or had been sitting out from a previous order that nobody wanted and reheated. Short ribs - DRY/Burnt Flank Steaks - DRY Morcilla - I don't remember eating Sweetbread - Nothing sweet about it. Chinchulines - I'm no Andrew Zimmerman but I tried it. It tasted like $hit. I'm sorry if I offend anyone about their culture or food. I really enjoy tripe in soups and all but WOW this tasted disgusting. Have you ever ate anything by accident with the cellophane wrapper still on it? Well that's as close as I can describe it minus the GOD AWFUL after taste. I understand that I could have asked for a refund or something new but i\I'm not those types to make things difficult or cause a scene. I'll pay for what I order and if I like it I'll come back. Pro's: Really? Please read the review. Con's: Is there a limit of characters for this post? Bottom line. I don't mind paying to find out if I ever want to go to that place again. I think this is probably on my top 5 list of never to go. I hope you have a better experience with food at this place but I'm sure that my friends and I will NEVER go back.
(1)Chris H.
Food was delish, service attentive, wine very good,noise level fair and prices affordable. I'll be back.
(4)Monica W.
Love the food as well as the ambiance (not to mention that the prices are very reasonable). The portions are more than enough - in fact we took some home. I ordered the Grilled Fish in a Blue Cheese Cream with pieces of bacon served w/ fries and a vegetable medley - simply delicious! My mother ordered the Grilled New York Strip, Fried Sweet potatoes sticks, and a vegetable medley, which she thoroughly enjoyed. For dessert, we ordered (to go) Gourmet Argentine cookies filled with milk caramel, Sweet Roulades filled with milk caramel (which it took a few days for me to eat), and Light puff pastry cake with milk caramel filling.
(4)Irene F.
This place is such a cute hole in the wall. It's a great place to go on a date if you're looking to try to eat somewhere off the beaten path and eclectic that is affordable and delicious. I have had nothing but great and attentive service every time I've been here. Everything I have eaten there is yummy like home cooking--- if your mom was Argentinian...
(4)Ryan S.
We love this place. The food is great and the prices reasonable. Highly recommend.
(4)Tricia K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner on Monday night. We went to the old location, saw the sign on the door for the new location and headed over. I was actually thankful and pleased they had moved because I always thought the spot they were at previously was a little strange. Not much traffic occurs there, plus, with it being at Loehmann's Plaza, there's now a nice outdoor seating area with the (little loud) classical music playing overhead. For dinner we both ordered the gnocchi. My boyfriend also got an empanada. While he said the empanada wasn't great, the gnocchi was DELICIOUS. It said on the menu that it came with a meat sauce, so we were both expecting that typical Italian pasta sauce. What a pleasant surprise it was when the meal came out and two huge slices of roast were sitting on top of the pasta with some red sauce! YUM! The portions were huge, and at only $10.50, a heck of a deal. We ordered the flan to share for dessert. While it wasn't the best and most awesome flan I've ever had, it was still good and pleasant on the palette. Overall, this was a great experience with them and we will definitely be returning!
(4)F M.
Second time for me having food here. The food was very good in general and the service was excellent. We ordered a "parrillada para dos", which is a collection of different grilled meats, and it tasted delicious. The chorizos were excellent. There are however some critiques that, as an Argentinean, I cannot let pass.The flan is lacking a lot of dulce de leche. A flan in Argentina comes with at least 5 times the dulce de leche than this one (and I'm not exaggerating). Dulce de leche isn't expensive.... please people, make it right!. The provoleta is the worst provoleta I had in my entire life. No flavor or condiments. It tasted like unflavored plastic. Where is the oregano???
(4)Amanda L.
My boyfriend and I decided to go here on a Friday night. We always would pass by the old location, but never happened to try it. The new location seems bigger than the last, and the food was defiantly good and affordable. The chimi-churri sauce was awesome, that came with the steak, and the bread was fresh ( bakery ).Not that the service was bad but it could have used a little work. The price is for sure affordable.
(4)Shoshana G.
Yum! I am a huge fan of their milanesa and their empanadas! Delicious! They also have some delicious pastries and the dulce de leche is fabulous. The service is nothing spectacular but I personally don't think it even matters. The food makes up for it.
(4)David P.
Are you kidding? Not since living in Buenos Aires have I been able to enjoy good old typical Argentine food like this place offers. Dont get me wrong - there's a handful of delicious Argentine steakhouses littered across Chicago, NYC, and DC - but this place definitely hits the spot for affordable Argentine grub. Definitely a fan.... viva la Argentina!
(4)Libby F.
This place is downright charming! I love the ceramic tiled floor and the cushioned bistro chairs and tables. It is small and cozy. I stopped by here after putting in some extra hours at school today. My little guy was spending the day at the vet being pricked all day and I had an hour to kill before pick-up time. It started pouring as I approached the restaurant. FYI: Don't try to get to this place by heading west on Twinbrook Pkwy. You can't do it without crossing Rockville Pike and turning around to go east. There is a decent sized parking lot waiting for you though. As far as the food goes, it is, as others say authentic Argentine food. Even the tea they serve is imported from Argentina. I had an espinaca empanada filled with spinach, onions and parmesan cheese. The homemade dough was fantastic. Same goes for the pastry on the Queso y Cebolla tarta (traditional Argentine quiche) that I ordered. It definitely was not your mother's quiche. One slice must have contained about one large chopped up onion . It was not made with eggs and milk, only onions and cheese. Had I looked at it in the display case first, I probably would have passed on it. The slice was huge; about a quarter of the tart. It was really, really good and the onions were the sweet variety. I liked it, but left a pile of onions on my plate. But the kicker is the great prices. Empanadas are $1.80 each! (A cup of tea was even more than that!) My tarta was $3.20! My little guy's vet called as I was paying to let me know he was ready for pick up and the rain subsided for the moment. Plus, the service was great! I was the only native English speaker in the place and I did not feel out of place. Don't forget to check out their grocery goods along the back wall. The have some good prices on Argentine beer and wine.
(4)Mark L.
When in the area, good place for a quick lunch or snack. I enjoyed the various tortillas and the empanadas were decent as well. Downtown locales like Julia's are much better for the latter. I will have to try their grilled meats one day. Its location isn't great but it is what/where it is. I like the fact that it operates as a mini market for Arg food and wine on the side without ruining the cafe feel. It would be an interesting place to catch an Arg futbol game..
(3)Rajiv D.
The kids and I shared the grill platter. Other than the blood sausage (which I just can't appreciate) everything else was great. The kids loved the steaks too. The desserts are awesome and the service was good. This place is definitely a great place if you like meat.
(4)Thea C.
So, here's the deal: Small plate of grilled sweet breads and a fat slice of Spanish potato tortilla for under 6? Maybe add a delectable grilled sausage for $2.25 more? All this while a highly competent Spanish guitarist and crooner serenades you? Uh... yes, please! Also of note: $8 bottles of Argentine wine and baked goods filled with sweet potato! YES!
(4)CW E.
My first visit was fabulous. I experienced Argentinian food for the first time at El Patio. The food was well made, and the menu options offered healthy and authentic selections. Plus the restaurant's size and lighting was intimately cozy while the servicer was efficiently friendly. I plan to eat there again.
(4)Mauro G.
I have been going to el patio for many years and honestly the place sucks!!! I would recommended to you, only if you don't mind: bad service, waitress that don't ever asked you for a refill, burned up asado, overheated chicken and bad service overall... Now, if you don't mind this things, I'm sure you are going to enjoy your visit to el patio. There is and old man that work there and when we complain for a under cooked piece of meat he said "for the price that you are paying, what do you expect?" Prices are a little bit expensive. One of the reason of the waitresses don't give a sh@t it's because they charge the tip on the bill!!!!! I will to recommended this place to my friends and definitely not coming back.
(1)Carlos M.
The food was incredible, and the server Hanzel gave us a excellent recommendation in our first visit to this restaurant. El Patio is a must "to go place" if you want to enjoy delicious Argentine appetizers, entries and desserts.
(5)Alex M.
I had a tiny empanada and a horrible microwaved pizza here. The prices are pretty low but I can easily find better for the same price. It also took a very long time to get my food and even longer to get a check. It looked like some of the other food looked good but I really wouldn't recommend the place.
(1)martha f.
Disappointed. Entree (pollo salteado) seemed closer to home cooking than restaurant quality, and the chicken did not taste very fresh. It was fine but nothing you could not make yourself. Service was also very slow at times, including when we were waiting for the check and just wanted to get the heck out of there due to the endlessly crying baby (obviously, not the restaurant's fault there).
(2)George W.
Wife and I were looking forward to Valentines day dinner with entertainment and had made reservations giving our first and last name and phone number ... asking and getting answers about the fixed price menu. When we arrived there was no record of our reservation ... not in their electronic system, not on their handwritten list. The hostess tried to be nice ... offering us a table in the back of the restaurant with poor view ... and suggested we could wait to see if any of their other reservations did not arrive before their holding period expired. But I think she did not believe we had made the reservation we had made ... and made no attempt to determine the employee that took our reservation. We have a phone record of the call. Making a reservation, having the reservation accepted, providing name and phone number ... and then the restaurant not having any record of the reservation is just not acceptable. Word to the wise ... if you make a reservation at this place get the name of the person who takes your reservation ... that way you can at least mention the employees name when you arrive and there is no reservation for you.
(1)Lydia H.
2.5 stars. Because I work across the street, I have probably patronized El Patio in excess of 30 times. Yesterday's dining experience finally brought me to conclude that their food is almost universally bad. I have tried many things on the menu, always hoping the next one will be better than the last (which would not be a great feat). I wasn't particularly hungry yesterday, so I decided to order two of the small side salads. The first was a tomato and onion salad, and the second was a carrot and hard-boiled egg salad. I asked the girl at the counter if they were good, and she said that I might have to put some salt and pepper on them. I should have taken this as an ominous sign, but I decided to order them anyway, as nothing else on the menu was really appealing to me. My "dish" came out right away, and boy was I disappointed (though perhaps not surprised). The tomatoes and onions had no flavor, and the carrot "salad" was literally a half-plate of shredded carrots (think cheap buffet salad bars) with three paper thin slices of hard-boiled egg on top. The carrots in this salad, worse than the tomato/onion combination, actually tasted like a large, industrial walk-in refrigerator. If you have ever worked in a restaurant you know what I am talking about - that kind of stomach-turning smell that hits you when you have to retrieve something from said refrigerator. It was going to take more than salt and pepper to make this taste okay, so I loaded it up with vinegar. I still ended up leaving three-quarters of it on my plate. My coworker ordered three chicken empanadas and the soup of the day, which for as long as I can remember has been listed on the Specials board as cream of squash. It must be the case that they just never update the board, because what came out appeared to be some sort of chicken vegetable soup. She immediately started looking around for some Tabasco sauce for the empanadas. Worth noting: if customers are looking for salt/pepper/sauces, ANYTHING, to add some spice, seasoning, or flavor to the food, something needs to change. I realize I have cited only a few examples of the food I've ordered, but rest assured, this has been the case with pretty much everything I've had here. For all of this, there are some things that I really like about El Patio. In no particular order: - Bottled Mexican Coke for $1.99 - Coffee is hit or miss but more often than not pretty good - Outdoor patio is one of few in the area - Lomito sandwich - Argentine grocery has some interesting things to offer - Plain pastries in the glass case are usually delicious On a final note, I have often noticed over the years that other diners here seem to be eating delicious-looking food. I usually try to pinpoint what it might be on the menu and can never put two and two together. I am convinced that there is a secret menu here that I don't know about (kind of like Thai Square in Arlington has a menu for regular patrons and another Thai-only menu). Perhaps if I ever figure this out I would find that the food isn't all so bland. Until that happens, however, I imagine I will find myself coming here less and less...
(2)Semra E.
sex in a sandwich? YES PLEASE!!!! I just ate the most delicious sandwich during my lunch break yesterday. & when I saw everyone elses dishes I realized that it's not just one thing that they're doing right......they're doing it alllllll right. If you have a chance and want something new to look forward to and introduce to your mouth, this is your place.
(5)A A.
We came to this venue to enjoy the outdoor seating and a nice spanish meal with different wines and beer. As a group of 4, as we entered the gentleman informed us that to sit outside would be a 45 minute wait ( i guess in a scare tactic to push us to sit inside quickly), but when we decided to wait the individual looked as with a stunned look. Being nice patrons we decided to wait outside in the parking lot since it was a nice night. As I walked in 15 minutes later to check the status of our wait, I notice 2 parties in front of us were being seated. I passively informed each group we were in front of them, even though the waiters attempted to seat them first. After a minor dispute between our group and the other patrons, the manager finally comes out and questions who arrived first, upon which the waiter sadly but surely in shameful manner pointed to us. In my eyes the service and hospitablity of the place is slowly declining, and i'm hoping for the food to make up for it. I had the beef empanada, which is nicely seasoned, but in comparison to Julia's empanada's, this place is left in the dust. We decided to properly enjoy an Argentinian meal, so we ordered the grill platter for 2 (iron steak, ribeye, rotiserre chicken, sausage, blood sausage, skirt chicken and intestine). When the order arrived, the quantity of meat was so gigantic and overwhelming it would make even the biggest carnivore sign up for a PETA right's group. Upon digging into our meal, the steaks which were seasoned nicely were tough and chewy, leaving only the chicken to be delicious. Our two included sides we picked were mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Sadly the highlight of my whole platter of meats was the steamed vegetables. Overall the food is nothing memorable or special. I decided to order flan in a last attempt to fix my foul mood and tastebuds. The flan was suprisingly delicious and sweet with a soft texture. (The best flan is at La Limena). When the bill came, for a group of two people for an empanada, two beers, meat platter and dessert it was $65. This restaraunt cannot command such prices. Another setback was tip/gratuity was included for a party for 4. (I guess they knew we were not going to tip 20% due to our horrible experience of having our seats almost stolen in front of us). Normally most places do not add tip unless its a party of 6+. Thus in conclusion, the service was rude and slow, the food was mediorce and the prices were high. Overall if your just looking for a butchers shop this is a place to be. If your a steak affecionado, then this is the place to avoid.
(1)Robin G.
Love the new location! Much better than before. Delish food!
(5)Andy L.
We have been going to El Patio for about 10 years now, and it is on our short list of local restaurants that we don't mind going to over and over again. The beef dishes and empanadas are all terrific - you can't really go wrong. I tried their mussels one day, though, and that was less than spectacular. On some days, they have live music which is an added plus. Their new location is nice - nicer ambience and easier parking. I miss the big screen TV with the soccer games, though.
(4)Patrick H.
***3.5*** Cute cafe ambiance mixed with small grocery store charm. If you're looking for Yerba Matte, this is the place. I've never seen so much Yerba Matte in one place at one time (someone must have gotten a deal) We've heard the rumors that the place is inconsistent and the service is bad, if that's true, we didn't experience last night. We had the Bombitas de Papa con Carne - essentially meat filled mashed potato croquettes, deep fried and served with a spicy, vinegary sauce for a starter. Definitely the best thing we ate all night. We also shared a chicken empanda, but should have ordered the cheese and onion. I had the grilled flank steak topped with two fried eggs, while my dining partner in crime had the pollo ala parilla, (grilled chicken breast). Both came with chimichurri sauce and two sides. We tried the mashed potatoes, a salad and I had the carrot and egg salad, which I thought would be like a potato salad, but which consisted of half a plate of shredded raw carrots and a hard boiled egg. A little odd, but good. My steak was perfectly cooked and the thickest cut of flank steak I've ever seen. It was properly seasoned and extra tender. Very very good. I loved the chimichurri sauce, too! Save room for dessert. As previously noted the homemade alfajores are to die for.
(4)Hannah K.
I LOVE EL PATIO. After studying abroad in Argentina, I went looking all over for anything remotely similar to the delicious food I'd had there. El Puerto is the closest I've found so far to what you would actually eat in Argentina. The parrillada para dos is amazing-- probably more like parrillada para tres, after its two sides. The flan wasn't the best-- I would definitely recommend the panqueques de dulce de leche after dinner, though! Also-- EXCELLENT empanadas argentine-style. If you're looking for American style service you might be disappointed-- the servers are very business like, just taking your order, dropping off the food, and giving you the check. Personally, I like servers who just leave me in peace, so I love it!
(5)Katie P.
Dined here for the first time. The place is very tiny and was filled with people. There were three of us, and at first they put us at a table where one person couldn't even sit straight. The table was only about 15in in diameter, and there were two other tables right next to each side. So we asked for another table, and it took them another 20 minutes to move us because they forgot and sat other parties. So the experience from the get go was not very pleasant. So we ordered some empanadas for appetizer and a sausage sandwich which comes with chimichurri. Empanadas were delicious and appetizing. The sausage sandwich was just a grilled sausage with baguette bread. No toppings other than chimichurri....chimichurri was great, but I would not recommend the sausage sandwich....forget what it was called on the menu. The main dish I ordered was the seasoned chicken over rice w/ tomato sauce. It was pretty good. Nothing special though...just tasted like an easy home-made meal. My friends ordered chopped steak entrees, and they didn't like them very much. The portions were pretty large and price was very good. Overall, an interesting place, but I don't see anything special or oustanding...I may go back for empanadas or desserts...but not for dinner...
(3)Bryce I.
It's obvious that the haters on here have never been to Argentina. I lived there 5 years and El Patio is the best and most authentic Argentine restaurant I've eaten at in the United States. Yeah, the shortribs are tough. Argentines roast them over a fire all day. I don't care for them either, but millions of people do. They're not going to slather BBQ sauce on them to cater to your tastes, you ignorant yankees. The chorizo sausage is rich with the deep meaty flavor signature in Argentine sausage. They import their sausage from the source. I had a choripan for $3.50 at dinner and it stuffed me. And it came with the best, freshest chimichurri I've ever had. The provoleta was phenomenal. It's grilled provolone cheese with herbs. I can't imagine why we don't eat this in America. The empanadas were good, but the only thing I ate that wasn't out of sight.
(5)Bill D.
Great little restaurant, but I'm giving it four stars due to the inconsistent service. Sometimes the service is good, sometimes it's awful. There doesn't seem to be a correlation with how busy it is, the worst service we've had was when the place was empty one time for an early dinner. The food itself is usually very good, both the steak and the chicken. The portions are pretty good sized. The empanadas are awesome! Sometimes I pick up a dozen and take them to work for lunch for a couple of days--that good. (Note that this comes from someone who has no prior experience with Argentinian food.) The atmosphere itself is good, the patio outside is great if the weather's nice. The inside's cozy and cramped, but nice. We've talked with a few other patrons who are Argentinian, and it's a good sign if they like the place (which they did).
(4)Lauren P.
Grilled meats are fantastic, as are the empanadas.
(4)andres l.
The food was very good, and for the price you get a lot. Also, very tradicional flavor, nothing of that new modern mix. The service is very friendly and quick. I would recommend this to anyone that would like to eat like a king while paying like a student.
(5)N S.
Ok, here's the deal. I would not make this a destination for solely the purpose of food/eating. They make great capuccinos and my friends and I very much enjoy chilling on the patio during the summer and having some wine. You don't have many al fresco dining choices in Rockville - Hooters and Addie's. Now one thing I totally agree with whole-heartedly with fellow reviewers is that the service is extremely lacking. I just think they don't have enough help especially during the summer weekend evenings. I was also turned off because I had asked if we could sit outside and this waiter told me no, sorry. (There was a table with one chair and I was thinking we could round up another chair). Well, fast forward about 30 seconds and my beautiful Colombian friend walks in and requests outside seating to the same waiter who promptly accommodates her. When he got to table in question, turned around and saw me standing with her - he felt stupid cause he had no idea we were together and kind of mumbled an apology. Could it be that she addressed him in Spanish? or was it that he's simply a south american racist f**k? I don't know, but I do know that all customers should be treated the same.
(2)Tasty P.
The food was decent but nothing to write home about. Lots of menu items with egg. Probably wouldn't go again, though.
(3)Nora H.
My family has frequented El Patio since they first open in their old location around Twinbrook in Rockville. Now that they are at the Loehmann's Plaza, Rockville, shopping center, they have increased the variety of their food items, wines, and desserts, and they have a much better spot, including a lot of parking space, larger interior, better tables and chairs. They have a vast menu, and unfortunately we have not tried everything, so here is what I can comment on: Appetizers, sides, and other: --The "empanadas" (meat, chicken, cheese, ham, etc. turnovers) have improved over time; really delicious, and especially their "Tucumanas" (fried empanadas with beef, olives, egg, and raisins)--my favorite! --The tongue vinaigrette is pretty good. --The "matambre" (beef roll) is decent. --The "ensalada rusa" (potato salad) is great--similar to a homemade version, and not overly salty. --The "ensalada mixta" (mixed salad) is good and fresh, plus a nice size. --Their "sandwiches de miga" (thin crumb bread with a variety of fillings, very popular in Argentina) are very good. They are mostly made to order, which maintains the bread freshness as it needs to be. --I am generally disappointed when it comes to "chimichurri" (sauce for meats) in about every restaurant offering it, whether it is Argentinian or now also American in all their variations, which are not usually Argentinian, but the one from El Patio is fairly good. Main dishes: --El Patio always has had great "milanesas" (fried breaded beef or chicken steak). --The "asado" [grilled meats (such as "costillitas"--beef ribs--and "vacio"--flank steak), sausages (chorizo and blood sausage), and innards (intestine, sweetbreads)], is offered in a very good selection, quantity, and quality for the price. --The steaks: "bife de chorizo" (Sirloin Strip Steak/Top Loin) is very good, and the "ojo de bife" (Ribeye Steak) is decent. Good size too. Desserts & pastries: --I would say most everything is great, including flan, bread pudding, "arrollado pionono" (sweet roll with "dulce de leche"), various cakes. --I've had the "panqueque de manzana" (caramelized crepe with apple and vanilla ice cream) and it is OK, but missing a little more sugar coating. --The "facturas" (Argentinian-style breakfast/tea pastries) are great!!!!! --The "alfajores" (two cookies with a sweet middle, mostly "dulce de leche"), be it the "de maicena" (corn starch) or chocolate covered, are the best we've had here in the U.S. In fact, the chocolate covered ones rival the well-known Argentinian-made brands--actually, they win by far. --Lately, they've started to bake more cakes, and judging by the ones we've tried, they have succeeded in creating Argentinian bakery quality. Kudos! Wines: --Ever since they moved to the Loehmann's location, the variety of wines increased. They have a great selection and very reasonable prices. Service: --Depends on who you get, but they seem to really try. We particularly like one of their waiters who knows what he's doing (would provide his name, but we don't know it). --Even if you have a party of less than 6 people (the norm for other restaurants), they at times add 18% tip, so make sure you pay attention to your check. --Owners are also very helpful and willing to tend to customers. BOTTOM LINE: We are originally from Argentina, and can attest that El Patio is a truly Argentinian place. Their variety and quality is very good value for the price. You can get a good lunch and spend little money, or a bit more for a full-course dinner meal with wine. They are the only option for Argentinian fare in the area (since the departure of Lola's and the not-good-at-all Chimichurri Restaurant).
(4)Jennifer K.
3 Stars for the game of roulette that I play every time I come here. Sometimes (many times) I've hit gold & had a great meal with quick, friendly service. Other times, like last week, I come in and there's one person working the register, the wait staff hasn't appeared, service is super slow, and the food is just mediocre (like the barely heated empanadas they served up). I do like their cafe con leche. I generally like the empanadas. The steak sandwich is so yummy - but sometimes it's super tender and flavorful & sometimes it's not. I noticed that they switch their fry brand, too, from time to time. Sometimes it's the thick, serrated fries, sometimes it's matchstick fries. I wish these Argentinians would make up their mind. LOL. A girl just wants to know what to expect. Especially a girl who has been loyal to this joint since 2001. I have to say, I miss the old spot (the one with an *actual* patio) on Twinbrook Pkwy. But, the new location has its perks: larger dining room, more space for the specialty groceries & wine. Sit near the front, though, if you're a data addict - there's no signal in the belly of this beast.
(3)Scott B.
I have been to El Patio several times and the food is great. First off, this place is more of a cafe than a restaurant so don't expect a fine dining experience. But with that said the service I have had here has been adequate to pretty good. We were here for lunch on a beautiful Saturday and ate outside which was full. Our server was a friendly young guy who checked on us several times throughout our meal. I ordered a grilled flank steak with egg and a side of fries and a mixed salad. The steak was extremely tasty. The french fries were mediocre and the salad was equally unimpressive, but you do not come to this place for salad, you come for the meat! In prior visits I consistently order the steak milanese which is delicious. Their empanadas are also great. They also have good baked goods to purchase and take home as well as a good assortment of Argentinian wines. This is a great place to go for a tasty and fairly inexpensive lunch or dinner.
(4)Clifford M.
My friends and I have been enjoying light meals at El Patio for several years now. The owners and staff are always friendly and courteous. It is certainly not fine dining but I have found a few favorites that I enjoy and return for - the tea sandwiches (toasted ham and cheese), the lattés, the calamari is tender and has a tasty dipping sauce, the lomito, and of course, my kids like the deserts. I did once try the mixed grill for two but was disappointed in that it was overcooked and dry. So I just stick with my favorites and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and ambiance. We go there often. Long live El Patio!
(4)Jill S.
Yum! Cozy atmosphere, reminded me a lot of my study abroad in Argentina, including an outdoor dining patio. I had wonderful food that I haven't experienced since my trip; the queso y cebolla empanadas are fabulous! Portions and prices are phenomenal for the DC area. The wine list is extensive and incredibly reasonable; house wine $5/glass, and bottles are anywhere from $15-$30. ORDER DESSERT. The flan and bread pudding were excellent. The bread pudding was a huge portion. For $42 we had three empanadas, 2 entrees, 1 glass of wine, and two desserts. Can't beat it! Servers were kind and attentive; they speak English, but I suggest bringing your Spanish skills. :) The tienda portion of the restaurant sells even more reasonably priced wines, yerba matte, and other goodies from Argentina. We will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)Donna C.
We went here to get some empanadas and ended up staying for dinner. I haven't really had Argentinian food before and I had a large portion of something that had steak and eggs. It was pretty good. The empanadas were okay too. We got a variety of flavors and was only disappointed with the spinach. The most interesting thing was that my bf and I seemed to be the only non-Argentinians there since they were all conversing in their native tongue to the waiters. Overall, it was a fine experience. I'd dine here again.
(3)Raymond M.
My wife and I live very close to El Patio and have traveled past it on several occasions and always seem to forget that is there. We finally stopped by on Friday night and were overall pleased with our experience. The food was good. However - my steak and my wife's chicken were a touch on the questionable side (think take out mystery meat). The appetizers and side dishes made up for it though; sweet potato fries, empanadas and potato salad (probably the best that I've ever had) were all fantastic. When I went through some of the older reviews, I saw several negative comments about the service. I must disagree. When our waiter saw that I only ate about three bites of my steak he was very apologetic and sent a manager to inquire without any prompting. Overall it was a good experience. A small, one of a kind type place with something different to offer.
(4)Jeff G.
El Patio is right across the street from my office, but I've avoided it for the better part of a year because I never saw anyone there. It's not that I don't like adventure in my food, it's just that I do not tend to trust places that have no clientele (it has to say something about their food...right???) Well, I gave in yesterday and tried it, and I'm happy to say that I'll be back again and again. The store is a combination Argentinian grocery and cafe. When you walk in, your confronted with glass display cases filled with tortilla (the Spanish kind that's like an omelet), quiches, empanadas, and Argentinian desserts. My mouth was literally watering after about two minutes of staring while we waited in line. I went with the old standby of empanadas, and I'm happy to announce that these beat the pants off of Julia's Empanadas. Not only are they fresh, but they actually have flavor and texture. The menu also includes the aforementioned items as well as grilled meats, sandwiches, and other platters. Because it's also an Argentinian grocery store, you can find an interesting selection of items from abroad. They boast the largest selection of Argentinian wine in the region, so I'm definitely going back to pick up a few bottles (assuming they're reasonably priced). You can also pick up those much needed spices and products for all the Argentinian dishes that you make at home (or plan to make). Overall, a good lunch spot or a great stop-off for an interesting dessert.
(4)Lisa S.
Having just returned from 5 weeks in Argentina I rushed right over to this place. The food reminded of me what I had left behind, especially the empanadas and alfajores. I can't remember the meals that we had but they weren't anything great - although it did taste like what I had in many of the cafes in Buenos Aires. When you order a drink you get a small dish of nuts/chips just like the many bars/cafes in Argentina. I was very impressed with the grocery selection and will be back to get my fix.
(4)Ilona C.
This is a great place to go if you miss Argentina. I had a vacio (steak) with rice and tomato salad with a nice, cold Quilmes and I was happy. The food isn't star quality but it was satisfying. What made me even happier was that they sold Alfajores and Malbec wine as well as copious amounts of Mate. The patio itself is pleasant, though the view is of streets. The service sucks, though, so don't come here if you are in a hurry.
(3)Kate C.
OMG - How have I never gone in this place before? It is way too good. I adore the empandas ... but what really had me were the ham and cheese tea sandwiches that along with the squash was simply to die for....
(5)Michael W.
This little restaurant/grocery store is a one of many nice options in the Rockville area. The ambiance is very nice and the place is usually full of people, eating some of the typical Argentine dishes. Although I am not a big fan of beef, their meat dishes look quite yummy and huge. I have gone there twice and in both occasions was quite happy with the food and service. The service is not bad and the only complaint I may have is that the food takes a while to arrive. Another couple positive points in this place are the small grocery that sell some very good Argentine wine and the pastry section. I think that El Patio is one of the few places in the DC area where one can find a large variety of pastries (both sweet and salty), I recommend getting some of the empanadas to go, since they are great snacks, cold or hot....yummy....
(3)Chlo S.
Great food for everyone, no matter if you like to eat all parts of an animal or all parts of a vegetable. I would give this place 4 stars, but there is a "but". Everytime I go, service is horrible. Last week was horrendous- we got there right before the lunch rush and were attended to right away. 30 minutes later the appetizers came out- 2 were missing and 1 was wrong. 20 minutes later, shortly before the main course, we got the right appetizers. By the time we got our entrees the people who came in 20 minutes after us had already paid and left. The waiter seemed to be ignoring us on purpose, and helping everyone else but us. It's good food, but it's not worth the blood pressure.
(3)patricia K.
great food, the choripan is out of control! you can get authentic argentine classics like dulce de leche and alfajores! great service, very casual yet warm and sometimes entertaining so far everything i've tried was worth the money (if not more) not expensive try the provoletta!
(4)C.P. S.
El Patio is the best and really the only place for authentic Argentinean food in DC. Empanadas are mostly baked, although they also offer fried ones filled with beef and raisins, absolutely delicious. The choripan offers nice sausage with classic chimmichurri. The assortment of empanadas is deep, with chicken, ham, beef, cheese, spinach and corn. They also have sandwiches de miga - tea sandwiches on thinly sliced, white bread, typical in Buenos. Of course when describing Argentine gastronomy, to not mention the beef, would make this restaurant incomplete. Don't worry, they have beef a plenty. Murcilla (blood sausage, not my taste, but popular for some), vacio (lean flank steak), a full asado (barbecue with all sorts of cuts), lomo (tenderloin), and more cuts. The beef is flavorful and true to the cuts, but not swanky like a Steakhouse with white table cloth. Additionally, the milanesa and other non-parrilla dishes have lots to offer. Also on the menu they offer various Italian based items such as cannellonis and spaghetti. Canyones (puff pastry filled with dulce de leche) are a great treat with a coffee after enjoying all of previously mentioned food. The staff is courteous, helps to speak Spanish, but don't come in a hurry. To get the most from this place it helps to have visited Argentina in some way or go with a guide to make your experience better. I usually go for lunch on the weekends, and cannot speak to best times for dining there. They do a nice job with to go orders, but be sure to specify if you will be eating the empanadas, quiches etc. soon or plan to reheat at home. They also have catering service, but am not familiar with it.
(4)