El Patron Restaurant and Cantina
10551 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87111
El Patron Restaurant and Cantina Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
10551 Montgomery Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87111 - Phone (505) 275-0223
- Website https://elpatronabq.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- 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 : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Tania S.
"Reminds me of El Torito. Do you guys have that here?" El Patron is a great spot with delectable Mexican favorites, rooted in the classic southwestern experience. El Patron opened it's arms for a friendly visitor's welcome and I obliged. I ordered the red shredded beef enchiladas and they were great! I especially liked the sopapillas here. Now that I've been to El Bruno's (North Valley) and Los Cuates (near Cottonwood Mall), I wonder what the seafood options are like at El Patron. I'll need to come back. Definitely a nice choice for families or out-of-towners or folks on lunch who are anticipating local staples, good music, and a wholesome atmosphere.
(4)Anthony J.
Shop and Staff The restaurant was very clean. The floor, tables, and chairs were not greasy or sticky. Something I would expect in a restaurant that has Mexican food, and honey. Our waitress named Erica was very polite, and knowledgeable about the menu. The four of us ordered two margaritas to start with, and they were well mixed. The bartender knows how to make a good margarita. My girlfriend's farther got the coffee, and he said it was very good. Food and Experience The chips, and salsa were a great starter to the meal. The chips are made in house, and so is the salsa. The salsa was not hot, so it is great for children. I love putting honey on my chips. It is something everyone should try. When the food came it looked like any other mexican food, but had a taste like no other. I loved every bite, and my family had no complains about their food. Being this was my first experience I was impressed. Another great thing during dinner is live music. :)
(4)Justin W.
My wife and I picked El Patron since, according to Yelp, they were open late enough that we wouldn't be getting there just as they close. Unfortunately, the Yelp time was wrong so we ended up being "those guys" who show up 10 minutes before close. Actually, apparently we weren't the only one since the hostess asked if we wanted the bar or the dining area and recommended the bar since a large party had just come into the dining area. This actually worked out really well since it let us take advantage of their generous and long happy hour. The beer offerings were ok. I would have preferred more local options but they had Marble IPA so I was happy. And inexpensive margaritas. The menu was your typical Mexican / New Mexican affair with a selection of tacos, enchiladas, carne adovada, etc. My carne adovada enchilada was pretty good as was my wife's seafood enchiladas. Maybe not the most amazing thing but above par. What I *really* liked was the option to replace the Mexican rice with calabacitas. We both certainly prefer them over rice, though they would have benefited from [much] less oil. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal that met and somewhat exceeded expectations. Oh, and our server was really, really good! We will keep El Patron in mind for future meals, though they are a bit farther away from our house than we usually will go.
(4)Maria G.
The best thing about El Patron is the happy hour. They do it every day from 3pm to close. The food is cheap and so are the drinks. They both taste good which is always a plus. We went here for dinner the other night (happy hour is only in the bar area) and the patio was just right. Full shade in the late afternoon and the tables are not cramped. The food is still good but more pricy. It is a bit of a bland for a New Mexican who loves chile but it is a table pleaser if you are with a mixed crowd or kids. The service is usually on point and the kitchen works fast even if the house is full. Don't be intimidated by the parking lot, they seem to be able to handle it all. The margaritas really are a specialty, not too sweet. If you are in the neighborhood, try them out. You won't be disappointed and just maybe a little tipsy.
(4)Lashawn C.
Best Queso Ever!!!! Good service, nice atmosphere! Food good which we had to take most of it with us and it was even better the next day! The Mariachi singers sang to my husband for his birthday and we were able to get up and dance together...loved that part!!! Only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is b/c I expected more from my drink :( I ordered the "best" margarita and it wasn't good nor strong.
(4)Jennifer M.
Not good! The chile is not tasty at all. The sides are all not up to par for a New Mexican restaurant. The Mariachi music was way too loud in the main room. We did have excellent service and delicious chips and salsa but other than that the food was just not up to par in my opinion.
(2)Shalayne C.
Went here with my book club and was surprised at the nice atmosphere and good food. I got a vegetarian combo plate and it came with a cheese enchilada, vegan tamale, and a chile relleno and calabacitas on the side...honestly, I think this was the best chile relleno I've had in years. And the calabacitas were delicious as well, a lot of times restaurants cook them and they're mushy or slimy, but not here! I'm usually not a fan of tamales but this was one of the better ones I had and it had calabacitas in it, which was good but a little redundant since they had calabacitas as a side on this platter. They gave you warm chips and dip to start and sopapillas to end it off, so I left totally stuffed and satisfied. All in all a great night!
(4)Flozilla B.
Being a valley dweller...a long drive across town to this place for New Mexican food is not on the top of my list. I have other favorites in my hood. But when the chance to have a buddy drive me across town in her new car with heated seats...I jumped at the chance! Overall, I had an ok meal here. The food was good, the vibe was ok. Service was great. **shrugs** Really, its just ok. Here are a few of my thoughts on the experience. I really had no expectations of the place and did not know about the partners, food or anything really, I went in blind. We arrived a little bit after our waiting party (it takes a looooong time to drive here from the valley!) We saw our people right away sitting in the bar with the remnants of guac, salsa and the first round of margaritas. Atmosphere was nice in the bar, no loud music, no TV's and comfortable space around the tables. We dipped into the salsa, it was fine (not super hot, fair body) chips were warmed (which is a plus in my book). Our server noticed we arrived and quickly took our drink order, which was house margaritas around the table. The price is right and they were very nice! When our food came out, I was impressed by some of the creative dishes (lamb burrito, shrimp stuffed squash, green chile chicked lasagna etc.), they had all the classics with a twist. My neighbor ordered naked rellenos which could be nice for folks on a health kick except for all the gooey cheese inside and out. Overall the food was ok. It was a bit pricey. My meal which was a platter of chicken fajitas with a side of chopped green chile and a house margarita with tip was nearly $35. ouch. Sopapillas come out hot when requested! My preferred way is at the end if the meal...topped with loads of honey of course! The one thing that really stood out was oak barrel aged tequila on tap. Smokey and nice...and limited edition? I had a little sip. yum!
(3)Jesse M.
I was skeptical about going here since I'm use to real authentic mexican food. To say it all, we left right after the waiter came and did not even introduce himself but yet asked us if we wanted to order something before he even had the menus at our table!!! Weird, he must of had too many premixed nasty margaritas. Two thumbs down!!!
(1)Angie S.
By far my favorite restaurant in Albuquerque. They have the best chile rellanos hands down. Add to that their award winning margarita, amazing cheesecake and excellent tamales you have a dining experience you will want to repeat over and over again!! Excellent staff and service makes this a 5 star dining experience.
(5)Jordan A.
Showed up on a busy Friday night, and only waited about fifteen minutes for a table. Our first server was apparently slammed, so the manager gave our table to another server. Go manager for caring about your employees! I believe her name was Yubia, and she was wonderful. I prefer my servers without unnecessary hovering, but still caring and checking in at appropriate times. We ordered queso for an appetizer, the meal also came with chips and salsa. I give the salsa a 8/10, it was quite tasty but not soupy enough. The queso was a 9/10, it was just a little too spicy for me. I ordered my entrée a la carte, and got a fish taco, green chile chicken enchilada, and a tamale. If you don't want cheese covered on top of everything, let your server know ahead of time. It didn't bother me but I don't know that every person wants cheese over their fish taco and tamale. The fish taco was acceptable but not memorable. The only issue I had with the enchilada was the tomatoes, I've never had tomatoes in my enchiladas before and I wasn't a fan. But it was still good. The tamale was absolutely wonderful!! The best tamale I've ever had in a restaurant, second only to my fiancé's grandma's tamales. My fiancé ordered enchiladas and loved them as well. All in all, I just wish this place had El Pinto's chile strips and I'd permanently switch my favorite New Mexican restaurant. Great job El Patron!
(4)Katie J.
Great food, great service, amazing atmosphere! The food was delicious. I had a stuffed sopapilla. The shredded beef was flavorful and tender. The queso was amazing and uniquely delicious. Fernando was our server: he was knowledgable, friendly, not overly pushy. GREAT SERVICE!!! For the atmosphere (which included live mariachi music), the great food and brilliant service the $$$ was very reasonable. Highly recommended, my new favorite Mexican food in Albuquerque.
(5)Denise H.
So it could have been hormones, but this place was SO COOL that I almost cried. Talk about ambiance - outside of Disney theme parks, you cannot beat this place. Amazing service! The food is to die for. (I got the Enchilada Casserole.) It's reasonably priced. There was dancing in the bar area, and a mariachi playing through the main part of the restaurant. It was like being in a beautiful, well-loved mansion that served incredible food. Being new to New Mexico, this was just insanely romantic and enchanting. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
(5)Ernest M.
I'm getting more and more disappointed with El Patron. It just doesn't do it for me. The red chile is not nearly hot or medium; it is more tomatoe-based chile. It is sweet, not much flavor. The salsa reminds of picante sauce..the very light picante sauce. After all, maybe this place is for tourists. El Patron reminds of Gardunos. Sadie's and El Pinto would be on my top of the list. As far as the staff at El Patron, they're nice, helpful, and take care of you very well.
(2)Matthew D.
fantastic carne adovada! Really nice patio and good happy hour (goes all day). Sometimes service could be better... trade out the rice for calabicitas!
(5)Cristina M.
Best New Mexican food in town? No. Best Mexican food in town? No. But, great place nonetheless. I've been 3-4 times now and I've been taken with some dishes more than others. I think If I want something slightly different, this is a good place to go. If I want traditional, home-style New Mexican cooking, I'll go elsewhere (Garcia's or Cocina Azul). Last night I had one of their specials: filet mignon medallions with naked chile rellenos. I ordered the steak medium rare, subbed papas for rice and I'm telling you, this was a five-star meal. It was so good. The steak was perfectly cooked, being a little on the rarer side than the medium side. There were two ~2/2.5 oz medallions and two naked rellenos (grilled chile peppers without the batter) filled with Monterrey cheese, but just right--not too much. The whole beans were delicious and the papas were perfect. This was a GREAT choice. I ate exactly half (1 medallion and one relleno and half the sides), and now I have the same thing to enjoy for lunch. I also enjoyed a Tecate with my meal. There were four adults and one child and we spent $88.31 with tip. Not a cheap meal--in fact, they are rather pricey, but, you're paying for a little nicer ambiance than, say, Garcia's (I'm chuckling as I write that because you all are thinking, "Yeah, doesn't take much to beat that 'ambiance'!"). There were mariachis performing for the first 15 minutes or so that were there (a later dinner than usual for our little one--we got there around 7:40 pm). This made it a bit difficult to converse, as we were seated in the main, open room which is very echoey. But conversation was fine once the mariachis finished. The sopaipillas are far from the best in town--not bad, but they could use a little work. They actually remind me more of the buñuelos (without the cinnamon and powdered sugar) you get in Mexican restaurants back East. They are very small and doughy. For people from out of town who don't understand the difference between New Mexican and Mexican food, this is a good place to segue into our culture since El Patron seems to merge the two a bit. Similarly, for locals who don't understand that Mexican food is very different from New Mexican, this is a good medium (I had no idea how very different the two were until I lived on the East Coast for years). Give it a try. Oh, one word of caution--watch out for terrible garlic breath the next morning if you eat the chips and salsa.
(4)Travis F.
The chips and different dips were really good. The fish tacos were fair. The atmosphere is delightful.
(3)Orange T.
Passed through on a road trip and based upon a native's recommendation stopped in for lunch. The building and decor alone are worth stopping in for. I sat at the bar for a quick lunch and was served the best posole' I have ever had. It was deep and rich, yet delicate. The salsa is good, but the chips were outstandingly fresh (odd really to comment on the chips but they were excellent). Only four stars since the bar tender was a little pushy, yet unattentative. Will definitely go back next time through ABQ.
(4)Jenn H.
I was enticed by the pictures of the margaritas everyone posted. But I didn't order a margarita on my visit, I got the house made Sangria. (Friday turned out to be Margarita night instead.) Came here on Saturday afternoon, early. It wasn't very busy, but the waitstaff were running around like it was. The revamp from the previous Garduno's is actually really nice, inviting, airy. So atmosphere A+. Food...it was fair. Nothing mind-blowing. I got the taco plate, 2 chicken and 1 beef. The plus - they don't kill everything with cheese and the tacos were FILLED with meat. The con, it's a bit bland. I didn't care for the Spanish rice too much, tasted really tomato-y with no spice. Salsa - same, too much tomato and no heat, at all. Chips...amazing! Light crisp warm melt in your mouth! They just need to work on the salsa a little. One friend ordered the same dish as me, and my other friend, the chicken BLT. She loved the sandwich, stating that the seasoned chicken was outstanding and didn't taste like the usual frozen variety. Also there were several strips of bacon and huge slices of avocado in it! Maybe I should've got the sandwich. Service...it's a B -. Our server was nice, but seemed a little scatter brained. Then had excuse after excuse on not being "all there", and the computer system went down, so we had to wait a while to put our lunch orders in. Wasn't bad since we are 3 gals with lots to chat about, so it wasn't a big deal. We got out bar drinks fast, but not my friends order of milk, she didn't get that until her meal came. BUT she didn't charge her for the milk. :D Drinks - Sangria was nice...fruity, smooth and you can taste the wine and bit of brandy in it. Nice presentation too. :D My friend told me her $7 Patron margarita was spot on, and made her arm hair stand up! A+ Overall, food,...nothing to write home about. It's on the pricey side too. My meal and drink for me alone was $17 add the tip, I spent little over $22 for myself. Not a place for a frugal diner as myself. Food flavor is kinda bland, but I like lots of spice - hot chile. I was "ok" with my meal, but really happy that it wasn't smothered in cheese. I would go back for drinks and possibly the nachos to share during Happy Hour.
(3)Christina S.
One of my new favorite places! Beautiful restaurant, great food, great margaritas, great service, never a wait - even though we live quite a ways away, we don't mind the drive because we know it will be more than worth it.
(5)Steve M.
Dramatic improvement since its opening last year, though not without pitfalls still. We were served a mold-spotted tortilla on last visit. But on whole a good mexican destination in ABQ's north east, especially for happy hour or music on the patio.
(4)Amber O.
We had a holiday dinner for work at El Patron. The happy hour specials (which last all night) are killer and I really liked their chips & salsa. When dinner came I was not impressed at all. The rice tasted like tomato sauce, the chicken in my enchiladas had no flavor, Not a place I would go to unless I was only going for drinks.
(2)Mike O.
Came here for brunch on Sunday with the ol family. It was a lovely February afternoon, but, unfortunately, the outdoor space looked closed. We sat indoors, and I had to throw open the sash next to our adjacent window to let in some healthy winter sunshine. This place is huge. Two floors, super spacious, seats a lot of people. There were some mariachi dudes who sang some AWESOME harmonies and played some badass tunes on guitar. Our service was kinda mediocre. The server wasn't totally attentive, and twice I tried to get his attention while he was AT OUR TABLE and yet he didn't hear me or ignored me. I ordered the chile rellenos, which were not horrible. They were pretty spicy, which was a plus. The breading was also very good. However, the cheese inside wasn't jack cheese proper. It was like queso: runny and gross. Don't get me wrong. I love dippin some tortilla chips in some queso. But don't do my chile rellenos like that. SUCH a bummer because everything else about the meal was great. Runny queso and mediocre server get you three stars, El Patron. I will give you another chance, however, my friends, just go to Monroe's down the street for rellenos. IMHO.
(3)Jazmine V.
Meh. Nothing special. Kind of reminds me of El Pinto: touristy, expensive, and lacking. If I could use two words they would be "tourist trap". The service was what really killed it for us. We waited over an hour for our food...granted it was Mother's Day and they were busy. The food was ok..nothing to write home about, although the fresh chips and salsa were really good. Our calamari app was decent at $10. My vegetarian enchiladas with added beef were $16. I thought I'd be getting a really good size helping of hard-to-beat enchiladas for that price. That was not the case. They were forgettable...especially when I'm surrounded by places that make unforgettable enchiladas. There was no spice to the red or green chile whatsoever. Kind of seemed like it could have come out of a can to me. The drinks were not good: house margarita=mostly sweet + sour. When we complained about our visit, we were told "sorry" by the manager. We won't be returning.
(2)Christina H.
Been back a few more times and the food is still amazing and the drinks are great. Try out any of the steak dinners. They are cooked as requested and SUPER tasty. Can't wait to go again!
(5)Nikki R.
The food is good, the restaurant is a lot nicer compared to a lot Mexican restaurants (it's basically like an El Torito) and the prices were pretty good for what you get. They have combination plates with three items for around $12. I got the 5 taquito plate with rice and beans for just under $10 and the plate was enormous. The service was also really good, our waiter Jorge was very nice and everyone else seemed very friendly and in a good mood. I only give this place a 4 out of 5 because the guacamole. I get chips and guacamole every time I go to a Mexican restaurant and the guacamole here was $4.50, and it was basically two tablespoons of guacamole!!! I really think less than half an avocado was used, which is just not worth the money at all to me. They have an option for $9 guacamole but the way the waiter described the size of it sounded like how much the smaller one should have been.
(4)JJ M.
Great Margaritas! They have several, but simply the "house" will wet your whistle perfectly while keeping your wallet fat during happy hour. Speaking of happy hour; what a great place to start with a couple tacos and margaritas. If a larger full meal is needed in your future, the El Patron has still got you covered. Service has always been on point for my visits and My taste buds have not had a bad meal experience yet. During the right time of year the patio is large and perfect to enjoy. The mariachis add that fun flare and have the ability to get funky. I have heard then play "who let the dogs out"...lol. All in all a gun place with great drinks, good service, and most importantly of all...REAL New Mexican Chili.
(4)Jeremy S.
I have a hard time believing in consistent Best of City victories that this establishment posts in Albuquerque Magazine. It is not the best of anything. The service was extremely slow. We actually started worrying about our waitress as she had be gone for so long we figured something terrible must have happened that she had to suddenly leave work and go to the hospital and... Oh there she is. Never mind! Luckily the hostess was on it and brought us our drinks in the meantime. Do you people have any idea how hard it is to control your kids for 30 minutes without food?!! The margarita was ok. I wouldn't serve it to a good friend but definitely a bad one. I only ordered things that won Best of City. The margarita: (average), the Relleno: (pretty good but not the best), the enciladas: (too mild to even be a contender), the chips and salsa: (after 30 minutes they get lame). That said, let me just say that if you, dear reader, are someone who consistently agrees with Albuquerque Magazine, then perhaps you will find this place to be the best. In my opinion, it doesn't even make the top 10.
(2)Mirna C.
This is my 2nd time here. My first visit was when they first opened.. didnt care for the food nor service. Todays visit has been pleasurable. Since u walk in ur not greeted as a potential high tiper..but as a valued local customer. Before we sat down, a server had brought us chips and salsa..we were greeted friendly by our server and was very helpful in informing me of margarita special..which i ordered and enjoyed. Our meals were prompt and very delicious. Sopapillas fresh and warm. Everyone working here seemed to be at ease and that made my experience more enjoyable.
(5)Melissa B.
Been watching for this restaurant to open and finally went last Sunday. Found the food and service excellent. Particularly liked the complimentary chips and salsa. I had the tamale plate and found them good and meaty and would have them again. Red AND Green chili fantastic. Family members had the blue corn enchiladas, regular chicken enchildadas and flautas and pronounced them all good. Rice a bit pasty but the refried beans were very good. Service was efficient and very nice servers.
(4)Marilyn B.
First of all the hot sauce was runny, like water. I like my hot sauce to stay on my chip and not run off onto the table. The only way to make it stay on the chip was to just wet the chip in the sauce and not put very much on. Secondly, the hot sauce was too hot. I don't shy away from hot sauce, but this was just too hot for the average person. (Maybe that's why they make it so runny - so you can't get too much at once). I could eat it, but I was extremely surprised that they didn't offer a milder version. I definitely couldn't bring my young grandkids here because they love chips and hot sauce and wouldn't be able to eat it. I get it that some people really like a hotter hot sauce, but offer a milder version for those that don't, for crying out loud. Thirdly, the food was just mediocre. The rice was bland, the beans were bland and the main course was just mediocre, nothing special. I even added some of the hot sauce to the rice and beans, but it just didn't help the taste. I would have given it 3 stars for the mediocre food, but the runny "super-hot" hot sauce was a deal breaker. I was visiting family and I'm used to the mexican food in Texas, so maybe this is as good as it gets in New Mexico. I usually give restaurants a second chance, but the waiter said the hot sauce was always runny and very hot, so I won't be returning.
(2)Brad A.
I've been here a number of times since they opened; originally I was impressed but lately I haven't been. The food is a bit pricey and the food falls somewhere in between classic and modern New Mexican, and doesn't seem to excel at either. I don't know if I've ever been impressed with anything (from standard NM fare to some of their more specialty items), but none of the food has been bad either. The ambiance is okay; it is big and spacious, but can be somewhat loud. 2 stars is probably a fairly tough review, I could have probably gone with 3.
(2)Jonathan B.
This is one of the best known Mexican food restaurants in the northeast part of Albuquerque. It us a large and lively place with ample seating. I took my mother here from central Texas and despite it being prime hours on a Friday evening, we were seated in less that ten minutes. The table had dim lighting and we were greeted within a minute by our server. Locals with a taste for spicy food will like these authentic dishes, but if your visiting relative wants a variety of milder dishes they will be disappointed. Even the guacamole (which I love) is spicy! Traditional mariachi music played live fills in the background chatter and most tables have a cozy feel to them. My daughter ordered a "Patron Burger," that was big and juicy, but only had one thick sliced tomato and no pickles!?!. My chili relleno was delicious along with my carne asada and my cheese enchiladas. The red and green sauces both are just right for someone with a taste for the spicy but once again, your mother in law from Cleveland or Chicago will not be happy. Plenty of tasty margaritas to choose from and the prices are reasonable all around. Daily specials are a regular occurrence and new items are added to make the menu always seem fresh and exciting. Hard core locals will roll their eyes at this place and others like El Pinto and Sadie's, but this popular place is a good choice for sure!
(4)Deane D.
Been here twice. Excellent. However, Yelp states they offer a free birthday meal. Not true as of Apr. 2015. Come anyway for a great meal.
(5)Ima G.
Clean from the entry to the restrooms. Hostess a little cool leaning toward the snobby snooty side, tables and booths roomy and comfy. Waiter, James, awwwesome! Ask for his section- you won't regret it. Food- can anyone say delicious and authentic? I enjoyed the carne adovada, papitas and black beans. Portions were generous enough for me to bring half home, and will be enjoying it again, today. Carne was fork tender- no gamey taste, chili warmed my mouth and my tummy. Hubby had ground beef (WHY??? Please WHY??) taco plate. Said plate was wonderful. Why is due to why would anyone order tacos in a place with so much variety and tasty goodies! Salsa, guacamole and chips were great. Surprised there was no green chili in the guacamole, but jalapenos sprinkled on top- good just the same. Sopas were small, but fresh and delicious. They bring three for a table of two. Honey is a blend of syrup and honey. James did say there is whole honey and all we had to do was ask. We didn't know this but will keep in mind for next time. Flan- delicious in flavor , however "Dessert Artist" needs to work on her skills in making it. It was not creamy n smooth-it is a custard- which requires timing and cooling when introducing the eggs into the mix. This flan tasted like sweet french toast mix which was cooked. It was grainy- like tiny bits of scrambled eggs. It should have the consistency of pudding. They do have a full bar which includes a variety of beers. They have a patio for outdoor dining- found it odd that they allowed people to bring their dogs to that area.... no smoking but if fido makes his own lil dish..... just sayin... In view of whole, this place ranks a four! Good job El Patron, and great service James!
(4)Wes T.
Two words: Happy Hour. This place has a great one, and it is super popular. Nice little bar menu, with some really good deals on drinks. I tried the famous house margarita, and it was OK, a little too sweet for my taste. Nevertheless, people are fond of it, and it has been awarded best margarita in the city, so there's that. It's a big place, and during the summer I'm sure the patio is the place to be. The bar area is pretty large, too, and like I said earlier, the happy hour crowd fills it fast. You might have to jockey for seats. Good service, they did a really good job considering how busy the place was.
(3)Margaret M.
I've been back w a group. The food's ok, service was ok, maybe I'll try again. It was a better experience than the first time!
(3)Andy B.
My in-laws chose this place for a Birthday dinner (due to location) and I was hesitant given we like Sadie's and El Pinto so much. Sadly my fears were justified. The salsa is like pureed tomatoes - absolutely no heat/chile/flavor whatsoever - avoid. Their chips are really rather good, so just made me crave some salsa that had flavor. I ordered a combination plate (to try the relleno, the tamale and the carne) and paid the upcharge (50c each) to get calabacitas and potatoes instead of rice and beans. The calabacitas weren't cooked, but the potatoes were excellent. The relleno was tasty, not greasy and seemed to be filled with queso. The tamale was dry, had way way more masa than protein and didn't get eaten. The carne was good, big chunks of pork, but I would have liked it to be more spicy. I got Christmas on the side and their red chile had good flavor and heat, but the green was very mild. The combination plate was something like $16 so it wasn't cheap. I would not eat here again (and would try to convince anyone who suggested it to pick something else) given the prices and the lack of spice/heat/flavor.
(2)Julie F.
Great food, beautiful environment, great service and consistent food! I have been coming here since they opened and it's always fresh and delicious!
(5)Jennifer E. C.
Carne adovada was cheap and with a couple side tortillas was a fantastic meal for around five bucks. I come her often, the food is delicious. I strongly advise you to come here to eat yummy food.
(5)Kon K.
Dined here once, early Sunday evening. Very nice restaurant to sit inside, high roofs with considerable decorations and comfortable booths to sit in. A mariachi band was playing while we dined, not intrusive. Complementary chips and salsa were offered which were good. Salsa was mildly spicy. Menu was extensive with some daily specials, including more fish options that I usually expect from a New Mexican style restaurant. I ate the chicken fajitas which were well seasoned and cooked and generously portioned. My wife ate a combo plate which she enjoyed greatly. Happy hour prices on some drinks is available every day after 3pm. Patron silver margaritas we had tasted well made, $7 each. Service was very friendly, no issue getting a salsa refill. One of the nicer restaurants to sit in in Abq, nice ambience to it. Ample parking in the attached lot. I will happily dine here again.
(5)Paola C.
They do not accept vertical ID's although the person is my party's was perfectly legal and does not expire for another year. The manager didn't even have the decency to come and speak to us when we got upset.
(1)Lonny H.
Always good service and the Manager, Panos, has to be the best in town. Great food! The bar menu is great.
(5)Colin S.
Expect to be welcomed at the entrance and enjoy having both your server or bartender take care of you inside El Patron. I have, every time. Add a comfortable and nice decor. Then add pretty decent food (if u know what to order) and stir. What do you get? About Four Stars IMO. I Like -Powerful chunky salsa although the chips can barely handle it. -Rellenos have the good sticky white queso and rank high in ABQ. Just Right! -Carne Adovada seasoned well with that nice red chile after-sting. -BBQ and Chile Ribs had a good amount of meat. Not dry. Loved the sauce. -Good Tequila selection -Portion sizes dont leave you wanting dessert. I Dont -Bar lighting! Really bad! Cant believe it as much as this place must have cost. -The Tacos are super boring especially the beef ones. I'd skip them. -Guacamole is sooo easy. It could and should be much better here. I think Happy hour is 4-8:30 which is pretty long with plenty of food and drink choices and that doesn't suck. I'll be in from time to time for that Relleno and a cold one for sure.
(4)Damian R.
This pl ace is outstanding!! Stuffed sopa and frozen margarita, love it!! Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food.
(5)Alex D.
This place is overrated. Half the food you get tastes like it came out of a can. The atmosphere is great, I'll give them that. The service was decent, but based on the food I will not be back.
(2)J.D. V.
We have been here several times every time the food is great the atmosphere is great, chips salsa and margaritas, live music and a dance floor how can you go wrong!!!
(5)Tia S.
We had a company dinner here last night. El patron was very good. Nice atmosphere. I had the chile rellenos Christmas with a flat iron steak. The rice and beans were good and so were the sopas. My son even finished his plate and he is super picky.
(4)Lisa C.
Overall it was ok... My college cafeteria has better tamales than these. To me they were just kind of bland. However the rice and beans were ok. Our server was ok as well. Kind of weird, possibly scatter brained. Took awhile to be waited on as well as for drinks and food to come out. However, the coconut cream pie was the highlight of the meal. Sooooo good! Overall I would say this place is fine but if you want something really delicious perhaps seek elsewhere.
(3)Joan Y.
Margaritas! Salsa! Mariachis! What more could you ask for. This place is great and live up to the hype for local NM food. Fantastic cocktails and I love spicy dishes - they have it there! A fair amount of space for people to park with a decent size wait room because at time you may to put your name on the list but the wait is worth it.
(4)Stacy L.
This is the first time I've been to El Patron and I'd have to say I'm a fan! Not only did they accommodate our party of 10 on a short notice, the service was EXCEPTIONAL! We arrived at 6 (with a reservation made at 5pm that day) and were seated immediately. Chips and salsa were brought out and drink orders were taken. Chips were fresh and the salsa had a bite! Good thing I ordered the Cocorita to cool my taste buds down! I love that their house margarita is made with Patron Silver, I loathe Jose Cuervo. The Cocorita was also made with Patron Silver and rimmed with honey and toasted coconut. Once our food order was taken, we waited approximately 20 minutes for our food. Excellent timing for a group as large as ours. We all ordered several entrees off the menu, but I'd have to say the fajitas, chicken enchilada casserole and enchiladas got rave reviews. I had the chicken and shrimp fajitas and they were perfectly seasoned and came out sizzling. My husband had the fish tacos and said they were great. The pico and the salsa have quite a bite, so beware! Overall the service and food here was great. Prices were reasonable too, making it one of our new go to New Mexican food restaurants. Well done El Patron.
(4)Selvyn C.
Very nice and clean restaurant. Love the interior look. Looks like a of a old Mexican village. Even the prop look cool. You even have the choice to seat outside very comfortably. They even have two different bar's you can sit on. So I decided to have the steak tacos. It comes with beans and rice. Very tasty, good flavor and very well presentation on the plate. I'll definitely want to come back and try there others food. My only complain was that the tortilla fell apart very easy when I pick it up. So it did get messy at times. Luckily I was able to use my fork.
(5)J R.
Gr8 spot - not your ordinary NM food. Good chili, good service, great feel. It use to be a gardunos - much better now!
(5)Casey B.
El Patron is hands down my favorite Mexican eatery; their salsa is perfect, & they're always so accommodating! The portions are really large, so I end up eating the chicken quesadillas for my meal (they're the best in town). My husband loves chimichangas & has a really hard time finding places in town that have them on the menu. El Patron doesn't have them on the menu; however, they make him one every time we go! Great wait staff & everyone is always so friendly. If you're in the mood for some great Mexican food in a nice, quiet setting-this is your place. Don't even get me started on their sopapillas ..... Awesome! Enjoy ... V/r, Casey Burnsed
(5)Forever L.
Sit at the bar!!! The Patron Silver Margarita is Perfect! The bartenders are excellent and don't get me started on the delicious BAR appetizers!!! love it!
(5)Cruz K.
Great carne adovada enchiladas..The meat was very tender and wicked hot..I would order it again. Cold beer helped with the heat.
(4)Suki E.
First let me say I would totally go here again. We went here for dinner early (like 4 pm) on New Years Eve. Most importantly.....SPICY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean hot dude!!!! My nose ran thru the entire meal. The chips were amazing but the salsa was a little too spicy for me to eat very much..which was disappointing. But the chips were good enough to eat plain! I really liked that they put pepper on them which is something I do with popcorn as well. Server was very pleasant, water was filled at least 3-4 times in an hour despite her having quite a few tables, food was out relatively soon. I ordered a combo plate with a pork tamale, cheese enchilada, and chile relleno. The enchilada was disappointing mostly bc it was cold and the cheese was already starting to harden (but I think it would have been good if hot). The chile relleno was VERY good....but again very spicy as was the tamale which was also quite good. I can be pretty picky with my rellenos. My Dad had a burrito...I think it was some sort of Fajita burrito? It was grilled on the outside and had large pieces of chicken breast and grilled onions/bell peppers on the inside. Looked Delicious and my Dad said it was the best he has had here so far....he has lived here the last 9 years. I kinds wished I had ordered that instead!!! Margarita was EXCELLENT. I like spicy food!.....but it would be nice to have an option...like mild or medium? Instead of HOT. I think this place is great but I think a lot of the reviews complain of the spice being a little overpowering so maybe this is something to consider? BUT...definitely one of my top 5 favs in ABQ:)
(3)Jane V.
I went here for lunch with a large group (about 15.) Our server was amazing! She was very helpful and willing to make umbrellas, chairs, and tables for us. She didn't give any grief about separate checks. Our food arrived quickly and she did a great job of managing large group. The food was pretty good. I had the avocado cheese enchilada special. I really liked their Spanish rice. It tasted fresh and had just a little moisture in it.
(4)Kate H.
Friday date night, there were 4 of us so I figured reservations were a good idea. I called a day before and a very friendly lady took the number in our group, the time and my name. When we arrived they had no record of it. After a short wait we were seated in a back room that was much less appealing than the nicely decorated front dining room. Our waiter was inattentive and very forgetful. My friend ran out of water a few times and had to wait at least 10 minutes each time for more. The food tasted good and was reasonably priced but the next day 3 of us were pretty sick from something in the meal.
(2)Becky W.
El Patron's happy hour appetizer specials in the bar are the best value. The fish tacos are our favorite. The main diningroom entrees are pretty good too--our favorites are the Burrito Rellenado plate, and the Seafood Enchiladas. The Enchilado Casserole was so-so, and their beef tacos aren't that great, however. The worst though was our "Large Guacamole Salad" appetizer. For $8.50 we got about 1/2 avocado-worth of guacamole on top of a bunch of shredded lettuce. Total ripoff. We will never order that again!
(3)J G.
I used to go here 25 years ago in high school and was concerned with the new ownership but fear not, it's only better. Live mariachi was a nich touch in the dining room, murals and plenty of space in main dining room. My daughter was not happy with the jalepenos in the ceviche and her beans (?) but i loved all the heat. Ceviche was kinda limey, so taste before you squeeze 2 more in like i did. i had the fish tacos, which i should have passed on because theyre the same tacos as Nick and Jimmys, which ive had a million times. should have tried the carne adovada (always a good measure of a restaurant's worth). wife had the chile relleno (very good and cheesy) and the flat iron which was a bit off. we couldnt explain what was wrong, just something, which was funny. Bud light was $2 on happy hour special from 3-close. Bud light was $2 on happy hour special from 3-close. Sopapillas were just as good as they ever were as Guardunos. i think i had 3. careful, they go down fast. $60 + tip for family of 4 (2 kids) . little pricey but i was just in the mood to have a good time and i did.
(4)Colleen K.
We are always welcomed with big smiles and friendly attitudes. The first thing you recieve is a basket of tortilla chips and salsa which is maybe the best in town. The chips are light and crispy while the salsa is super fresh with a slight heat to it. My favorite thing here is the Naked Chile Rellenos, which means they are not deep fried. I dream about this delicious concoction. However, it's not just the food that is amazed here. The service at El Patron is amazing from the host to the servers. Everyone is friendly and extremely accommodating with any of your wants and needs. They also have an all day happy hour menu!
(5)Tiffany A.
Food was ok, service was excellent and the atmosphere is fantastic. We had queso (just ok), Guacamole (excellent), fajitas (beef ok, shrimp good), enchiladas and the refried beans were great, as were the fries. Tamales were ok, chile relleno was good. Fried ice cream was good. We will go again.
(3)Zach B.
Best happy hour/bar menu in town...but you have to sit in the bar to order from that menu. You can get a bunch of tacos, etc without all the rice and beans garnish for a good price. We go here so often that the servers know our usual order. They close at 9pm on weekdays in my only complaint. I love tacos! Order the 5 dollar margarita special then ask for half soda water. So delicious.
(5)Kris K.
First time here, and I was impressed with everything. We ordered nachos to start with which came out super quick and were very delicious. I had a margarita to drink, the $7 Patron margarita, and it really hit the spot. I had the seafood enchiladas with calabacitas and my fiancee had the green chile chicken lasagna. Both of us were very happy with our meals. The service was fantastic as our server was friendly and helpful with our questions. She didn't hover over our table but was there enough to make sure we were taken care of, which is what you really want out of your server, isn't it? I will definitely be going back again as everything was to my liking..
(5)Terie W.
This was my first visit here. I really liked the ambiance. It was authentic New Mexican. I ordered the combination plate #2. It was ok. I wasn't a fan of the chicken taco but I thought the tamale had great flavor. I had the calabacitas for a side and they were fantastic! Perfectly done! The service was good. The big bummer for me was the margarita. It was nice and strong but I wasn't a fan of the flavor. We went on a Sunday night at about 5 and it wasn't too busy. They also had a couple of guys playing guitars and singing. I really enjoyed that. They weren't too loud so you could keep conversation going without having to shout. I would go back if it weren't so far for me.
(3)ali k.
This place was super good! I got the steak tacos, which were very good. But the rice and beans were the best! And our server was super nice and did an awesome job!
(5)Chelsea W.
Ordered Baja fish tacos husband got the combo plate #2 The chips and salsa are excellent ; chips light and crispy! Fish tacos delicious but I like a little spicier, tangier sauce, this one was good, just milder than I like. My husband liked his combo plate except for the tomale which was made with too much corn meal. Sopapillas topped off a great meal one of the better in ABQ and inexpensive too!
(5)Pam M.
Delicious food, fresh, warm sopapillas, and great service. My husband had the blue corn enchiladas and I had the Southwestern salad. Great atmosphere and the wait wasn't bad even on a Friday night during Balloon Fiesta. Wonderful NM dining experience!
(4)Shahnaz K.
The good. Live music. Fresh ingredients. Happy Hour bar menu. The bad. I don't think anything is gluten-free safe. The ugly. We had major mistakes on our orders the past several trips in a row. Charged for expensive margaritas that we didn't order. Chicken on a vegetarian dish. I want to like it, but we've now had one too many bad runs...
(2)Amy B.
El Patron has a great happy hour! Our waitress was attentive and the food was great! The margaritas were a deal, too!
(4)Tamara F.
I've been there 3 times now and happy to say I've found a great Mexican food restaurant! Excellent food from hot flavorful salsa and fresh chips to steak and enchiladas, to fish tacos, rellenos, tamales, and sopapillas. Great service 2 out of 3 times. Reasonably priced and great decor and atmosphere.
(4)K L.
I'm done with this place. It's close to home and I have wanted to like it, but it has gone downhill beyond belief in the last 6 months. This will be my last visit. On a Monday night, our party of 3 sat in the bar. It took over 10 minutes for anyone to even acknowledge we were there. The guy serving up the chips and salsa finally came over and brought snacks and offered us water, since all FIVE wait staff were socializing at the bar. (There were approximately 5 other tables in the entire area btw.) The waitress finally came over and took our drink order. Another 10-15 later, she showed up with them....but without menus. We asked for them and it was another 10....And she only brought TWO menus--for our party of THREE. Thank goodness we ordered queso (the only good thing on the menu) with our drinks. We only waited 30 minutes for that. We finally just ordered off the bar menu....It took forever to get there, was cold, and DISGUSTING. I'm hoping I'm not sick later tonight....we couldn't even eat it. I finally had to get up and go find the waitress to get the check--and found her hiding in a doorway, flirting with who appeared to be the manager....and who quickly scurried away when I interrupted them and asked her to please bring the check that we had asked for 10 minutes before. This isn't the first bad service experience I've had in the bar area, but I'm finished giving it second chances--bad food, bad service....it has nothing to offer.
(1)Rich L.
Albuquerque used to be THE place for Mexican Food, but over the years it has become touristy, lacked style and has just become boring. The salsa is good at Sadie's but the rest of the food has become flat, lacks heat and just doesn't match the old bowling alley days. Little Anita's has consistently tasty food, but the service is a crap shoot where winning means you get treated with disdain but they may refill your drink. El Pinto has a nice atmosphere, but the overpriced menu can be disappointing. Los Cuates has the worst salsa in the city with decent food and ok service. All in all we were forced to pick the restaurant based upon what we wanted to eat; good salsa, red or green, papitas etc....never getting all of our desires met in one place. Lot's of OK, but none that you would brag about. Today, our needs have been met. Good salsa, thin crispy chips (perfectly salted), great service, nice pricing, excellent chili (wife had green and I had red both scored well), papita's properly cooked, one of the best relleno's I have EVER had, and fish tacos apparently so tasty my wife did not force me into conversation (and it is our anniversary). All in all our new favorite. I hope they keep up the good work and don't fail the locals to gain approval of the outsiders.
(4)Laura V.
We headed up to El Patron last weekend around 3pm, when Happy Hour starts. We sat at the bar and it was not very crowded- however it took the bartender quite a while to get to us. He seemed pretty frazzled but we rolled with it. The drinks were good and we just had chips and salsa and a few of the appetizers from the Happy Hour menu, which were good. I would probably go back but seeing as how we live on the other side of town, I wouldn't go out of my way. Good but not great.
(3)Scott M.
I was in the mood for nachos so I did a yelp search for a mexican restaurant. El Patron came up as the closest match. This place was packed on a Friday night at 7:30pm. Parking was a little tight but we were fortunate to get a spot as someone was leaving as we arrived. I was impressed with the facility and decor. El Patron is a very spacious restaurant with an authentic mexican feel and plenty of private nooks and enclaves. Live mariachi bands provide good and authentic music. There was also a full bar and dancing in a back room (no wonder this place was packed). The El Patron staff estimated a 40 minute wait but it only took 5 minutes for us to get a seat. Free chips and salsa arrived as we were seated. The chips were light and tasty and the salsa had a nice kick. I was also very happy to discover they had free refills on soda. We ordered the chicken nachos from the appraiser menu but were disappointed that the chicken was shredded and not seasoned (see photo). Unfortunately, the chicken tasted like it came straight from the can (it wasn't seasoned). Our kids had the taco and enchilada kids meals and enjoyed them. The kids meals came with a chocolate pudding dessert which they also devoured. In all, good food and great ambiance at a reasonable price. Our family of 5 ate for $27.20.
(3)Jackie G.
Food is average but a little pricey for what it is, service is awful, and the atmosphere is ok. My husband and I finally gave this place a shot, considering we live about 3 minutes away, and we got exactly what we expected. We sat in the bar area, on a pub table. It was late afternoon, just before 4pm, and the bar area and patio were scattered with middle-aged women and the like, sipping on margaritas. I honestly couldn't begin to remember what we ordered, because it was kind of a basic, unmemorable dish. The menu reminded us of a Little Anita's menu, but a little more expensive. Our server was ok, but she wouldn't pre-bus our tiny table. Dirty plates began piling up, and we barely had room to set down our drinks. I finally had to ask her to take our dirty plates off the table. Also, (which is the main reason why I am giving this place 1 star) I think it was shift change for the servers, because suddenly our server was out of sight, and we were being rushed by another server to cash out, and he started sweeping under our table, and wiping off our table while we were still sitting there trying finishing our drinks. I finally said to my husband out loud, "I guess we're getting kicked out!" I absolutely hate being rushed! We just dropped $60 for an appetizer, dinner, and a few drinks, and got really crappy service! Never again, El Patron. Never again.
(1)Gary H.
Sat outside on a very inviting patio. Quality food and fun atmosphere. Teens had fish tacos, we had chili rub ribs and fajitas. We will be back. Seems like a great place to sit back and relax with a margarita. Extensive dessert menu also, but the sopas and honey just fine for us.
(4)Jennifer M.
Came in last week with a friend for an early dinner around 3.. the restaurant itself is huge and quite pretty. Of course, because it wasnt yet dinner time, it was also quite empty which was okay for us. Our waiter brought us some chips and salsa which I can say were the highlight of the meal. We also ordered the chips and queso and when it came out, my friend described it as melted plastic. Absolutely gross. We ordered two combination plates for our meals and when those came out, I can say they were underwhelming. The one plus... the green chile was spicy! Other than that though.. the food was no good. The chile relleno was 90% batter, the cheese wasnt in it, and even though the menu boasts cheddar inside, our server confirmed that they use monterey jack. The taco was mushy, the enchilada was greasy. All the while, we arent able to find our server to refill our drinks. We did count the other staff we saw standing around in little groups.. twelve. Twelve servers and bussers standing around and watching us look around for our server. Apparently none of them are able to be a team player unless its their own table. Shameful. After weve finished our meal, our server finally acknowledges the full container of uneaten queso and takes it off our bill without question. Apparently it wasnt a surprise that we thought it was terrible. Too bad he hadnt noticed before our meals came out because we would have liked to have ordered something different. Overall, the food is junk and the service is too. Pass.
(1)Philip C.
We went for lunch. Service was pretty good in the lounge area. The updates for El Patron from Garduños are great. I ordered two a la carte items - a tamale and carne adovada. The adovada was perfectly spicy and amazingly tender. The tamale was small and had too much masa, but it was good. I'd get the carne adovada again, but I would try something different next time. My friends ordered the taquito plate and the bowl of posole. The taquitos looked beautiful and were served with rice, beans, sour cream, and guacamole. The posole was only like $4.95 for a huge serving, but it was really really thick. Oh, the tortilla chips were fresh, salty, and thin. Just like at Chili's. I know - sacrilege for that comparison, but Chili's has the best tortilla chips ever, so now El Patron does too by default. The salsa was great with jalapeño and cilantro. We will be back, probably very soon. Happy hour looks promising, as does their patio.
(4)Cheryl O.
During two back to back visits to Albuquerque, I visited El Patron. I have had their shrimp tacos and found them flavorful and plentiful, but my second visit, I had a chile relleno plate. I am a chile relleno snob and want the real thing...not too much batter, a REAL pepper, and plenty of cheese. These did not disappoint...possibly being e best rellenos I have had in years. (What can I say? I live in CA and our Mexican food is a joke.) I'm also an iced tea snob and LOVE their tea. The server brought extra lemon wedges at our request and kept our tea glasses filled often, even fixing me a to go cup as we left. Chips are fresh and tender, but the salsa wasn't anything to write home about. No New Mexican meal is complete without sopaipillas. My suggestion is to have the server bring them at the end of the meal instead of with your entrees. They are much better piping hot and dripping with honey. When I visit Albuquerque, there are a few restaurants on my "to do" list and El Patron has joined this list. Keep up the good work!
(5)Darla V.
The food was good. The atmosphere was sublime. The service was horrible. Our reservation was lost, so we were told an hour wait...We were told you cannot reserve the patio, but we saw a large open table, so we asked if we could just sit outside. No, that table was reserved by someone else...Really? So eventually the hostess agreed to let us sit there. It was over an hour before we could get someone to take our food order. Like I said, the food was good. One member of our party is a vegetarian, and ordered a combo with a vegetarian tamale....nope, full of meat! The waiter then argued with her over what she ordered! He didn't seem to care at all that her order was botched, or that for her to have a mouthful of meat ruined her meal. We had to flag the waiter down again several more times to pay, and even when we asked him to stay, he walked away...I was excited to try this beautiful restaurant, but I don't know if I would go again...
(3)Karen M.
Good atmosphere, good food. The patio is inviting. The interior is bright and spacious without feeling cavernous. Hand painted murals add warmth. The chips were light, crisp, and delicious. Our server recommended fajitas. They offer a choice of meat including chicken, beef and shrimp. Our combo chicken and shrimp arrived on a sizzling platter with fresh peppers and onions. Delicious and plentiful, with sides of your choice. The service was friendly and quick without being smothering. Can't wait to go back and try the patio.
(4)Charles K.
These guys have nailed the rellanos and the rest of the menu ain't bad either. Glad to see a good solid establishment in this location.
(3)Jeff V.
Ok, so here it goes. This was my first time here, so I thought I would try a selection of their more "traditional" fare. The plate received looked like the usual, however taste and look don't always go together. I ordered the relleno combo with red. Ok so if you are the kind of person that likes the super oregano red chile, this is for you. Richard's has this type of red. My opinion is that this much oregano belongs in pasta sauces, not red chile sauce. Not saying it wasn't good, just unexpected. I tasted some of the selections from the plates of my dining companions, and I must say the tacos were pretty spectacular. Everything else on the combo plate was pretty much par for the course, nothing really over the top great. Tamale was mostly masa with a tiny taste of pork in the middle, very Bueno. Relleno was great. The chips were fresh made and the sprinkle of pepper was unexpected and very good. The service was so so for a Sunday with a nearly empty dining room, it seemed our server was more concerned about the outdoor umbrellas than actually paying attention to his customers. Gotta say that when he was in the dining room our table never had to ask for drink refills, those came automatically. Not a bad experience for the price. Worth a second visit just to try out the less traditional offerings. Opt for green if you do go traditional. If you like a spicy red this is not the place to get it, for something spectacular, get the tacos.
(3)Amy W.
My husband and I just visited El Patron for lunch. I liked the upgrades and ambiance they put into the old Garduno's location. It still has a NM flair, but just seems a little more classy and clean. I ordered the baja fish tacos and my husband ordered the chicken adobada burrito. Mine was very flavorful and I would get it again. My husband would probably try something different next time. We noticed in bold red letters at the top of the menu it stated something about this is a temporary menu and more items would be coming soon. We asked our waiter about this and he said the restaurant hasn't "officially" opened yet. Even though they are serving customers already, they've not put out their 'Grand Opening' sign or done any advertising... so in the meantime, they are still tweaking their menu. Overall, it's exciting to have a new tasty NM restaurant here in the NE Heights.
(4)Vickie C.
Best chips and salsa ever. The chips are very thin and always warm. Salsa is fresh and delicious. I've tried several different dishes and have never been disappointed. Service has always been spectacular.
(5)Lily J.
Great chips and salsa. Amazing baja fish tacos. Service was awesome. Thanks NANcy
(5)H.s. C.
My wife, son and I had dinner at El Patron this week. I was overall very pleased. Service was a little sketchy. I did not know we were supposed to get chips and salsa since some places charge extra. Our Wait Person apologized as she brought the chips and salsa about 5 minutes before our meals were served. By the way, the chips were excellent, different, light, thin, and the salsa was tomotoey (is that a word?) without much kick but tasty nevertheless. My son and I ordered Carne Adovada Burritos and my wife the rolled and fried flautas. I ordered red and green and it was deliciously picante, meat tender and generous. My wife enjoyed her dinner as well. I missed the sopapillas so I don't know if they forgot or if they were extra. Beer was icy cold and the glasses frosted to perfection. Most enjoyable. Overall very nice. One more thing, they had some live entertainment (Musicos) from table to table, which my wife generally does not care for (don't make eye contact with them!) but in this case we all actually enjoyed their music, it was very good and varied from the usual to include some Johnny Cash and others we were not expecting. Food gets 5 stars, the only down side was the service seemed a little lacking.
(4)Diane M.
Like oil and salt? This is the place for you! They never heard of steamed vegetables; the calabacitas are pre-soaked in oil and salt so even that is out. Ask for a baked potato? Sorry no can do. Ok, any restaurant can come up with a decent salad. Wrong. All El Patron can do is a lettuce wedge topped with tomato, but tell them to hold the bacon bits or you will get oil and salt with your salad. I know, it is a Mexican Restaurant.. But, there is such a thing as customer service, customer medical limitations and just plain customer preferences. None of which is on the radar screen at El Patron.
(1)Jeffrey P.
Really beautiful restaurant. When we went the mariachis were playing, very festive, and entertaining. Service was good, drinks were good too!
(4)Funky T.
2nd visit to El Patron and my veggie fajitas were very good, although they do not come out steaming on the platter like at most places. There was live music with Freddie Chavez (I think that was the name). My husband had a combo plate and felt like the masa was rather thick on the tamale, but he enjoyed the chicken taco and the chile relleno. Chips as mentioned by many, are light and flavorful. We ordered the guacamole as an appetizer to have with our chips but I found the guacamole to be extremely spicy. I felt that if something is that spicy, especially guacamole which usually isn't, the customer should be asked if they have a preference as to spice level. I couldn't eat it with the chips as I'd planned and added only a small amount to my fajitas when putting them together. Sopapillas came out piping hot and absolutely wonderful! I could have eaten more of them although I certainly had plenty to eat and took some of the fajitas home. Rice, I'm with others on this, kind of meh. Too "wet" for me, I prefer the rice to have much less tomato so that it's more flaky. All in all, we both enjoyed our 2nd visit and will return, obviously remembering about the guacamole and tamale and ordering with those items in mind.
(4)Scarlett S.
Totally fun! I'm so happy to see something moved in to the old Garduño's space and left things looking similar (albeit classier). The interior has been updated with more sophisticated yet still very themed decor that puts you in the mood for a fiesta. Which is great since they have great margaritas that are NOT made from a mix (happy hour discounts too). The food has been excellent each time we've been there and the space lends itself to larger groups, with a few more intimate corners for something romantic. My suggestions: The green chile enchilada casserole is to die for as are the fajitas! Prices are reasonable, atmosphere is great, and staff are professional and courteous.
(4)Lou C.
This was my second visit to this restaurant. The food was outstanding the first time, and it was equally good this time. The servers were friendly and very attentive. The food arrived quickly and exactly as I had ordered. My coffee was almost too hot to drink, which I find unusual but good for them. I had a very good Mexican dinner and was out the door for $13, including tax and tip. I'll come back during my next visit to New Mexico. The whole package is that good!
(5)Marla L.
Went today with my sister that was visiting from out of state. I was embarrased by the horrible food and sub par service that we received. The margaritas were horrible and watery and made from a low quality mix. The "happy hour" pricing was no bargain at all. We orderred guacamole appetizer and paid a "happy hour" price for a small scoop that was barely enough for two people to have a decent taste. The queso dip was out of a can and horrible. The chips greasy. Would not go back.
(1)K W.
Not too shabby. They have great outdoor seating which allows dogs and the margaritas, though pricey, are good. They have a variety of drinks to choose from and they have a decent happy hour.
(4)Ricky M.
After reading the reviews I was pretty hyped to try this place only to find out its really not that great at all actually, its horrible. I went on a Friday night and the wait was about 45 minutes. We got seated outside which was a really nice patio the waiter we had was horrible he was slow, forgot our order, we kept having to ask him for things like water, chips and salsa, silverware, sopapillas etc. after finally taking our order I got my margarita about 20 minutes later and it really wasn't anything special tasted mostly like sweet and sour mix. The food then came out about 30 minutes after that I had a combo plate which wasn't that tasty. The red chile tasted like tomato paste and kind of sweet everything else was mediocre. The person I was with had the steak and enchiladas and they also agreed the chile tasted like tomato paste and the steak they had wasn't cooked right and was nervy this place better step up there game cause the only thing they have going for them is the atmosphere. For $60 I would of rather went to El Pinto or Casa de Benivides or I could of saved a lot of money and went to Los Cuatres and had a better meal.
(2)Karnika C.
My family and I went to El Patron with another family and we enjoyed it. I had the Baja Fish Tacos with spicy coleslaw, which was recommended by the waiter and they were to die for!! I'm so serious though. The other adults also said they enjoyed their meals and this was our first time visiting. Will definitely return when in Albuquerque.
(4)Ron R.
First time here. Food and service were both good. The chile BBQ ribs were very tasty as an appetizer. All six of us were happy with our food.
(4)Sara R.
I really enjoyed this restaurant. The atmosphere is great, the food was delicious as well. Also, great service!
(4)Scott K.
Like the way they remodeled the inside from the old Garduño's. The waitress informed us that the portions were very generous, so don't go crazy. She allowed me to order a combination plate from the senior menu, and even that was plenty. Got a beef taco and chile relleno with the typical beans and rice side. The food was great, the beef was seasoned just enough and moist (which is saying a lot if you have ever experience over-cooked meat in your tacos). I was impressed with the relleno. Although, I love my mother-in-law's the most, these are definitely in the running for top 10 status that I have encountered at a restaurant. They were a bit slow getting chips and salsa out to us, but not horrible, I blame my stomach for wanting it quicker than they got it to us. The daughter and I ate for $18. The sopapillas were fried perfectly.
(3)Ronald T.
Great chips and salsa. Guacamole was the bomb. Entrees were right portions and perfect. Our server was friendly, interacted with the grand kids, and did a good job.
(5)NoBull B.
I do not agree with Scott F at all, it sounds like he is the one with the problem. I was there for their soft grand opening and let me tell you Northeast Albuquerque now has an outstanding restaurant to have an outstanding meal and drinks. I had the Green Chili Chicken Cassorole that was "the best". Hopefully, it will be a standard on their menu. I also has 2 flower tortillas and didn't notice them being any different than any other place. Service was efficient, polite and fast, there were no hickup's even with them being overrun with their new customers. All in all the El Patron is a welcome addition to the Albuquerque restaurant scene. I recommend everyone give it a try, and i"m sure your experience will be the same as mine, 5 STARS.
(5)Mike P.
Went their for a business lunch- There service was great- My drink was never empty and i must of had 3 diffrent people filling it- In my opinion they have the best chips and salsa in town- They have the thin light chips and the salsa was fresh- I had the steak tacos- everything was great incluiding the service- plus it was quiet enought to have a conversation and the prices where very reasonable- I'll be back
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