El Patio Mexican Restaurant
611 37th St, Des Moines, IA, 50312
El Patio Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
611 37th St
Des Moines, IA, 50312 - Phone (515) 274-2303
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : 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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B B.
I came here for lunch during the workweek with a few coworkers. We were greeted by a waitress that was frantic and let us know she was the only one there. Throughout the meal she reminded us over and over again how she was the only one there whenever we requested another basket of chips, etc. Honestly, her frantic energy was throwing our meal off and making us all uncomfortable. That being said, the food was great. Everything tasted really fresh and the margaritas were amazing. We got a Mexican pizza, puffy tacos, and a burrito. So. Much. Food. We left very full and happy. 4 stars for very good Mexican. Minus one star for a terrible waitress.
(4)Alex H.
Eh. It was okay. I won't die to go back. The host offered us one table, when we requested another table he didn't accept our request as we had an odd number of people. Never mind the flower pot blocking seat 4. Then they decided to put an umbrella over us. Pretty decent, except for the fact it wasn't tied/ grounded to anything. So it fell over. Three times. What did they do? Nothing. The one waitress finally removed the umbrella at our request. Note the table we requested had an umbrella with stand. One of the off waitresses (see below) relocated a couple so they could seat a group. Service was a bit slow, with a trio of servers. The main gal was trying her best, but the other two seemed to be on different planets. The food was pretty good. Standard Mexican fare. You know, the stuff you can find at XYZ places in town.
(2)Jamie S.
The Salsa is excellent due to its slight spiciness. The tortilla chips are salty but OK. I was there on a very hot & humid day and it was not nearly cool enough inside. I ordered the chili Rellenos Santa Fe Style and it was OK.
(3)Sarah M.
We waited 15 minutes to have someone even ask if we wanted a table. 10 until someone brought a pitcher of water. 10 for glasses for the water. 10 for chips to go with our salsa. Then we gave up and went else where. Won't try it again.
(1)Bill C.
Truly awful food. I've had the misfortune of eating here several times, which has allowed me to try various foods. First off, it it's "Mexican" food. It's hardly "Tex-Mex." The entrees are served with melted cheddar cheese. The beef is under-seasoned, the pork is bland, the chicken, flavorless. The taco salad is served with spring greens (dandelion leaves with taco meat?) The chips are poured from a cellophane bag and are too salty. The value is terrible as the prices are too high. Avoid at all costs.
(1)Sylvia D.
There's just something about El Patio that makes me happy. A group of us went sunday night as we do about every 6 weeks and for the first time, it was really busy and service was much slower than usual. But hey, its sunday night, we don't have anywhere else to go, everyone's DVR's are recording their favorite shows, so who cares? We went through two baskets of chips and salsa and some drinks, our server was slammed, and eventually our orders were taken, food was served, everyone thought their food was delicious and although some people will penalize their servers because a place is understaffed, we still gave her 20%. It was obvious everyone there was doing the absolute best they can when the business had more volume than expected, or maybe someone called in sick and left them short, who knows. But I think its really mean to patronize a place regularly, and the one time they fall short, you give them fewer stars than they deserve. Every time I go, I order something different so I will eventually try everything, and I can't say that about other places where it seems more prudent to stick with what you have tried before. So far I haven't had anything I didn't really enjoy. We're all looking forward to going back and being out on the patio with a pitcher of margaritas.
(5)Deb N.
Deb N. 6/29/2014 El Patio is by far our favorite restaurant for Mexican food - we love it! They have the very best and most intimate outside patio/deck and it's surrounded by beautiful flowers that the owners have hand-planted and cared for. It's so beautiful!! And the food is fabulous - every time, of course! Finally, and we've traveled the world and tasted plenty...their margaritas are the very BEST! We love El Patio!
(5)TandM S.
Definitely will never be visiting this place again. We knew it would be downhill when our waitress told someone that they serve nothing spicy (it's supposed to be a Mexican restaurant). Our waitress was basically unavailable. She forgot about our requests. She brought the wrong dish and forgot our side. Then she asked US if we want it it taken off the bill. I can overlook some service issues if the food is good, but it wasn't. The cheese dip was basically melted Velveeta with a couple peppers added. The taco shells were Old El Paso. The rice and beans tasted like they were made 6 hours ago, and were dry and bubbly around the side, as if they were microwaved. Really not sure how this place has been around so long.
(1)Dave M.
I like the location and the overall feel of the place, especially the "el patio". But that is about it. The owners and chef at this Mexican restaurant need to really head back to culinary school (or Guadalajara - your choice!) and learn how to cook Mexican food; just the basics would be fine with me. The super-salty chips were served up without salsa; when my son politely asked for some, the waitress' response was "I only have two-hands son". My advice to her is to watch how she speaks to the children of her guests or Dad will not be very tip-friendly. The meals we ordered were served, but were not as flavorful as they were colorful. Remember guys - taste FIRST, then presentation. In all, this place has so much potential, but only if the owners don't rely on their history for customer traffic. Ingersoll is growing in choices and popularity; "institutions" will not survive merely for being one. They need to earn it! This place is failing in that department.
(2)Laura B.
Oh come on, this place deserves a far higher rating than 3 stars. A) It's an institution, having originally opened in the 40s, and has been in its current location since the 50s. B) The patio is beautifully striking and like no other. The walls are lined so densely with potted and hanging flowers that you can barely see the brick wall of the next building or the neighboring parking lot. C) The margaritas are strong and delicious. The liters are served in glass carafes, and the waitress changed out our glasses several times to make sure we'd have fresh salt! D) The food is good! No, it's not super-fancy, but there's a homemade quality to it that is a nice change of pace from the highly-smothered type of Mexican served at a lot of other restaurants. E) I've never had bad service here. Sometimes you have to walk farther into the restaurant to find the hostess, so if it hasn't picked up yet and you're just hanging out in the front it may seem like there's no one there. I think its just that the hostess is also on the waitstaff or helps bus tables. It's a casual place; just get someone's attention and they'll seat you! We got there early to try to get a patio table, and managed to get the last two top because a bunch of the other tables were already reserved. So reservations may be the way to go to experience El Patio's patio.
(5)Patrick T.
I have been here before years ago, and loved our experience! A SW American style of New Mexican food located in a house and family owned since the 40's. It's been years so we thought we would go back. My experience last night was not as great as it was before. It was kinda like a scene out of Twin Peaks or something. The whole atmosphere was a little strange and our server seemed like she was on another planet most of the evening. Which I would totally be down with. But it almost felt like we were a burden for even being there. We sat down and hadn't had but 1 minute to look at the menu she came over and said, "do you know what you want?" in kinda a I'm in a hurry tone. I thought it was strange. The chips and salsa were nothing to write home about and we did get a second basket of chips but pretty much ran out of salsa, right away and never got any more. But then again we never asked either. As far as the main course my wife loved her meal, She got the #6 which was one of the classic old school meals with eggs, and tex mex style food. My made to order veggie burrito was not really what I expected or was hoping for. It was very small, and was lacking veggies and flavor for that matter. I was a little disappointed. Will give this place another shot sometime but last night I was a little bummed.
(3)Amanda J.
Horrible service. Chips and salsa were from a bag and a bottle,no where near homemade. Food was okay but took 30 mins to get it and it sat on a cart in between tables until the waitress had time to serve it. Way too much $$ for the food and service. Very disappointed!
(1)Monica S.
Me and my husband really liked this place and it was within walking distance from our home. I'm usually not crazy about Mexican food, but the enchilads, fajitas, and chimichanga are all excellent. Start with a karafe of blue margaritas, my favorite there. For dessert, the fried ice cream with honey, chocolate, and whipped cream, yum! The service is generally slow, so just go when you don't have anywhere else to be!
(3)Scott S.
Have been going to el patio for more than 20 years, hadn't been there for a while, for about 5 years, went there twice this week and LOVED it. The ambiance is incredible, the service is fantastic, the food is reliably tasty. The patio in the summertime is really charming, full of beautiful plants, feels as if you were at a resort, or on a dock at a restaurant in a leafy lake area. This is the longest running (oldest) restaurant in Des Moines, since 1945 or something like that. The true test of time. It's worth going back to again and again.
(4)Collin B.
You know at the end of the day this is not the best Mexican food in the world but Brooke is a hell of a nice guy and that means a lot to me. He knows everyone in the neighborhood. They have been there forever. El patio is an institution.
(5)Lisa S.
This restaurant is a Des Moines institution. My parents started going there before they were married and still go regularly. I don't go to DSM without planning a meal there. Where to start...? Well, I recommend starting with a margarita, those are pretty good. Then you definitely have to try the salsa, cheese dip and guacamole. If you're not really into spicy food, try the enchilada casserole, the chicken flautas, tostada or tacos. The Southwest dinners use blue corn tortillas, have a spicier sauce, and come with black beans. You will probably not have room for dessert, but do yourself a favor and order one anyway. My personal favorite is Becky's chocolate cake, but the sopapillas and fried ice cream, and flan are also good. While you eat you can enjoy the collection of R.C. Gorman lithographs and other southwest art. If you do stop in, say hi to Brook & Becky (the owners) for me!
(5)Nick M.
Horrible service. Rude wait staff. Awful food. How this place has been in business for as long as it has, I don't know? Ditto to the person who commented that the cheese dip isn't even stadium nacho quality. It tastes like it was some cheap Velveeta knockoff, melted down and some green onion tossed in. The ground beef in my burrito was so greasy, there was pools of red oil sitting around it on my plate. The refried beans and Mexican rice were clearly just out of a can, heated and dumped on a plate. For a fraction of the price (yes....not only is it bad, it's overpriced), you can patronize one of the dozens of local "authentic" Mexican restaurants and have a much tastier and higher quality meal, served quickly and with great service. Even the Margarita my fiancé ordered was bad. Would not recommend to anyone.
(1)Mia R.
This place has been in existance since before the current owner was born. Either they have to be doing somthing right or they cater to people who are too drunk to know the difference to stay in business. The answer is the former, they are doing things right. Among the guests are sometimes some of the biggest names in the city. They come here because the food is good, the prices are good, the atmosphere is good, and the owners are nice. Can't beat that combination. In some Mexican restaurants, I feel like I'm in Des Moines, eating at a place that is simply owned by people of Mexican decent. Here, I feel like I am in Mexico, or at least the Tex-Mex area of the U.S. The owners are not of Mexican decent, but they have gone out of their way to make the place feel authentic. It is definately a comfortable place to eat. One unique part of the menu is the SouthWest portion of the selections. Included are items made with blue corn instead of the typical white or yellow that we are used to. It has a definately different flavor. Some people like it, others don't. I do. The kitchen is happy to customize your order, the owner is likely doing the cooking :-) Cheese dip is recommended, as is the glaucamole. The only down side is that the tortilla chips are WAY too salty, they are commercially made. In the old days, they were made on premesis, as were the tortillias.
(4)