La Patrona — Restaurant in Sherwood Park

Oh boy...I instituted my 24 hour rule before I embarked on writing this review. Since the spectacular implosion of Tres Carnales (thanks for the cockroach and filth memories), my husband and I have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant in Edmonton. La Patrona kept coming up as a go to in Sherwood Park, so we decided to drive there from South Edmonton for dinner. To start, I want to say something about the menus. The room is dimly lit in the corners, meaning if you are at a table for two along the sides of the restaurant there is no light over your table. They have laminated menus that are predominately black with white lettering probably a 14 font; virtually impossible to see. Not impressed. Probably not an issue if you're seated at a larger table with a light directly over it. We were told the specials and opted for a tapas plate for $44.00. We were asked if we wanted cheese on the tacos and we said sure, why not? We were asked if we wanted refried beans and rice and we said yes. We also ordered the chips with salsa/guacamole. I saw the price, $18.00 if I remember correctly. I thought a little steep, but I wanted to try it because I like writing google reviews for everyone to see. I will say that the salsa had good flavor, not great, a little too heavy on the onion and light on tomato for my taste, but whatever. We were given a considerably smaller portion of of guac, probably 40% of the size of the salsa. The tacos themselves, the chicken and pulled pork, were good not great. I've actually had better at Marlo Tacos. A little about the service: our dips arrived before our drinks. I hate when that happens. There was an upcharge for the cheese, which let me say that I don't mind paying extra for things, but if you ask a patron if they would like cheese it is polite to mention the extra charge for it. I would have had it anyway, and I figured it would be an extra charge but I think surprising your patrons is a little sneaky. The refried beans and rice I believe were either $6 or $9 each, either way, not worth it. During the meal, I asked a server for extra green sauce and it never arrived. Before anyone comments, the restaurant wasn't full and there were five staff on that I could see. At the end of the meal, we couldn't find our waitress, but some other waitress saw we were ready to go and asked if she could do anything for us, after which our own server appeared and hovered as we were paying the bill. VERDICT: Service is poor, food is overpriced yet average tasting. I would go to Marlo Tacos off Whyte before going to this...

Love this place! It took us forever to visit here despite reading rave reviews, and it definitely lived up to the hype! Fantastic flavors, great service, and a fun atmosphere. Everything was completely stellar! We had several servers check on us, answer questions, and recommend things. The food was incredible; running the gamut of flavours: spicy, savory, sweet, acidic/bright, and all-around a delight!

The drinks were great too, authentic margaritas are a highlight - along with an extensive selection of tequilas and even mezcal, which is a bit rare here - which I happily indulged in after dinner. The sangrita that accompanied it is made in-house and was so good we asked if we could buy it, which they said we could if we ordered ahead! If you don't know what it is, it's very different from sangria - it's like a fruit and vegetable cocktail with spices. Amazing palate cleanser and so good you could drink it on its own. You can make it, but it does have a fair few ingredients.

Everything was presented very nicely, and the portions were very generous. The tacos seem to have quite a bit of variance in size though, so be sure to ask your server about that. Either way you will no doubt leave very full, and probably packing leftovers! Best thing to do is share everything so you can try more of the menu.

The only slight complaint might be the churros, they were a bit doughy/soggy inside. We've had better. But the chocolate whipped cream is a nice touch, and it could of course be different than when we went.

Speaking of, it was filling up fast when we went at 4:30 on a Saturday, and it would have been better if we made a reservation - we were told the place was fully booked within an hour and a half. We took an hour so it was fine, but a big party was trickling in mid-way towards the end. La Patrona is not a well kept secret it seems, so expect it to be busy at peak times and surprisingly in off times as well.

I'm glad that they're so busy & popular though, they certainly deserve it!! Highly...

La Patrona offers cozy vibes with good music and colorful decor that creates a fun, lively atmosphere. The space is definitely a little packed with tables, so it wouldn’t be the most accessible spot for someone in a wheelchair. That said, it’s warm, inviting, and I really liked the large window looking into the kitchen—it’s always cool to see the action behind the scenes. They also have a nice patio, perfect for warmer days.

Service was friendly but on the slower side. It was a Friday night, so I get that they were busy, but we noticed a lot of tables waiting for food. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning.

We started with the Queso Fundido, which was basically just a plate of hot cheese. Honestly, I’d skip it and go for the guacamole instead. For mains, we tried the Barbacoa Tortas and Al Pastor Tacos. The torta bread was soft with just the right crunch, and the beef was rich, tender, and full of flavor. I honestly wished my mouth was bigger—so good.

The tacos were also great—spicy, flavorful, and topped with a sweet touch of pineapple. There were a few too many onions for my taste, but overall, they were fantastic.

We also tried two margaritas: the Spicy Rico and the Mango. Personally, I didn’t enjoy either of them, but my partner really liked both. The mango was sweet and tangy, while the Spicy Rico had a subtle but solid kick.

Now, the biggest drawback: the price. Our bill came to about $50 per person, which, in my opinion, just wasn’t worth it for what we had. The food was good, but not that good.

Overall, it was a decent experience. The staff were welcoming, the space had great energy, and the food was solid—but for the price, it didn’t deliver enough to make me want to return. Worth trying once, but I wouldn’t go out of my way...