El Patio De Albuquerque — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Although I don't spend much time around the UNM/Central area anymore. I still on occasion explore the vicinity when looking for new and appealing restaurants to try out. El Patio De Albuquerque turned out to the winner last week despite the fact that I nearly walked past it without any notice. Quaint in appearance and looking much like a residential house throwing an outdoor get-together. El Patio is a small but intimate New Mexican themed restaurant that sits north on Harvard Dr. I had the luck of coming to this restaurant at the right time of day during the right time of year. The place wasn't busy and the late summer sun was about an hour from setting, so I opted to sit out on the patio. The menu features a lot of New Mexican classics as well as several vegetarian alternatives. Breakfast is also served all day and that's indeed what I took advantage of. After scanning the menu I settled on the Hash and Eggs. For it, I chose sausage, scrambled eggs, a side of red chili, and a sopapilla (which was complimentary). The sausage filled hash was pretty good and made up the bulk of the meal. My scrambled eggs weren't bad either as they cooked to the usual American standard. As for the sopapilla, only one thing could be said about it: satisfactory. The only problem for me lied with the seasoning. Much of the dish was a little bland; thereby forcing me to rely on the salt shaker a little more than I would've like too. However, this was only a minor setback and didn't really do much to compromise the entire meal. In the end, I was happy to have stumbled across El Patio De Albuquerque. It was a decent little place that featured a relaxed atmosphere and quality food. Something I recommended you try out at least once if in...

I was craving some good tacos and selected this place based on the reviews. It looked like a cute little spot for dinner. Unfortunately, that’s all it offers. The server who greeted me wasn’t friendly at all - That was when my instincts first told me to run but I ignored it and decided to stay. I ordered the taco dish with chicken, served with a side of beans and potatoes. When it was brought out (less than 5 minutes after ordering 🤨), I couldn’t help but notice how plain and dry the tacos looked…just shredded pale chicken, some lettuce, and a few pieces of chopped tomato? I took a bite and instantly regretted my order. They were the most bland tacos I have ever had anywhere in my life. I’m not kidding when I tell you the chicken tasted like it was boiled and had absolutely no seasonings. I drowned it with the little salsa they provided on the side to try and stomach it but that still wasn’t enough. I tasted the beans hoping for something else I could add to the tacos for flavor but that too was disgustingly bland. It tasted like they just boil and serve those too, again, without any seasonings. And the potatoes? That was the only thing seasoned but for some reason, it had a hint of a fishy taste. I couldn’t eat that either. It was horrible and the worst $15 I have ever spent. I would’ve been better off eating at Chipotle 🙄 I truly don’t understand how they receive so many high ratings but I guess some folks are okay with dry, unseasoned food. True Mexican/Southwestern food is FULL of flavor - It’s offensive that they even consider this Mexican/Southwestern. If you’re like me and season your food with something other than salt and pepper, avoid this place like the plague. If not, good luck and...

Dinning is a bonding experience.

As a fellow professional in the restaurant industry, I must say that El Patio is the real deal. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a treat. Our waiter, Allan, was a true professional. He knew the menu inside and out and was able to answer all our questions with ease. He was attentive without being intrusive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal.

But let's talk about the food. As someone who appreciates well-crafted, homemade dishes, El Patio did not disappoint. The red chile was rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of heat. The carne adovada was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the beans and rice were the perfect accompaniment.

What really stood out to me, though, was the attention to detail. You can tell that the chefs at El Patio take pride in their work and put a lot of care into each dish. The presentation was beautiful, and every bite was a delight.

Overall, I can't recommend El Patio enough. The service was top-notch, the food was delicious, and the attention to detail was second to none. If you're looking for an authentic New Mexican dining experience, look no further...