El Patio Original — Restaurant in Fremont

Wife & I have tried Dinner at this establishment approx. 4 times in the past 3 years. The last visit 12/10/14 & included a friend. Our group of 3 was seated at the Bench’s and Table’s around the outside of the dining area, they have been shortened so much that they are totally inadequate for more than 2 adults or food service for more than that. The reasoning for the shortness of the tables is hard to understand, since all it does is leave a large walkway around the area, it does not provide them with any additional seating capacity. We have yet to receive a quality mixed alcoholic drink in the 4 visits to this establishment. You should totally forget the Bar Drinks & stick to Beer or Wine if you choose an alcoholic drink. We sent their 1st attempt at their version of a Top-Shelf Margarita that the Wife ordered back, 1st time we ever saw this drink completely clear with no taste of Tequila present at all. 2nd attempt was not much better taste but they managed to make it green in color? My Bloody Mary would have been acceptable had it not been garnished with the limpest stalk of celery I have yet to see anywhere except the recycle bin. Group ordered Nacho’s for Appetizer, Salads, & one each; Beef Fajitas, 3 Item Combo., Chicken Tostada. ALL Items arrived at our table within a 10 minute time period. There was no way that we had ample opportunity to enjoy our meal & they had problems even fitting it all on the little table. I asked that the group be reseated at a larger table, which they accommodated for us. Quality of the food is a bit hard to rank this visit, since the dinners all set aging at the table as we had our appetizer and salads prior. The Beef Fajitas did not hold up well going from arriving hot /sizzling, to warm/oily sitting at the table. The Tostada also had problems getting soggy as it set. The 3 item Comb. faired the best out of the entire order. The Waiter’s /Waitress’s really did try to make good on the overall experience, which is why it rcvd anything but the lowest rating. It is very clear that this establishment has inadequate training & management of the staff. It has failed to accomplish requirements for execution of the food service delivery from the time orders are taking, through the appropriate timing of preparation /delivery to the tables. If they are to continue to serve Mixed Drinks, they need to acquire the proper skills of same. The employees are trying , seems management needs to...

My wife and I are relatively new to the area, and are actively looking for new great places for various types of food. El Patio was on a short list of Mexican restaurants to try, and after one visit, is solidly off the list.

2 dishes. One was good - very good. The other was the worst of that particular dish I've experienced in my lifetime (and I'm not young). We didn't actively complain, but they did become aware of the bad dish, (seeing I had left it mostly uneaten, offering a box, and I went ahead and said no, and that it was inedible) and the response was apology by messenger, and a minimalist at best attempt to make it up to us. I probably would have been better if they just apologized and moved on rather than charge me for some meal, and not for other parts (I mean, literally splitting things up item by item on my plate). The ambiance was "ok".

The end result is that the feature item of our nice night out was still an inedible meal and, rather that an impression of truly being sorry or making it up to us, more one of seeing what they could get away with. Mix ups happen, things go wrong - we get it. Comp, or don't comp - piecemealing out individual parts of a plate is tacky at best. Also, management apologies that come via a waitress saying "the manager told you to say they are sorry" don't really sound like a real apology. We will not be back, and, while we wouldn't say "avoid this place at all costs", we would recommend against it - too many other...

This restaurant used to be one of our cherished favorites for many years, but, regrettably, that is no longer the case. We often indulged in their chili rellenos, carnitas, and chili verde, all accompanied by rice and beans. They were celebrated for their mouthwatering, authentic flavors; however, the quality has regrettably declined significantly over the past few months.

The carnitas that once boasted a delectable, braised brown crust now resemble stewed meat, lacking the depth of flavor we once relished. The chili verde, too, has changed; it’s now presented akin to a watery stew, with an excessive pool of clear liquid that drowns the plate, rendering the rice and beans utterly unappetizing.

Moreover, the chili rellenos arrive with a thin sauce that seeps onto the plate, causing everything else—including the accompanying enchilada, rice, and beans—to become sadly soggy. The once-vibrant rice and beans now taste bland and generic, while the rice itself has transformed into an overly moist consistency that is far from appealing. Even the iced tea, once refreshing, now tastes excessively diluted and devoid of discernible flavor.

We shared our concerns with the staff, but despite leaving most of my disappointing meal uneaten, they provided no financial compensation; they did, however, offer to comp my husband’s iced tea. It's disheartening to witness such a beloved establishment...