El Patio Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in South Carolina

Note this review stand between 4-3 stars. First time here on Wednesday July 9th 2025 with my parents. We decided to try a mexican place, and this is near us. There is parking available in the parking lot, and we parked there. Small tho, and small place inside too. Although has some old games near the host stand, and the restrooms. The place itself is small and has mostly tables and some booths. We were greeted at the host stand and was immediately seated for a party of 3. We immediately got free chips and salsa, which were good. Our waitress came over immediately, and started us with 3 waters. We needed like a lot of time looking over the menus since it was our first time here. Which was okay with the server, who gave us the time, however since it was our first time, she should have recommended her favorite dish here. They have anything from enchidalas, burritos, tacos, chicken, steak, even some fish menu options! Anyways, after a while, we decided what we wanted- I got the pollo loco with light cheese, My dad got the same thing but with no mushrooms. My Mom got the Yolanda. Food came out in a timely manner. When i tasted my pollo loco, I did not like it at all. The vegetables in the dish tasted roasted, and some of them were very roasted like overly roasted. I also am not a fan of roasted vegetables. The waitress did check on us, but didn't seem concerned that i didn't like my dish, and i'm not one to send food back. Also i don't think it said roasted vegetables on the menu either. My dad however liked his, and my mom liked hers. I even liked it as my mom shared his dish with me. tender meat in the Yolanda dish. Would have been even better if the server asked if I wanted something else! Anyways, enjoyed the yolanda dish at least. Got a box for my pollo loco which my mom ate. Then we paid the check with a credit card and left a cash tip. Maybe we'll be back, and I can try something else.. or order the yolanda for myself! Oh, after our visit, we used the restrooms,...

Went here for lunch today around 11:30am. Ordered 2 lunch specials, 1 steak and 1 chicken quesadilla. Also ordered chorizo dip. Chorizo dip was pretty good and above par. The chicken quesadilla was par. The steak quesadilla was not very good, below par.

The service was terrible. I had a question about the empanadas and maybe there was a language barrier but the server kept repeating herself and getting more angry at me. I had to wait quite awhile before getting a refill on my drink, so I had to stop eating. Debated getting up to get my own refill. Server comes back and refills drink, but doesn't refill any ice. There was no ice at all in my drink by the time I drank my 3rd drink. Made the drink taste a bit bad. Also ran out of chips, so couldn't finish chorizo dip until flagging waitress down.

Was a bit frustrated but not completely let down. The chorizo dip was a bonus. But I debated not leaving a tip because of the service. Tried being somewhat fair by leaving ~16% tip. Checked my bank account after leaving to see that the tip was altered without my consent for a higher amount than I signed for.

Called the store several times today. Was connected with Josep. He was pretty helpful. He is saying the amount will be fixed within a few days. I asked for the tip to be removed completely from the order as my trust with the business is lost.

If I ever return, I will make sure to order something other than the steak quesadilla. I will likely get the chorizo dip again. And I will definitely be using cash instead of card, so the waitresses don't just help themselves to higher tips than what...

The staff was great, very friendly, however the food was not as good. The queso was bland and very thin. The chile relleno was one of the biggest disappointments on this plate, the cheese almost had this Blanco Velveeta flavor and it gummed up in your mouth. The batter was so smothered in this hamburger queso stuff inside and out, that being as how little was there to begin with, there was no flavor or texture that might have perked up this dish. It was just a bland mess. The chalupa was so soggy I originally thought the just put a regular corn tortilla in place of a fried. The chalupa did have one good thing going for it, maybe the only thing on this plate, the pico and guacamole both seemed pretty fresh with some good flavors. The enchiladas were basically the same just with different sauces. Both had a hamburger center wrapped in a flour tortilla, one had a standard red enchilada sauce and cheese, the other a red chilli type sauce, neither one was very special. I gave up before I got to the taco :( one last bright side was the salsa and chips, by the end if the meal I was debating if I would have been better off ordering chips, salsa and guacamole, I definitely would have got more...