El Patron Mexican Restaurant - Worcester — Restaurant in Worcester

Disappointed and underwhelmed - I truly wanted to enjoy this place, but it missed the mark in too many ways. We came in with high hopes for a casual yet flavorful Mexican dining experience, but unfortunately, the overall visit left us with more frustration than satisfaction. While the restaurant had a cozy enough ambiance and a promising menu at first glance, the quality of the food and the service simply didn’t deliver.

Let’s start with the chips and salsa, which are usually a staple and an easy way to make a strong first impression. Sadly, even this basic starter fell short. The salsa was strangely thin - more like a watery soup than the vibrant, chunky, or smooth salsa you'd expect. To make things even more confusing, it had random carrot slices floating in it. Not roasted or pickled - just awkward, unseasoned slices that didn’t blend with the flavors at all. It felt like an odd afterthought rather than a deliberate ingredient choice.

For my main course, I ordered the carnitas tacos, expecting that familiar richness and depth of flavor you usually get from slow-cooked pork. What I received, though, was sadly the opposite. The meat was extremely dry, almost chalky, with little to no seasoning. There was no sign of the tender, juicy texture or the crispy edges carnitas are known for. It tasted like something pre-cooked and reheated rather than something made fresh or in-house. There was no zest, no marinade, no garnish to bring it to life - just bland, disappointing filler inside a tortilla.

Now, while I’m always willing to overlook a subpar dish if the service is good, that wasn’t consistent here either. We were served by two waiters who were genuinely kind and attentive, and we appreciated their effort. However, a third staff member, who seemed to be more involved in managing or overseeing the floor, was noticeably unfriendly, curt, and almost dismissive when we had questions. There was an issue with the bill where we were charged for an extra drink we never ordered or received, and when we brought it up politely, we were met with indifference - no apology, no correction, just a cold shrug and a comment that felt more like a brush-off than actual customer service.

In a city with so many excellent Mexican restaurants - places that take pride in flavor, freshness, and genuine hospitality - this one felt like a missed opportunity. The prices weren’t outrageous, but given the bland food, careless mistakes, and lack of accountability, it simply wasn’t worth the money.

To be fair, the atmosphere was decent, and I can see how others might have a better experience depending on what they order and who serves them. But for us, it was just a combination of poor food quality and uneven service that made this a one-and-done visit.

Would I recommend this place to a friend? Unfortunately, no. There are far better options nearby where your taste buds - and your wallet - will be better respected. I always try to support local businesses, but they have to meet the basics: good food, honest service, and a willingness to make things right when mistakes happen. Sadly, this place didn’t check any of...

Decent Mexican food! It's a small space and there's always a wait on the weekends but the prices aren't too bad and the portions are decent. (On Saturday evenings, expect a 25 min wait but table turnaround is quick).

1. Tacos are decent - the fried pork skin (chicharron) were tasty...but could be less oily and more crispier. The pork (carnitas) was a little overcooked. But the soft taco shells are REALLY good. Soft, warm, and tastes fresh. The added chopped onions, peppers, and fresh squeeze of lime juice was a nice added touch. Tip: the Barbacoa Taco is apparently very popular and amazing. We tried it and it was very good. Would recommend!
2. Chimichanga Burrito - massive and stuffed. They drizzle sour cream on top and it's actually fresh and tastes really good! The rice wasn't clumped together and all the ingredients were well seasoned. Would definitely recommend this dish!
3. Pork Tamal - tender and flavorful. Would recommend.
4. Quesadilla - delicious! Good amount of cheese with lots of meat and was a large dish. Warm, gooey, filling, and the perfect comfort food. Would get it again and definitely recommend!
5. Horchata - was a little disappointed. A little watery and WAY TOO MUCH cinnamon. I could barely finish it because of the amount of cinnamon that was in it. (And I've tried Horchata from two other Mexican restaurants before).
6. They provide complimentary chips and salsa at the start. Chips are your average chips (they aren't seasoned) but they're crispy and fresh. The salsa was VERY watered down which was a bit disappointing...but the flavor was there. They also have three different types/levels of hot sauces which they will be more than happy to provide for the table but it's upon request.
7. Excellent service - kept coming back to our table to check on us. Was quick on his feet and gave good recommendations. Spoke both English and Spanish. The restaurant also didn't rush us out after we were done eating. 👌
8. Bathrooms - only one stall. And it's shared between men and female. There will always be a line for...

I honestly do not see how this place has nearly 5 stars. I went there on a Wednesday night, and it was not terribly busy. When I walked in there were 3-4 employees standing around talking, while I waited at the hostess stand to be seated. After the employees stopped talking I was completely ignored, until I made eye contact with the hostess who finally seated me - I didn't feel welcomed at all.

We ordered 3 Margarita's 2 large, and 1 small. The margarita's are strong and tasty, but they do not use the appropriate salt on the rim, it tasted that they just used table salt to rim the glasses, not the appropriate "Kosher" salt - disappointing.

The chips were OK, they were definitely fried in old oil, and while hot, the old oil gave the chips a not great taste. The Salsa too was interesting, it had carrot slices in it? Odd, that didn't taste fresh either.

The Guac was the shining star here, it was awesome, was definitely made fresh and was more than enough to share with 3 people.

The biggest disappointment came in the food. The chicken was definitely not typical "shredded chicken" that you find in many Mexican restaurants. It was like little chicken chunks, definitely not fresh, and probably was the Sysco branded bulk chicken - it was gross, lacked flavor, and was rubbery.

We had a waitress that was brand-new and she tried her best so I will refrain my comments. A tip, if a waitress is brand-new, have an experienced waiter shadow her; so she wouldn't have to run back and forth to get answers to our questions.

We will not becoming back to this restaurant, even though it is one of the highest rated Mexican restaurants...