El Patio Mexican Restaurant in Des Moines

Best staff and excellent food! Love the atmosphere!

Wonderful place with great food. It's a one- of- a- kind place.

Long time customer, never had an experience that wasn'r fantastic!

Absolutely amazing! I come here all the time it is A-blast! The food is great the atmosphere is fun and it's one of the oldest businesses in the city. I like to support local business especially some of the last dying small businesses in this country, #supportlocal

Great little hole in the wall place!

Loved it! Wonderful service, great atmosphere, yummy food!

The food was very good. Surprised that this Des Moines institution is still operational! Docked a star for the crowded feel, even on the eponymous patio. I need to go back to try a few other entrees for a totally fair appraisal.

It was fabulous! Service was excellent! The food was as good as I remembered it as a student at Drake from 1977-1980. It's, remarkably, owned and operated by the same people! That says a lot about a restaurant. It has survived and thrived through good times and bad. They served the same, super delicious chili relleno that I used to save up for as a student. Great ambiance as well. Really enjoyed and highly recommend it!

The service is great!!! The food is equally great!!

If you like Santa Fe and Taos NM, then you love one of the oldest continuously run restaurant in town.

I had not been to El Patio in years and that's a shame! Great family restaurant with excellent Mexican dishes.

This is a family run business that makes you feel right at home. We have come here for years and it is our favorite place to go. During the summer the deck is the place to be. Margaritas rock.

Great food good service took a few to get a seat I was okay with it though. Would recommend to a friend they make a good margarita and everything is good priced

Food was off the chain. See Urban dictionary

We have been going to El Patio with Brooke & Becky Smith for 30+ years love it in every way !!! Summer on the patio is fabulousHope this never ever goes away

Not impressed, took a long time to be seated, give drink orders, and receive those drinks. After over an hour of waiting she finally took our food order. It’s sad because it looked like the other server was doing phenomenal and keeping up with her tables and had a lot of happy people. Almost felt like we were singled out and ignored. Our server was also very rude and kept making passive comments to us.

Local west-side neighborhood spot we've been going to for 33 years. The menu, gratefully, is just as it was then, as is the hospitality of its long-time owners. Can be a bit of a wait on a weekend, but it's worth it! Parking is best on-street.

Food is really good, but don't go if there's a big crowd. I had to wait close to an hour for the food ro cone.

We had a great time here. The staff was patient with our large group and the variety of orders. There Blue margherita was very tasty. I enjoyed one of the enchilada specials. Can't tell you what everyone else ordered. Definite would return to this restaurant.

Friendly, beautiful deck, dining here for nearly fifty years, great authentic good.

Very good place. Been there for 50 yrs plus. If you want great food , try this place.

Love this place. Inside and outside seating. Nice neighborhood vibe. Great flavors.

A terrific neighborhood oasis for a delicious, fresh meal. The plates are always piping hot and the margaritas ice-cold! The service can be hit-or-miss, but you can always count on the owner to come over and visit for a few minutes and thank you for stopping by. I highly recommend the blue corn chicken enchiladas!

Brook always treats us right, and great food to top it off. I love El Patio!

Good food. Old place and owners are a bit growly

Warm, homey feel to the actual restaurant, seems like it was a repurposed home... Not authentic (?) just based on the owner, but had such authentic taste! Bonus: there's actually a patio!!! And it's beautiful! Tucked behind the restaurant in a fenced-in wooden patio with built-in benches and seating under umbrellas, the entire perimeter is covered in full, beautiful floral arrangements and string lights for nighttime enjoyment. The Spanish art work on the inside is so colorful, rich, and full of history. Margaritas are served in a large carafe for $18, which is way worth the amount when sharing with friends.

Brooke and Becky are excellent individuals and truly care about their local community they have fed for decades. If I could dine there most every day of the week, I would.

This was a very disappointing way to spend my money. My order was the only of our three orders to be correct and the waitress did not come check on our food to see if we were satisfied. The waitress did not hear us when we tried to get her attention... Three times... We just finished what we could from our meals (some parts were inedible) and left as fast as possible. Least authentic Mexican food I have ever had - they served a "taco" that was a burnt chunk of cheese on a rolled up tortilla, with the consistency of a cracker. Everything tasted like it was prepackaged. Do not recommend.

Great food! Service a little slow

Great food and wonderful atmosphere.

The food was almost inedible. I don’t know where all the good ratings are coming from but this was some of the worst mexican food i’ve ever had. There were bones in the chicken... Do not recommend this place to anyone

Not your average mexican restaurant! Charming and eclectic with amazing food and famous mexican chocolate cake! Enjoy the extensive art collection or relax in the oasis that is their outdoor patio.

Great food. Been eating there for 30 plus years!

This is a quaint place with a nice area to sit indoors or outside. We chose the outside this time. I really enjoy the food. We also enjoyed the oasis provided by the potted plants and flowers on the patio.

Restaurant that has been around for a very long time and still continues to have excellent food and service. You can get some very basic dishes, or you can try some of the specialties that they serve such as the black corn enchiladas or the homemade burritos. The patio is wonderful to sit on and has a great atmosphere. Inside is nice too, but if it is a nice day, and seating is available, then try and sit outside.

Margaritas taste real and are really good! Also Mexican pizza is good

Food and service was fantastic

My 99 yr old Aunt has been a regular & Brooke's always takes such good care! Great evening with family!

I live close by and was excited toTry a new spot. I love the flowers and the decor. My husband was spilled on....twice ....no biggie....it happens....but everything did take a very long time waiting for a drink or food. And nothing was taken off the bill for the spills which I’m not out to get a free meal but I was surprised a desert wasn’t offered or a drink taken off.

Great service, looks are very deceiving, don’t be afraid to go into the converted house! Food was delicious, margaritas were too sweet but were corrected upon second order. Mexican chocolate cake was perfect. Go check this place out!

Wow! I just moved into the area and was looking for some good, local eateries. This place may just become my jam. Fantastic food, huge portions, great prices, only about a mile away? Yes, please. They were friendly, from the very moment I walked in, with multiple people greating me and asking how I was. I recommend the No. 6! Cannot wait to try something else. Try it. (Doggie approved too, but that may just be how I roll)

One word PHENOMINAL! If you pass up eating here you are a fool!The Bean Dip is an awesome starter, so good we ordered two! Had the tacos and they were great. Another in our party had the Blue Tortilla Enchilada and it was AWESOME! Someone else ordered the Chicken Enchilada Casserole and it was Fantastic!It may seem weird the first time you go but it is worth the trip...do not pass on this place!

I'm sad to say we weren't impressed. Pulling up to the establishment we had high expectations. Our server was extremely scattered and long wait times for drinks, orders, and food. The food wasn't horrible but not impressed. If you're looking for true Mexican food.. you may want to el pass-o!

The food is fabulous and our server was excellent with suggestions. Try the blue margaritas

best cheese dip and enchiladas in town. always friendly service. awesome interior design for a great experience.

Great service! Got in, greeted by the owner who lead us to our seats. Our server had a great smile and was attentive to our needs. She was efficient and gracious. Food was wonderful. Then on to see Todd Rundgren.

Great atmosphere and staff

Sat night. Not crowded. 10 min to be seated. Staff was arguing in dining area about something. Seated. Drinks ordered. Weak margaritas. 25 min to take our orders. 45 min to get our meals & only 3 tables on patio w customers. One mbr of our foursome rec’d a diff meal than he ordered. Waitress said “Congratulations! You are the winner!” And set down an entirely diff meal. He asked why he didn’t get the pork chimichanga. She replied “This one is free. You won’t be charged.” He didn’t eat much as it was not that good. ??? Ridiculous wait. Substitution without notifying the customer was ridiculous, too. She apologized for the slow service when she ret’d w our receipt. No way we’re ever going back.

I always love the food, but I just went in at 8:15 (they close at 10), and they decided they were closed. Seems kinda unprofessional to me :/