El Patio Mexican Restaurant & Wine Bar

Most people would toss a coin to decide on where to go to eat, take a majority vote in a group or even be a dictator and not consult anyone. But not us. My boyfriend and I headed down to Holland V and took a walk around to see what appealed to our heightened senses (a result of the onslaught of hunger pangs). This is where we were faced with a dilemma: El Patio or Cha Cha Cha for mexican? In the end, rainbow-coloured table cloths, imported mexican handicrafts and a cosy air-conditioned dining area won the day. I present to you El Patio!

Before visiting El Patio I've heard about that mexican place in Singapore that serves frozen magaritas in jam jars. Little did I know that this was the place. Over here you can order Hot Mexican Favourites such as quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, nachos and fajitas - while you sip on salt-rimmed jam jars containing frozen magaritas ($48/jug, $12/gls). If magaritas aint your thing, they've got your staple mexican beers: Corona & San Miguel. They even have Chivas Magaritas & Jim Beam Magaritas for those who like whiskey concoctions. Ah yes, the friendly waiters will also serve you iced water and a bowl of plains nachos (with a salsa dip) that they will readily refill upon request. That's the life.

I crave food for many reasons. Today, it was prawn fajitas (pronounced fa-hee-tas)that I so desperately craved for. But no, I didn't give in...I managed to suppress that urge and I chose to order the house specialty Mexican Grill Fajitas ($24.50) It is a combination of Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Salmon & Prawns...cooked with white wine, a drizzle of tequila, onions and spices on a hot plate. Trust me, order this & you won't regret it. Juicy morsels of meat accompanied by tortilla wraps, sour cream & guacamole & "mutant" green chillis. Throw in a smattering of nachos+salsa. Mmmmmmm...bliss.

After selecting the fajita, we decided that we wanted something other than the usual burritos and nachos..and so we ordered the Beef Enchiladas ($12.50). This dish was served with a bean paste on the side, lettuce, "mutant" green chillis and the enchiladas filled with minced beef, topped with oodles of cheese. The minced beef wasn't the typical kind you'd find in the supermarket mind you, it was minced chunks of beef marinated in their house recipe. Great homemade tortilla wrap as well - better than Cafe Iguana's I'd say.

Other house specialities include - the Chicken Fajita ($20.50), served with peppers, onions & guacamole. Cheese Quesadillas ($12.50), with jalapenos, onion & tomato in a flour tortilla.

This place has my thumbs up.

//prices stated not inclusive of +++


The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6468 1520

Address:
Holland Village
34 Lorong Mambong
Singapore 277691

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 5pm-11pm // Sat+Sun: 11am-11pm
Dress code: casual
Buses: 61, 48, 106, 75, 200