Catching up on life after COVID! Catching up in general. With that being said, met a longtime friend for lunch here. An eclectic menu for sure. Mofongo, meets sushi, meets Columbia, meets Peru! The Margarita flight for $22 (4 drinks - split $$11 pp) was a tasty and affordable option. However, the calorie counter in me is still in vexation mode. For the price, expect more sweet less tequila- but good nonetheless. I ordered the pineapple bowl with chicken. My friend - guacamole for appetizer, and crispy sushi rolls. Pros: waitstaff appropriately balanced attentiveness with privacy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bathroom & dining area felt clean and tidy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food temp and timing felt appropriate. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music sound at appropriate level.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And last, but not least delicious food. Cons: Hard to read menu, hard to read menu, and lastly hard to read menu. Overall a good dining experience. I'm a bit of a rice snob, and I found the rice well cooked, only wish there was actual pineapple in the rice. At first inspection, I thought the chicken was bland and overcooked. However, when I tried the leftover chicken I think it was more rice to protein ratio. Good guacamole - bright & fresh. If you like a more pronounced presence of cumin or coriander you might be disappointed. Parking plentiful, and photo ops if that's your thing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]At night, I believe there is a dj.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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The food was really good but the service was not up to par. I enjoyed my pineapple bowl but it came out 30 minutes before my friend's food. Her food was wrong the first time, there was miscommunication the second time, and then her food came out an hour total after we sat down because the kitchen was busy; and we saw others who sat down before us receive their food. There was an event tonight but there's an event every Wednesday and we were the second table to be seated. They only gave her 35% off her bill. I think the menu items could be explained better because it was hard to tell what the menu items consisted of; I had to find a pic from Instagram to show them what I wanted. Other than that, the drinks were delicious as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have nice indoor and outdoor decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd return, just not on a night they have an event. read more

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What an interesting restaurant! The menu was an interesting mix of Mexican, Asian, and also tropical? If you want to try something new and unprecedented, this is the place! read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Chicken fried rice with plantains. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a great dinner at El Patio. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is colorful and lively, and the service was great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I especially enjoyed my Aperol Spritz. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We visited on a Thursday evening and were surprised to be the only ones there--possibly due to the location--but that didn't take away from the experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a very good spot overall: casual, family-friendly, and it also has a bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is Puerto Rican/Japanese fusion but leans more on the Puerto Rican cuisine. Delicious nonetheless. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Came on a Saturday night around 7 PM. When we arrived surprisingly it was not that busy and we were seated immediately. Our waiter was great, and immediately was able to take our drink and food orders. This place is a Latin restaurant. I truly appreciated the complementary plantain chips that they offered. For appetizers, we had the chicken and steak empanadas, which were delicious! I ordered the Bandeja paisa, and was very impressed with how complete everything was. My fiancé ordered the lomo saltado roll and he said it was very delicious. Overall definitely recommend this place for a date night or night out with friends as they have really unique flavors of food and drink options! read more

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I had a great dinner at the bar here. The new manager was behind the bar and provided great service. I love the layout and vibe of the place. It's colorful and fun. The food was colorful and delicious! I'll definitely be back read more

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great service, [[HIGHLIGHT]]great ambiance[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the food was delicious. I realy enjoyed the food. A lot of food for bandeja paisa. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - bandeja paisa - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ok where to start. And to be honest, I'm not sure, and I'm not entirely sure they are either. El Patio is a Japanese Latin infusion joint, or at least that's the take on their instagram. Honestly I'm not sure. There are "sushi rolls" (which I didn't partake) as well as tacos and empanadas, but also a lot of stuff in between., that leans more heavily on the traditional Latin side., with some hints of Asian flavor. To put it simply, the menu isn't intuitive enough to know and show this as what I would think of a fusion place. So what did I have... well on their website it would be the Triangle Burger, though o. The menus it's something different (name and what's on it) altogether. Matter of fact looks like their menu in the site (which you can order from) and the in house menu are different. That's frustrating. Anyway. So the burger, it's a beef patty, chrizzo (sliced lengthways), couple of what I would think were cilantro lime grilled chicken breast slices, a piece of arugula, and a slice of "cheese". All that on your typical burger bun. That's it, no fries or other garnish's (the sides are sort of a-la-cart, but it depends on the dish, some come with sides). My issues with the burger, well... was never asked how I wanted it cooked (it seemed like it was medium) which outside of fast food I've always been asked. One leaf of arugula? Just one, on a $20+ burger. And the cheese, no options (I suppose you could say yes or no) I'm guessing was cheddar? Is it something different on a different day? In the end was it a good burger... it was ok, I've had better and I've had worse. But was it worth the $20+ dollar price, simply no. For that amount and no sides is a crime. Others in my party had the grilled chicken breast. It's not a chicken breast, it's slices of one, and a small one at that. Same chicken as on the burger. It does come with sides (a small arugula salad and yucca fries), no issues. The other had salmon fillets stuff with crabmeat, in a cream sauce. Came with mashed potatoes and arugula salad. The salmon seemed slightly overcooked to me, and I'm still trying to g to figure out what the cream sauce brought to the dish. Both were price slightly above the burger. All three were entries, all decidedly Latin in style and flavor. The service. She was nice. But otherwise it was a miss. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a small place, and at least inside, when we arrived, it was maybe 1/4 full with nobody at the bar (which for the size of the establishment is large).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And it seemed like there were just 2 servers, and that's your front of the house. No bar staff, no bus staff, no host. This was about 8pm on a Friday. Attentiveness and awareness could have been better. Just quick checks when you pass by, some quick water refills (I think I was asked once and that was before I put my order in). Simple things. Could this be a staffing issue, maybe. Could this be an experience issue, maybe. But it was a let down. In the end. It's an expensive place with service that while friendly, is lacking, and food that is ok but maybe not worth the price, and a theme that isn't hitting the mark. read more

I'm from Miami currently living in the area so I'm always looking for food that reminds me of home. So far this is the only place I've found that offers a Peruvian-esque style ceviche. It was different, but delicious and I'd eat it again. The mondongo- amazing! My husband had the burger, he liked it but I thought it could use a sauce or something or like a fried cheese? But it has all the meats, so it was a decent burger. The arepa waffle was amazing. I'd go back just for that. The inside is super cute and has a spot to take cute pictures. The outdoor patio is super ok. Not great, but nice to hang. They also offer hookahs if you're into that. My only complaint was that the plantain chips tasted stale and the service wasn't great for how expensive the place was. The waitress was nice, it was just that the food didn't come out at the same time even though we only ordered a few things and it wasn't busy inside. Not a huge deal though. read more

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I'm so done with this place. Whether it's the increased pricing at every visit, or the mysterious charges on the bill - oh and can't forget the $5 gratuity they sneak on the take out bills. This time, I went through the whole song and dance of placing my order over the phone, then coming in to further correct my order (which still came out WRONG). Why is my bill $50 for 1 order of ceviche, 3 empanadas, and extra sauce for the plantain chips??!! All of that only to get home after making a couple stops to find out that they gave me the Acevichado Roll when I ordered Sunshine Ceviche! Before leaving, I caught the extra order of empanadas and gave them back, but failed to open the container that had what I assumed was ceviche. I can't with this place. It's always a hassle and never a smooth, pleasant experience. I've always tried to support since they opened and bring my folks here from out of town occasionally, but I'm done. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Empanadas. Ok, but not worth the price they've increased to and the hassle it takes for them to get the remainder of your order correct. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is an amazing sushi spot. On top of sushi they have a plethora of other amazing items as well. Within amazing super eclectic vibe, this spot is where you want to come when you want to impress your friends. They have a menu full of showstopping over the top Andres and everything is delicious.I'm a huge fan of the ambience and the vibe. The staff is always friendly and this place is just great. read more

The Food and drinks were amazing! This place Has amazing potential, The culinary skill here is impressive and the waitress was very professional [[HIGHLIGHT]]I felt like I was in Miami at an upscale restaurant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], Bri was amazing and very knowledgeable, if you guys are in North Raleigh you have to check this place ou read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The good and service were amazing!! Great presentation and generous portions. Best empanada, moist and flavorful!! Highly recommend!! Well worth it!! read more

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The food and drinks were pretty good and the live DJ was playing some good songs. Not sure who the DJ was it I might consider going back because of it. Now for the reason why it is only getting 3 stars, the service needs some work. We got there and there was no host at the door. We asked the group in front of us if they put their names down and the guy was nice enough to get someone from the bar so they can get our name on the list. After about 20 mins a couple walks in and walk up to a waiter and are seated right away at the bar ( mind you it was just my friend and I). So I walk up to the same person and told them we have been waiting and she said they only have openings at the bar. Which was fine by us but the host never gave us that options so we waited for no reason. The service is super unorganized but if they can work on that I think this place and experience would be amazing. read more

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The ambience is warm and inviting. The entrance is picturesque and is a hotspot for selfies. The live music is not too loud...The food is delicious. I ordered the patio wings and lomo saltado. I recommend this restaurant. This restaurant also reminds me of Tex-Mex restaurants in Texas. read more

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The food was fantastic! Service was good and employees were friendly. Our server didn't speak much english, but we were able to make it work since my wife has been studying Spanish for the past two years. A manager cme to check on us multiple times to ensure we were being well tken care of. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere itself was okay.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The quality, taste, and presentation of the food would easily rival any upscale restaurant. I hoghly recommend. read more

Great good again!! The best service. Thank you all for treating us like you wanted us here and being so kind and make great food! read more

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In my 40 years, I have never encountered a situation as frustrating as this. Upon arriving first for lunch, we ordered drinks, water, and an appetizer simultaneously. The appetizer arrived promptly, and we then ordered our meals--a main course for myself and a kids' meal. Standard practice would suggest that these items be served together; however, only the two adult meals arrived, with no sign of the kids' meal. Despite waiting approximately 20 minutes without any follow-up, I eventually had to leave my table to find our server, Yuribel B (as identified on the receipt). I located her by the drink station, where she was eating her own lunch. I inquired about the missing meal and received no apology--only a dismissive response indicating it was on its way. After waiting an additional 15 minutes, I approached her once more, requesting that the item be removed from our bill so we could settle up and leave, as my child still needed to eat. Her response was that we would be charged for the item regardless, as she claimed to be the manager and insisted payment was required for a kids meal we never received At this point, I was prepared to escalate further, stating I would not pay for a meal that was never served and requesting to speak with another manager. After I refused to make payment, she eventually adjusted the bill. If this review reaches any member of corporate management, please address the need for prompt, professional service and ensure your staff upholds basic customer service standards. read more

Gave me vibes of being on an island; lively salsa music; the service was excellent; the food was deeelish! The calamari was of a good size; & was perfectly seasoned -no calamari bits & pieces; the coctal tropical cerviche was oh-so-good! Beautifully "plated" in a Margherita glass &decorated with flowers & food art in the form of a flower cucumber and saffron sprigs and 8 large shrimp. My drink was on point and refreshing. They have an outdoor patio and covered parking as well (rained cats and dogs today) Theres also a green floral wall and swing inside which is great spot for pictures with your date/spouse/friends. Go and enjoy! We sure did! read more

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We tried the mofunguito with pork belly and shrimp, the plantain canoe with ropa vieja, empanadas with chicken and with ropa vieja. Honestly the flavor of the food was fantastic. We really enjoyed it. read more

Very aesthetically pleasing, followed up with amazing food ! If you. Food was brought out quickly (4pm /Sat). read more

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Interesting concept. While the menu mostly offers Latin American fare, they do offer Latin rolls (Latin-inspired sushi rolls). Pictured here are the: La Chapi: Tempura chicken, guacamole, fried pork belly, sweet chili sauce, pico de gallo, and eel sauce Lomo Saltado: Tempura shrimp, bacon, cream cheese, lomo saltado on the top Both were really (somewhat surprisingly) good. Bonus: the interior decoration is gorgeous! read more

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This place is a VIBE! And I can't wait for summer nights to sit outside and enjoy the food and drinks. Food was incredible and drinks were well put together! A little pricey but worth it for the ambience. I think the only complaint I would have is the service/wait staff. They all came off a little aloof and unprofessional. Great service and smiles on employee faces goes A LONG way. Especially if you want more $$ added to your automatic 15% gratuity. read more

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Service, Location, decoration, ambience and the food are superb! Coming back every time we can! read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - a sushi roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Lovely gem of a place! Was looking to eat something to bring me back to my latin roots, definitely did not disappoint! I will definitely be back and would definitely recommend the Bandeja Paisa if you are unsure of what to order. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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El Patio shattered my expectations. Their menu is unique, alluring, and at times, unfamiliar. It can take some time to digest (I've never seen a group deliberate for so long, or have such a lively debate about what a particular menu item was). But, without fail, every dish we ordered was extraordinary. Not only in terms of taste, but in terms of some of the best food presentation I've ever seen. The ceviche was styled into an oversized margarita glass, the fried rice was served in half a pineapple, the sushi resembled a flower bouquet more than rolls, and the skirt steak was rolled tightly onto itself only to be unwound upon digging in. Oh, and did I mention it's all accompanied by irresistible plantain chips? Our favorites were the ceviche, the la chapi roll, and all of the mofongos. The atmosphere matched the excellence of the food; in-house DJ cultivated a seamless, upbeat, Latin flare throughout the evening. I found myself chuckling, smiling uncontrollably, and swaying along the whole time. In one word, El Patio is fun. My only caveat: while the Vegan Mofongo was exceptional, vegetarians beware-- El Patio's offerings are very meat heavy. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Fried rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place was so good!!! We went on a Friday night, the music was really good and the staff was so accommodating. It was my husbands birthday and they really were hype for it , lights, bubble machine , cake. My favorite person there was our waitress Abby! My silly self wore a sweater and Abby turn down the AC for me . She was so accommodating!! She was patient and took good care of us. Friday night with your friends makes it so much fun!!!!!! Love this place! Will be back! See you soon Abby read more

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The location is a little hard to find. The food was ok. The wings were the best in my opinion. The server was slow. Went on a regular night so it wasn't crowded or busy at all. All Spanish speaking staff. Hookah is overpriced! Drinks were ok! read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Pasta w/ Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Food service and ambience was great! The chef has a great way of preparing the food, Dominican food with a twist. I personally gave him my compliments. Nice outdoor patio. read more

Food is consistently tasty! Staff has always been friendly. Worth checking out when in raleigh

I have been wanting to try this place for so long and finally I went today. It wasn't crowded, I waited to be seated, when I sat down I looked at the menu and there were some items I really wanted to try. After about 10 minutes of no one addressing me or acknowledging that I was there. I got up, took the menu to the bar and walked out. No one said anything. I really left disappointed. The 1 star is for customer service not the food because I never got to try it. read more

Pretty expensive, but the food was terrific. All orders have an automatic 15% gratuity added, but the service was not what I was used to in such a pricey establishment. I could see the server was really struggling, and did not know how to separate checks. It took 12 minutes and several waves to get a refill on drinks ....we had to ask for limes for our corona several times, we got a lime with our 2nd round. I asked for her manager bc she needed someone to help her, but I was informed that he was not in. I'm very disappointed that the manager was not available on a busy Saturday night with such under trained staff. The bartender did finally help our server separate our check ( 14 ppl at our Tbl) The food is great though, I recommend takeout read more

THE WORSE SERVICE EVER El empleado que nos sentó muy amable, pero esperamos 10 minutos sentados, el restaurante estaba vacío, las meseras estaban todas conversando en una mesa hablando de lo bueno que pasaron es Asheville y ninguna se molestó en llevarnos ni agua. Que mal servicio. Ese es el problema cuando no contratan gente que sabe trabajar si pudiera darle 0 estrellas se las daría. Lo único que he rescatamos es el joven que muy amablemente nos sentó en la mesa pero el servicio de meseros MALO, INEXISTENTE. read more

Ok, it's been YEARS since I reviewed anything, but I had to drop my thoughts on this one and shed some light on the apparent issues that have led some to review this place poorly. First, I might be biased. Because I lived in Miami eating at places like this for many years before moving to a city with a completely different vibe (a good one) than Miami's. And don't get me wrong, I was glad to leave and get a break from Miami's loud and expensive rambunctiousness, but like many kids when they run from home, you miss the home food from time to time. Especially since I think that, though there are great food choices in Raleigh, the Latin food scene specifically is a bit one-dimensional. Don't get me wrong, I think the Mexican food here is closer to the real thing and better than Miami's in my opinion, but Latin food is not Mexican food only. So to the topic at hand: El Patio. Let's start with the elephant in the room: the music. Yes, it's LOUD. So loud that it makes you think they want you to finish eating already, order another drink, and get to dancing, because you can bet this is not conversational jazz; this is loose-your-worries-and-sweat Latin music...wait, that's what they do in Miami (and many of the Latin countries too). That's what they do "en El Patio del vecino" (Patio means backyard, often times a place where family and friends gather to eat, drink and dance). The lighting is not for romantic conversation either, nor the decor, with rambunctious, tropical greens and neon words for thought (and Instagraming). The staff seems mostly Latin and you might see one or two solo dancing to a bachata song behind the bar in between drink orders. And I'm ok with that. The truth is we all, no matter where we come from, like to walk into a restaurant and see faces that should know first hand the food that will be served. Now, to the food: yes, it's expensive. But name a place with decent (and even not so decent) food today that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg. And unless you went on a day where the chef was missing and the DJ was cooking, the food I got was delicious. Again, I know it might have tested extra good for me since I had been missing it for a while. But I know Latin food (have you guessed already that I'm Latina)? And the flavors, freshness and portions were definitely there; the presentation is a plus. I might be wrong, though I humbly doubt it, that this place is trying to bring to Raleigh a piece of Miami or any of the many fiesta patios in our countries (which is what Miami does, though in Miami is less of a choice and less intentional than here). So if you are looking for the same type of chill vibe you are used to in Raleigh, this is not for you. Heck, this vibe is not for everyone even in Miami, and we all get tired of too much of anything (part of why I left). But if you want to escape from the usual, and get a taste of what a night out while vacationing in Wynwood, Miami Beach or Calle Ocho feels like, this is the only place you might have here. You might not see anyone dancing yet, (I guess we are all too scared of judgement), but I do hope when I get back I find some people salsa dancing. I'll sure join, because a bit of different once in a while is something we should all be open to and do before we die. read more

This place is . So much flavor at a great temperature. So many different flavors. Tried several different items and they were all amazing. SO GOOD and great service and great music! read more

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This place was very pretty look wise! Their food also was plated very well & yummy presentation! This place was definitely not what we expected but turned out in a good way for us! The host was nice and we got seated instantly. Our waiter was nice and patient with our many many of questions! They have gluten sensitive options. Their food has great flavor and spices to it! I love their decorations! The swing table was nice - we did end up switching tables because the sun was roasting us! Taste wise my sister love her meal! I got the kabobs - the shrimp was definitely the best then the steak or chicken and lasting would be the pork. I did not like the pork (I think it was called something else) the texture and flavor was not there sadly. But the other three were super yummy! Their potato fries are different but for the first time ever having them yummy and definitely filling so be careful. The mini salad had great flavor and taste! read more

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Amazing place I love the food and the drinks. I had a great experience. Raleigh needed a place like this. Service was ,Grey took a great care of me. read more

El Patio Bar and Grill - Outside and food - Asian Fusion Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The service, food, drinks and atmosphere were great. Decor is pretty and great for unique pictures.

The name suggests it's a Mexican/Latina flair type of restaurant; however, it's some fusion restaurant of Asian/Latin food. There isn't a lot of variety on the menu and the costs were very high. There was also a hookah bar and DJ. The music was so loud you couldn't hear the person next to you or hear yourself think. It's a very interesting concept that looks like someone had a good idea but just didn't execute. I want to add to this review by saying we didn't actually eat here due to the misleading advertisement and high prices, but wanted to share our experience. read more

Food was good, but additional charges for every little thing. For example changing the flavor of soda was an additional $4. Music was too loud to the point that you were unable to hear the person talking to you. Overall the place was ok but will definitely not be going there again. read more