Looking for something different? Why not try food from Argentina? El Patio recently opened a restaurant in the Traville Gateway shopping center. We came for lunch on Sunday and the restaurant was busy. We were seated right away. Service was excellent! A funny story, when we sat down, the waiter spoke to me in full Portuguese. I guess he took one look at my face and understood that I didn't understand a word, so he switched to English. We ordered a Cobb salad, a beef tucamana frita empanada, yucca, and flan de la leches. My friend really enjoyed the Cobb salad. She finished hers and it was a generous portion. The grilled chicken was seasoned well. The lettuce and veggies were fresh. I think their yucca was the best I have tasted in a long time. It was hot, crisp, and lightly fried. Next time, I will get the larger portion. The empanada was good. I loved the outside pastry. But, the filling was different than a Peruvian tucamana. So, it wasn't as sweet and the meat was a little tougher, than I would have liked. The crown jewel of our meal was the flan dulce les leches. It was fabulous. The caramel drizzle. The light and airy flan and the creamy deliciousness. It was excellent! So, service was great, they are very nice. The meal had some hits and misses. I would definitely like to return and try some of the Argentinian grilled beef and veggies. They also have an attached shop, where you can buy Foods and snacks from Argentina. Welcome to the neighborhood, El Patio. read more

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This was our first visit, and we really wanted to love it since it's a new restaurant. The service was friendly, and we appreciated that they even have a small market on-site. The menu was creative and had a lot of appealing options, but unfortunately, the food didn't live up to our expectations. The appetizers were the highlight of the meal and were much better than the entrees. The ribeye was a disappointing cut of meat, the Carne Salteada was chewy, and the salmon was overcooked. The strip steak was ok. Overall, while the service was good, the food fell short. It's not a place we'll be rushing back to. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. Was handed a dinner menu and asked about lunch menu. They said this location has been here for only a month and they have no lunch menu at this time. (A lunch menu is advertised on the El Patio restaurant website. I guess I didn't catch that it didn't apply at all locations.) We ordered 6 empanada to start. They offer 6-8 types, but were out of the first three we asked for. We opted for the Spinach, Shrimp and Spinach, and Ham and Cheese. They were all good, although o thought the ham and cheese was very salty. For entree, I got the seared branzino ($29.95) with 2 sides (grilled vegetable skewers and a side salad) and my partner got the Pollo Salteado with mashed potatoes. Branzino - it was very thin and, although it was seared, the entire outside skin was hard and chewy. The inside meat was soft and had flavor, but overall I was disappointed. I've had better branzino that had more meat and wasn't hard. There was very little meat in the very thin piece of fish. On the other hand, the vegetable skewers were delicious. Very well prepared and a nice portion of veggies. The salad was - salad. The Pollo Salteado was terribly salty, almost uncomfortably so. The potatoes and peppers in the stir-fry were tasty, but the dish was uncomfortably salty. We ate a bit at the restaurant, took the rest home, ate a little bit and threw out the rest. Really disappointing. The 7-layer cake was a big hit. Very rich and good ($7.50). The service was "OK". Our water glasses were empty a couple of times and we had to call the server over to fill them. They did help us make a fuss with the birthday celebrations including the singing - that was nice. I'd give 2.5 stars, but the empanadas were good and so was the cake and the veggies. So, I'll give a 3. read more

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This is for El Patio in Traville Village Center in Rockville. In looking for a place to eat dinner, I came across this spot one weekend. I knew they opened this location in May 2026, and we decided to give it a try. We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to seat us. We were given 2 menus: Dinner, and Cocktails. The Dinner Menu had a little bit of everything on it, all categorized under Empanadas, Appetizers, Soups, Quiches & Omelets, Salads, Side Orders, A La Parrilla (on the grill), Del Mar (seafood?), Chef's Specials, Sandwiches, Pastas, El Patio's Specials, Platters, Kids Menu (under 12), All-Day Breakfast, Desserts, Espresso & Hot Teas, Drinks, Beers and Cocktails. Something for everyone, I guess. The Cocktail menu showed a picture of each cocktail including a description of them. With so many choices on the menu, it took us a while to decide on what to get. Once we settled on a choice, we were able to put in our order with our server. Under the "Pasta" selections, I got something called "Canelones de Carne". It is described as delicate crepes filled with ground beef, topped with creamy béchamel sauce and melted cheese. You also get a choice of sauce, and I selected the traditional meat sauce (other selections were Bolognese, Filetto (tomato), rosé, or béchamel). All pasta selections are accompanied by a small house salad. The dish Canelones de Carne tasted good. There were 2 crepes on the plate, and they were covered with the sauce. Surrounding it were 3 pieces of bread with melted cheese (the bread looked like a baguette slice). I enjoyed the selection and the dish was just enough - the price, not so much. The side salad I could have done without. It was basic - 3 tomato slices, 3 slices of egg, onions and mixed greens. I ate the tomatoes, but as I ate some of the greens, I noticed the color on some and stopped eating the whole salad. Since I love chicken empanadas, I wanted to try one of them here. However, they were out of chicken, so I had to settle for beef. The empanada was very small (I cut it in half). After taking a bite, I discovered the meat on the inside was cold (maybe a reheat?). I informed our server who took it back to the kitchen and had it replaced. When I got it the second time it was piping hot - maybe too hot as I couldn't pick it up. When I was finally able to take a bite, I ended up not liking it at all - something about the taste was off. I probably should have dipped it in one of the 2 sauces they placed on the table close to us being seated. Their Dessert Menu showed the pictures of each (back and front). I ordered the Rogel as our server shared it was one of their popular desserts. Menu describes it as: Crisp pastry layers filled with rich dulce de leche, topped with torched meringue. It was a rich dessert for sure. I could not finish it in one sitting but enjoyed the rest of it a few days after. I can't remember what my friend got, but I do remember our server, going back and forth to the market area to see if they had the different dessert selections in stock, each time my friend mentioned a choice. Service was good (our server was Jorge). My overall experience: 3.5 stars. read more

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Husband and I came here for lunch on a Friday. This location recently opened up so was excited to try it. We got the El Patio margarita which were *chefs kiss* amazing. For our entree I got the Brochette de carne with fried yuca and steamed veggies. The meat was tender and the two different types of chimichurri that are complimentary enhanced the taste. Husband got the Chivito al Plato with sweet potato fries and enjoyed his meal. We had a great time here and regret that we didnt have enough room for dessert. After our meal we walked through the market which was very cute. We will be back! read more

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Excellent! Great new place! Airy, open, while also feeling solid and traditional with a big wooden door, substantial metal handle -- great mix of new and old, modern and traditional. The food I/ we tried was all spectacularly delicious! I was impressed at the selection of vegetarian things and how healthy these selections were. I didn't expect, for instance, to find Grilled Veggie Kabobs. The carrot was especially superb, grilled to perfection. The Quinoa Salad was mmm-mmm lemony goodness! (I am a quinoa lover, and predisposed to love it -- plus I knew I'd love it as I'd had it before as take-out from the first location.) Cinnamon Tea was a nice surprise to find! The Hot Chocolate was delicious and very well-frothed. I really enjoyed the frothy part greatly! (Of course, this can change and the same amount of frothiness might not always show up.) There are high chairs and a kids' menu for children 12 and under -- including a great-sounding mini pizza, mmm! Parking is plentiful and close by (plus free!) with handicapped spots close to the entrance. Outdoor seating is available -- and pretty! There is also a little store inside with an entrance/ exit at the back, from/ into the back of the parking lot. While small, this store has much selection! There are many, many tasty treats including on the counter right by the door, a very nice selection of boxed teas and plenty of yerba bags of soo many kinds. There's a freezer with some cheeses and other hard-to-find things not common in this area .... Lots to look through and love! Overall, a wonderful dining and shopping experience! So glad to have stopped in. Highly recommended! Yay! :-D read more

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Food was good and service was good our waiter Jorge was a lot of help and made the experience better!! The ambiance in there was nice it looked real nice in there read more

Being our first time celebrating my birthday at El Patio, we had an amazing experience from start to finish. Joseph G. was our server, and he was outstanding. He gave us great recommendations and helped us choose the perfect meals. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel truly welcome. To top it all off, the staff surprised me with a delicious birthday dessert and sang "Happy Birthday," which made the celebration even more special. The food, dessert, and overall experience were excellent. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Had an excellent dinner with my family. Flavors were great and very reasonably priced. The Carne Salteado was fantastic and had the ideal amount of seasoning. Empanadas were also a highlight. The food came out very quickly. The restaurant is in an awkward location, but don't let that deter you because you're missing out on a hidden gem! Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Waited a long time to get seated. Service was slow. The vibes were like a dry stale loaf of bread. Food was mediocre at best. When it finally arrived it reminded me of being back in the service. read more

Went twice, very good, once for dinner and once for breakfast, little sandwiches were tasty. Good coffee too

Solid 3 stars. Decor is nice and cozy with lots of wood I wish there was a lunch menu with smaller portions. Empanadas sampler was good. They were out of some things which is annoying. I'll give it another try. read more

Beautiful decor cozy ambiance. Excellent food and service. Stand outs for us were the empanadas (beef ones with egg inside) with chimichurri sauce and the desserts, especially the tiramisu. The entrees were good too but I'll be dreaming about their desserts for days. read more

The food and service were poor quality ordered vegetarian omlette. Lots of stringy cheese in it. Unflavored eggs. Came with 3 tiny pieces of bread, need to request butter separately. Waiters stand around talking to each other at dinner time. Unable to give correct change in billing. Atmosphere same as it was left by previous restaurant. Ambience ok but overall unpleasant dining experience. read more

We patiently and enthusiastically waited for the opening of El Patio's second location in Traville, as we've been longtime fans of their Rockville restaurant. Unfortunately, after giving the new location two separate chances, both experiences fell well below our expectations in both service and food quality. What was most disappointing was seeing multiple employees--including the owner--standing around chatting at the host stand while guests received minimal attention and service. During our first visit, we sat near the bar hoping for quick drinks and food. Instead, it took about 10 minutes to receive menus, another 10 minutes to have our order taken, and our food arrived before our drinks. The drinks were sitting at the end of the bar, and I ultimately had to ask management to bring them over. A few weeks later, we returned hoping the opening kinks had been worked out. Unfortunately, the experience was nearly identical. Staff spent much of their time gathered at the host stand, and we again struggled to get service until I flagged down the owner. The food itself was also underwhelming and nowhere near the quality we've come to expect from the Rockville location. As longtime supporters of El Patio, this is especially disappointing. The flagship restaurant set a high standard for both hospitality and food, and this new location currently falls far short of it. I genuinely hope they can turn things around because we'd love to become regulars here as well. read more

New restaurant husband and I decided to try. Everything was delicious, including my chicken dish and especially the empanadas. Staff very friendly, easy and plentiful parking. Prices good and portions very adequate. I highly recommend and we definitely will be returning customers. read more

I drove two hours to meet my family for my sister's birthday dinner. Three of the ten of us got there about forty minutes early and we were told ( by a rude hostess) that we couldn't be seated until everyone else showed up! That should have been my first clue to leave. Didn't they know that we would be ordering food and it would add $$ to their night?? I was thirsty and hungry, so the three of us were told that we could only sit at the bar only and at no tables ! We ordered water and 3 empanadas, (supposedly that is what they are famous for. ) it tasted like the frozen ones that you get at the grocery store. Finally the rest of the party arrived and we are seated. Let me just say that I have learned in my sixty years here on earth that you can tell a whole lot about a restaurant by the condition of its bathroom. That should have been my second clue to leave....run, if be, out the door...not looking back . The bathroom smelled of dirty, stale urine. They had some kind of a deodorizer that was trying to mask the smell but it only made it worse. So disgusting and there were places in the wall of each stall that were cut out and covered in plastic. Like, maybe an awful plumbing issue. Why not close instead until it's fixed??‍The waitress takes our orders and asks each person their name to get the correct order with the person...makes sense right? Wrong! They still gave people the wrong food! I was one of the first to order and the very last person to receive my food. I don't mean a minute or two after the others, I mean twenty minutes after everyone else. My family were halfway done before I even got mine, like they forgot to fry my chicken cutlet, slap a piece of ham and cheese on top and scoop some mashed potatoes on my plate.‍ It was not even hot at all and the food definitely definitely definitely wasn't worth the money I paid. Most certainly not worth driving two hours in Maryland traffic for. I didn't even eat but 3 bites and gave the rest to my SIL for her dog at home. Oh, they were also out of a lot of items on the menu which was very frustrating. Come on people! Do better! read more

Do NOT waste your money or time on this restaurant. Extremely disorganized staff looked stressed and even had one waiter running. We waited 25 minutes for two sandwiches. Other patrons who were seated after us received their food while we were still waiting. Patron next to us had ordered a sandwich on large baguette. He tried to bite into it and it was obviously hard. He used utensils to finish. Waitress told us our order was up next but plates of food were still coming out, just not for us. The line in the sand for us was the waiter coming by and asking if there was anything else and we responded that we were STILL waiting on food. With that we informed him we were leaving and we did. Bitterly disappointed and will not give another try. read more