I work nearby and people from work like to go to the Patio for lunch. I must say that the Patio is not my first (or second) choice of places to go for lunch. To me it just seems like a glorified fast food that is just so-so. My impression is that it would be a great place to take a large group of kids. read more

I'm a fan of the Patio. There are loads of choices but I like the Italian Beef with cheese and hot peppers. Clean, friendly and food is very good to excellent for a chain restaurant. If you've been you love it, if you haven't been - go. read more

Visited once and had the tacos. Very flavorful; wasn't expecting it at a BBQ joint! Nothing extraordinary though. Probably no reason to return. Serve beer & wine though! read more

A huge menu with so much food to choose from there will be something for everyone. Their salads are great, but I wish they gave out more dressing to start with, although its most likely a corporate rule to only give one cup per order. Mac and cheese is super creamy and makes your tastebuds crave more! Only issue was when ordering; the font is so small on the screens its hard to read. Again, probably a corporate thing only they can control, but maybe some paper menus to look at in line might help! read more

Really like the Patio restaurant. The Ribeye Steak Sandwich is the absolute BEST steak sandwich I have ever had ANYWHERE. I've heard great things about their burgers, but I can't stop myself from ordering the steak sandwich! read more

We stopped here for dinner on the way to my nephew's hockey game. Having previously dined at the location in Bridgeview, I was psyched for a little Patio bbq that night. I ordered a half slab of ribs with French fries (comes with coleslaw and toasted bread). Sterling ordered the half chicken with fries. We were both pleased with our choices. My only gripe is that I saw the draft beer on our way out of the place. Great selections on tap--I'll have to remember that for future visits. read more

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Used to be pretty good. Went today. 4 of us. One of us received the wrong chicken sandwich. One received hot dog with stale bun. One was shorted a side. Table was dirty. They certainly were not too busy. It seems all have fallen short when they should've been stepping up. read more

Had lunch date here today. I've never been to a The Patio before, so this was my first experience. My foodie buddy suggested the beef brisket sandwich, as he's not a fan of their ribs - and you don't order ribs when you're having lunch with a woman you're meeting for the first time. The place itself was very clean and open, and overall it was a pleasant experience. The brisket sandwich was excellent. The bun held up perfectly to the BBQ sauce and the brisket itself was tender and flavorful. Ever-so-slightly pricey at $8.50 (including tax) and served only with a half-pickle (which was good too), but then again, quality BBQ usually isn't cheap. My date had salmon with grilled (or sauteed?) vegetables, and it looked fantastic. Made me wish I'd order the same thing. She told me she orders it often (she's a vegetarian) and it's excellent. Part of our reason for getting together was a Ms. Pac Man challenge at the machine they have....and I kicked butt, as I usually do, at Ms. Pac Man. I've got skillzzzz :) read more

Alas, it appears that you can't go home again. Or at least, you can't go home and then bring your ribs back to your new home 5 hours away. Fifteen years ago, I worked in the vicinity of The Patio and loved to grab a much better than average burger for lunch. For a treat, my husband and I would come in on the weekends for the rib dinners. I don't order ribs all that much, but when I do, I like them super saucy, just like the Patio serves---with a side of extra tangy sauce. The dinners include a ginormous, perfectly baked potato and a way too tiny portion of coleslaw (the ultimate bbq sauce foil). So, on my way out of town last week, I picked up a coupla rib dinners to bring back to STL. The ribs were tough and stringy. boo hoo. Everything else was fine--but even though I kept trying to talk myself back into a Luvs-Me-The-Patio frame of mind, I just couldn't get there. I'm going to chalk it up the ride home, but the ribs just didn't satisfy. read more

I have had patio a few times as our office gets catering from them for lunches. Ive never been overly impressed with anything they offer. The bbq is some of the blandest Ive ever had. Their fried shrimp are pretty tasty, but who cant fry a shrimp? The thing that REALLY kills me off the bat is the price. I finally made my way into the local Patio to try a shot at their menu. I got their "patio classic chicken sandwich" and their "loaded mac and cheese" and a fountain drink. $12, wow. The chicken sandwich tasted like they had a tub of pre cooked breasts sitting out. It wasnt very warm or fresh tasting. The "loaded" mac and cheese had some toasted bread crumbs on top, wow, so loaded. Both the sandwich and the mac were crazy tiny, almost kid portions. For $12, Id rather go to a real establishment like Portillos and get a bang for my buck. This place is definitely a Portillos "everything under one roof variety" wanna be and they are failing at both value and quality. I wont be back, but Ill most likely have to endure more catering orders at the office. read more

We visited on a Saturday around 5:30 pm with our 6 month old and almost 2 year old in tow. It wasn't too busy and we got seated easily and our order placed. My husband had the ribs and I had the beef kebabs. My daughter had the kid's hot dog. Overall the food was just pretty good. My kebabs tasted good and I liked the rice on the side but the meat was dry and grisly - pretty unfortunate to keep having to discreetly spit gristle into a napkin...I had much higher expectations. My husband said the ribs didn't have much meat and were dry. He's eaten better here (but this was my first time here). My daughter loved her hot dog and we all liked the fries. Very nice staff clearing the table and nice high chair. I also really liked the atmosphere. Going to give it a second chance sometime! read more

I ate here 3 times for different occasions. The food was super greasy, salty, & the bbq sauce was too sweet even for me! The ribs had a lot of fat; I asked someone there if they thought the meat was brined but no one could answer. I figured it made tougher/cheaper cuts of meat softer if they were brined and fatty & the sauce was over-sweetened to cover up the saltiness. As expensive as they are, I expect some real ribs! Their sides are really heavy-feeling. I can get better quality elsewhere for a lot, lot less $$$~SORRY, just being honest. read more

It's an order at the counter, seat yourself and they bring the food to you kinda place. The barbecue ribs and chicken are excellent and a must order if it's your first time. The sauce is so good that I have replaced my home recipe, which is excellent and exactly how I like it, with the Patios. They are very efficient so you never have to wait long for your food whether dining in or going through the drive-through. It's a great place to go if you want really good food (they have a pretty diverse menu) quick or if you have a group and don't want the hassle of waiting. read more

My family has been eating at the Patio for as long as I can remember and my sister even worked here during her college years! They have a wide variety of salads, sandwhiches, meats, and sides. Though I have never had bad food here, I need to tell you what the best thing is to order. The chicken oreganado. This chicken is roasted rotisserie style and is fall off the bone tender. The sauce they give you is an oil based lemon, garlic, and oregano sauce that my family and I cannot get enough of. We love this chicken so much that we have ordered it for Christmas dinner more than once. I assure you, your family will swoon over this tender, moist, and flavorful chicken. AND at the price on only $10 a chicken there is no need to learn how to make it! AMAZING! read more

Pretty good place with a wide selection of food. Definitely a place to go to after your child's soccer game. The food was fresh and were of nice portions. I had the chicken tenders with a garden salad. The salad was not your traditional iceberg salad, thankgoodness! Whenever I head to places like this, its always a horrible salad that they are trying to push on you. At least someone at Patio has thought it out and recognizes that not a way to get a customer to return. The place is definitely well staffed. They were moving people in and out pretty quickly. Overall, the experience was nice and everyone was satisfied with their food. read more

The food is excellent, with a good selection to choose from. The service is great...very fast and courteous. The seating is very spacious with sections that feel semi-private, along with many TVs on the wall. I go there with my family and we stay there for more than an hour visiting after we eat with no inconvienance. I only wish they would take this franchise out West to Anaheim, California! read more

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Great lunch spot. Delicious chicken (the ribs are okay). Burgers are fine, but there are better options in the area. Seriously, the chicken is the way to go here. Also, the brisket's not too bad. They're very weird and draconian about the water. They must have some real problem with people stealing soda from the fountain using water glasses. It's gotten better -- used to be you had to ask for a glass of water at the counter. Now you just have these tiny plastic glasses labelled "FOR WATER ONLY" that you fill from the dedicated water station. It used to be unclear to me if we were supposed to bus our own tables or not, but I've gotten the impression that we don't and the staff will handle it. In any case, good chicken. read more

The patio has been a long time favorite rib spot for me. They're pretty popular for two things- their bbq food and their creamy soups. With that being said the menu is so extensive it's easy to get lost in it. The skewers make my mouth water just thinking about them. I've always felt the layout and order process is a little weird though. You order, take a number, find a seat and then someone brings you your food. Which is easy, but the beer is in a separate line. Maybe that's my laziness talking but I wish it was all just one quick order process. They also have a drive thru for when you're feeling like you can't be seen in public. I believe they only have two locations but do not hold me to that. The bridgeview location is slightly better but both are delicious! read more

The Patio - Santa Fe salad - Barbeque Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Ordered the half of chicken dinner. Yet it was tasty the portion size was a joke. The half of a chicken was like half of a cornish hen. Very overpriced for the portion size, unless you want 75% french fries and 25% chicken. read more

Good place for BBQ. They have just about anything you could ask for from burgers to ribs to salads, etc. The atmosphere of this location is nice. Open with windows. Clean. The food is pretty good. I like to eat the various BBQ items like brisket and ribs which are always satisfying. They have 2 types of sauce (mild and spicy). Both are very good. They also have pretty good soup. My gf is partial to the cream of chicken shell. The prices are slightly high here. It would be considered a fast food restaurant, but most meals will cost a person $10+. Not horrible, but you could probably find better deals elsewhere. read more

My service was wonderful. Our server Andy was the best. He will get you anything you need and he was prompt. I will definitely come back. Fish sandwich was really good. read more

Great food as always but the drive thru is a disaster avoid it all cost. Except to wait 10-20 minutes for any order large or small.

This place was surprisingly good. I did have the ribs; they were not bad. If you are in Darien for some reason it's definitely an option. It's not exactly fine dining though! The Patio is your basic family restaurant. A TV hanging in the corner shows sports games. You order your food and seat yourself, carrying a giant number you stick on a standon your table. Your meal is brought to you by waitstaff. You pour your own drinks, including water, at a station in the ordering area. read more

Been eating here for years, cannot complain! Pulled turkey is delicious, lover your bbq sauce! I would also recommend their grilled veggie sandwich. Onion rings, yes there are fried, but they are not overly greasy. Very quick service via the drive through during drive time / rush hour on a week night, everything is made to order, fresh, and your employees have always been very polite. read more

Great ribs, burgers are ok. Management/staffr seems a little too serious or unfriendly, hmmmm. Salads are that good, more ingredients on them. Go for the ribs, go to Portillos for the burgers! read more

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I will NEVER get sick of this place...in fact, I binge ate it for about a year, and then I decided to venture out and try new things, but the Pulled Pork sandwich and Cream of Chicken soup bring me back often. Food is ALWAYS up to my standards and the service is SO quick. I have never had a problem here! Friendly staff! read more

I ordered Sunday night dinner from the Patio for my wife, daughter and I. I picked up the meal through the drive-thru with them. The Patio is located about 15 minutes from my home and my daughter would not stop asking me for french fries which was one of the items on purchased for her along with a kids chicken tender meal. Once I arrives home the chicken tenders and fries for my daughter were missing. She began crying since that was all she asked for on the way to the Patio and on the way back home. Very Frustrating!!! I had to run out to a local restaurant to get her food immediately. On the way there I called the Patio and asked to speak with the manager. I explained to him that her food was missing and that not only could she not eat but my meal was ruined because it would be cold by the time I came back home from getting her food. He arrogantly said "well sorry" and offered to give me an extra "chicken tender" if I wanted to come back. I told him so for all this headache and aggravation you are offering me a single "chicken tender". That was unacceptable and insulting. I go to the Patio about 3 times a week for my family and this insulting smarmy gesture is unacceptable. I will never go back to any of your restaurants again! read more

Patio is consistently good. We enjoy the soup sandwiches and salads. The sweet potato fries are also very good. Service is fast and servers are polite. read more

I heart the patio. I frequent the establishment quite a bit and their standards are always consistent. I was put in charge of a work luncheoun. These people wanted Corner Bakery and I was like WTF hell to the nizzzoo. We are getting our rib on. 14 people $200 bill everything was just right. The ribs are the best in the area, for the type of establishment. You won't be let down. Service is excellent. read more

I've ordered takeout from The Patio on a number of occasions. Ribs were OK.... I think I had them maybe once or twice. However, I've had the chicken dishes (Oreganato and BBQ) a number of times and they were always great. The side dishes were also always well prepared and tasty. Never ate in but the dining area seemed OK. Some remodeling of the exterior was done about two years ago. There's also a drive-thru window. Service was always OK, although I also experienced having the pronunciation of my order corrected a couple of times (as a few previous reviewers have mentioned). Is that really necessary? But what do I know, I'm just a customer. All in all, not a bad place, and I wish I'd lived in the area long enough to have tried some of their fish dinners. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. read more

I love this place!! It's kind of like a fast-food restaurant (because they have a drive-thru) but one with REALLY good food!! Not the usual junk you get at most of those places. The double cheeseburger is amazing (way better than Portillos) as are the onion rings. But also love tons of other stuff on their menu. The pulled pork sandwich is excellent as is the grilled chicken breast plate with a side of potatoes and veggies. Fish sandwich is really good too, and also love the fajita & pita wraps. They also make really good salads, and I love their homemade soups which I order almost every time I get food here. Also am a huge fan of the shrimp kebobs and the grilled salmon plates. Been ordering from the a lot since the Covid outbreak and notice they've had to cut down their menu a bit, so looking forward to when some of the items come back. I'm missing their chocolate chip cookies and pies! I know they are supposed to be known for their ribs, but I don't like ribs so I can't vouch for those, LOL. Once in a blue moon I get an "off" meal here, but 95% of the time the food is really good - well prepared and tastes fresh. read more

Good food. Rude, disorganized, and unhelpful pick-up service. Young woman doing her best with three rude and unhelpful superiors. Consensus in customer line that pick-up was not going well. read more

Loved the ribs - rich smokey taste. But the burger was just ok, nothing special. read more

Went there again because I like the bang bang shrimp. Needless to say they messed up another order. Now In done for good there. Called the manager he offered me a gift card. No thanks. read more

Their pulled pork sandwich is the best! This is a great date night spot and very relaxing!

This review is largely based on their billing practices. I ordered $150 of ribs and paid nearly $25 in delivery charges when I was told the delivery would be only $10 by the catering manager. Go ahead and order ...but do NOT pay for delivery it is way overpriced....and check your receipt!! read more

I never thought I'd be at battle with a restaurant about a damn salad dressing but it seems that pettyville has come to the Patio. I ordered a Santa Fe chicken salad with an extra dressing. I was charged but didnt get it. That happened last Friday 9/27. I ordered another salad, explained the situation to the guy on the phone. His octave changed like he was irritated or didnt believ me. Really!?? I guess people go around trying to steal 60 cents all the time. When I got to the Patio, I paid for my salad and politely asked the guy at the window to make sure I had my 3 salad deressings as I was already told they give you 2 for free. Guess what I got? 2 salad dressings. Looks like I'm not the 60 cent thief after all. That's okay though. You keep that precious 60 cents and I'll spend my money elsewhwere YOU CHEAP BASTARDS!!! read more

I have eaten in 3 locations of THE PATIO: Darien, Lombard and Bridgeview. Also have had carry-out several times. The staff has been polite and helpful about making sure you "had everything". The burgers are tasty and done to your specifications. The ribs have mostly been meaty and tender. I have experienced a tough serving and an end cut which was more fatty than usual. The pulled pork sandwich was good and contained plenty of meat. The salads come in a nice variety and were also good. I told the Darien manager about my disappointing rib experience, and he said he would have replaced it if I had told him earlier on. The Lombard location is more modern than Darien but the food is consistent and variety is great for a BBQ place. Even fish and spaghetti! read more

I ordered a salad online for pickup. I went five minutes later than the time to make sure it was ready. I get there and the lady gives me attitude they are behind. Then I wait another fifteen minutes while they make it. So essentially online ordering is pointless at this place. I get home and the lady's hair is in my salad. No wonder I haven't been here in a couple years. Portillo's is a hundred times better. read more

The Patio has a nice variety on their menu, prices are competitive, and the food is good. I especially like the salads and chicken kabobs! I'm not crazy about the small, uncomfortable chairs and excessive noise in the restaurant. Linda R. read more