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    El Patio

    3.3 (63 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 11:00 am - 10:30 pm

    El Patio Photos

    Business Info

    EL PATIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    The outside

    Traveling from north to south we stopped by for Mexican food; at first glance it's nicely decorated and the food certainly looks Mexican, however this is an American mexican restaurant. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't eat the chips and salsa; I'm not sure which of the two it was, but we all got instantly sick with a pain in our stomachs and felt nauseated, and could not fully enjoy the rest of the food. I usually don't go out of my way to post reviews but seeing my son sick I figured I should if it helps to avoid someone else getting sick--he never gets like that. All of us getting sick was made it pretty clear as we altogether ate chips and salsa upon arriving. The server was nice the ambiance was great, and the rest of the food was ok (could use more salt, but there's salt at the table so it was ok)

    Flan

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    2 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    27 days ago

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    20 days ago

    Griselda 10/10 waitress! Food was awesome and drinks were always full definitely recommend

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    19 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Got their rib eye steak tampequina. As usual it was super. Had attentive waitress. They give military discount too.

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    9 months ago

    Management has made some improvements in the service and food recently. We will be back!

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    9 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food and service was great. The decor was really nice, we really enjoyed dinner as a family. We would go back.

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    6 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    4.5(507 reviews)
    13.7 mi
    $$

    Food is good. Salsa bar. Service is great and fast. Very lively restaurant with live…read moremusic/entertainment. Our server Mia was super helpful and friendly.

    We found Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant in Gainesville through a last-minute Facebook Valentine's…read moreDay event, and WOW what a surprise! The event said no reservations needed, so we showed up not realizing how popular it would be. The place was PACKED with a line out the door! Even so, we only waited about 25 minutes for a table on Valentine's Day, which honestly wasn't bad at all considering the crowd. We went specifically for their Valentine's special: 2 margaritas, fajitas for two, and dessert, such a great deal! The margaritas were delicious. We ordered the Rita sampler and the blueberry margarita tasted like blueberry pie, so fresh, organic, and absolutely yummy. We also ordered homemade guacamole, which was delectable, paired with fresh, crispy homemade chips. Our fajitas included steak, pork, chicken, and shrimp, and everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors were incredible!!! And can we talk about the restaurant itself? It's HUGE! It felt like one of those multi-level Times Square NYC restaurants, with multiple floors and even outside patio seating. It was like a magic trick walking through it! Our waitress, Lia, was fantastic, attentive, helpful, and so sweet despite how busy it was. The staff worked incredibly hard all night and it showed. Plentiful parking, amazing food, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back to this hidden gem we didn't even know existed in town. Thank you for making our Valentine's Day special after a long day of yard work

    Photos
    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant - Margaritas

    Margaritas

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant - Carne Asada Tacos

    Carne Asada Tacos

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant - Pollo Acapulco

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    Pollo Acapulco

    Nopal - Fish taco

    Nopal

    4.2(141 reviews)
    11.5 mi
    $$

    After trying a few other Mexican restaurants I chose this one because the Pork belly tacos. Upon…read morearriving we were told to pick our table. We chose to sit inside. Our server was Brandon, who was an absolute delight! He was so energetic, so friendly, and gave great suggestions. We started with drinks. I had a skinny margarita and my husband had a Frida (top shelf margarita) and our son had a Coke. First thing we ordered was the chips and salsa. The chips were perfect, not too thin and not too thick. They came with two salsas. Both were tasty. Not sure if there is a spicier option but we will check next time. I ordered the Birria tacos. They were so delicious! So much flavor! The avocado tomatillo salsa was perfect with it. My husband ordered the Al Pastor tacos. It was very traditional Al pastor. He loved the black beans. His words were " these are the best black beans I have ever had!" Our son ordered the chorizo tacos. First, I have never seen chorizo tacos offered in a Mexican restaurant. Secondly, they were amazing! To finish, I ordered the banana pudding and our son ordered the churro sundae. Both desserts were delicious. The portions were huge! All in all I say Nopal is quite the gem. Perfect portions and dishes that are packed with flavor. And service that goes above and beyond. We can't wait to go back. We will ask for Brandon!!!

    I arrived with 3 friends on a Wednesday night 7:20pm and we sat on the patio. There was not a…read moresingle table occupied inside the restaurant. There were 4-5 other tables seated outside. Our server mentioned he was busy but would come by as soon as he could. No problem! Well....he silently dropped waters off about five minutes later and zoomed away. We flagged him down a few minutes later to order bar drinks. Two of us ordered beers and two ordered margaritas. The margaritas took forever and when they finally came out, they both tasted terrible. One tasted like pure sugar (all sour mix) and the other tasted like rubbing alcohol but not a tequila taste. My friend took them inside to the bar to swap them out since the server was too busy. The bartender said there was too much agave in their sour mix today. They ended up with beers. Finally by almost 8pm we flagged the server down and asked to order food. He was apologetic that he was inattentive. We ordered and the food came out quickly. Everyone enjoyed their food. The server asked us if we wanted dessert and made a recommendation. Two of us had a check together and the other two separate. The server struggled to separate the checks and was confused. Suddenly by 9pm the kitchen was closed, he had dropped off our checks, and quickly picked them up. As soon as the checks were signed he was picking up the signed receipts and bussing the table around us although 3 out of 4 of us had full beers from a second round. The server was very kind but I can only hope that it was his first week because he was in the weeds the whole time and there was another server on the patio, so at most they had 3 tables each. I don't know if the solution is to add another server for that shift or if he needs a smaller section but it was hard to watch and honestly I don't think I will return. Maybe the manager could have helped take drink orders or run drinks on the table.

    Photos
    Nopal - Inside Bar

    Inside Bar

    Nopal - Avocado Mexican street corn

    Avocado Mexican street corn

    Nopal - Lanai porch

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    Lanai porch

    Cilantro Taco - Shrimp loaded Nachos

    Cilantro Taco

    4.6(14 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    I usually go to Tioga, but today I brought my mom here and I'm so glad I did. I ordered the chicken…read morenachos, and let me tell you... these weren't just nachos. This was an event. A whole experience. A mountain of food so generous it could easily feed two people, layered like an edible masterpiece. The plate came overflowing with rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, queso, and shredded cheese, all draped over perfectly seasoned chicken. Every bite felt warm and comforting, the kind of food that makes you pause mid‑conversation because the flavor hits you in waves. Creamy, crunchy, fresh, savory... everything balanced beautifully. I also tried the al pastor, and it was incredible. Tender, juicy, with that perfect hint of sweetness and char that makes al pastor unforgettable. You can taste the love and intention in every bite. I loved that you could see the pineapple chunks because usually places just use pineapple juice . The atmosphere was cozy, the service was kind, and the food felt like it was made by people who care. If you're anywhere near Alachua, do yourself a favor and stop here. This place deserves all the stars.

    Best Taco's in Alachua County and maybe even in Florida! Great service, incredible people, and…read morereally comfortable atmosphere. Great taste for the price too. I was very satisfied with the portions, and everything is made fresh to order. Presentation is really top notch. If you can't tell, I think the place and the people are amazing. Family owned too, so definitely a place to frequent and support. They also make the cakes(tres leches) in house! Seriously impressive place. I would recommend 10/10. Thanks so much Cilantro tacos team!

    Photos
    Cilantro Taco - Wall mural with local products

    Wall mural with local products

    Cilantro Taco - Amazing!!

    Amazing!!

    Cilantro Taco - Atmosphere and decor

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    Atmosphere and decor

    Cantina Añejo - Chicken street tacos in flour tortillas

    Cantina Añejo

    3.9(45 reviews)
    14.8 mi

    Right across the street from the UF campus and a short walk to Florida Field for game day! Great…read moreplace to park yourself at the outdoor bar or even the inside restaurant & have some handhelds and adult beverages before the game. My past experiences here have always been good and the servers are attentive and willing to make your time there a fun time. On game days the menu is downsized to make it easier on the kitchen but what is offered is flavorful and presented in a nice fashion. So, for myself this is a spot I go to before many of the home games as it is easier than setting up a tailgate and then tearing it down. Now, I just park my car & walk to Cantina Anejo with my wife and relax and have a good time with my fellow Gator fans!

    We sat at the outside bar as reservations were needed for anything inside. Our bartenders were…read morevery friendly, polite and did the best they could do, but were completely overwhelmed on this Graduation Friday. Place was clean, food was OK, yes just OK and wasn't even close to being served all together. The third plate was served after we finished all the other dishes. As I said, the bartenders were working hard but the overall service was terrible. No silverware was given, no drink refills were offered, no follow up on the missing food. Service just sucked! Especially for the prices ! Too many options to go back and have another bad experience. Today's busyness is not a surprise as I go through this every year, yet we're unable to take care of their guests.

    Photos
    Cantina Añejo
    Cantina Añejo - Birria tacos

    Birria tacos

    Cantina Añejo - Queso and Chips $9 (5/5)

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    Queso and Chips $9 (5/5)

    El Patio - mexican - Updated May 2026

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