Patio Loco

I am glad this place closed, Leroy. The owner of Patio Loco (Leroy) doesn't even pay his employees. They all quit after a couple of months, when they realize that either they are never getting a pay check, or the checks they do get end up bouncing. Don't eat at any of his restaurants...he's a horrible person!! Pros: The food is okay, at most. Cons: The owner doesn't pay his employees. Apparently he uses their money to do renovations/ remodeling. more

Wow, I never imagine that someday I would be writing this...,but, it must be done.I'm very greatful to all of my LOYAL customers and regulars who supported my business.Words can't even express the gratitude I feel right now.I am very SAD that Patio Loco had to close and sometimes things are out of one's control and your given""LEMONS"",but, just know that I have chosen to make LEMONADE with my lemons.I'm happy with everything that I accomplised there in 2 yrs.Life is fast or only seems that way as you get older.My GOD and my faith in HIM is telling me to move on to expand my gift of cooking and making people feel special to a whole new level.I'm in the process of looking for another location..I'm also starting a catering business for all you Patio Locoholics where you can still experience all the great food and some from my hometown of New Orleans. Success and Failure are one in the same, and I've chosen success.No one can take away my ability to cook and we live in a world of service..I can still serve you delicious epanadas,tamales black beans, spanish rice, arepas and just about anything else your mouth desires.Again THANK YOU for everything. If you get a craving for some awesome food with a unique taste then I would be honored and please to cater your next LOCO party for any special accassion.Please contact me at via e-mail @\r LeRoysPatioLoco@gmail. or PatioLocoCatering@gmail.\r I am not allowed to add the com at the end of my e-mail address, so make sure you do!!\r and again from the buttom of my heart.. thank you very much and God bless!! from:\r LeRoy, Nadia, Dario, Rick, and Staff & Friends\r Mr. Mike---The Franklin Hotel , Jamil---Med Deli, Tommy----411 West , Robert---Carolina Brewery \r Angelo & Vennie---Italian Pizzaria and Adam----Hookah Bliss...get out and support these other owners\r and their business. Thanks guys for being good friends and nieghbors. Pros: I can still cater great food for you and your friends.... more

Not being from there and looking for a place for dinner, we really got lucky finding this place. We expected ""just another Mexican place"" but this was a lot more... the food was outstanding and can best be described as Mexican with an international flavor. All the food was unique, tasteful and spicey without being ""hot"".... We enjoyed our dinner so much we wanted to compliment the chef and we eventually talked to Leroy, the owner, and he is very passionate about his work and wants everyone to to enjoy his food. And the marquaritas are real.... not some package mix. Thanks again, Leroy. more

I went to Patio Loco with some friends for the first time, and let me tell you how great the food was! I have had mexican food in the past, but this place is uniquely different, everything from the menu is so diversed. My grandmother is from Panama and as a child she would serve us platano maduro ( sweet plantains) and I was so happy to eat them again with the cheese and sour cream ummm so delicious, the tostones with chicken I highly recommend, we had ordered guacamole which was sold out apparently the avacados were still green our waitress told us.You just have to try a little of everything. We just love sitting and sharing our food together.Great food, music , and ambiance with great friends is always a winner.I'm a coming back for more, everything was great. Pros: food, service, margaritas all for a great value more

I really can't remember the first time I dined at Patio Loco but I've been going ever since (roughly two years). It's by far one of the best places to enjoy good Latin food, music and atmosphere on Franklin St. My friend and I try to go as often as we can on Friday nights to unwind and treat ourselves after working hard during the week. Personally my favorite dish is the tostones but I've promised myself to try the many other scrumptious dishes offered. Everytime I go I feel as though I'm visiting the home of a close friend who serves up the best LATIN dishes in town!! The service is great and the owner LeRoy knows how to treat his patrons with the charm and respect for which he is well known. After one conversation with him you'll definitely feel like you've made a new friend. I highly recommend the food here because its fresh and each dish is geniously prepared by the chef. He has wonderfully innovative ideas and is always coming up with new dishes so of course you have to visit often! Oh yeah, if you're in the mood for a drink then you'll love the guava margaritas!!! Patio Loco won awards for this very delicious drink. No matter if you go during lunch or for dinner the Latin music will uplift your mood and have you ready to practice the salsa and bachata moves (you saw on Dancing with the Stars). Dancing is also an option on some Saturday nights where the restaurant hosts great Latin bands and parties. Okay, I could go on and on but I hope you'll take my word for it and try this hot restaurant out for yourself. You'll definitely get your money's worth and so much MORE... Pros: Excellently prepared food, service, ambience (especially the music) more

This was place was happening as we pass by we saw a large croud of people sitting and enjoying themselves. I told my friends forget about eating down the street, let's eat here.We ordered a pitcher of gauva frozen margarita ...sweet and very tasty! We heard this sizzling sound and the smoke from this girl walking by our table and then we can smell the flavors in the air, I asked the girl what was that?, she said with a very nice smile ""chicken and shrimp fajitas"" and they are good! We could tell why this place was a HOT spot.Look I'm not good at writing reviews, but the couple sitting next to us said she saw this place on citysearch wed site and said that 's how they had come to this restaurant. I read some of the other entries and let me tell you that they are all correct in what they have written and this place is very busy...I'm from Atlanta and we have pretty good Mexican, but this place is more than that.The cheese dip and the guacamole's presentation with chips is real nice touch.I'm sad to say we didn't meet this owner that is mention in the other reviews, because he's from our big revial city when we play football. I love New Orleans and it's food, culture and everything else.I must say that is why the food is so good here.To every single person reading this, you will have a great time here.This place is great, the food, margaritas,fresh salsa and chips, freshness all away around.Our waiter was very concern with the service he provided us which was very good.This place is a 10 in my book and we will come back. Pros: everything was great, keep doing what your doing! Cons: we have none!! more

I pulled up citysearch for mexican restaurants and Patio Loco had a pretty good rating and I started reading some of the commits that other people wrote.I hadn't been here since the new ownership took over.A lot has change and I must say for the ""Better"" this place use to be a dump, nasty, and the food was very bad. I had eaten here over three years ago and my experience was ""NOT GOOD ""that's why I found it very interesting that it had recieved such a high rating.I told my friends to me there and the place was packed, not one empty seat....business is hoping I told my friends as we walked in.Then the smell of all the different foods was in the air,people having a great time.Well guess what this beautiful hostess and a smile so great told us there would be a wait ( not surprised) I said. Well to keep this short and sweet this place has changed for the BEST and our waiter Dario was very attentive to us and I asked who own the place and he pionted to this bald headed guy behind the bar entertaining some guess. Next thing I new here came over to introduce himself "" hi I'm Leroy from New Orleans in a very funny way"" he explained the menu and recommened the fish tacos, jambalaya, and the steak fajitas which we ordered.It was great, the food,service,and it looks like he's remodeling maybe that's why no air was on and the doors opened, you are in latin america I told my friends soo ..drink some cold beers. This place is great ... more

I'm new to the area and this place is unique and the food is to die for. So why is this place not busy? The service was wonderful and the food is like not your typical Mexican flare ( bland and no spices)this place serves great salsa ( not to spicey) and the entree dishes are very different and unique.I have never tasted so much flavor in every bite.This place should do 3 times the business than what I saw.People let me be the first to tell you that I'm a very picky eater, but , this place has everything going for it self. The food, service, and the music is so up beat that I completely forgot what A BAD DAY I HAD!!! I want to help this place become very popular because it deserves it.The outdoor patio is great as you watch everyone just passing by on the sidewalk. Order the taquitos and empanadas ( chicken) and the Shrimp n Chicken Fajitas it's enough for two to share.This is the only Mexican restaurant that I will ever eat at. People get out there and support this awesome restaurant, you will not regret it, I promise!!! Pros: the portions are HUGE, you get your monies worth Cons: not enough room to put all this food,great the next day for lunch. more

The food, music, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. I went there for the first time last week for an early dinner with a friend and we ended up staying there for several hours - we loved it so much we didn't want to leave. We were immediately greeted by the owner and chef Leroy who is very friendly and checked up on us throughout the evening, even sitting down with us to have a chat. We ordered the infamous guava margarita which is to die for and got so much food for such an affordable price. I had the tamales, which I highly recommend and my friend had the tostones, which was also excellent. Best place for authentic latin cuisine in the triangle!!! Pros: Food, service, ambience more

Hey I'm from Virginia and just move down here with my girlfriend and we love Mexican food. We had tried several others places in Durham/ Chapel Hill and we were very disappointed.My girlfriends co-worker at UNC's hospital told her to look up Patio Loco Mexican Restaurant on Franklin street and we found the info on this site very helpfull.We didn't hold our breath because we had been let down before and we thought our expectations were too high.When we arrived, the place was pack and that's because they have outside dinnig with umbrellas, music (real upbeat) tiki tourches. We went in and were greeted by this warm and beautiful smile (hostess) who asked very polite how many in your party, she told us there would be a 30 to 45 min. wait. She told us that we could sit at the bar and order drinks while we waited.David introduced himself and made us 2 very kickass margaritas(they don't skim on the liquor), served us some chips and salsa ""that's when I knew "" we had found our new home.David proceeded to tell us that the owner makes everything FRESH in house from start to finish and you can tell in the salsa.The menu is unique because they serve more than Mexican dishes and some from New Orleans,David told us the owner Leroy is from there.We got our table in the back patio and our waitress Joanna from Poland took very good care of us,she was just an a very good mood ""she really likes working here"" I told my girlfriend.We order cheese dip and empanadas black beans very nice and different presentation and then we order dinner.I had the roasted stuffed peppers and my girlfriend ordered chile puebla, they were stuffed poblano peppers with cheese.Everything was fresh, you can taste it in every bite.Then we saw this guy in a chef's outfit talking to other tables cracking jokes and making sure that everything was good,he came over introduced himself and thank us for coming in.This place ROCKS, the reason is great food, great service, great staff and an owner who CARES !! more

""Wow wow"", is how I am going to describe my visit to Patio Loco! The food is awesome, great flavors, and the presentation is like I've never seen before. We had the empanadas with 2 sauces and the guacamole inside a corn tortilla cup shell , just beautiful.We're from the West Coast and we were used to eating Baja/Texmex food, but Patio Loco was recomended to us from a friend who just wouldn't stop talking about this place and it's owner "" Leroy"". He told us the food was great and we AGREE. You have to try the Locorita ( it's a margarita inside a pretty glass) but , be carefull it's Big enough for two to share.My boyfriend had the Jambalaya with yuca at a Mexican restuarant and I had the Fish Tacos. You have to ask the hostess to seat you in their new back patio, it's quite and very romantic.Our sever Dario had the owner Leroy come out and talk to us which was very cool.He told us he's from New Orleans, La., in a very funny way he pronouced it and also explained to us the influence for his menu items.We're HOOK on Patio Loco and will definitely come back with our friends.Oh .. they have a sayiny on their menu about your mouth having a party which we did. Pros: Great Back Patio Ambience more

It was my best friend's 30th birthday, and I couldn't be there. I found out she and her friends were going to Patio Loco, so I called the restaurant and spoke to Leroy. He was hands down the easiest business person I've ever delt with. I told him about my friend, her birthday, and that she and I had been friends since the 4th grade! He went out of his way to make her celebration unique by creating a special appetizer, cocktail, entree, and even called me to help sing ""Happy Birthday"" to her. Leroy and Patio Loco will always, always, be special to me! more

This place is wonderful!! Granted...parking sucks...and the service can sometimes be slow...but that is because EVERYTHING is made from scratch!!!! (I know..I liked the food there so much...I spent my summer waiting tables). The owner of the place has become part of our family...and we are trying to talk him into catering our wedding for us!! My parents make a 2 hour drive once a month to come to dinner at the Patio...and whenever they hear that I am coming home for a visit....they place a takeout order! Try the Patacon and the fried Yuca! Or try one of LeRoys specialties...you can never go wrong with anything on the menu! Pros: Food!! Staff!! Food!! Cons: Parking, can have long wait times for food. more

Patio Loco is an unexpected treat! We were looking for everyday Tex-Mex, but we found something far more diverse and delicious. If you're looking for traditional nachos or tacos, this isn't the place to come to, but if you want a harmonious balance of flavors and experiences while you munch, this is heaven. Try the plantains to add some sweet to any meal and take a risk with Loco's rich and original desserts. Pros: Taste, diversity, location. Cons: Maitre d' - took a while to seat us. more

I recently had my birthday at Patio Loco and it was great. LeRoy, the owner, really goes all out to make people feel welcome. He came out of the kitchen, led a sing along and brought out a pastry with a candle in it. I highly recommend Patio Loco for any special occasion or just a regular Tuesday for great pitchers of Margaritas, more

Guess who just got a year older? That's right and the best thing is that Patio Loco has just introduced their new and exciting menu.I""m hooked for the rest of my life...Every time I'm their the service is AWESOME and most of all LeRoy the owner just goes all out to make you feel so special ""Especially on your B-day"". I'm on a mission to tell the whole Triangle about this place. This place is NOT Mexican at all, just great LATIN food. The freshness is in every bite.The salsa,the cheese dip,ect..you can taste the difference.Well another Thirty something Bday success story Thanks Patio Loco staff and most of all you LeRoy! Oh I forgot the Jambalaya is to die for just one of the new items on the new menu.Thanks again!!!!! Pros: Great Chef, Tuesday is pet night (outside patio only ) Cons: Can be a little spicy ""Latin "" is hot, more

I just moved from DC and left my favorite Mexican restaurant. So far, I haven't found a replacement in NC, but Patio Loco isn't a bad stand-in. We went on a Saturday night, around 6:00 and were one of five parties in the place. We sat outside, which was nice but the patio is a little unsettled so our table and chairs rocked. The food was good and you get a lot for the price. The margaritas were good, but not the best. As we were leaving, they were setting up for live music but there still wasn't any body in the restaurant. I'd go back to Patio Loco again. Pros: Location, value, service Cons: Food was ok, nothing special more

Had lunch there today. First visit. Absolutely love this place! Not Tex Mex, but a mixture of Latin cuisines. Had the daily special consisting of marinated steak, sauteed red and green peppers and onions, with rice, corn tortillas, black beans, and zucchini soup. Incredibly fragrant and flavorful food. Only $5.95! I could eat that every day! Plentiful creative vegetarian offerings, too (including lentil filling in place of meat). Have lived in San Diego and eaten in Baja. This is at least as good. Can't wait to go back. Pros: Everything except parking Cons: Parking more

After being seated, it was 20 minutes before we were able to place our order. Then we waited 40 minutes and our waitress never checked on us. Other people got up pay or find their waitress because none of them were checking the tables. Finally, someone came by to refill the chips and I asked when our food would be out and she said nothing and walked off. Soon, our waitress came to a table close by and started walking off without checking on us. My fiancee was able to grab her attention. We asked how much longer our food would be. Not only did we not get an apology for the horrible service and long wait, we got some story about how ""The orders are lined up and somebody broke our computer...."" She couldn't tell us if they started making our food!! We cancelled the order and left. Pros: Didn't have to pay, good salsa Cons: never recieved food, did not appologize, almost starved more

My boyfriend and I are new to the area and were excited to try out the various Mexican restaurants in town. Patio Loco received the highest ranking on City Search so went there tonight. After experiencing what this restaurant had to offer-- we're wondering if the past reviewers have ever actually eaten Mexican food or if they were just written by the owners. This was probably the single worst Mexican (or food in general) that I've ever had. My boyfriend agrees. The margaritas were tasty but I don't believe they contained ANY alcohol. Our meals were bizarre renditions on traditional Mexican fare-- but failed horribly. Our waitress was sweet and we had no complaints with the service however the meals were grossly overpriced. We're not picky people and tend to find the good in everything but this was ridiculous. We'll never go back... EVER!!! Pros: service Cons: food was gross, overpriced more