El Patio, Austin’s Model for Hospitality and Longevity, to Close August 9th

Owner David Joseph and Rob at recent anniversary celebration for El Patio

The loss of El Patio can only be measured in personal terms, at least for me. Like so many other Austinites, El Patio has been a foundation for us. I can’t count the number of times festive events in our lives have revolved around this cozy and iconic joint with the best nachos and cheese enchiladas around (in my opinion).

The irony is that a Lebanese family could create a Tex Mex restaurant that has lasted over 60 years! They used to serve saltines with picante sauce instead of tortilla chips because UT frat boys had a bad habit of throwing the chips around. Strange, hug? Even stranger was that years later when Mr. Joseph went back to tortilla chips, customers complained about the loss of the saltines!

They had the best queso around with thick masa tortillas for dipping. I repeatedly asked David for the recipe and I was politely rebuked. He wasn’t fessin’ up and who could blame him? You never give away the keys to the kingdom.

They had generations of servers at El Patio, with many positions passed down from father to son. That kind of employee loyalty speaks volumes about the owners and managers. And the customers, like the Balon family, were every bit as loyal. After finishing up my rehab at St. David’s for a stroke a few years ago, the first place we went was El Patio. Not even a second thought!

So it’s with some measure of sadness that we note the passing of an old friend. But that also should be mingled with joy and thanks for all this iconic spot gave to Austin for so many years. I wish the Joseph family farewell and bon voyage. There will never be another restaurant that has touched so many lives. The place was infused with grace amidst the bustle of perpetually hungry customers, our family and good friends among them.

El Patio will truly be missed!