159 by El Patio Reviews: Honest Patio & Dining Guide

159 by El Patio on Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon, NY earns a strong 4.7 out of 5 across aggregated platforms, and that score holds up when you dig into what people are actually saying. This is a Latin-forward neighborhood spot that grew from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar, and the food and the vibe both reflect that scrappy, community-rooted identity. If you're looking for generous portions, bold flavors, and a welcoming patio atmosphere without spending a fortune, this place delivers on most counts.

Quick Verdict

159 by El Patio is one of Mount Vernon's most dependable Latin dining spots. The chicharrón de pollo and empanada tacos have genuine fans who order them on repeat, the pricing sits comfortably in the $10–$20 per-person range, and the outdoor seating makes warm-weather visits genuinely pleasant. Delivery consistency is the main gripe: a handful of reviewers note cold arrivals and quality drops when food travels. In person, though? Much harder to fault.

Quick Reference Table

Venue Basics: Location, Hours, and How to Get There

159 by El Patio sits at 159 Gramatan Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, right in the heart of a busy commercial stretch. Mount Vernon is directly north of the Bronx and easily reachable via Metro-North or local transit, which makes this a realistic destination for New York City day-trippers as well as Westchester locals. Street parking is typically available along Gramatan Avenue, though availability varies by time of day.

Hours shift depending on the day. The general pattern based on aggregated listings is Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8:00 PM, Saturday stretching later to around 11:00 PM, and Sunday noon to 8:00 PM. Hours can shift, so it's worth calling ahead or checking the current DoorDash or Grubhub storefront before you make the trip. The restaurant is listed as wheelchair accessible with accessible restrooms, and service animals are welcome per platform metadata.

The business entity is officially registered as El Patio Truck 159 Inc, and it was recognized as a small business grant recipient under Mount Vernon's ARPA small business funding program, which tells you something about its footprint in the local community. Mount Vernon’s FY2025 financial presentation lists “El Patio Truck 159 Inc” as an ARPA small business grant recipient Mount Vernon’s FY2025 financial presentation lists “El Patio Truck 159 Inc” as an ARPA small business grant recipient.. This isn't a chain outpost, it's a neighborhood business with real roots.

The Patio Experience: What to Expect Outside

Multiple directories and local listings flag outdoor seating at the Gramatan Avenue location, and given the venue's name and food truck DNA, the outdoor element feels like part of the identity rather than an afterthought. The patio here is more casual neighborhood-corner than resort terrace, which suits the price point and the spirit of the place perfectly. Think of it less like a manicured garden and more like a well-loved front-of-house extension where the food culture happens to spill outside.

Gramatan Avenue is a commercial corridor, so expect street-level energy: passing foot traffic, the ambient noise of an active neighborhood, and a vibe that feels lived-in rather than curated. That's not a criticism, for a lot of diners, especially those who grew up around spots like this, it reads as authentic. Shade and heating details haven't been widely documented in user reviews, so for evening visits in cooler months or peak-summer midday heat, it's worth asking the venue directly about what's available outside.

The crowd tends to be neighborhood-familiar: locals who've been coming since the food truck days, families grabbing a quick meal, and increasingly curious visitors drawn by the high online ratings. Noise levels during peak hours can be moderate to lively, but not overwhelming for a casual dining conversation.

Food and Drink: What's Worth Ordering

The menu at 159 by El Patio leans into Caribbean-Latin flavors, the kind of cooking where fried chicken and starchy sides get treated with real care. The chicharrón de pollo, priced around $19.58 on delivery platforms, is a standout. It's a cantina-style fried chicken dish that reviewers come back to repeatedly. Tostones (fried plantains, around $6.21) are a reliable side, and fresh juices at roughly $5.00 round out the casual-meal formula nicely.

The empanada tacos have developed a genuine cult following. One repeat customer described the experience this way: ordering the spicy chicken empanada tacos smothered in chin chin sauce alongside tostones, and making it a consistent go-to. That kind of loyalty is hard to manufacture, and it points to consistent execution on the signature items. Portion sizes have been noted as generous relative to the price, which is part of why the $$ value rating makes sense here.

Menu Highlights at a Glance

• Chicharrón de pollo cantina (~$19.58) — fried chicken done right, consistently praised
• Spicy chicken empanada tacos with chin chin sauce — the crowd favorite
• Tostones (~$6.21) — simple, properly executed fried plantains
• Fresh juices (~$5.00) — a solid, affordable accompaniment

Dietary specifics aren't extensively documented in public listings, but the Latin-Caribbean menu structure naturally offers several options centered on poultry, plantains, and fresh produce. If you have specific dietary restrictions, calling ahead or checking the current delivery platform menus is the most reliable way to confirm what's available on any given day.

Service and Atmosphere: The Feel of the Place

159 by El Patio grew out of a food truck, and that origin still shapes the service style. It's efficient and direct rather than elaborate, which fits the format and the price point. Most reviewers describe the in-person experience as warm and quick, with staff who feel connected to the community they're serving. There's no formal dress code here, come as you are.

The venue skews family-friendly based on the neighborhood profile and casual setup. The accessible design (wheelchair accessibility, accessible restrooms, service-animal welcome) signals an intentional openness to all guests. Pet-friendliness on the patio hasn't been explicitly confirmed in reviews, so if you're planning to bring a dog, a quick call ahead makes sense.

One pattern worth noting: the gap between in-person and delivery service quality appears in reviews. In the restaurant, execution tends to land well. Over delivery, a subset of customers reports cold food and inconsistency, a common friction point for spots that balance walk-in traffic with third-party platform volume. If you can make it in person, do that.

What Reviewers Are Actually Saying

The aggregated rating of 4.7 out of 5 across 358 or more ratings on Grubhub alone is meaningfully high. RestaurantGuru and other aggregators show similar averages in the 4.7–4.8 range. That's not a fluke, it reflects a kitchen that reliably delivers on its signature items for the majority of customers.

Voices From the Reviews

On the positive end, a recurring reviewer described their standing order this way: the spicy chicken empanada tacos smothered in chin chin sauce, always paired with tostones. That kind of specific, habitual loyalty is exactly what you want to see in user reviews, it means the dish holds up across multiple visits, not just one lucky try.

On the critical side, one delivery review noted that empanadas arrived dry and tasteless, and the food came cold. That reviewer said they would not be ordering again. It's a fair data point, and it's consistent with what delivery-only experiences sometimes look like when food sits in transit. Worth weighing if delivery is your only option.

Pros and Cons Breakdown

• PRO: Signature empanada tacos and chicharrón de pollo are consistent crowd favorites
• PRO: Strong value — generous portions in the $10–$20 per-person range
• PRO: Welcoming, community-oriented atmosphere with accessible facilities
• PRO: Outdoor patio seating available for warm-weather dining
• PRO: High aggregate ratings (4.7/5) across multiple independent platforms
• CON: Delivery quality can be inconsistent — cold food reported by some users
• CON: Hours vary by platform listing; always verify before visiting
• CON: Shade/heating details for the patio are not well-documented in reviews

How We Arrive at Our Scores

The ratings reflected in this review are aggregated from public third-party platforms including Grubhub, DoorDash, RestaurantGuru, and general directory listings. We don't create composite scores from scratch, instead, we surface what diners are actually reporting across platforms, note the volume of ratings for statistical context, and flag patterns in the qualitative feedback (both positive and critical). A 4.7 with 358 ratings carries more weight than a 5.0 from 12 reviews; we always consider both the number and the nuance.

How 159 by El Patio Compares to Other Patio-Named Venues

The name 'El Patio' shows up across a wide range of venues globally, from flamenco courtyards in Seville to hotel patios in Dubai, and it's worth setting expectations clearly. 159 by El Patio is a casual Caribbean-Latin neighborhood spot in New York, not a tablecloth restaurant or a European courtyard experience. If you've encountered other patio venues with Spanish or Latin names, the vibe here is distinctly street-level New York, shaped by the food truck roots and the Mount Vernon community. For a contrasting Provençal courtyard experience, see Le Patio Cassis reviews to compare that vibe with this New York street-level spot. For a Mediterranean contrast, see Flamenco Barcelona Patio Andaluz reviews to compare a Spanish-style patio experience with this neighborhood New York spot.

The contrast is useful context, not a ranking. Each of these 'patio' venues serves a completely different audience and occasion. 159 by El Patio is the choice if you want bold, affordable Latin food in a genuine neighborhood setting. The European and Middle Eastern entries serve different purposes entirely, and each of those venues has its own story worth exploring separately. See Eurostars Patios de Córdoba reviews for a European courtyard perspective.

Practical Tips Before You Visit

Saturday evening is the most extended window for a proper dinner, with the venue staying open until around 11:00 PM. If you want a quieter, more relaxed version of the experience, a weekday lunch between noon and 2:00 PM is your best bet. Weekends draw more foot traffic, which can mean a busier patio and slightly longer waits.

1. Call ahead to confirm current hours — (914) 343-2703 or (914) 323-2703 — as platform listings can lag behind real-world changes
2. Visit in person if you can; delivery reviews show more variability in food quality than dine-in reports
3. Street parking is available on Gramatan Avenue, but plan to circle if visiting during peak dinner hours
4. Check the DoorDash or Grubhub storefront for the most current menu and pricing before you go
5. Follow @ElPatioTruck on Instagram for real-time updates on specials and hours

Suggested Images for This Venue

• Exterior shot of 159 Gramatan Avenue showing the storefront and patio seating area
• Close-up of the chicharrón de pollo cantina plated for service
• Empanada tacos with chin chin sauce — the signature dish
• Tostones and fresh juice — a typical side-and-drink pairing
• Patio seating during a busy lunch or weekend evening service
• Community-context shot of the Gramatan Avenue streetscape

Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Visit?

Yes, for what it is. 159 by El Patio is a community-rooted Latin spot that earns its 4.7 rating through consistent execution on a focused menu, honest pricing, and a welcoming atmosphere that reflects where it came from. The food truck DNA is a feature, not a limitation, it means the kitchen is built around crowd-pleasing dishes made efficiently and affordably. The empanada tacos and chicharrón de pollo are the clear reasons to come, and the patio adds a genuinely pleasant outdoor dimension when the weather cooperates. Just eat in.

If you've been to 159 by El Patio, we want to hear about it. Submit your own rating and review below to help other diners and patio-seekers make their call. And if you're building out a broader patio dining itinerary, take a look at the other venues we cover, from intimate European courtyards to rooftop terraces, there's a patio experience for every kind of trip. For an international comparison, see Le Patio Dubai reviews for a contrast in patio atmosphere and menu.