Los Olivos Mexican Patio is a family-owned institution at 7328 E 2nd St in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona (phone: 480-946-2256), and it has been running since 1947. When you search for "Los Olivos Mexican Patio reviews," every major platform, including Google, Tripadvisor, and Wanderlog, points to this single Scottsdale location. If you want to compare expectations beyond just the vibe, look for east patio mexicano reviews too. If you are comparing spots, it also helps to read specific el patio fusion lounge reviews for a quick feel of what to expect. There is no meaningful confusion with other venues here. Reviews are consistent: it earns a 4.3 on Google and a 4.0 on Tripadvisor, and the recurring story is strong margaritas, reliable enchiladas, a lively patio vibe, and a restaurant that genuinely feels like it belongs to the neighborhood.
Los Olivos Mexican Patio Reviews: What to Expect on the Patio
First, confirm you have the right place
If you landed here after seeing mixed results or wondering whether there are multiple locations, there is just one Los Olivos Mexican Patio to worry about: Old Town Scottsdale, AZ 85251. The address (7328 E 2nd St), the phone number (480-946-2256), and the contact email ([email protected]) are consistent across every source. Phoenix New Times, AZFamily, and every review aggregator all point to the same spot. So if the reviews you are reading on any platform reference Scottsdale, you are looking at the right place.
What reviewers keep saying: the honest pros and cons
Across hundreds of reviews, a clear pattern emerges pretty fast. The praise is specific and consistent, and the complaints are specific too, which is actually useful because it tells you exactly what you are walking into.
What people love
- The margaritas, especially the Cadillac Margaritas, come up in review after review as a genuine highlight. Multiple sources describe them as "strong" and worth ordering first.
- Signature dishes like the sour cream enchilada, green corn tamale, and the "Mexican Flag" (three enchiladas topped with red chile, green chile, and sour cream) get consistent praise for their authenticity and flavor.
- The atmosphere is described as "comforting" and lively without feeling chaotic, and longtime locals genuinely love returning here.
- Service gets called out positively in a meaningful number of reviews, with "terrific service" appearing in recent 2024 Tripadvisor reviews.
- The history and family-ownership angle matters to a lot of guests. People feel the place has a soul that newer chains lack.
What gets criticized
- Wait times on weekends can stretch, especially for larger groups, though some reviewers note surprisingly short waits (one example: only five minutes for a party of five).
- Noise levels on weekend evenings run high, which is partly by design since the venue runs a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Consistency is a recurring theme in mixed reviews: some dishes land perfectly on one visit and feel off on another, which is common for high-volume restaurants.
- The live music and DJ nights make conversation harder, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you are looking for.
The patio itself: what to expect before you sit down
The patio is not just a side feature bolted onto an indoor restaurant. It is genuinely central to the experience, which is fitting given the name. Old Town Scottsdale gives it a natural advantage: the location has the kind of energy that makes outdoor dining feel right, especially in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) when Arizona weather is at its best. Reviewers consistently describe the vibe as rustic and relaxed, not polished or stuffy.
Seating and space
The seating arrangement accommodates both smaller groups and larger parties reasonably well, though larger tables on the patio can fill quickly on weekend evenings. If you have a group of four to six and want patio seating specifically, calling ahead or using their reservation system is the right move. The restaurant accepts reservations for all party sizes for both lunch and dinner, and also offers a "Call Ahead Waitlist" option, so there is no excuse for just showing up and hoping for the best on a Friday night.
Vibe, noise, and comfort
During lunch and on weeknights, the patio has a comfortable, conversational energy. Thursday evenings bring R&B music, Fridays shift to hip-hop, and Saturdays pull in a lively Latino crowd with a DJ mixing into the night. Phoenix New Times describes the music volume as loud but not so loud that you cannot talk to your tablemates, which tracks with most reviews. If you want a quieter patio experience, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings are your best bet. Cleanliness gets mentioned positively more often than negatively, which in restaurant reviews is generally a good sign.
Weather considerations (Scottsdale-specific)
Scottsdale summers are genuinely brutal, and no amount of misting systems makes a patio comfortable at 108 degrees. If you are planning a visit between June and early September, go for indoor seating or choose an early lunch slot before the afternoon heat peaks. The sweet spot for patio dining here is October through April, when evenings are genuinely pleasant and the Old Town foot traffic adds to the atmosphere rather than making it feel crowded and sweaty.
Food, drinks, and value: what to order and what to skip
Los Olivos is not trying to be a trendy modern Mexican restaurant, and that is a feature, not a flaw. The menu leans into classic Sonoran-style dishes, and the items that reviewers flag most enthusiastically are the ones that have been on the menu for years.
Order these
- The Mexican Flag: three enchiladas topped with red chile, green chile, and sour cream. It is the signature plate and regularly cited as the dish to order on a first visit.
- Cadillac Margaritas: strong, well-made, and worth the price. Multiple reviewers specifically call these out as a highlight.
- Sour cream enchiladas: come up repeatedly in positive reviews and pair well with the Cadillac.
- Green corn tamales: a seasonal-leaning Sonoran classic that reviewers consistently praise when available.
- Fish tacos: mentioned positively in multiple recent reviews as a lighter option that holds up well.
- Fajitas: described as a standout, served with vegetables, guacamole, beans, and sour cream.
- Cheese crisps: a classic Sonoran appetizer that regulars tend to order without even thinking about it.
- Frijoles charros: the bean side dish that Phoenix New Times specifically recommends as a must-order.
Value
For Old Town Scottsdale, the pricing is reasonable. This is not a cheap taqueria, but it is not trying to be. Reviewers generally feel they get good value relative to the portion sizes and the quality of the drinks. The margaritas alone justify the tab for most people.
Service, wait times, and when to actually go
Service quality is one of the more variable things in the review pool. Most reviewers describe it positively, with terms like "attentive" and "friendly" coming up consistently. A smaller subset of reviews flag slower service, usually tied to busy Friday and Saturday evenings when the volume spikes. This is not unusual for a popular patio restaurant in a high-traffic neighborhood, and it is worth planning around rather than being surprised by.
Best times to visit
| Time / Day | Crowd Level | Patio Vibe | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday lunch (Mon–Thu) | Low to moderate | Relaxed and conversational | Minimal, often walk-in ready |
| Weekend lunch (Sat–Sun) | Moderate | Energetic but manageable | Short if you arrive before noon |
| Weeknight dinner (Mon–Wed) | Low to moderate | Quiet, great for conversation | Usually no wait |
| Thursday dinner | Moderate | R&B music, lively | Some wait likely |
| Friday–Saturday dinner | High | DJ, loud, nightlife energy | Expect a wait; reserve ahead |
The clearest tip from the review pool: if you want a relaxed patio experience with easy service and a short wait, go for lunch on a weekday or arrive early on a weekend (before noon). Wanderlog specifically flags the "go earlier" pattern as a crowd-tested strategy for weekend visits, and one reviewer noted only a five-minute wait for a party of five by timing it right.
Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, and Friday through Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM. The extended weekend hours support the livelier nightlife-adjacent crowd that shows up after 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Who will actually enjoy Los Olivos the most
This is a restaurant with real range in its audience, which is part of what makes it interesting. It works differently depending on when you go and who you bring.
- Couples on a casual date: a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch on the patio is a genuinely good setting. The atmosphere is warm without being overly romantic or stiff.
- Families with kids: lunch hours are the move. The menu is approachable, portions are generous, and the vibe is relaxed enough that kids are not out of place.
- Groups of friends: this place was made for groups. The patio can accommodate larger parties, the margaritas are crowd-pleasers, and the energy on Thursday through Saturday evenings makes it feel like an event rather than just dinner.
- Out-of-town visitors: if you are in Scottsdale and want one Mexican meal that captures the local character without being a tourist trap, this is a genuinely solid choice. A restaurant that has been open since 1947 and still draws regulars is doing something right.
- Nightlife and patio vibe seekers: Friday and Saturday nights lean into a DJ and party-adjacent energy. If that is what you want, it delivers. If you want quiet dining, pick a different night.
- Regulars and locals: the review pool includes a lot of people who have been coming for years or even decades, which tells you something about the consistency of the experience.
If you enjoy other Mexican patio spots in the region, like Rollies Mexican Patio or Cascabel Mexican Patio, Los Olivos occupies a similar spirit but with a heavier emphasis on the Old Town Scottsdale social energy and a longer institutional history. It sits in good company among Mexican patio venues that prioritize atmosphere alongside food.
How to read the mixed reviews and plan a smart visit
Mixed reviews for Los Olivos tend to follow a predictable pattern once you know what to look for. A three-star review that mentions a long Saturday night wait and a distracted server is almost certainly describing a Friday or Saturday evening visit during peak hours. A five-star review from someone who says service was attentive and the patio was great is probably describing a lunch or a weeknight dinner. The complaints are real, but they are also highly context-dependent.
Red flags to watch for in reviews
- Complaints about noise: almost always Friday or Saturday DJ nights. If noise bothers you, avoid those evenings.
- Slow service: most often tied to high-volume weekend evenings rather than a structural problem with the restaurant.
- Inconsistent food quality: worth watching if you see multiple reviews mentioning the same dish being off. For Los Olivos, this pattern is not dominant, meaning the kitchen is reasonably consistent.
- Parking or access issues: Old Town Scottsdale can get congested, especially on weekends. Factor that into your arrival plan.
Pre-visit checklist
- Make a reservation or use the Call Ahead Waitlist, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings or for groups of four or more. Call 480-946-2256 or check their official site.
- If patio seating matters to you, mention it when you reserve. Do not assume you will get patio placement automatically during busy periods.
- Arrive early if you are going on a weekend. Lunch before noon consistently produces shorter waits and a calmer experience.
- Check the season. If it is June through August, the patio will be hot. Plan for indoor seating or an early lunch slot.
- Decide what kind of evening you want before you go. Thursday through Saturday is livelier and louder. Weeknights are mellower and better for conversation.
- Order the Mexican Flag and a Cadillac Margarita on your first visit. If you want to branch out, the green corn tamales and fish tacos are safe second-order choices.
The bottom line: Los Olivos Mexican Patio in Old Town Scottsdale is worth visiting, and it is especially worth visiting if you pick the right time for what you actually want. If you are specifically looking for the patio Tex Mex fusion reviews people leave, Los Olivos is one of the spots frequently mentioned in that conversation. If you are specifically hunting for escondido tex mex patio reviews, this is the kind of spot that helps you compare vibe, service, and value across the region. A 77-year-old family-owned restaurant that still pulls in regulars and earns strong ratings across platforms is not coasting on nostalgia. The food is reliable, the margaritas are the real deal, and the patio has the kind of lived-in energy that newer venues spend years trying to manufacture. If you are also looking at the the patio tex mex fusion baton rouge reviews, focus on what people mention about the food mix, pricing, and how the patio experience holds up on busy nights. If you want to see the latest el df Mexican Patio reviews, check the same Scottsdale location across Google, Tripadvisor, and other major aggregators.
FAQ
Hay varias ubicaciones de Los Olivos Mexican Patio en Scottsdale, o siempre es el mismo lugar?
Según la información consistente de plataformas y el listado del local, solo hay una ubicación relevante: 7328 E 2nd St, Old Town Scottsdale (AZ 85251). Si ves reseñas con otro código postal o dirección distinta, vale la pena verificar que sea el mismo restaurante antes de guiar tu visita por esas opiniones.
Qué hora conviene más si quiero patio, pero con espera mínima?
La ruta más repetida en reseñas es ir más temprano. Para fin de semana, intenta llegar antes de las 12 PM, y si vas con grupo, reserva o usa el Call Ahead Waitlist. En general, el patrón de “llegar temprano” suele reducir la espera incluso cuando el ambiente nocturno se pone más concurrido.
Puedo reservar para cualquier tamaño de grupo, o hay límites?
El restaurante indica que acepta reservas para todos los tamaños de fiesta para comida y cena. Aun así, en noches de viernes y sábado las mesas en patio se llenan rápido, así que para grupos medianos y grandes conviene hacer la reserva con anticipación para asegurar ubicación en el área exterior.
Cómo afecta la música al plan de una cita o comida tranquila en el patio?
El volumen y el estilo cambian por día, por ejemplo, jueves (R&B), viernes (hip-hop) y sábado (DJ). Si tu prioridad es conversar sin elevar la voz, martes o miércoles suelen ser la mejor apuesta. También ayuda llegar temprano para que el “pico” de ambiente todavía no esté en su punto máximo.
Vale la pena ir en verano aunque sea patio?
Entre junio y principios de septiembre el calor puede ser incontrolable, incluso con sistemas de enfriamiento. Si insistes en patio, busca el horario de comida temprano y evita quedarte hasta tarde. Si viajas en esas fechas, una estrategia segura es reservar o planear interior para después del mediodía.
El servicio lento siempre es un problema en Los Olivos?
Las reseñas sugieren que el servicio varía más en horas pico (especialmente viernes y sábado) que en comidas de día o entre semana. Si te importa la rapidez, prioriza almuerzo o weeknights, y considera que pedir en un momento de alta demanda puede alargar tiempos de espera.
Qué piden más los clientes cuando hablan de “buena experiencia” en el patio?
La conversación recurrente apunta a margaritas fuertes y confiables, enchiladas consistentes y una experiencia social en el patio. Si quieres replicar lo que más gusta, enfoca tu elección en esos clásicos en lugar de experimentar con platos menos mencionados en las reseñas.
Los precios son baratos o están más en la media?
No se posiciona como taquería de bajo costo, pero los comentarios suelen percibir buena relación calidad, porciones y bebidas. Si tu presupuesto es ajustado, conviene ir por un par de platos compartidos y una bebida principal, ya que la margarita suele ser el “centro” de la compra para la mayoría de visitantes.
Qué pasa si llego sin reserva en noche de fin de semana?
Puedes terminar con espera, sobre todo en viernes y sábado. Para reducir el riesgo, usa el Call Ahead Waitlist cuando esté disponible y planea llegar con margen. En reseñas, hay menciones de esperas muy cortas cuando el tiempo de llegada coincide con horas menos cargadas.
Cómo debo ajustar mi plan si busco comida más auténtica y no algo “moderno”?
El restaurante se describe más como Sonoran clásico que como propuesta moderna o de tendencia. Si ese es tu objetivo, pide platos que suelen aparecer como favoritos de larga duración en reseñas, y evita esperar que el menú siga modas muy cambiantes.
Si voy con niños o para una salida familiar, el ambiente nocturno puede ser un problema?
Puede influir el tipo de música y la cercanía al ambiente de nightlife a partir de las horas más tarde. Para una salida familiar, suele funcionar mejor ir en lunch o en días con menos “pico” nocturno (por ejemplo, entre semana o martes y miércoles) y llegar temprano para encontrar un ritmo más conversable.