El Patio

Discussion in 'Cactus Cafe' started by Texanne, Jul 23, 2019.

  1. Texanne

    Texanne 5,000+ Posts

    Closing. Friday, August 9 is the last day.

    The Joseph family came to the decision completely on their own. It’s still breaking my heart, though.
     
  2. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    It's a sad day in my house. I talk with David from time to time and he basically told me about three weeks ago he was just done with it all. Said one of the main reasons is they've had a hand shake lease agreement for over 60 years and now the sons have taken over the leasing company and are screwing things up.

    In the early 90's we ate 2-3 times a week at El Matador in Round Rock which was run by a different branch of the Joseph family with virtually the same recipes and it closed a long time ago. Now this.

    Everything in Austin has changed to chain, "upscale Mexican" or just more authentic Mexican food. Where am I gonna get my Tex Mex now?

    He said he was willing to sell so if anyone can pony up the cash we can still save an Austin original. I joked with him about me buying it but I don't know the first thing about running a restaurant.

    Old Austin is just about officially dead now.
     
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  3. Texanne

    Texanne 5,000+ Posts

    What Tex-Mex is still there? Matt’s?

    The Austin I lived in college is gone.
     
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  4. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Matt's is still there, at least as of a couple months ago.
    Still good.
     
  5. Son of a Son

    Son of a Son 1,000+ Posts

    #SAVEELPATIOQUESO
     
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  6. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Also gone from that side Milto's, Trudy's and Conan's

    I used to order the Conan's jalapeno deepdish once I figured out I that was the one pizza my housemates would not raid while I was out. That baked in jap heat was too much for them. :fire:
     
  7. Creek

    Creek 1,000+ Posts

    I'll miss those butter slabs
     
  8. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Darn.

    I really liked El Patio, and it was so close to campus.
     
  9. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    It was also reportedly DKR’s favorite restaurant.
     
  10. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    What a great farewell. Got out of my "recovery bed" to make my first venture out in the two plus weeks since back surgery. My daughter drove me from Houston to El Patio for perhaps the last time. Getting to see Renee, David, and the family (except Mrs Joseph) made the two hour wait worth it.

    Fellow diners were so gracious, making sure I had a place to sit while waiting. Nobody grumbling, everyone visiting about great memories over the multitude of years. Being there for my good friend David's farewell speech and making one last attempt to steal the Ryder Cup Team photo will be fond memories before and after future football games. (As I told Renne, you are condemning me to a world of green Memorial Stadium hotdogs.)

    I'm so sore today, that I may not make it back later this week; so farewell to a Longhorn Legend, a place where you sat next to the wealthy, the poor, the famous, and the homeless, and everyone was treated like family.

    HOOK EM to The Joseph family. The four generations of my family are better off for the love and friendship you shared with us.

    :hookem2:
     
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  11. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    Five days until Tex Mex doomsday in Austin. Sabre you nailed it. I was there last weekend and David was making the rounds table to table saying goodbye. Everybody basically has the same story of coming for decades and being treated like family which is exactly how I felt.

    El Patio will be missed, but that great family will still be around. There's talk of them making queso, salsa and a couple frozen dinners for distribution. I told him to call me if they finalize that.

    I have to find one more day to head over there and I will.
     
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  12. Horn87

    Horn87 1,000+ Posts

    Just now saw this--glad we got to eat there last month. Sad Day on Friday!!
     
  13. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    The last time I drove down The Drag, Dirty's was still there. Had great burgers and on Sundays going over for an OT Special was great eating.

    El Patio and Matt's were really good for Mexican food. The Stallion had good deals on their chicken fried steaks which were excellent.

    Gone are the days boys. Gone are the days. Well, times change.
     
  14. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Change ain't always gooder

    Yes "gooder" is a correct word in East Texas

    :hookem2:
     
  15. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Yep, I'm originally from East Texas. Born in Marshall.
     
  16. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Did you ever know Coach Fred Jackson?
     
  17. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    No. I was only born in Marshall. I went to school 1st & 2nd grade in Karnack then went back to Garland. But since my grandparents lived down there we went often to hunt and fish near Caddo Lake. My folks still have a nice spread near the lake.
     
  18. Horn87

    Horn87 1,000+ Posts

    heard Hut's on 6th is supposedly the next iconic restaurant to shut down----ate there tonight with my Jr Longhorn son---and also took in Hoffbrau the night before that. trying to hit all the landmarks while they are still around...
     
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  19. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    That's a cryin' shame. I always liked Hut's -- real old school, good burgers, with a great atmosphere and all the pennants on the walls. Hut's, GM Steakhouse, Players, and Buster's Beefery were my go-tos for burgers in college. If Hut's goes away, I think that's the end of all four...

    The real estate has become too valuable and the rents too high, I suppose...

    Maybe Hut's could re-incarnate at a place further out from the central city core where the land and rent are cheaper? Their product is very good.
     
  20. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Where do you suggest? Luling?
     
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  21. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Houston Memorial
     
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  22. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Good one! :thumbup:

    To get a better deal on the rent, maybe Times Square, London's Pickadilly Circus, or Tokyo's Shinjuku.

    I guess I'd settle for Del Valle, Lockhart, Manor, or Buda. Better yet, surely there's still a few crummy cheap areas in the SE quadrant of Austin?

    The other alternative: stay put and raise prices significantly. If folks want quality burgers in central Austin, I guess they'll have to pay for them.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2019
  23. SunBurntOrange

    SunBurntOrange 500+ Posts

    There is a little hole in the wall place called Vivo in Lincoln Village (or "The Linc" as it is now known these days by all the cool and hip kids). The powers that be have actually done a good job of bringing Lincoln Village back to life. But I digress. Back to Vivo. Very non-descript joint next door to Men's Wearhouse. We average going several times a month. Not a fancy place at all, but quite good and reasonably priced. Their website calls it modern tex-mex, but my experience is that it is pretty traditional. So there is one option for ya :)
     

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