The Patron: "one of the better Mexican restaurants" Mechanicsville Restaurant Tip by b1bob

I was surprised one evening to find Nacho Mama's gone from its Mechanicsville location. Instead of slinking off to La Casita, I tried this place without expecting too much given the track record with newer restaurants around here. With very few exceptions, Mexican restaurants in this area have been hit or miss. However, in a lot of ways, The Patron is BETTER than its predecessor. For one thing, Nacho Mama's had the vibe more of its flagship location in Carytown than, say, Cancún. The wait staff consisted of native Mexicans and the background music was Mexican.

Favorite Dish: I had the pork carnitas with rice, refried beans, and flour tortillas. They were good enough to give me pico de gallo on the side even though it wasn't included. Most noticeable of all, the portion sizes were big enough to make me consider reaching for the takeaway box. Nine times on ten, restaurant changes around here go from a Cadillac to mule. This time, it went from a Cadillac to a Rolls-Royce.

Address: 7610 Left Flank Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Comparison: about average
Directions: From I-295: Take exit 38A (VA-627 E, Meadowbridge Rd) on right. Continue onto Meadowbridge Rd (Pole Green Rd) 0.3 miles. Continue onto Pole Green Rd 0.7 miles. Turn left onto Bell Creek Rd 0.2 miles.
Phone: (804) 559-6745
Price: US$11-20
Rating: 5
Theme: Mexican