Hey I'm from Virginia and just move down here with my girlfriend and we love Mexican food. We had tried several others places in Durham/ Chapel Hill and we were very disappointed.My girlfriends co-worker at UNC's hospital told her to look up Patio Loco Mexican Restaurant on Franklin street and we found the info on this site very helpfull.We didn't hold our breath because we had been let down before and we thought our expectations were too high.When we arrived, the place was pack and that's because they have outside dinnig with umbrellas, music (real upbeat) tiki tourches. We went in and were greeted by this warm and beautiful smile (hostess) who asked very polite how many in your party, she told us there would be a 30 to 45 min. wait. She told us that we could sit at the bar and order drinks while we waited.David introduced himself and made us 2 very kickass margaritas(they don't skim on the liquor), served us some chips and salsa ""that's when I knew "" we had found our new home.David proceeded to tell us that the owner makes everything FRESH in house from start to finish and you can tell in the salsa.The menu is unique because they serve more than Mexican dishes and some from New Orleans,David told us the owner Leroy is from there.We got our table in the back patio and our waitress Joanna from Poland took very good care of us,she was just an a very good mood ""she really likes working here"" I told my girlfriend.We order cheese dip and empanadas black beans very nice and different presentation and then we order dinner.I had the roasted stuffed peppers and my girlfriend ordered chile puebla, they were stuffed poblano peppers with cheese.Everything was fresh, you can taste it in every bite.Then we saw this guy in a chef's outfit talking to other tables cracking jokes and making sure that everything was good,he came over introduced himself and thank us for coming in.This place ROCKS, the reason is great food, great service, great staff and an owner who CARES !!
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