Patron’s Hacienda

This place is a joke for going out at night.
They have a MANDATORY coat check… well, we weren’t wearing coats. they were thin blazers. the blazers didn’t even zip-​up or button-up…how is it a coat?
Not only is it mandatory, it’s $ 3…for someone who never carries cash, it’s a hassle… especially if its not even a damn coat.
The bartenders are blah. They suck and they don’t care about serving you.

Their food is really good. From shrimp ceviche appetizer to their main menu. I have been here maybe more than 10 times already. And I will keep coming back here.
But don’t get me started with their mango mojito. It is to die for!!!

Avoid this at all cost, please do yourself a favor. The food is horrible and the margaritas are pure sugar. There is dancing on Saturdays with a mix of hip-​hop and all the Latin flavors. If you’re looking for a place to dance, go to a club. If you’re looking for good Mexican food this is definitely not the place. Theres lots of better options in River North.
I warned you.

Went on a fight night. $ 10 cover at the door. We werent in «club» dress code so they agreed to let us in to watch the fight but we had to leave after. Super chill place. They have tables and bottle service.

I came here on a Saturday night (4÷2÷16) for the club/​dance part of it. I enjoyed the music very much! Played a bit of everything, some bachata, merengue, salsa, Banda, reggaeton and what not. There’s a small dance floor but there’s a bar on the other side. People there were very respectful. Nice crowd and good music. Didn’t even have to drink to have a great time. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back sometime in the near future. There is a mandatory coat check ($ 3) and there is a super small upstairs area with a bar as well. It was my first time here and I texted the number they had on the website. Got in for free. Not sure what the cover is if you don’t have a text though. Place closes at 3 on Saturdays. Overall, great place and I would love to dine here as well.

I called to ask what the dress code was and the employee had such a attitude. I asked if jeans were allowed, he said yes as long as there tight fitted not baggy. I said ok so what type of shirts aren’t allowed and his answer was Sir I’m not going to dress you up just dress up like your going to a interview. What a douche lol whatever that means. I’m a physical education gym teacher/​soccer coach. I wore a jump suit to my Interview. Just from off his response I knew I wouldn’t like this place.

I had a
coupon I needed to use and we were in the mood for Mexican food so we decided to come here. From the outside it seemed like there was a dome above the venue which confused me at first. Upon walking in, it soon became clear that the venue is catered to the nightclub aspect of the business. There was barely anyone eating at 7pm. The waitress was nice and the food was ok. My friend ordered tacos and he said they were good. I got fajitas and they were ok but cold. I really enjoyed the music playing. Probably only coming here for this one time.

We were going to party around the area, so I thought this would be a nice pick because we could get chips, food and a couple of drinks (me and my buddy). So, came in here the ambiance and decoration was pretty good. It says nightclub/​bar etc — I think they are trying way too much and scene seems very confused. The service was pretty good actually.
We got chips n salsa — the salsa was a little weird. Chips were pretty fresh but I have had way better in other mexican restaurants. The guac on the other hand — was really good — really creamy and fresh. I totally recommend the guac. It’s pretty solid portion — easily shareable. We then ordered the chicken enchillidas with red sauce, which were good suprisingly and heavy. But I think the let down was the mojito made of cachaca and lime juice, it wasn’t good. Not worth it. My buddy got the long-​island which was good. But, I think for two of us for an entrée/​side and a couple of drinks spending more than $ 20 per person is way too much. The place is definitely expensive — drinks are I mean. Food seems to be pretty good.

Food is horrible for being a Mexican restaurant the food is the worse I ever had. The rice had no flavor the beans discussing the server even worse n the music it was bad. too low music truly was horrible we even went to request some music n they never play it I will not recommend this place at all.

Nice place to hanging out with friends. love margaritas and the music, they have a very extended bar and great drinks selection… see you soon!!!

The first time I came here I was impressed by the music and the crowd. I didn’t eat their food there so I can’t comment on that. The music was 90 – 00 Spanish juking music at first. The first couple of drinks I could tell we’re NOT consistent. Later in the night I ordered another drink (Cosmo) the bartender (female) did NOT know what she was doing. At the end they had music straight from Mexico that I enjoyed but maybe not everyone as people did begin to leave. Overall, I had a good time that night.
Then I visited again another night, boy was it dead and no good music at all. I ordered a drink with a friend and it tasted horrible. I immediately left that place.
Conclusion, they need better music and drinks and BARTENDERS ASAP! Keep it consistent please because I’d love to come back but no time soon!

My boyfriend and I actually go to Patron’s very often, our server is ERICA, and only ERICA, she’s awesome! I know you shouldn’t count on just one person in an establishment to make you feel welcomed and appreciated however, I beg the differ. If Erica didn’t work at Patron’s I’m not sure I’d continue to dine.
The service is outstanding!!! Erica is very attentive to us as customers, and we come from the Gurnee area for the service. We have an Uncle Julio’s near our home but they’re service is awful therefore, I dine before 10 p.m. at Patron’s.
The drinks are awesome, the food and atmosphere is perfect for us, and it’s so nice to find a place where you’re seated in the same place each time you go and the server actually knows what you want before you order.
Erica, keep up the good job, never change your personality:-)
Theresa B

Great music, fair priced drinks with great variety, and beautiful women; all the important things to look for in a nice night spot. Came here on a Sat Night w/​a lady friend looking for a latin spot/​music and glad we chose to come here. Both had a good time. Kitchen was still open at 11 P.M. when we arrived and the fajitas definitely impressed me (I’m from Texas and that’s not an easy thing to do).
Music was playing w/​the lights dimmed setting a cool & festive vibe. Place began to get more populated as the night went on with some great looking ladies might I say. Plenty of room to mingle w/​a bar/​lounge and a dance floor not too far away. Be sure to check out their site to text for no cover. Will absolutely return again for dancing. If I was rating this place strictly for the food and drinks probably be a 3 star but the night setting did it for me.

My husband and I tried this place on a Friday night and loved it! Our server was Erica and she was AWESOME! Make sure to get her when you go.
Food was great as well! We came in without reservations and were quickly shown to a table. Chips and salsa were brought to us and the salsa was really good. We ordered cheese quesadillas to start and enjoyed them. For our main course, we ordered enchiladas and carne asada. Both were delicious and we would absolutely order them again. Then we had to get dessert ;) Their churros were yummy.
Our server had a great personality, was very attentive and super sweet. Make sure to try this place out!

I went yesterday for dinner and we stayed to watch the MMA fights and to dance. It was my first time at Patron’s Hacienda.
Dinner/​Drinks = GREAT
–They gave us chips/​salsa and water directly after we were seated. The chips/​salsa were yummy and crispy!
–I ordered the carne asada plate. It came with guacamole, beans, and rice. The carne asada was delicious — tender and flavorful. It was a big portion. The guacamole was fresh and tasted like it had real lemons/​limes in it. The rice was good — it had pieces of veggies in it. The beans were your run-​of-​the-​mill beans, good.
–I ordered the Patron’s Margarita on the rocks in the mango flavor. It was delicious.
–The prices were very reasonable too.
Environment = GREAT
–The waitress was very nice (her name was Erica). She was attentive.
–The manager (I think he was the manager-​his name was Cesar) was beyond welcoming. He made sure we were doing well and everything was up to our standards. He made sure we were aware and alright with the restaurant transitioning into a dance club. Generally, he made us feel taken care of and happy.
–Well ventilated
–They have a coat check right by the door for easy access.
–Bath rooms only have a couple stalls.
Dance club = GOOD
–It got really crowded once the music started playing! — Only bad thing was that there was no room to move through the crowd.
–The music started out with House, switched to Rap/​Hip Hop, and switched again to Latin (Bachata, Cumbia, Salsa, etc).
Other– We parked right out front on the street!
I had a great time!
–Jennifer

Reliably mediocre. I’ve never been impressed with my experience here, but kept going because of the location factor. But we’ve opted to stop letting the siren song of convenience draw us here. I’ve tried their guacamole, their soup, their tacos, and their enchiladas, and have never really enjoyed anything there.
The ingredients seem fresh enough, and there isn’t anything wrong with the preparation, per se, but nothing is ever especially flavorful, or good. REALLY steer clear of the Quesos Fundido, which is too greasy and clumpy to eat effectively.
While they do have pretty good happy hour pricing on some appetizers and drinks, overall their prices are not great. You are much better off driving a mile or two west on Chicago for much better/​authentic fare at cheaper prices.
When it comes to Mexican food, I’m easy to impress — I love Taco Bell, people. But in its continued attempt to be a late-​night spot for salsa dancers and others looking to party up, Patron’s focuses too much on the flash and not enough on the flavor.

As a consummate Unilocaler, I’m especially disappointed when I eat somewhere dismal. Why didn’t I check the reviews?!
A friend and I met at Patron’s Hacienda, across the street from her office, and ordered the tacos with shrimp from the lunch menu. After one bite, I knew we’d chosen the wrong spot.
Unseasoned shrimp, lifeless lettuce, foamy pink tomato wedges and white cheddar cheese on corn tortillas with bland beans and rice, clearly warmed from a package, on the side. (My friend swore her shrimp tasted old, but I picked at mine.) The guacamole was unremarkable but inoffensive.
Although neither the menu nor the waiter mentioned shrimp cost extra, we were each charged $ 12 for our $ 8 lunch tacos – a 50% increase! We pointed out the mistake to our waiter, who offered to take 25% off our bill. After we begrudgingly handed over our cards, we were surprised to hear the manager comped our meal. Although I do appreciate the gesture, I won’t give Patron’s Hacienda another try.

Have been to Patrons a few times on different days of the week and at different hours of the day. This place is a restaurant during the day and it becomes club-​ish at night!
The food was good/​average Mexican food and the margaritas are pretty good! They have a solid selection of beers/​tequila flights/​margaritas to enjoy the night. Service was good when I went there for lunch but at night I had to get my own drinks at the bar. This is definitely a spot to dance the night away on a saturday night!

Unbelievably slow service and merely passable soup.
We went here because we were in a relative hurry for a 1:00 meeting. If only we knew…
We ordered items mostly off the lunch menu. My coworkers ordered chips, a large quesadilla, among other things, while I decided to get a tortilla soup because it was the only thing I could eat.
The soup advertises itself as «A classic tortilla soup served with fresh cheese, corn and topped with a mound of crispy chips.» It tasted like a spiced-​up tomato soup with no corn, cubes of cheese (good, to be sure) and topped with, thankfully, freshly-​made fried tortilla strips.
It’s too bad, because the tortilla chips they serve also seemed pretty good — nice and salty. Unfortunately any good vibes about the food were completely and totally undermined by the ridiculously slow service. We ended up being there for about an hour and 15 minutes, and only got checked on about every 20 minutes.
For «River North’s Best Authentic Mexican Restaurant», I would suggest walking in the other direction and frequenting Xoco or the Frontera Grill.

I went with the groupon.
I have to say, I had low expectations. I thought it was pretty decent for the groupon price.
Its cheapy Mexican on a budget. We had the nachos to start. I wish there would have been more cheese and some guac on it to really make it. I had the steak and shrimp fajitas and there was GREAT flavor. Also, the carne asada tacos were pretty tasty as well.
I found our service to be fantastic. Our server was great!
The restaurant is a little weird because it has the cheapy mexican feel, but also a sports bar feel… interesting!