Patron Mexican Grill opens in South Union Township
A Mexican restaurant chain that started in Morgantown, W.Va., opened its latest addition in South Union Township last week.
Patron Mexican Grill on Wayland Smith Drive, just off Route 40 at the site of the former Pasta Lorenzo restaurant, is owned by José Solis, who entered the area’s restaurant business with a Don Patron Mexican Grill in Morgantown.
He now has two there and others in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Cheat Lake, W.Va., and two others that recently opened in State College and Coal Township.
German (pronounced Herman) Cuevas, manager of the South Union Township restaurant, has worked for the company for eight years. He proudly said the restaurant uses fresh ingredients to prepare the authentic Mexican dishes on the menu.
“We have all authentic Mexican food. We use fresh ingredients,” Cuevas said.
South-of-the-border cuisine is the only kind on the extensive lunch and dinner menus, and everything is available to take-out dining.
For diners who don’t know the difference between a chalupa and a chimichanga, descriptions of the dishes are printed on the last page of the menu, or customers can ask Patron’s staff, who are always friendly, Cuevas said.
The 11 employees include Cuevas’s daughter, son-in-law and cousin.
Many customers enjoy learning a few words of Spanish from the staff and the menu, he said.
One way to become familiar with the menu and select favorite dishes is to try the specialty dinner, which includes a chalupa, chile, a taco, an enchilada, a tamale, rice and beans.
Reluctantly, Cuevas divulged that his favorite meals are the tilapia and shrimp dinner and carnitas en chile verde, which is pork tips with rice, salsa, beans and tortillas with a green tomatillo sauce. He said the sauce is flavorful and a bit spicy, not hot.
“But everything is good,” Cuevas said.
Some of the most popular dishes on the menu are the chimichangas and the Durango burrito, a 12-inch burrito filled with chicken, beef and shrimp.
“Everybody needs to try the chimichanga,” Cuevas said. “You will find the best service, the best food and, of course, the best margaritas here.”
The bar features Mexican and domestic cocktails, mixed drinks and beers. Cuevas recommends the cucaracha, a flaming mix of tequila and Kahlua. “It’s very good,” he said.
The rich, wooden bar and some other interior features remain from the previous restaurant, but adobe brick accents, wall paintings, framed pencil drawings, which Cuevas’s wife made, and Mexican music create a new atmosphere.
Patron is opens at 11 a.m. seven days a week. It closes at 10 p.m. most weekdays, 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.