Pachanga Patterson

I came here because many of my friends kept insisting I try this place out. Honestly I expected more. Went with a group of 9 for a birthday dinner. We had to get from the prefix menu which did not have many options to be honest, and it was a bit pricey.

You have a TERRIBLE brunch policy. Allowing people to get the unlimited brunch option only if the entire table gets it, is ridiculous. Not everyone drinks alcohol, not everyone likes the same alcohol, and what about people who are driving? Are you suggesting people drink and drive just so their friends or family can have some mimosas? Ridiculous.
Not to mention, not allowing simple substitutions to adhere to dietary restrictions.
Needless to say I will not be returning.

Astoria continues to surprise me with all it’s hidden gems — like Pachanga Patterson. My friend and I popped by one Saturday night to check it out as she mentioned that this place was known for margaritas being their strong suit. We walked into a low-​key, cozy atmosphere with just enough stools for us to sit at the bar. After some time passed by, my boyfriend joined us and lucked out with taking the last empty stool next to us.
Our bartender gave us a menu and as we mulled it over, my friend requested the Honey Spicy Margarita. She was super excited about trying it but settled for a similar version of the drink which apparently tasted exactly like it, per the bartender. I tried a sip of it and my god, it was fantastic. The flavors demanded that you pay attention to them and the heat towards the end cemented my love for this drink. Of course, I ordered something different that was on the lighter side: the traditional La Pachanga Margarita that consisted of Tequila Blanco, Lime Juice, and House Made Hibiscus. Le boyfriend attempted to order a Jack and Coke but then came to his senses when he ordered the Chi-​Chi-​Chi-​Chia: Seagrams Gin, St. Germain, Chia Seeds, Lavender, Bitters, Ruby Grapefruit, and Lemon Juice. This was smooth and truly a cocktail made for a man’s man. I don’t remember why, but we did not stay for dinner (honestly the place we did go to made me regret not staying.). The drinks were great in their own right and the menu had some fun items like the guacamole and tacos (hello, beef tongue!). I’ll definitely be back and can’t wait to check this place out in the Spring when their garden is open too.

Great happy hour!!!
I always come here for some margaritas (my fav is Pachanga Margarita) and chips & the sampler of the 3 salsas (habanero pepita, salsa verde & broccoli rabe).
The bartenders and staff are very nice.

I’m so glad I finally went to Pachanga Patterson last night, it was the authentic Mexican food I had been searching for in Astoria!
I’m a lover of tequila, however, I typically do not like margaritas because of how sweet and sugary they are. I asked the waitress if they offered any margaritas that aren’t sweet at all and she advised they’d make a classic margarita with a type of syrup (can’t remember the name) that is more tart than sweet. My drink arrived 5 minutes later and it was perfection. I’m the first to admit that I’m a little difficult with my drinks because I know what I like, so I was ecstatic that Pachanga delivered on the margarita!
For an appetizer we ordered the original guacamole with chips and the guac was SO flavorful and fresh — absolutely delicious! It was only my fiancé and myself and we ate a good amount of the guac but I believe it would have been enough for 3 people. The chips were good but a little hard, I would have preferred your typical Tostitos. Regardless, we finished the entire plate of chips. You can also order extra chips for $ 1 extra.
I had the Adobo shrimp tacos for my meal and my fiancé ordered the Duck Confit which he was raving about. He said it was sliding off the bone and cooked to perfection. My tacos were amazing as well but they only came with 2 so if I hadn’t enjoyed the guacamole before my meal I might have still been a little hungry. But plates here are so well priced that it’s probably best to order several dishes with a group and have everyone share. The space is small and intimate and I love how they have it decorated. Our waitress and the bartender were so friendly and efficient — we had a great time. We’ll absolutely return for dinner but I definitely want to stop in for brunch as well!

I’ve been hearing about this bar’s margaritas for quite some time now. Missed several opportunities to go. Eventually dropped in on a whim with my friend and her boyfriend a week or two ago and was pleasantly surprised. Happy Hour runs Monday-​Friday from 5−7pm and Weekends 11am-​6pm. I wish I hadn’t missed happy hour by like 10 minutes because for reals their Margs are marked down to $ 6 (Normally priced $ 10 – 14) and select beers $ 4. But their beer list isn’t that all too impressive as the cocktails so don’t waste glancing at that even.
I plopped down and looked at their menu and didn’t see something I was intrigued by. I had heard that they made some kind of honey spicy margarita here and nothing was described on their winter menu. I NEEDED this drink. It had to be consumed at least once in my lifetime if my friend’s sweet sunshine face is in love with it I was pretty sure I would crap my pants in jubilation. I kindly asked the bartender if she had any idea what happened to said honey jalapeño spice concoction and she said that it sadly was removed. I cried internally and pouted and then she said «BUT I can totally make something that is nearly identical to it!» I flailed my arms and said ‘go to it, yes, yes, thanks’. The drink was executed perfectly. I savored it for awhile as it was both potent, sweet, and spicy with just the right amount of heat. My friend ordered the traditional La Pachanga Margarita: Tequila Blanco, Lime Juice, and House Made Hibiscus — not as impressed because it had a very bitter taste to it. Her boyfriend’s drink, however, The Chi-​Chi-​Chi-​Chia: Seagrams Gin, St. Germain, Chia Seeds, Lavender, Bitters, Ruby Grapefruit, and Lemon Juice was a hell of a lot better. Smooth, refreshing and alcoholic.
I also regret not ordering food here because some of their tacos sound awesome: adobo shrimp, oyster mushroom, cauliflower, crispy pig ear, and something with mayan pork. Instead we went to Mexique down the block for dinner and it freaking sucked.

Pachanga is a great neighborhood spot in Astoria serving up some decent Mexican food. Overall, my experience with Pachanga was ok. nothing special.
The décor was probably the best thing about PP: cute knickknacks all about, nice colors, great bar. Although the bar was also a bit slow it did have some good offerings — mostly with a shade of pink. The food was good — with probably one of the best queso fundidos I’ve had in NYC. The service was a little overly attentive yet bland.
Would I recommend it? Of course — especially if you’re local. Would I come back? Likely not; there are comparable spots in Queens.

The duck tacos are wonderful and it’s a great scene for a date or knocking back a few margaritas .The other items on the menu are ok but overpriced. Still like coming here but it’s not for the food

So expensive! And small portions! But the food tastes really good (at least what I had– Brussels sprouts and picaditas de pollo). Will go back for another try.

The service here is amazing ! There was one guy working when I went in on a weekday night. The place was packed and it’s also a little small too. The waiter got our drinks in time and explained the menu very well! He seemed to be the bartender too lol.
The food isn’t all that great. I came craving tacos and none of the ones I ordered fulfilled my satisfaction. I also got this bowl of beans with a tortilla inside not sure of the name but absolutely hated it :(. Didn’t enjoy it one but. Maybe it was the seasoning. The guacamole and chips were great though. Drinks or okay.

I used to come here regularly in 2014 since they were conveniently and deliciously located a few blocks away on my avenue. The gracious chef and his lovely wife who own this cozy joint always do their best to be accommodating and receive constructive criticism affably.
From their fresh ingredients, tacos, fish mains, hearty soups, guacamole to their delectable spicy house margaritas, this place can’t be beat! Service is friendly and pleasant whether you sit at the bar, dining area or in their quaint backyard patio. The lay out of the restaurant is railroad style with one area leading into the next and can seem a bit tight at times but you’ll be glad for the warmth during our brutal winters!
«The immediacy of a taco, handed to you hot from grill and comal, can’t be equaled. You can stand there and eat yourself silly with one taco after another, each made fresh for you and consumed within seconds. A great taco rocks with distinct tastes that roll on and on, like a little party on your tongue, with layers of flavor and textures: juicy, delicious fillings, perfectly seasoned; the taste of the soft corn tortilla; a morsel of salty cheese and finally, best of all, the bright explosion of a freshly-​made salsa that suddenly ignites and unites everything on your palate. At the end of our two or three-​bite taco you just want to repeat the experience until you are sated.» –Deborah Schneider, Amor y Tacos

Pachanga Patterson is my standby tequila joint. No matter what happens, I’m stuck with them. It’s more than their kickass name, they’ve got quality down to a Q. Infused tequila? Yes, please.
Bartender Carlos shines at what he does, pouring shots, taking names, and serving up Mexican dishes that make you stop and take a breath. Their habanero salsa has got cojones.
Got friends? There’s seating for a group. No friends? Sit at the bar and make some. The TV’s off most of the time, which keeps the place nice and cozy.

I mean the food is awesome but thank god American restaurants bring water to the table for free because we probably would’ve died surrounded by food and drinks that never came.
Wait! update. I just got my tacos and the waitress dropped my 40 minute taco and frantically had a meltdown while I calmly pulled the taco back onto the plate and ate it. Taco fail averted. The taco has been saved. I repeat the taco has landed .on the table.
I mean the service was pretty bad. Remember that time I gave my credit card to the waitress in like 2013 and I’m still sitting here? My life has passed me by. I can’t afford rent anymore. Dear god.
They were super friendly when they were at our table though so there’s that. I mean we were the only two people in the restaurant so why not.

Why is it that I continue to have trouble finding good, solid Mexican joints in NYC? I’ve been to several, and time and time again, I leave feeling disappointed. Unfortunately, Pachanga Patterson is just another 3-​star, «A-​OK».
Came here with a friend based on a recommendation. Entering the establishment, it’s a pretty cool vibe — earthy tones, dimly lit, candles on every table, dark brick walls throughout. The indie pop/​rock music playing in the background, as is typical of most of the trendy joins in Astoria, also worked in setting the atmosphere. SO FAR, SO GOOD.
Given that it was 90 degrees out, we knew imbibing was a must. I can’t recall the drink names, but we went with (1) a bourbon, peach, lemonade, and mint smash and (2) a jalapeño infused tequila with lime juice and simple syrup. Maybe it was because I was outside all day, but the drinks totally hit the spot. Both drinks were as tasty as they were refreshing. Sweet, but not too sweet, with balancing flavors, and just the right amount of booze. SO FAR, REALLY GOOD.
Our waitress was friendly and quite patient as we were both taking a long time deciding what to order. We finally decided on the coriander, pina, and habanero guac to start. And since it was Taco Tuesday (one order of tacos (2) for $ 5), we decided to split an order of the mushroom, pork, and shrimp tacos. The guac… what can I say? It looked pretty… Yea, that’s about it. It was under-​seasoned, and claimed to have habanero, but it wasn’t even remotely spicy. As for the tacos… I won’t get into details of each, but all the fillings were pretty bland, just «ok». My big criticism of the tacos were the corn tortillas — overly dry, way too chewy and nearly tasteless. IN THE END, EHHH.
We only had the guac and tacos, so I can’t speak to the other items on the menu, but Mexican cuisine (tacos included) should have bright, bold, and fresh flavors. Those flavors (and flavor in general) were just missing from the food here. My final rating was averaged between the drinks (4 stars) and the food (2 stars). I may come back at some point, but it’ll probably just be for a happy hour.

Really nice, we love the food, the Drink menu is ok, the best place to eat is the Patio

Food/​drink: overall the food was very good. It’s a bit pricy, and the menu is pretty small.
Guac ($ 10) and pepita salsa ($ 4), were both great. Grilled octopus salad ($ 18) was ok– octopus could have been slightly more charred and the portion was VERY small. Octopus is big in astoria, so I’m not surprised I’ve had better, but that was no way &18 worth of octopus. Moving on.
The mushroom tacos: these were really good, and basically one of the few vegetarian options on the menu.
Also the pachanga margarita and the watermelon margarita were both great.
Service: service was great. Our server was very sweet and the bus boys were also attentive. The flow of the food was good as well. They didn’t just dump food on our table once it was ready if we were still working on app, which I really appreciate
Atmosphere: we sat in the backyard patio, which was so nice! It was quiet, and they had pretty strong lights hung around.
Overall I would probably come back, but just for drinks and small bites

Went back again & had such an awesome cocktail that I had to review it. It was watermelon based, had a spicy note & some basil. Wow. Wow. Wow.
The wait staff is so cool here, had another awesome server.
My BF tried the pork tacos that I had been raving about & he said they’re the best tacos he’s ever eaten.

I live around the corner from Pachenga, so it is super convenient for me to get to, which is why I come here, but if you’re looking for superb Mexican food, head over to 34^th Avenue and go to Maizal (or if you’re looking for inexpensive yet still good Mexican, keep going to 35^th Avenue for Tacuba Mexican Cantina). Pachenga is fine in a pinch, or if you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to walk far, but there is better Mexican in the neighborhood.
FOOD: I’ve found that this is hit or miss. Last summer I went for the oysters special after the server raved about it, and it was only… okay. I ended up back here last night with my fiancée and a friend, and opted for the lamb enchiladas. The sauce? It was excellent. However, the lamb was so spicy (and I like spicy… Indian food is my second favorite food group behind Italian) that it overwhelmed the rest of the flavors, which is too bad because when Pachenga gets it right, it’s because their unique combination of flavors just works. I did taste my fiancée’s brussel sprouts appetizer though, and that was incredible. We all split the flan with blueberries dessert, and that was excellent as well. So like I said, trying all of the dishes at your table is like the culinary version of bipolar disorder… up, down, up, down.
DRINKS: last night I went with the «Pachenga margarita» ($ 10), and it was seriously underwhelming. You would think with the added hibiscus it would be more memorable, but I’ve honestly had much better margaritas at Tacqueria near the USQ area for $ 6.50. Not to mention the serving size here is pretty damn small for a $ 10 margarita. The beer and wine selections are pretty underwhelming as well.
SERVICE: our server last night was very friendly, if not a little inattentive. She was great near the beginning of the evening with refilling our water glasses, taking our orders, etc., but then kind of disappeared near the end. When another server came over to ask us about dessert I thought maybe the original server left, and that’s why we were sitting around waiting for a while, but lo and behold she reappeared after we finished the dessert. She cleaned off the table and I had to slow her down to ask for the check as we had been waiting for about 20 minutes after we finished dessert to pay so we could leave.
AMBIANCE: there’s an outdoor yard area that’s nice to sit in during the summer months, but the inside area is incredibly jammed. Last night we were sitting at the first table on the right (right next to the door, which was great because every time it was opened, we were blasted with cold air from outside… ever heard of those door enclosings used in the winter to prevent this effect?). We were back-​to-​back with the very next table, so we kept getting elbowed, bumped, etc., whenever someone from that table would get up. Lighting was great until about 7:30 or 8:00 when they practically turned the lights off. This is not an episode of «Who’s Afraid of the Dark?» Turn the lights back on already.

I love the seasonality of the menu!
Best Guacamole in the neighborhood, hands down!
The cocktail list is always interesting.

Banana infused tequila… como?
With an executive chef at the helm whose Michelin star expertise clearly shows in the creations on their autumn menu, what better way to celebrate El Dia De Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) than with gourmet Mexican in my old hood.
The drink specials for the night consisted of four tequila infusions, all of which we tried — Habenero, Plum, Pineapple and Banana (in that order). Upon hearing the banana one, I turned away and said never. By meals end, the waitress sold me on it and it was the best infusion of all — pure alcoholic desert. I could have had two more, but then my long dress and even longer commute would have been a very tangled mess… but I digress.
You must try the maple autumn squash. It sounds unsubstantial as a menu item; however you will be enveloped by all the woody, earthy flavor combined with queso fresco and crunchy bits of salty maiz tostado. Equally thought provoking was the jalepeño, cotija, and garlic aioli guacamole, which provided a creamy chaser to all those delicious shots. The Fluke Crudo was a creative ceviche like preparation of fish whose pickled apples were making me want to dip everything in sweet vinegar. The cochinita pibil tacos were delicate and fatty, with juices dripping everywhere if you weren’t careful. But who cares about stains on one’s clothing, when you have the even more rich and fatty Queso Fundido… dios mio! The chorizo drippings swirling into the oils from the melted queso made me want to drag my fingers through and lick… how lady like.
As I knocked back the banana infused shot, we prepared for desert. The flan was exceptional, more like a panna cotta than the traditional Latin custard I’m used to. We also threw in (because why not, there was about 5% more room left in our bellies for it) a chocolate bread pudding that literally made my tongue sing.
I failed to mention the two drinks we ordered outside the shots because they got lost in the culinary shuffle of what was presented before us. Photos will demonstrate. I can’t even imagine what brunch must be like here, but I am making my way back to find out.
Banana tequila in the late morning? Claro que no? :-)