Despite Kinky Friedman’s insistence in his Austin guidebook that it is still “right up there at the top,” El Patio has a well-earned reputation as the worst Tex-Mex joint in town. We say this with love. Any restaurant that has held it out in this town for more than 50 years deserves respect. And El Patio (rhymes with cat-io, as befits a place distinguished by a neon sombrero) has plenty of old-school appeal, from extremely friendly service to a signed poster of UT’s starting forward, circa 1971, to the cheap margaritas that draw the youthful crowd.

As might be expected of a Tex-Mex restaurant opened in the 1950’s by an unequivocally un-Mex family, there is little south of-the-border flair to this food. In fact, until recently, El Patio proudly served crackers with its runny salsa. This is Tex-Mex as it used to be: bare-bones enchiladas heaped with runny chili, topped with runny queso. Although we’ve got to admit that we actually rather enjoy El Patio’s guacamole chicken enchiladas, the menu and kitchen are stuck back in an older, far less chile-happy Austin. What’s nice is the spirit of goodwill and comfort, but for better comfort Tex-Mex, head across the street to Trudy’s.