New restaurant serves 'real, authentic' Mexican cooking

By Anya Tikka
DEERPARK — When Humberto Lopez, the manager of the newly opened El Patron Mexican Restaurant in Deerpark, was asked how his food is different from the Taco Bell food that everyone knows, he was taken aback.

“We’ve got traditional Mexican food, not fast food," said Lopez, who was born in Mexico. "Taco Bell is not Mexican food. To be honest, I don’t know what’s in Taco Bell. I’ve never been. It’s more like taco sandwiches, I think. We have tacos too, but we have a real authentic Mexican style of cooking. It’s different.”

The restaurant is privately owned by Carlos Morales, who hails from Guatemala. Morales owned a pizzeria, Frank’s Pizza in Middletown, where Lopez also worked. But El Patron is the first Mexican place he’s owned.

When Morales and Lopez were looking to start a restaurant, a friend told them about a diner on Route 6 that was for sale. After extensive renovations, the restaurant opened in February.

“I like it, although for me it’s hard to work in a Mexican restaurant because I’m used to the pizzeria,” Lopez recounted with a smile.

He called it "a typical Mexican restaurant,” serving traditional food like fajitas, which is among the most popular dishes they serve.

Another draw is the specialty sangrias.

“Most of the people come here because we have great sangrias — seven different flavors," said Lopez. "Most places only have two. We have pineapple, peach, and Patron sangria, whose ingredients are secret. It's very popular.”

The restaurant employs eight people presently, including two resident chefs, and has already built a steady clientele of regulars. People call in on their way back from work, with their busiest time from 5 to 9 p.m. Most customers are not local. They drive in from New Jersey and from Milford, stopping on their way as they travel I-84. He also draws customers from Greenville, Otisville, and Port Jervis.

“It took a while for people to know we’re here,” Lopez said. “It's mostly by word of mouth. Now we have regulars. They come in for a couple of drinks and food.”

In the summer they were busy until 10 or 11 at night, but now it’s quieter.

Pricing is from $10 to $25.
El Patron has two large rooms, a full size bar, and can accommodate 120 people.

The restaurant website is elpatronmexicanny.com. Opening times are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.