Lucy Eats Alone: Pachanga Patterson

After our post last week about Pachanga’s new backyard bar, it seems Lucy couldn’t help but check it out. Here’s her take on this WHA favorite spot. -Mackenzi

After a long work day I am in need a drink and some lunch/dinner – heck maybe I didn’t even have breakfast today. Its feeling like spring so I ponder my options. I want a nice spring-y cocktail and seem to remember something at Pachanga Patterson that should fit the bill.

Tucked right next to Bareburger, down the block from Brick Cafe,  and around the corner from Sweet Afton is a charming delicious “Mexican” place. It’s as if you filtered Mexican street food thru the brains of a couple of the less annoying New York chefs and the result is a concise and delicious yet diverse menu.

The recently renovated patio space probably means I will have more than 1 Sunday Funday here in the coming months. This could be a great date place – informal and just dark enough but also good  for a mid-week dinner with friends. Surprisingly,  I’m not the only one eating alone – which is an unusual experience for me in Astoria (aside from the occasional waiter/bartender gf).

My cocktail choice was Flipping Out: gin, lovage, lime and soda. I also love the Michelada which is beer, sangrita, lemon with a salted rim.  If you are in the mood the Mezcal and tequila selections are solid. They make their own flavored tequilas. Genius but beware…. Sunday Funday could turn into calling out with “food poising” on  Monday.

A bonus to eating here is that I feel like I can have some food & drink and I’m doing good because they support local farmers. Up first, salad of grilled asparagus with radish sprouts, crema and chili sauce –  great layers of flavor. The best entrees are the tacos – carnitas,  pollack, lamb… I go for the fish. Amazing. I like it spicy (!), and the house-made hot sauce is hot but not just heat, there’s a little smoke and depth to the flavor. Perfect with the red wine on tap. Probably most people would drink beer – but I’m not most people.

My only disappointment is that now I’m full, otherwise I’d have the Little Devil Cake for dessert. Although truth be told, I prefer her cousin, Baby Jesus, over at Vesta anyway.

Pachanga Patterson
33017 31st Ave. Astoria

(*All thumbnail images via Yelp as Lucy’s phone just wasn’t up to the challenge at Pachanga.)

3 Comments

Vantage Properties May 15th, 2012

We also like that Pachanga supports local farmers. It also helps that this Astoria restaurant sounds like it’s delicious! But we have yet to find a spot in Astoria that isn’t delicious.

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Lucy May 14th, 2012

did you just call my smart phone a dumb phone?

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mackenzi May 15th, 2012

You know I’d never do that. I’m just calling Pachanga dark ;)

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