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| - Being a first generation Mexican-American, I know the difference between authentic, Tex-Mex, and make-believe (like Taco Bell) mexican food. Unfortunately, only the ambience at Patron Mexican Grill (furniture and background music) had any Mexican flavor. While the quality of the food was fairly decent, it was bland and in no way representative of Mexican food. Good Mexican food is flavorful (without being necessarily hot). The Salsa accompanying the chips was flavorless canned tomato with very little and unidentifiable seasoning. The chips were warm, but unsalted. My GF had fish (Tilapia) tacos served with finely chopped coleslaw and a strange vinegar based tartar-like sauce. She had asked our server if the meal included rice and beans and was told yes. This was not the case.
I ordered the Steak Mexicano, which was a decent but under-seasoned bone-in rib steak smothered in sautéed bell peppers and onions, accompanied with ok rice and beans. Again, decent food, but definitely not identifiable as Mexican cuisine.
After the food was delivered, no one ever came back to check if our orders were satisfactory. I had to flag down a server from another table to ask for some hot sauce. He quickly brought me two bottles of Habanero sauce, one hot green, the other brownish yellow xxx hot. Apparently the options are to suffer with bland tasteless food, or destroy your taste buds with ridiculous heat. Nothing in between. The positives in the experience were the cheerful ambience, and the friendly and hardworking wait staff. The food, not so much.
We will continue our quest elsewhere to find out whether the Pittsburgh area has a decent Mexican restaurant.
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