June 18, 2011 - what a vivid day in my memory. The day that Jenga metamorphosed from a game with wooden pieces to a creative brunch meal which hit my palate with the force of a mallet. Enter Pachanga Patterson.
I had read quite a bit about Pachanga Patterson prior to deciding to brunch at this little cochina. On this particular day, my co-diner and I were torn between two establishments in Astoria that we had yet to try. I am extremely pleased we decided to fill our stomach's sombrero style.
The atmosphere of Pachanga Patterson is so welcoming. We were greeted by nearly every employee as we made our way from entrance way to our seats. We decided to sit outside because the weather was great. This turned out to be somewhat of a mistake due to the sun beating on my face at a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit, but it didn't ruin the positive experience overall.
If you head straight through the inside dining area of the restaurant you are led out to a backyard deck. It isn't huge, but there were around 6-8 tables that could accommodate anywhere from 2 to 6 people and more if tables were pushed together. The only issue was there was literally NO AIR moving back there, no breeze, no wind, it was steamy like a sauna. There were two tables that had umbrella's, but they were taken. We stuck it out and sat outside during the entire length of our meal, but at times it was pretty unbearable. There were about 8 people, who I like to call, those who can't handle the heat, who came outside, barely sat, then went back inside. Wimps. Inside sources report that Pachanga Patterson doesn't like wimps. Okay, no one told me that, but I bet my Pachanga Patterson poncho that it is true.
Both my co-diner and I decided we would do the brunch special, which included one entree and a drink (mimosa, sangria, or bloody mary) for $10.00. Deal? I'd sure as heck say so. The menu doesn't have a ton of items on it, but more than enough for everyone in your party to find something they like. Both of us ordered the "Veggie Jenga" and a glass of sangria. The sangria took a little longer than it should to come out, but it was great once it did. They do not overload their sangria glasses with ice and fruit like so many other establishments. I found the sangria extremely refreshing especially since my skin was sizzling in the sun. The sangria was not overly sweet and the glass size was generous.
My one and only gripe with Pachanga Patterson is that the time it took for our food to come out was a bit ridiculous. Another table of champs who sat outside ordered guacamole to go and we overheard our waitress say that it would likely take at least 20 minutes because a bunch of tables sat around the same time as one another. Now, Pachanga Patterson did just only recently start serving brunch, however I do not believe this should be a get out of Mexico free card. The restaurant should have enough kitchen employees on staff to accommodate the brunch crowd or prepare their kitchen for rushes. I imagine at dinner time there are times where a bunch of tables sit at the same time also. It is something that needs to be addressed and remedied. The only thing I can say in Pachanga Patterson's favor about this issue is that maybe they are not employing as many kitchen staff during brunch until they see what type of crowd they are going to get.
My first impression of the Veggie Jenga when it graced me with its presence on my plate was that the portion size was amazing. They could have easily gotten away with serving half of what was on my plate, especially because the way it was plated and served was cut in half. Basically, the dish consisted of a sweet potato puree on the bottom of the plate, then a tortilla shell, topped with a mixed salad, topped black beans and also a fried egg (which was more like a well done over-easy egg), and finally there was a green spicy sauce drizzled over the dish that can best be described as perfect. My co-diner is a bit sensitive to spicy food and commented she would ask for the sauce on the side next time. The dish was perfect. I was a bit weary of the sweet potato puree upon ordering, but it meshed perfectly. The last time I saw a dish mesh so well was when I began preparing and dining on potato chip/mayo/bread smushed together sandwiches (patent pending). The tortilla shell added a nice crunch to the dish. I heard a waiter state that the reason the dish was named "Veggie Jenga" was because of how the ingredients are piled one on top of each other, much like Jenga pieces. The difference is, this little torta ain't toppling. I finished my entire dish and did not feel as though what I ate was extremely unhealthy and did not feel disgustingly stuffed afterwards.
I am looking forward to making Pachanga Patterson a regular brunch staple and also can't wait to try it for dinner. Pachanga es mi amigo. I leave you with a little diddy that I like to call a rhyme.
Be careful when you swallow.
Be careful when you chew.
I love Pachanga.
And so will you.
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