i have a vision...

[hottdish]

of cheap, resonably eatable, mexican food with... and here's the important part...a patio and cheap pitchers of magaritas. It doesn't have to be fancy...at all, but friendly and a good place for me and my sweet but rough-edged friends to hang out on an early late summer evening. there are a million places out there like it, but i have yet to find one in new orleans...HELP! oh, and if you tell me tomatillo's...well...just don't. that place is a nightmare of overpriceyness.

[hottdish]

thanks folks! i love el gato negro, but it's a little high in the price range for what i'm talking about...fine for me but hard to convince my cheap-@% friends. their margaritas are divine though. yummy. the other suggestions are intriguing...i'll have to check it out. i used to live in asheville, n.c. and these places were a dime a dozen. guess you don't know what you got till it's gone.

[Guy Caballero]

I would go with Felipe's. it does have a slight fast food vibe and the patio leaves a little to be desired, but it is cheap and their margaritas are decent. I went to a "Moe's Southwest Grill" in a pinch in Atlanta last week and it made me realize Felipe's could sure be a lot worse..

Juan's on Magazine does have a patio in the back but I think it's for special occasions only. Juan's on Carrollton has sidewalk seating.

[uptownlibrarian]

The chips are definitely only ok, but the other food I've had has been good. Last time I was there, about a month ago, they had a lamb appetizer that was very tasty, and the enchiladas are great, especially the sauce. The service was inattentive and rushed.

I'm looking at the menu online right now, and it seems to be different that what they hand you in the place, and also more expensive. Maybe it's changed in the past few weeks, or I've been having a few too many carrot margaritas.

I encourage OP to give it a try and report back.

[Hungry Celeste]

Is Superior Grill too fake-mex and uptown for you? It does have an airconditioned patio, happy hour drink specials, and a busy, loud ambience. Can't say too much for the food---it is passable, but the setting might be just what you're looking for.

[Adrienne]

Superior Grill sounds like what they're looking for to me -- from 4-6pm on weekdays they have 2 for 1 margaritas, and 2 of their margaritas is a lot of tequila. they have a covered outdoor area which is nice. the food is good enough -- their salads are surprisingly good, actually.

[kibbles]

as others mentions, el gato has my favorite margaritas, but i dont know about pitchers. their food is only OK, and theres not much of a patio, just the sidewalk out front w/ two tables.

[N.O.Food]

they have a patio out back. it's small though.

[swampsue]

I agree el gato negro is the best (though spendy, and patio's tiny), but felipe's in definitely the cheapest i can think of, has a patio (not beautiful) and margaritas and reasonably eatable food. If you didn't require a patio, either Juan's or Taqueria should be on the list.

[N.O.Food]

el gato negro