My last review of El Patron for Worcester Magazine took place in 2016. A lot has changed about the Canal District in that time. Back then, there was no cannabis dispensary, no public market, and not a ballpark in sight. The rest of the region was only beginning to glimpse Worcester’s potential.

Although a wave of economic development has grown up around the popular Mexican outpost, El Patron remains virtually unchanged. Flags, masks and butterflies still invigorate the simple space. The jalapenos rellenos still make you sweat. And, the tall margarita mugs are still as big as fish tanks. El Patron rings familiar.

The vibe is celebratory in nature, whether you’re shooting tequila at the bar with your pals or bouncing a baby in your lap with the family. Service is extraordinarily patient and not overly complicated. The menu never changes.

El Patron is ideal for large parties. On my most recent visit, there were 20 of us. We were seated at two long tables in the center of the restaurant. Servers were sparse at times, but our food was delivered hot and fast nonetheless.

If I can give you one piece of advice, it is to take advantage of the salsas. Fresh made chips are elevated if you request the trio of sauces that includes a zippy tomatillo salsa verde. Even the plain white queso smacks of gooey genius. Nothing at El Patron is one dimensional, which also makes it particularly suited to vegetarians. For $3, the steamed mixed vegetables are a steal of a meal.

My favorite of the margaritas is the pineapple chile, which comes to life with a dash of hot Tabasco. The Mexican Coke is also a draw, sweetened with cane sugar rather than the high-fructose corn syrup used in American Coca-Cola.

If you’re craving crunch for a party of one, order the mini flautas filled with chicken and doused in sour cream. If you’ve got a whole team with you, spring for steak nachos with extra pico de gallo.

El Patron’s tacos are served on double-stacked corn tortillas with diced red onions and cilantro. The chorizo tacos are my go-to, but the fried cod fish tacos with chipotle mayo are equally spellbinding. Order a la carte to mix and match. I understand that volume prevents El Patron from making their own tortillas in-house, but I would agree to eat the upcharge faster than you can say "masa harina" if it meant getting a handmade corn tortilla.

As a seasoned burrito enthusiast, I feel comfortable ranking El Patron’s salad burrito near the very top of my list. The dish swaps ample rice for loads of crispy lettuce that is well dressed in chipotle mayo, pico de gallo and guac. All of El Patron’s burritos are roughly the size of a cinder block and packed tightly in a flour tortilla. You can order yours covered in mole, drenched in sour cream, or stuffed with french fries, depending on your mood.

There’s a lot of new competition in the neighborhood, but I know I can trust El Patron for group outings, birthday parties or impromptu reunions. I don’t return time and time again to see what’s new. I go back because it’s consistent. (Plus, they never complain about splitting the check seventeen ways.) I hope El Patron stays true to its roots as the world continues to shift around it.

On our last visit, I ate and drank my fill for less than $25 and we found street parking right around the corner for free.

Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended. One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent.

Food: 4/5

Ambience: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Value: 4/5