Patios Cuisine brings new flavor to The Woodlands

While they opened in March, Patio's Cuisine owners developed a new concept for the menu earlier this month, highlighting traditional Spanish food and drink, and infusing Spanish cuisine with Mediterranean flavor with items like cured ham sandwiches and fresh tomatoes stuffed with crab and potatoes au gratin.

The menu follows the traditional European style of dining, separating the meal into individual courses, including homemade pastas, grilled tuna steak and a plethora of appetizers and first-course dishes. They serve Spanish coffees and liqueurs, and on weekends, live music and specials on tapas is featured in the lounge and redesigned front terrace.

We tried the carefully constructed tomatillo sauce with fried chopped potatoes and fresh stuffed tomatoes along with a specialty after dinner drink called a bonbon―a shot of espresso slowly poured over sweetened condensed milk in a small shot glass.

The Spanish restaurant also features a competitive wine list, with reds and whites from California, Italy, France and, of course, Spain.  

Patios is located in The Colonnade of The Woodlands shopping center at 30420 FM 2978 Ste. 400 and features a hacienda-style atmosphere with white walls, exposed cedar rafters and an open-air kitchen design. The kitchen uses fresh ingredients for specialty items such as their Mahi Mahi, served with chilled butternut squash and mint, and classic drinks such as the pisco sour, a blend of Peruvian grape brandy, bitters, egg white and fresh lime juice made popular in South America. The dining room accommodates parties of all sizes―with large, private booths available and intimate tables, there is not a bad seat in the house. A chef's table in the private dining room is available by reservation and decorated with original wall art, custom made mise en place, and a U-shaped cedar table.

The owners recently returned from the Mediterranean, bringing back signature dishes from surrounding areas. With a head chef from Barcelona, Patio's serves selections inspired from regions throughout Spain, and the menu is accompanied with a full-service bar.