El Patio is a perennial local favourite — an open-air courtyard restaurant a few blocks from the ferry dock that serves straightforward, honest Mexican-Caribbean food at fair prices. The menu leans heavily on what came in that morning: whole grilled fish, shrimp in garlic butter, ceviche, and fish tacos that are noticeably better than anywhere that markets itself specifically as a taco place. The salsa verde is made in-house and properly sharp.
The setting is unpretentious: plastic chairs, slow ceiling fans, and the occasional iguana eyeing your plate from the courtyard wall. It fills up at lunch with a mix of islanders and visitors who have been here before — always a good sign. No reservations; arrive early or expect to wait.