RESERVATION & SEATING POLICY
EL PATIO – RESERVATION & SEATING POLICY
(Last Updated: January 17, 2026)
Advance Notice:
To ensure availability, please provide at least 4 hours’ notice for online reservations. For reservations made with less than 4 hours’ notice, please call us directly at 301-231-9225.
Reservation Methods:
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We accept limited online reservations through our website.
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Reservations are not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email or SMS.
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Walk-ins are welcome daily, and we do our best to accommodate all guests.
Reservation Requirements:
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A name, phone number, and email address are required to make an online reservation.
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We can accommodate parties of up to 10 people online. For larger parties, please call the restaurant.
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For parties of 11 or more, a refundable $100 reservation fee is required. This fee will be charged at the time of booking through our online reservation system (as a text message link) and credited to your final bill. If the reservation fee is not paid within 2 hours of making the reservation, the system will automatically cancel it, as payment is required to confirm your booking. A 24-hour cancellation notice is required for a full refund. No-shows or late cancellations may result in forfeiture of the reservation fee. You can cancel by calling 301-231-9225 or 301-231-9226.
Arrival & Seating:
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If your party has not arrived or called within 15 minutes of your reservation, we reserve the right to mark it as a no-show.
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All guests must be present in the hostess area to be seated. Parties arriving late may be placed on the waitlist and seated at the next available table.
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Holiday, weekend, and holiday-weekend reservation times may be up to 120 minutes, subject to availability. Reservation times may vary between 90–120 minutes.
Host Policy:
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We do not use a “seat yourself” policy. Please see a host/hostess or staff member upon arrival.
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Guests should be ready to be seated at their reserved time. Tables will be held for 15 minutes past the reservation time before they may be reallocated.
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No additional guests may join a party once seated.
Billing & Service:
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Bills may be split into a maximum of three checks per party.
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For parties of 4 or more, a 20% service fee will be added.
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Guests bringing their own desserts/cakes will be charged $1 per person.
Waitlist & Seating:
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Once on a waitlist, seating is first available; preferred seating is not guaranteed.
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Please do not linger at your table after payment to help manage wait times for other guests.
Cancellations & Unforeseen Events:
El Patio reserves the right to cancel any reservation due to circumstances beyond our control, including extreme weather or other unforeseen events. Some events may prevent our staff from reporting to work, or you may not be notified in time of a closure. During rapid changes in weather or unexpected situations, we may not be able to contact you in advance.
In such cases, we strongly recommend calling us ahead of time at 301-231-9225 / 301-231-9226 to confirm if we are open. The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority, and occasionally we may need to temporarily close the restaurant to ensure everyone remains safe.
Pets & Service Animals:
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Pets are not allowed in the dining or patio areas. Trained service animals are always welcome.
By submitting a reservation through our website, you agree to El Patio International’s Reservation & Seating Policy.
*For more details on how we collect, maintain and use information you provide to us, please see our Privacy Policy