GREEN BROOK, NJ — Tacos El Tio Mexican Grill & Bar has expanded and opened its first Somerset County location.

The restaurant, at 215 Route 22 in Green Brook, is family-owned and operated by Angelo Duva along with his brother and father.

"We are a true scratch kitchen. A lot of places claim to be but we literally make everything," Duva told Patch.

Employees will arrive at the restaurant everyday at 4 a.m. to begin cooking including creating their own chipotles, traditional margarita mix, sour mix, fresh pressed juices and corn tortillas.

"We make our own corn tortillas every day. We have a machine that was shipped in from Mexico for each location," said Duva. "We have a freezer but it is only used to stock shrimp."

Duva and his family opened the first Tacos El Tio in 2014 in Egg Harbor before opening a second location in Medford in 2018.

Duva, a classically trained chef, has been in the industry for his entire life.

"My father migrated at 12 from Italy. His father was in the industry running a pizzeria. I grew up in it," said Duva.

He worked at a variety of restaurants including an American sports bar, pizzeria, fine dining, cafeteria, Mexican restaurant, a cafeteria, on the boardwalk. He even trained as a chef working for James Beard award-winning chef Thomas Keller at his restaurant French Laundry.

"I have an extensive cooking background and I wanted to do something different," said Duva.

Duva's brother is also a chef and when his father came up with the idea of opening a Mexican restaurant they jumped on board.

Their third location in Green Brook held a soft opening at the end of August and the response has been great, said Duva.

"We are excited to be a part of the community," said Duva, who is planning a grand opening and ribbon cutting later this month.

Tacos El Tio offers a variety of drinks and food including tacos, fajitas, soups, salads, enchiladas, and more.

"The Steak Chimichanga is hands down my favorite," said Duva.

It is a pan-fried flour tortilla stuffed with onion, and chipotle sauce and topped with mixed cheese, crema, cilantro, and served with guacamole.

Tacos El Tio offers dine-in, take-out and delivery. For more information visit tacoseltio.com

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