The server was great she was personable. The restaurant was clean and music was at a moderate tempo. Vibes are there. We ordered Tacos on Tuesday which are 1/2 off. The drinks were mixed really good couldn't taste the alcohol but they crept up on us. Definitely will be back the food was good. I didn't really like the steak taco but the fish hit the spot. The best empanadas I've ever had. read more

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Some of the verrrrrrry best chain restaurant food we've had in a longgggg, longgggg while. With only 4 locations in NJ, I honestly wasn't very familiar with Tio Taco at all. With this area being our go to after a Salvation Army drop off run in Passaic, Tio Taco was next up on our list after we had already hit up a few of the restaurants in the Clifton shopping area. We came by at around 12pm on a wintry Saturday afternoon and there was only one table occupied at the time. When we walked in though, unfortunately we weren't greeted by anyone for a good few minutes, so alarms already were going off in our heads of a potentially bad experience coming up. We ended up walking in on our own and seating ourselves before being greeted. The menu was Mexican-oriented as you can imagine - empanadas, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, steak and seafood Mexican-inspired entrees, etc. It wasn't a huge menu, but plenty to still choose from. We started off with the Beef Empanadas, which were FANTASTICCC. There were 3 large pieces in the order, which easssssily could have been an entree. It was some of the best beef empanadas I've had - honestly. Juicy seasoned beef and very good flavor from the sofrito. It came with a side of lettuce and pico de gallo and cheese dipping sauce. Next, the entrees. We ordered from the Kids menu for the kiddos - a Kids Chicken Quesadilla. First, the order was absolutely HUGEEEE! We were so shocked that the serving was so big that we double-checked with the waiter that it wasn't 2 orders. This was one of the largest kids meals items I had ever seen. There were 6 cut up pieces of the quesadilla, which was generously filled with lots of chicken and melted cheese. There was also a side of deliciously super crispy fries. I had 1 piece of the quesadilla and it stunned me that it was soooo gooood and the entire order probably would have filled me up with ease. My better half ordered the Churrasco Skirt Steak and I had the Short Rib Enchiladas. BOTH were ridiculously superb. The skirt steak was tender, juicy, flavorful and the chimichurri sauce was perfect. One of the better "non-fancy restaurant" steaks that we've had. As for the enchiladas, absolutely delicious! The short rib was soooo juicy and flavorful. Both entrees came with a side of rice and beans. The rice was a bit on the hard side, but I mixed mine with the beans, which made it better. We've been to our fair share of restaurants and, especially chain restaurants, and this was one of the best experiences, service wise and food wise, that we've had. It didn't get off to the best start having to wait a few minutes to be greeted, but our waiter was very friendly, accommodating with our requests for non-glass plates and plastic forks and even brought over extra ketchup and napkins without us asking. He came by to check on us every once in a while as well. And, yes, initially I was brought the wrong order of enchiladas, but they fixed that up asap with a brand new order for me. In closing, I'll say that when we visit chain restaurants these days, most of the food is decent and satisfies our hunger, but nothing very memorable ... the food here was absolutely MEMORABLE and we'll definitely be back. read more

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This place, the ambience, the food and drink are all worth visiting for. However, on the other hand, the service is not great. As I was waiting for my gf to arrive, an angry customer came in to the host stand asking if they can just order a drink from the bar because they had been waiting forever. Similar frustration began with my friend and I as we must've waited a good 15 minutes without being attended to and had to ask a server to take our order. For me, the food and drink are of course important but if the service isn't great, it taints the experience. We had to keep looking out for our server to get her attention when we wanted another drink & for the check. It also was not that busy, at all, as it was a Monday night. Sadly this is the reason I had to give 3 stars. But let's get into the food & drink...They have specials and happy hour almost everyday (except for Sundays). On Mondays they do half priced margs, which was the reason we wanted to visit. We ordered a bunch of apps and were surprised by the size. We had the chicken flautas, beef empanadas, carne asada fries and Elote. The Elote and fries were INSANE! 12/10. For drinks, My friend got a strawberry basil marg which she didn't like and then a passion fruit one, which was much better. I opted for the guava marg and it was perfect! Not sure if I'll return yet but if I do it'll be cause of the food and margs, not their service! read more

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If I wrote this review after my first visit I would've gave them 5 stars, unfortunately this is being reviewed after my second visit. The first visit I came during dinner time it was relatively packed and had a nice dim lit ambiance, our server was attentive and prompt. The drinks were strong, the food came out hot and the tacos and the birria were perfectly cooked, I thought I found my new taco joint. Fast forward a week later I came by during lunch time, there were maybe 2 other parties. For one the birria I ordered wasn't even on their menu which was a tad confusing. I ordered a different birria they had, I also ordered tacos and rice for a side. Our server/bartender was not as attentive. The drinks were weak or super sweet. The food came out warm and the rice was hard. Everything tasted terrible to the point that we could not finish it. It was very confusing that we received sub par service when there were less people to attend to. The drop in rating must be studied. 1.5 and that's off the strength of the first visit. If you were contemplating coming here DON'T, but if you do, go during the evening. May the odds be ever in your favor. read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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went to the Marboro location for my daughter for his birthday. Ambience, service, top-notch. Drinks were fantastic. Steak was not that great but the manager, Mr. Gomez took care of us. Looking forward to a second visit. read more

I have found what I'm looking for... Sadly, I have been on the hunt for a New Mexican spot after Covid shuttered many of our favorites. We do not frequent chain restaurants often, so I was apprehensive when my wife suggested we try this after attending an event last night. First thing to note: the staff are incredibly welcoming and courteous. The space has a very cool industrial vibe. Our server was prompt and attentive. We started with beef empanadas: crispy, flavorful, and delicious. The sauce was wonderful. We sampled several tacos: pork belly, shrimp, fish, beef. All were SO good and they were PACKED with an abundance of fillings. I found myself shocked that I had found a new place for tacos and that it was a chain. My wife LOVED her enchilada. Overall, we will 100% return. read more

Great food ! great place good customer service Elissa did a great job.( I think I spelled name wrong.) definitely will come back!!! read more

We have to try again but weren't very impressed with the first trip. I get it's a busy place but premade margaritas don't sit well with me. The food was good. Nothing spectacular. We got some apps at the bar and they weren't very expensive. Bartenders seemed unconcerned about us. The tequila selection is probably the best you will find. So if you want to drink tequila this is definitely a spot for you. read more

The Mrs and I returned a couple of times after my original stop and they have definitely upped their game. Their bowls definitely hit the spot! They have a big bar and make a darn good spicy margarita. Full disclosure - we love their desserts. Especially their Cinnamon Crunch Fried Ice Cream and Rum Banana Cheesecake - both are awesome! Pics attached. ENJOY! read more

This was my first time trying their tacos, I must saw I liked the fact that you can mix and match. I enjoyed the Chicken Tinga taco the most. Drinks were okay, I could've done without the mocktail though for $12. The servers are very attentive and the ambience is nice and chill. read more

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My fiancée and I stopped by Tio Taco Tequila Bar when we were starving and the food was fantastic. Our waitress was super kind and attentive, our food came out very fast. We got the nachos with ground beef to start and they were Ah-MAZING. Loaded with cheese, and the chips were super warm and crispy. I ordered the skirt steak which was one of the most flavorful and juicy steaks I've ever had. Most steakhouses charge double the price for their steaks that don't taste half as good. The steak came with plantains that were sooo good and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. As a Jamaican who eats plantains religiously, these were also some of the best I'd ever had. My fiancée ordered the chicken wings and let me try one, they were also amazing. They were crispy and coated in a sweet yet savory sauce that was out of this word. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely check this place out! read more

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I really like their margaritas! They have LALO tequila which is hard to find around here. I ordered the tacos and they were good. I didn't love the carne asada ones but only because the meat was chewy. The service was great! The place is lively but not so loud that you can't hear a conversation. I like when you can talk to who you're with and hear them while still feeling like you're out somewhere good. read more

Nice cocktails. Good ambiance, Good mexican food. I will be there again. 5 stars for them. read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Tequila Shots - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Wish you could give half stars. I would rate this a 3 1/2* Very dark inside but cool place to hang out and have a drink. Service was great. We had the nachos which were great. Friends ordered the chicken fajita' which was bigger than expected. Lots of chicken and sides. Skirt steak was good. I only tried a bite ( thought it was good) Friend stated it wasn't seasoned enough but it was cooked perfectly. Beef tacos (they were kind of bland) but were ok. Drinks were good! Bar tender was awesome and friendly made great recommendations. read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Came here for lunch for the first time today. For starters , it's a beautiful place. The lights are dim , the decor is nice. It seems perfect for a like a date night spot. Music wasn't too loud where you can't hear one another if you are with someone else. I was very impressed by the menu. It's a decent size menu with many offerings from tacos, to bigger entrees with steak, & also stuff like bowls. Feels like there is something for everyone. Here's what I ordered... (pictures below) Appetizers: "Taste of Trio" Entree: Short Rib Birria Quesadillas Drinks: Water & I had to get a drink!! Lol so I ordered the "Frozen Margarita Flight" which is 4 different kinds ( you get to choose the flavors you want!) of frozen margaritas. They were delicious! My fav was passion fruit' Appetizer was good. In my opinion, it comes with a decent amount of things to share with maybe 3 people at most. The quesadilla was amazing! I loved how cheesy and melty it was. Only thing if I have to critique, would be that it doesn't seem like it's very "authentic " I love good Mexican food but the authentic kind.. but this food was not bad at all. Just my preference. & the dip or broth that the quesadilla came with , seemed more like a tomato based sauce rather than the liquid that the beef was cooked in (which is what they usually serve with birria to dip) Aside from this everything was good. I'd give this place 8/10. Service was good. Waitress was very attentive & so was the manager on the floor. Things to know: There is parking as it's located in a mall type thing. The drink menu was very impressive too. They have tequila tastings! (I wanna try that next time ! ) Prices are ok nothing too crazy. Hope you guys enjoy! read more

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I met up with my friends here on a Friday night and loved it. They started at happy hour and enjoyed their margaritas. I got one margarita right before happy hour ended and it was amazing. We had a group of about 10 of us and they had no problem accommodating us around 6pm. I had their fajitas and they were so good. Everyone at the table got a variety of food and everyone enjoyed it. My friend said it was the best quesadillas she ever had. I'll be back for sure! read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Fajitas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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The service was slow at first but it was a very busy night. Once our order was taken it went by faster. The Queso fundido was plentiful and tasted very good. The tacos were ok, they didn't taste bad but they weren't the greatest. However, they were overflowing. If they had just a bit more flavor it would have been perfect. The music is upbeat and keeps you moving in your seat. read more

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I need to remember to put this place on the top of my list when I can't think of anything to eat because almost everything I have is absolutely delicious. I went with a friend for happy hour and it was a solid decision. We had the carne asada fries, absolutely fantastic. I have never had french fries cut that way and they were perfect, they were almost a scoop shape so they held the toppings really well. I highly recommend this. Elote street corn, holy wow! So so delicious. Another winner, served warm and the toppings take it to the next level. Now things can't always be 100% perfect, we did order the beef empanadas and the outside was decent, the inside filling was not terrible but kind of tasted like spaghetti meat sauce. I wouldn't order it again but if it was on the table I wouldn't be against eating it either haha read more

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My coworker and I met for taco Tuesday at Tio Taco + Tequila Bar. I highly enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and service! This was my first time at Tio Taco + Tequila Bar. I immediately liked the ambience, and it appeared to be clean. The lovely waitstaff suggested an amazing drink with white sangria and margarita. Delicious and strong! We shared the tasty elote de calle (grilled street corn), which was messy to eat but so good! For my meal, I had fried shrimp and grilled fish tacos, which were also very good. I had a few bites of fried plantain that were sweet. Tio Taco + Tequila Bar had music playing, and it was just a nice vibe! read more

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This place is the best for taco Tuesdays. Half off on tacos! You can't beat that price and the tacos are pretty big. I'm usually full from just two! It usually gets very packed on Tuesdays, but we always have the nicest staff ever (shout out Jason). read more

Wait staff was rather sloooow on a slow night. I even had to tack her down for the check and again to pay the bill. Kinda reminded me of Tommy's next door, no surprise here-same corporate owners. The place is loud, really loud...oh, just like Tommy's! Food was ok; not great but not bad either and hey, the drinks are really good! So drink up and you may just have a good experience. Probably a one and done for me though. read more

First time customer and definitely not the last! We went out for my hunny's birthday and decided to try something new. The atmosphere was great and the food and drinks were amazing. I ordered the grapefruit hibiscus Paloma, such a wonderful cocktail! We started with street corn and wings, so delish and then I had the fish tacos, just great, Greg had the skirt steak with fried plantains, so yummy and we shared a tio salad - the lime vinaigrette dressing really elevates this salad. Then of course dessert to celebrate, with fried ice cream and tres leches cake, both were amazing. The service was great, and the manager Lindsey stopped by to make sure everything was good. And the hostess, Allie was also very attentive. If you haven't heard about this place, check it out! read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Went to Tio's for lunch and sat outside. It's a nice location for people watching. I ordered the Strawberry Margarita and it was very good. It had a lot of tequila and the salt lining was perfect. We started with the Elote appetizer and it was more than adequate for two people. It had plenty of sauce and not too spicy. Our entrees were perfect portions and tasty. The Cobb Salad was large and couldn't finish it. The chicken Tacos were presented flat and I was ok with that. I could tell, that folding all of the ingredients was going to get messy so I cut everything up and enjoyed every bite of both tacos. I would definitely recommend Tio's and am certain that you'll enjoy a pleasant meal. read more

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Great place to eat! I went here with some co-workers and we all agreed that we would come back again. Parking was a pain if you come during dinner because of the other stores around it. But people come and go in the parking lot so you will eventually find a spot. Music, atmosphere, temperature was good. Our waitress was super helpful with suggesting items from the menu and making sure we were satisfied. Food was good, came out in a decent timeframe and generous portions. My co-workers enjoyed the margaritas and I had a cocktail mixed with rum. This place looks like it would be fun to visit on the weekends. But even on a weeknight they played good music and dimmed the lights for an evening mood. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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Stopped in because a neighboring place was too full. Sat at the bar. They have large TVs to watch any game on. Upon arriving we were greeted by a bartender. We ordered drinks and tacos. The tacos were good not great. Since it is a tequila bar I wanted to try a margarita so I ordered us two coconut margaritas. They were not good. They tasted like lime and had a lot of ice. This was not a coconut margarita. On the plus side, all that lime did help settle our stomachs after the tacos though. Maybe they do the lime on purpose. It all worked out in the end. However, next time I won't be straying from a regular Jack and coke next time I want to watch the game. Also, we had to order from a different bartender because it seemed like ours was ignoring us or was not in the mood. She remained distant on the far side of the the bar and once we got our drinks from a different bartender after attempting to make eye contact with her for several minutes she finally came by to give us a thumbs up. Smh. I did like the atmosphere and the music here so I'd return for that. read more

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Went for taco Tuesday, pretty packed but doesn't disappoint. Tacos were great, drinks were good also. A bit smoky inside from the grill.

The girls and I got together for Taco Tuesdays and met here around 6:30pm. When I arrived I parked in the large plaza parking lot. I walked in and was greeted by the hostess. Oliver was our waiter and he was great. He was very attentive and kind. I started with an original margarita and it was good. I then wanted to go with the sangria but it was pre-made so I didn't really like it. I stuck with the margarita. For entrées I got the veggie fajitas and while it was good they had way too much onions so needless to say I didn't eat that much, I only ate the other vegetables. The girls got different items and they all really liked their dishes. At the end of the evening Oliver brought out an ice cream happy birthday dessert which was so kind. The bill for me was about $35. I enjoyed my time. read more

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I went here with my dad and it was awesome. They made our experience wonderful, the staff was super nice, at least 5 different people came up to check on us. The food is very good as well, lots of flavor. I definitely recommend coming here. The staff is a 10/10. Great People! read more

Who doesn't love a good flight . You can tase how delicious it is from the picture . Will definitely come back . Amazing staff to direct us to this amazing drink . read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Flight - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Tio Taco is a new food establishment in this strip mall located in Clifton, NJ. It replaces the former Zinburger restaurant that used to be here and is quite a nice addition to the area -- as there's a Joe's Crab Shack, a Moe's, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, a Mediterranean spot, Cups Froyo spot, Jersey Mikes and a local bar and grill. The outside of the restaurant has a nice window for pick up/take out options which allow you the luxury of not even entering the restaurant -- i thought that was neat. Upon entering the restaurant, half of the restaurant is a bar and seating while the other half is divided with just seating for guests. I could see this being a nice spot for a happy hour during the week. The bar area is well lit and inviting. Table and seating were cleaned. Our waiter was great, had good banter and checked on us throughout the night. Received great service! Food ordered: - Elote appetizer (~$8-9): huge portions, too much mayo, corn was not sweet but it was decent - 2 fried shrimp tacos (~$7 each): flavorful, i wish there more shrimp on the taco, pretty expensive for the cost you pay a la carte - 1 fried fish taco (~$7-8 each): this is Cod, mine was a bit on the drier side and I think it was too much mango salsa for my liking, i'll skip on this option next time - 1 chicken fajita (~$19): my guest enjoyed their food, came with tortillas, rice & beans and a platter of cheese, guac, sour scream and lettuce, this is a great affordable option that comes with a lot of food Desserts ordered: - Churros: texture and sweetness was great. This is not a churro that comes with filling. It came 6 total pieces (3 in chocolate dipping sauce, 3 on the side that were predunked in sauce). It would be nice if all the churros were plain and the the sauce was an option. Drinks ordered: - frozen margarita flight(~$15-18): great option when you are indecisive lol. It comes with 5 flavors to choose from and you get 4 options. I enjoyed this ! - frozen sangria and margarita (~$13-16): you have the option of white or red wine to choose from. I had a taste and it was strong so many will like. - lemon drop shots ($12): the bar is unable to do lemon drop shots for whatever reason so they made an adhoc drink for us. Super good and strong read more

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Despite this being my first time at this location, I really appreciated how festive the indoor dining experience was. Their service was quick and attentive, while also offering a plethora of Tex-Mex options. I would also say that in general, the ambience was very quick and generally lively. The next time that I go, I definitely want to try more to give a more flavorful review. read more

Wow I was really blown away by this place, the food was super fresh you could tell everything was homemade. My friend and I share the habanero shrimp which was sweet and spicy, and the chicken flautus were so crunchy and perfect ! We had margaritas and they were super yummy we will be back. read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Bathroom art - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Love the food here but the service is just awful. Both times I have eaten here there has been an issue with our waitresses. It's actually pretty sad because I can imagine I'm not the only one who has experienced this and I'm sure they are losing business because of it. And each time it has happened they were not in the least bit busy. Hope management sees this and understands it's hurting their business and makes a change read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Elote - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Recommended by friends and came with a bunch! Ambiance - Single room cantina with full bar and lively Mexican decor. I came with a group of 6 and we had to wait 45 minutes as it was a busy time on a Saturday night. There is parking in the strip mall. Ordered: Taco-haco and Al Pastor Taco, Quesadillas, Chips and Guac and a Don Julio Flight Cost: Great quality/quantity Pros: Very authentic menu with some unique items and varied selection for anyone's appetite. The tacos were outstanding and I wish I had a bigger stomach to try more. Cons: Wish I didn't have to wait so long but it was worth it! An enjoyable experience and glad I tried it, I look forward to coming back for more friendly gatherings! read more

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I just don't like this concept Something of 'off' I don't know The food is decent-tacos are pricy for what you get Staff is good The overall feel is just kind of depressing Nothing like Tommy's read more

Very chill spot with solid food and good drinks. Loved the chips, salsa, and guac but kind of weird that you have to pay for chips and salsa. I got the passionfruit margarita that was yummy and not very strong. I had the shrimp fajitas and they were goof and pretty substantial. The quesadillas and tacos were also good. The tacos are a little expensive but nothing crazy. Will definitely come back read more

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The test just wasn't there for me. The service great the ambiance wasn't available. Over all it needed more "umph"

For the rest of my family Tommy's Tavern can do no wrong - so when they found out Tio's was part of their empire... we had to make our way here. The prior occupant - Zinburger - not only had lackluster food but their design aesthetic was weak. (Still not sure why they thought a massive painting of a cow on one wall would be what you'd want to look at while biting into a burger.) So it was a bit stunning to see how cool Tio's looks... dark, moody, hip. The music is the next jarring element. It's THISCLOSE to being too loud and distracting. Our first visit - if you're putting "taco" in the name of your place... that's what I'm going for. And lemme tell you - they were phenomenal. You have to order at least two of them and for the price I assumed it might include a side of rice/beans/something. Nope. Just two tacos, soft shell, and they were quickly devoured and I was still hungry. (The follow-up visit I did see a note at the bottom of the menu that you could get a side of their starches for an additional $6.) The second time around I tried their 'Milanesa Torta' and knew this place deserves 5-stars. One kid - on both visits - went for their steak and really liked it. (But he wasn't digging those roasted and sugary plantains.) The rest of the family - on the first visit - went with the chicken fajitas and were impressed. The second time around they switched over to tacos and the Mrs. declared their 'Taco-Cado' "possibly the best, most flavorful" taco she'd ever had. (But between you and me... she was really missing that sweet corn cake side that you can get at Chevy's on the other side of the highway.) Waitress (first visit) - very cool and friendly, but it was hard to hear her because of the volume of the music. Waiter (second visit) - even friendlier and easy-going and the decibel level wasn't an issue. Myself and tequila have not been on speaking terms for decades so I can't opine on that. (But good for you if you're able to afford dropping almost $80 for just two ounces of the fancier brands they have available.) If you know this shopping center you know there's plenty of parking but it's still not enough. Definitely recommended. (But it'll put a dint in your wallet.) read more

Went last night because Anthony's cold fire was permanently closed. This place is cute, reasonable too. Had salsa & chips and split fish taco with my friend. Good food ! Taco was delicious . Nice waitress . Will come here again. read more

Came early Sunday, empty so got my pick at bar. Ordered two tacos and side of beans with margarita flight. Very good tacos but margaritas were not strong at all. read more

Tio Taco Tequila Bar - Tex-Mex Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey