El Tio: Excellent, Affordable Mexican in a Neighborhood Setting

El Tio: MyRye.com Rating*: 5 Garnets - Excellent. A must for any MyRye.com reader.

Many of the best dining experiences are the ones you enter without any expectations.

That was our experience with El Tio, an excellent affordable Mexican restaurant just up from the main drag in Port Chester. The restaurant serves some of the best Mexican we've had in the area in a low key setting perfect for either date night, a pre- or post- movie dinner or as a place to bring the kids.

Our waiter reported El Tio has been in Port Chester for years and has a second location in New Rochelle close to New Roc. Right now the restaurant serves beer and wine although they are planning to install a bar soon that will allow them to serve margaritas.

We started with some chips and guacamole. For the main course we had Bistec Ranchero, a charbroiled steak then sauteed with green pepper and onion in tomato sauce, and Mariscada, a seafood platter with shrimp, mussels, fish calamari, clams and octopus sauteed with green peppers, onions and Jalapeno. The steak was cooked perfectly. Both dishes were excellent.

A couple Pacifico beers – served in the bottle with a lime – were the perfect compliment. The service was prompt, polite and not rushed. Dinner for two ran about $60 – a great value and highly recommended (143 Westchester Ave. (bet. Broad & Pearl) Port Chester, NY - 914-939-1494).

*MyRye.com Ratings:
5 Garnets – Excellent. A must for any MyRye.com reader.
4 Garnets – Very Good. A solid performer.
3 Garnets – Good. But you can do better.
2 Garnets – Major Deficiencies. Tell the other couple you’d like to go somewhere else.
1 Garnet – Run for the hills.
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