The Moorestown dining scene is about to get an upgrade with the help of an innovative new Mexican restaurant. Taco-Yote Taqueria, a fresh concept from the minds behind Coyote Crossing, is bringing great food and ambiance to the region this winter, reports local media outlet South Jersey Food Scene.
The eatery, committed to crafting superior cuisine from the bones up, is opening in the space that previously housed Maurizio’s Bistro at 33 East Main Street. Owner Carlos Melendez tells What Now Philadelphia that Moorestown’s rich sense of community appealed to him as both a father and a businessman.
“My kids grew up in Moorestown” he explains, adding “and I have smaller children again and I saw how important it was for their development to be part of a very good community. Everything Moorestown stands for is absolutely incredible. My son, who is now an attorney, moved back to Moorestown and said ‘you gotta move here’.”
As a restaurateur, the move was made even more appealing after a discussion with Maurizio. He states “I was talking to Maurizio, who said he was tired and he wanted to retire but he was having some issues selling the business, so here we are!”
The initial inspiration for Taco-Yote came unexpectedly enough from Covid-19. Melendez explains that his wife suggested a second business would provide extra revenue, should another disaster ensue.
However, the restaurant is not mercenary; Melendez intends to create a unique and superior dining experience for future customers. He describes his vision, saying “For 28 years we were at Coyote Crossing with a very simple goal: excellence, that is something we always want to provide. We provide the best possible product we can put our hands on. We pay people well and we utilize cooking techniques like wood cooking. Once we cover all of those bases, we put it on the plate and we charge accordingly.”
While Taco-Yote may not be the cheapest option on the market, it offers an excellent alternative for foodies looking for something special. “People who appreciate food and love to eat, we believe we have a tremendous appeal with this type of product.” Melendez states. “That’s what we’ve learned that people appreciate and love.”
He further explains “You can go to many restaurants and order a taco. And just to start with the tortilla-it’s not even handmade. What we do is we go ahead and we make our own tortillas right there on the spot. The moment that you put that in your mouth, it changes the flavor completely. It’s as simple as that. An experience that can only be achieved by following the proper procedures.”
Moorestown diners can look forward to choosing from a creative and unparalleled menu once Taco-Yote opens its doors this winter. Melendez describes the fare, saying “One of the main things that we want our clientele to experience besides the classic taco or burrito is we are starting a line of Mexican pizzas. We make our own dough. I love pizza and it’s great, there’s nothing wrong with that style, but we are going to imagine a pizza that instead of having a red sauce it will have a chili sauce and we’ll be using our adobo meat..or a pizza with roasted tomatillo sauce and woodfired chicken on top.”
In addition to offering playful Mexican alternatives for the sauce, Taco-Yote will be topping its pizzas with its own proprietary cheese blend. Melendez explains “Most importantly, we’ll use our own cheese brand. We combine 3 different Mexican cheeses. It’s a lot more flavorful and we’re very excited to be able to play with that. That is one of the products I’m most excited about.”
Locals won’t have to wait too much longer to sink their teeth into the restaurant’s delectable dishes. Melendez states that he is hoping to open by December or January, at the latest.
