The enticing aroma of the Texas-Mexican fusion eatery hits you immediately as you walk toward Dario’s on 20 Academy St. in Newark, NJ. Located in the heart of Newark, Dario’s Tex Mex (Dario’s) is a restaurant cherished by St. Benedict’s students. The restaurant’s namesake, Dario Jaramillo, is an Ecuadorian immigrant who opened the restaurant 22 years ago to fulfill his dream of having his own restaurant.
The 10-minute walk from St. Benedict’s Prep to Dario’s is commonplace for Benedict’s students. The sentiment among Gray Bees is that Dario’s is a welcoming environment with great food that you can enjoy alongside friendly faces.
“It makes Dario’s a location that I need to be at daily with me and my friends. I just enjoy the flavors of the food,” said Quamir Harris (SY). Students at The Hive never grow tired of the food and the experience that comes with it. The Dario’s staff are very friendly and certainly familiar with students from St. Benedict’s after their visits throughout the years.
Inside Dario’s, you can see the work and care put into the preparation of the food. From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., you can consistently hear the clanging of the knives and the efficiency of the kitchen team expeditiously getting food out to customers. The meat is seasoned and put on the flat-top grill to cook. Then, for a taco bowl, the taco shell is pressed down with a strainer-shaped object and put into a fryer to crisp.
If you prefer your meals a bit more carb-heavy, you can always request the burrito or quesadilla option with the same ingredients. Despite the lack of variety on the menu at Dario’s, most people from Newark and St. Benedict’s never seem to tire of the Mexican-Fusion style, “The meat tastes fresh, the cheese doesn’t overpower, but enhances the other flavors and you can’t beat the price,” said Demar Munroe (UDII).
The sitting area within the restaurant seats around 15-20 people. People sit in the intimate restaurant to enjoy the experience of Dario’s. Jaramillo is very involved in his customer service and takes pride in it. He is attentive to the needs of his guests and clearly takes pride in his work.
“We have been here for a long time. We care about the community. We make sure that every order that comes out, comes out to the best of our abilities and that’s what differentiates us from other businesses in the area,” said Jaramillo. The place brings not only good food but also a place to bring the Newark community together.
All in all, Dario’s has been a place cherished by locals and St. Benedict’s because of its comfortable environment and great and affordable meals. Dario’s continues to thrive and is in demand as a local business in Newark, NJ. Furthermore, it looks like a restaurant that will be favored and recommended by all St. Benedict students here at The Hive in the coming years.
