Tia Carmen

Tia Carmen is a Mexican restaurant at 30 W. State St. in downtown Geneva from the Arechiga Restaurant Group, the family company behind Hacienda Real. Co-owner Carlos Arechiga wanted Tia Carmen to feel like the classic Mexican restaurants he remembers from childhood. The menu sticks to familiar plates such as carne asada, enchiladas verdes, chimichangas and fajitas, and the bar mixes a long list of margaritas.

What to know

• House specialties include salmon chipotle, pozole verde and enchiladas de mole rojo.
• The La Jardinera margarita arrives in a ceramic flower pot.
• Taco plates come two to an order with rice and beans, with fillings from al pastor to Baja fish.
• Desserts include churros, fried ice cream and tres leches cake.