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The interior of Mesquite Tex Mex in Wading River. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The sign outside might still read Maryann’s, but as of Friday, there is a new Tex Mex joint open in Wading River.

Mesquite Tex Mex, Sound Beach’s hidden gem of a taco spot, opened its second brick-and-mortar location across from the Wading River Duck Ponds on Friday, according to owner Craig Scali.

“The response has been great,” Scali said from behind the new walnut wood countertop at the Wading River eatery. “I’m just trying to ease into everything.”

Patrons trickled into the restaurant on Sunday afternoon and said they were pleasantly surprised with their dinners.

“It was great. The prices were great. The food was great,” said Courtney Von Bargen of Wading River, who was eating dinner with her husband Doug and their two young boys. “We said we are going to be here every weekend.”

The new eatery offers to-go and eat-in counter service at the 16-seat restaurant. Like Mesquite in Sound Beach, it offers soda and bottled water though beer and wine is BYO. Scali said he might eventually seek a permit to sell beer and wine at the new location.

Now in its eighth year, Mesquite offers a traditional Tex-Mex menu, but its unique $5 specialty tacos — like pulled pork with ricotta cheese and granny smith apples and a chicken cutlet taco with lemon aioli, cabbage slaw and Frank’s Red Hot — set it apart from other places.

Three items typically on the specials board in Sound Beach — the shrimp BLT taco, duck taco and portobello mushroom taco — are all on the regular menu in the new location.

The Grind Café closed Labor Day weekend 2013 and briefly reopened as Maryann’s in 2014 before shuttering again. That eatery, which opened on North Country Road in August 2011, sold specialty breakfast sandwiches, gourmet coffee and offered catering.

Mesquite joins North Fork Baconwhich opened in April, in offering niche cheap eats in the Wading River area.

It is the second South-of-the-Border option for Wading River residents. We reported earlier this month that Avo Mexican Grill opened on Route 25A.

Mesquite Tex Mex is located at 2034 North Country Road in Wading River. Orders can be placed by calling (631) 886-2886.

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