Don Modesto.

That's the brand of tequila that Alvaro Chavez spotted one evening at Rudy's Mexican Grill in Grayslake last November that led to him chatting with owner Rudy Garza.

"I was impressed he had it here because it's a lesser-known brand," Chavez, an experienced chef who has worked at various restaurants along the north shore and Chicago, said about the tequila bottle that caught his eye.

For Garza, their encounter couldn't have come at a better time.

"I was looking to sell the business or I wanted a partner who could help me and share the hours," Garza said about the eatery which he has owned and been head chef at since 2005.

The two formed a friendship and professional partnership that led to Rio Tequila Bar and Tex-Mex Cuisine, a new eatery to launch Friday, Sept. 7. The new restaurant will mark the end of Rudy's, and Garza said diners can expect fresh, bold flavors, homemade desserts and margaritas featuring Chavez's specialiy syrups. Even the interior walls, chairs and tables are getting a tex-mex inspired makeover, he said.

"It's going to be fresh, warm and welcoming – a crisp, clean restaurant with a nice energy," Garza said.

"We're going to have tequila dinners, world-cusine dinners – there's going to be a lot of variety so there's something that appeals to everyone," Chavez said, adding that he has been having fun experimenting with different recipes leading up to Rio's opening.

While staples like guacamole and chorizo fundido will remain, new dishes like huarache de azada with nopales y queso oaxaca – a dish featuring handmade, flat tortillas with a pinto bean puree and salsa – are sure to take center stage. Chipotle sea scallops and new daily specials are other items that diners can look forward to.

Top shelf tequila brands – more than 100 overall – will be shown off in tasty margarita concoctions and other drinks, Chavez said.

Chavez, who lives in Mundelein, said he was looking for a business opportunity closer to home and said the partnership will allow him to expand and be creative with his culinary talents. Chavez hails most recently from the restaurant Masa Azul in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Chavez has also been featured in the Chicago Botanic Garden Chef Series.

Chavez's new title is chef and owner and Garza is managing owner.

Garza said the partnership will allow him to spend more time with his 17-year-old daughter without having to worry about who is running the restaurant.

"No matter who I left behind [at Rudy's] there was always an issue," Garza said. "Then Alvaro showed up and was like, 'I'm ready to help you.' We have the same vision and goals."

Chavez said the new restaurant's name came to him while driving with his wife on a trip to Wisconsin.

"It's catchy, sounds elegant, is fun and is also easy to remember," Chavez said.

Garza said the name also represents his and Chavez's homelands.

"The Rio Grande separates Texas and Mexico," Garza said, adding that he is from Texas and Chavez is from Mexico. "And I was born in Rio Grande city – so I was all for the name."

While the menu will feature new dishes, Garza said one thing will remain the same.

"My customers are my friends," Garza said. "I treat them like family. My regulars have stayed with me. People are excited about the change taking place."

Garza and Chavez light up when talking about future plans.

"We hope to open more restaurants together," Garza said. "We believe Rio will be a success."

Rio is located at 55 North Barron Blvd., in Grayslake. To learn more, visit www.riotequilabar.com.