Besito Mexican to open in West Islip

Besito is heading south of the border — if you consider the border to be the Long Island Expressway. The Mexican restaurant, with branches in Roslyn and Huntington, is taking over the West Islip location that, until last week, was Roots Bistro Gourmand.

John Tunney, who owns Besito with John Rieger, said that he had long wanted to open on the South Shore. The new location, a little smaller than its siblings, will have a slightly different menu. “We’ll have all our most popular entrees and drinks,” Tunney said, “but there will be an expanded list of new and exciting tacos.” Guacamole will still be made fresh to order, but instead of tableside, it will be made at a guacamole station in the middle of the dining room. Tunney hopes to open by June.

Tunney and Rieger also own three more Besitos in New England, plus American Roadside Burgers, with one location in Smithtown and many more in North and South Carolina.