Edgar Gamez arrived in Tallahassee craving authentic Mexican foods reminiscent of home.

He tried a few places, and left disappointed. Born in Mexico, Gamez grew up in South Florida and always looked forward to devouring comfort meals and decadent desserts inspired by his grandmother and mother, both named Maria.

Those recipes nourished him and his sister, Veronica Gamez, who co-owns Maria Maria Homemade Mexican Cuisine & Bakery. They marinated his simmering appetite to one day own a restaurant. On Friday, the siblings served their childhood food memories on a plate.

Maria Maria is in the former Crepevine location, 1304 N. Monroe St., between 6th and 7th avenues. The menu is "casero" — meaning "street food" or "homemade" in Spanish.

While talking to the Tallahassee Democrat, Edgar Gamez gushed about the restaurant's version of sope, a thick tortilla that's crunchy on the outside and doughy on the inside. It's topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and salsa.

One signature dish is Maria's Tostados, based — like much of the menu — on a family recipe. Another is the chicken mole, made from sweet smoky and mild sauce that takes 24 hours to make. It's served with pico de gallo, rice, beans, cheese and tortillas.

To satisfy a sweet tooth, Maria Maria makes a mildly sweet pastry called conchas. perfectly paired with coffee.

When Gamez decided he'd jump into the restaurant scene, he consulted his sister and mother and spent a week turning his kitchen into a laboratory for rediscovering his Mexican roots.

The work paid off. He said the modest-sized restaurant has been well received without advertising. Customers are splashing social media with their Maria Maria meals and tapas. Favorable reviews followed, too. And, although his grandmother passed away, Maria Maria is a tribute to his proud family and the flavors he clung to as a child.

"It represents how we grew up," Gamez said.

Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.