About us

For 39 years, the Sciuto family has owned and operated Tio Leo’s, recognized as one of the most beloved Mexican restaurants in San Diego. We are dedicated to fresh ingredients, supporting local growers and to the use of organic and sustainable foods whenever possible. This is the authentic, Mexican way of cooking.

At only 16 years of age, Joe Sciuto started in the restaurant business with his father, Leo Sciuto. After successfully opening the first Tio Leo’s in 1979, the Sciuto family ventured out to open the next three Tio Leo’s restaurants. By that time, Joe had worked his way up through the kitchen, starting from washing dishes to learning recipes and even creating his own. Not only did the restaurant bring success to the family, but it also connected the lives of Joe Sciuto and his wife Kathleen. The two met in 1981 when Kathleen joined the Tio Leo’s family working at the Mission Gorge restaurant. Joe Sciuto has been operating the Carmel Valley Tio Leo’s location while he and Kathleen pursue their life-long dream of opening up their own restaurant. They have spent many years in the restaurant business, and their experience and creative ideas have now come to fruition with the opening of Tio Leo’s Cantina and Mexican Restaurant.

Joe and Kathleen are family focused and are very excited to be a part of the Scripps/Poway community, where they raised four daughters. They are eager to serve the incredibly fresh Mexican dishes that have made Tio Leo’s so popular for generations.