What changes when a beloved neighborhood restaurant becomes a growing restaurant group?

In the Season Three premiere of The Build, we meet Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar, the founders of Taqueria Ramirez and Carnitas Ramirez. They share how a photography studio, a pandemic pivot, and a deep love of Mexico City taco culture led to one of New York City’s most celebrated taquerias.

Now, Gio and Tania are entering Restaurant 201. They are opening multiple concepts, bringing on new partners, and figuring out how to grow without losing the food, energy, and sense of place that made people fall in love with Taqueria Ramirez in the first place.

We talk about building their original team, dividing front- and back-of-house responsibilities, choosing opportunities carefully, and recognizing when a successful res ...