Thursday, May 27, 2010

Eat Here: Arepa Cafe

The name alone made me want to eat here. Arepa. Doesn’t it just roll off the tongue like a Venezuelan love song, and conjure up images of hot summer nights? (No? Just me?)

A couple of friends and I had been dying to try this new-ish Queen Street restaurant and finally got around to eating at Arepa Cafe last week. And even though the menu was long-ish and everything sounded positively mouthwatering, all three of us happened to order the same arepa, a vegetarian beauty of fried plantain, black beans, avocado and grated old cheddar, all packed into a griddled cornmeal street food type pocket.

I swear; the thing weighed about two pounds -- surprisingly heavy for its size (kind of like me).

It was beyond savoury, and they also bring a few house-made sauces to the table so you can paint your own, including a garlic mayo, green pepper sauce, and a hot sauce that tastes like delicious fire.

It’s the perfect go-to meal for days like these.

7 comments:

Stephen Beaumont said...

Oh sure, this I read moments after returning from Barchef and realizing that I have nothing in for dinner.

Amy said...

Stop going to Barchef without me.

Shelley said...

I have been wanting to try Arepa Cafe for some time now. I must admit, I have high expectations. NYC's Caracas Arepa Bar has won me over in the arepa department. I, too, ordered a vegetarian arepa there, and it was rightfully named La Mulata Arepa. Here's a picture of it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelleypascual/4429738357/in/set-72157623489193161/

I think La Mulata Arepa's fried sweet plantains and grilled white cheese is what did it for me. But grated old cheddar and avocado sounds mighty enticing too. Thanks for the insight.

Amy said...

Go for it Shelley. It definitely gets the AR stamp of approval.

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

I don't know about Caracas Arepa Bar, but I do know I just love this place. Great flare, and pretty authentic. The music and vibe are lively and so is the food. Their salsa verde is tangy and delicious. It's a great addition to the Queen West line up. Ultimate lunch for a hangover ;)

-chow for now

Shelley said...

Hello again! So I've finally hit up Arepa Cafe... and though the veggie arepa I had contained the freshest ingredients, it didn't quite compare to the veggie arepa I had in New York. [Arepa VS Arepa] Loved Arepa Cafe's Tequenos (stuffed cheese pastry appetizer) though. And I can't wait to try their Cachapas (corn pancakes w/ fresco cheese & basil appetizer) next time...