Arepas Grill
“We got a great living social deal and was pleasantly surprised by the selections available for the entrees.”
“Friend and I ordered the mini cachapas, mini arepas and I went with the steak pabellon.”
“I also tried the mini platter and it's a pretty generous "mini" platter with four different food options.”
Arepas Grill
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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From Google Maps it looked like it was located along the street but it was hidden inside a semi-mall with a parking lot. A little bit hard to find.
The place is big and has lots of seating. However, the lighting were a bit too dark. Perhaps they should turn it up a bit more.
The food is ok. The arepas buns were grilled and well made but the meat were a bit dry and not juicy compared to other places that I have tried before. I ordered the Pabellon and the Mami Arepas. The Pabelon consists of shredded beef, black beans, plantain, and cheese. The Mami consists of chicken, avocado and cheese.
The time that I arrived was 30 minutes into closing time. Maybe the quality was not that good as it is close to closing time. I would definitely try it again next time when it is not close to closing time…
It had to be a delivery dinner night. My Grandson was sick so there could be no eating out.
As we discussed the plethora of choices, I mentioned to my son the amazing picture I had seen on the Yelp Review of the Day. The food at Arepas Cafe sounded absolutely yummy. His picture of an arepa convinced me that the reviewer's opinion had to be on point.
We decided on Venezuelan with each checking the menu on their own tablet. The Arepas Cafe menu had so many wonderful choices. Delivery dinner began to morph into a highly anticipated dining experience.
Unknown to me at the time, my son was on the Web Site of the closely located Arepas Grill. We made our choices & my son placed the order. The menu options must have been extremely similar since he also didn't realize we were on different Web Sites.
Imagine my disappointment when I learned we had not ordered from the cafe with the fabulous Yelp Review of the Day. But the order had been placed. And we were very hungry. At the time I wasn't aware that the two restaurants had a common owner.
The food was delivered quickly and thus began my love affair with Venezuelan food. The arepa in particular is amazingly tasty. My choice was the shredded beef, which was perfection. My son ordered a side of fried yucca. What a delight that addition was. I have found it a hard dish to locate in the VA/DC/MD area. Ground yucca is just not an adequate substitute.
Although I am a frequent Brazilian cuisine diner, I had never tried Venezuelan. Now I am anticipating a quick return to the city and a sit down dinner at Arepas Grill. No take out next time… The Sangria calls to me, telling me that it's the perfect addition to an Arepas Grill meal.
Am I raving about Venezuelan cuisine & Arepas Grill? Absolutely!! I have no shame. Where has it been all my life?
Food was different . Atmosphere comfy and quiet except for a screaming baby who should have been taken for a walk or something. Service was great and empanadas were delicious! I would try a few different items next time. The rice milk drink with cinnamon was tasty as was their mango drink. I will come again!
BTW parking is excellent here.
*Worst Service Ever**Zero Star review*
After returning from a four-hour hike in upstate New York, I was looking forward to going to the Arepa grill in Astoria and so were my friends. The minute we walked in I was thinking maybe we should have gone to the Original locations Arepa cafe. The staff was busy having fun instead of paying attention to their customers. I had to turn around and stare at the service staff to come over and take our order after waiting for 15minutes. I guess the corner huddle was fun while customers waited around? After my stare down a young man with glasses walked over to take our drinks and appetizer order. When the young man returned, he then took our main course order, but He had no pen or paper with him, that's when I really knew we were in trouble my girlfriend told me to leave it alone because we had our friends with us.
So the young man left us and placed our order with the chef. When it was time to serve our food a young lady walked over to serve us, my girlfriends order was correct which was the arepa pabellon, My friend David order was correct which was the Cachapa and a Reina. But when it came to Denise, she served the wrong plate. Denise ordered the same plate as mines which was the Pabellon Criollo, they brought her the Mami arepa instead. So of course we informed the young lady that she brought over the worng order. I the told the Young lady that Denise is having the same plate as mine which is the Pabellon Criollo. The young lady then apologized and took the plate back. 4 minutes later the Young man with glasses comes with the two pabellon criollo plates. But once again we had issue Now Denise had the correct dish and mines was the pabellon de pollo, when I ordered the pabellon criollo. How the hell do you make that mistake. I then called the young man over and advise him that the order was wrong and explained to him how he was the root cause to all our issues. I then tell the young man if he would have written down the order we would not be going through this! I was so pissed and hungry that I just ate the Pabellon de pollo. What a nightmare how a place that makes great food has shitty service in one location. I will never return to the 21-19 broadway location again.
I used to eat at Arepas Cafe all the time when it first opened. I've moved out of the Astoria area but ran into Riccardo, the owner of both Arepas Cafe and Arepas Grill at a recent Yelp event and I've been meaning to try Arepas Grill for awhile now. Why? Because it is so DIFFICULT to find PATACONES, and good ones in Queens, especially Venezuelan style. Yes Colombians have arepas too but they are different and I am very fond of Venezuelan food since I've traveled there a few times to work with the Chinese community over there.
The arepas at Arepas Grill are great and they have the same delicious sauces. But the PATACONES, OMG so amazing and filling. I couldn't even eat an entire order (pork) because it was so big and I actually took my leftovers home and ate it three days later, popped it in the toaster over and it was still delicious. Try their mini patacones which are like small open face ones. A tostone with some meat on top and dip it into their green sauce = heaven.
Since I don't like in Astoria anymore I like Arepas Grill location better since it is located in a strip mall with lots of parking, plus they only have patacones at this location!
Absolutely delicious food here! I've been here a few times but didn't have Yelp then so I couldn't brag to you all about how good this place is! LoL It's kinda hidden away inside of the 21 street mini shopping center. It's hard to spot if you're not looking for it. It's right next to the post office. Really nice ambiance inside too! Cozy little tables, low lighting, and great service. Just recently had the passion fruit sangria which was awesome! Get the pitcher- it's totally worth it. I'm more of a beef girl rather than chicken- so the few times I've come here I've ordered beef plates. Absolutely no complaints! And the mini platter appetizer is very tasty. Make sure to use the white sauce on your food too- it's so good!! Truly the best Venezuelian food I've had so far!
Make a stop in here!
Oh Arepas Grill! WHERE DO I BEGIN?
I've eaten here about 2 or 3 times, but have eaten at their sister restaurant more times than I can count. This location is a tad bigger, but their food and service is just as good!
As much as I just want to rant, rave and gush about how much this place makes me happy, I'm just gonna break it down using some key qualities that make Arepas Grill one of the brightest gems in Astoria.
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+ AMBIENCE: Comfortably casual. Between the colorful decorative elements, smells that bring me back to my childhood and are reminiscent of the mouth-watering aromas that resided in my Colombian abuelita's kitchen, the salsa/meruengue/bachata and other Hispanic tunes – very much to their sister location, I just want to move in here.
+ SERVICE: My beau and I are normally seated immediately at a clean table, given menus and handed water – pretty much like clockwork every time. I'm a sucker for consistency when it ensures quality. There was only one time when we had to wait 30 minutes for a table, but it was a Friday night so we weren't surprised. Our name was taken, we found a random Brazilian bar, had a drink, talked about life and then 30 minutes later we were at a table and I was making goo-goo eyes to their cilantro garlic creama sauce…it's the same one avail at Arepas Cafe. I love it and just want to put it on everything!
+ SAUCES: Who gives a restaurant a "sauce" category?! This gal right here. Sauces are an integral part of Latin cuisines and I'm pretty much a condiment freak no matter where I go. Whether it's a hot sauce, a meaty sauce, a herbal/cilantro sauce or a more watery (but intense) mojo sauce used as a marinade, broth or sofrito/cooking base – all Latin restaurants should make this stuff from scratch. I'm pretty sure Arepas Grill does. My fiance actually finds their homemade hot sauce spicy and delicious. I can vouch for its spiciness as well, but like most spicy things, too much so for me. My saucy poison of choice however is their garlic/cilantro mojo – it's delish and I pour it on generously over anything I order here.
+ FOOD: The beau and I have each tried several different types of arepas here – between the two of us we've had 3 different types in total and they've all been delicious. Our favorite arepa is their Catira which is composed of deliciously seasoned shredded chicken (grilled) and cheddar cheese. Last night I had the Domino (Domino
black beans and grated aged white cheese) and my beau has enjoyed their Reina (Reina
shredded chicken, mixed with avocado and little mayo). We've also had their appetizer sampler mini-platter which consists of 3 tequeños, 3 mini cachapas, 3 mini empanadas and 4 fried yuca pieces – EVERYTHING we've eaten here has been DELICIOUS. I recently had their pernil pabellon arepa and it's my new favorite. It's pulled pork (prepared pernil style), with black beans, mozzarella cheese and sweet plantains (which I nix because I prefer my plantains prepared as tostones).
+ SANGRIA: A pitcher of sangria here will run you $25, but Monday through Friday it's $15 during happy hour (until 7pm). Unfortunately the free glass of sangria Yelp check-in is gone, but occasionally there will be a Living Social or Groupon deal here. It's a great deal for dinner and includes sangria, an arepa and usually desert.. Their sangria delicious and one of the best sangrias I've ever had in a restaurant. DO IT. They have passionfruit and mango sangria in red or white – I assure you that you won't regret it!
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Again, if you can't tell from my very enthusiastic review, this is one of my very favorite restaurants in Astoria. Consistently fantastic service, food, sangria and dining experience. If you're wondering whether or not to eat here, just do it!
Are you finish or are you done?
I came here earlier this week and was nothing short of salty that they weren't open at their alleged 11 AM posted time, so I went on my way, arepa-less. Destiny brought me back to you and I'm glad our paths crossed again. I figured I'd stop in for one arepa and be on my merry way. I ordered the veggie arepa which was crispy with black beans, sweet plantains, and avocado when smothered in the sauce (what is in that sauce) was de-licious. I thought I came in for one arepa, but life had other plans. Because before I could finish my first, I was asking to see the menu again. Number two: the Hongo caught my eye. Fresh mushrooms in white wine? Yes, please. This was even better than the first. And that pepper sauce, yes! Reminds me of pepper sauce in our neighboring Trinidad where my family is from. Unfortunately I'm almost never in Astoria but if ever again, Arepas Grill I'll be seeing you. And waddling out a few arepas heavier just the same.