I've been eating at El Arepazo since its early days on Pearl Alley when there was no where to sit…read more As a Colombian-American, I am proud of our heritage and cuisine, but there aren't always great places to eat besides at home. So it was some surprise to try bandeja paisa (traditional huge platter of various Colombian foods) and find it the best anywhere, including in Colombia. 25 years later and that still holds true. I have yet to find arepitas as exquisite of those of Carolina and Carlos, and they remain my standard (I think they are Venezolano, but does it matter? They are delicious and they are the best I've had). The cilantro salsa is unique and really adds to a lot of the foods they offer. My spouse is all about the maracuyá juice, and their options are worth sampling since its not usual for most Americans. For me it is comfort food not only as a Colombian-American, but as a (former) long-time resident of Columbus who at times craves reminders of the past. I've been to Pearl through its incarnations, then Gahanna, and now this Brewery District location. This one is my favorite of the three, with nice space and a great Latin atmosphere. We were there recently on a Saturday and had top-notch service, and even a visit from Carlos to reminisce about old times. El Arepazo is a Columbus institution. If you are curious about Latino food, and Colombian/Venezuelan cuisine in particular, it is THE place to start. Columbus is lucky to have a restaurant like this that beats out anything in Queens, Elizabeth NJ, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and would give places from Bogotá to Caracas a run for its money. It's legit, its delicious, it is attractively priced, the location is great, the staff is warm and friendly. 10/10. Stop reading and go eat there!

I am writing this review because I am extremely frustrated by the lack of communication I have…read moreexperienced with Carlos, the owner. On Saturday, August 8th, I took a friend to breakfast at First Watch, across the street from Arepazo. I parked in a legal parking space in front of Arepazo at approximately 10:30 AM and left around 12:30 PM. Later that day, I discovered that the front passenger door of my Jeep Grand Cherokee had been badly dented. At first, it looked as though someone had purposely kicked it. I retraced everywhere I had been that day in an attempt to determine exactly what happened. After reviewing my home security camera footage, I was able to narrow down when the damage occurred. The footage clearly showed that when I backed out of my garage to go to breakfast that morning, my passenger door was undamaged. When I returned home after breakfast, the damage was clearly visible. A few days later, after Arepazo reopened following Sunday, I called the restaurant and spoke directly with Carlos. I explained what had happened and told him that I had noticed security cameras on the restaurant that appeared to be pointed toward the area where my Jeep had been parked. Carlos confirmed that the cameras were working, although he told me the resolution probably would not be good enough to identify someone's face. I explained that I wasn't concerned about identifying a face--I simply wanted to know what happened to my vehicle. Carlos assured me that he would help me figure out what happened and promised to get back to me. It has now been two weeks. My insurance estimator has since inspected the Jeep and determined that the damage is consistent with someone's body having been slammed into the passenger door. The estimated repair cost is approximately $3,300. Despite Carlos telling me he would help, I have not heard from him. I have called several times and left messages with multiple staff members, including his manager, Brent. On Tuesday, August 18th, at approximately 6:30 PM, I finally went to Arepazo in person. I spoke with several employees, including Brent. Brent went into the back to call Carlos. After approximately 15 minutes, he returned and told me that he had just spoken with Carlos and assured me that Carlos would contact me. He still has not. Is this a review of the food at Arepazo Tapas Bar and Grille? No. Is it a review of the restaurant's service? Not exactly. But I do believe it says something about how the owner treats people. I wasn't asking Carlos to pay for the damage. I wasn't accusing Arepazo or any of its employees of causing it. I was simply asking him to follow through on his promise to check security footage that might show what happened to my vehicle while it was parked directly in front of his restaurant. I even told Carlos and Brent that I would gladly come back and eat at Arepazo if they would simply help me with the security footage. Apparently, after two weeks, several phone calls, multiple messages, an in-person visit, and two separate assurances that Carlos would contact me, getting back to me isn't a priority. That's disappointing. Sometimes how a business owner treats someone when there is absolutely nothing in it for him says more about the business than the food ever could. I guess Arepazo has enough business that Carlos doesn't need mine--or that of the friends and family I might otherwise have recommended to his restaurant.

Knowing the power that online reviews can have and taking some experiences with a grain of salt…read morehere and there because sometimes you hit that one off day where maybe a place that's normally epic just doesn't quite have their stuff together, I find that I end up giving 5 stars in a range that goes from "really good" to "Michelin needs to stop in here (or already has)." This is definitely on the latter end of the spectrum. I popped in here tonight for a late dinner (830ish on a Saturday) to find the place relatively busy but with plenty of open seats. The decor was a nice mix of dark and light with the bright green accents plus a big screen TV cycling tropical getaways (I assume from places in Latin America). I was seated and tended to quickly by a hostess and server, respectively. I got my order in for a coconut mojito and a chicharron arepa right away. My mojito came shortly thereafter with my arepa not long after that. The mojito, as you can see, was garnished with a generous amount of shredded coconut on top and was heavier and creamier than a normal mojito, lighter on the mint flavor and pushing closer to a piña colada than a mojito. All in all though, still quite a refreshing drink after a hot and humid day. The arepa though was really the star of the show. The flavors and textures and everything about it were just mind-blowing. The handmade cheese, the incredibly seasoned and cooked pork, and the crispy arepa were all just *BOOM*. The avocado had a little bit of surface darkness on the one end that could have been polished up a little bit but not the end of the world. One I finished with these, I waited patiently for a while for my server to come back but alas I had to pop up to the bar to get my caipirinha. This version was slightly sweeter than some versions I've had and I don't mind sweet, but just be aware for those who may be considering it. Eventually, my server came back and apologized for being gone so long as she was conversing with her boss. Like I said... grain of salt. Aside from a minor inconvenience of having to walk 10 feet to the bar myself, this place absolutely blew me away and I will absolutely come back if I ever find myself in town again. Bonus points for having gluten and allergen callouts on their normal menu as well!

Only my second time at Cilantro but I really need to come back more! Came for lunch with some…read morefriends. Every day they have specials and it was drink special day so we all decided to treat ourselves with some fun cocktails, they had a great selection and my Caipirinha was delicious! They also have a good happy hour I see that I'll need to check out sometime. For lunch I got the breakfast arepa- gluten free and vegetarian. With that cilantro sauce- so yummy! Another friend also got an arepa she loved, and another got bandeja paisa which she loved but couldn't finish. Love the decor and ambiance in there, it's really lovely, and we were well looked after by our waitress. Definitely recommend!

Loved the latino seasons!!!! This place is a gem in between…read morepizzas and hamburgers. Reminded us of Home Recommended A+

What a hidden gem! My coworker found this place and we decided to try this place. I hadn't had much…read moreLatin American food and I was so pleased to have gone. The restaurant is tucked in a residential neighborhood so we almost missed it so keep your eyes peeled. Parking wasn't an issue since there's a parking lot next to it. Service was great, our waitress had been working there for a very long time. I suspect it was a family owned business so it was great to hear her recommendations and she did not disappoint. All of her recommendations were on point. I got the garlic shrimp in coconut sauce and that was amazing. But the star of the meal was the sweet plantains! Omg those were delicious! It was an appetizer for us but I swear I could have ate just that for my main meal. Portions are very generous too so you'll leave feeling very full. So if you come across this place, don't hesitate and try it out!

Fantastic Latin food truck…read more Great food, made to order and quick service Will definitely be back

Talk about getting in and out on a Saturday night post OSU game. I have been trying to get to this…read morefood truck for a while but I had time today!!! I swerved over to 993 King Ave in Grandview and parked near the gas station. Parking is easy, you just find a spot along the gas pumps or in front of the moving vans parallel to the food truck. I walked up, got a warm welcome and ordered the 614 Arepa with fries. I have seen all the buzz and pictures about it so I had to try it. They gave me a buzzer to pick up my order. I waited about 10 mins and my food was hot and ready. I was washing clothes so I had to run back home to eat. When I took that first bite, so much flavor. I had to put it down and ponder why it took me so long to try it. So good. Chill vibes and lots of beefy goodness. 5 stars.

This used to be a Venezuelan restaurant I think, a previous location of El Arepazo maybe? Tucked…read moreaway in the alley, handy during the Pearl Market, this is a small place with a small patio. And amazing food. There were half a dozen things I wanted to try, but I went with a simple paella and a single rib. Plus some churros to take home for Kid K. The paella was excellent. Good mix of plenty of rice, meat, veggies. A nice blend of flavors and textures. The rib was big and meaty, and flavorful without sauce, although I did use the sauces from the paella to dip in. Very, very enjoyable meal. Service was good. Order at the counter and they bring it out. Prices are a little high, but what isn't nowadays, and remember that you're downtown. Parking can be crazy of course. The bathroom is way back down along hallway, but it's there. I will definitely be back to try some of the other things on the menu.

First time trying Argentinian food and Barroluco did not disappoint!…read more This place is located in between an alleyway. It's a cute little small restaurant, very intimate. We order our food and pay at the register. They give you a number and the server comes and brings out the food when it ready. I got the sampler which came with an empanada, rice, chicken, fries and a rib. The fries were cooked perfectly and had a nice crispiness to them. The meat on top tastes like a type of Italian sausage. The rib had a nice some taste, like as if it came right off the grill at a family bbq. My favorite part of the plate was the rice and chicken! It was so tasty. If you get spicy sauce just be prepared because it is spicy! But a delicious spicy.

Food truck at olengtangy river brewing company. Had the Venezuelan breakfast. We did one beef and…read moreone chicken. Both meats were flavorful and not too spiced. The scrambled eggs were moist. The servings of beans, bread, and guacamole were just right. Filling. Perfect to be paired with a trippel from the brewery! Or a red! As we did... would eat here again. (Also reasonably priced)

A great food truck for those with dietary restrictions! They offer a ton of delicious choices. The…read morevegan veggie bowl was flavorful, with the plantains being the star of the show. My only complaint is that the roasted veggies seem to come frozen from a bag. I can make something nearly identical at home. The truck also gets superrrrr busy (a testament to the delicious food they offer). So be prepared to wait a bit. All and all, they offer delicious, healthy, inclusive options for all!

The food was amazing and very authentic. Plenty to choose from on the menu. Service was decent and…read moreplenty of customers to support a local hole in the wall small business. I was very pleased with the overall experience, except they were out of desert, which I was too full to eat anyway. Quality local Latin food!

The Cactus Restaurant started as a food truck in Marysville in 2020 and opened a restaurant in 2024…read morein a Powell strip mall off the beaten path. The restaurant is bright, welcoming and very clean We were seated in a side room with the bar, a large projection TV screen with the volume on MAXIMUM and two smaller TVs advertising menu items. Those TVs featured some seriously delicious looking items! Service was ok. Drink refills were not offered and I needed one. We both ordered lunch specials advertised for $10.99 but billed at $11.99. Hubs ordered the lunch chicken bowl with rice, black beans, grilled chicken and corn. The corn was served refrigerator cold. The rest of the meal was hot. Overall the food lacked seasoning. I started with a cheese empanada. Expertly made and fried with goody cheese inside. The empanada was served with a dmall side of green sauce that I thought was cilantro based. I ordered the lunch Pabellon Bowl with pork, white rice, black beans and a sweet plaintain Everything on my plate was served hot but also without seasoning making it bland. I used the empanada sauce to add some flavor to the pork and rice. In summary, I wanted to love this restaurant the advrtised images on 2 TVs are gorgeous but the food was bland. The projection TV volume made conversation difficult and service could have been more attentive. This was our first expusure to Venezuelan food and probably our last. I still stand by the fantastic empanada. I would return for that alone.

After finally finding myself down in the Grove City/Lincoln Village area, I can justify the short…read moredrives to all the food I've bookmarked down here. I've been craving Peruvian cause aji verde is life. Anyway, this is a little unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. Wasn't too hard to find and plenty of parking. I got the half chicken with 2 sides cause i was HUNGRY. Def could have just gotten a quarter chicken and been fine. For sides I got the sweet plantains and green rice. The sides are what won the show for me. Those plantains were amazing. Crispy, gooey, and not too sweet, just a great dish all on its own. The rice was also flavorful without being too strong. The chicken was good but a little dry. It was great with the aji verde though and I wish I had asked for more sauce haha live and learn! For the amount of food, price, and taste, I thought this was an excellent meal. I'd definitely come back, even if just for some plantains!

I wanted the Pollo a la Plancha with papas a la huancaina but they were out of it; wanted to…read morereplace it with tostones, and it was not available. I asked why still on the menu and was told "Our regular customers know we don't have this available" I guess this restaurant is only for regular customers???? Ceviche was actually REALLY good; fish was fresh and really seasoned well. Last time I came here the ceviche tasted like the rind of lemons. Service actually has improved; if you've come to this restaurant before you know that every plate is made fresh and that the dishes come out one at a time and not all at once. While my dishes came out separate as usual, the timing between dishes to table has drastically improved! When looking up this restaurant on line the cost for meals is listed as $ out of $$$$, however IMO it should be $$ or $$$. These two dishes and one drink (Chicha Morada) cost me $39.59 (3% charge for using credit card) Restrooms are...well they need improvement to say the least. Broken toilet in men's restroom and women's restroom needs cleaning. Overall it was an "ok" experience...I've been here before and because I HAVE SEEN improvement in food quality and service I'll give it 4 stars...otherwise it would be 2 stars if it was my first experience.

S tier service, owner refilled my friend's churro box for free when he found out he shared his with…read moreus. Would recommend!

Looking for a dessert spot in the Upper Arlington area, my friends and I stumbled across Oh…read moreChurros, and we were not disappointed. As soon as we entered the establishment, we were hit with the smell of fresh churros frying. The cahsier warmly greeted us and gave us his recommendations. We decided to keep it light and share the Medium Churros with the recommended homemade chocolate sauce. The churros took me back to my trip to Mexico City. They were crispy on the outside, super light, and was complimented with the delicious chocolate sauce. I will be coming back soon to try their other sauces and desserts. If you are ever in the area, Oh Churros is a definite must-try!

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite food trucks. They serve Venezuelan street food, with my…read morepersonal favorite being the arepa cabimera. They are in the Advanced Auto Parts parking lot. So good!