Dwight F.

At Maracaibo you can expect a lovely environment of hearty music, playful conversations, pretty food and drink presentations. The service wasn't too bad, my cup ran empty every now and then but wasn't egregious. Let's talk presentation, the way drinks and food come out is clearly something the head of Maracaibo wanted to place extra detail on. Though the extra presentation is a bit gimmicky, it still got the job done for the most part. The sampler came in a giant Ferris wheel contraption. Not pictured, but my cocktail came with floating cotton candy. Nevertheless, the food was still incredible. The sampler is a must, not only for the presentation, but for the delicious eats that can push you out of your comfort zone. For first time Venezuelan eaters the amount of ways plantain could be prepped and served may be jarring, but I would encourage bravery and just try everything and anything you can on the sampler. Each bite was worth it! Let's talk main entrees, you won't be disappointed by the portions. If you enjoy plantain, definitely go for the patacon - if not, I'd suggest holding off as you may get your fill of it elsewhere. The skirt steak (churrasco) was cooked to my liking, went well in my patacon sandwich. It is massive, I couldn't eat it all - had to take some back. Onto the arepa bowl. Though the contents of the bowl instead could be something you may get elsewhere (like Chipotle for example), it's the addition of the arepa bowl blended with the flavors of everything else and the sauces they drizzle on top that completes this dish. It's unique and it screams for you to taste and pay attention. Overall - great foods, great ambiance, great people. Bit gimmicky but it is what it is.

Melissa R.

What a vibe! Came for dinner on a Friday night and it was pretty busy - we didn't have reservations as I tried to make one online but didn't see any availability so I assumed maybe they don't utilize them. We were seated right away near the bar area which was very loud and hard to have a conversation without yelling (the only true downside). The service was great and attentive. The food? Delicious and not overpriced! I wish I remembered what our first appetizer was called but I can't remember! It was similar to a papa rellena but not made with potatoes, nonetheless it was tasty! The Tequenos cheese sticks were also delicious. My husband and I enjoyed our entrees (shredded beef arepa bowl) & el classico pabellón, very similar but the arepa bowl was just that - an arepa BOWL stuffed with rice, beans, cheese, avocado, and meat of choice. It was delicious and super filling! We ended the night with an order of churros which we really enjoyed and are looking forward to coming back on maybe another night to see if the noise levels differ. Parking is valet which is convenient if you're not familiar with the area (street parking mainly).

Rach S.

My new favorite restaurant! After spending a month in Venezuela last summer, I've been searching for authentic Venezuelan food, and this place nailed it. My boyfriend and I started with tequeños, and they were so good we had to order a second round. I got the arepa "La Venezolana," and it tasted exactly how I remembered, even down to the cheese so it was super authentic. Beyond the food, the entire experience stood out. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the staff were so friendly and attentive (and bilingual which was great). Definitely coming back !! :)

Jordan N.

I'm a little embarrassed that this place isn't named after Caracas - only because the zulianos (Maracaibo is in the Venezuelan state of Zulia) really made this place so good! It's currently my favorite everyday Venezuelan restaurant in the New York Tri-State area, with a wide plethora of menu options of various home-cooked meals that isn't limited to Venezuelan street food - while it doesn't have everything, it has much more than most local Venezuelan restaurants. I tried their empanada margariteña (seafood) which is true to the ubiquitously humongous size of the empanadas typical of Margarita Island on the other side of the country from Maracaibo, but since these are zulianos, they cut up these in half instead of keeping it whole (this is like breaking pasta in half in my opinion, Italians- you get me). Nevertheless, the food presentation is lovely - we also got a mini sampler, all of which were yummy and also included arepitas dulces which I haven't seen in years (and loved), arepitas fritas with nata, cachapitas, tequeños cheese sticks, and bite-size beef empanadas. I would definitely order this again! The punta trasera (picanha) cut was also great, as well as some other dishes. And passion fruit drink to go with it as well. Everyone was happy with the meal. Service was friendly, courteous, and understanding even if was in broken English. Small parking lot on site. Ambience was on the upscale casual side, with reasonable prices. See you soon, Marabinos!

Tuli S.

We came on a Saturday night and were able to get a table for 7 within 15 minutes! It's valet parking only so plan to have cash if you drive. The sampler ($17) was very cute and a great way to try a bunch of appetizer items. I had the churrasco ($30) and most of our group had seafood dishes. All were fairly priced, fresh, and large. The churrasco came with one side only (no rice and beans), so I ordered the sweet plantains. It was a perfect medium and came with chimichurri. The fried snapper also only came with one side and no sauce. We asked for a sauce and ended up with salsa, which did not pair well. If the snapper came with a sauce that would definitely make the dish a lot better. It was packed and there were a ton of birthday celebrations so it was busy. Service was not great, but I would eat here again.

Marta F.

It will be hard to find parking so use valet. Walked in and was seated right away, the aesthetics of the this restaurant is beautiful. The drinks are outstanding and served in a creative fashion. The food was very good and even more creative. They have a sample appetizer that is served on a Ferris wheel Will definitely be back!

Sarah P.

The food was DELICIOUS! I got a churrasco Patacón that was incredible. The service was on point and they even had live music when we went!

Marcela L.

Came to the restaurant for a private event so we were upstairs. They have valet parking which is great because it's in a busy area. They work off tips. We were greeted upon entering. The event space is really nice with a bar area. Loved how they set it up. Servers were very attentive. The appetizers were delicious. My faves were the calamari and chicharron. The food was buffet style which included sweet plantains, white rice, chicken and beef. They also had salmon. They served churros and tres leches as the dessert. The churros were so good and fresh!

Steven Jon K.

I was pleasantly surprised by this Venezuelan restaurant on the main street in Union City. There is valet parking available, or you can park on several side streets up the hill. They have a specialty called cachapas which were delightful, in addition to arepas and batidos which are better known features of traditional Venezuelan cuisine. Some vegetarian choices are available and they will adapt other food items to be vegetarian. The staff is consistently helpful. There were quite a few young people in their 20s and 30s eating here on a weekday evening. I am planning to return soon.

Aya E.

Ordered: Sueño Mi Gente Cocktail (~$17): Diplomatico rum, coconut, passion fruit, fresh lime, jasmine tea cordial MCBO Sampler (~$17): tequeños, mandocas, mini empanadas, mini cachapas, and mini arepas La Monarca Arepa (~$12): roast chicken, guasacaca, avocado, cilantro, and mayo Churrasco (~$30): grilled skirt steak and chimichurri with a side (white rice & black beans) Tajadas (~$4): aka Sweet Plantains Aya's take: Marcaibo is a hidden gem in Union City! If you're like me and have driven past here many times, do yourself a favor and actually go in for a great meal. We had a dinner reservation but they weren't too busy since it was a weekday. Let me start by saying if you're into a pretty aesthetic, they have you covered! The Sueño Mi Gente Cocktail is probably one of the most beautiful cocktail presentations I've ever received. It was bright, fragrant, and refined. A fabulous drink to sip on during the meal! We then got the MCBO Sampler which again, blew me away with the presentation! It was brought in on a freaking ferris wheel! I was obsessed. I like that it made the experience more interactive as we kept turning the ferris wheel to try the next appetizer. Everything was fresh, tasted great, and was a great teaser for the meal. The only let down of this meal was the La Monarca Arepa. The chicken was cold and shredded (not what I expected when it said roasted chicken) and it was drenched in a guasacaca and mayo blend. There was no avocado or cilantro as far as we can tell. We abandoned it as soon as the Churrasco came out. The grilled skirt steak was cooked to a perfect medium, slightly chewy but tasted so much better with the chimichurri sauce. The side of white rice & black beans was so simple yet satisfying and this meal would not feel complete without the addition of Tajadas aka Sweet Plantains. They were sweet, tender, and complimented the savoriness of the Churrasco. All in all, it was such an enjoyable meal and I would absolutely come back!

Mary K.

Had brunch here with a friend a few weeks ago, and it was delicious Venezuelan food! Fun cocktails - My Arepa Bowl was SO good, and my friend raved about her Patacón sandwich. Pricing is very reasonable. Staff were friendly and didn't rush us through brunch. And they have parking (valet - I also found street parking pretty easily).

Amanda J.

No time like the present to support our Venezuelan businesses! Maracaibo is an elevated dining experience for Union City, with as many theatrics as quality and dining options. We started with the sampler Mcbo sampler / Sampler Venezolano, which is server in a giant ferris wheel ($16.95). It comes with cheese tequeños (like motz. sticks but better), mini cachapas (corn cakes with cheese), mini beef and chicken empanadas, mandocas, mini savory and sweet arepas served with a Nata (cream sauce) and a garlic cream sauce. This was the first time I've tried mandocas - donut ring made of sweet plantain with cornmeal. The mandocas and Tequeños were the best bites! This was a lot of food for two people, so I ordered a soup as my main and my friend ordered the tropical ceviche ($14.95) . The soup of the day was split pea and came in a large bowl with a massive soup spoon (as you'd see in most Central American countries). I absolutely loved the split pea soup and wish it was an every day option. I was surprised when the bill came that this was only $3.95! It's clear the business is profitable from their specialty cocktail menu. The cocktails were a star of the show. The suena mi gente ($15.95) is served in a suspended glass with faux flowers for decoration. The Cara Caracas ($15.95) features a sugar flag in a coupe glass. As adorable as this was, be warned it will turn your lips blue! It's worth it though! For dessert I went with the Cepillado ($21.95) - boozy shaved ice drink topped with your choice of juice. This is served with a bedazzled boombox playing a song and the ice is crushed and dressed table-side. I went with the coconut and sweetened condensed milk, which reminded me of the islands. - A small escape from the winter we've been having. Our waiter was professional and friendly. He took time to explain each dish or drink. A stand was placed next to us to hang our bags and place scarves. It's the little details that really can enrich the experience. I find this location super convenient as well. They have free valet parking out front and you can call ahead to get a day of reservation. We stayed until closing at 10pm, but never felt rushed. When we arrived around 8, there were about 6 tables filled. Although there was music playing, it wasn't overly loud. We could have a nice conversation, while still enjoying the ambiance. I noticed that they also offer a kids meal menu and there were kids around when we came in. It's a welcoming environment for all the family. When our bill came, I noticed the transaction fee for credit card use charged twice, as we split it in two cards. Although small, I'd recommend brining cash to avoid the fees. As someone who really enjoys Venezuelan food, it's fantastic to know there's a place like Maracaibo not too far from home!

Carlina H.

I had the arepa bowl and it was absolutely delicious! Mine came with skirt steak, rice, beans, and avocado--so flavorful and unique. The restaurant itself has a super modern look that gave me a Miami vibe as soon as I walked in. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, and the whole experience was such a vibe. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my family the same day--they went and raved about it too! We all can't wait to go back. Highly recommend!