El Arepazo Latin Grill in Columbus, Ohio

Authentic Venezuelan Food and More at Central Ohio Restaurant

Oct 28, 2009

Columbus restaurant review of El Arepazo, a Latin grill offering some of the most authentic Venezuelan, Colombian, Peruvian, Argentinian, and Cuban food in central Ohio.

Named for the traditional arepa eaten in Venezuela, the up-and-coming El Arepazo Latin Grill in Columbus, Ohio offers a unique Latin American dining experience and attracts most of its customers through word-of-mouth advertising.

El Arepazo - Authentic South American Restaurant

According to owner Carlos Gutierrez, what sets El Arepazo apart from other Latin grills in downtown Columbus is the diversity of the foods offered. "Most restaurants have a narrow concept and that's it," Gutierrez says, but El Arepazo focuses on delivering foods from a variety of Latin American cultures.

In addition to variety, El Arepazo offers authenticity. For example, the Argentinian dishes are made by an Argentinian employee, and Gutierrez says, "I don't mess with that. If I want a food, I will hire somebody from there [the food's native country.]" El Arepazo is committed to being one of the most authentic Latin and Venezuelan restaurants in Columbus.

Menu at El Arepazo Latin Restaurant

A variety of Latin American food, from Cuban to Venezuelan to Peruvian, is offered on El Arepazo's short but expanding menu. El Arepazo prices range from $5 to $13 for a meal, with the average dish being about $9. Different specials each day give customers extra incentive to try something new each time they visit the restaurant.

Unique Local Favorites at El Arepazo

Aside from arepas and fried plantain dishes, El Arepazo is locally famous for its signature cilantro sauce. Gutierrez says that the cilantro sauce "identifies the restaurant. It's not your typical Spanish flavor." The recipe is a collaborative family effort, meaning that it can only be found at El Arepazo.

El Arepazo Address and Hours

Situated in downtown Columbus since its opening in 2005, El Arepazo is located at 47 N Pearl St in Columbus, Ohio. The only disadvantage is that there is no free attached parking lot. El Arepazo's hours are:

The building was recently renovated and expanded to hold more customers, but there is still limited seating during weekday lunch hours.

History of El Arepazo Columbus

After finding a huge positive response selling handmade arepas at the Festival Latino in Columbus, Gutierrez began thinking about opening a Latin restaurant in downtown Columbus. El Arepazo opened in 2005, but Gutierrez admits that "it was about a year and a half before it really 'took' because a lot of people had never heard of arepas" and were unsure what genre of restaurant El Arepazo really was.

Now, Gutierrez says that the restaurant has built a sizable clientele based on mostly word-of-mouth referrals. He sees a lot of white-collar workers on their lunch breaks during the week, but Saturdays are a mix of college students, Latin families, and people who have visited or know someone from South America.

Latin American food and unique signature extras help El Arepazo stand out among new restaurants. But remember, pleads owner Carlos Gutierrez, "please do not use a fork and knife to eat an arepa! You just gotta grab it and eat it and get messy - that's the way it's supposed to be."

Readers might also be interested in Tips for Starting a Restaurant, taken from an exclusive interview with Carlos Gutierrez.

AIC101

The copyright of the article El Arepazo Latin Grill in Columbus, Ohio in South American Food is owned by Jenny Evans. Permission to republish El Arepazo Latin Grill in Columbus, Ohio in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.