Arepas Steakhouse — Restaurant in Charlottesville

I enjoyed my time at Arepas Steakhouse and thought that it was a place that offered both quality and quantity! More detailed review below.

Had the sharing platter and an empanada and boy, the portion was so generous! More that that, they didn’t scrimp on quality despite the heaping pile of meats. The chicken, chorizo and steak were all well seasoned, juicy and tender with a smoky char that wasn’t overwhelming. I really enjoyed the grilled white cheese that reminded me of halloumi in terms of texture (less salty here in my opinion, which I appreciate), and the yuca fries were an absolute delight with their crispy exterior and pillowy soft insides. The delicate texture and light flavor of the yuca fries, cheese and lightly dressed salad were a good compliment to the rich meats. The empanada was also great, crispy on the outside and silky filling on the inside, a textural heaven for me!

On that note, I think that the sauces could be improved — they were a bit plain and didn’t really enhance the flavors present on the platter. It would have been nice to have a bit of heat and something zesty to cut through the heaviness of the meats. The green sauce reminded me of spinach paneer but less aromatic and more creamy, and the pink sauce tasted similar to thousand island. They weren’t bad, just okay! The people at the restaurant were great and gave cholula hot sauce which I really appreciate!

One thing I didn’t really like was the arepa which is honestly a textural thing for me. It was crispy on the outside but very dense inside (but not chewy) and it resisted being cut. However, I am not qualified to speak on whether it is good or bad since this is my first time having an arepa so this is just my own opinion :)

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at arepas steakhouse and thought that both the food and restaurant was homely! When we went, there was only one other group having lunch outside, and I think that they deserve much more attention! I was initially apprehensive to try out the place because of the other reviews that say the food was salty, etc. but I think that the people here are very amenable and when I asked for my steak to be medium rare, but erring on the rare side, I think they nailed it. Likewise when I wanted some heat and they gave hot sauce. If you are worried about your sodium intake, I think that if you let them know, they would definitely accommodate to your needs :) I’m glad to have tried Arepas steakhouse and will definitely be back!

For reference, the sharing platter was $45 and the...

This review is of just one first visit. The Gentleman and lady serving the front of the house were very nice. At noon on a Friday there were only 4 tables with customers. I worry about this place surviving with so few customers. They probably miss a lot of the nearby lunch breakers because they dont open till 12 while most other places open at 11.

We got the lemon pepper shrimp and it was not bad, nothing to super rave about. $12 for 5, what looked to me like medium shrimp, seemed pricey.

I had the Pelua Arepa and the shredded beef was tender and very well seasoned.

My wife got the Llanera arepa and while it was good, she found pieces of the steak she couldn't chew and had to remove from her mouth. Gristle I guess.

The amount of food with the arepas was definitely worth the $12.

We had never had arepas before and didn't know how to eat them. They seemed really huge to try to hold with hands and bite. We didn't know that was how you're supposed to eat them!

We started with knife and fork and realized it was impossible to cut through the bottom layer of the masa flat bread. After I ate some of the filling away to make it more biteable I switched to using my hands like you are supposed to, but my wife picked hers apart to eat it. It was just too much for her to eat as a handheld sandwich.

It took at least 4 times washing my hands during the day after that to get the smell of the pulled beef off my hands!

I would definitely like to come back and try some of the other offerings. I think my wife would to but we agreed our first experience was good, just nothing that wowed us like the 5 star gushing reviews here. Maybe next time!

I get aggravated at the many restaurants since COVID not simply putting there dine-in menu available on their web sites. Some people like to see what they are getting in to before they go to a place. You have to click the arapasonwheels link below the menu link on Google but that doesn't take you to the menu, you have to further scroll down to the bottom of that page and find the menu link again, but even that menu is not totally accurate to the dine-in menu.

I attached pictures of the dine-in menu for both the customer and the restaurant to help them out. I really want a place like this to survive and prosper. The pictures we made blurry by Google, my pics do not look...

Hello, new favorite restaurant! This family-owned spot has completely blown me away. From the moment you walk in, the welcoming atmosphere and attentive service make you feel right at home, but it’s the food that will have you raving.

We started with arepas con crema, which were absolutely delicious, but the stars of the show were the main courses. The whole fish (tilapia,) was cooked to perfection, and the ribeye was hands down the best steak I’ve ever had in a restaurant – melt-in-your-mouth tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

For dessert, we tried the flan and chocolate lava cake. The flan was beyond exceptional – rich (yet somehow light?!), creamy, and the perfect way to end the meal. I never thought I’d say this, but the flan here is unbeatable — my partner normally doesn't like flan and he loved it! The lava cake was gooey and decadent.

Now, let’s talk drinks! I had a spicy margarita, which was spot-on with just the right kick, and the Long Island Iced Tea took me back – but in the best way possible. It’s even better than what you remember from 1995!

The service was beyond excellent – friendly, efficient, and always ready to help. You can tell the staff cares about your experience, and they go above and beyond to make sure it’s a great one.

Do yourself a favor – get to Arepas Steakhouse and don't forget to invite me. This place deserves allllll the recognition, and I’ll...