Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine — Restaurant in Roswell

I really wanted to love this place, and for a brief time, I did. The food is excellent, and it genuinely has so much potential. Unfortunately, after 9 visits, we've officially crossed it off our list and won’t be returning, no matter how much I might crave some of their menu items.

While the ambiance is as great as the food and the staff is friendly enough, the service just sucks. They were disorganized from the start, which we initially chalked up to growing pains. But the more we went, the more obvious it became: things weren’t getting better; they were getting worse.

At one point, they ran out of fries because they got slammed with business after some good press, so they bought a bunch of frozen fries to hold them over. Understandable for a day or two, but they served those subpar frozen fries for two full weeks. When I asked why, I was told they’d bought too much and planned to use them up before switching back. I was stunned. You don’t buy that much frozen backup, and even if you do, you don’t serve it at premium prices just because you overstocked. That alone should’ve been a red flag. But I guess I’m a glutton for punishment, because we kept going back.

Next major issue: consistency. Some days, their burger (a mix of ground beef and chorizo) was phenomenal. Other days, the chorizo totally overpowered it and made it nearly inedible. Still, we brought a large group of visiting family, thinking they'd love the food, and they did. But the service? Not so much. Despite clearly being rushed to clear the table for later reservations, they took forever to bring anything out, which left us almost no time to enjoy our meal.

The final straw was just days ago. My parents were in town, and we wanted to take them and my in-laws out for a nice dinner. We arrived just after 5 PM on a Saturday. The restaurant wasn’t even halfway full. There were 8 of us crowding the front door — hard to miss — yet it took over 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us. A guy finally came over and said he’d check if they could accommodate us, then disappeared for another 7 minutes. By the time he returned, we were already irritated.

He said we could be seated, but we’d need to order, eat, and leave within 90 minutes because of upcoming reservations. Knowing how slow their service usually is, we were baffled. What they were proposing was unrealistic, and no alternatives were offered. More than half the restaurant’s tables were still open, including ALL of the patio seating.

We would’ve gladly split into two tables had that been suggested, and I highly doubt every one of those empty tables was going to be occupied within 90 minutes. If they hadn’t taken so long to acknowledge us, or had shown any confidence in their ability to serve a group in a timely way, maybe this story would’ve ended differently.

The sad part? My husband and I were repeat, high-tipping customers. And we were treated like we didn’t matter, in front of family we wanted to share a nice evening with. In our book, that’s a dealbreaker — no matter how good the food is.

Yes, they have some high-quality dishes. But they’ve dropped the ball too many times when it comes to service. There’s too much competition in the Roswell food scene to tolerate this level of disorganization and disregard. So this is the end of the road for us. Hopefully, others have better luck...

Review for Arepa Grill

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Arepa Grill, a delightful Venezuelan restaurant that truly captured my heart — and my taste buds! From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that made me feel right at home.

The décor strikes the perfect balance between charming and vibrant, with colorful accents that reflect the rich culture of Venezuela. The cozy seating and soft lighting create a delightful ambiance, making it an ideal spot for both casual meals and special occasions.

The service at Arepa Grill was simply outstanding. Our server was friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the menu. They took the time to explain the various options, which made it easier for us to make our choices. It's clear that the staff takes pride in providing an exceptional dining experience.

Now, on to the food! The arepas at Arepa Grill are a revelation and it was scrumptious. The arepa itself was perfectly fried, with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. Each bite was packed with flavor, and the fillings were fresh and generous. The empanadas, which were golden and crispy, with a deliciously seasoned filling that left us wanting more. So many sauces to choose from!

To complement our meal, we tried the yuca chips, which were crispy and served complementary as bread would be. They paired perfectly with the house-made sauces. For dessert, we couldn't resist the tres leches cake, which was decadently moist and sweet — the perfect end to our culinary journey.

Overall, Arepa Grill is a gem that shines bright among dining options. With its wonderful service, delectable food, and lovely atmosphere, it’s a restaurant that I can't recommend enough. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to explore more of the menu and enjoy another incredible...

Let's begin with the positive: This restaurant looks great inside, has a festive atmosphere, and carries a pretty tasty menu --which you would think are the basic elements of a great review from yours truly; but that is quite the opposite here.

The reason I have it a 2 (and they are lucky I didn't give them a 1) was because of a the audacity of charging 18% gratuity (Yes, EIGHTEEN PERCENT) flat service fee, without telling you, and leaving an extra line for an ADDITIONAL TIP.

For beginners, we were only a party of 2, and I have NEVER seen a mandatory 18% in a party of 2, ever, anywhere. Because I had never seen such a thing, i assumed (mea culpa) that tip wasn't included, so I tipped 15%. Wrong: I essentially tipped a whooping 33% (the 18%+15%). The other member of my party incurred in a similar transgression. When I realized what happened (I was still at the restaurant) and told the waitress of the colossal misunderstanding/mistake, all I was offered was a "sorry for the confusion". Not a "let me see if we can do something", "let me talk to the manager", "let me offer you an appetizer on the house", anything would have done... but no. NOTHING. Nada. ZIP. wait for it: ZERO.

Sorry for the confusion? No, I'm sorry that you're confused and think you can get away with ripping your customers off in a way that not even high-end restaurants do. Will. Never. Return. And I advise you don't...