Fortunately for me and my foodie husband, Roswell, and its surrounding areas have no shortage of solid dining options, but that never stops me from being excited when a new option pops up nearby. It was no exception when I heard about Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine because both arepas and wine are easy things to love!

Rather than brave the chaos of dining out on Valentine's Day, hubby and I decided to check out the Arepa Grill Kitchen the day before Valentine's madness, and we are likely going back again this weekend even though it has only been a few days. Yes, it was that good!

I typically like to peruse a new place's menu beforehand but unfortunately, there was no menu to be found for Arepa Grill Kitchen, so I photographed every page of it during our visit to help future diners know exactly what to expect. I was surprised at how vast and diverse the menu is. They combine both Venezuelan and Spanish cuisines and their menu is rich with options from each, so there is definitely something for every taste here and is also the reason why I am eager to go back and try even more of their offerings.

The ambiance is upscale and trendy but not uptight or overdone, which makes for a nice casual and comfortable vibe. Service was good, though it was clear they were still trying to find their groove in some respects. For example, the runner brought us food ordered from a nearby table as we were getting ready to clear out our tab, which is not a big deal, but just a sign that they may still have some minor kinks to work out.

The food itself was outstanding! They brought out a mix of crispy goodies like fried plantains and fried yucca along with an assortment of dipping sauces. This was a complimentary starter and we absolutely loved it. All of the sauces were delicious and paired beautifully with the crisps that accompanied it. We started out with an arepa tour and asked for one of each. We both thoroughly enjoyed all of them. My husband ordered the Pabellon Criollo big plate, which came with his much loved white rice and black beans along with shredded beef, plantains, a fried egg, and a couple of mini arepas. It looked really good and he loved it.

I ordered the bacon burger and asked them to hold the lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion. I thought it was odd that they did not ask me how I would like the burger cooked, but when it arrived, I understood why. Their burgers are not traditional burgers, which I think is important to note in this review as many people will likely assume that they are regular burgers and though I was happily surprised to learn the truth, others may not be. Being of Cuban descent and originally from Miami, I know a frita when I see one and the burger at Arepa Grill Kitchen is really a frita, not a burger. The difference is in the meat. A frita is a Latin American burger that mixes ground beef with chorizo (Spanish sausage). It is generally delicious and I love them, but I also love burgers and one thing is certainly not the other, so if you do order a burger from here, keep in mind that it will taste slightly different (a tad dryer and with a bit more kick) than a more traditional burger.

It was easily the best frita I have ever had and I was tempted to return the next day for lunch just to have it again, but I want future diners to be aware that this is not your average burger by any means. I took a picture of it cut in half so that you can get a closer look at what I'm talking about. I highly recommend trying it and as long as you are not expecting a traditional burger, I believe you will love it as much as I did because it is genuinely finger-licking good! I was even more glad that I had asked them to hold the veggies on it because I don't think they would have paired well with it and I have never seen a frita served with anything other than the little picnic chips, which in retrospect should have been a clue for me that this was not a normal burger.

If you love great food and good service in an upscale, comfortable environment, you will likely love this place as much as I did.