Nico's Arepas Grill — Restaurant in Tampa

I can't speak negatively of the food as this is only my 2nd visit & both times the food is very good. I gave 3 stars due to tonight I ordered based on the prices listed directly from Nico's website menu only to get to the restaurant to find that they charged me way more than anticipated!!😣 Online (Nico's own website) Chicken Empanada $3.00, Nico's Sampler $11.99 & (3) Mini Arepas $6.95. At restaurant: Chicken Empanada $3.49, Sampler 14.99!, Mini Arepas $6.99. I spent almost $5 more than anticipated. While the young guy who assisted me apologized for the difference & even took a picture if my phone with THEIR menu prices, he offered NO reconciliation. Basically apologized, said he'll show someone & walked away!! Seriously??!! No offer of charging the CLEARLY advertised price or even a "let me get my manager for you". I consider that to be a bait & switch tactic. I'm in disbelief & I'm sad because the food is really good. My company often pulls in food trucks to reward employees for their hard work but I'm afraid after this experience, Nico's will not be recommended. I have several Spanish & American employees who always enjoy a good restaurant referral & we are very big on Word of Mouth advertising. I'm just very disappointed in this experience. 😒 Enjoy the food if you want to eat from here. Just don't go by their online prices because they...

So bad. So very, very bad.

We were greeted when we entered and seated right away. We ordered drinks and the Nico's sampler, all of which came out in a timely manner. The appetizers were hot and tasty, and we hoped that they were a sign of things to come. Sadly, this was not to be. For our entrees, we ordered the beef soup and Venezuelan lasagna.

The soup comes with a choice of rice or an arepa - I asked the latter. Our waiter confirmed this, but returned a couple minutes later and asked if I wanted rice or an arepa. I'll reiterated that I would like the arepa.

Over 45 minutes later, Gray went to the bar and asked for an ETA on our entrees. He was told that would be about 5 minutes. About 10 minutes later his lasagna appeared, and it was ice cold in the center. I am not exaggerating - it was ice cold. My soup followed, accompanied by rice, a couple minutes later. My soup was room temperature at best.

Gray asked the waiter if he could see the manager. The waiter left and returned a few minutes later telling us that the manager had left, as he had "gone home for the holidays." He said that he would comp the appetizer. When asked for the manager's business card, the server flippantly replied, "you could just call the restaurant."

Obviously, we won't be returning to this restaurant or...

I drive by here all the time. However never stopped by. I finally did at the recommendation of someone. I liked the feel of the restaurant. Gives a Miami-ish feel. The decor is different from the restaurants around Armenia strip. I liked it. The waiter was very attentive. And set up tables for others that were coming. The menu size is pretty good. Albeit not the best colour lettering. Yellow letters against a white background. I liked the fact that the arepas are gluten free. All in all. It was shaping up to be a good night. Until the waiter said she couldn’t split the bill 12 ways. I’ve been a waiter. And been to restaurants with a bigger party. This put a sour taste in my mouth. For the rest of the evening. We were left to figure out how to split the bill. So now it was our job. And not the waiters. To figure out who pays what, with whom. The two stars. Is fo the over all experience. The arepas were good. Nothing that’d I’d go out of my way to get. Those around me said their food was ok as well. The food did taste fresh and clean. Not overly greasy like other places. But again. The customer service just ruined the...