The Place
Following my not so stellar experience at the OTR Bagel Bar, I remembered passing The Arepa Place. What stood out in my mind when walking by is they were open before 11AM. This could only mean one thing, they serve breakfast! So what is an arepa you ask? An arepa is a Venezuelan/Columbian grilled corn patty that is stuffed with ingredients and I feel breakfast greatness on the horizon.
Parking
TFG
Atmosphere
The restaurant is small, clean, light, and airy. Plenty of natural light comes through the store front windows complimenting the simple décor of plants, and extremely organized Venezuelan grocery items on the interior. Even though The Arepa Place, is a smaller establishment, they offered counter style seating in the middle of the restaurant and by the window. This provided the option for grab, go, and walk around Findlay Market or dine-in without feeling intrusive. I would describe the staff behind the counter as courteous and helpful.
Order-Up
Arepa de Huevo & Sweet Fried Plantains
Three different breakfast arepas are offered: Arepa de Huevo, Egg, Cheese & Chorizo, and Scrambled Egg & Cheese. I decided to go with the Arepa de Huevo with verde salsa and a side of fried sweet plantains. I have been in love with plantains ever since visiting St. Lucia and was excited to see these on the menu.
They do not offer breakfast cocktails per say however, I spotted a cocktail on their
menu board made with rum, maracuya (passion fruit) juice, and sugar cane water. The man behind the counter was surprised when I requested this at 10:30AM on a Sunday, but was happy to make it for me. The outside of the arepa had a golden crisp outside while the ingredients on the inside (egg and sausage) were flavorful and
cooked to perfection. The verde salsa was a perfect compliment with the arepa which was delivered to the table super hot. This is not a put down by the way, this meal was made to order. The sweet plantains were caramelized and delicious. Add a rum cocktail to the mix and you feel like you are on vacation!
Overall Experience
I would describe my overall experience at The Arepa Place as a pleasant surprise. I say this because I did not originally intend to review this spot for breakfast/brunch and happy I stumbled upon it. The atmosphere is chill and low-key. The staff behind the counter were laid back and friendly. The food is simple and fresh. Menu items range from four to twelve dollars. Expect to spend around fifteen to twenty dollars for an arepa, side, and drink.
Recommend: Yes or No?
Yes! The Arepa Place is a great place to eat if you are looking for a unique breakfast option within Findlay Market. Also no reservation required, you can dine-in, or eat your arepa on the go while you walk through Findlay Market.
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