The team behind Arepa Grill has opened full-service Venezuelan restaurant Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine in Roswell.
Husband and wife Pedro and Claudia Cardenas opened the eatery last month at 45 Oak St. in the space that was formerly home to Casa Robles with a menu featuring the arepas they’re known for as well as Venezuelan and Spanish dishes.
The Cardenases, natives of Venezuela, opened the original Arepa Grill at Plaza Fiesta in Doraville in 2019 and a second location in Brookhaven in 2021. They also own La Norteña Restaurant inside Plaza Fiesta.
Both counter-service locations of Arepa Grill have grown busy enough that they wanted to expand the concept and add Spanish food and cocktails, general manager Dayana Moreno said.
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Diners can expect Venezuelan street food from Arepa Grill like cachapas (sweet corn pancakes with different fillings); patacones (fried plantain sandwiches); tequenos (fried dough filled with cheese); and of course arepas, which can be filled with meat, beans, cheese and veggies.
The menu also features a mix of Spanish dishes that are served in Venezuela, a result of Spanish immigration during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, Pedro Cardenas said.
Highlights include paella (a rice dish with seafood); pollo con champinones (chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce); asado negro (a traditional Venezuelan steak that is cooked for hours); and tapas like salpicon de mariscos, patatas bravas, and brocheta de pollo. Many of the specialty dishes were developed by head chef Carla Perez.
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
For guests who want to sample several dishes, Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine offers arepa, cachapa and toston flights. The lunch menu, served until 3 p.m., includes sandwiches, arepas and bowls.
The beverage program offers cocktails like the Venezuela Libre, which is made with the traditional lemon or lime drink papelón and Venezuelan rum, as well as mojitos, margaritas and passionfruit sangria. Spanish wines can be paired with charcuterie boards.
The interior of the restaurant is inviting but less casual than the other Arepa Grill locations, Morena said. There is seating for about 140 people, including on an enclosed patio, and the design features greenery, decorations from Spain and art from Venezuelan artists.
Moreno said the hope is that Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine will showcase traditional cooking and Venezuelan delicacies that aren’t often offered in Atlanta.
“We always miss our mom’s home cooking and our specialty food, so this is a way to bring that love from Venezuela here and also give a chance to the rest of the community to have a taste of this food,” Moreno said.
She hopes that customers can learn about Venezuelan culture, especially Venezuelan fine dining.
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Sundays.
Check out the full menu below.
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
Credit: Courtesy of Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine
45 Oak St., Roswell. 678-226-1287, instagram.com/arepagrillkw
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