Wedged between a gas station and an upholstery store, Caracas Grill is easy to miss...but there's no mistaking its specialty.
The red, yellow and blue restaurant has Venezuelan flags of the same colors in its windows and a South American menu that bursts with authentic Venezuelan dishes like empanadas, arepas and quesillo, a custard-like dessert similar to flan. The interior is small but doesn't feel crowded, and on Saturday nights diners can savor their meals while watching live belly dancing.
Despite the cheery decor and the friendly wait staff, there's no question that what keeps people coming back is the food. The empanadas, big fluffy turnovers made with superfine white corn flour and stuffed with beef, shredded chicken, fish or cheese, are hand formed on the edge of a bowl and quickly deep fried, making them filling but not heavy.
For a simple, savory treat order the cachapa, a corn crepe that's made by cutting fresh corn off the cob, grinding it roughly with a hand crank, cooking it on the grill and topping it with cheese and roasted pork. On the heartier side, the thick cornmeal arepas come bursting with smoky pork, shredded chicken, fish or veggies, as well as plenty of avocado and cheese; pabellon, one of the most popular dishes on the menu, consists of shredded beef that's been slowly stewed with tomatoes, onions and spices and then served with pork-studded black beans, white rice and sticky sweet plantains. BYOB.
Reviewed By: Kate Rockwood
