The Arepa Republic

No doubt about it - we struck the jackpot with this place. @theareparepublic floored us all with its Venezuelan cuisine of in-house made gluten-free arepas, each formidably agape with our chosen fillings. And what magnificent fillings they were. The “Rumbera” ($12) which practically overflowed with Venezuelan pulled pork, topped my sis-in-law’s and my list but only just. Close on its heels was the “Reina Pepiada” ($12), a green, creamy and cool mound of meticulously mixed avo and finely shredded chicken. The others had their fans too with my brother rooting for the very substantial “Pabellón Veggie” ($12) and T.H., the flank steak-starred “Pabellón” ($13).
Naturally mealy and soft, the Arepa would have given way under all that weight if not for the fact that it was grilled. The heat shored it up with a glazed surface, not unlike a laminated finish.
We were given a few squirt bottles of sauces plus a tall glass one of oil filled with herbs and spices to season our Arepas. From amongst those, we came to the consensus that the spicy mayo was the best. But to each his own, so you ought to give them all a try yourself.