The wife and I were slow on the uptake when it comes to arepas. We're still newbies; at this point…read morewe've tried them from just five or six purveyors here and there. Hell, we're still sussing out the Colombian vs. Venezuelan arepa rivalry. But the arepa pabellon at Arrechissimo (this apparently means "awesome" in Venezuelan Spanish) wins the prize for us so far, and it's not even close. Even if it initially seems expensive at $13.50, it is a near-miraculous little food item, regardless of one's knowledge about arepas generally. It's perfect in its simplicity and greater than the sum of its parts: Wonderful white-corn flatbread style rolls with a great balance of fluffy and crisp, flavorful shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans, and melted mild cheese. Add the spicy cilantro salsa, which is just about perfect in its own right. By the way, despite its compact size, the arepa pabellon is plenty filling. Arrechissimo is just a food stand with maybe four outdoor tables. The setting in quiet Deer Park is pleasant and comfortable enough, when the weather is reasonably nice. Unfortunately for us, Arrechissimo is far enough away that carryout is not a suitable option during those too-many months when Cincinnati weather is not so nice. Owner Javier is about as welcoming and friendly a host as there is in the metro.

Decided to try out this restaurant today with my friend who suggested it. Let me just say right…read moreoff the bat, that there is NO indoor seating. I'm assuming most people do pick-ups. We didn't realize that when we decided to go. However, they do have 3 or 4 outdoor tables. Right beside the tables are very sturdy extendable umbrellas that they can open to shade you whenever you want. Their food is handmade, fresh and delicious. Got a vegetarian bowl with rice, beans, plantains, lettuce, and avocado slices accompanied by 2 small arepas. The arepas and empanadas seemed to be made from the same dough and it's a good thing because it is extremely mouth-watering - yum! Kudos to the owner. He is the nicest man - friendly, and really cares about his customers.

Knowing the power that online reviews can have and taking some experiences with a grain of salt…read morehere and there because sometimes you hit that one off day where maybe a place that's normally epic just doesn't quite have their stuff together, I find that I end up giving 5 stars in a range that goes from "really good" to "Michelin needs to stop in here (or already has)." This is definitely on the latter end of the spectrum. I popped in here tonight for a late dinner (830ish on a Saturday) to find the place relatively busy but with plenty of open seats. The decor was a nice mix of dark and light with the bright green accents plus a big screen TV cycling tropical getaways (I assume from places in Latin America). I was seated and tended to quickly by a hostess and server, respectively. I got my order in for a coconut mojito and a chicharron arepa right away. My mojito came shortly thereafter with my arepa not long after that. The mojito, as you can see, was garnished with a generous amount of shredded coconut on top and was heavier and creamier than a normal mojito, lighter on the mint flavor and pushing closer to a piña colada than a mojito. All in all though, still quite a refreshing drink after a hot and humid day. The arepa though was really the star of the show. The flavors and textures and everything about it were just mind-blowing. The handmade cheese, the incredibly seasoned and cooked pork, and the crispy arepa were all just *BOOM*. The avocado had a little bit of surface darkness on the one end that could have been polished up a little bit but not the end of the world. One I finished with these, I waited patiently for a while for my server to come back but alas I had to pop up to the bar to get my caipirinha. This version was slightly sweeter than some versions I've had and I don't mind sweet, but just be aware for those who may be considering it. Eventually, my server came back and apologized for being gone so long as she was conversing with her boss. Like I said... grain of salt. Aside from a minor inconvenience of having to walk 10 feet to the bar myself, this place absolutely blew me away and I will absolutely come back if I ever find myself in town again. Bonus points for having gluten and allergen callouts on their normal menu as well!

I was introduced to Clinton Latin Fusion a year or two ago thanks to Yelp, and their food is always…read moretasty. This visit had a rough start, but thankfully it turned around. I had made a reservation through OpenTable and arrived for the dinner. I ended up standing at the front for about seven minutes without being greeted or acknowledged. I honestly almost walked out and was kind of unbelievable as some other servers made eye contact but that was it and no one at the host/hostess stand. Thankfully, Isabella noticed me, asked if I had been helped, and promptly seated me after I explained what happened. From that point on, the experience completely turned around as I waited for a server to come work the table Isabella said she could pick it up. She really was the nicest person even though I had zero interactions with any other staff or managers, etc. I ordered the Cheese Tequeños, six for $12.50, and the Venezuelan Pastelitos, three for $12.50. The pastelitos came with three different fillings, ground beef, shredded chicken, and cheese. The shredded chicken was definitely my favorite. Isabella recommended the red beans instead of the black beans that I was looking at, so I took her guidance and added a side of red beans for $5. Great recommendation! They had so much flavor and were really good. Despite the frustrating start, Isabella saved the experience with her friendly and attentive service. The food continues to be good, and I'll definitely be back just hope the improve the welcome and front of house experience .

Looking to expand the palate, we recently tried La Colombiana. Started with fried plantains and…read moreempanadas (two beef, two chicken). Both were delicious, especially the fried plantains. I've had plantains in the past, but these were certainly the best I've tried. For entrees, we went with arroz con pollo and bandeja paisa which was basically an assortment platter. I was a little disappointed in the arroz con pollo. Rice was over cooked and the flavor was overall muted. For dessert, we tried obleas -- thin waffles filled with jam, caramel and cheese. The waffles weren't true waffles, but more just cracker type. Again, rather disappointing but maybe I just don't have the right taste for it. The service was excellent, and we did enjoy the appetizers. Entrees and dessert were a let down. Overall, 3 stars in my book.

What a delicious find! My son was searching for dinner on our recent overnight and La Columbiana…read morepopped up. After checking out the menu and reviews he suggested we give it a try. When we arrived we realized it was literally next door to our hotel! Score! They were really busy, but the service was still friendly and efficient. And the food ... so good! I enjoyed an Arepa con queso and a chicken empanada while my son had the carne asada and a beef empanada. Everything was fantastic. So much food too. I especially loved the hot aji sauce that came with the empanadas - I put it on my arepa too -yum! If we are in the area again, I will definitely return.

Loved the latino seasons!!!! This place is a gem in between…read morepizzas and hamburgers. Reminded us of Home Recommended A+

What a hidden gem! My coworker found this place and we decided to try this place. I hadn't had much…read moreLatin American food and I was so pleased to have gone. The restaurant is tucked in a residential neighborhood so we almost missed it so keep your eyes peeled. Parking wasn't an issue since there's a parking lot next to it. Service was great, our waitress had been working there for a very long time. I suspect it was a family owned business so it was great to hear her recommendations and she did not disappoint. All of her recommendations were on point. I got the garlic shrimp in coconut sauce and that was amazing. But the star of the meal was the sweet plantains! Omg those were delicious! It was an appetizer for us but I swear I could have ate just that for my main meal. Portions are very generous too so you'll leave feeling very full. So if you come across this place, don't hesitate and try it out!

Ordered carry out. Was greeted by a friendly staff member who helped place my order. The Arepa…read morewas spectacular. Very fresh and tasty. The cheese and meat were quite generous in my portion. I will return for sure.

The Cactus Restaurant started as a food truck in Marysville in 2020 and opened a restaurant in 2024…read morein a Powell strip mall off the beaten path. The restaurant is bright, welcoming and very clean We were seated in a side room with the bar, a large projection TV screen with the volume on MAXIMUM and two smaller TVs advertising menu items. Those TVs featured some seriously delicious looking items! Service was ok. Drink refills were not offered and I needed one. We both ordered lunch specials advertised for $10.99 but billed at $11.99. Hubs ordered the lunch chicken bowl with rice, black beans, grilled chicken and corn. The corn was served refrigerator cold. The rest of the meal was hot. Overall the food lacked seasoning. I started with a cheese empanada. Expertly made and fried with goody cheese inside. The empanada was served with a dmall side of green sauce that I thought was cilantro based. I ordered the lunch Pabellon Bowl with pork, white rice, black beans and a sweet plaintain Everything on my plate was served hot but also without seasoning making it bland. I used the empanada sauce to add some flavor to the pork and rice. In summary, I wanted to love this restaurant the advrtised images on 2 TVs are gorgeous but the food was bland. The projection TV volume made conversation difficult and service could have been more attentive. This was our first expusure to Venezuelan food and probably our last. I still stand by the fantastic empanada. I would return for that alone.

A great new gem for Oxford Ohio. Atmosphere was pleasant with Guatemalan themed art. Service was…read moreprompt and attentive. But, best of all the food was really good. We had papusa and empeñadas and finished it off with dessert plantains. Everything was fresh sand full of flavor. Looking forward to our next visit here.

From the moment you walk in the door, you know immediately that you're not in Mexico. The…read morerestaurant decor is based on the Guatemalan flag and the menu is a delightful fusion of Central America with a few Mexican dishes thrown in. Truly a unique taste sensation for Oxford and one not to be missed.

I've been to Nelly's twice and was underwhelmed both times. The first time I had their "specialty"…read more- roasted chicken. It was good, but it's just roasted chicken, not special IMO. The second time I ordered the relenos. Those were tasty, but the service was so freakin slow that I decided it's not worth it to go back. We had a party of eight and two of us arrived early. They seated us quickly and there was only one other table with guests. The server would not take our drink orders until everyone arrived and even then, I had to motion for her to come over. She just stood in the corner doing nothing until I asked her to take our drink orders. She was clearly not busy, so I don't understand why she made us wait so long. Weird.

I really enjoyed Nelly's the chicken was very tasty and the Pisco Sour was very well made. I'm not…read moresure what was going on with the service. We only saw one server doing everything. He was seating people, taking orders, serving the food and making the cocktails. He did a solid job but it was a bit slow. Maybe just a bad night or others called off? Overall I'll be back and the chicken is the highlight.

Great addition to Newport! Extensive menu featuring a mix of traditional and typical Mexican food…read more(burritos, tacos, fajitas) as well as some unique but more authentic offerings that we don't often see on other menus (Gorditas, sopes, flautas, and various fillings and toppings). Do not pass up the Platanos con Crema!!!Delicious. I enjoyed the Tostada with picadillo as well. We ordered the Gordita de Asada (I'm a little particular about the fat texture from meats and this one had some chewy pieces), the Sope de Chorizo, Tacos de Birria, and Flan for dessert (just okay). Service was friendly and we enjoyed our meal overall - will definitely be back to try more!

The empanadas are so delicious!! Definitely reminds me of home cooking, not the corporate bland…read moretasting empanadas that are in other places. Highly recommend for a tradition home cooked empanada!! The tacos de Birria are amazing as well!! They sell by one only and not a combo of 3 which is understandable because they are super filled with beef!! And it's women cooking!!! They know what they're doing!!

This is a great little hole in the wall spot for El Salvadorian food (including Papusas) and tacos…read more The prices are very reasonable and the service very friendly though maybe a bit slow because usually there's only one waitress. However, it hasn't stopped me from going back and it seems very authentic.

Service was great and the food would've been a good value if it was all cooked properly. I got the…read morePlato Loco which included one pupusa, chicharrones, plantains, fried yuca, a tamalito de elote, and slaw. I think the frying oil was overused because the chicharrones tasted like old oil unfortunately. Pupusas were good and my favorite was the tamalito.

I was part of a group that went to Montecristo for lunch on a Sunday after church. They were busy…read morewith takeout and dining-in. Everyone was happy with food. Paying was awkward m, we had to asked for our checks several times. Would eat here again.

Food was delicious and flavourful, it was delivered in time and I was very happy with everything…read more one thing though I ordered avocado and red salsa, but they forgot to put it in the bag.