I've been here once and will certainly go again. I had an arepa with pork filling. Very good…read more Also, very nice people.

Very Very nice people and delicious food! Do not be afraid to give this cuisine a try. The arepas…read moreare really only the beginning! I love the ham and cheese cachapa! I also got to try their empanadas on my last visit and they were absolutely yummy. I had the shredded beef and the cheese one. Don't miss out on the hot sauce and the garlic sauce. Both are yummy on pretty much everything. I also enjoyed the fruit beverages, but they're a little sweet for my taste. Definitely give this small local business a shot!

For the "west side" of St. Paul (I don't know why it is called that, for it is truly south and not…read moreat all west!), this is a very cool, chic and original concept for a foodie establishment. I went here with my twin sister, her husband, her husbands 2 brothers and one of his brother's fiance who were in town. All are foodies. All wanted to experience a good night out to titillate the tastebuds. For I try to impress upon out of town guests that not everyone in MN is of Scandinavian origin! But I digress... The food is just...awesome! Presentation is completely unique, including flaming drinks, an assortment of vessels for the dishes to accommodate the dish with an interesting flare without compromising ease of consuming or taste. Patatas bravas, tequenos, and rompe colchon were excellent. I mean mouth wateringly amazing. Shrimp in the rompe colchon was cooked PERFECTLY and the balance of the sour leche de tigre and mango made the dish interesting for the palate. Broccolini side dish was also cooked perfectly and the cheese foam gave a unique twist to the side dish. I ordered the bollitos pelones and OH MY GOODNESS. Think huge fried (but not greasy) ball of corn dough (like tamale but grains not so fine) stuffed with braised lamb and swimming in a dark, curry and spiced sauce. It was SOOOO GOOD and nothing like I'd ever had before. I also tried the pasta with rabbit and UMAMI! it was tasty. Also unique flavor that I cannot quite identify and the sauce to meat to pasta ratio was perfect. LOVED this experience and will 10000000% go back!

Crasqui isn't a traditional Venezuelan restaurant--it's a love letter. A tribute to memory,…read moretradition, and the flavors that shaped Chef-Owner Soleil's story. A political refugee from Venezuela, Chef Soleil translates pieces of her upbringing into elevated dishes that feel deeply personal. Each plate draws from the people, places, and moments that formed her, quietly transporting you to Crasqui--the tiny island off Venezuela's coast with sandy beaches and clear blue waters that inspired the name. Our Christmas Eve dinner was special not just for what was on the table, but for how it felt: warm, unhurried service, thoughtful pacing, and an atmosphere that invited you to stay awhile. Our table had the pleasure to indulge in: - Seafood Empanadas: calamari, shrimp, white fish & squid ink. - Rompe Colchón: shrimp ceviche in pineapple-habanero leche de tigre with house-made cassava chips. - Croquetas de Chorizo: potato fritters stuffed with leeks, garlic & chistorra chorizo. - Venezuelan Christmas Dinner: *Hallaca (corn dough filled with pork, beef & chicken wrapped in smoked plantain leaves); *Pernil (slow-cooked pork leg in malta & red wine); *Pan de Jamón (bread with raisins, smoked ham, green olives & cane sugar syrup); *Ensalada de Gallina (chicken salad). - Mochima: Mahi-Mahi stuffed with crab, parmesan & herb crust, sambuca beurre blanc, cilantro oil. Luxurious in texture and deeply satisfying, with each element clearly considered and working in quiet harmony. This dish was memorable for all the right reasons. - Dulce de Lechoza: Green Papaya dessert served with Vanilla Ice Cream. - Christmas Hug: their version of a Holiday old-fashioned. - Mulled Christmas wine What truly sets Crasqui apart: it is the only Venezuelan fine-dining restaurant in Minnesota, one of just three in the U.S., the only Venezuelan rum bar in the Midwest, and proudly 100% Latina & female-owned! Definitely a restaurant worth adding to your dinner rotation!

Amazing food! I didn't really know what to expect as I haven't tried Ecuadorian food before but…read morewhat stood out the most to me was how flavorful the meat was. We tried entrees with chicken, steak and pork and I couldn't believe how good every kind of meat was. Whatever they marinate it in is soooo flavorful! The portion size was big and we all left really full. For the quality and portion size I think it was really reasonably priced! We went on a Saturday and it was busy, there was a line out the door. But the food was worth the wait! Most of the entrees came with a green sauce that was so good we asked for two more servings of it. Inside the restaurant it feels like you're actually in Ecuador with the colors and decorations. I'll definitely be back!

This is the first time we dined inside, since the snow is starting to fly. We were seated by the…read morefront door, but I didn't feel the slightest draft. It's cozy in the main dining area when there's people, but we had attentive service. I love their sandwiches here. The clearly bilingual waitress even indulged (and gently corrected) my broken Spanish as I ordered one! They have their specials chalked up on the wall to easily see, and the kitchen is right below it. Everyone worked in sync, bussing tables and making sure folks were seated promptly. I've never had a bad meal here. Everything is so, so good. The only downside is that they ran out of the wine I ordered, so it's a testament to how wonderful their food and drink are.

Super friendly staff and amazing food! Go to this place if you want to try authentic Venezuelan…read morefood.

Hola Arepa had a line out the door and for good reason. The food that was offered was one of the…read morebest things I had on my trip to Minneapolis, and also one of the most unique. Served on a warm cornmeal griddle cake and some Yuca fries to go along with it, it is full of flavor. All of the Arepas looked delicious and you cannot go wrong with what you pick. The drinks were also very good and I enjoyed the Horchata Painkiller. It was very busy inside, with an orange tint from the heaters above. However if you go during winter, cold is the last thing you will be. If anything we were almost too warm! If you go, just know that as it is popular, tables are close together and it is a little noisy, but all those are just signs of a well loved establishment

The food was so dry and no flavor. The drinks were so…read morestrong and not even good. I wish I could leave a better review but I'm disappointed, I had to most of my arepa and my whole drink. Waste of money

Maria's is such a great place. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and am so excited to go…read moreback. The place is a little hard to find, because it is inside of another building (front door is currently locked). If you follow the signs though it's pretty simple. The cafe is cute and very cozy. Feels like a childhood memory of going to breakfast with my grandma. Service is very prompt and attentive! The menu is so large and varied. They have all day breakfast, many Columbian dishes, and lots of vegetarian options. I got Giovanni's Breakfast Wrap and it was so good. Love that it comes with vegetarian sausage without an up-charge! It also lasted me two meals, which was awesome. I am so excited to go back and try more of the menu! So much to choose from!!

This was a good but somewhat interesting visit! For our first time, the food was pretty good. We…read moretried a couple different plates and they were all pretty flavorful. Our server was pretty absent, however. I never got a water refill and we were charged for a soda that my table hadn't ordered. I'm not sure if this is typical for the restaurant, but all three of our orders were placed on one tab. We all have Venmo so it's not a big deal, but it was a bit interesting. I had higher hopes for this spot, but it was still good nonetheless.

Wow! My husband said this place was near him and asked me to look at the menu... we ordered the…read moregrilled platter for 2 and I made a salad. The quality of this platter was A+ and we just added the grilled meats to mixed greens asses salsa and had meal perfection. Highly recommend! Plus support Venezuelans! Cheers !

I happened across this place while I was in Brooklyn Park near lunch time and I used the Find Me…read moreGluten Free app (I have celiac disease so have to be pretty picky about where I eat or else I pay the price!). I had never heard of an arepa before and it sounded pretty interesting, so I decided to give it a shot. WOW! I was so happy I did because it was absolutely delicious! I had the pollo asada and chorizo (grilled chicken and sausage) arepa frita (fried) and it blew me away! I live a good 20 min. drive away from this place but I make a point to go back for the same arepa just about once a week. They have a huge menu and everything sounds amazing, but I haven't ventured away from the arepa just yet...the mini empanadas are GF as well and sound really good, but I get so full from the arepa that I just haven't tried anything else!

We planned a double date here and had a great time!…read more I will say, this is a great place for people who love sauce, there was lots of it! My husband doesn't like sauce, especially ones based on mayo or sour cream and there was a lot he could eat here. I think my favorite dish was the potatoes, perfectly cooked, and on a bed of yummy sauce. The carrots were also good. I got the octopus as my main and really enjoyed how charred and flavorful it was. We got beer and wine but the cocktails looked cute and were served in very interesting mugs. We got here at 5:30, but by the time we left around 7 the place was completely packed! I will be back.

If you've ever had dinner anywhere in the Northloop, then this place will surely meet your…read moreexpectations. Very upbeat and lively. Their service is really refined and prompt. Never had to wait to long nor beckon to anyone for help. The shareables are the way to go if you're in a group and not too hungry. We had the beef empanadas, steak skewers and the paella. You've got to try their tres leches - very rich and decadent. Great drink menu. Would definitely return!!