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CUISINE: Chicken, Sandwiches, Venezuelan
NEIGHBORHOOD: East Village, Williamsburg

93 1/2 E 7th street between 1st Ave and Ave A
(p)212- 529-2314
91 E 7th St Between 1st Ave and Ave A (To-Go Location)
(p) 212-228-5062
291 Grand St between Roebling and Havemeyer
(p)718-218-6787
Arepas are griddle fried corn cakes and a Venezuelan staple that have, thankfully, invaded the East Village and Williamsburg too! Usually the line outside Caracas means at least an hour wait because, while inexpensive, the arepa making process is not fast food. Each arepa comes out freshly fried and delicious-- no heat lamps involved. Golden and crispy on the outside, soft and creamy within, the arepas almost don’t need a filling, but Caracas offers plenty of options...
My favorite is the Reina Pepiada, which is like chicken salad, but made with guacamole instead of mayonnaise and is pure genius. While many of the fillings contain meat, the offensive protein can be swapped with baked tofu for your animal-loving friends (like my lunch-date). They are also guilt free on your wallet, ranging in price from $4.50 to $7.25.
While the menu is arepa-centric, there are also entrees, sides, salads and empanadas available. After a few mishaps, I don’t think the entrees measure up to the arepas, but the sides are worth the extra money and belly room. The Tequenos are essentially mozzarella sticks, only instead of marinara sauce you get to dip them in Caracas’ homemade secret tangy-sweet sauce. The Yoyos, fried sweet plantain balls stuffed with white cheese, come with a molasses dipping sauce and are also delicious, but might ruin your appetite before the main event. If there isn’t enough variety for you, different specials are available on weekends. Oh, and we hear the Brooklyn location has a backyard. I think we found our new spring hangout.
By: Jeanne, guest writer
Posted in FOOD on March 19, 2009 9:06am by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments
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We are young (early 20's) and hungry (for knowledge! music! art! food!) friends living on (or in areas which border) Manhattan. We moved to the city seeking higher education, and an alternative to frat parties and gin buckets. We prefer a bottle of Chianti to a keg, lunches at City Bakery to a dining hall, Joe's to Starbucks, Frankie's Amatriciana to Batali's. Our uniting factor is our love for food. For detailed, personal information, keep reading.
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