47 North Pearl Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Miller-Stein Ranking
Our food experience | 4.56 Buckeyes
Quality | 4.85 Buckeyes
Cost | 4.75 Buckeyes
Character | 4.92 Buckeyes
Beverages | 4.10 Buckeyes
Service | 4.20 Buckeyes
Burrito | $6.50
Black Beans, Rice, Lettuce, Mojito, Sour Cream & Avocado in a 12 Inch Wrap Choice of Shredded Chicken, Beef or Pork
Carne Asada | $9.00
Marinated Inside Skirt Steak, Rice, Black Beans, Fried Egg, Lettuce, Mojito, Avocado & Arepita
Big Mexican | $8.50
Rice, Black Beans, Lettuce, Mojito, Banana Peppers, Cheese & Avocado in a 12 Inch Wrap with Sour Cream & Enchilada Sauce on top Choice of Chicken, Beef, Pork or Vegetarian
A good friend of the Miller-Stein duo, Sautters, was in town and requested an impromptu lunch to catch-up. Elated that he was in available to get together, we agreed an attempted to dine at Thurman’s Café in the Germain Village. Upon arrival we were told the wait would be 3.5 hours. After absorbing the absurdity of the wait-time, we agreed on El Arepazo, a small grill located in the heart of downtown (hidden in Pearl alley).
We parked a few blocks away and made the assumption that the main lunch cliental is likely the crowd that works downtown and walks to the grill, parking was not abundant. Once we arrived we got in line to order, and reviewed the menu as we waited about 5 minutes to place our order at the counter.
Seating was scarce. Once we ordered we waited about 10 minutes and hovered around diners that appeared to be finishing up. The beverage menu was not impressive, standard sodas available, so we went with water. We swooped in grabbed a seat as a couple was leaving and our food arrived shortly after we found a place to sit. The kitchen worker who brought us our lunch was friendly and asked if we needed anything else before she went back to the kitchen.
Included with our lunch was a little plastic container of green sauce. We looked at the menu and read that is was their special cilantro sauce. We each tasted it before we covered our lunch with it. This sauce may have been our most favorite thing about our dining experience. The cilantro was fragrant and fresh and it was perfectly seasoned and the consistency was perfect. Diners have the option to order it spicy or not spicy. Stein ordered his spicy and is had a fantastic kick to it!
Stein’s selection of the Carne Asada was a good one. The avocado was bright green and very ripe tasting. The rice and beans accompanied the dish well and Stein was impressed with how well each element of the dish was prepared and put together.
Sautters ordered the Burrito which he also really enjoyed. The tortilla that was used in the wrap was warm and tasted homemade. Sautters was pleased that although the ingredients were not abundant, the burrito didn’t have a lack of flavor or spice.
I went with the Big Mexican vegetarian option. I was new to the Latin genre of food; I had never been to a Latin Grill and I was not disappointed. I was surprised that the banana peppers melded so well with the burrito dish, they complimented the rice and black beans extremely well. The black beans were fresh and had a great tenderness.
Overall, aside from the lack of parking and the insufficient seating, the dining experience was great. The food (especially the cilantro sauce) was fantastic. The fact that the grill is in an alley adds a kind of fun atmosphere, almost like you’re finding a piece of treasure in the heart of the City. The ambiance is fun, and high energy and there is a lot to look at while you visit, you won’t be bored.
The Miller-Stein duo and Sautters recommend, with confidence, El Arepazo in downtown Columbus. We feel confident that our readers would enjoy dining at this grill for quick a lunch while in the City!
