Mark T.
Yelp
Well, I was trying to go to Best Intentions just down the street, but a bustling crowd meant it wasn't to be, though Arepa George Cantina was the place for the night.
I was lucky enough to get the tail end of the happy hour.
Orquidea - a delightful and unique cocktail thanks to the use of Lulo. It was a little sweet, a little tart, and had some zest. Great level of booziness too, as it went right to my head!
Taco Arepas - Holy cheese! These delightful little creations were positively oozing with cheesy goodness! They "shell" being arepa style gave it a little more substance, and it contributed a little more breadiness and starch to the dish than a typical tortilla would. I'm not complaining, it was a creative twist! The meat, ordered as Ropa Vieja was tender, flavorful, and in ample amounts. Now, while there was a little green as a garnish, I felt these could have used something crisp to offer a contrasting texture, some onion, maybe? Putting aside the lime and hot sauces, these felt a little one-dimensional.
I find the Empanadas had very similar notes, except the cheese. These were a solid combination of meat and potatoes inside of a dough shell. While not the lightest or flakiest thing around, it got the job done. Yet, the filling, too, came across as one-dimensional. The textures of the potatoes and meat seemed to amalgamate into one, and neither was particularly able to shine.
Out of left field came the Passionfruit Cheesecake! This was one of the better slices of cheesecake I'd had! The crust was light and felt homemade, the "cake" was airier than I'd seen in a cheesecake. With the sauce, it too felt homemade, not oversweet, and a little tart, too!
Finally, in terms of the service: I found it was kind, friendly, and reasonably fast and attentive. The only note is I wish the dirty plates were that I'd polished off and pushed forward were removed.
So, we have a place with great drinks and solid food. While creative and interesting in concept, it feels one-dimensional in execution.
