BienMeSabe Venezuelan Cafe & Restaurant

"Bienmesabe is a casual BYOB Venezuelan restaurant in Ravenswood specializing in arepas. The value move here is to order arepas as your entree—we prefer the After Party (roasted pork, gouda cheese, and avocado slices). The pabellon (shredded flank steak over sweet plantains and rice) is also a standout, and the Bienmesabe Sampler is a heavy but tasty appetizer to share. Head to this spot if you’re already in the area with a bottle of wine and a gluten-free friend." - josh barnett, adrian kane, john ringor

"When a place is “good for everyone,” that can be code for “boring”. But that’s not the case with Bienmesabe, a Venezuelan restaurant with a long menu that pretty much guarantees everyone will find something they’ll like. This upbeat BYOB specializes in arepas (like roasted pork with gouda, or sweet plantains with avocado), along with steak and seafood dishes. Plus the patio lets you enjoy a tree-lined street without having to move out to the suburbs." - josh barnett, sam faye, adrian kane

"Tropical Arepa I have a special relationship with arepas. The first time I ever had one was while working on a Venezuelan food truck after deciding to quit my marketing internship post-college graduation. During that time I made (and ate) hundreds, if not thousands, of arepas - so I know a good one when I bite into it. And the huge arepas at Bienmesabe are good ones. They’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and stuffed with meat, handmade white cheese, and a variety of other delicious fillings. My favorite is the tropical arepa, which has shredded chicken, black beans, and plantains." - courtney sprewer

"Bienmesabe is a casual BYOB Venezuelan restaurant in Ravenswood specializing in arepas. The value move here is to order arepas as your entree—we prefer the After Party (roasted pork, gouda cheese, and avocado slices). The pabellon (shredded flank steak over sweet plantains and rice) is also a standout, and the Bienmesabe Sampler is a heavy but tasty appetizer to share. Head to this spot if you’re already in the area with a bottle of wine and a gluten-free friend." - Josh Barnett

Arepas! Do i need to say more?