The Charlottesville 29

First a food truck. Then, a brick-and-mortar home for their food truck. And now, a full-fledged restaurant of their own. After fleeing Venezuela for the U.S., it’s no wonder that Fernando Salazar and his wife Maria Salazar-Gil say they are living the American Dream.

Arepas Steakhouse opens this month in 5th Street Station, offering not just steaks, but also sandwiches, salads, snacks, and Venezuelan specialties. When they launched their food truck Arepas on Wheels in 2022, their aim, Maria said, was “for the beautiful Venezuelan cuisine to be known around central Virginia.” A full-service restaurant allows them to pursue that dream further.

Why a steakhouse? In Venezuela, Fernando grew up in a family of cattle-raisers, and developed a passion for grilled meats on farms owned by his father and grandfather. “Among our friends and family he is known for being a very good griller,” said Maria. “This hobby is what made him always want to have his own steakhouse.”

But that dream was not to be in Venezuela, where a corrupt government and failing economy stood in the way. When Fernando spoke out against the government, Maria feared retribution, and the couple and their two daughters fled to the United States, seeking asylum in Charlottesville, where a cousin of Fernando lives. Initially they did whatever odd jobs they could find – cleaning, working in kitchens, childcare. But, they longed to run their own business, and saved every penny until they could afford to do so.

They first launched a food truck, serving Venezuelan arepas. That was so well-received that they launched a brick-and-mortar on Cherry Avenue, while also continuing their food truck operations for additional revenue. The brick-and-mortar was such a success that it was finalist for Best New Restaurant. And now, Arepas Steakhouse.

The Food

Fans of the Salazar-Gil family’s arepas will be happy to know that a full menu of arepas will still be available. There are also appetizers like tequeños, arepita chips, and tostones; soups like sancocho de res; and platters like pabellón criollo and fried whole tilapia.

And, there’s of course an array of Fernando’s grilled steaks, like NY strip, sirloin, ribeye, and the Venezuelan favorite cut, picanha. Also on his grill are lamb, chicken, and pork chops. All with a choice of sides, like yuca, tostones, plantains, black beans, rice, and more.

Maria is so fond of Fernando’s grilling that she can’t pick a favorite. “Everything that comes off his grill will always be the best you can try,” said Maria. But, their two daughters each do have menu favorites. For Ana, it’s the Pepito – a baguette sandwich, filled with steak, chicken and bacon, covered in salsa de ajo (garlic sauce) and parmesan cheese. And for her older sister Mafer, it’s Pollo Guisado, a Venezuelan chicken stew served with rice and sweet plantain.

A Warm Welcome

“God has been good to us,” said Maria. “He allowed us to escape the situation that Venezuelans live in our native country and helped us to reach this noble and welcoming city where if you work with focus and perseverance, you can develop all your plans and achieve your goals.”

The Salazar-Gil family has been so grateful for how welcoming the Charlottesville community has been to them that they want their restaurant to feel just as welcoming to the community. In the space next to Extreme Pizza, it’s a family-friendly setting that even has a small playground on the patio for young children. “As a family we have no other feeling than gratitude to God, to this beautiful community of Charlottesville, and to all the people who in one way or another have helped us to travel this path,” said Maria.

Opening Thursday August 15, Arepas Steakhouse will be open seven days a week, at 355 Merchant Walk Square, Suite 300. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.