Que Chevere, a 4-year-old food truck offering Venezuelan fare such as arepas, empanadas, and tequenos, has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Mesa.
It takes over the former Slickables space on the north side of Main Street between Robson and MacDonald. Slickables, which served ice cream sandwiches, closed last August.
The menu offers a half-dozen arepas (shown below) – thick corn flour patties stuffed with shredded beef, marinated chicken, black beans or other fillings.
Other temptations include cachapas (sweet corn pancakes filled with cheese), fried plantain sandwiches, and beef, chicken, or bean empanadas.
For dessert, there’s chicha (pictured at top), a corn-based brew similar to a thick horchata.
Venezuela’s Polar and the Dominican Republic’s Presidente beers are available, as well as American beers.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Owners Maria Fernanda – she moved to the U.S. from Venezuela in 2003 – and Orvid Cutler will continue to operate the food truck as well as the restaurant.
