Maracaibo Bistro

Any time I'm in the area, I go here for a celebratory meal. I'm fluent in Spanish and I enjoy speaking it with native speakers. I'm instantly at ease when I walk through their door. If you have never had Venezuelan food, you're about to be wowed. Decadent flavors, insane variety and the most excellent and friendly service I've ever had. Valeria took such good care of us that I felt like family (the kind you enjoy seeing lol). Come hungry and leave satisfied. The owners just opened a new restaurant next door that I'm dying to try. If you're in the area, go. Let me know what you think.

My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our anniversary lunch and the food was delicious!!!! The flavors were out of this world. Believe the hype, it's worth it!!! Authentic food, excellent service, and pleasant (and fun) eating experience! Very laid back atmosphere and friendly staff. We will be returning again very soon!!!

The owner is so kind! Always makes sure you aren't missing anything, and always attentive of your needs. The servers are also very kind! The food never fails to disappoint there's lots of options and the portions are big and good price. The ambience is always good, there's music and just good vibes

My recent experience at Maracaibo was a mixed bag, but overall, it left me with a positive impression of the restaurant. We decided to try a variety of dishes, including the Bandeja Paisa, Chicharron de Pollo, Parrilla Individual, and Sampler Maracaibos.Let's start with the positives. The Bandeja Paisa was a standout dish, impressing me with its diverse components and rich flavors. However, I must admit that while I enjoyed most of the elements, I found the tostones to be disappointing. Despite being a staple item, they fell short of expectations and lacked the crispiness and flavor I was hoping for.Similarly, the Parrilla Individual offered a satisfying array of grilled meats and accompaniments, contributing to a hearty and filling meal. However, the overall heaviness of the dishes was noticeable, and we found ourselves leaving with leftovers and a residual food coma.Unfortunately, not all dishes lived up to expectations. The Chicharron de Pollo, in particular, was a letdown. The chicken breast was dry and overcooked, lacking the juiciness and flavor that would have elevated the dish. It felt more like a kids' meal than a substantial entree, leaving us underwhelmed.Additionally, the Arepas failed to impress. They were disappointingly dry, lacking the moistness and texture that characterizes a well-prepared arepa. While the concept was promising, the execution fell short of delivering a memorable dining experience.Despite these shortcomings, I appreciated the overall ambiance of Maracaibo and the attentive service provided by the staff. While there were aspects of the meal that could be improved, there were also highlights that showcased the restaurant's potential.In conclusion, while Maracaibo offers a diverse menu and a pleasant dining atmosphere, there are areas where improvement is needed, particularly in the execution of certain dishes.

The food is spectacular. It's seasoned so well. Even the white rice was delicious. The service was amazing. The restaurant was clean and inviting. They make you feel welcome. A must go, you won't regret it.This is restaurant is on our top list of places to visit when we're in the area. To the point that we came back the next day.If you have not tried this place, go and enjoy the food. Try the empanadas.

Sophia and I had lunch here recently along with a group of friends from a social group. They've been on my Yelp collection for almost a year now and have received praise from locals. Would the drive from Newport News be worth it?The decor inside is beautiful. There's a small bar with high tops and TVs, plenty of tables and even a stage area for music acts. I can imagine it's lively in the evenings for concert gatherings. Anyway, most of us started out our meals with non-alcoholic drinks. I chose the horchata jugo. One word: wow. This drink here was made with a lot of love. One friend drunk his so much he said you can replace ice cream with this.....ha! Sophia had the mango jugo and said it reminded her of a smoothie. Special thanks to our waitress for making these drinks :)For apps, we picked beef empanadas. This was pretty good. Inside the beef is well seasoned and the outside was slightly crunchy. Cooked just right. For my main course, I selected chicken chorizo, which is chicken topped with chorizo and cheese with a side of rice and plantains. Thumbs up! I loved that they had a thin slice of chicken which made the dish easier to consume. I'm not a fan of cheese dip but this surprisingly worked with the food. And there was plenty of chorizo to devour. The grilled plantains.....very well done. And the rest of our party enjoyed their meals. It's a great thing when people are quiet and eating. That means they're in heaven....LOL!! Most of them ordered to-go boxes so going home happy and full is a huge plus.There you have it. The reviews are spot on. Great food, great service, great vibes. What more could you ask for? This will definitely be a repeat. Till next time :)

Great food and service. I brought my friend who grew up in Venezuela and he was very impressed. I'll definitely be back!

Looove this restaurant!! The staff is very friendly and welcoming. We've gone here several times and it has been consistent with the food and the staff. During some nights they do have live music and the restaurant gets pretty busy. The food is delicious!! I got the churrasco which was very good and flavorful. It comes with rice and black beans on the side and also tostones. My husband always gets the banana paisa which has everything in one platter rice, beans, fried egg, steak, sausage, pork belly, arepa and avocado. They have happy hour until 7pm daily so they have lots of drink specials and app specials too.

Amazing food! I ordered the Pabellon criollo! The plantain was delicious. I loved the perfect piece of steak, juicy and a nice outer crispy like I enjoy. The rice , beans , egg all were delicious every bite. There was nothing left on my plate , it was so good. Service was amazing! Everyone is helpful, upbeat, and patient. Patient I say because I had sooo many questions this being the first time I tried Venezuelan food. If you've never had a Tequeno before it's a must try. Cheesy goodness with each bite! Kind of reminds me of a mozzarella stick but so much better. Yum! The chocolate cake is the best I've ever had in a long long time. It was epic. Music was great. Place is huge with plenty seating. I loved it!

Strong three. Service good. Food is typical of most Latino restaurants. Good but not exceptional. Will try their sister restaurant next door later.