The Brooklyns See New Restaurants, Dining Changes
A new year brings new cuisine to the northwest metro.
Minnesota may not be a hot spot for Venezuelan food, but Leonardo Castellano is on a mission to change that.
“We add a lot of flavors, a lot of seasoning to our food. Vegetables, you know everything is made fresh here from scratch,” said Castellano, owner of Arepas On The Go in Brooklyn Park.
Castellano opened Arepas On The Go in mid-December in a small strip mall along Xenia Avenue N. The food here is big on taste and flavor, especially when it comes to their signature item — arepas.
“It’s very, very different than a taco. I will say it’s more of a complete meal,” Castellano said of arepas.
Arepas are made of a ground maize dough and stuffed with any type of protein you’d like.
After initially operating out of a “ghost kitchen” in Minneapolis, Castellano saw an opportunity in Brooklyn Park and thought he’d take the chance.
“It’s going very well. You know, very good feedback from the local people around Brooklyn Park. People are very excited about the food and we are very happy to be here yes,” Castellano said.
Empanadas are one of the items offered at Arepas on the Go. The restaurant is located at 9801 Xenia Avenue N in Brooklyn Park.
Local tourism officials echo that sentiment.
“We have diverse food offerings with authentic cooks and owners right here in our back yard,” said Leslie Wright, president and CEO of Minneapolis Northwest Tourism.
She says that Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center have some of the best cuisine in the entire state.
“You don’t have to go far, the parking is accessible and the food is outstanding,” she said.
Chicken pot pie is one of the new menu items offered at 6300 Restaurant inside Embassy Suites by Hilton in Brooklyn Center.
The 6300 Restaurant at Embassy Suites in Brooklyn Center
Even hotels are getting in on the action.
Brooklyn Center’s Embassy Suites and its 6300 Restaurant recently expanded its menu offerings.
“One of the top selling items is a chicken pot pie,” said John Wirkes, food and beverage manager at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis North.
Whether it be chicken pot pie, the walleye, or the breakfast buffet, 6300 Restaurant is open to anyone who wants to dine, not just hotel guests.
“It’s just like a hidden gem,” Wirkes said.
If you’re craving traditional American Food or want to spice things up with cuisine from another country, options here abound.
“It’s so exciting to have new things to offer,” said Wright.
One other restaurant to add: Reyes Restaurant Bar & Breakfast opened in a building formerly occupied by El Loro Mexican Restaurant near the intersection of Brooklyn Boulevard and West Broadway in Brooklyn Park.
