Are Pitas

2^nd time here and it’s not a dissapoinment. Amazing food everyone should try. But ye be warned you will get addicted!

I was raised in Venezuela, and grew up eating arepas, tequeños, cachapas, etc. Plenty of great Venezuelan food. My son and I stopped by Are-​pitas for an early dinner and ordered a pabellón arepa, a chicken cachapa and some tequeños.
This had to be the worst venezuelan experience in tampa. ALL of the food was reheated in a microwave, the arepa tasted old and rubbery, the tequeños where still cold on the inside and the cachapa was bad as well. We did not finish our food and made sure we marked this place in our never to be back list.
If you are trying venezuelan food for the first time or if you are in the mood for some arepas, do yourself a favor and pass on this place. Instead try Nicko’s Arepa Grill or Perdigon, you will not be disappointed with them.

I have driven by this place a few times and decided to just try it. I was not disappointed. This place has quick service and the woman who served me was super nice! It also helps the place has reasonable prices.
I had the Venezuelan arepa. It is very filling. The arepa was soft and fresh. The pulled beef wasn’t the best I ever had, but it wasn’t bad at all. They make the beans themselves instead of using canned beans. It also has cheese. Cheese is always a plus for me. What brought it all together was the Crack Sauce. So good. I will ask for a little extra next time.
If you want to go somewhere quick, reasonably priced, and filling, give this place a shot!

I was first introduced to Are Pitas when my department had them cater for a work event about last year. I was impressed with the variety of food (including vegetarian and gluten-​free options) as well as the taste.
Since then, I have been back to their shop multiple times because of the quality of their food and their excellent service. They were even able to accommodate a party of 30 in an efficient manner without a set menu (of course, I called to warn them ahead of time). My go-​to order is a Falafel Arepa and an Empanada, but everyone that I have brought (who order different things) have been happy with their food.
Upon entering, order first, add anything else you like (imagine a Subway or Chipotle line), pay for your order, sit, and enjoy!
This place (Lebanese-​Venezuelan fusion) may not be for everyone (I am personally a fan of mediterranean food and hispanic food separately, so combining them sounds like a good idea to me), but it’s definitely worth a try!

Panas de Venezuela … Si añoran el sabor venezolano … Es impelable comer en Are Pitas … Empanadas. Excelentes … Arepas como en Venezuela. El giro de cordero super especial. Siempre cómete una cachapa y tequeños y no olvides los jugos naturales. PD: si cuando vengas hay lengua, no lo pienses… pídela.

Excelente comida gourmet venezolana y libanesa la que hacen las manos benditas de Edith con la ayuda de su esposo Jesús. Recomendado tooooooodo al 100%

Excellent mix of cultures. I love both cuisine and to be able to dip my yuca frita in babaganoush is super cool flavor combo

One of my favorite restaurants around USF. Super friendly staff, clean place and delicious food! Try the Venezuelan pita!

BEST pita place ever!!! The staff is always so nice and helpful. Their falafel is amazing!!! Cheap prices for the quality and amount of food. My favorite part is that you get to build your own pita and they have so many options of what to put inside! Definitely check this place out you won’t be disappointed!

Are Pitas was a great choice when I was in the area and starving for a late lunch. The Venezuelan arepa hit the spot. Nothing bad to say… I would definitely go back if I were in the area!

Are Pitas is a funky little multi-​ethnic fusion restaurant, combining Venezuelan and Lebanese cuisine, near the USF campus. The name of the restaurant comes from the combination of ‘Arepas’ and ‘Pitas’, which perfectly describes their cuisine.
Are Pitas is located in the University Square shopping center near the intersection of Bruce B Downs and Fowler Avenue. If you’re driving south on BBD, then turn right onto the side street by Staples, and that will bring you back to Are Pitas. The restaurant sits very close to University Mall at the corner of University Square Drive and Club Drive. (In other words, use your GPS on your first visit!)
The restaurant is set up in a cafeteria-​style layout. You order as you walk in, and then follow your meal as they customize with various sides and add-on’s. At the end of the line is the cash register, and you either take your to-​go order, or carry your tray to your table. The restaurant has a combination of low 4-​top tables and chairs, or high-​tops with stools scattered around the eating area.
As mentioned earlier, you choose your style of meal — either an arepa or a pita, and then customize from there. Arepas are made with Venezuelan bread which is a soft savory flat-​bread, that is made with corn flour, grilled and filled with your favorite flavors. Pitas are well-​known Mediterranean-​style pita flat bread, and served with your choice of crisp vegetables and sauces (hummus, baba ganoush, garlic or tzatziki sauce). In both cases you customize it by choosing a protein, vegetables, and cheese.
If neither option floats your boat, then you can select an entrée such as Pabellon — a traditional Venezuelan dish served with black beans, white rice, pulled beef (carne mechada), fried plantains and cheese; Lebanese Plate — which has a small salad, hummus, baba ganoush, 1 dolma, 2 falafel, and your choice of protein; or the Asado Negro — shredded roast beef with white rice, plantains, and black beans. They also offer vegetarian dishes, deli ham and turkey, empanadas, and serve a mighty fine hummus.
I’ve eaten here twice. The first time I had an arepa filled with shawarma beef, and yesterday I enjoyed a pita stuffed with gyro meat. Neither meal was especially picturesque, but both were very tasty. Prices are reasonable for the amount of food that you receive (under $ 10).
Make sure that you grab a handful of napkins as things tend to get a bit messy!

Where else can you get combinations of Venezuelean and Lebanese made with Halal meat? I have no idea. Nowhere would be my guess! It’s fun to try crazy fusions. The only one that tops this is Nitally’s ThaiMex!
We enjoyed this very affordable experience, trying all sorts of combinations. The proprietors were happy to let us experiment and experimenter we did! Falafel and Arepa? No problem!
If you want to try bright tasting and fun food in interesting combinations, I’d recommend this unique spot.

As a halfie-​Venezuelano, I always make it a mission to try out any Venezuelan places that I find in my travels.
That led me to Are Pitas. I was completely satisfied and then some by their Venezuelan arepa and it went past and above the standard arepas I’ve had before. It was delicious. I had to get myself another one with the turkey/​gouda and that too, was soon devoured.
The mango juice was on spot and if I had not been working, I would have likely gotten a bottle of Polar for old time sakes.
The staff was professional and nice and I while I’m only in Tampa for work for a few more days, this place may have earned one of my coveted revisits.

las mejores Cachapas!!!
Los dunes muy simpáticos y accesibles
la comida libanesa riquísima
y ahora el mejor café

Some items were good most items were not. I can’t think of another restaurant in the area that serves South American and Mediterranean cuisine and I was excited to try a restaurant with this cool concept. However this establishment did not attempt unique fusion or a creative take on either cuisine. Instead they portrayed both styles poorly.
Here is a breakdown of each item that I sampled rated 1 – 5:
1. Chicken shawarma ²⁄₅ — Served at room temperature this dish was too acidic, not seasoned, and did not resemble authentic shawarma.
2. Gyro meat ¹⁄₅ — Also served at room temperature some of the worst gyro I have tried. The texture resembled tofurkey and I would have preferred tofurkey over this. No flavor and not fresh.
3. Falafel ball — ⁴⁄₅ — Unlike the other dishes mentioned this was actually served fresh and was well seasoned.
4. Babagonush — ⁵⁄₅ — Excellent smokey flavor and served at the proper temperature.
5. Humus– ³⁄₅ — Okay very basic humus I would have preferred Sabra brand humus from Publix.
6. Arapas with shredded beef ³⁄₅ — No cheese was included and the beef was too sweet.
I think this restaurant should focus on doing one type of cuisine well with fresh ingredients. They were not very busy when I visited which may have caused some of the freshness issues; however, this does not excuse meats being served at room temperature. I will not return and cannot recommend this restaurant.

Vegetarian arepa sandwiches!!! OMG! Yes please! To many this probably sounds like the craziest of combinations… Lebanese and Venezuelan… But oh my, two of my favs at the same place!!! LOVE that they’re concept is based around the subway/​chipotle model… The food was excellent. I don’t live close by but I can see myself driving a distance to get here!

Weird name, awesome flavor. This tiny place packs a punch.
I’ve been in and out of here a few times a year for a while (since before it expanded from Mediterranean Byblos pitas to Venezuelan/​Lebanese Are pitas as it is now) and it has never disappointed.
This is my falafel fix, my shawarma haven. The baba ghanuj makes my mouth water just thinking about it, and I just went through a generous pile of the stuff.
Unfortunately, I can’t speak for the Venezuelan portion of the menu since I can’t seem to branch away from all the garlicky and vinegar and chickpea delights of their Mediterranean selections, but this place has something for everyone. They also have less culture specific options like French fries and even a happy hour for their small selection of bottled beers.
Well worth a stop, especially if you’re looking for something that stands out from usual quick service fare.

This a good Venezuelan arepa sandwich place with a Lebanese twist. The parchita (passion fruit juice) is very tasty. It’s a very casual fast food type atmosphere. Definitely a welcome addition to the USF area foodie scene. There’s a college hangout boba place next door, Boba Cup up the back street to the shopping plaza as well as other hangout places and bars in the area.

This one is confusing. I have mixed feelings because while the food was above average the atmosphere and service was very lacking.
Came with a friend and tried both the Labenese and Venezuelan special. Honestly the Labenese or gyro version was just average, when you consider the standout gyros offered around this area like zeko’s and many middle eastern establishments.
The Venezuelan special however worked surprisingly well and I can see myself craving this. It had black beans, plantains and carnitas, in this hand-​held monster of an arepa.
However, I could just not look past the poor service. This lady was just hanging around the line where you order talking to the employees. They carried this conversation throughout the service where you felt like you were being ignored. Sorry? Am I disturbing this get together?
She was still there even after we ate and left. Not sure if she ended up ordering anything. It’s very unprofessional. I could care less how casual the service or if you bring your friends to work, but you drop everything when there are paying customers placing orders.
When you are treated poorly all the ugly just surfaces. The place looks very commercial and basic. The restrooms were less than appealing. Dirty around the edges with thin walls. Order to go.

This is by far one of my favorite spots in the whole city. I’ve lived in Tampa for 5 years and this place just opened up. I went in one day and nothing was the same after that. The little Venezuelan lady who runs it is the sweetest! And all her food is on point. You will not leave there unsatisfied. I get the chicken arepa with a guanabana drink and my day is complete.

Arepa and Pitas make up the restaurant name. This is a new concept of the combination of two country food for the fast food. If they are successful, they can be like other fast food chain selling their franchise.
I stop by for a snack to try them on. I have the arepa with the Shawarma beef. The beef is slice and in shawarma sauce. I have added the hamus, lettuce, and cucumber. The beef is a bit dry for me but the marinated meat is there. My wife like it however I just it is just worth it. This concept of the selection of assembly may work or may not work. So I cannot fully said the restaurant do not have the right ingredient because the customer makes decision on the assembly.
For the reason above, partly is customer and partly is restaurant I cannot fully make the decision on the food. But base on the keeping the material warm and juicy I am grading it worth a trip with 3 stars. There are thing can be improve such as come out a suggested assemble item that is work and taste good so the customer will not make mistake. This is vital for new concept restaurant to survive and get repeat customer. Good thing is their price is affordable.

Just ok. The place is well kept, bathrooms are clean, the service was there… Just wasn’t crazy about the food. Stopped in for lunch to try the Felafel Arepa… Big fan of both Arepa and the Felafel, just didn’t like the combination as much. It was very filling and tasted ok. The Venezuelan with shredded beef was a little better, thought the sweet plantains and black beans went good together.
Not sure I’ll be rushing back. I prefer my Lebanese stand alone, I’ve tried both styles here and neither blew me away. The idea of mixing Venezuelan with Lebanese is risky, it’s worth the try, just limit your expectations. They have a Sunday brunch that looks somewhat promising. Three stars max.

Pictures on Unilocal had me dreaming of Arepas for a while now, so I figured it was about time to put my curiosity to rest. I’ve never had an arepa before, so I don’t have anything to compare these to. But hotdamn, it was delicious! I got the Venezuelan arepa and the soft corn exterior was stuffed to the brim with pork, black beans, plantains, and cheese– all served nice and hot. Don’t let these little sammies fool you– they are a lot bigger than you think and will leave you full and satisfied for a long time. My mom and I were tempted to try a side item like the kebbeh, but we’re glad we didn’t because I think it would have been too much food for us! I will definitely be back to try some of the other options (falafel is next!)
Update: I have now tried the falafel arepa– omg delish!!! She seriously stuffed that sucker to the gills with falafel, I didn’t think there was going to be room for toppings! When I only asked for cucumbers and tzaziki, she was like «That’s it?!» I honestly didn’t think she could possibly put anything more in at that point, but she crammed some tomatoes in there too. I sat down and unashamedly began to stuff my face until every last bit was gone. So good.

Arepitas is a cute little Venezuelan/​Lebanese Café located near the USF area. My Unilocal brother from another mother, Jason C and my friend Dorene M, decided on this restaurant prior to a Unilocal event at Busch Gardens.
The staff was friendly here and there were three people working but only one behind the counter. Jeremiah was very friendly and took time to explain all my food options, but I felt awful because a line was starting to form and he was the only one behind the counter.
You can choose to have your meal served in an arepa or a pita. I found this concept to be fascinating since I had never seen Venezuelan and Lebanese cuisine paired together.
I wanted something different so I settled on the Venezuelan Arepa with black beans, pulled beef, and white cheese. I had the fried plantains served on the side and not in the arepa. I get creeped out by mixing sweet and salty. The food was delicious and was definitely a bigger portion than I had imagined. The arepa (as you can see in the picture) was stuffed full.
I wish there was an Arepitas location close to me in South Tampa. I would definitely be back more often if I lived in the vicinity.

Excelente comida venezolana y muy buenos gyros, buena atención del personal recomendado 100%