Over-the-Rhine Latin-American restaurant with a Caribbean flair adds Sunday Brunch

An Over-the-Rhine restaurant specializing in Venezuelan cuisine with a Caribbean flair has opened its doors for a staple of that neighborhood – Sunday brunch.

Maize Arepas and Bar originally opened at 1438 Race St. on July 14. The restaurant is influenced primarily by the culinary traditions of Venezuela and Puerto Rico, acknowledging the influences of Africa, India and Spain on that cuisine.

Brunch at Maize started on Father’s Day as a trial run. Owners Angel Batista and Louisa Reckman took some time off to perfect the menu and brought it back on July 14. Brunch runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays. The restaurant will have DJs playing during those hours.

“You’ll see the familiar things, but on the flip side of it, it’s done our way – the Latin American way,” Batista told me.

The entire menu, save for the media noche Cuban sandwich, is gluten free, Batista said. The cocktail menu also takes a Latin twist on familiar brunch drinks, like the Tizana mimosa, made with Spanish cava sparkling wine, lime, orange, pineapple, mango, banana, strawberries and guava nectar; or the Bloody Hurricane Maria, which is made with reposado tequila, tomato juice, Tabasco, celery salt, pepper, Worcestershire, horseradish and lime.

By Andy Brownfield  – Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Aug 27, 2019

Photo Credits Sybilka Storie