A group of local restaurateurs is preparing to help Philadelphians stave off the cold with fresh and authentic Venezuelan flavors. Owned and operated by brothers Gilberto and Simón Arends, and Manuela Villasmil, Puyero Venezuelan Flavor is debuting a University City location later this year, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The concept, which has already made a splash in Queens Village, is opening its second location at 3428 Sansom Street. Gilberto spoke with What Now Philadelphia about bringing the tastes of his native land to University City. “I had been living in Philly for a few years with my wife and we always loved the dining scene…but back then there weren’t many Venezuelan restaurants-why not Philly?” he explains, adding “Each time we went out anywhere, we’d be talking about how we could bring and transport Venezuelan food to Philly.“
Arends states that Puyero’s newest location has been on his mind for a while, but hinged on finding the ideal location. “This is something we had wanted for quite some time- it was about finding the right spot, something that made sense. We really were looking for something very specific and when we found this spot, it just made sense.”
University City’s academics are hungry for greater variety, and Arends intends to provide that with Puyero. “We think students really enjoy eating different food, something different…so we were looking forward to bringing something “new” to University City.”
Puyero, which will primarily be a takeout spot, will be accessible, even to guests who aren’t familiar with Venezuelan cuisine. Arends explains: “We really wanted to bring the essentials of Venezuelan street food, so it wouldn’t be too unfamiliar to anyone. Our menu, it’s very precise, there aren’t too many items, none that would be overwhelming. Venezuelan food may look unfamiliar, but there are a lot of things that people can connect with. And we add some other items people might be less familiar with.”
While Puyero will focus mainly on takeout, there will be some seating inside, with what Arends describes as a “Tropical, hip vibe”. He states: “ The vibe is pretty similar to the Queens Village location; we try to focus on urban Venezuela. We wanted to bring colors, liveliness, the music, which is pretty upbeat. It’s like the way we grew up in Venezuela.”
In addition to offering delicious cuisine, Puyero will allow University City diners to get a true taste for Venezuela-the country and the culture. Arends describes his hopes for the restaurant as: “To get to share our story as immigrants and to get the city to experience a first hand experience of who we are, our culture, our story, and become a home away home.”
Arends and his team are hoping to open by mid-November.
