A Venezuelan restaurant is hiding inside a Short Pump skating rink
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Find it by turning left into the arcade. Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios
There's a new-ish Venezuelan restaurant in Short Pump.
Why it matters: It's hidden inside of SkateNation and open even when the ice skating rink isn't.
The big picture: Kerwin's Kitchen opened in May, replacing the rink-side concession with Venezuelan takes on American classics like hamburgers and hot dogs.
- The twist: Instead of a patty, pick chopped up smoked beef, "carne en vara" (meat on stick), or smoked pork chop with ham and bacon ($15-$18).
- The hot dogs ($11-$13) are topped with queso de mano, garlic aioli and shoestring potato sticks.
- There are also the Venezuelan favorites, like arepas, cachapas, patacones and tequeños ($10-$18).
Zoom in: The spot is from Kerwin Gonzalez, the Venezuelan chef who used to run Barbados Catering out of Hatch Kitchen in South Richmond.
- And there's little signage, giving it an "if you know, you know" feel.
What we got: The owner's favorite: The IndioMara, a mega-burger named after a historic square in Maracaibo, where Gonzalez is from.
- It's $18, easily feeds two and piles on two cheeses, three meats and shoestring potatoes.
- It was so delicious I closed my eyes every time I took a bite.
Fun fact: Kerwin's also has a $100 Sombrero burger that serves 4-6 people.
- And on Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can buy one (and most other menu items) and get the second half off.
The bottom line: Don't expect snack-bar prices, but don't expect snack-bar food, either.
- It's restaurant-quality, with giant portions to match — it just happens to be behind a concession stand.
If you go: It's at 4350 Pouncey Tract Road and open:
- Wednesday-Thursday, 5-9pm.
- Friday: 5-11pm.
- Saturday: 11am-11pm.
- Sunday: 11am-10pm.