The Maiz Project Introduce
When New Yorkers crave authentic, flavorful, and truly comforting cuisine from around the globe, they often find the best spots tucked away in neighborhoods like DUMBO, Brooklyn. The Maiz Project is one such treasure. As its name suggests, this restaurant is dedicated to the wonder of maize, bringing the rich culinary tradition of Venezuela, particularly its famous Arepas and Cachapas, right to Water Street.
More than just a restaurant, The Maiz Project is an experience built around fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional preparation. Patrons rave about the freshness, noting that the arepas were made from fresh dough right in front of us, a true testament to their commitment to quality. The menu is a celebration of Venezuelan street food elevated to dining room quality, making it a perfect spot for those seeking genuine Comfort food that feels homemade. One reviewer even compared the Chicken Soup to the kind "your grandma made," a massive compliment in any culinary review.
The atmosphere at The Maiz Project is characterized as Casual and Trendy, fitting perfectly with the artistic, industrial vibe of the DUMBO neighborhood. It's a great choice for various dining needs, highly Popular for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining. Whether you are taking a break from sightseeing, stepping away from a local office, or planning a casual evening meal, The Maiz Project offers a flavorful, Quick bite experience with truly satisfying portions.
The menu's stars are undoubtedly the Arepas—savory cornmeal pockets stuffed with fillings—and Cachapas—sweet corn pancakes often paired with cheese. The Steak Arepas are a particular highlight, praised for being "full of flavor" with "perfection" steak and incredible chimichurri sauce. The Cachapas With Queso De Mano also receive high marks for their "perfect balance of sweet corn with salty cheese." This establishment stands as a vibrant and essential culinary stop for anyone looking to explore the diverse food landscape of New York City.
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Location and Accessibility
The Maiz Project is strategically located in the highly desirable and heavily trafficked DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. The address is 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. This prime spot on Water Street places it in close proximity to the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, offering easy access to the waterfront parks and scenic views that attract both Tourists and local residents.
The restaurant is committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for all patrons by providing:
- A Wheelchair accessible entrance.
Its location near major subway lines and the ferry landing makes it convenient to reach from across New York City. For those exploring the area, the ease of access to this flavorful restaurant makes it a logical and appealing stop during any visit to the Brooklyn Bridge Park area.
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Services Offered
The Maiz Project provides flexible service options that cater to the needs of its busy New York clientele, whether they are dining in or taking their meal on the go.
- Dining Service Options: Offers Dine-in service for a relaxed meal, as well as Takeout for convenience, Delivery, and No-contact delivery for maximum safety and ease.
- Meal Times: Popular and available for both Lunch and Dinner.
- Menu Flexibility: Focuses on Small plates and Quick bite options, ideal for light dining or sharing.
- Family-Friendly: The restaurant is Good for kids, making it a great option for family outings in the area.
- Payments: Accepts all modern payment methods including Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
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Features / Highlights
The appeal of The Maiz Project lies in its authentic menu and its dedication to a casual, high-quality dining experience.
- Authentic Cuisine: Specializes in Venezuelan fare, with the Cachapas With Queso De Mano and various Arepas being signature dishes.
- High Quality: Offers exceptional Comfort food, with a focus on fresh ingredients and made-to-order items, as evidenced by the fresh dough preparation.
- Menu Customization: Provides a highly sought-after Make Your Own Arepa option, allowing diners to personalize their meal.
- Atmosphere: The lounge is characterized as Casual and Trendy, providing a lively and approachable environment.
- Popularity: A highly Popular for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining, proving its versatility and wide appeal.
- Service Experience: Noted for its Kind and sweet service, ensuring every patron feels welcomed by the "super friendly" staff.
- Menu Variety: Includes daily specials such as the Soup Of The Day and the Arepa Of The Week, encouraging repeat visits.
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Contact Information
For New Yorkers and visitors looking to locate The Maiz Project in DUMBO, here is the necessary contact and location information. Note that, typical for many quick-service establishments, a public phone number is not listed, but the address provides clear direction.
Address: 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
For inquiries about delivery or takeout, the recommended method is to use available online platforms.
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What is Worth Choosing
For a New Yorker in the DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights area, The Maiz Project is absolutely worth choosing for a truly exceptional and authentic casual dining experience. The primary reason to visit is the outstanding quality and flavor of the Venezuelan staples, particularly the Arepas and Cachapas.
The commitment to fresh preparation—seeing the dough made in front of you—instills confidence in the meal's quality. When a meal is described as "fantastic" and "full of flavor," as the Steak Arepa is, it becomes a must-try. Furthermore, the ability to Make Your Own Arepa provides a fun, customizable dining experience that appeals to a city crowd used to having options.
This restaurant excels at providing high-quality Comfort food without a long wait, making it perfect for a Quick bite during a busy day. Its accessibility—with Wheelchair accessible entrance—and family-friendly nature (Good for kids) ensures it’s a welcoming spot for all. The combination of a Trendy, Casual setting, a delicious, authentic menu (don't miss the Tequeños or Sweet Plantains!), and the genuinely Kind and sweet service makes The Maiz Project a standout choice in the vibrant Brooklyn food scene. It’s a reliable source for a hearty, flavorful, and completely satisfying meal that will leave you wanting to "try everything off the menu!"
The Maiz Project Menu
DRINKS
- Fruit Juice $6.00
- Smeraldina Still Water $3.00
- Smeraldina Sparkling $3.00
- Sprite $4.50
- Diet Coke $3.00
- Coke $4.50
MAINS / ENTREES
- Cachapas With Queso De Mano $15.00
- Arepa Of The Week $16.00
- Pork Belly Arepa $15.00
Heirloom corn arepa, braised pork cheeks, crispy shallots.
- Chorizo Arepa $15.00
- Arepa And Soup Combo $21.00
- Special Of The Week $15.00
Cachapas
- Chicken Arepa $15.00
- Wild Mushroom Arepa $15.00
Heirloom corn arepa, grill mushroom, mozzarella, and salsa verde.
- Venezuelan BBQ $25.00
Steak, yicca, chorizo and chicharron (crispy pork belly).
- Shrimp Arepa $15.00
Heirloom corn arepa, shrimps, garlic butter.
- Make Your Own Arepa $16.00
Choose your protein, cheese and sauce
- Steak Arepa $16.00
Heirloom corn arepa, with steak, grill white cheese, and chimichurri.
STARTERS
- Soup Of The Day $8.00
- Tequeños $10.00
- Sweet Plantains $10.00
Sweet Plantains with Cheese and Venezuelan Cream
- Maiz Project Elote $13.00
Umami butter and tajin.
The Maiz Project Details
Service options
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- Tourists
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
The Maiz Project Photos










The Maiz Project Location
The Maiz Project Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Holy cow, this was fantastic! Truly, the steak arepas were so tasty; just full of flavor, the steak was perfection, and the chimichurri sauce couldn't be any better. The chicken soup was like your grandma made it. The arepas were made from fresh dough right in front of us. Kind and sweet service. Can't wait to try everything off the menu!
March 01 · David and Monika CrockerWe had the cheese cachapa, perfect balance of sweet corn with salty cheese. Would definitely visit again to try the arepas. The lady at the counter was super friendly. Wait time was quick.
March 27 · Nicole PowersThe vegetarian Arepas were very good. Try with Salsa verde. Excellent!
September 20 · Bharat ShahHidden Gem! We had the Elote (corn), the chorizo arepa and the mushroom arepa.Everything is home made, arepas made from the scratch with real corn, not industrial flour, the flavors are amazing and we had so much food, and super worth value for the quality. Super friendly staff. Will definitely came back every time we are in NY!
May 27 · Jesús R. L.Perfect! I ordered the arepa with pollo and it was really tasty: generous, lot of cheese, hot, fresh, the avocado completed the packaging of flavors, very good. I recommend it to anyone interested in try venezuelan food.
September 10 · Isadora Carvalho Abreu
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