Sweet Pepper Venezuelan Food Bar in Lincoln Squarehasa banner instead of a permanent sign, competition from Monti’s around the corner, and the misfortune of inheriting its space from what may have been the absolute worst pizza place in Chicago’s history. All of that only underscores how holy-crap good the arepas are at this tiny spot in that odd west-of-Western stretch of Lincoln Square. You can mix and match a host of toppings, including barbacoa beef, plantains, queso Caribe and pinto beans, and never find a dud. (John Carruthers)
