Enter into the den of The Tigers — the affectionate nickname for Ann Reyes de Matos and Alirio Matos, husband and wife Venezuelan natives who spent the last decade making Mobile their home. Beginning their careers as practicing surgeons in Venezuela, Reyes and Matos were married for eight years before they traded South America for South Alabama in order to raise their family in a stable small town. Starting anew in a city with a language barrier and unfamiliar cultural norms can be a challenge, but the couple embraced it as a growth opportunity rather than a hindrance.
“When we moved here and we saw that everything was going to be hard to do in the medical profession, we said, ‘OK, we need to reinvent ourselves,’” says Reyes. “We are warriors, so we need to keep going, right? And God showed us the way.”
The path to making Mobile home proved to be a slow and laborious process, but when Venezuelan chef Vladimir Anez — who previously worked for Reyes’ father at his restaurant in Venezuela — moved to the States, it presented an opportunity for the family to bring Venezuelan cuisine to the American South. Opening The Tigers Bar & Grill allowed them to rewrite their story in a new place.
“We know that everyone has a purpose,” says Reyes, “and this is one of ours.”
Their goal of debuting Venezuelan flavors in Mobile serves a dual purpose: Not only are they tapping into an untouched market as the first and only Venezuelan restaurant in the area, but they are also providing a piece of home for their children and neighbors seeking familiar comforts. The Tigers offers traditional Venezuelan dishes prepared using organic, all-natural ingredients sourced from Miami for optimal freshness and authenticity.
The regional specialties don’t stop at their dining menu, though. Venezuelan coffee and freshly pressed juices are served up behind the bar, and imported Venezuelan candies and souvenirs are displayed at the counter to serve as a mini market for anyone seeking a true taste of Venezuela.
Reyes and Matos encourage their fellow Mobilians to branch out and give their native cuisine a try even if they are unsure what to expect. While tacos aren’t found on their Venezuelan menu, arepas are, and a craving for the former might be equally satisfied by the latter. The Tigers is a unique, authentic cultural and culinary experience that will transport you to Venezuela without ever leaving Mobile.
On the Menu
Pabellón Criollo
Order the national dish of Venezuela to get an authentic taste of shredded beef, black beans, white rice, plantains and slices of fresh avocado.
Patacón Mechada
Spice up your sandwich game with shredded beef, ham, cheese, lettuce, cabbage and verdant guasacaca sauce layered between slices of fried plantain.
La Cabimera
Crispy gluten-free arepas are topped with shredded beef, ham, chorizo, lettuce, cabbage, guasacaca sauce and boiled eggs for a rich and flavorful bite.
Tigresa Coffee
Named after Reyes herself, this fragrant coffee is sourced from Venezuela and flavored with cinnamon, sugar and powdered milk for a luxuriously creamy sip.
The Tigers Bar & Grill • 873 Hillcrest Road. 251-348-7007. thetigersrestaurant.com
Tue – Thu 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fri – Sat 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mon
