Food=Good.... Service=Horrible. This place has a diva bartender who thinks that the customers are there to serve her. Unless you are one of her bar-fly friends, don't count on prompt or polite service. The hostess is also young and unprofessional. The place is tiny... and while it has good food, they need to invest in a professional hostess who can work with customers to manage the flow. OK for a casual meal, but DON"T go here for a special night... pick one of the other solid options in Brookline. read more

Sick of the run-of-the-mill bar scene and pub-grub? Went to Orinoco and was PLEASANTLY surprised. Venezuelan food... whoda thunkit!? Tried the 'maracuchitos' which were pieces of cheese sandwiched between plaintains... ummm yeah. Then they fry it. Crispy, warm... delicious. Had an arepa of shredded beef and queso, too! The corn pocket it comes in is somehow both chewy and crispy.... it's good stuff. gud, gud stuff. Also tried a pineapple mojito and it was glorious. Long story short, try this place for a great change of pace. It's also a nice spot to take a hot date. read more

The Orinoco in Brookline is like the Khloe to the South End's Kim - somewhat less popular, but very much from the same roots. Whereas the wait in the South End is inevitable, we were seated in this location right away, which is a big plus in my book. After multiple visits to Orinoco, I have yet to go wrong with the menu. I highly recommend the maracuchitos (cheese-filled plantains) and the bacon-wrapped dates as appetizers. The empanadas are also fantastic, as is the pernil arepa. My one nit with this place is that my friend's virgin margarita was a whopping $9, which is the same as any alcoholic beverage on their menu. Can you really justify charging that much when you just dump margarita mix in a salt-dipped glass and call it a day? The waiter's explanation was less than satisfactory - "It's actually on the cheap end of our drink list." Maybe because it's not an actual drink? Mini-rant over. Come here for the food. You'll have a great meal. read more

This could be the biggest miss in the Brookline/Boston area restaurants for me. After reading a decent review on Yelp, I decided to throw my birthday party there, to take place 2nite (10/1). I called on Saturday to book and was told that generally they don't take reservations but do make exceptions for larger parties, and asked for me to call back the next day to confirm. Seemed reasonable. I did and spoke to a young man that said they have a large "communal" table that could accomodate our party of 10+ for dinner at 7, followed by some stragglers who might come just for dessert and drinks and could pull up chairs. I promised to call back Tuesday to confirm my final number. They also said they couldn't do a cake but I was welcome to bring my own cake for a $1 plate charge per person. Cool. I then emailed my pals the info. On Tuesday I called back as promised and this time got the hotel manager Rick. WHAT A CALLOUS, UNPROFESSIONAL, RUDE JERK. He said (a) they would not reserve the space for us after all, (b) they have a policy against reservations. Period. (c) He didn't care that his staff had confirmed and that I had sent out the invites. (d) He said if I wanted to do a set menu with just a few items, he might make an exception. (e) He informed me that Andre the owner was on vacation and would back him up either way. When I asked him if he was really willing to give up such a large group who wanted to try his new restaurant, he just didn't care period, and that his business would and could not be affected. My take. We're now going to the far more friendly and fabulous counterpart to South End's 28 Degrees (where I threw last year's wonderful soiree) called Lineage, right up the street also in Brookline on Harvard Street. They were THRILLED to get my business and simply no attitude. They're putting a lovely dessert platter with candles together as well. I can't wait. You would think when a new restaurant comes to town, they would have the common sense to worship those of us who patronize their restaurants by having birthday parties (read: drinking/eating...!) on a Wednesday night no less. The manager Rick of the disreputable Orinoco surely needs to be retrained, and frankly if it were my restaurant I would immediately fire him after this debacle. No food or restaurant would be worth this kind of nonsense anyway, and as a resident of Brookline who eats out a lot, I personally don't welcome such restaurants into Brookline's foray. Please tell all your friends to avoid this place like the plague and maybe we'll get a decent well-managed restaurant in the neighborhood sooner than later. read more

Walk into Orinoco, and you'll notice three things right off the bat: 1) It smells fantastic, like you walked into your mama's kitchen on a Sunday afternoon before dinner, but better. 2) The atmosphere is gorgeous; dark and rustic. Candlelight, with an eclectic mix of traditional and modern decor set against brightly painted beadboard and brick. Seating is intimate and communal. This would be a fantastic place to take a date! 3) The staff is very friendly and helpful, and 3a) The bartenders favor a loooooooong pour.) Wahoo! I visited with friends. 3 apps and 2 entrees, plus a tiny quesillo (very similar to a flan, with an eggier consistency) and a few mojitos more than satisfied this trio! Menu highlights included the traditional entrée of asada negro, as well as the fried plantain and cheese bites. The mojitos were gorgeous, strong, and perfectly balanced. The quesillo was unremarkable, and although we were looking forward to the cachapas (a sweet corn pancake arepa with cheese), the appetizer fell flat. It was greasy, burned, and salty. One small misstep in an otherwise solid meal. Go to Orinoco! Bring a date or your best little crew. Order a round of cocktails, get adventurous with the menu, and soak up the atmosphere---you won't regret it! read more

This place is cut from the exact same rustic, tin ceiling, amazing wood finished, muted hued, adorable! cloth as the South end location. great drinks, decent beer selection (5 or 6 from Brazil, Mexico, DR & sometimes Venezuela) and cheerful service. The dishes are all speedily prepared and are actually authentic. We had a million dishes and had a sharing free for all, because that's what friends do. We had Mechada which is a salad with little beef empanada's around it, Maracuchitos, which is cheese wrapped in plantains, Polvoroso de Pollo, which is a flaky chicken pastry sweet treat, a handful of arepa selections and the Pabellon Criollo which is a standard dish with shredded beef, rice & plantains...reminded me of the Bim Bop of Venezuela..kind of. Everything was great. They have the standard juices that my boyfriend requires like Guanabana and Tamarindo and the standard beers for me! It's not a fancy propose to your girl kind of place, but it is adorable & precise. There is a simplicity and an elegance at Orinoco-that is hard to pull off. The neurotic maniac that lives inside of me l-o-v-e-s that the credit card machine prints out your name in lowercase letters beneath your signature...but that's because I'm a little loco in the brain. read more

I really wish I could have made this atleast a 3-start review, but I felt 2 stars was fair for the experience. I had been absolutely dying to try Orinoco, especially because La Casa de Pedro is good but I don't love their entrees. We have good family friends from Venezuela and although I have only been there once, my mother has been there a number of times. We were excited to try potentially find a new place for Venezuelan food! My mother, father, and I went for dinner on a Friday night around 8pm. We were greeted right away by the hostess (always a good sign). The place was packed, but we were really excited to eat there so we decided to wait. Luckily a table for 3 opened up in about 15 minutes. I did notice there was only one bartender who looked extremely stressed out, she was calling rapidly for others to come under the bar. We were seated about 3 booths removed from the door and every time the door opened you were frozen. I felt bad for the tables closer to the door because we had to eat with our coats over our shoulders. This made my mother miserable. The waitress was extremely friendly and knowledgeable but it seemed like she was one of 3 waitstaff there. Our drinks took an insanely long time but our food was out relatively quickly. For apps we got the tequenos (our absolute favorite thing) and the Verde empanada which said it came with "3 salsalitas" and a salad in the middle. The tequenos were WAY over cooked and they were covered in ketchup. The menu says they are "served with" ketchup but not that it is dumped all over it. My father does not like ketchup at all and it was kind of disappointing. The ones at La Casa de Pedro are much better. The empanada was good and so was the salad but there was no salsa or anything accompanying them? I didn't ask. So far into the meal, our experience had not been very good, because our apps were ok, we were freezing, and our drinks were taking forever. Our entrees though were absolutely delicious. I had a steak special that was amazing and very decently priced. It was cooked perfectly and topped with Venezuelan cheese and greens. My mother had the Pollo Adobo and my father had the Empanada Machada, which we agreed was better than the Verde. The chicken dish was also very, very good. On the suggestions of numerous other Yelp reviews, I ordered the yuca that comes with the mojo sauce (it says on the menu). I even mentioned to our waitress that I was excited to try the sauce. When a different server brough the yuca by itself and started to walk away I asked "Doesn't it come with mojo sauce?" He said "Oh yea I can bring you some if you want." Of course I want it! It says it on the menu! At the end of the meal, we asked for Venezuelan coffee (that is on the menu) and we were told they didn't have any. The substitute coffee was practically undrinkable. For dessert we shared the Torta Fluida. It is described as a molten chocolate cake but it is more of a warm, chocolate liquid with really no substance. It was still good, but not what I was expecting. I would love to go back because my steak was so good, but I don't know if I will because of all the other parts of my experience. read more

Great food, great drinks, cozy atmosphere. Can get a little bit busy but a great time!

We tried Orinoco today for the 1st time for a birthday lunch, and were very happy with it. I could see that Rick who met us at the door - the manager, perhaps - watched over the service from his post at the bar and came by our table several times to check on things. He and our server were both absolutely professional, but also fun and pleasant; always a good start. Three of the four items we ordered were outstanding. (1.)The beet and goat cheese salad with pine nuts and the freshest and tastiest baby greens was just delicious. The dressing was made with a light hand and was a perfect compliment to the ingredients. We will go back again just for this salad. (2.) The quanabana drink we had was excellent. It is made from frozen fruit and, really, it tasted like what we make in Mexico from the fresh fruit. It is such a refreshing drink! Try it. (3.) Oh dear. I'm not sure I remember the name of the item we weren't as crazy about. Shredded beef or pork in a corn meal pocket. Arepas, maybe. It wasn't bad at all, but not something I would order again because it was a little heavy for us for lunch and after the hearty beet salad we'd already had. I think if you come in with a bigger appetite you would enjoy it; it is a hearty and flavorful bite. (4.) The molten chocolate dessert is, to quote our waitress, TO DIE FOR. Yes, absolutely. It was intensely dark and molten and heavenly. (5.) My husband also ordered a coffee, espresso I think, that came in its own little brewing pot and looked thick enough to walk on, which is just how he likes it. Delicious. So that's actually four out of five items on the menu that we give five stars to. In addition, the room itself is great. Brick walled with lots of photos of old Venezuela, I guess, that are interesting to browse. The music is high-energy Latino, pleasantly audible but not getting in the way of conversation at lunch. Rick mentioned that they do open for dinner at 5:30 and that's a good time to come if you don't want to wait for a table, so we will probably follow up on that tip soon. Apparently they are very busy at dinner, deservedly so. This is a great addition to the eclectic mix of places for foodies in Brookline. read more

+ delicious food! + great night time ambiance: dim lighting, not loud or crowded + small place, cozy feel + nice and knowledgeable staff +Accessible via 66 bus down Harvard Ave. - seats are really close together, def. heard my neighbors on both sides - limited seating when/if busy (although this has not been a personal problem) Came here on Sunday night for dinner for the first time and it was delicious! Got the white and red sangria and I have to say the RED wins! It's got a hint of guava in it and very fruity and sweet. The white is more of a peach and carbonated feel which was still good, but I found myself stealing my counterpart's drink a lot. MAIN DISH--Parrilla Caraqueña and something actually not on this main menu, but has been on the restaurant's menu for a long time--both steak dishes cooked and seasoned to perfection. I asked for medium rare and that's what I got. I also ordered a side of fried plantains and it was simple, but good. For $5 the sides are literally just that--sides. I had maybe the total of one plantain for my side dish. The ambiance of the place definitely feels "date" like or for small gatherings. (Although There was a table of 8 on the other side who looked comfy just the same!). It's just a super dim place. Like virtual no lighting, one candle per table and you are dangerously close to your neighbors. It's a fairly small place so I understand they're trying to squeeze more tables to maximize value, but things can get a little weird when you're that close to strangers. Especially when you're trying to get up and things are bumpin' everywhere! This doesn't take away from how good I felt about the place in terms of food and service, just something note worthy. Enjoyed it, will be back! read more

Best.mojitos.ever. You have to get the kind with the fresh fruit! They are a little small, but well worth it. My only wish is that they had pitchers. I have had 2 good experiences here... It's a fun place, good service, and reasonably priced food. I've never not liked something I ordered, and I highly reccomend the steak & arugula salad (I can't remember the name). Even the specials are under 20 bucks! I also had this appetizer called Oysters Rodreguez.. which was so good! Fried oysters on a bed of creamy spinach. Can't beat that! So if you're looking to try something different, I would give it a shot. It's a cute little date place... And it's something exotic! read more

Thank you, Orinoco. Thank you for getting 5 people seated in ~10 minutes at 6:30 on a Saturday night. Thank you for the delicious shredded beef arepa (and the equally fantastic dipping sauce). Thank you for the incredibly flavorful beef tenderloin cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Thank you for the amazingly rich molten dark chocolate cake. I can't comment on the authenticity (first time tasting Venezuelan cuisine), but I can say that everything was pretty freaking delicious. read more

I grew up in Venezuela and I am from Miami. So, I do know Latin food. Every Venezuelan I speak with does not eat at Orinoco in Brookline. They all say the food is way over priced and not very good. I agree. It is a shame because this restaurant is only three blocks from my condo. I refuse to pay exorbitant prices for average/fair Latin food and expensive drinks. For good Latin food at a reasonable price go to El Oriental de Cuba in JP. The only negative about El Oriental de Cuba is they do not have a liquor license. read more

The meal I had recently at Orinoco, was one the best I've had in Boston. I can't even remember exactly what it was, other than utterly delicious. I believe it was a sort of crispy snapper, offered as the day's specials. My friend had another special, the ribs, which he also raved about. BUT minus one star . .. because . . .1.) it's awfully dark in there. I imagine there is a lot of fabulous color about, but it's all for not in the darkness, 2.) tight teeny tables, 3.) no reservation policy, 4.) you are required to place your full order at ONCE . . no putting appetizers in first or small bites in stages , and 5.) $5 fee for sharing an entree. (These last two are particularly UNCOOL. Both encourage over-ordering and overeating. [Or really limit your choices and your experience] Not cool at all.). read more

Venezuelan brunch is only offered on Sundays and I absolutely love the Pa' Los Gringos. The eggs are cooked perfectly, the sausage had great depth and flavor, and I love the yucca hash. It also comes with a plain arepa that was pretty large and thick with grill marks (I wasn't a fan of the arepa--it seemed pretty dry and tough to me, but maybe that's how arepas are supposed to be...?). And best thing? The Pa Los Gringos is just 10 bucks for a large amount of food! The Cachapa Pabellon was also a massive amount of food (definitely feeds two girls) and really delicious. It is a corn pancake, with real corn kernels in it, stuffed with everything you would want at a Venezuelan restaurant: savory beef cooked until it falls apart, rich black beans, sweet fried plantains, and, of course, cheese. And, it doesn't get crazy busy on Sunday mornings unlike some other places, which is great for eating in groups! They have long tables to seat large parties as well as booths and small tables. The decor is cool and makes you feel like you are in Venezuela. Staff is friendly and attentive. One of my favorite places! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the whole city. I've also eaten at the South End and Harvard location and both are excellent (Harvard location has outdoor seating), but this one remains the best for me. If you're going for the crowd the other locations might be more interesting to you but I've had the best dishes and most attentive service here. Recommend at a date restaurant. read more

My son and I went over on Saturday evening to try some Venezuelan, South American food. We were hoping for some great local food, but ended up with a so/so meal. A 6.5 out of 10. ( Our personal rating system) This being the first time we visited Orinoco's, we decided trying and sharing 5 different appetizers instead of having entrees. The fried oyster special app on a bed of cooked spinach was the best. The Antojitos sampler was also very good with a delicious tangy dipping sauce. Next up were 2 different Arepas which were extremely difficult to eat. The bread is thick and chewy and difficult to gracefully eat without gnawing away at it. I asked for a steak knife to cut it and I could not even cut it with the knife. My son said the bread was old- the waitress said it was from the corn flour- either way, I would not order these again. Finally we had the Tostones which came out hot and fresh. The only problem was that after the 3rd bite, there just wasn't enough flavors or texture going on with this to keep us interested. We might try the place another night, this time to explore the entree's. On the other hand, with so many great restaurants in the Boston area, I am not sure that I will find myself here again. read more

Three words: Bacon wrapped dates! Whoever thought of this little treat should receive a knighthood or something. Love this place for good South American food. One of my favorite foods ever, plantains, are excellent here. I also enjoy the ability to get South American beer. Beyond the awesome food, the cocktails are amazing! read more

Positives: Delicious Arepas, great Sangria, excellent, friendly, and fast service. Negatives: They don't take reservations read more

Orinoco is the perfect neighborhood restaurant to bring friends who are visiting from out of town. The restaurant is located in a really neat space with unique decorations and the lights are kept quite low in the evenings, making for an intimate feel. It can get quite crowded on weekends but they do use communal seating at some tables, making the wait a bit shorter than it would be otherwise. Datiles (bacon-wrapped dates) are always a crowd pleaser for a starter, as are the trio de empanadas. For many of the main courses I recommend getting a side of yucca, as some of the mains are not very filling by themselves (but are delicious nonetheless). An exception to this is the pabellon criollo which is very filling and extremely satisfying. I've only had the brunch once, and it was definitely not as good as dinner, although the menu seems to have been reworked since my brunch visit and may be worth another shot! The service is always friendly and fast. Overall, a great spot for a low-key dinner in Brookline Village. read more

You can find an eatery that might have great food, or great atmosphere, great service but it is rare to find a place that is able to balance all three. Orinoco is such a place. While visiting Boston recently, my wife and I decided to have lunch while on our way home. I usually Yelp the area we're in but since I forgot, we had to wing it. Since we were in the area the night before and I had seen a few restaurants that looked interesting, the plan was to go back and walk around to see what would look interesting. Well, we parked the car, saw the store front across the street, read the menu on the window, search over. As we entered the motif is an awesome Spanish, South American flare with rough wood and brick accented by colorful masks and other artifacts. A long country table fills the center of the room surrounded by rugged blue wooden chairs. The booths and tables are roomy. We love to sit at the bar and so we did. Our waitress/bartendress was the witty Maria. She is what brings everything together. Her knowledge and personality give the place a real up beat and homey feel. The food was great. We order some appetizers, drinks and sandwiches and everything was prepared fresh, tasted great, and was made with such pride. We enjoyed every potion of our visit and I'm sure that we will be back the next time we're in town. read more

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This place has been consistently fresh and out of the norm food. I was back here after a 3-4 year absence and it didn't fail to deliver... Fresh empanadas with beef stew and crisp arugula salad...my staple. Nice treat for my weekend return to Boston! read more

It almost pains me to give Orinoco three stars - but in the end I have to because despite the strengths of their positives, their negatives pack just slightly more punch. + The food is delicious. I got the adobo-rubbed tuna with frisee and pumpkin seeds - amazing. The bf really did it right though by getting the Palmito salad (especially delighting in the bacon-wrapped figs) and an arepa. A unique, tasty, and filling meal for around $15. + The drinks are equally great. Bf is half-Brazilian, and has been trying to preach the delight of cachaca to me for a while - but I find it too strong. But in Orinoco's caipirinha I actually enjoy it. Their classic mojito is awesome, and they don't skimp on the mint. The coconut counterpart is also good (if not somewhat sweet) - with flakes of coconut throughout. + I always love an open kitchen. Dining entertainment! And now the not-so-good... - I get that you're popular and want to make the most $$ possible. But for the love of love - the tables on the left side of the restaurant are TOO close together. If you have to pull out the tables to give your patrons room to shimmy into their seats, you're not setting a good first impression. And if you happen to be seated next to someone who is obnoxiously loud/talking about something in a TMI fashion/doesn't understand the concept of personal space, your entire dining experience can be ruined. Which is exactly why we didn't stay for dessert, even though I was craving something sweet! read more

I really liked this place. It gives such a friendly vibe. Drinks were good. I like the menu because I like to eat tapas-style and you can do something similar here with the small arepas and empanadas. Tried a couple of variations of both, and they were all delicious. The ceviche was a special the night I went and it was really good too. Beware vegetarians and non-red-meat eaters. It will be difficult for you to eat really well here. I am neither although I do like to eat vegetarian when it suits me and the best stuff here is the meat. Not open on Mondays (which is when I ALWAYS get the craving!) read more

I love Orinoco! I visited the Brookline Village location this summer after having been to the South End location years ago. It was as good as I remember. I like that it's casual but still totally acceptable for a Saturday night out. The interior is intimate and the staff is friendly and helpful. The standouts are of course the arepas. There was also a delicious salmon special. Personally, my favorite arepa is the Reina Pepiada. Really exceptional! Personally, I found the baby back ribs a tad on the sweet side. Drinks are also excellent. read more

Delicious food with awesome atmosphere! Great little restaurant in quaint area. All the food is amazing. Spanish style drinks taste great, sangria is particularly good. Empanadas are great. Steak with chimichuri is delicious. Portions are not huge so order a few small plates for appetizers if you go hungry. Not a big place so if you're going in a big group expect a wait ( more than 4 people). Small bar that looks cool but fills up quick so hard to grab a drink while you wait for your table. Also, not a lot of space to wait for your table inside, so if you're going in the winter, call beforehand to see if there is a wait. Staff are pleasant. Fairly pricey. $110 for 2 people with sangria, 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. Overall, will be going back. read more

This place is absolutely excellent. First, a few words. This isn't Mexican food, it's Venezuelan food. They're different. I'm not a HUGE Mexican food fan; i like it, but could never LOVE it. This place, however, is excellent! What I really like about the menu here (besides the perfect execution) is that it's just very different from any restaurant I've been to in a long while. A few small plates, a few entrees... and lots of Sangria. I'm not going to ramble on incessantly about what I had and why I liked it. Instead I'll just urge you to give it a try, and I'll try to assure you that you won't be disappointed.... read more

Yes, yes, yes. I'm so excited to have Orinoco's near by! Can't you tell! I have long seen and read about the original in the south end but had never been mostly because of location. But down from pure exuberance to info: 1. What you used to be here: crappy fish place. 2. Now, a small romantically light u-shaped space. In the center of the U is the bar, see more later. Around the sides are several 2 and 4 person tables and in the center a long table that they sit one or more parties, so be prepared. 3. The food was so good and the place smelled so good that you almost forget that the food is fairly low-priced. We had dinner for 3 with appetizers, drinks and dessert and spent the same as Matt Murphy's for less food. The steak dishes were great and as well as the mechada (sp) empananda. For moving us and delaying our seating, we did watch 4 groups of similarly sized get seated ahead of us - no reservations? They compted us 2 molten chocolate cakes... 4. What you first need to know about my review of their chocolate cake, is that I don't have a sweet tooth - a fat tooth, yes - but no sweet tooth. I can take it or leave it. I still think about this cake/airy/runny/dark chocolate heaven. Honestly, it was amazing. 5. Bar/drinks. They clearly have some professional bartenders and an interesting drink list. My first try was way to sweet for me but I'm sure delicious to a sweet drink lover. For brookline and esp of brookline village it is a very fun bar to sit at and watch. Maybe it's b/c the spot opened so recently but it certainly was the most diverse crowd I've seen around the area. You can also eat at the bar which is good to know. 6. So, I know I'm rambling but I really really loved this place. The only reason I'm withholding one star is b/c of the numerous parties seated ahead of us without reason - they don't take reservation. I'm completely willing to revise later if it was a factor of welcoming all the their friends/regulars/benefactors in their first week. (I do suppose that if I went to my friends restaurant that I'd want some perks) Go! read more

Yes. Go to Orinoco and have yourself a Calteluo. What the what? It's a spicy mojito and it's very good. This of course depends on the bartender. Oh yes, the food is great too. I've tried most of the items on the menu and they are all great. I brought my family from France here for dinner one night and they loved it. Well done Orinoco! Good food, service, and drinks. Parking can get challenging however there is a parking lot across the street behind the Starbucks if you cannot find on-street parking. Don't tell anyone. Try it, you'll like - Dan O read more

For those of you that like Latin American food this place is a must. Venezuelan cuisine with a gourmet treatment works every time. Everything in the menu is tasty. The flatbreads are amazing. The churrasco tender and juicy. Great empanadas and the salad is awesome. Do not worry about how fast or slow the place is. One goes out to eat and have a good time. In any event service is also great. read more

Good food, good authentic south America variety, good bar and drinks, a bit noisy (not a place for a serious conversation), overcrowded until 9 PM. If you can eat later (or earlier), opt to that hour of the night. Even the music is better. Less Techno. read more

Been here a few times, last time was a few years ago. Forgot how good it was. All three of us loved it. PS: Yelp has it wrong, on Sundays it opens at 5:30pm! read more

Orinoco's is cool, so cool I was surper-surprised (and pleased) that I was in Brookline Village. I sat at the bar with a friend, and we split: a carafe of sangria--a bit sweet (we're talkin' pineapple) but distinct and very fun; a salad--fresh greens, good cheese and warm wrapped meet pockets on the side; two apps--the bacon dates with crushed almonds or something inside and the baby octopus atop mini-plantain chips; and an entree--red-snapper, which is the one thing I would not suggest If I went back I would get the salad again and explore the rest of the menu. The food on the whole was a solid balance of creative, fresh and safely-tasty, up for meat. The scene - lively, friendly, datey but okay for families or friends for sure...latin music playing. Very cool bartender. I'll go there again. read more

The environment is dark , stuffs are very friendly , I love their homemade spicy sauce read more

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I came here with the boy for dinner last night and was terribly pleased with our meal. We sat at the bar after a decent (and expected, given the time we got there) wait. He had a Pisco Sour and I had a Cojito (delicious!) with our appetizers of Bacon Wrapped Dates (MORE IN MY MOUTH NOW) and Guayanesa Arepa. Dinner itself was delicious as well. He had the Adobo Chicken and I had the Parrilla Caraquena and I have to say that the yuca frita that came with my dish is the best I've had outside of South Florida. Absolutely delicious. The bartender was our server and I'd have to say she was just the right mix of attentive and reserved, touching base when we needed an additional drink but not harassing us about each and every aspect of our meal. The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the sangria. I found it way too sweet. Think I'll be stick with Dali in Somerville when I need my Sangria fix. read more

Brookline Village location is one of my favorite restaurants - great food and atmosphere, wonderful wait staff, delicious. This place has been one of our top two places we have tried to support during these crazy past two years. read more

I love this place. The staff are so mellow and friendly. The atmosphere is swanky and just loud enough that if you bring kids no one really hears them and you can almost pretend they aren't there and you're just enjoying a nice meal out with your spouse. I have no idea how they achieve it, but every time we've gone with our kids we just sort of forget they are there and they are happy, too. I think it is because they give the kids those little metal mugs...Anyway, in addition to the fantastic ambiance and waitstaff, the menu rocks and the arepas are out of this world awesome. The specials are always great, too, so definitely give them a try. read more

Such a cute place! I lived in Brookline for 11 years and only managed to visit Orinoco just last week. We really enjoyed the caipirinhas, the dates stuffed with marzipan and wrapped in a nice crispy layer of bacon, the arepas and the plantains stuffed with cheese. We were not that hungry so just ordered drinks and some apps and arepas. There's lots of interesting stuff to observe on the wall including some festival masks. Even the bathrooms are nicely decorated with postcards from Venezuela and folk art style pieces. It was not particularly crowded, but that may be because we came a bit on the early side, right after work. Will definitely be back. We also scored a prime meter spot, right outside the restaurant, so parking was not an issue. You could also park on the side streets. read more

The food and service are both good. They have a large variety of vegetarian options. They don't take reservations so try to get there close to opening if you don't want to wait awhile. read more

Nice place in Brookline Village. They had an oyster appetizer that was sublime. I had picked the place because one of our party needs to eat gluten-free and the Yelp reviews mentioned the many GF options (grilled meats and vegetables). Steak, lamb chops, and baby back ribs filled the entree list. Flavorfull salads. Anything fried, though, can't be gluten-free because they don't have a separate fryer. Quality stuff and great service. It would be nice if they took reservations. 4 stars! read more