We have been to Orinoco several times and loved it. I first discovered the south end location which is quaint and lovely with great outdoor seating, but small and impossible to park. Most recently we have been going to the Brookline Village location. It is still small and intimate but has a bit more room and obviously not impossible parking. I went with my wife and daughter and we were all pleased with our food. The have both family style dining (long tables) and booths. The decor just like the SE location has a very Cocina Latino feel to it with painted wood and Venezuelan art. We ordered the Reina Pepiada (chicken salad) arepa and the Fried yucca as an appetizer. They both come with this amazing lime sauce that I cannot get enough of. The Arepa is challenging to eat because the chicken and avacado kind of squishes out but the taste is worth a little mess. For our entrees I ordered the panela-crusted mahi mahi which was served over a spicy beef. It was a strange combo I thought but worked very well. My daughter had the Adobo Smoked Tenderloin Churrasco and she raved about it. My wife had the Polvorosa De Pollo (which she always gets) and she enjoyed it. We did not order drinks this visit, but for the record they make one of the best Mojitos I have ever had and Negro Modelo always goes good with latin food. ON other visit I have ordered the Tuna and it is flavorful and rare and awesome. The waitstaff was cheery and friendly and I alway love their Arepa Girl/Boy T-shirts. We went on a Saturday night and even though it was quite busy we only waited for about 20 minutes. read more

Went for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night around 7pm. Wait wasn't too long but they will not seat you until your whole party is there so no point in going early and holding a table. The service was really friendly though. read more

Went here with the boyfriend last night. They were fairly busy but we were seated right away. The tables along the side of the restaurant are reallllly close together; the waiter actually had to maneuver it to the side so that my boyfriend could get into the booth bench. This does cause a bit of difficulty in having conversation, and also in placing orders for the person sitting on the outside of the table - I had to turn almost completely around both times our waiter came by to talk to us. The ordering process is a bit weird as you have to order appetizers and entrees at once, but we put in our drink order at the same as our food. I tried the cojito, and it was probably the best thing I had there; perfect amount of coconut and the mint wasn't overwhelming as it sometimes can be in mojito-like drinks. We started with an order of the empanada trio; I found it a bit odd that the server did not explain to us which of the three was which. They were all pretty good and came with a creamy mojo sauce that I really enjoyed. For dinner I ordered the beef tenderloin churrasquito and my boyfriend had the costillitas (baby back ribs with a guava bbq sauce). When our food arrived it looked great - and the ribs certainly were. My food was less than stellar, mostly owing to the fact that every bit of food on my plate was cold. I would have been happy to point this out to our server had he come back to check on us at all, but he didn't until my boyfriend had finished his food (which I tried and was great!), and came to take our plates away and give us our check at our request. So, while I'm sure the issue with my food was a one off, I also feel like the issue with the service is not. I've never before been to a restaurant where a diner will sit with a full plate of food in front of them for 20 minutes, while occasionally trying to get someone's attention, and to not even have a question raised about it while the plate is cleared except to ask if I wanted to take it home. I even told him when he was taking it away that it wasn't great and still nothing. It was so weird to me that he didn't pick up on any of that and didn't even check in on us once the food was delivered or to see if we wanted other drinks. I'm never the sort to make a big deal about something like this, but would have asked that the food maybe be refired briefly to get it up to temperature had I been given the opportunity. read more

This is quite the tasty hidden gem in Brookline, as introduced to me and my fiancé through a mutual friend. We all went for a little get together after work, and I was very impressed with the food that was offered up before us. :) First you should know the location isn't largest out there, but it's not cramped either. Just be warned that as the night goes on and gets busier the wait for a table could be a little longer. Especially if you have a pretty decent group there to eat. We arrived just before the rush and managed to get a seat, but then near the end of our meal felt a bit rushed by the small crowd that was slowly forming at the door. While no one asked us to leave, we did feel bad continuing our visit for too long. (At no fault to the Orinoco Restaurant) We started out with a delicious Areras, the Mecheda one actually. The shredded beef was almost sweet in taste, but was so very delicious. And the great corn backed 'pocket' that it was with just made it that much better. Toning down the sweetness, just barely, and really bring out a lot of flavor. I honestly could have had several more of these as my meal and been in heaven! My main course was the Parrilla Caraquena, which is like a variety plate of small meats grilled up and delicious. Of these were Steak (a smaller like 5oz portion), 1/4 chicken, and some chorizo (Spanish sausage). Everything was great, but with the only complaint being the steak was just a LITTLE dry. Not even bad enough to discount points, because everything was seasoned so well and just very tasty overall. The chicken was very moist and great to eat, and the sausage wasn't quiet as spicy as I normally experience but was still good. I wish I was coming back to the Boston area, or at least up there for a regular visit, because there are a lot of things on the menu that I would like to try and didn't get too. The menu had a lot of great options, and if what I had was this good, then I know I will be missing out on other treats that I missed out on. Service was very good, she was able to explain all the options to us, and even special order some items so we could swap for different sides. Attentive to check on us, but not in an annoying way, and keep full glasses and no waiting for the check. I definitely recommended it for a night out, and with the atmosphere it would actually make for a pretty good date night! Just saying... read more

Rib appetizers were passable...just passable....if you like your ribs saucy and without too much meat. I like mines meaty, tender, and sawced just right... Your smoked churrasco had the right flavors, no complaints here. It coulda been a tad more tender. The arugula salad that accompanied the dish was good. Your grilled plate....the parilla cara...whatcha'ma'call'it....was kick-outta-bed worthy. The protein was grilled all right, grilled to the bone, draining all those juices that can make even a thirsty fella' shrivel up. As good as the yuca frita was, it didn't save this dish. Orinoco, not mind blowing but not entirely bad either. I mayyyy be back to try your arepas.....they be rare in Beantown and I be missing them since my tdot trip. read more

Caipirinha. Fried yuca with mojo. Caipirinha. La llanera arepa. Caipirinha. Torta fluida. Caipirinha. Delicious. read more

I really like Orinoco. A lot. Can not come here without getting a shredded beef arepa. So greasy but sooo good! Also, the bacon wrapped dates either as an app or in the delicious hearts of palm salad. Amazing. I shared the mixed grilled meats platter last time and it was pretty good. Steak was cooked perfectly, the chicken was OK (pretty basic grilled chicken) but the chorizo was ridiculously tasty. Their fried plantains are bomb too. I'm a sucker for plantains. I always leave here feeling way too happy. Not sure if that's from the food coma or the endorphins from the spicy mojitos... read more

Orinoco still remains one of my favorite go-to spots for great food and excellent cocktails. Whether you're looking for just apps and drinks, a cheap but tasty lunch, or an all-out delicious dinner, this place is a no-brainer. Things I highly recommend: Datiles (always get these, no question) Costillitas Yucca fries (they are so crisp and flavorful here, I actually prefer these over potato fries nowadays, especially with the delicious mojo dipping sauce) Arepas Polvorosa de Pollo Caipirinhas or mojitos (go for the fresh fruit flavors, I like the mango or passionfruit) It is tiny and gets crowded early, so plan ahead. read more

I tried dinner. I loved their South End arepas so I figured I couldn't go wrong. The wait was under 20 minutes so we had caipirinha at the bar. The decor was charming and the servers friendly. We started with the most tasties fried oyster appetizer. It was so interesting- on a bed of something sweet (can't remember...but delicious!!!)... I had the "Asado Negro": panela and onion slow-cooked beef and sauce with rice and sweet plantains. Tasty yes. But the beef was a little tough. Not too tough- a little. The plantains were yum. read more

I fell in love with this place the second I walked in. The decorations were like a big fiesta exploded in a very nice darkly lit cantina... ya kind of weird description but this is exactly the sort of place I would love to drink margaritas in. Unfortunately, this place didn't seem to have margaritas (whhhaa?) but they did have a delicious looking avocado-coconut creation that they were out of (double whhhaa?) so I ended up getting a guava mojito that was a specialty fruit mojito. It was a little thick but after I added a little water to it It was great. The kitchen was closed when we got there at 10:15pm, but I will definitely be back to try the food that was still amazingly delicious looking and being eaten all around me. UPDATE: Tried to go back again... way too crowded! I had called a little before and they had said that they didn't take reservations but that the wait was only about 15-20 minutes... we got there, they took like 15 minutes to even acknowledge us (and only did after I went searching around the restaurant for someone that worked there) & then said it would be a 45 minute wait. It was truly very annoying... we ended up going to to Matt Murphy's. I'm willing to give this place 1 more chance... but just because this place was so cute and I WANT to like it so badly. Another update- went here and loved it, the food was great and that avocado margarita was amazing! read more

I went here with my wife, my sister, and her wife the other night. We wanted to try some place none of us had been, and we finally decided upon Orinoco. Most of us haven't had much in the way of Venezuelan food, but I figured I might as well gain a little cultural capital into this South American country. I'm sure Hugo Chavez would be proud. The restaurant is small, but not suffocating. The walls have various pieces of art on the wall, and the colors within the restaurant were vibrant yet not overpowering. Basically, it didn't look like someone had raided the local hardware store, stolen every available neon/bright color, and gone berserk with it all in order to make the place seem more Latino faux festive. Save that shit for tourists. A three-sided bar exists immediately to the left of the entrance and it seems like a great place to have a drink (if you can find a seat) while waiting for a table since Orinoco does NOT take reservations. Fortunately, since we're all really, really, really good looking (think Blue Steel or Magnum) we did not have this problem. Or we might have just perfectly timed our entrance. Regardless, we were seated immediately and our server was awesome. I've noticed several reviews put the beat down on the personnel at this joint, but our guy was uber-helpful; he recommended various drinks and meals, he was quick and efficient when needed, yet more reserved with his presence when the four of us simply wanted to talk and enjoy our meal. Honestly, service was top notch. He was definitely a five star employee. So from my experience, service on a Thursday night around seven is immaculate. We started with the arepa pernil and the empanada verde. The arepa was nothing to right home about. If this is Venezuelan street food, I'll stick to delicious carnitas tacos from some Mexican taco truck. The maize that made up the sandwich seemed hard and flavorless, while pork was dried up. The empanada was a different story. Very unexpectedly (I guess I should have read the menu a bit more closely . . . maybe I'm illiterate), it seemed more like a mixed green salad with the empanada cut up into four pieces arranged neatly around the greens. However, the mixture of warm mushroom, cheese, and plantain dough was exquisite when matched with the salad, which had a light, fragrant dressing. Everything complemented each other so well together. My sister and I ordered the pabellon criollo, which consisted of shredded beef, white rice, black beans, and plantains. It was one of the cheaper items on the menu, but that didn't make it any less delicious. The beans and rice were good; you can't really fuck up black beans and rice. If you do, and you're a cook at a restaurant that charges the prices Orinoco charges, your ass should be locked up for the culinary crime of sheer ineptitude. The beef was a decent sized portion and reminded me of the barbacoa I've had at many Mexican joints. My sister seemed to enjoy the meal as well. My wife and her wife also seemed to like their meals. My wife had a steak that was flavorful, but not out of this world, and it was very tiny for the price. I can't quite remember the name of it. My sister's wife had a salad with some seared yellow-fin tuna; I tried the tuna, and it tasted like seared tuna. Both of them seemed to enjoy their meals, but weren't raving about how they couldn't wait to have them again. Basically, if you're in the neighborhood, check it out if you want something different. It won't make you want to book a trip to Venezuela immediately, but it might make you Google the country to learn a little bit more about its culture. Does that sound like faint praise? read more

Been here a couple times to this location, and also to their south end digs. What can I say, this restaurant fills a void for Latin cuisine that otherwise Boston would have little foray into. Luckily this foray is pretty darn solid. So bring your appetite, and be prepared to be filled up with some deliciousness! My advice: get the asado negro with plaintains. So good I got it more than once. read more

I would go for the drinks but skip the food honestly. In my experience it's just overpriced for what it is. Dinner for two with a few drinks will run you about $100, so at that price range my expectations are moderately high. I've been there for dinner twice. The first time I got the shredded pork, which comes with rice and beans. Perfectly fine but nothing special. The second time, I got a sea bass special served with potatoes, and it was pretty bad. Very overcooked, and there was an outer crust that was very hard to cut through. My girlfriend liked her entree, but our appetizer of three empanadas (one bean, one chicken, one crab I believe) just didn't have a lot going on. Could have been fried anything, though the dipping sauce was great. My girlfriend has eaten there a lot more times than I have though and she likes it a look. Good choices for gluten-free g-free people. Anyway it does have many good qualities. Fun and cool decor, nice music, nice staff, and the drinks are really good. Definitely do not miss the avocado colada. Sounds odd but trust me it is a winner. Plus all their mojitos etc. are great. My recommendation would be to hit this place up for a couple bevs and chat up the friendly bartenders before doing dinner somewhere else in the area, such as El Centro right down the street. read more

If I were to judge the restaurant on food alone it would have 5 stars. Their bacon wrapped almond dates are amazing and the lamb dish I had was very tasty too. I'll definitely go back to try some other items I saw that looked enticing as well. Their cocktail choices were good as well and mine was well mixed. The only complaint I have is that it took forever for us to be served -- after our appetizers were cleared it took about an hour for us to get our meal. read more

This place is our regular hangout, our go-to eat out place, our old faithful for out of town guests. We love it! Let's start with the drinks. First off, let me just say that I am not a drinker. But I've tried most of the drinks at Orinoco and i love them all! The regular bartender lady is a true master and she rules that bar like it's her kingdom. I discovered my new favorite drink here: the blood orange caipirinha. Mmm, so good. The avocado colada sounds strange but is silky smooth and incredibly good. The mojitos are a can't miss either. Not too minty, not too sweet - perfect! Here I am going on and on about the drinks and I don't even drink that much! On to the food... My "regular" here is the Orinoco salad - grapes, tomatoes, almonds, feta, and grilled chicken blended with mixed greens and a delightfully light yet flavorful dressing. I always worry it won't fill me up but the portion is generous and I always wind up feeling full yet healthy. And for $8?! It can NOT be beat. My fiance has tried just about everything on the other side of the menu. His favorites include the tuna entree and the sliced beef (can't remember all the names). The sides - beans and rice, yuca with mojo (my favorite!) and fried plantains are comforting and delicious. We always take our out of town guests here because it has something for everything - great drinks, delicious and interesting food, great service, great atmosphere and incredibly reasonable prices (warning though: my favorite drink costs more than my favorite salad!). Couple of things to note: it's hit or miss with the wait. We went on a random Wednesday and waiting nearly 45 minutes once, then scooted right in at 7 pm on a Friday. Regardless, the wait is almost always less than they say it will be so stick it out! Pomodoro is a little pricey and only takes cash and Matt Murphy's serves mostly heavy foods and the place is tiny! Also: the arepas are great to try, especially if you've never had them, but aren't really worth it. They've decreased the size of them so they'll come nowhere close to filling you up. If you do get them, get the cheese ones. They hold together much better. The ones with meat literally fall apart in your hands. But that sauce they come with will change your life. read more

I went with 6 other people and waited for awhile because Orinoco does not take reservations. Since there was no signage, I drove right pass the restaurant and had to turn back to find it. I ordered Pollo Adobo with the gnocchi. At first bite, the gnocchi tasted oily, but after a couple bites, the flavor of the mushroom shined through. The chicken was well seasoned, but on the dry side. My friend ordered the night's special, ribs in pineapple sauce. It was a huge disappointment. The ribs was not marinated long enough so the meat was not flavored. My other friend ordered the lamb dish and that was the best dish of all the entrees. The arepas was quite a bit of disappointment. I ordered the pork arepas and the pork was good, but the corn pocket was difficult to bite in. I do not understand why the waitress would recommend that as an appetizer to share if I was unable to cut the arepas with a steak knife. However, the arepas' dipping sauce is amazing. It was extremely flavorful with a hint of spiciness. For dessert, we had the molten chocolate cake and it was a delight. The dessert is small, but it is made with very rich chocolate. 7 people sharing that one dessert was enough for all of us. The biggest failure of the restaurant was its deep fried dishes. My friend ordered the fried plantains and the plantains were extremely raw and the fried coat was a bit on the overcooked side. The fried potatoes that accompanied the ribs entree was undercooked and the potatoes were not cooked through enough. The restaurant is decently priced and has redeeming qualities, but I don't think I will want to go back again. read more

I chose Orinoco for my birthday lunch and thought I might regret it, since I'm not a big meat-eater. But we had a fantastic meal here. I'm a fan of empanadas, of course, so I tried something different--forget what it was called, but it was kind of like a muffin stuffed with chicken and a mango chutney. I guess that doesn't sound terribly appetizing, but it was actually delicious. The salads were good, too, so even if I were a stricter vegetarian I probably could have found something to satisfy me. I have no idea how they make money with this little seating capacity, though; maybe they bring out more tables for dinner hours? read more

I'll start off with this: I have two slices of leftover arepas in my fridge right now. I'm looking forward to having them tomorrow SO MUCH that I will probably have them for breakfast, if they make it through the night (and that's especially impressive considering I have an uber fresh loaf of multrigrain bread from clearflour that is begging to be eaten with some over easy eggs!) The food was impeccable. I can't even begin to describe it. The aforementioned arepas, their special for the evening, were perfection. The corn bread outside, the portabellas inside, and the corn/portabella/pepper beneath it was a flavor explosion. Cooked perfectly. So moist. Sigh. I had the tuna as my entree, and that too was amazing. I ordered it rare, and it was exactly how I was hoping, not overcooked in the slightest. The adobe was flavorful with the slightest kick, and the sundried tomato vinaigrette salad was a wonderful light compliment. They had a VERY intriguing cocktail list, with many items that featured Latin-oriented liquors, but I needed to maintain high productivity levels for the evening, so it was just a beer for me. Next time... The atmosphere is great - fun, relaxed, cozy. Service was right on too. We had several questions for our waitress, and she answered them all with clarity and pleasant helpfulness. read more

Service left something to be desired almost every time I've been here (forgot to bring dishes, things come out of order, or they sometimes just rush you to get out), but I keep coming back for the food. I think it's really a matter of chance (and day of the week). The arepas do me for a complete meal most of the time, though I love their ribs (was it the passionfruit-marinated dish another yelper mentioned?)--incredible. The pabellon criollo is next on my list. Oh--and no meal is complete without at least a side of plantains--soo delicious!! read more

I thought the food at Orinoco was delicious! I get really sick of tex-mex places that, while good, don't offer up more traditional Latin American fare. Orinoco felt more authentic than most and I loved my dish. I got a shredded beef dish with beans and rice while the bf got a huge portion of steak with an absolutely amazing salad. The appetizers were also amazing (empanadas and a salad) and the sangria was lovely. I highly recommend Orinoco! read more

Delicious latin treats. Good for drinks Good for quick bite Good for groups Good for dates read more

Orinoco serves some fantastic Latin American cuisine. Some quick highlights: The mahi mahi is out of this world good. It's presented over a Rabo Encendido, which packs a little heat. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it and it's not even 10:00 am. For starters, do yourself a favor and get some empenadas and plantains. Simply delicious. Cocktails are refreshing and tasty, offering a sampling of mojitos, caprinhas, pisco sours, and other fine representations of Caribbean and Central and South American drinks. Service is solid. We usually sit at the bar, and are pretty well taken care of. It'd be nice if they took reservations, but it usually hasn't been an issue for us. Highly recommended! read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Service was not that fast but the food was delicious! It's definitely catered more towards date-night but not too bad just as a lunch spot. read more

Orinoco - Pork sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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This is an excellent addition to the current wealth of restaurants in Brookline Village. The atmosphere there is modern and fun. The huge variety of mojitos are so delicious, as is their food! Perfect portions & absolutely delictible! I go with my friends frequently! Update: I just went last night and was floored again! Though the wait is a little long (due to popularity) the food is completely worth it! White sangria is amazing, especially Orinoco style. I have yet to eat anything I haven't loved! Two thumbs way up! read more

Our first indoor dining experience since last year. Great food, and great service. Enough variety for vegetarians to leave satisfied.

Just to be fair, I went to Orinoco during their soft opening. And while I've got to tell you, the food was amazing, service was terrible. orders were mixed up, items were forgotten, and even when the kitchen ran out of something, the server never came to let us know, he just never brought the dish out. Also, we waited for a REALLY long time to get everything. Which is surprising with the huge number of people waiting to get in. I'll definitely be back to try it when they've gotten their bearings, and hope they can improve some of their service aspects, cause they really do have great food! The arepas were awesome! read more

I almost want to give this place 1 star so you guys would stop going there and leave more room for me but that would be wrong... right? When I finally came at an hour when I didn't have to wait for 40 minutes (Thursday 6pm) my friend and I got seated at the bar, giving us a great view of everyone else's food, which looked fresh and delicious. The person closest to me had the Atun (adobo-rubbed tuna with frisse, raddish and toasted calabaza seeds) that looked good enough for us to order one of our own. It was seared but a little too dry, so it wasn't as good as my plantain crust mahi with "rabo encendido" and tomato escabeche. I can't wait to try the empanadas that this place is known for. read more

This place is the definition of a 3.8-star restaurant. Too bad we can't rate with decimals. In general the food was tasty (especially the verde empanadas) and the drinks were fun and creative. The main dishes had really unique flavors, and the decor was tasteful, yet classy. What kept me from giving it 5 stars? Well, first of all the place is loud. The music adds to this, but it's also the fact that a lot of people are crammed into a fairly small place, slightly mess hall style. It's also a bit expensive, especially for drinks, although the creativity of the drinks made me less bitter about that fact. I think the main reason I can't give it a 5 is that it lacked that intangible 5-star restaurant feeling that overcomes you as you leave, the When-can-I-come-back-because-this-place-is-so-amazing feeling. I didn't get that Orinoco. I get the feeling some people get that, but I didn't. I think if the restaurant were quieter and maybe the seating a little cozier (I heard everything the people on either side of me were saying, even the conversation about S&M), I may have felt that. read more

I meant to write something here on Yelp about my New Year's eve at Orinoco. It could not have been better. We had a fantastic time in at atmosphere of friends, good food, champagne and the New Year celebration. It was the first time in the Brookline location, and I was very impressed how big the place is, and full bar, great service. All the good things we need to get from a restaurant when we go out, because I, personally, don't go out as often as I did, and it is important to get the best. I'm from Venezuela, and I couldn't go to visit family, but Orinoco gave me a family time and dinner that night. Thanks, and go to Orinoco. it is an excellent place to eat. Buenisimo!!!! read more

It was a very pleasant experience, it was actually a serendipitous incident. Me, my girlfriend, and 2 friends were first heading to Matt Murphy's Pub on the same street, but was not interested by their menu, and we stumbled upon Orinoco, we took a gamble and we definitely won. The Pros: The Food was definitely amazing, We had the Pelua Corn Pocket Sandwich, and I can eat that all day long, the Mojo sauce complements the shredded beef very well. Then I had the Parilla Caraquena, a mixed grill plate of Spiced Chicken, steak, sausage, and home-made fries. The Fries were a great surprise, me and my girlfriend were fighting over them. It was a over all great dish, very meaty and the Mojo sauce again, complemented the reds very well. The Cons: It was my first time here, but I thought the mixed grille platter was great, but gets a little dull midway into the course. But I would never let one dislike solidify my opinion on this place! But it was definitely a great eat!! I love the place and I am looking forward to try other dishes here! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

Their bacon wrapped dates were orgasmic. Yeah they have other cool things too, and the typical selection of South American beer that all tastes the same, which is generally not great but passable. But Bacon Wrapped Dates!! Orgasmic, really. read more

The good: I love going in and feel like I'm back at home in Venezuela with the music and the waiters that wear t-shirt with Venezuelan phrases. The drinks are pretty good and inventive. I love the tequenos (taste just like home) The bad: the flavor isn't always authentic, which is very disappointing but I understand that it's hard to replicate even when they get practically all their ingredients imported from Venezuela. Parking can be tough if you can't find a meter available. Half-ways: I usually try to go in on Sundays for brunch because it's the only day they have Cachapas available (WHY WHY WHY???) even though it's not just like home, it's pretty damn close. And again why why why is it only available on Sundays? read more

We started with the trio of empanadas, which were wonderful. My wife enjoyed her tuna, and my short ribs were to die for. And we got the best table in the house (next to the front window) to boot. We are definitely going back. read more

Cute spot in Brookline Village. They don't take reservations but we were seated pretty quickly for a Saturday evening. We had some cocktails while we were waiting - the menu is promising but the results were only OK. My margarita came in a pint glass, and while I'm never usually bothered by an oversized drink, this one seemed to be composed mainly of sour mix; I'd rather have something small and undiluted. My boyfriend didn't love his guavatini (yes, he ordered a guavatini), either. The food was definitely the highlight. Prices are very reasonable at ~$8 for appetizers and ~$15 for entrees. We tried the empanadas and an arepa - both were awesome. My boyfriend really liked his steak, though he wished the portion was a bit bigger. I had the grilled chicken which was delicious and more than enough food for me. Our server was really friendly and talkative. The busing was a bit odd; entrees were brought out before appetizers were cleared, but everyone seemed friendly and well-meaning and it wasn't a big deal. I'd definitely recommend! read more

If only Orinoco had a more extensive drink list, this would have been a five-star review. Ignoring the limited drink list comprised mostly of mojitos, Orinoco has some unbelievable food. Appetizers, entrees, desserts - all amazing! My girlfriend and I had walked by a few dozen times before deciding to give it a shot one night. In between each and every bite, we kept asking each other why we hadn't visited earlier. Two unbeatable appetizers: bacon-wrapped dates (didn't sound like my kind of dish but had me addicted after one bite) as well as the flatbreads with mushroom/ garlic/ oyster. Every bite is a completely different flavor and texture. This place is a culinary ADVENTURE!!! read more

The Brookline Village location is excellent with a friendly staff. I've happily dined there many times and will do so again.

Hidden gem! We loved this place and it is an underrated local chain. I'm gluten free and was looking forward to arepas - to be perfectly honest the arepas corn bread pocket wasn't the best I've ever had. It was too hard and gritty. I've had other arepas that are smoother and fluffier BUT having said that the meat in the Menchada was heavenly. Very flavorful (I prefer the Menchada over the Pelua - which just has an added cheese since I'm not a fan of Venezuelan cheese). The chicken arepa called Reina Pepiada was also yummy but if I go back I'd get 2 of the Menchada arepa! The staff is also really helpful about gluten free options! Can't go wrong here if you're gluten free. They have a gf custard too for dessert. My husband had the Adobo Smoked Tenderloin Churrasco which wasn't bad but not my favorite on the table. I personally like more tender and flavorful beef so I liked my Menchada more. Also our friend got the ribs that I liked more than the Adobo. Also do yourself and get the Papelon con Limon- it's basically lime and unrefined cane sugar. And it's a delicious drink. read more

It is a relatively small place with extremely rapid turnaround time. I wanted to go there on a Friday night with a group of eight and hence needed to make prior reservations. Unfortunately, a quick phone call told me that I couldn't get one. :( But, all hope was not lost and a quick email to the owner solved the problem. The staff were very nice and friendly and more than willing to accommodate out last minute request provided we were there on time. :) Anyway, Friday evening finally came and we promptly arrived on schedule. The place was quite packed as expected but they still remembered to hold a bug table for us. The lighting was a little dim though but the colorful decor inside maintained a warm and welcoming ambiance. The food did not disappoint us either. I had Polvorosa de Pollo which was more of a dessert to me than dinner. The chicken was stuffed inside a delicious "muffin-ish" corn bread coating and was quite savory. My husband had Pollo adobo, which he said was a tab bit dry but delicious nonetheless. The server had warned us that the dish called for a side-order that we ignored so that when we got "just the chicken" it was only us to blame. Oh well... he still ate it. The other dishes in our party also turner out to be very fulfilling. All in all Orinoco held up to my expectations...actually it surpassed it because of the friendly service we received there :) read more

For those who like spicy food, the food was pretty average, and a little expensive to boot. The service wasn't the best. They have a variety of mojitos though, so if you are in the mood for mojitos, this is the place to go. read more

Ate there last night with my whole family and it was delicious! We got dates wrapped in bacon for an appetizer which were great and then for dinner I got the palua arepa which was really yummy with shredded beef. The beef was really flavorful and tender. We got blood orange caiprinhina in a carafe which was delicious Service was great, they were very attentive and friendly Will definitely be returning One thing missing was nothing I had, had a little spice to it but may I just didn't order the right thing read more