Get the beef! The beef in the pabellon Criollo had a really well balanced flavor profile and was absolutely delicious. We also really enjoyed the peach jam in the polvorosa de Pollo. The salad was incredibly fresh. While at first we thought the prices for the dishes were a little steep, we were surprisingly stuffed at the end of our meals and thought it was well worth the price. We came for lunch and the restaurant wasn't too crowded, had great music and friendly service. read more

Orinoco - Pabellon Criollo and Polvorosa de Pollo - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The food was really delicious. And even our servers were really nice and attentive. The tables are close to each other but kinda gives you your own space. Def worth a try. read more

We tried going to Orinoco twice--the first time, we came while they were having a private party and were forced to go elsewhere. The second time was around 6PM on a Tuesday night--a really good time as there was plenty of availability! The decor of the restaurant is very dark at night and each table is lit by a tiny tea candle which I think is really cute! I really like the decorations on the wall as it have a cool vibe to the place. They have a quaint bar by the door which seems very cozy. The food menu is not super big, but nonetheless there is a good selection of different things to try. We had the bacon wrapped dates, costillitas, parilla paraquena, and the flan! The bacon wrapped dates were super good! I really enjoyed the salty bacon and sweet date combination. It's great just to start the meal off! The two entrees we got were costillitas which is essentially BBQ ribs and parilla paraquena which is a mix of different meat. The costillitas were good, but to be perfectly honest, they tasted like plain old American ribs--there wasn't anything that stuck out about this dish and I would definitely pass it in the future. The parilla paraquena was nice because we got to try different cuts of meat: chorizo, steak, and chicken. This was definitely the highlight item. The steak was very tender and soft and the chicken was very flavorful! I haven't had many chorizo in my life so maybe I'm not the best person to ask, but I really liked it! These two entrees also came with a side of yucca fries. I just wish they gave us more--those fries were bomb. The flan at the end of the night was good--tasted just like how flan should taste. Overall the bill ended up being ~$60 - 70. Overall I do feel like the food was great, but not exceptional; nothing really blew me out of the ball park. That having been said, what we did try was good and we still have a lot of items to go through on the menu which warrants this place a return visit. read more

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What can I say? Orinoco aims to please! I absolutely love coming to Orinoco, and over the years it really hasn't changed. The ambiance is perfect and the food is simply delicious. I came here again recently with my dad who was visiting from out of town. I've taken him here twice before and it's easily become one of his favorite places to visit when he is in Boston. We ordered the meat empandas (comes with a fresh green salad too) and the bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates . These bad boys are a MUST. Worth every penny in my opinion. Please go to Orinoco and enjoy it as much as I do. read more

Orinoco - Beef tenderloin churrasquito - ordered medium rare, and it was more like medium, but tasty regardless. The crab picadillo was delicious! - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Amazing food and cocktails! Not too busy on a saturday at prime time. Tried half the menu between everyone at our table read more

I am updating my previous review about Orinoco. Since I posted my previous review this restaurant has really stepped up their allergy game. Now they understand about cross contamination and can accommodate for Celiac Disease/gluten. Lately, I have been enjoying a lot of items in the menu in their Brookline location. read more

We've been to the Shawmut ave location and its pretty comparable to this location. Both times we ordered a bunch of dishes to share and I'm glad we did because a lot of the non entree dishes are quite healthy in portion. We ordered the pernil arepas, mechada empanadas, costillitas, pollo adobo (with the gnocchi) and a side of rice and beans and sweet plantains. I especially liked the pollo adobo and arepas. The chicken was really well spiced and the mushroom gnocchi was excellent. They even used wood ear mushrooms which I've never had outside of Asian cuisine. The pernil arepas were excellent, esp the sauce it came with. They don't take reservations at this location so we came right when they opened for dinner to avoid waiting. The place filled up eventually but not until an hour later so I guess we didn't need to be too eager to get in fast. read more

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This place doesn't look like much when you walk in, but the food is absolutely amazing. The staff are so welcoming and helpful and I only have good things to say about this place. My boyfriend and I went for dinner and ordered the Tequeños, Mini Costillitas, and Pernil arepa and everything was delicious. A friend of mine also recommended the empanadas and had a good experience with those dishes as well. read more

I had the mushroom gnocchi and absolutely would get it again. It was a large plate and I brought home extra for left overs.

This was an awesome choice for a double date!! Turnaround for seating was super quick and they were very efficient at making all patrons happy and satisfied. Ambiance was casually chill and relaxing. Now for the food... oh yummy.. Empanadas to start. We got both the verde and mechada ones. Both orders were served with a yummy salad that was dressed perfectly. Entrees ranged from pabellon criollo to asado negro and the roasted portobello arepa. And an extra side of sweet platanos to share. We all loved our entrees!! Very fresh, full of flavor and tasty. Hot sauce is homemade and you MUST try it. My family is from South America (Guyana, which is next door) and that pepper sauce is very similar to what my family makes. I'm sure it's a regional thing as some cuisines cross cultures. The food here is amazing. I felt very much at home here and I'll be back. Oh!!!! And the sangria is almost a must have!! read more

I was there on Thursday night. I met the lady at the front deck she was friendly and polite. I ordered date wrap with date and almond, flatbread oysters mushroom,baby rib, chulete, read more

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I decided to write my review after my third time at Orinoco, and I'd say it's been an up and down experience, so I'm settling on 3/3.5 stars. Would most likely come back at some point, but it's not somewhere I'd go out of my way to return to. Food: The food here is good. It's not great, but good. The Arepas are just okay and I would skip them (I get 2-3 to share every time I've gone, only to be disappointed by them). It didn't help that the last time I went they definitely brought the wrong one over and I only noticed after biting into it (wrong cheese), but wasn't going to complain. The entrees are overall pretty good, but they again vary depending on the entrée. I had the FIS on my list visit and while it was overall pretty good, the mission fig/brussels sprout slaw was very disappointing. However, I've had a good experience with the costilitas, and the asado negro (the plantains here are good). Drinks: I haven't had much of an experience here with their drinks, but have heard from friends that their sangrias taste fairly watered down/off. Their cocktail menu (in Brookline) hasn't intrigued me much. Service: Service has generally been one of the weaker points here. Whether its been bringing the wrong Arepas to the table, or not bringing items at all (yuca fries, which are generally pretty good when they do come). Ambience: The décor here is pretty cool and is unfortunately one of the better points. Overall will maybe return at some point, just definitely not in the near future. read more

Chef is on point!! The Lamb Chop, the Beef Tenderloin Churrasquito and La Primera Burger all were amazing! Don't miss the Avocado Colada! Trust the Staff recommendations- Phil knows!! We will be back!! read more

Orinoco - Is too good possible... it was tonight! - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

My date had thrown out two dinner suggestions for my first night in Boston. We ended up hitting both, this one on my last night in Boston. It was fine, but our first dinner was a home run, this was more like a double (maybe). The restaurant is cute and cozy, with colorful chairs and intimate tables, and a bit dark. As in, if my parents had dined here, I could picture my dad asking for a flashlight to read the menu. I wasn't jazzed about being seated at the community table, especially when there was at least one open booth, but we were fortunate to get it to ourselves for the majority of our dinner. Even when others were sat, they put them at the far end first. We ordered a carafe of sangria while we perused the menu. I'm usually a fan of sangria, but wasn't wild about this; it was too sweet and all the fruit was trapped in the bottom by all of the ice they piled in. For dinner I got the Atun, seared yellow fin, arugula and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette with toasted pepitas, and my date ordered the Pabellon Criollo, shredded beef, white rice, plantains, black beans. I liked, but didn't love my dish; if there was supposed to be some latin flair with this dish, I missed it. This yellow fin was great, well cooked and seasoned and the sauce on the side of the plate was good. The salad portion of my meal didn't work. The greens either were not arugula, or were possibly baby arugula. Either way I felt like I was eating a plate full of shamrocks, which is not easy to do in a dainty fashion. Mouthful of shamrocks aside, the dressing was devoid of any flavor other than the oil in the dressing. My date enjoyed his meal, although he played it safe and got something he'd had before. Service was pleasant and attentive throughout our meal. While the food didn't wow me, I'd consider giving it a second shot because there were some items (mainly starters) that did sound quite appealing. read more

I'm lucky to live down the street from this place. I'd say its a gem of a location, but that's a bit too cliche. The atmosphere is cozy with Latin accents-bright furniture, restored walls, and colorful bar pieces. The music is soft and romantic with a flamenco beat. As for the food, two words: so delicious. The ingredients used in the dishes are fresh, seasoned and interesting. We had two arepas that were served in a traditional corn wrap (think hamburger bun, but made out of corn). The housemade hot sauce paired nicely with the smokey flavors from the grill. We shared the hearts of palm salad which actually came with bacon-wrapped dates. If you're vegetarian you can easily hand over these neatly wrapped meat packages to your significant other. As for drinks they serve my favorite: Negra Modela, a great brown beer reminiscent of an english brown ale, but smoother. For a treat, order the avocado colada made with fresh avocado. Not too boozey, but tastes like a avocado popsicle. read more

I had to look at a couple other reviews of this place because I am still not sure how I feel about it. Sure, it's small, dark and intimate. The staff was nice. But I guess it just wasn't that memorable. I ordered the Tequeños and that was definitely the best thing I had. Deep fried cheese shouldn't be the best thing I have at a restaurant though. I ordered the Empanada Verde and the inside was really mushy and sort of bland. The BF had the Parrilla Caraqueña (meat plate) and he enjoyed it. I also got the Tostones and they were really, really hard and I only ate one. Now that I am writing it all out I think I have definitely had better and not sure if I am dying to go back. read more

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Great little taste of Venezuela in Brookline. If you like Spanish cuisine you can't go wrong eating here. The service and drinks are above average. We will be back again. read more

Orinoco - Great Arepas!! - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Have been to both the Brookline and the South End locations. Identical menu and quality IMO. Came with a Venezuelan who likes the food here, so that definitely says a lot! For starters, I like the marachuchitos a ton (what not to like about cheese inside plaintain?) as well as the empanadas. The empanadas are different from what I'm used to (Argentinian style) and are made with corn instead, so I suppose closer to a tamale. For entree, I've had both the costillitas (baby back ribs) and the cordero (lamb chops). I probably favor the lamb a little more because I think the ribs could be a little more tender. But both are solid choices. Lastly for dessert, I recommend the quesillo (like flan) over the molten chocolate cake (didn't seem traditional to me, and I make better ones at home...) read more

Orinoco - Costillas - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

We just have the most amazing empanadas we have ever had! They are plantain empanadas with mushroom. After finishing one order we had to ask for a second. I am so upset we don't live in the area because I would come back here every week! We also had the salmon and that was absolutely delicious. The service was fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I'm usually the type to do good news then bad, but I'm going to change it up. If you can't get past the cons, you don't deserve the pros. I came here for lunch on a weekday. Usually nobody at work ever goes to Orinoco to grab lunch because they say the service is too slow, but I went with my boss, so I didn't have to worry about taking too long of a lunch break. So...review...here we go -- I hope you're ready. The water glasses are a little small and the waiter wasn't particularly attentive (even though the dining room was only half full). Buck up. Sip don't gulp. It took us forever to get our check even though everyone's plate was 100% clear. Oh well, sit back and enjoy the cozy ambiance. I seriously want to steal their long dining room table with the bright blue chairs -- it's right out of the image I have of my dream house. Do not let slightly slow service and small drink glasses get between you and all of the amazing food to be had at Orinoco. Appetizer -- bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds. Oh. My. Lord. If these possessed all of the nutrition I needed to survive, I'd eat only these for the rest of my life. Note that you get 4 with an order. Entrée -- my coworkers all had the Empanada Mechada (beef empanada with tossed salad). The way the dish was served was interesting (kind of...pretty?) and they said it was 100% delicious. I had the Pepito de Pollo (grilled chicken) sandwich. The menu doesn't say you get plantain chips, but YOU GET PLANTAIN CHIPS!! And they are mouth-watering. My coworkers made fun of me because I ate every chip before even touching my sandwich -- which was also very tasty; the bread was perfectly toasted and still soft inside. Mmm. I wish we had had time (or room) for dessert. I will definitely be back! read more

*Review based solely on FOOD* Presentation: 3 Texture: 3 Flavor: 4 Would return? Yes Must-try: Trio de Empanadas I've been here many many times because I am Venezuelan, so when people want to try Venezuelan food I bring them here. Is it authentic Venezuelan? No, it is not - the dishes are but the flavor is somewhat Americanized. that doesn't mean it's not good, it is! Just means it's not super authentic. The best item I have tried here by far is the empanadas - very crispy, great seasoning, balanced flavors - try it with the sauce! The second best I think would be the criollo brunch with scrambled eggs, beans, shredded beef and arepa. The texture of the arepas varies, which I think they should fix, but the flavors of the filling are very good. If you are going for an arepa try the pulled pork with cheese! I haven't been very successful with other menu items, but it could be because (being Venezuelan) I'm expecting a different flavor profile. For dessert try the chocolate volcano! It has a very distinct flavor of Venezuelan chocolate. Non-Food Stuff: I love how they have helped during covid by delivering meals to a ton of front-line healthcare workers. I was very moved by their movement and story. I'm bummed they have temporarily closed 2 of their locations and hope they can open soon! The staff is always very friendly and attentive. Hope this helps! Z. read more

This place is heavenly and very crowded on the weekends. We had a reservation but still had to wait 15 min or so. So worth it, though. Between the two of us, we had: pelua (pork) arepa - so tender and bursting with flavor empanada mechada - just the right blend of spice with cheese and beef in a crispy shell palmito salad - crispy and zesty mahi mahi - the best dish ever!!! the spicy shredded beef on top was delicious and just enough to bring out the subtle flavor of the fish. The service was great and I got to catch up with a friend over a relaxed dinner. Our waiter gave us recommendations and wasn't overbearing or nosy at all. Definitely stop by if you're near Brookline. This is a hidden treasure trove of Latin cuisine. read more

Walking into Orinoco is like walking into a tropical oasis. From the aged wooden tables and booths to the brightly painted chairs to the generations of family photos on the wall, the decor cannot be beat. The sign on the door reads "A Latin Kitchen," but it really should say "Your Latin Grandmother's Kitchen" - it feels more like a home than a restaurant in the best way possible. But of course you don't just come to restaurant for the decor, how about the food! It truly does not disappoint. Ever. I almost always start with an order (or two, or three) of the datiles - almond-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. Delightfully sweet & salty ooey gooey bites of heaven on a toothpick. Disclaimer: I'm usually here for lunch, not dinner, so I stick to the lighter fare over the larger portioned rice & beans dishes. The arepas are all really delicious, albeit small. The Empanada Mechada is where it's at, though. Moist, juicy shredded beef full of flavor is packed into two fried little pockets, each halved and beautifully plated around a lightly dressed, tangy mixed greens salad topped with cheese. Lunchtime perfection! The dinner menu is rather enticing with a long list of main dishes that seem impossible to choose from. I've only been for dinner once or twice and I can't recall what I ordered, but I do know that it was very, very good and I was very, very full. And the cocktails! Fresh and fruity and packing a punch! It's hard to pass up a caipirinha, but when I do the spicy margarita is a great alternative. As others have mentioned, the service at times can be slow. I have found that it's improved as of late, but if you're there on one of those slow days just sit back, relax and pretend you're off on some deserted island without a care in the world! Not hard to do given your surroundings. read more

Orinoco - The delicious Empanada Mechada (lunch) - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Tried to make a reservation and was told walk in only. Upon arriving right at opening for dinner manager said everything was "reserved already". We were willing to wait for a table regardless and then watched the same manager have the same conversation with another party but then proceed to seat them in front of us. Upon pointing this out to the manager he became extremely aggressive and was completely rude. Not worth giving any money to. The "reserved" tables were still empty too so the dishonesty was extremely unjustified. 0/5 stars. read more

Was really impressed by the ambiance, food, and service at this place! Got an Avocado Colada which was surprisingly strong! (More like a martini.) I had been meaning to try Orinoco for years and regret taking this long to finally come. Time wasted... will be back though! read more

I had heard wonderful things about Orinoco from a few friends, but had yet to go - mainly because they all told me there is always a long wait, as they don't take reservations. I had also heard that the service was not spectacular. I did not experience either of these. Three of us walked in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and were seated immediately (at The Great Table, which was a bit weird, as we were a small party and there were plenty of booths open. But oh well...). The hostess was also our waitress and, while she wasn't overly friendly or attentive, she was very helpful and saw to our needs promptly. We each ordered sandwiches: - My husband got the La Llanera Arepa (grilled flank steak or chicken, onions, red peppers, avocado, and special sauce) - I got the Valenciana Arepa (grilled chicken, tomato, red onion and guasacaca - which is like a guacamole) - Our friend got the Pepito de Pollo Sandwich (Grilled chicken on a French bread sandwich served with sautéed onions, peppers, and special sauce) Hers was the biggest and came with plantain chips. Ours were quite small (the waitress told us they were about the size of English Muffins, and she was right) and came with nada. We had ordered a side of Tajadas (fried sweet plantains), but the waitress recommended the Maracuchitos (queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains), so we went with these as an appetizer. They were ok, but nothing amazing. The cheese wasn't melted and the plantain to cheese ratio was off - way too much plantain and not enough cheese. Overall, the food was really good and our small sandwiches were more filling than they looked. And the special sauce? DELISH! Perfect for dipping the plantain chips. :) read more

Consistently one of the best spots in Brookline. The ambience, food, and service are all great. Highly recommend the pabellon criollo.

Orinoco is a family-run, authentic, Latin American restaurant located right in Brookline Village. There are also locations in the South End and Harvard Square. It has a rustic and ethnic ambiance with a warm and inviting environment. Most of the food is Venezuelan. Almost every single dish, I tried was simply delicious. The food is unique and ethnic. If you are crazing for a change and want to surprise your taste buds, this is the place to be. The empanadas are awesome. I am not a huge beef eater, but I really loved the Mechada empanadas, which were stuffed with Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef. The Arepas are okay. For those of you who don't know, arepas are traditional Venezuelan grilled corn pocket sandwiches. I tried an arepa filled with guacamole and plantains. I really did not like the corn pocket part of the sandwich. The guacamole and plantains were tasty though. For my main course, I tried the salmon which was a special on the menu. It was served with couscous and vegetables. The salmon was pretty fresh and the combination of flavors in my dish was uniquely pleasant. I really enjoyed this. I also tried the Pollo Adobo, which is adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with mojo and grilled scallions with a side of malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream. Wow...this dish had so many different flavors in it. It was a lot to handle, so be ready for the challenge. For dinner, I requested the server to bring out a chocolate cake for my brother since we were there to celebrate his birthday. The server agreed to do so which was nice. The chocolate cake was rich and delightful. They did not serve ice cream with it, which I found a bit odd. It was chocolate overload with no ice cream to balance out the intensity of the rich chocolate. I never saw the dessert menu, therefore I am unsure how this cake is supposed to be prepared. They ended up charging us for the cake even though it was my brother's birthday. I think a kind gesture would have been to waive the charge...but I guess that is why this is not a five star restaurant :) Overall, I had a great experience and plan to visit again at some point. read more

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the food is fantastic at this restaurant and the service if you can get in is often good. however, if you call to make a reservation, they fiercely claim they only accept reservations over email. if you email to make a reservation, they do not answer. This has happened twice now. When we called to ask again if they got our email, they suddenly closed the whole restaurant down for the whole evening. if we try to go walk in on a day we attempted to make a reservation, they were closed. they claimed over the phone we could make a takeout order, but when we tried, they didn't answer any means of communication. they are so anti reservation, they choose to hate on their customers who try to make one, and instead of giving customers the respect of just saying "we don't take reservations but we also won't be open tonight" they make you go through this whole process instead. completely disrespectful and frustrating. read more

Sensational Venezuelan chicken pot pie; mostly slow cooked marinated shredded chicken and sweet brown gravy on top. Served with a big healthy salad salad with lots of fresh radishes. Nice atmosphere; colorful walls and Latin art, very attentive servers. Very long wait. No reservations. Pricey side. Went with a large group. My friends didn't seem as absolutely thrilled with the meal as I was, but many of them, are either skinny dabblers, broke, vegetarians, or have allergies, God love them. Please tell me what's not to love here. Strike that, tell me more about what is to love. I'll be back to try the Sangria and signature dishes, maybe even work myself up to my first whole fish-the snapper. read more

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Ate there for dinner. While a little pricey, the appetizer ribs and appetizers were good. The atmosphere was fun and the staff was very nice! read more

Say yes to grilled meats and empanadas~ Come here for full dinner or I would actually recommend just ordering a ton of apps to share, tapas style. It's incredibly loud in there at first due to the close seatings but once you're settled in, it becomes a nice, comfortable background noise. My friend and I went for dinner on a packed Monday night and tried the Datiles, Mini Costillitas, and Trio de Empanadas for apps. God, these were all delicious. The Mini Costillitas is just a smaller quantity of their entree sized one and it was flavorful AF. Think finger-licking kind of good -- you're in a restaurant setting though, so try to hold back. I luckily had a corner seat so I had zero reservations about doing that. The Trio de Empanadas choices are pulled meat, cheese, and black bean. The meat one was incredibly tender and the cheese one tasted like a glorified mozzarella stick. Maybe I would actually watch football if my friends served queso blanco empanadas from Orinoco instead. For an entree, we shared the Parrilla Caraqueña (grill plate). The steak + chorizo were great but the chicken left a lot to be desired. The flavor was lacking and just didn't match the other meats in taste. Despite it being a busy night, service was great. Would definitely recommend Orinoco for a date night/delicious Venezuelan food. read more

Orinoco - Parilla Caraqueña (grilled meat plate). - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

One of my favorite things about the winter time is the decreased pressure to go out - or at least that's how I perceive it. I'm generally quite introverted and am perfectly happy sitting on my couch, watching movies and shows, drinking red wine and coffee (sometimes one right after the other). I get especially excited for winter storms because I KNOW that nobody will dare ask me to go anywhere. Well, my friends and partner all wanted to go out for dinner as the first winter storm of 2019 was beginning. I really thought I could get out of it by telling them that I'm enjoying my weekend INDOORS. And by continuously telling them about the forecast. There was no winning with these extroverted people, so I ended up Orinoco. Well, I really had no regrets afterwards. I was actually HAPPY and GRATEFUL to them that we went out. There were very few people in the restaurant because of the snow, so we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Pros: fun ambience and decor; GREAT food (I especially recommend the seared tuna, arepas, and empanadas) Con: the sangria tasted REALLY good, but it really doesn't feel like an alcoholic beverage. So, if you're looking to get buzzed... or tipsy... or drunk, the sangria won't do it for you. Thankfully, I don't like the taste of alcohol so the sangria served as just an awesome beverage that went well with my food. Will I return here? Absolutely. And I'll probably eat everything that I ate this past time! read more

Orinoco - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I had never had Venezuelan food before, but after going to Orinoco I can't wait to have it again!! I had the reina pepiada arepa (chicken salad, avocado, and tomatoes) with mojo sauce and the empanada mechada (beef empanada with large mixed green salad with tomatoes, onions, and some sort of good cheese). the arepa was good, but the sauce really made the whole dish!! it was garlicky and delicious. the empanada could definitely be a full meal since it came with a large salad. the atmosphere was great and reminded me of being on vacation in a latin american country. the service was great. the waitress was attentive and gave us great suggestions on the menu. i can't wait to go back to Orinico soon! read more

I've been to the other Orinoco locations several times in the last few years, but a chance turn on Harvard Street towards Brookline Village instead of Coolidge Corner brought me past this one. How could I resist? I went for a solo lunch on a weekday, and the place was still relatively quiet. This location has a bit more of a spacious interior than the others, but with the same cool vibe. I always order arepas (one of my irresistibles), so this time got the Valenciana (grilled chicken, avocado spread, tomato), which was delicious and herb-y -- if you're not a fan of spice, this one is an excellent choice. I probably should hav gotten a salad as a healthy choice, but instead went for the sweet plantains (another irresistible), an indulgent but tasty choice. There was one waiter for the entire restaurant, which began to fill up halfway through my meal, but he was quick, courteous, and very attentive so I have no complaints. Now that I know Orinoco's here, I'll have to come again ... and again. read more

I love all three orinocos, but this is by far my favorite. The cocktails are fantastic (caipirinhas are a special stand out), decor is really nice, and I will eat their palmito salad and pernil arepa any day of the week. Lots of delicious gluten free options and knowledgeable staff. read more

In the words of Tamar Braxton, this place is the BOMB.COM! My mom and I stumbled upon this place by accident. We went to Brookline to eat at this BBQ restaurant, but to our dismay, it was closed. We were so hungry, we just decided to walk down the street until we found a decent place to eat, and that's how we found Orinoco! I've never had Venezuelan food before, so I was extremely excited to try the arepas. I ordered a beef arepa, black beans and rice and yucca frita (fried yucca). Everything was amazingly tasty, but I must say that I was surprised most by the yucca frita!! It was sooooo good! The only thing I can liken it to is french fries, but better! I couldn't get enough! I've been dying to go back to this place. I was really impressed. Decor-wise, it's nothing to write home about. It's pretty average, but to me, this place is all about the food. So, really nothing else matters. Definitely check this place out if you have not already. read more

Orinoco - Our meal! Arepas, black beans and rice with yucca frita. Yummm! - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

The service was top notch with various servers providing food, water, and drinks. Food absolutely delicious. My wife grew up in Venezuela and many of the flavors are she remembers were true to taste buds. My only complaint, and would have given 5 stars, was the lamb chops are very small. Price is right for NZ lamb but size was sad. Otherwise, portions are very adequate. read more

Orinoco - Epanadas and tequenos. - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

How did I not review here before?? We came mid week and I had the sangria which was great and the vegetarian empanada which was really filling and not oily. Bit cold inside though. Service was on top of everything, which is good to see as when it's not busy it could go either way. read more

I've been wanting to go to Orinoco for a while. It's a Venezuelan place and they have AREPAS. They also use really good quality ingredients, and I felt confident ordering for my gluten-free, soy-free self. My family and I went for dinner on a Friday night. We got there around 7pm which was a good time since we were able to get a table right away. The place started picking up around 7:30pm. They don't take reservations for parties under 6 people. I got the Orinoco salad without dressing and subbed hearts of palm instead of jicama. What I got was a fusion between their Orinoco salad and their Hearts of Palm salad. It was delicious! Everyone else in my part enjoyed their meal. My dad was surprised by how his dish came out, but he failed to ask what it was (his fault), so if you are unsure what you think the dish is - ask the waiter! This is not a five star rating just because of service. We had to ask for more water and we didn't have enough silverware settings or napkins. Those should be a given in a restaurant. It took us a few minutes to catch the eye of someone working there. The waiter that brought out our dishes (not the one who took our order) was also VERY awkward and it was hard to tell what he was saying. Perhaps they should think about having someone else do that job. The restaurant itself had GREAT ambiance and I felt like I was dining in a Venezuelan home. The music in the background was Venezuelan, very appropriate! They had nice decorations throughout. The table and chairs were cool! It is a loud place though, and it was a bit hard to hear the conversations at my table. This may not be a problem at a less busy time. Five star for food, though, and I will be coming back! If I had gone for lunch I probably would have tried an arepa. Even though I got a salad (it was a hot night), their dinner dishes look fabulous. The entrees are priced at 19 dollars each, but come in good sized portions. Our table-mates (we sat at the big blue chaired table) got these fantastic looking entrees with tons of meat and chicken! If I return for dinner I'll def plan on splitting a similar dish with someone. We passed on dessert, but I do know they make venezuelan desserts, if you're interested in that. read more

Orinoco - Orinoco/Hearts of Palm salad w/ no dressing- delicious! No gluten here :) - Caribbean Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts