I would give the service 1 and the food 4. but a solid 3. After some discussion, we were sat on the patio, and then we waited. and waited. the server came over and asked us about drinks, which were brought promplty. The carmenere wine was yummy. We asked about putting in an appetizer order as we wanted some snacks and were going to take our time (there was no wait and plenty of open tables). We were curtly informed that we could only put our whole order in. I find this rude and insane. it's not a huge restaurant and it was less than half full. I realize this is not the server's responsibility but as a policy, it's ridiculous for a restaurant that wants to be successful (I work in the industry). So we ordered everything at once, and before our appetizers were finished our entrees came out...one of my pet peeves. buuut the food was pretty yummy...we got the trio of empanadas, a fried cheese dish, tequenos, both of which were good, not great. the star of the appetizers was the mini rib app. O.M.G. I would have ordered the entree portion had I known. Fall off the bone and the sauce is incredible. I was licking the plate. My friend and I split the adobo smoked churrasco..it was very tasty, but we had requested the meat be medium and it was borderline rare (fine for me, bad for my friend). The char grill on the meat was fantastic and it melted in my mouth, the sauce was a little too sweet for me, but the salad was a refreshing finish. When we asked for the dessert menu the waiter quickly went thru the two desserts. We ordered the custard dish and were completely underwhelmed by the dessert. IT had been described as a flan, but came out very eggy, not smooth in texture but kinda tough. It had great flavor so we finished it but the texture was super weird. I wish there was some more thought in the desserts. Overall, service was painfully slow and borderline rude. He seemed a bit overwhelmed, which I am usually understanding of, but he made no effort to apologize for not checking on us (when the meat was so underdone), taking about 30 minutes after we had finished our meal to come by our table, etc. A simple smile and apology for the wait goes a long way in my book. Overall, I'd return but probably not before I visit all of my favorite spots around the city. Amazing ribs though! read more

I really want to love this place, but there are a few key aspects that make it difficult to patronize. 1) They are usually under-staffed so the service can be slow. 2) There are very few vegetarian or fish options (especially during lunch), and sometimes you arrive and the waiter informs you that those are the items not available that day. So, it's bad for people with dietary restrictions. The food is good otherwise. I recommend the Jardinera and the Chicken Arepas, the grilled Chicken with Oregano oil, and the Yuca with the garlic sauce. read more

Service was very attentive and quick, though it wasn't full so I'm not sure what it would be like at peak capacity. The music was a little loud, not so much so that we couldn't talk or hear, but I could have used it a little quieter; to be fair we were right under a speaker. Carafe of sangria was good, nothing special but pretty tasty. Split the care mechada empenada which was delicious and came with a decent sized salad. The empenada was small, but really good. For an entree I had the churrasco adobo which had a delicious, sweet sauce over it and plenty of meat. The arugla salad it came with was good as well, but I would have liked a culturally-appropriate/accurate veggie dish on the side instead. My girlfriend's pabellon criollo was good as well, coming with rice, black beans, shredded beef which was cooked with great flavor, and plantains. Overall the atmosphere was great, very homey and understated, and I would absolutely come back. Definitely recommended if you're in Harvard Square and looking for a well-priced, well-made meal a little off the beaten track. read more

Came here and sat outside at their lovely street corner. The spot is small but our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and very helpful with our gluten allergy. The food was delicious, we order arepas, a lamb dish and octopus. The cocktails were well balanced (although the margarita was a bit small for my jumbo marg taste). Regardless the service was given by a waiter who knew the menu perfectly and was always checking in. Thanks for the lovely meal! read more

In short, come for the arepas, stay for the arepas. Aside from arepas, we'd never enjoyed Venezuelan before. So let me start off by saying GET AN AREPA! They are not like the ones you find at other places around town that are just filled with some cheese or maybe a little meat. These are overflowing with an abundance of meat and cheese and perhaps veggies for their size. We tried the Pelua ($6.75, venezuelan-style stewed shredded beef with edam cheese) and the Pernil ($7, mojo marinated pork, guayanés cheese, tomato). I liked the Pernil more and others liked the Pelua more. I'm more of a pork guy though. The other dishes were all enjoyed by everyone overall. The Pabellón Criollo ($15) uses the same kind of shredded beef as the Pelua. The Asado Negro ($13.50) uses slices of beef that fall apart into shreds with a little help from a fork and are braised in a sauce of panela and onion. The rice is nice and fluffy. Overall, I'd say it was good. My critique is that it's not really that different from any other Latin American style of food and flavor on the whole. Which is totally fine. However, to put it bluntly, most Latin American places do it better for half the price. Just get arepas, and you'll be happy. read more

What a wonderful restaurant. Weather was so great we got to eat outside. We had the costillas with fried yuca with this AMAZING Garlicky Sauce. It was delicious. The serve was great and fast. read more

Here I had a perfectly pleasant evening with a fine young gentleman. I had never been to Orinoco, nor had I ever tried an arepa, which my companion found totally unacceptable. We tried the bacon-wrapped dates, which were, predictably, delicious-- however dates wrapped in anything are always delicious. We shared a carafe of sangria, which we easily finished between the two of us. The arepas (little pocket sandwiches) were good. They were smaller than I expected, so we sampled a few types. Thumbs up. read more

Arepas for under $7 makes for a good lunch spot. I had "La Llanera" filled with flank steak, avocado, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, and also tasted the "Pernil" with mojo marinated pork with tomato. La Llanera was better, though you MUST get the optional cheese on the Pernil. That cheese was key to that otherwise bland combination. We also ordered the Empanada Mechada (filled with shredded beef) which was tasty and came with a little salad. I loved the hicama on the salad, but there were way too many onions! How are you going to kiss anyone after that meal? Service is very slow for lunch, but there's usually only one server during the day, so it's likely a staffing problem. Service at dinner improves considerably, and the place feels cozier at night. read more

The red sangria here is so so good. Probably some of the best sangria I've ever had. It has a very nice touch of cinnamon. No one at my table had a MA id and the server wouldn't accept our out of state licenses until we begged the manager and promised to bring our passports next time. The arepas are fine, which is a sad statement because I love arepas. These were probably the worst I've had. But being arepas, they're still fine. read more

Amazing place, outstanding service and a very unique sangria worth trying. We really enjoyed the Churrasco. read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Looking for a unique brunch on the spur of the moment, my husband and I found the iron gate leading to this gem of a restaurant. So glad we did, as the quaint and quiet patio just far enough from busy JFK Street turned out to be our Sunday brunch haven. We ordered the specialty cocktails and stuffed dates, and knew we had made a great choice. Our waiter was very helpful discussing the favorites of other customers, and helped us choose some amazing Venezuelan sandwiches. Unusual, tasty, and fun...we will definitely return. read more

If you look at my reviews, you will know a 5-star is hard to earn. I have rated 2 places out of 13 with 5-stars (and one of those places is a hotel!). With Orinoco, I add one more to the list of places rated 5-star. Not that the place is perfect - few places are - but that said, this is among the best and it deserves a shout-out for that, especially being in Harvard Square. We went for dinner on a Saturday evening after this place had been recommended by one of my wife's colleagues. We were ushered in quickly but were also informed that their credit card machine wasn't working and if we chose to dine, we would have to pay in cash. That being said, we were offered the choice of being seated indoor or outdoors, and it being a pleasant summer evening, we chose to sit outside and enjoy the evening. In terms of drinks, we were in the mood for sangria. Each one of us decided to get a glass - one each of the white and red. Both of them were good but I think we both agreed that the white was a tad better. When it came to ordering food, we had looked at the menu a bit ahead of time and were keen on trying out various different things. We decided to start off with an order of 3 appetizers and then add to it as necessary. Our initial order was of bacon wrapped dates, empanada verde, and mini costillitas (pork ribs). All of these were good. With the bacon wrapped dates, the bacon was not over-powering as it can sometimes be. The empanada verde had a nice dash of salad with a fine dressing. In addition to these appetizers, we also went with a full plate of lamb chops. There were 4 chops, again with some greens on the side and a nice sauce to go with the greens. The lamb chops were nicely done, and what is not to like about well done lamb chops encrusted with pistachio!! Finally, we had room for dessert and we went for torta which is a molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate. All in all we greatly enjoyed our evening. Our server was good - he checked in a few times and unlike the usual rhetorical "How is everything", he even chatted with us a bit. There was a carafe of water at our table and we could refill our glasses at our pleasure. We were full at the end of our meal and although we were out ~ $70 (for food, drinks with taxes), we enjoyed it given the excellent food and service. We hope to be back here again soon and would highly recommend that you try it out as well. In the words of my wife who has lived in the Harvard Square for about 8 years now, Orinoco is one of the best, if not the best place in Harvard Square that she's been to. And what's endearing about it is that its not pretentious and you can actually get a table without booking months in advance. read more

My first visit to Orinoco was on a snowy Saturday, when only two other tables were occupied for lunch. I worried that the restaurant wouldn't last. On my next visit, however, on a weeknight, the place was packed. It's a good thing, too, because Orinoco is a nice change from the pizza, burgers, and Indian food that dominate Harvard Square. If you like fried foods (who doesn't?), you'll be content. I've had the tequenos, cheese wrapped in flaky dough, and served with chipotle ketchup. And do get something--a starter or a side--with the delicious green mojo sauce. I've tried both the tostones (plantains) and the crispy yuca. Of the two, I like the tostones more--I wish the kitchen would cut the yuca into more uniform pieces. The empanadas verdes are pretty tasty, and a little unusual from other empanadas I've tried since it uses plantain in its dough. I've wanted to try the various arepas that are filled with special Venezuelan cheeses, but unfortunately the kitchen's always run out of them so far. La Gringa, which just has Cheddar in it, is kind of plain. The flan and the molten chocolate cake are fine, but not close to the best versions I've ever tasted of both desserts. Venezuelan food is hard to find in the Boston area. I'm glad Orinoco's reppin' it. But I still could stand to be wooed and impressed. read more

The six of us dropped by for an early dinner. The service was eagerly waiting to take our orders, but, unfortunately, it took quite a while for the food to actually come out. I was starving. My polvorosa de pollo was good, and the hot sauce is actually really, really spicy (which is a big plus). The dough wasn't soggy, and the chicken was tender. If it had come out a bit sooner, this would had been a four star experience (not five because I think it's a bit overpriced). read more

Got the Pelua Arepa on my second visit and it was delicious! Beware that you will get a lot of juice from the pulled pork, which will drip everywhere. Super yummy, but do not order if you are trying to look cool or impress someone (like a date). read more

Excellent find of the path in Harvard square... This was the best Comida Venezuelano in the area and they have a decent wine list. Sobre el fangoso Orinoco, un bote va resbalando, y un indio, firme en el remo, transporta su contrabando. El mono chilla en la selva. Caimán vigila en la orilla. El indio rema pensando, - "qué tierra de maravilla" - read more

I've been here a number of times, for special occasions and casual lunches. Orinoco is tucked in an alley of sorts away from the bustle of Harvard Square. Service can be slow, but the food is delightful. I love the pollo criollo - they really know how to grill chicken here. The jardinera arepa is also great. They fill a crisp, chewy, dense cornmeal patty with caramelized plantains, guasacaca (some sort of avocado concoction similar to guacamole), and Venezuelan cheese, and serve it alongside a garlicky mole. SO good. The arepas look small, but with a side of something, a salad or tostones, pack enough of a punch to constitute a filling meal. The pernil was a bit too juicy and salty for me. The juices were literally destroying the arepa - it wouldn't stay in one piece. The tostones were decent - nothing to write home about but interesting with the red mojo. read more

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The food here was definitely worthy of five stars. Everything we ate was delicious, from the bacon wrapped dates to the sandwiches, beef and chicken dishes. However, we went on a busy Friday night, and decided to wait almost two hours for a table (went to John Harvard's to kill time). When we were called back, we ended up having to wait an additional half hour. Then, once seated, the server took a while to come take our order. I am hoping this is just because they are relatively new and still working out the details. One small thing that stuck in my mind was that we ordered the bacon-wrapped dates, and we were a party of five...it came with four. it would have been easy for the waiter to let us know, or given they made us wait so long, they could have thrown in one extra little date... guess i've been spoiled by excellent service in SF restaurants... i will wait a while until i give it another chance. read more

This place is great cozy spot for 2-4 people, any more and it might be tough to get a seat. I agree with many of the reviews below but just a quick note on a few dishes. Both the heart of palm and beet salads are a great way to start a meal, I can't say enough how nice it is when somewhere executes well on something simple. The Atun (tuna) was also equally well executed and cooked to perfect temperature. Tostones were a little dry and one dimensional so I would go with the empanadas instead. Lastly the Quesillo was tasty desert, kind of like flan, but with a twist. read more

I was a little confused finding this location, as it is tucked snugly inside a little alleyway. The actual restaurant is warm and inviting and extremely cozy. I was greeted by a surly waiter who seated me with a glass of water while I waited for my eating companion. I perused the dinner menu, which is separated into "antojitos--little cravings," arepas, empanadas, salads, mains, sides, and desserts. They have quite a few arepas to choose from--however, I noticed that a lot of them only had cheese (I am not sure if I'm just unfamiliar with the cuisine), and had a wide variety of mains. I chose to have: the Pelua arepa--shredded beef and edam cheese sandwiched tightly into a crispily soft little corn pocket. This was delicious--though after a while I got tired of the shell and left a part of it. It came with this absolutely addictive sauce(I am still unsure of what it actually was). the Champinones flatbread--oyster and shiitake mushrooms with truffle oil and arugula, as well as manchego cheese. My companion and I laughed about how we didn't "understand" flatbreads usually--but that was before I tried it, and it was absolutely delicious. As usual, I struggled with the tangly mess of arugula that topped it and attempted to tame it, but no one can really expect the mess of stuff to lie flat or to neatly eat it. I felt that the service was a little curt, but other than that, this is a lovely restaurant. read more

As soon as I stepped into this establishment, I knew the food was going to be great. Our server was spectacular, knew the menu extremely well, suggested apps and entrees for us and was an overall really nice girl. We ordered a couple drinks from the bar and a veggie arepa which was exquisite! Juicy, flavorful and not kill your mouth with overpowering spices describes the food here. I got the salmon special dish and it was cooked perfectly, it has a honey flavor to it, and it came with this quinoa mixed with cilantro, arugula and jicama. perfection. Come here early because it does get crowded quickly! (after 6pm) read more

Fantastic Venezuelan restaurant - delicious food, great service, intimate setting. I came here with a fellow vegetarian, and while we were initially concerned about finding meat-free options, we had more than enough dishes to choose from. We started with the maracuchitos - a superb combination of sweet fried plantains and mild cheese. Then came the queso de mano arepa - soft mild cheese sandwiched between delicious maize flatbreads. We had the cocas del dia, and while it was a tough choice between the black truffle option or the guava paste choice, we were quite pleased with the perfect balance of sharp cheese, sweet and tangy balsamic vinegar, warm doughy bread, fresh arugula, and creamy mushrooms on the former. Our final savory treat was the empanada verde, accompanied by a fresh salad. This was my personal favorite - though it's hard to pick one - because the vegetable filling was creamy and bursting with the mushrooms' flavors. And last, but not least, a divine molten chocolate lava cake - sweet and rich, but not overly so; a perfect end to an excellent meal. So the food was clearly the highlight of our experience, but our server was also very friendly and attentive, and gave great recommendations. The food service was also very quick, despite how crowded the restaurant was. It was a intimate atmosphere with dim lighting, so a great place for a date or small reunion with friends. In short, I have literally run out of strong positive adjectives to describe this place. read more

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The food is good, but was a bit irk about the service from the host/waiter. I recognize there is a no reservation policy and that's cool. But we were waiting for 1 person (Who was looking for parking) for a party of 4. After discussions with the manager the waiter reluctantly let us sit. Within 3 min our friend arrives. Note that later in the evening, I saw a party where only 1 person was at the table and the friends arrived later. Go figure We sat outside in the patio which was very dark. String lights only adorned the fence. There isn't any lighting in the tables, so on an autumn evening, it got difficult to see our food pretty quickly. Datiles : Bacon wrapped dates were delicious. A nice balance of salt and sweet Maracuchitos: plantains stuffed with cheese were also very good. Pernil arepas: sandwich with pork and cheese was good too. Large slice of cheese and lightly flavored pork Empanadas - both the beef and veg were equally good. There was a size able tossed salad as a side. For entree, the beef tenderloin was too salty, bit tough, and wasn't cooked medium rare. Wont be ordering again. The Parrilla caraquena (mixed plate with chicken, beef, chorizo, yuca) was a good mix and perfect for sharing. Again the beef was tough and chicken (dark) was a little salty. Overall a good food experience and since we were able to try a bunch of things, we know what to order the next time. As for dessert, just a caramel creme and a chocolate molten cake. We passed. read more

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True Cambridge gem - adorable setting, great shareable small plates, delicious sangria and here's the best part - super affordable. So versatile - its a great date spot, dinner with the folks or even a fun dinner before a night out. Love the bacon wrapped dates, empanadas (side salad is huge) and the pork arepas. Tip - if you like it hot ask for the spicy sauce - it's a party in your mouth! read more

Pros: ambience, waiter didn't interrupt with the usual "how is everything" (which I personally prefer), location, clean, good for dates Okay: price ($82 after tips for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 drinks) Cons: ran out of negro modelo, malbec tasted like it was left out for too long, limited dessert options Recommend: bacon-wrapped dates (appetizer), lamb chops with mint sauce (entree) Do not recommend: empanada (trio) appetizer is merely okay -- my favorite was the one with pulled/shredded pork though Bottom line: bacon-wrapped dates + lamb chops read more

I love this place. The one problem when I go there, is that I want to order everything on the menu. Everything is very authentic and you will forget you're in the heart of Cambridge: beer, music, food. Just go, eat and enjoy, this place is the best! read more

I've never had specifically Venezualan food before. The food is great at a good price. Arepas are a little small. However I love to order the Empanadas (gluten free). I recommend the drink called "papelon con limon", it's a lemon-with-sugarcane juice and I just can't get enough of it!! The outdoor seating is also lovely on a nice day. It does close on the early side and only has two desserts--but they are both great (chocolate one is AMAZING (but not gluten free), the other is flan (gluten free)). The only thing is, the salad under the empanada verde is too basic. read more

I'm a big fan of Orinoco, especially for an intimate date night. My friend and I enjoyed a great meal here this past weekend and got there just in time to grab a spot outside. We split the domino arepa as an appetizer, and the creamy cilantro style sauce that came on the side was the perfect complement with just the right kick of spice. For our meals we each ordered a version of the empinada salad plate; I had the stewed beef while my friend opted for the vegetarian verde. It was really the perfect light meal for $9. Do note that they only have wine and beer at this location, which is one downside if you're in the mood for a cocktail. As for service, our server was really polite, nice and as attentive as he could be given that he seemed to be the only person on the busy floor that night. No complaints. If you're looking for something different in a nice setting without dropping a fortune, give Orinoco a try. read more

An excellent find tucked away in Harvard Square! Each time I've been here, the servers have been helpful in helping me navigate the menu and wine pairings. Delicious food and charming atmosphere. The bacon wrapped dates are absolutely amazing. They don't take reservations so be sure to allot time to wait. Not great for large parties. read more

I have been going here for years. I wanted my husband to have great Venezuelan food ( he's Venezuelan) . I love their arepas and totally recommend trying that if you haven't had Venezuelan food before. I make arepas a lot, but man they make it taste like nothing I can ever make! I love when my husband and i can eat outside in the summer time. The wine options are also wonderful! I totally recommend anyone to come here and come here with an open mind. read more

Disappointed by the level of quality and execution I experienced during lunch. We ordered a sampling of the empanadas and the arepas -- the staples -- and we all agreed: the empanadas were overcooked and way under-salted. The arepas were totally bland and, in some cases, soggy and barely edible with your hands. I went into this meal with high expectations, which I'm sure led to the shear dissatisfaction. The cost of the meal was also very high, especially for the quality and level of service being so poor. read more

I ordered delivery, and I must say it was a very good experience. The food arrived in about 40 minutes (which is fast where I am) and it was all extremely hot and clearly had not traveled long. I got the Teqeuenos, which are basically a very fresh, light cheese wrapped in dough and fried. The outside is incredibly crispy, the cheese inside is hot, but not really melted because of the type of cheese. The dough inside of the crust isn't oily at all, and very toothsome. Overall the taste is mild, the draw here is the textural contrasts. You dip this into a chipotle ketchup, which is sweet and spicy. For an entrée I got the Asada Negro, which is a slow cooked braised beef dish, featuring panella. This was a good portion of delicious falling-apart beef that really had that taste you only get from hours of braising. The panella (a very raw sugar) lends a kind of deep caramel flavor without being particularly sweet. Overall, if you like brisket, you'll just love this. The side of rice was very good, but the star for me was the sweet plantains, caramelized, firm, and sweet. For sides I got tostones, fried yucca, and sweet fried plantains. The tostones were HUGE, perfectly twice-cooked the way they must be if they're going to be good. They were properly starchy inside, and crisp outside. The yucca was very good, cut into smaller chunks which gives a large surface area to crisp. The plantains are insanely addictive, and probably more like a candy than a side... I recommend them strongly. read more

I went to this place three times, once in Boston and twice in Cambridge. The ambience in both places were similar, but I liked the Cambridge one a bit more. Sangria was very good, and the arepas were appetizing but small. It's a great date spot, with a very sociable group of waiters to help you out with your orders. read more

My dinner experience at Orinoco was just okay. I had never had arepas before and was excited to try them out. I'm not sure if what I got was typical or not but was pretty disappointed - it was dry, crumbly, and rather flavorless. The pieces got quite soggy if they weren't eaten quickly. For my entree I had the plaintain crusted mahi mahi, which was overcooked and had none of the crusty/crispiness you'd expect based on the description. My companions had the salmon and a beef with mozzarella dish that was on special - both were much tastier than my meal. Not much selection for beer and wine, no full bar. Oh P.S. It's really hard to find!!! If you have the address and your phone tells you you're there and you walk back and forth feeling confused - look for a small walkway/alleyway, it's set back from the street (this is not a strike against the restaurant, just an FYI!) read more

I agree with a previous review I read that the servers were great. Ours also seemed knowledgeable about the menu, and was really helpful as we tried to decide what to eat. Came for the Sunday brunch and it was my first time here. It seemed like arepas were the thing to get, so I tried the Reina Pepiada and it was fantastic. They are sandwiches and the bread is a little bit like an english muffin but larger. It didn't seem like you could go wrong with your choice of arepa - there were 2-3 others I want to try the next time I go. Also tried Trio de Empanadas - it's one cheese, one bean, and one beef. The beef in particular was really well made, but all were very tasty and had a unique flavor. It's nice to see restaurants where it seems that care was given to the whole experience of being there, and this was one of them. The music, lighting, interior design, etc all added to the particular ambiance the restaurant cultivates. I felt the prices were quite reasonable too, at about $6-8 per sandwich, considering that it's well made and tastes great. It's not an overwhelming amount of food that you'd get at, say, a fast food chain, but (at least for me) it was pretty much the perfect portion size. Enough to leave you satisfied, but not stuffed. read more

Quite simply, it doesn't get any better than Orinoco. This restaurant is truly one of the hidden gems of Harvard Square. It successfully offers the wonderful tastes of Caracas to Cambridge. I'm only embarrassed not to have visited this restaurant a few years ago when a friend raved about it then. First of all, the atmosphere here is perfect. Looking for a place to take out a date for lunch or a romantic dinner? Check! Looking to casually meet up and enjoy Venezuelan food with friends? Check! Looking for a place to treat parents visiting from out of state? Check! Looking for a place with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar area? Check! That said, the level of service and quality of food is spectacular! When two of my best friends and I first set foot at Orinoco, we were greeted by a friendly waitress. The restaurant was so popular and busy that our service was a little slow. As a result, the owner of the restaurant, Martha, treated us to any free appetizers of our choice. We tried the datiles- the bacon-wrapped, almond-filled dates. I'd absolutely recommend that anyone try them. They're perfectly soft, warm, and crunchy, while tasting savory and salty, yet sweet. The raw almond (not the usual goat cheese you'd typically find) in the dates adds another level of texture and can be a refreshing element. After that, we tried ordering some pepitos. Unfortunately, the pepitos were so popular that the kitchen couldn't make any more of them. Martha swiftly offered us free entrees of our choice! My friends and I ordered the empanadas. Martha specifically recommended the Empenada Verde to me, and it didn't disappoint! This empenada is made with plantain dough, and when you bite into it, you taste a perfect balance of wonderful, gooey manchego cheese, mushrooms, and peppers. This is a perfect dish for both vegetarians and carnivores, alike! My friends and I were so pleased with the food and the service that we decided to tip very generously for our meal. Upon seeing this, Martha actually handed the cash back to us! We had an opportunity to speak with her and to learn her story, which starts in Caracas. It's so rare to encounter such a generous and talented person who treasures her roots. I recommend this restaurant without any reservation, and I look forward to coming back again for another lovely meal soon! read more

Cash only. Interesting atmosphere (Harvard Square) I know the general sentiment calls for intimacy, but the smaller enclosure makes it vulnerable for larger (and thus, boisterous) parties. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable experience. Ordered the 1) datiles - clearly not worth the sticker price, but I enjoyed the flavor combo 2) pernil arepas - helllla wet; think Latin version of a pork bao/bun; try with caution 3) tostones - can't hate on fried plantains bruh 4) panela salmon - good, and on the rarer side, I believe Make a visit! read more

This place is great for a person with gluten-free needs! My favorite dish is the shredded beef arepa. Simple and really delicious! I also recommend their sweet plantains, and the salads are always fresh with just the right amount of dressing. I describe my cumulative experience here as consistently good and sometimes great. I had the chicken salad for lunch a couple of times and the meat was too dry for my taste. However, they are willing to remake if needed. Their house made sangria is a must try! As other reviewers have said, Orinoco does not take reservations. Peak dinner times are not good for large parties, and you will likely have to wait. The ambiance is intimate and cozy. During the warmer months, they open their back space for outside seating. read more

Excelente! I rediscovered this hidden gem on an Off The Beaten Path Food Tour of Harvard Square, and I am so glad that I did. The place serves really yummy Venezuelan food including their arepas which were incredible. But they also serve a variety of Latin influences as well which adds to a festive spirit and makes you feel like you're dining in someone's living room. The variety is much appreciated because sometimes it feels like same old, but not at Orinoco. I would say this Harvard Square restaurant is my absolute favorite of all of their restaurants in this small chain. And it's right in the heart of Harvard Square. Go check it out! read more

STAY AWAY! This place is a JOKE! warmed up food, fake sangria, i can't even express myself more. The worst experience ever.