There are not many Venezuelan restaurants around so I haven't had the chance to try it until I went to Orinoco's. Every time I came here I went for the Arepas. So far I have tried the Mechada Arepa, Pabellon Arepa, Pelua Arepa, and the Pernil Arepa. Out of these my favorite is the Pelua Arepa. The Arepas are priced fairly cheap between $6.50 and $7.50 depending on the one you get. The meat quality is very good and has amazing marination. Personally, I can only eat one Arepa, though most people order two and I have seen some eat three. The passion fruit juice with a little bit of sugar is an excellent drink to wash down the flavorful Arepas! The ambiance is nice, it's fairly dark and it's a quaint place which can get crowded and hard to find a spot at times. Though they also have an outside seating area in the back to help with the overflow. The customer service is not amazing but the staff is still really nice. It's located in a great spot in Harvard Square so it's a convenient place to try. I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to try Venezuelan food! read more

Love the atmosphere and music!! The serving staff are always polite and friendly. I would definitely recommend their black bean empanada

This restaurant is not as good as the one in Boston's south end (maybe they were not ready for the expansion?) I went there on Sunday evening and decided to order the Sangria. They told me they were out of it. I then proceeded to order the special ceviche. They were out of that too. I then tried to order the special entree. The baby back ribs and they were out of that too!! It then started to become ridiculous. I complained to the waitress and she found this to be amusing. I told her I wouldn't be coming back there since they were out of everything I wanted. She found this doubly amusing. Chuckle, chuckle. I was forced to order their steak, which when it arrived at my table was cold and the portion size was tiny. The waiters appeared to be clueless, confused, out of it. Basically, this restaurant has a long way to go and I hope their south end location is not on the way down. The last time I was there, it was excellent. What is happening to you Orinoco? read more

Great food and love the house made hot sauce! The server was extremely friendly and atmosphere was on point!

I've been to Orinoco twice now and have had positive experiences both times. The first time I went with a friend for lunch and we shared the Remolachah salad and an arepa with beef. The salad was decent but the arepa was delicious. It came with a garlic sauce that was amazing! I came back for dinner and sampled the trio of empanadas and the maple salmon on special. While the empanadas were good, the salmon was really tasty. Sangria was on point. Both times I sat in the outside patio in the back which was a sweet little oasis. There is a string of outdoor lights that makes it quite pretty at night. I'd love to come back! read more

I love their food. However their service is not the best. I will say that the Brookline location has much better service. I tried to order food today at 9:25 and they told me they were closed already even though their webpage says it closes at 10. I've had a couple of bad experiences with the servers who are not friendly. Other than that the food is great and the location is very cozy. read more

Love this spot in Harvard Square! This Venezuelan restaurant is located in the cutest little spot between two buildings on JFK street. It has a delicious selection of authentic food. Their empanandas are delicious. All of their small plates/appetizers are also pretty good in size and you only need to order one or two or you'll be too full to order from the main dishes! Their pork chops are incredible. I have been here twice and each time my boyfriend has gotten the pork chops. I have also had their shredded beef and chicken. Their wine selection is great as well. Definitely recommend! read more

I read all the good reviews and was excited to check it out. I was sorely disappointed. The service was lackluster and I felt like I was inconveniencing the servers by being there. The restaurant was pretty empty for a Thursday night, but they would not let us sit where we requested. They were rude throughout the dinner once they realized we weren't ordering drinks. The plantains with cheese was not bad, but I've had better fried plantains. The arepas were tiny and for $7, you only get one which is kind of a rip-off. It tasted ok but I didn't feel like it's anything special. Overall, there are plenty other restaurants in the area that offer way better value and service for your money. read more

I agree with previous reviewers who said that the food is an A+ and the service is a B-. The arepas were delightful- one is small (my friend and I were kind of just grazing throughout the day, so we had one each, but I would recommend picking two or three arepas for a more filling meal). We also got a chocolate lava cake, also small, to share. Yes, maybe it's a bit gimmicky to say that it's 100% Venezuelan chocolate, but on the other hand, it was rich, warm, and delicious. Recommended. read more

They told us the wait would be 30 minutes, They said they would call when a table was ready. They never called. After an hour we came back. After two hours we were still not seated as I saw people getting seated ahead of us. read more

We went here for my birthday and had an amazing experience. The food was delicious and service was prompt, but really the hostess lady was just beyond awesome. She made us feel like we were guests in her home. We did have to wait quite a bit, and this may be a factor in the decision whether to come here on not next time around, but one way or another, we'll be back soon, for sure!!! read more

Adorable place. I mean adorable. You walk in here and get excited the moment you step inside--that is if you can see the name out on the front of the walkway, since it isn't exactly at the 56 JFK address posted online. Maybe that adds to the little sense of magic you feel when you walk into this warm feeling restaurant. It also could have been warm because my table for four was barely split into two tables for two, so it was almost like I was having dinner with the people next to us as well--which isn't a bad thing, but definitely not something I was expecting. It also could have been warm because my chair was in front of a semi noisy radiator--but hey, i'll take a little noise for warmth on chilly nights!! Our service was great and even got us to get a whole carafe of Sangria since when we asked for a whole bottle of proseco (it was a celebration night, okay? don't judge) he said they only sell little mini bottles, so clearly a carafe of their house made sangria was the better deal, which is was. It had this sweeter almost cinnamon like taste to it, which made it that much better! But it was $24 for the carafe of fun. Hmm. Most main dishes are around $18 on average so this isn't the cheapest place in the world, but if you split their empanada trio which I highly recommend with one other person, that really is like half of your meal right there, because those buttery flaky crusts on those bad boys are just so good. The one filled with slow roasted pork was the best, but all three were such a great start! Then we got their bacon wrapped pork tenderloin which was stuff with currants and such, but it just was a little weird. I know, saying that anything wrapped in bacon is weird is a travesty on its own, but we just couldn't get that into it. It was paired with this mango chutney which was good, but almost too sweet and overpowered it a bit for me. The tuna dish we got with toasted pepitas was also pretty good, but the crust was so incredibly flavorful that all of the parts in the middle of the tuna slices without any seasoning whatsoever just didn't quite taste as good. So 3.5 stars overall--Orinoco I will be back and next time maybe empanadas all night long! They were just so so good!! read more

Best, food, ever. I almost licked the plate. Everyone says get arepas but the steak is AMAZING!

Love, love, love this place. Wonderful prices, great food, and friendly staff. The owner of Orinoco frequents the restaurant and makes sure that your food and your experience is perfect. Start with maracuchitos- cheese wrapped in sweet plantains- and order the sangria. You're already off to a great meal. It can end here and you can keep ordering sangrias, or you can indulge in the flavors of the visible kitchen. The Arepas are medium-sized and not filling by themselves. I recommend any arepa with queso de mano. Yummy. The empanada verde is where the good stuff is. It's essentially a salad with four small plantain empanadas filled with a blend of mushrooms and cheese. For the price, it's a deal in the square. Then there's the dessert, the torta fluida, dense molten cake that oozes a very rich chocolate. It's a small portion, which is perfect. Otherwise, this dessert would be extremely overwhelming. And come for brunch! Again, great prices and food that differs from most of the standard dishes in the square. read more

I've been coming to Orinoco for about five years, and during my time at business school I went at least once a week. I love the atmosphere, especially in the garden over summer. I'm vegetarian so I tend to stick with empanadas verde and some of the sides (I particularly like the tostones), and those are always delicious. If you're in an adventurous mood and can handle heat - ask for the hot sauce... The sangria is also very good. Highly recommend it! read more

Nice, quite place in the center of Harvard Square. Good food, simple menu which I like. Recommended for Lunch. Nice sitting area in the back yard. Not cheap, but we all have to get used to price raise in the area. read more

Love this place! It's tucked away in an alley way just off JFK but definitely a gem worth exploring! We got the meat and crab dish... Delicious! Also the puff pastry chicken was also amazing! The food was seasoned really well and the service impeccable. If it was more reasonably priced, it's give it 5 stars! This place is NOT good for large groups. The last time we went there, we occupied a large table and basically had to walk out because we couldn't get menus and we were already seated for 30 minutes! read more

I went to dinner here with my husband and his boss. We had a great time in this cute little place with a carafe of the sangria and empanadas. I got the plantain crusted mahi mahi with the beef/tomato escabeche and it was incredible. The restaurant itself also has a very secluded vibe in the heart of Harvard Square - love it! read more

I was really excited to come here with my coworkers. I heard great things about this place, so I wanted to try it. Unfortunately I was disappointed. First, the service was extremely slow. We barely seen our waiter and it took forever for him to come back so we can order. Not worth the wait read more

Orinoco - Lunch with coworkers - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The food is amazing! And their hot sauce is to die for (and really spicy, use sparingly).

I ate at Orinoco in the South End before and loved it. That's why it was no surprise when I ate at the Orinoco in Harvard Square and loved it as well. It's so great to have a Venezuelan restaurant in Harvard Square. In this neighborhood, there are several options for Indian food. There's Chinese food, Japanese food, and fast food Mexican food. After awhile, those options get old so it's nice to have one more type of cuisine to try within the square. I really can't single out one dish or drink at Orinoco. Based on my experiences at both the South End and Harvard Square locations, I haven't been disappointed either way. Try it all. read more

I had a great meal here with a friend last night. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. Our waiter was very welcoming and attentive, but aloof enough that I didn't feel smothered. My friend and I each had the Papelon con limon, an arepa, an empanada, and shared a side of fried plantains. This was plenty of delicious food for two people, and a good value for the price. I would describe an arepa, for those who don't know, as a cornmeal english muffin, lightly grilled and stuffed with cheese. The empanadas came two to an order (4 halves) and were accompanied by a decently sized, fresh tasting salad. I agree with other reviews that the Papelon con limon is very good, and that the plantains, though good on their own, could use some kind of dipping sauce. I will definitely be back. read more

This was my first Venezuelan meal so my score was depicts quality, flavor & service but not authenticity. The pastry on the Empanadas, was flaky and flavorful. As good as anything that I have had in Argentina. The fillings where good but for me it's the pastry that pushes it over the top. Arepas where good but this was my first one so not sure how to rate. The mains where excellent. Perfect dishes for the bitter cold outside. Rich short ribs and steak with a spicy rub that was aggressive but in no way detracted form the meat. Service was good. No high chairs for those of you with small kids. read more

It was actually our first time at a Venezuelan. Waiter made very clear suggestions on the best and most popular dishes and all of them were so good. Specially the Maracuchitos and the lamb. Very tasty. Place is very nice and cozy. A must! Looking forward to our next visit to Orinocco! read more

Hands down one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time. Everything about this place is superb. A hidden gem on JFK street, Orinoco offers a cozy, relaxing space. The outdoor area is so peaceful. The food is incredible. We ordered the Maracuchitos and the Portobello Arepas. All I can say is wow! Superb! Will definitely be back soon. read more

Amazing arepas!!! A must place to visit a Cambridge. We had a large table and we got great service. Plantains and yuca are delicious too.

A step above the rest, and a hidden gem, I mean gem mine in Harvard Square. Where do I begin. For one, it has the hands down best patio in the Cambridge area when in Season, it is such a great experience to spend an evening wining and dining out there, you will feel so relaxed and satisfied after. Starting with the drinks, their homemade spiced sangria is amazing, the spices with it pair well with any of their plates and I highly recommend it, I order a carafe every time (Sometimes for just myself :P) They also have traditional juice and a great reasonably priced wine selection. For an appetizer their fried oysters are amazing, the sauce and vegetables are very well paired with the fresh oysters, and are a great way to start your meal, you will not be dissapointed. I have a bad habit of finding a plate I love and sticking with it, then picking off other peoples plates to get a better taste of the menu (I share too of course). I am addicted to their lamb! The marinade they use, and the encrusted pistachios on top of being cooked to a perfect juicy temperature, make it outstanding! The salad paired with it is always fresh, and the homemade vinaigrette is light, tangy and compliments the dish perfectly bringing it all together. I have also tried sampler plate, which is great for your first time, as it gives you a taste of everything, and a great idea of what they have to offer! I also love their ribs, with a great spiced bbq sauce, served with al dente cooked plantain fries. They have an awesome brunch menu, with several mix and match options a la cart. Im usually not a big breakfast person, but Orinoco is great. They have the best beans around, well seasoned, and spiced, and great eggs to order as well. I also often order the Capacha Pabellon, which is a wonderful stuffed bread with shredded beef, the shredded beef is p perfectly cooked, very flavorful and juicy! Which reminds me of their arepas! Amazing little Venezuelan sandwiches great for a snack or light meal!!!!! The shredded beef and chicken salad ones are my favorite!!!! Usually I'm too full for desert, but if your still in the mood they have the perfect sized warm fudge cakes, that still go well with that sangria, or espresso.... I really can't say enough about this place as it is a hidden gem in Harvard square! Don't miss the gates to orinoco to Harvard square!!!! The staff is always very very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, and I wish them all the best!!!!!! read more

My new favorate! The lamb there is one of the best I had in Boston! The other food (e.g. steak, goat cheese, salad) is great too.

The worst treatment ever. I came with a friend and they gave us the same menu with different prices. We wanted to sit in a table when they were completely empty and they gave us the worst table under the sunshine. I won't come back to this place. read more

I've been to Orinoco countless times, with various groupings of family and friends. I've never been disappointed. The ambiance is especially nice, low lighting for dinner, elegant, casual chairs (that make me think of those in Bryant Park in NY) painted rich colors, walls accented with small, tasteful art objects...and a secluded back patio for sunny lunches in the warmer months. Excellent food - I love the orinoco salad in particular. Manageable portions. The sangria carafe and the small molten chocolate cake are delights that should not be missed. read more

Went on a Sunday night, ate on the patio which is beautiful. Until the rats show up. Unbeknownst to me, Monday morning is trash pickup day in Harvard. So there were at least 5 rats running around, each of them very disrespectful and discourteous. Also the service was slow, despite the place being almost empty. Perhaps they should have asked the rats to lend a hand. The food was fine. However even without the rats I doubt I'd go back. read more

The sangria was phenomenal. The arepas were Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly done. The adobo chicken was perfectly cooked as well. The mojo sauce was perfect on everything. We added it to the adobo chicken cause we felt like t needed that extra kick. The plantains and yucca fries were great too. read more

A hidden little gem in Harvard Square! Their meats are superb and if you can get in early enough you won't have to wait during the week.

Amazing, authentic Latin American food. Quaint little place away from the noise of Harvard Square. Great friendly service.

Bad service. Not too bad food. Empanadas merchada was tasty. Tucked in a tiny corner of JFK read more

Orinoco - Beef Empanadas Mechada - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My boyfriend and I ate here earlier this week when his classmate suggested it. It was in a hidden spot. The food was so good and decently portioned. I had an empanada & he ate a torta. The restaurant was small & decorated with traditional Hispanic touches. read more

Great ambiance - cozy and candle-lit, and fairly quiet when I've been there despite all the tables being filled. A great place for a glass of wine or sangria and sharing some small plates with friends. The cheese-stuffed plantain and fried cheese appetizers are great, I can't remember their real names (clearly I have a cheese problem). The arepas are good but small for a main meal - I prefer the empanadas which come with a nice salad (Verde empanada for me, which is mushrooms, veggies & a little cheese.) read more

Unreal-authentic Venezuelan food. Highly recommend the tequeños as an appetizer. The arepas are small, but have great flavor. There aren't too many Venezuelan restaurants in the United States outside of Florida, but Orinoco does its food justice. Looking forward to going again. read more

Delicious but nothing out of this world. Fun change up when you're looking for something ethnic that's not Thai or Italian. Would say portions are on the smaller side, but generally very delicious. Bacon wrapped almond-filled dates are always a hit. Tried the guava-flavored BBQ ribs just out of curiosity but meat was on the drier side and I couldn't really taste the guava-addition in the sauce. My empanda verdes were not bad, and I liked that it came with a salad. read more

There are a lot of places that commit to serving international food, but very few focus in on Venezuelan cuisine. We were craving Venezuelan food and decided to go with an Empanada and Arepa. Both were excellent. It's hard to recreate a home cooked Venezuelan meal, but both were pretty close. read more