Orinoco Brookline Village

Latin American restaurant · Brookline

Orinoco Brookline Village

Latin American restaurant · Brookline

5

22 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445

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Orinoco Brookline Village by Erika Adams/Eater Boston
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Orinoco Brookline Village by null
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Highlights

Arepas, empanadas, and cocktails, plus Caribbean & Andean flavors  

Featured in Eater
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22 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 Get directions

orinocokitchen.com

$30–50 · Menu

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22 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 Get directions

+1 617 232 9505
orinocokitchen.com

$30–50 · Menu

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Aug 26, 2025

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@eater

14 of Boston’s Best Affordable Meals

"Arepas are an essential, inexpensive way to fill up, and Venezuelan restaurant Orinoco serves some of the best in the city. The pocket-sized delights come with vegetarian and meat fillings, and the service is quick and reliable. There’s a second location in Harvard Square, too." - Erika Adams, Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-affordable-restaurants-boston
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13 Boston Restaurants Perfect for Takeout and Delivery

"Arepas are a near-perfect takeout food, and Orinoco’s versions, with fillings like shredded beef, slow-roasted pork, and sweet plantains stuffed into grilled corn-flour pockets, are superb. Put an order in at any one of Orinoco’s three locations in Brookline, the South End, or Harvard Square." - Erika Adams

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-takeout-delivery-boston
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Where to Eat and Drink in Brookline

"Brookline Village loves a tiny restaurant, and Orinoco is no exception — and the food and drinks are also top-notch. The menu focuses on Venezuelan cuisine with nods to the Caribbean and the Andes as well. You won’t go wrong with choices like the maracuchitos (cheese wrapped in sweet plantains) and pollo adobo. There’s also a chocolate cake made of 100 percent Venezuelan dark chocolate." - C. Shardae Jobson

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-brookline
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18 Destinations for Great Small Plates in Boston | Eater Boston

"It’s lucky that Orinoco offers small plates, because you will want to try everything on the menu. The empanadas verde at this Venezuelan restaurant are a dream for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, filled with gooey Manchego cheese, earthy forest mushrooms, and sweet piquillo peppers. While Orinoco has temporarily closed two of their locations, its South End location remains open. The South End location is open for takeout and delivery." - Karen Wilber

https://boston.eater.com/maps/great-small-plates-tapas-boston
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Why Restaurants Are Temporarily Closing to Survive the Pandemic | Eater

"This Brookline restaurant officially ceased public operations on November 17 and entered a temporary "hibernation," halting most activity so the business spends only on essential fixed costs like rent. Owners ran projections through the summer, cut hours and pared menus, and found revenue still well below sustainable levels—reporting they weren’t making even 50% of normal sales while payroll alone was about half of operating costs. After consulting staff (some with more than a decade at the company) and weighing the risks of taking on additional debt after using PPP funds, management chose to pause operations to preserve jobs and hope to reopen when public-health conditions and demand improve; they stress, however, that hibernation is a stopgap and long-term survival remains uncertain." - Hillary Dixler Canavan

https://www.eater.com/2020/12/18/22187886/pandemic-restaurants-closing-temporary-hibernation
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Adam Rasmussen

Google
Friendly staff and food was good overall. Chorizo- savory, juicy, and a little bit of spice 4/5 Lamb chops- a little overcooked but good flavor with the pistachios 4/5 Ribs- overcooked and pretty chewy The sauce was overly sweet too and tasted generic 2/5 Overall the food was good tasting, besides the ribs, but tendes to be overcooked. Overall a 3.5 but .I plan to come here again and try some of the more authentic plates and hope there is a bit more attention kept on the cooking times, which would make a huge difference

Josiah Starkey

Google
It was my first time dining at Orinoco and it was an excellent experience. The atmosphere is inviting and distinctive, felt inviting after a long day. I got an Empanada Verde and Orinoco Mojito to start, a mixed salad and Parrilla Caraqueña for my main, and Quesillo for dessert. I stray away from mojitos because of sweetness but I figured to give it a chance and I wasn’t disappointed. It had the right balance and one of my favorite mojitos I’ve ever had. The empanada had me wishing I ordered more. The main entree was excellent, hats off to the kitchen staff. The chicken, steak, chorizo, and yuca fries cooked to perfection. The flavor/seasonings were balanced, and didn’t beg of anything else (sauces, etc.). I usually don’t go for dessert but I’d say the quesillo would be a dessert to treat yourself to. Lastly, the service was incredible. Very warm, attentive, and informative, Philip and Daniel are what made the experience for me, and are the reason I will return. Highly recommend, you won’t regret giving Orinoco a try. I’m looking forward to trying out more of their menu.

Hamilton Forsythe

Google
Not quite as cozy as the old south end location but still excellent food

Ngoc Mai

Google
The overall experience was underwhelming. We left feeling unsatisfied and having to go to another restaurant afterward. The highlight of the meal was the empanadas. They were piping hot, juicy and flavorful. I got the Cordero, I asked for medium rare and it came out well done. Didn’t send it back because it was juicy enough to not be so tough. On the other hand, Adobo Smoked Churasco was so dry and tough, we asked for medium and it came out well done too. The drinks were good but not that impressive in my opinion.

Kendell Clark

Google
Great cocktails, delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Hamayle Saeed

Google
Terrible service. They don't know how to deal with a full restaurant. Apparently, they ran out of arepas but did not bother to inform me, while everyone else around me had already eaten. I had to call the waitress to ask if they were out of arepas. There was no communication about this. How is a restaurant featuring arepas heavily in their menu running out of arepas mid service??? And how is that not communicated to customers?? The few appetizers I had (with the rest of the party) were mid. And then they all got their dishes but I never got mine. Also, the restaurant gets very hot during this weather, especially with the open kitchen. NOT recommended.

Enrique Vañó Juliá

Google
A well-appointed space with pleasant lighting. The cocktails were very good and elaborate, and the service was excellent, not to mention the exquisite arepas and lamb... fantastic! You have to go!

Shauna Mckee

Google
Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the empanada Verde and the arepas, as well as the Mojito with coconut. Delicious and healthy with friendly, warm service and an inviting environment. Thank you!
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Tianna D.

Yelp
I came here last night which was a Sunday at 6:30pm. We had made a reservation in advance but it wasn't too busy when we arrived and got to choose where we wanted to sit - which we got a whole booth to ourselves. It was just my husband and I, we wanted to celebrate his birthday but they're closed on Mondays so we bumped up our dinner date a day early. It was a nice ambience, you can see the chefs grilling towards the back of the dining area. You can see what looks like family photos stretched across a wall. Art & Decor that (I'm assuming) representing Venezuelan culture. Our servers were so friendly to talk to and they answered any questions with trying to figure out what to order. Since I've been introduced to Pisco Sours, once I see it on a menu I have to get it, so I ordered the Brazilian Sour and my husband ordered the El Catire. They were both so good. For food we ordered: The Sopa de Calabaza - so so good! And I loved the plantain in it Cocas - this was good but the cheese reminded me of blue cheese which I'm not a fan of. Chuleta - this was good Parrilla Caraquena - I sampled each item and everything was good! Overall the food and service were really good!
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Adam R.

Yelp
Friendly staff and food was good overall. Chorizo- savory, juicy, and a little bit of spice 4/5 Lamb chops- a little overcooked but good flavor with the pistachios 4/5 Ribs- overcooked and pretty chewy The sauce was overly sweet too and tasted generic 2/5 Overall the food was good tasting, besides the ribs, but tendes to be overcooked. Overall a 3.5 but .I plan to come here again and try some of the more authentic plates and hope there is a bit more attention kept on the cooking times, which would make a huge difference
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Hubert H.

Yelp
There is a lot of good in this location of Orinoco, and a few things I'd revise a bit. I'm suitably impressed by the butternut squash soup with plantain. It's quite sweet and rich but I didn't mind. Weaker were the fried tostones which were much too oily, and were underseasoned. The arepas were generally good, though they were somewhat tough to handle and chew. The insides were more promising. The stewed meat version is first rate, very flavorful. The vegetarian one was also nicely balanced, especially the use of the avocado. The chicken one was flavored decently although it did come off as a bit tough. The strong non soup dishes of the evening were the sauteed spinach, also very flavorful, and the empanadas. The empanadas came with a side of salad, with excellent crispy texture on the outside of the empanada and gooey texture on the inside. Definitely worth a revisit!
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Neida V.

Yelp
this place was yummy but i went through all the stages of grief bc they didn't have any cheese and the whole reason i came here was for the jardinera arepa
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Lyusha G.

Yelp
Great spot in Brookline and happy to see them succeeding. Lovely, low key ambiance and friendly service. This place can be a good brunch spot, dinner date, or in our case, family dinner with a 2 year old. I came for the arepas but stayed for the stewed beef with rice and beans and fried plantains. Cocktails were strong and flavorful. Yum!
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Claire M.

Yelp
I ordered To Go from this location on a Saturday night. Based on what I saw on the menu and reviews, we ordered the empanadas, arepas, and Chuleta. The empanadas were delicious. My favorite one was the bean one. It had a smokey flavor which made it stand out. Out of the arepas I had, I loved the Jardinera. The Pelua was also very flavorful. The Pernil wasn't outstanding. My friend got the Chuleta and wasn't too impressed by it. I would get the ones I liked again and skip the ones that weren't too phenomenal. I do want to try other foods on the menu because the dishes I liked were amazing. Next time, I would like to eat in the restaurant, which looks like it has a nice vibe.

Marilyn T.

Yelp
I'm a business traveler who relies on Yelp to find interesting places for meals. I've stayed in this area multiple times and was looking for somewhere different. Orinoco was a great find! Atmosphere, food and service were excellent. I had the rum marinated salmon which was cooked exactly as I requested - medium rare - and packed with an amazing combination of flavors. It came looking exactly like the picture with a mix of colors and textures that made me want to dive right in. My mojito was also very good. Espresso is prepared stovetop and served in the pot. I had to try dessert since it's similar to flan! If I'm ever in this area again I'll be back.
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Ziv H.

Yelp
Hidden in the drab, yea olive drab code of uniform signs in Brookline Village, is Orinoco. Who's idea was it that all shops have the same font and green signage-- oh so classy.... A Dunkin' costumed such as well. Use your Gps to find it. First, excellent waitstaff despite a busy night. A requested serving spoon was presented upon a napkin. A classy touch indicating a level if training and attention. No reservations, but 'A.' agreed to hold a table for a handicapped guest-- details. And the food was super. Triple empanadas( z3 types) , shared as an entreé, restore one's faith in the archetype, as a desired item, rather than one just consumed in haste, at miami airports or latin grocers. A stuffed portabella main dish on a mushroom spinach base, was great. The shredded beef, with black beans, rice and plaintains, a natural resonance to the ropa viejo at every lunch or formal Cuban dinner I've had. Certainly good, but perhaps not great, especially by Miami standards. I'd go a different way next time. And so, a Brookline village success. Do try.

Swayambita D.

Yelp
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.
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Melissa M.

Yelp
Amazing food, I ordered the arepa pelua, which was so tasty. Great ambiance, and priced very well. I can't wait to go again!

Christi S.

Yelp
Everything was absolutely delicious! Beautiful atmosphere and kind service! Authentic Venezuelan cuisine.

Gayle M.

Yelp
What a delight! We were greeted promptly and courteously. It was our first time here, and our server, Alonso, was super helpful and accommodating. Among four of us, we had the beet salad (remolache con cabra), roasted portobello arepa, baby back ribs with guava sauce (costillita), and parrilla caraqueña, which is a grill plate with steak, chicken, chorizo, guasacaca and yuca fries. I've been on the hunt for a delicious arepa for years, and this one was amazing! All the ingredients complemented each other perfectly, and it was packed with flavor. Of all the delicious items we had, this was my personal favorite by far. Next in order of preference is baby back ribs. If you like your barbecue sauce on the sweet side (not overwhelmingly sweet), this is for you! The roasted beet salad was fantastic as well. Everyone enjoyed the plate of grilled meats as well, If we make it back to Boston, we will definitely return to Orinoco.
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RM M.

Yelp
Had an evening meeting around the corner in 45 minutes In Brookline Village. Decided to try Orinoco and have an arepa or two. Ordered the empanada-mechada and a fruit drink. The food arrived in short order it was delicious. Crispy Empanada wrapped around tasty beef surrounded by a tasty salad. The greens were fresh, crispy and an Avocado based dressing. About $15 without tip. I'll be back.
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Joyce K.

Yelp
A very nice spot for Venezuelan-inspired plates! Came here with some coworkers and we enjoyed some of their white sangria (very refreshing!), split some appetizers, and we each got an arepa! The appetizers were exceptional, especially the bacon wrapped dates, tequenos (guayanes cheese sticks), cocas del dia with fig glaze, and the plantains. And oh the arepas! I got the Pelua, which is shredded beef and Edam cheese - such great flavor, perfection. We left with happy bellies and a great memory.
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Anh H.

Yelp
We walked in on a rainy Sunday night and we were seated promptly without reservations. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates, cheese empanada, tostones, tequenos, parilla caraquena, and the flan. Everything was so so delicious. In our last visit, there were some misses but we loved every thing we ordered this time around. I highly recommend the parilla caraquena, it comes with strip steak, chicken, chorizo, fried yuca, and guasaca. Everything on the plate paired well and this time the fried yuca was cooked through.
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Elise M.

Yelp
I can't understand low stars for this place. Yes they were a bit understaffed and it's a bit chilly inside (it's freezing out today), but the food and drinks are spectacular! Highly recommend a tamarind mojito or margarita. We then got bacon wrapped dates with almonds + the empanada trio. Everything was yum. Following we shared a steak with salad and lamb chops with salad. The lamb chops are a must. Pistachio crusted and to die for - you need to try them! We finished with a hot chocolate with rumchata and it was the best I've ever had i think. Come support this biz! You won't regret it.
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Kiara O.

Yelp
Delicious Food , great service! Super cute spot ! Arepas are Delicious !!! And tequeños with the sauce !!
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Corliss K.

Yelp
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.
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Nicki L.

Yelp
10/5 stars if I could rate it that high! Service was friendly. The waiter recommended so many amazing options. We loved the sangria, reminded us of Christmas! The empanada trio was a great start. Everything we tried afterwards was delicious. The space is small, cozy, and neatly decorated. It was easy to get into on a Tuesday evening! The quietness was nice and intimate. Highly recommend!

Fabri T.

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

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

Yelp
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.

Philip F.

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

Yelp
Wow! What a dinner we just had at Orinoco. The restaurant had been on my list to try for like ever and I don't know why we waited this long to dine it. The place is cute and the service is spectacular. We started off with non-alcoholic drinks- Guayaba (Guava) and Guanabana(soursop). Both we were told are freshly made at the restaurant and tasted fantastic. The soursop was our favorite, and unlike the name it wasn't really sour haha. Most of the dishes are tapas style. Our favorites were- -Cocas del Dia: Spanish flatbread Guayaba with guava preserve, goat cheese, arugula, fig glaze. -Cachapas : corn pancakes stuffed with cheese -Maracuchitos: queso Paisa wrapped in sweet plantains -Yuca fries, -Verde Empanadas: stuffed with mushrooms, piquillo peppers and Manchego cheese; with a fresh greens salad. -Jardinera Arepa: Guayanés cheese, sweet plantains, guasacaca -And the cherry on the cake was their Torta fluida Dessert, which is served in this unassuming disposable foil cup. The first bite will take you back to when the simple things in life made you grin from ear to ear. It is decadent, not overly sweet and is a must order if you like anything related to chocolate. Cannot wait to go back!!
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Sydney T.

Yelp
Orinoco is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. We love it so much that we're having them cater our wedding! The food and cocktails never miss, and the staff is super friendly. They even totally nailed their takeout operations during Covid (while they were open - they did close 2 out of 3 locations for a few months, including the Brookline one). If you're looking for a delicious and fun restaurant experience, check them out!
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MJ H.

Yelp
I've been to the Orinoco in Harvard Square a handful of times, but never to the Brookline location. I stopped in to have a late lunch with some friends from out of town after we visited NETA. ;) We chose Orinoco mainly because they serve wine, and the red wine they recommended was quite tasty. The food is always delicious, and the menu at this location is the exact same as the Harvard square location. We had an order of the bacon-wrapped dates, an order of taquenos, an arepa, and two orders of beef empanadas that each come with a FRESH tasty salad. (The salads here are seriously amazing - their dressing has the perfect amount of sweetness and tang). We could not choose what we liked best because it was all so good. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. I'd definitely be back to eat here again if I was in the area!
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Juan V.

Yelp
This is not a Venezuelan cuisine I ordered tequenos: they were refried. It came with a side of ketchup. Yea ketchup sauce Pernil arepa: usually comes with guayanés cheese. They had a slice of mozzarella as if one didn't l ow the difference. The arepa dough was insipid no salt added to it. The arepa was half broken and cold. They had a mojo sauce which was basically a white garlic sauce. Mojo is supposed to be made with parsley and usually green Lastly I ordered some guasacaca and it was a Coarsely chopped avocado salad with tomato and bits of onions. This is restaura of some cuisine. But Venezuelan it is not.
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Zaraid J.

Yelp
*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.
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Michelle L.

Yelp
The food was absolutely delicious, our waiter was very friendly, and the portions were quite good! So, why 3 stars? Although we were seated relatively quickly, we waited 30+ minutes for water and to put in our order, and another 30+ minutes for our food to arrive. We went on a Tuesday at around 7:30pm (not a holiday). It seemed like they were understaffed, with just one chef, one waiter, and one bartender. But the food was still worth it. Just make sure you do not have time-sensitive plans afterwards.
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Christian S.

Yelp
Food has always been predictably good, but service is the worst. I called ahead and put our name down to ensure our getting the table because we had to drive to town. Arrived, but the host (sonya) gave the last table to another party of two (why did we even bother to call). After waiting for a while, they sat us at the booth right by the door that was extremely cold because people keep coming in and out. It was freezing even with my jacket on. I asked the host to sit us in the other booth, also open, exactly the same size and type, in the back. And she said, "no, because that booth has to be for four people." So there we were sitting in the cold. Full jacket on and such. And two minutes later they sat TWO people on that booth we asked for. Absolutely no care for their customers. Also, when you arrive, look up to the ceilings and the light fixtures. It must have been years since they last dusted this place.
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Horacio S.

Yelp
Boston is slowly coming alive due to this Pandemic Time, happy Orinoco is open with outdoor seating and very safe environment, our Bartender "Luc" served us food and drinks with the sweetest disposition even thous he was very busy, the Chef (I didn't get his name), was very knowledgeable of our food, I'm lactose intolerant and my friend is vegetarian, so he advised us what to order, I give it Five stars. Thank you Orinoco!
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Helen P.

Yelp
Literally the nicest! Gave me a free drink just to be nice, stayed open a little later & very hospitable. Thanks to this group of guys. Amazing service AND food
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Mina G.

Yelp
Came here for lunch. Nice spacey restaurants with booth seating, regular tables and bar seating. No music playing so was quiet but dinner might be a different vibe. Service was quick and friendly. I asked what their recommendation was and I got the cubano sandwich which was so tasty! The portion was good as well and came with some friends plantan chips. My friend got the butternut squash soup which was tasty and a good portion. We also tried some of the veggie empanadas which were tasty! Would recommend checking it out!

Randy A.

Yelp
Considering all of the positive reviews we must have been there on an "off night ". Service was actually pretty bad but it wasn't necessarily the fault of our waiter because it appeared that he was the only server in the entire restaurant the whole time we were there., Appetizers were good, not great but the drinks were a joke. My wife enjoyed her Mojito and it was a normal size but the sangria was served in a small wine glass that, with ice, was probably about 4 ounces of sangria. It was reported as good but not great. Personally I don't drink a lot of sangria but I'm accustomed to seeing it served in a larger goblet and often with some type of garnish. My avocado colada was tasty but it was the smallest cocktail I've ever been served. It came in a standard size stemless martini glass that arrived half full. I estimated that it was also about 4 ounces of liquid. I remember initially thinking that the drink prices seemed reasonable but changed my mind considering how small they were. Mains were bad across the board. My ribs were dry, even drowned in the too-sweet barbecue sauce and my fried yucca side was tough, being practically raw and covered with a cold garlic sauce that would have ruined it in any case. My plate was a mess of sauce. My wife and friend got the steak which they concurred would have been good if it had arrived hot and had not had large sections of gristle. Their sides of arugula salad contained goat cheese instead of bleu cheese as detailed on the menu which made it inedible for my wife who loves bleu cheese and hates goat cheese. My other friend (who never complains about her food) reported that her salmon was over cooked and chewy. The manager, after insisting that the menu indicated goat cheese was in the arugula salad (until we showed him otherwise) offered free dessert as some compensation for our disappointment. The chocolate lava cake and custard were each tasty; and I realize you can't eat the presentation, but they were served in the disposable aluminum tins they were made in, on a plate. They looked so stark and alone on their plates. We all made Easy Bake Oven jokes. Bottom line is I can only recommend coming here for apps and beers. What a letdown...
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Gina E.

Yelp
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!
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Rebecca S.

Yelp
Orinoco is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the Boston area! I used to work across the street from the Brookline Village location and went there for lunch multiple times a month. I particularly love the bacon wrapped dates, the plantains, ALL of the arepas, and the empanadas. This past weekend, I ordered take out from the Brookline Village location for family members who have specific dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free, nut free, etc.). They were super friendly over the phone and prepared the food promptly, safely, and with COVID-19 health restrictions in mind. There was a specific area for picking up food separate from the staff and the food was dropped off near me by individuals wearing masks and gloves. Lots of signage outside and inside the restaurant made the process clear and they provided Purell at the pick up station. I love this restaurant and think it's more important than ever to support it during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are doing an excellent job of adjusting to new regulations and I am confident in ordering from them multiple times in the coming weeks!
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Ivy S.

Yelp
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.
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Alexandra M.

Yelp
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.
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Amy T.

Yelp
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.
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Kara S.

Yelp
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.
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Kim C.

Yelp
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.
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Pilaiphon W.

Yelp
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,
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Nandanie S.

Yelp
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!!
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Sara L.

Yelp
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!
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Enzo M.

Yelp
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.
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Nelene H.

Yelp
Love the place, the service and the food. They have Venezuelan food and other dishes with Caribbean flavors. Staff is super friendly. Menu have delicious variety of dishes. You will find something for you. Try it, you won't regret

Paul L.

Yelp
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.
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Emma B.

Yelp
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.
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Tommie M.

Yelp
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!!

Olivia S.

Yelp
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.