The Shawmut Inn

"Orinoco, named after the Orinoco River in South America, is a true neighborhood favorite. Tiny and unassuming, this rustic Venezuelan joint offers big flavor at reasonable prices. Weather permitting, their sidewalk patio makes for the perfect lunch spot." - Adam&Co.

"If you don’t already have a daytime margarita spot, consider Orinoco, an inviting Latin restaurant on a quiet corner of Shawmut Ave. It’s also a great option if you’ve been looking for a great cuban sandwich, an impressive but affordable date night spot, or a place to browse for Venezuelan dry goods that are prominently displayed on the wall but probably aren’t for sale." - dan secatore

"Orinoco is hidden on a quiet South End corner, so there isn’t usually much of a crowd for a weekday lunch. That’s good news for you, because it’s a comfortable little place where you’ll want to stay as long as possible, ordering one caipirinha after another to help you work through some big and well-made Latin dishes, like arepas, empanadas, and passion fruit barbecue ribs." - dan secatore

"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

"In 2019, restaurateur Andres Branger and his partners had three Orinoco: A Latin Kitchen restaurants in Boston. Now, he has only one. As of November 17, two locations are officially hibernating, ceasing operations entirely for the next few months and, hopefully, reopening when it’s safer and more profitable to serve customers again." - Hillary Dixler Canavan