While in Boston, our daughter introduced us to this neat little restaurant. The entrance felt a little "secret" tucked down an alleyway. It was lively and cozy inside. I believe our waitress was Sylvanna. We ordered Sangria, a Negro Modela, & a hot tea to drink. For appetizers we chose the Trio De Empanadas (Queso Blanco, Domino, & Mechada) we added a single Verde. They were served perfectly cooked, and once we divided each one into thirds they cooled to a comfortable eating temperature. They were served with a garlic sauce, (aioli based?) that was delicious. I think our favorite was the Verde (I believe it had mushrooms & peppers in it). For our entrees, we ordered the Cordera, Costillita, & Parailla Caraquena. My husband loves lamb and was very happy with the Cordera. The Costillita was baby back ribs that were tender and flavorful. The Parailla Caraquena was grilled chicken, a portion of steak, and chorizo. My husband and I normally don't like chorizo but theirs was spicy but not greasy. Two of our plates came with fried yuca. I had never had this before and it reminded me of a large French fry. We did not have room for dessert, maybe next time. read more

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We went to Orinoco a little under an hour before closing. We were seated immediately and the waiter was very attentive. We had hoped to eat some arepas but they were out of them. I recommend getting here earlier if that's what you're craving. We ended up getting the empanada trio, the Pabellon Criollo (which I did not realize also had plantains), the maracuchitos and the tostones. Yes, all the plantains in the menu. It kind of happened by accident but it worked out great. We got our food incredibly fast! Everything was delicious. However, the tostones and the empanadas were my favorite. I also had a maracuya juice, which was sweet and refreshing. We really liked our waiter, we was very nice and attentive. I wish I remembered his name to give him a shout out. I really enjoy the food from Orinoco. Historically, I had only gone to the restaurant in the South End but I'm glad to see the one at Harvard Square maintains the same flavors. I can't wait to be back for arepas. read more

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Step into the alley and discover delicious foods! My bf found this hidden gem tucked away from the main busy street. The restaurant is not that big but it has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. They have a big menu with many interesting dishes. I decided on their pollo adobo and wanted tostones on the side but they had run out. My bf got a savory meat dish and our friend ordered what looked like a pizza topped with shredded beef. The food was very tasty and very good! My pollo adobo was cooked perfectly and it came with a mushroom sauce and gnocchi. I quickly devoured it! The pizza looking dish was also very good. It had sweet flavors which was surprisingly delicious! My bf dish was also very good and very filling. He ordered shredded beef with a side of rice and beans. The service was great and the ambiance was nice. We had a great dinner and will definitely be back! read more

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We came here for valentines day. They do walk-ins instead of reservations as well as they close at 8:30pm. I'm not sure what their weekend hours are like. We got here around 7:30pm and there were quite a few seats left, and we got to choose where we wanted to sit. It's a charming atmosphere, most of the tables were filled with couples. It's a cozy restaurant inside, it somewhat felt like I was in the New England version of a "Florida room" of the house with all the windows. Where we sat had family photos hung up on the wall. I didn't get our server's name but he was very helpful with any questions we had and friendly. And Everything we ordered was so good! We were definitely stuffed. We could have done without one of the sides but we wanted to try as much as we could. What we ordered: Sangria Cachapa Adobo Smoked Churrasco Cordero Tradicional Tajadas Yuca Quesillo This restaurant is definitely a gem and we'll be back. read more

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Found a little off the main roads, Orinoco is a quaint little restaurant with a calming ambiance, delicious food, and kind service. My friend suggested the spot and I wasn't completely sure what we'd walk away with, but the experience was super pleasant and I can't wait to come back! We came on a Sunday for an early dinner and the space was quiet. There were only 2-3 other parties there, but the building was small to start with so it felt rather cozy. The table was a little sticky when we sat down, but other than that, the space was pleasant. We had our order taken relatively quickly and the food came out fast as well so there was little downtime. The empanadas were smaller than I expected, but super fresh and tasted delicious. The sauce it came with was also excellent. I was excited to try the arepa as well and it didn't disappoint - stuffed very well with filling and was a pleasure to eat. The churrasco was also great as a main course - the meat was cooked and marinated so well, I would order this dish again in a heartbeat. The sangria also was flavored well and paired great with everything I ate. Thanks Orinoco for a great dinner. Can't wait to return for another amazing meal! read more

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I took my fiancé here for his birthday and the food was great! Awesome Venezuelan food, we both got carne mechada. The owner came and spoke to us while we were eating, and it was such a joyful and great conversation you can tell she really cares about the quality here. The restaurant itself is exactly what you expect when getting Spanish food, nothing too fancy but the vibe was great. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and will be back! read more

We were very disappointed by the food and the service. We ordered an appetizer that was not served until after our main courses were delivered, and two of the three plates had serious issues: -- A pork chop that the menu said was served with "cauliflower and manchego puree" was instead served on a bed of French fries. When questioned, the server said "the kitchen said they changed that many months ago" -- too bad no one updated the menu (which wasn't even printed!). To their credit, they did provide a salad as an alternative side when pressed. -- Separately, the arugula accompanying the tuna was badly wilted and brown. More than half of the plate was inedible. read more

Orinoco - Wilted arugula - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Orinoco's hidden away in a side alley off of the bustling JFK St - I've lived here for nearly 3 years now, and even though I've noticed the subtle entrance a few times before, I still had to rely on Google Maps to pinpoint its exact location for me. Its secluded location is accentuated by the warm, dark, and cosy interior - a perfect vibe for our dinner on a freezing evening. My friend and I ordered the trio de empanadas to share; and I had the arepa pelua, and my friend the arepa jardinera. Empanadas was amazing - each of the three fillings (queso blanco, domino - a black bean/cheese mix, and mechada - shredded beef) were so delicious, and I really liked that they were so different from one another so that we could try so many different flavours. The corn-based empanada crust (shell?) was a particular highlight - at once not too strong to overwhelm the fillings, but at the same time so well cooked with its own natural flavour, to a perfect softness that I felt like I could have just eaten the crust alone (!) Arepas were fantastic - the arepa itself had a rich, wonderful natural corn flavour (much like the empanada), and the filling was phenomenal - beef was juicy and stewed to a perfect tenderness, and the Edam cheese (which I was a little intrigued by at first) mixed so perfectly with the deeper, savoury flavours of the beef and the lighter complement of the arepa dough. We ended with a quesillo, which was a wonderful choice - I was worried it might be too sweet, as some (evidently lesser) Latin restaurants prepare their flans - but the caramel flavouring perfectly complemented the delicious custard - not too sweet, not too bitter, and with a perfect texture. I was mildly concerned initially about the relatively small portion sizes, but I was happy to have been proved wrong - we were perfectly full at the end of our meal without feeling at all stuffed. I'm a little disappointed in myself that I never got around to trying this affordable and absolutely incredible restaurant earlier, and I can't wait until the next time I'm back - hopefully sooner rather than later :) read more

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This place is a hidden gem in Harvard square. Let's be real, it is very hard to find good food in the Boston area. Orinoco is a hidden spot at Harvard square, you'll definitely miss it if you walk too fast! You have to walk through an arch that says Orinoco. There is seating indoors and outdoors. The patio is large enough to have room for multiple groups. It was also pretty spaced out. We went on a Thursday evening and there was no wait time. We decided to get two appetizers and arepas. We started with Tequenos and Tostones to share. The dip that came with with Tequenos was delicious. We then each ordered a couple arepas. I got a veggie one with cheese and fried plantain as well as one with beef. My friend got one with beef and beans/pork. All the Arepas were decent size and our favourite was definitely the slow cooked beef one. There was more than enough food, but we could not say no to dessert! We decided to share the chocolate cake which was really a molten lava cake. It came hot and gooey. Ambience: 5/5 Food: 10/5 Service: 5/5 I will definitely be back for more Arepas! read more

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A bit hidden from the main road but it's a total gem to be checked out! Inside, it's got a very homey cozy vibe yet everything is neat and clean. They have room for a group, but i'd say it's more perfect for a smaller setting. Because it's rather a small space, service was really quick. Servers were all very kind and they noticed whenever we needed them very quickly. But the food was the VIP of the place. They were very affordable, good portion size, and super super tasty. We started our meal with trio de empanadas, got two arepas (pernil and pelua) and costillita for entrees and tostones and tajadas for sides. Trio de empanadas were such a perfect appetizer for two people to share. Fried fresh, we enjoyed every bite of it. I thought it was a good way to start a meal and try the classic flavours of Orinoco :) Arepas were perfectly grilled that it was crunch outside but soft, and the inner filling was so juicy and flavourful. The ribs came with such gold portion and they were so tender - it just came right off the bone and they melted in mouth. I wasn't sure if I tasted guava even though they said its in guava BBQ sauce. Yuca frites were great - they are not dipped with too much batter so you can definitely taste yuca. I'm so glad we had dinner here - had such a wonderful time! Would definitely come back and would 100% recommend to everyone! read more

Orinoco - Inside - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Right as you walk in the smell from the kitchen invites you to get closer. You can see the kitchen and I was immediately greeted by the server, who offered available tables for me to choose from. The menu is off a QR code which made seeing items easier, given the lighting was dim, which adds to the ambiance. It's casual but still nice. I ordered a few items to try. The steak was well cooked and pre-sliced, piled next to simple yet delicious arugula salad. The adobo sauce on the steak was amazing. I also ordered the salmon, which was also tasty. I also had the bacon wrapped dates which were sweet and savory. The sweet plantains were also perfectly fried and were not greasy. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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Absolutely delicious food with great service and ambience. Shared a variety of 6 dishes and sangria with 2 friends. As visitors from DC, I would definitely come back again, as you won't be able to find such awesome food at such prices in the nation's capital. read more

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Upscale restaurant tucked in Harvard Square serving Latin American (Venezuelan) food in Harvard Square. I tried the Jardinera Arepa ($6.50) and Verde Empanada ($9.85) and both were yummy. It's pricey but it's high quality Latin Food that's beautifully presented so on par for what it is. I'd imagine it's good for a date night. read more

Orinoco - Jardinera Arepa ($6.50), Verde Empanadas ($9.85) - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

They don't take reservations but I called/emailed ahead and they were very accommodating. Not too crowded on a Friday night. Their costillitas are delicious, I would definitely come back for more. Ambiance is great for a date with a partner or a friend. read more

Orinoco - Panela Salmon - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Brought my co-workers on a return trip here including my boss who is from Venezuela. By far the best meal we had on our entire trip. The arepas are amazing. The sangria is very unique. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Harvard or happen to be in the Cambridge area. read more

Pretty cozy spot to get a meal! The arepas were wonderfully flavorful and paired well with the garlicy sauce. The yuca fries were also quite nice. I don't recommend the tuna which was pricy and was rather uninspiring. read more

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If you are looking for a quiet, cozy, and homey place to sit down and relax for a dinner in the busy Harvard Square, Orinoco is the place to go. It is also one of the very few Venezuelan restaurants you can find in the Boston area. We are big fans of their Quesillo (custard) and we went there to fulfill our cravings. What we ordered: Red Sangria $8.5 Empanada Verde $10.25 Quesillo $5.75 The food was overall okay. Red Sangria was like grape juice. Definitely yummy but not so much surprise or complexity. I liked that the Empanada came with lots of greens, but it was too much dressing for us. You may think that the food portion is small at first sight, but it is actually quite filling. Quesillo was spot on- it isn't too sweet, not too soft, and the caramel brought in a perfect bitterness. For the pricing, I was expecting a bit more service. I felt that the staff were rushing us to leave sooner. Perhaps because we didn't order dishes for two? Overall, it is a bit pricy for the quality of experience, but I'll continue to emphasize that their Quesillo is amazing and worth coming back to. read more

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Really bad quality, the arepas are not fresh. Tequeños are saggy. The service is sorta rude not to mention the manager. If you want real Venezuelan food this is a misrepresentation. read more

Orinoco - Tequeños .. but saggy, blend flavor - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I loved this place when I lived in Boston a few years ago, so I came with friends when I was visiting town again. They have this toast system for ordering which my friends used, but as I was trying to figure it out someone came over and said he would take our order for us. I order arepas and an appetizer for the table, my girlfriend ordered a different entree. After 50 minutes of waiting, by which time two of the people in my group finished eating, they finally tell me that actually they were out of arepas and I would have to order something else. Meanwhile other people who ordered *way* after we did are clearly getting arepas taken to their table. They finally bring the third person in our group his food, long after the other two have finished. But it takes them so long to bring me my food that he finishes before it finally gets there (about an hour and a half after we arrived) despite eating slowly. What kind of restaurant makes you wait almost an hour to tell you to order something else, and then another 45 minutes to bring you your food? (And even after seeing them bring arepas to other tables, I saw them bring the same thing I ordered to other people. Why wasn't I given higher priority given how long I waited? Maybe they just make everyone wait an hour and a half for the food. Or based on our experience, maybe they just pick one person in every group and make them wait that long) No apologies. Nothing was comped. I only got my food after I threatened to leave, having waited for an hour and a half. Look. I am very hesitant to write these kinds of negative reviews, particularly for a place I have fond memories of. But this was supposed to be a special dinner, and instead of remembering some past special dinners I had there, I instead felt totally disrespected, ignored, and frankly humiliated by how it felt to have to make my friends wait for me to finish eating. I guess it was memorable in how terrible i felt being there. I won't be going back and neither should you. There are plenty of restaurants in hsquare that will make you feel welcome and full. This is not one of them. read more

Solid, definitely solid. I think it was several things going wrong at the same time which kept a good experience from being great, or better! That said, I am definitely not against returning to give them another go. I ordered the La Llanera arepa with greens, and then some coffee and molten chocolate cake to finish off the meal. The service was a wee bit slow at the start, for both me and other tables, having our order taken, and our food brought out took a while. However, this sped up towards the end of the visit. For the food: The greens were great! Dark greens are always nice, offering more flavor than just lettuce, and the dressing was very pleasant and in perfect amounts. The arepa, however, was a mixed bag. The bread was nice, it was grilled well, and held together nicely despite everything inside. At the same time, it was thin enough that it didn't make the meal more than 50% bread. The steak was solid, and they most certainly didn't skimp on it. No special sauces or marinades that I could tell, just some salt (a touch more than I would have liked). As for the other toppings, just some issues with execution. For the most part, I like consistency in my food, the guacamole and peppers were spread very unevenly, which was partly responsible for the guac leaking out after a bite. I also found it lacking onions and special sauce. The onions would have added an all-important burst of freshness and crunch. I suspect the sauce which comes on the side (as I saw an [almost] all other arepas coming from the kitchen, was lacking. They also forgot to bring out the hot sauce. Seeing this one at the entrance though, I asked if I could grab a bottle. Good stuff, added a nice level of flavor and heat to balance everything out. Coffee was nothing to write home about, pretty much what you'd get in any diner I'd been to. The molten chocolate cake meanwhile was similarly nothing special. While not overly sweet, I'd hoped for the Venezuelan molten chocolate inside to have a little more bitterness. It also could have spent just a little more time in the oven. I found the molten chocolate had some warm spots and some cold spots. read more

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Sat outside in their cute outdoor backyard in the summer. Overall, the food options are pretty good. I got the championes flatbread as an appetizer and it was good! For entrees, I got the lamb chop and it was delicious as well. read more

Orinoco - Lamb chop - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Tequenos not pictured were so yummy, though I would eat it fast so the cheeses inside is still stretchy. Great memories of this place. The wait staff is super kind too :)) read more

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

Happy reopening! Outdoor seating fills up fast, so either expect a queue or try to arrive close to opening time if you prefer that. Indoor seating is nicely spaced as well. Waitstaff and ownership were wonderfully upfront about potential wait times due to busy-ness and a out-of-action cook, but we experienced no delay. You can't go wrong with the arepas here, which are also highly affordable meals compared to most places in the Square. Also highly recommend the house-made sangria which is cinnamony and refreshing (would come back just for this honestly), as well as the churrasco which was so tender! read more

Orinoco - Left to right: Trio de Empanadas, Sangria, Adobo Smoked Churrasco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Delicious celebration of cheese and life! My colleague and I checked this place out and were not disappointed once. Have a whole meal of arepas, small plates, and empanadas! The mushroom flatbread is a meal in itself, but the arepas were stuffed with cheese ... and my god, I as 50 Cent once said, I loved them like a fat kid loves cake. I also asked for some hot sauce and a huge bottle was placed on the table. This stuff is no joke, and like Sex Panther in "The Anchorman," "smelled like pure gasoline." But it was a delicious touch to everything. read more

Orinoco - House hot sauce - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Amazing food and awesome service. Very sweet waitress and the owner checked on us too, she was very nice! Super cool spot kinda tucked away in a small alley and it has great vibes. Food was awesome with the tequenos being our favorite and the datilles also a must try. Sangria was also a big hit I don't drink wine but this sangria was so smooth and not too sweet with just a little bit of spice like maybe cinnamon oh boy now I wanna go back again tonight! read more

Such a gem. Very glad we found it. Will be back for sure! The sangria and every menu item we tried were awesome.

Food here is amazing. Beef and fish which we had were very fresh. Just that it took around 15 -20 mins to serve food and they almost forgot to serve starters( can be due to limited staff). Still it is totally worth . read more

Orinoco - Remolacha con Cabra - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Hello! This is the first FAST (Food Ambience Service Trendsetter) review coming your way! Food: 5 I'm a sucker for arepas. We ordered the prenil arepa to start. The pork was so flavorful and tender, every bite was perfect with a great combination of pork and cheese. It's different from the street style arepa, the cheese wasn't melted and the breading on the outside is open. For our main entrees Asado Negro and Pabellon criollo. Both entrees were super good. The asado negro beef with au jus mixed perfectly with the white rice. Loved every bite! Ambience: 4 Great atmosphere, not too small but we sat in a cozy corner. The lighting is dim to set the mood! Service: 5 I wish I could give the service more than 5 stars.. I was so shocked by how fast the food came and the waiter was very attentive even though he had a lot of tables to look after. Trendsetter: 4 Pretty unique considering there's not much Latin food in Boston/Cambridge. I hope this place is around to stay! Final FAST Score: 5 Overall great restaurant and highly recommend! Would definitely come back again read more

Orinoco - Pernil Arepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Since I moved to the United States I had a horrible experience trying to find the flavors of my beloved Venezuela. I tried a couple of restaurants in the West coast and I found disappoinment every single time. These restaurants would claim to be Venezuelan but their chef were not Venezuelans and the dishes didn't taste like our homemade food. However, yesterday I took my mother in law and my boyfriend (Americans) to enjoy the food of my country since we were walking around Harvard. I was worried at first but I am happy that I gave it a try! We ordered Tequeños, empanadas to start and then Asado negro, pabellón criollo and pollo adobo with tajadas. I also had a delicious agua de panela y limón that transported me for a second, to the Venezuela of my childhood, lost but not forgotten. read more

Orinoco - Menu - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I would give this place a 3.5 but since Yelp doesn't have a half star option, I gave it a 4. We came here for lunch. As previous reviews have mentioned, this restaurant is tucked away so you have to follow the path and look for the restaurant sign. The ambiance is cozy and very inviting. It feels like you are home or in your favorite coffee shop. What we ordered: 1.) Verde Empanadas -4 stars (A little oily but very tasty. The outer layer of the empanada is not flaky but more crunchy.) 2.) Jardinera - 3.5 stars (A great choice for vegetarians. I wish there was more plantains in this. Also the arepa itself was so crunchy and needed to softer) 3.) Guayanesa - 3 stars (This tasted bland. It needed a sauce or some other addition.) The creamy sauce that the arepas came with was nice but if I were you I would ask for the hot sauce and eat your arepa with that. It's a house made blend and gives great flavor. This spot was nice to try and had a lovely atmosphere but we won't be back. The food was on the blander side and the establishment was definitely short staffed. read more

Orinoco - Jardinera Arepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Do you need to break up with someone? Not a fan of drama? Are you a fan of making it quick and easy? Then buy EXHORRESCO 7-pot primo hot sauce by Burns & McCoy, one of the hottest sauces in the world that doesn't taste like diabetic piss and diesel just to get into the record books. When your date is in the crapper, pour this magical concoction into his food and wait until he takes his first bite before you start the breaking up. Then get this out real fast: ""Hey, soithinkwe'regoodtogetherbutihavestrongerfeelingsforsomeonelse,you'renicebutdrovemetolikingwomen,goodluckokbye" and fucking leg it while his eyeballs melt out of his skull. See? Quick and easy . . . for you. For him, it'll be quite painful and prolonged, especially in the butthole. Try to avoid eye contact when you see him walking bow-legged onto the subway like Ed Norton after that refreshing shower in 'American History X.' This breakup technique is most effective if the food you're eating is not normally spicy and is much more famous for deep, rich flavors. Venezuelan food, for example, is a great canvas on which to stage this kind of breakup. Just don't start with the arepa. The meat is a bit stringy and is mediocre as far as flavor goes. You can get much better arepas in the area without having to go very far. A quick Yelp search will guide you to them. Instead, skip the appetizers and go straight for the Parrilla Caraqueña, the grill plate. Orinoco's meat platter is an example of what you can do if you sit down for a minute and really think about how to make food taste good. The platter contains a beautiful steak, a chicken thigh chop, grilled chorizo, yuca fries with a tangy mojo, and a tangy avocado salsa in the middle. None of the meat looked like it was slathered with too much saucy marinade. None of it tasted like it was bombed with powdered rubs and spices. I could tell the seasoning was carefully selected and used wisely. The beef and the chicken tasted like they had been marinading since birth. Miss K and I were with someone at the time and like the total hog I am, I just obliterated the platter and didn't even stop to talk to our guest once. And when I was done, I still didn't say anything. Instead, I started eyeing HER platter, since she ordered the same thing, and began legitimately thinking of socially acceptable ways to con her into giving me some of her food. I knew that there was no way she would split each item with me 50/50 so I shifted to ways I could just lawyer her into giving me the chorizo. Then I remembered that it's Miss K who is not a huge fan of cured meats, not our friend. Our friend loves them. As I started to lose hope, more drastic measures entered my skull. What if I just knocked her out with my tray and made a run for it with the meat in my hands? Nope. If I did that, I would be eating out of trays for up to "2.5 years in a house of correction." Mass. General Laws chapter 265 section 13A(a). This is where the EXHORRESCO would have come in handy and it is why I now carry a bottle with me whenever we go out with friends. It's not like it will end the friendship if I use it. Our friend will just blame the heat level on the staff, get a free meal, and thank me for getting it off their hands instead of letting it go to waste. I only wish I had known this that one time I had to tell a girl I was gay to get her off my back. read more

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EMPANADAS. DO IT. And ask for Cesar. And if you're gluten free, this is heaven. Fly with the angels.

This is a amazingly delicious place -- we had the dates wrapped in bacon with almonds in the middle, which is the best bite of food you will have this year. Then a cheese wrapped in crispy dough which remained delicious and soft throughout the meal -- it didn't immediately turn rubbery like a lot of fried cheeses do. And then the trio of empanadas -- cheese, bean, pork. Each one delicious and perfect, with different flavorings for each main ingredient. Friendly service, vibrant buzzing atmosphere, happy other people. An excellent choice if you're out in Harvard Square. read more

Sweet and cozy little place right next to HKS. Went there with a friend for dinner. Food is well made and tastes really good. The ambiance is calm and nice. Servers are great. All in all, liked this place. We tried Salmon and Pollo Adobo and both were good. Must try! read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Delicious fresh food, vey authentic! Had the churrascoI steak and salad, rice and beans . App with trio had a tasty garlic sauce. Friendly service, good prices! read more

Super cozy vibes (candlelit) for dinner, quick service, and delicious food! The meat is JUICY. The Cordero Tradicional (pistachio crusted lamb chops) was perfectly prepared. The combination of pistachio and lamb was interesting but still good! The arugula salad on the side had blue cheese in it. Not a fan personally, but it was said to be objectively good. I tried some of the beef tenderloin special. It was tender and stirred my loins. A+ Didn't have time to try dessert, but I will definitely be back, so maybe next time! read more

Orinoco - Cordero Tradicional (front) and beef tenderloin special (back) - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

A hidden gem in Harvard square. If you're looking for some yummy South American food, I'd definitely recommend this spot. The apps are good and the meat is seasoned really well. read more

Orinoco - Adobo-Smoked Churrasco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I love Orinoco!!! Great spot for a quiet brunch or dinner for two or four. I always come on the early side so I've never had to wait. The food here is delicious! The Datiles are always on point, the Arepas are solid, and the Verde Empanadas are INCREDIBLE. I LOVE the empanadas!!!! The cheese is perfectly melted, there are delicious vegetables inside, and it's just so good. The arepas, which Orinoco is known for, are also super tasty, but you must also get the empanadas! I'm personally not as into the main entrees. For the price, I'd just do more of the antojitos or you know, empanadas or something. The staff is always super friendly and patient. If you've never been here, and even if you've have, they're more than happy to explain the menu and to provide recommendations. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant. Everything was fresh and prepared to perfection. The atmosphere and service was wonderful. They have outside seating but it just finished raining so we are inside. Arepas - jardinera with plantains and cheese was very good. Empanadas- Verde with mushrooms were the best. Also tried the bean, cheese and shredded beef. The beef was very flavorful. Mushroom flatbread with arugula was a great appetizer. Lots of mushrooms. We tried the red sangria. It was good. Not the best I've ever had but worth a try. Would definitely go back when in the area. read more

The food is consistently great and the owner is very kind. Extremely welcoming environment. Would recommend to anyone.