I LOVE this place. It's kind of a hidden gem in Harvard Square. I've been here once prior to lockdown and twice since reopening, and loved it every time! The food is EXCELLENT and so different from the rest of the Square. It's actually unique and something I don't eat and go "wow I could just make this myself". I've had several dishes here. Appetizers: Cocas del dia (flatbreads), Datiles (bacon wrapped dates) and empanadas. All were really good! Arepas: Pernil (pork and cheese) and Pelua (beef and cheese). These were good with tons of meat but not a lot of variety. I prefer more veggies and so this fell flat (but it's good value!). Mains: Asado negro (slow cooked beef with rice and plantains) and Polvorosa de pollo (like a chicken pot pie). UM BOTH OF THESE WERE AMAZING. Really unique flavors, tons of food with sides/salads included. Loved both!! In addition to the food, the space itself is delightful. Right now it has a lovely backyard patio that's secluded and romantic. The service is always so nice and quick! Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. read more

Came back to Orinoco for forage time in years because we were going to a concert at Sanders. Vibe is still cute but food was a mixed bag. Loved the guava flatbread and the spinach (though I had to add salt) but the arepas - which were the main reason I came here - were dry and cold. And they didn't have any kind of sparkling water. Ah well. read more

A truly memorable dining experience from start to finish-- impeccable hospitality and service made the environment cozy yet relaxed. Waiters were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and guided us to the best choices for our group. Cuisine was excellent, really unique flavors and one of the most delicious meals we have had in a long time. Will come back again and again with family and friends. read more

What a neat little place! Tucked away not too far off the main street, it's not a place you would accidentally come across. Came here on a Sunday afternoon (2pm-ish, an hour before closing) with a group of six. We were one of the few tables there at that time, which was a nice contrast to the hectic, loud crowd we just walked through in Harvard Square. Delicious food (I got the verde empanadas), though, the three guys thought that they portion was a bit small for $9-12. Despite being one of the few tables there, the food also took awhile to come out. Their dessert menu is also pretty limited. However, we all agreed that the food was amazing, and everyone left overall, pretty content, and not overly stuffed. Just a small side note on their side salad (lol): it's much better than the typical side salad you get at most other restaurants. Most restaurants definitely use side salads as a plate filler that ends up being mostly wimpy greens, but their side salads here had a variety of fresh veggies. I enjoyed the side salad which sounds small and random, but thought it was worth mentioning! Definitely worth trying! Though, don't come super hungry. read more

Orinoco - verde empanadas! and an arepa in the background - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I will forever dream of the amazing sangria here. Best I have EVER had!! The food was also fantastic! I have Celiac disease and am severely allergic to gluten. The wait staff was very knowledgeable about what I could and couldn't have. Almost every menu item was naturally gluten free, I had 2 arepas and it was perfect! read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've been here a number of times over the years, but the quality has definitely gone down. I always order the Orinoco salad ($9.50), which has grapes, greens, toasted almonds, and chicken, without onions and with dressing on the side. My friend and I also got the fried yuca side ($5.50) to share. For whatever reason, the yuca was cold and stale already by the time it got to our table. The chicken on my salad was tougher than leather. Sweetgreen makes a better salad. The wait for the food to come out was also extremely slow; I don't think that their kitchen is staffed to accomodate the higher than usual number of customers today. They do however have a large patio area that is pretty nice to sit in on a warm day. read more

Came here for dinner and tried their current special (ceviche), pistachio-encrusted lamb, and empanada verde. The ceviche was a little too sweet for my personal taste and was served on a rather inconvenient flat tray. The lamb and empanada verde were super delicious. The lamb was cooked perfectly, I just wish there was more of it. The empanadas rested on a bed of verdant greens, its name not lost in the presentation. This restaurant is nestled away from the main street and has a cozy feel. I'd recommend this place for a date night. They also have outdoor seating when the weather is nice. read more

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Stumbled upon this gem during a walk through Harvard Square. We ordered the sweet plantains with cheese (Marachuchitos) as our appetizers - yum!! The mozzarella-esque cheese perfectly balanced the sweetness of the plantains. I also highly recommend the lamb chops. They were perfectly cooked at my requested medium rare and they were tender, and not gamey at all. The sauce that accompanied the lamb was delightfully light, and vacillated between savory and sweet (possibly hints of balsamic?...). Two thumbs up for the quesillo (flan) too! read more

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

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This is a nice and cozy place near Harvard. On a Thursday night it wasn't packed which made getting a table and the service pretty quick. The entrees were good, just enough for one person. I had a parrillada with multiple meals (steak, sausage and chicken), the chicken didn't do it for me, but the rest was great. It came with fried yucca, which is always a good thing! Also came with guacamole, it was good, but didn't really fit in with the dish (I don't consider guac a dip for steak, who does?) the great arepas are the highlight here. I recommend just ordering a few of these for the entire meal (2 per person is a moderate portion), the cheese on them was addictive! They also had some interestin appz, but I didn't get any of those. This place has three locations, I hear the one on the South End is also really nice. read more

Orinoco - Entrance is in a little alleyway - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Our first time trying Venezuelan food! The restaurant's ambience is casual. We were seated immediately and the service was professional and polite. We went for lunch, it wasn't very crowded. We had Tostones(crispy green plantain mini cakes served with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette), Mechada Empanadas(Venezuelan style stewed beef) and Jardinera Arepas( a vegetarian option - Sweet plantain, Venezuelan cheese). Arepas are these corn-flour based pocket sandwiches. The prices are reasonable (by Harvard Square standards). We had never tasted this cuisine so we have nothing to compare it too. It, did, have the flavors expected in Latin American foods and we found it to be good. The kids and adults finished their dishes, so that's a good sign! read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Really enjoyed this restaurant! The cheese in the arepas was great, kind of a mix between feta and mozzarella. The tuna was grilled perfectly and the sauce was delicious. -1 star because I think the portion of tuna was a bit small and our glasses of water weren't refilled during dinner. read more

Orinoco - Tuna - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Nice little 'hole in the wall' kind of restaurant --- It's pretty hidden and off the beaten path but don't let that distract you though from their cuisine. I would recommend the lamb chops! read more

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, read more

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I went to Orinoco for the first time this past weekend and loved it! Their mahi-mahi entree was excellent. The back patio is also beautiful and tables are currently spaced well over 6 feet apart! read more

Orinoco - Mahi-Mahi - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Orinoco is tucked away off of busy JFK street in Harvard Square. Its dining room has a warm, homey field to it, especially during the chilly Boston fall. We arrived just before 7 PM on a Friday and had to wait about 30 min to be seated. Once seated, the staff was friendly, and service was prompt. We started with a nice glass of Malbec and for my entree, I had the parilla caraquena (mixed grill). The mixed grill included a combination of Venezuelan chorizo, chicken, and steak served beside a heap of limey guacamole and a pile of yucca fries smothered in tangy Mojo. I've also had the beef empanadas from Orinoco, which were probably the best rendition I've had outside of Latin America. Compared to other spots in Harvard Square, I think Orinoco has a leg up for dinner in the $20 entree price range. Will return for another dinner or brunch! read more

Orinoco - Parilla Cariquena (after a few bites) - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Orinoco is a gem, tucked away in a recessed walkway off of JFK street. I have been around 8 or 9 times in my time as a student--the manager probably recognizes my face now--and Orinoco never fails to blow me away with the unique, delicious, and perfectly portioned food they make. The chefs specialize in Venezuelan food, and the arepas, empanadas, and entrees are made with an attention to detail and obvious love of food that shines through. Try anything with guyanes cheese, mechada, pabellon, or pernil in the name--you won't regret it. If there's one thing you try, it would be the arepas--ask the friendly waitstaff for recommendations. For brunch, there's a special fresh corn pancake stuffed with shredded beef, plantains, black beans, and cheese that has been one of my longstanding favorite dishes there. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, perfect for taking a date, close friends, or family there, and when the weather's nice, there is an outdoor patio out in the back that's perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons. Take one or two hours and escape the craziness that is busy Cambridge in this little haven! One word of caution: Orinoco doesn't take reservations and seats only full parties, so if you're going at a busy time (like Friday dinner), make sure you get there with everyone so you can be seated as soon as possible. Most of the time though, I'd say there is thankfully no wait. read more

Orinoco - Arepa with their secret dipping sauce - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is a small spot, in a somewhat secluded area of an otherwise busy area. In a quiet way, this place is a great date spot, or for my purposes, catching up with friends! The place is a no frills restaurant with very good, homey type food with an equally homey atmosphere. Everything I had was delicious. The pork was perfectly cooked, and the yucca was so delicious. Get the areppas. They make them perfectly. I really wanted to try the desserts, but be warned, the portions are slightly on the larger side, and you will definitely be full. read more

Very good Venezuelan food--loved the bacon wrapped dates. Their arepa was good, however I found the bread outside to be quite dry. Empanadas were quite flavorful! read more

Orinoco - Bacon wrapped dates - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The location is very quaint I highly recommend going there.

Had high expectations going in considering that I had never had Venezuelan food before, but the experience was over for me the third time a hovering staff member reminded our party of four not to exceed the 90 minute table limit. It's not as if we would have wanted to overstay our welcome anyway. The only drinks on the menu were beer and an unimpressive sangria. The food was overpriced and underwhelming. The only question remaining at the end of the evening was whether the 90 minute limit started when our food arrived or whether the half hour of waiting to meet our server counted. Either way I'm sure we managed to beat the clock. read more

I've been dying to try out this place since I first saw it in Brookling Village. I finally got to visit the Cambridge location instead and it was pretty awesome! I don't recall the actual menus (sorry!) but one of the two dishes we ordered was "the most traditional Venezuelan" entree and the other one was Pepito something. Both were very hearty, the waiter was super helpful, and the experience made me want to explore more Venezuelan cuisine. One thing I didn't love about the restaurant was that it was really cold (we were sitting near the kitchen and whenever the door opened, the wind seeped through). Overall, a very pleasant experience! read more

Orinoco - Pepito de Carne Cordero Tradicional - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I love the food it's amazing. I love the restaurant we order it for team lunches in harvard square. The steak sandwich with avocado is it!! However, the only reason it's not 5 stars is because they don't modify the orders. If we write no avocado they will still put it on. But still amazing. read more

Orinoco - Tostones - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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My husband and I went out to dinner here this past weekend and everything we ate was delicious! Also the service was fantastic. A must eat when visiting Harvard square - order the datiles and any of their delicious arepas and you will not be disappointed read more

I'm a big fan of the location in the South End and I was happy to see they were opening up in Harvard Square. I've already written a review of their other location so I will give a list of some of my favorite menu items: Sangria Tequenos - Latin version of fried cheese sticks. These are awesome Pernil Galipan - Fantastic pork sandwich Datiles - Bacon wrapped dates filled with almonds Get these dishes and you will leave happy. read more

Orinoco - Brunch - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Excelente comida y ubicacion ideal! Nos sentimos como en casa. Literalmente un pedacito de Venezuela en Harvard sq. You have to try it, you will love the tequeños, arepas and empanadas! And don't miss the cachapas and the Papelon con limon! read more

Orinoco - Desayuno Resuelto! - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

A winner in all respects. Great food, lovely service and ambience. Lamb, empanadas & salads are our favorite dishes. Convenient location just off the square. We visit the area frequently, and we've never found a place we enjoy more. read more

Taking place of the original Small Plates, Orinoco is still quite unknown to the greater Harvard population. Yet this classy little gem has officially become one of my favorites in the square. Sitting out on the patio within the cool autumn during my first time here, I was pleasantly treated to the delicately fried empanadas, smoothly filled with juicy mushrooms and fresh cheese. Then came the arepas, made of finely ground corn dough, so that each bite was similar in texture and consistency - the stewed beef especially flavorful from hours of cooking. The Cambridge cold forces even the most diehard patio diners to move inside, and thus periled by the winds of late November, I sat inside my second time here. We couldn't pronounce any of the names of the plates, so we defaulted to pointing to the items on the menu - in generic terms, we got the salmon and the steak. Both dishes, though ascetically similar with a bed of arugula piled on top, were delicious. Cooked medium as we asked for, the salmon was tender, and the sweetness of the sauce coupled with the rum and creamy bedding of quinoa was an excellent, mellow combination. The salmon skin was crisp and juicy with leftovers of the marinade and multitude of herbs. Meanwhile, the steak, layered with a sheet of cheese, was bold in flavor - cooked a little over medium, its rich aggressive spices complemented well the mellow nature of the salmon, who shined quietly in its humble glory. A perfect family - with problems of course. The dessert was a lava cake in a aluminum ramekin: no ice-cream, no decorations, no plating. For dining, it's often as much about the food as it is about the atmosphere and service. Our waiter - attentive but unpretentious nor annoying. The environment - homey and intimate. The conversations - couldn't ask for a more engaging night. read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I am a Harvard Square resident, a foodie, and lover of latin cuisine AND YET it took me two years to try this place. What a horrible mistake. Learn from my mistakes. This place is delightful and charming. It's the perfect tiny oasis in hectic Harvard Square. The service was spot on, too. Friendly, attentive... ...yeah yeah yeah who cares. What about the food? THE FOOD. Pavlov drool inducing deliciousness in every bite. Oh, and also totally reasonably priced. I went for lunch and got 2 arepas (and was subsequently full for the rest of the day). Cooked to perfection, a fun and authentic break from the endless cycle of American bistros that are around. I loved everything about it and can't wait to come back. read more

The Bottom Line: Hidden away an in alley, with no reservations or accommodations, this is a restaurant to visit for authentic Venezuelan cuisine. Try: Maracuchitos Arepas Jardinera Pepito de Pollo Pro: The food is tasty, though the bread for the pepito was hard. Be ware of a food coma. The arepas are a highlight for sure, and the maracuchitos are delightful, if heavy. Con: They do take a while to get the food out, even though there are not many other people, and they do not accommodate you if you have special needs. There's also a minimum order amount that escapes me at the moment. read more

Oh hot damn, that Sangria was amazing. I had a hit and miss experience here. Sangria was amazing, empanadas were meh, arepas I really enjoyed, and the fried yucca I could have done without. Really cute spot that's great for a girls night or a date night. read more

I've gotten most of the Arepas here and they're all pretty good. I've had a mixed bag of hosts and servers, though... some really nice and some really rude. In terms of food, I find the beef and pork arepas to be way too heavy and not particularly flavorful. I enjoy the chicken salad arepa, but in general I find it hard to order here because two arepas is recommended for a meal but two is too filling for me (... and I have a very big appetite!). Maybe I need to try more combos. The Tostones were very yummy though!! read more

It was my first time trying Latin American cuisine, and what a wonderful introduction it was. The appetizers were amazing: the bacon wrapped dates were especially mind blowing, whilst the flatbread was delicious (but in the same way pizza is, so nothing new). Of the sides: definitely order the fried yuccas, because they came with this sauce which was absolutely addictive. I ordered the salmon for my main, but the quinoa it came with was definitely too sweet and did bring down my experience a little. read more

Orinoco - Some appetizers to share: the bacon wrapped dates were amazing. - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We had a great lunch, despite the fact that they were out of guasacaca AND the Reina Pepiada and our obviously-totally-bored waiter. (I don't understand how they could have been out of these just 10 minutes after opening for the day!) In any case, the arepa de pernil and the arepa de mechada were excellent. I've got to come back for dinner! read more

Cozy and intimate space tucked discreetly into the alley. Easy to miss, quiet and out of the bustle of the street. I love the food; they don't skimp on the slices of Venezuelan cheese. The arepas are amazing and I can make a meal of just one arepa pernil, that delicious slow cooked savory pork... In college it was a perfect place for special occasions, much fancier than dining hall food but super close to walk to and probably some of the most affordable meals at a sit-down in Harvard Square you can find. I come back every time I'm in town and it's never disappointed me. read more

I LOVE ORINOCO. The most hole in the wall restaurant in Harvard Square. It is hidden behind a few restaurants, marked by a sign above the alleyway gate. The meat here is delicious and tender. I strongly recommend the steak medium-rare, which came out the perfect texture and consistency. However, their credit card machine has been broken for several months (4+ months) so make sure you come with cash. ($20 per person) read more

Orinoco - Arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

How have I not written a review of this place yet? So darn good, you guys. It's tucked deep away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Harvard Square and it is ready to feed you delicious South American eats! They have a selection of beers and a patio, which is a great place to enjoy artwork and a good meal during the spring and summer! I always go for the beef here, of any form. The beef empanada is great and their arepas are solid (although - minor qualm - they could be more filling). The last time I was there I got a seasoned beef and chicken dish. It was heavenly, but I can't find it on their online menu, so I can't tell you what it's called :( I guess you have to go to figure out what it is! ;) read more

If you're looking for something a little different than the standard Harvard Square offerings, Orinoco is your spot. No reservations, so you'll want to get there early to hedge your bets on the weekend or stop by during the week for dinner. The trio de empanadas is a must order for me every time I'm there and the arepas make for a great starter as well if sharing. I've recently learned that they cut the churrasquito from the menu which was hands down my favorite entree, so had to branch out with its replacement (some combination of the initials B F and S, Brussels fig and steak) and the atun, both of which were solid, though can't replace my original favorite. Ask them for their signature hot sauce, they haven't been offering or putting it out lately but it's a signature item! read more

Orinoco - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Food: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Came here with a group of 5 for lunch. 1. Pepito de Costillita, 8 slow-cooked, boneless passion-fruit bbq baby-back ribs, with pickled onions and vinegar coleslaw. ~Pretty good. Nicely balanced. Service was good, although our food was delayed since the fire alarm went off. read more

I really, really WANT to like this place and give it the 5 stars it deserves as the food and ambiance were amazing, just that the kind of non-traditional service was really out of the ordinary for a foodie like me who goes out to eat a lot and appreciates great service! A friend from NYC found this place after having lunch here and wanted to try their dinner menu. They don't take reservations (for a fine dining place it was weird, but oh well) but because my friend made a special friend with the manager/head hostess the day she went there for lunch (and prob because she was from out of town) they accepted her...thank you, Martha!! We chose to sit outside because it was a nice evening out. We had a party of FIVE yet, rather than putting two tables together they chose to have us sit at a very square table. I had asked if they could put one of the smaller (2 seaters) round tables with our table so we could be comfortably seated, our waiter told us, "no, we can't do that for only 5 people." Really, now?!?!? And at that time they weren't busy. We then needed time to look over the menu as it all sounded wonderful! We called our server as we knew what we wanted for an appetizer while we were still deciding on the entrees. He said, "no, our policy is to put the orders together at one time to the kitchen." Really, now?!?!? So of course our appetizer came within 10 minutes of our entrees so we had to rush through the appetizers so they can move plates around our very small square table that they sat 5 people on! Really, now! By the way, the appetizers were delicious! We had the empanadas trios and the plantains with cheese. I had the Parella Caraqueña. It is like the meat sampler with sausage, chicken, steak, and plantains served with the side of their version of guacamole. The chicken was a bit dry, but everything else was delicious! Two other friends ordered the Beef Tenderloin Churasquito and they raved about it. One friend had the mahi-mahi with rabo encindido (which is a bed of shredded meat) and the other had the Roasted Portobello Arepa who loved her dish! I always tip and always tip hefty if I felt the service was good. I was very surprised (and always am, but hate it) that the server, when taking the bill with the card on it and some cash, needed to ask if any of the cash was to be taken for tip...AFTER I had instructed him to apply all of the cash first and then put the rest on the card. I had every intention of putting a tip on the card of course (and I still did with a bit over 23%), but I still get a bit peeved when I get questioned about tipping. Most especially when this particular server came and served us after our meals were done. Like I said, if it were not for the out of the ordinary occurrences, I would have given this place 5 stars because of the fantastic food, the amazing ambiance, and the niceness of Martha the manager. read more

Orinoco - Parrilla Carasqueña - Venezuelan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Awesome food with really big portions. It is a romantic atmosphere (i.e. made for a nice first-date) with really great tuna and solid empanadas. The place gets really busy as you get later in the night so go early because there can't be more than 30 people that will fit in there. If you just get the empanadas (appetizer), you are good for a meal because they come with a big salad and are plenty filling. Only warning is you should have cash because sometimes their credit card machine is down. read more