Orinoco

Inspired by the casual, convivial roadside eateries found throughout Venezuela, Orinoco uses old family recipes to produce one of the city's most authentic Latin American eateries. Upbeat waiters navigate the intimate dining room, which is decorated with colorful masks, filled with mismatched chairs and has room for only 20 patrons. Drink options run the gamut from South American wines to tropical fruit drinks. Diners peek into the partially open kitchen to view authentic arepas being made by hand. Filled with everything from slow-cooked pork leg to creamy Venezuelan guayanes cheese, these…

Read full featured review

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: No reservations are taken, and due to the restaurant's tight space and relatively low prices, diners should expect to wait during peak dining hours.

Write a Review

User Reviews (20)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“This cozy latin hideaway located on the corner of Shawmut Avenue and Concord Street, in the South End is absolutely divine.” “Good service, great prices, fun atmosphere” “love this original Orinoco location.” “The atmosphere was casual with a great energy.” “The decor is rustic and charming with warm colours accenting the wall, along with the spanish light fixtures make this an intimate spot without it being pretentious.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“This place is authentic Venezuelan, from the food to the music to the drinks, I felt immersed in the culture.”
food quality	89.28999900817871% positive	“WOW, truly amazing food.” “The food was delicious, well made, fresh and very flavorful.” “particularly recommend the shredded beef & beans.” “Good food, unprofessional” “This place is authentic Venezuelan, from the food to the music to the drinks, I felt immersed in the culture.” “This place is great - great food, good music, and friendly service.” “The main dishes were great and came with awesome sides of plantains and black beans.” “Overall we found the food to be fresh, delicious and I would highly recommend this place.” “One of the best aspects of the menu is that it can satisfy you if you want something light or if you're starving and in need of a hearty meal.” “have also tried the carnitas - while the pork is well cooked, the arepa overwhelms the meat - not a good ratio of arepa to meat.” “The slow service and unexciting arepa were forgotten when the main dishes arrived.” “The food is delicious with great variety from start to finish.” “the food was AMAZING.” “My favorites are the Reina Pepiada which, according to a native of the region is very authentic - a little tangy and light.” “Arepas were great, light and tasty, and the price in the range of a restaurant of its kind, we had the tuna and the Lamb, each with flavors well blend to give the meaning of the type of cuisine they are "A Latin kitchen” “the food was incredibly flavorful and the service was excellent.” “The food at Orinoco is great.” “we also got some yucca fries which were unique but wouldn't order them again.” “Get in early (very small place) or you will smell all that good food as you wait for others to finish!” “Orinoco Restaurant is delicious!” “MMMMmm oh so yummy!” “The food was very good.” “Fantastic food, good prices (it is the South End, after all)” “Don't listen to the bad reviews - you'll miss out on a great meal if you do.” “great spot for great food” “The arepas with chicken and avacodo are good, but a must try are the CACHAPAS.” “I've had home-cooked Latin food which was not as good as this.” “The salad with bacon wrapped dates and empanadas were awesome, as were the arepas.”
menu variety	83.33000183105469% positive	“One of the best aspects of the menu is that it can satisfy you if you want something light or if you're starving and in need of a hearty meal.” “Place was pretty good, but not fantastic for the pricey menu.” “The host was very nice and the server was helpful in explaining the menu.” “The food is delicious with great variety from start to finish.”
service	88.88999938964844% positive	“The slow service and unexciting arepa were forgotten when the main dishes arrived.” “Atmosphere is lively and the wait staff are friendly and knowledgeable enough (some more than others).” “Good service, great prices, fun atmosphere” “Once seated, the service was friendly and prompt, without being annoying and never once did you feel rushed.” “The entire staff was very pleasant.” “the food was incredibly flavorful and the service was excellent.” “The host was very nice and the server was helpful in explaining the menu.” “It looked like the wait staff really liked working there.” “This place is great - great food, good music, and friendly service.”
value	86.66999816894531% positive	“Place was pretty good, but not fantastic for the pricey menu.” “Good service, great prices, fun atmosphere” “Very Good Food for a reasonable price” “Fantastic food, good prices (it is the South End, after all)” “Arepas were great, light and tasty, and the price in the range of a restaurant of its kind, we had the tuna and the Lamb, each with flavors well blend to give the meaning of the type of cuisine they are "A Latin kitchen”
wait time	0.0% positive	“The slow service and unexciting arepa were forgotten when the main dishes arrived.”

02/20/10

Unique but pricey

by sodoku2008 at Citysearch

Place was pretty good, but not fantastic for the pricey menu. It's really small and doesn't take reservations so we waited an hour for a table for five.

I got the portabello goat cheese arepas - stuffed corn pockets. These were ok, but not as flavorful as I had hoped. They were 15.95 for four of them...wouldn't get them again.

Some friends got the churrasco, which they liked...but they didn't get that much for the price.

The empanadas were my favorite out of the bunch...we also got some yucca fries which were unique but wouldn't order them again.

Overall, I probably wouldn't come here again.

Pros: unique food fun to try
Cons: Small, pricey

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

09/23/08

LUNCH WAS AMAZING!

by jkiss121785 at Citysearch

Two of my friends went to this place (one for lunch and the other for dinner) and they both LOVED it, so I had to try it out. It looks like a hole in the wall and there is seating outside and inside (like an old saloon) but my friend who went for dinner said it is a GREAT date place (candles and all, everything was very nice at night too) but I went for lunch. the food was AMAZING. Seriously, totally didn't expect a quick bite to eat to LITERALLY make me "mmm" with every bite! I had the Venezuelan corn sandwich (can't remember the name...) with shredded chicken and avocado, and my friend had a steak sandwich... and both of us were speechless! We also had fried plantains... seriously, try them, they are delic! So thumbs up for orinoco!

Pros: food, price, everything!
Cons: NONE.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

04/23/08

delicious and cozy

by jjrkane at Citysearch

i had heard a lot of good things about this place and decided to take my parents there when they were in town. the food was incredibly flavorful and the service was excellent. I particularly recommend the shredded beef & beans. Also, the flan was the best I've ever had. Go!

Pros: authentic, tasty, reasonable prices
Cons: little tight inside

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

02/13/08

The best of the "other" south!

by putaambre at Citysearch

I have dine at Orinoco many times and all have been deliciuosly wonderful. However, the best time to go is for sunday brunch. Get in early (very small place) or you will smell all that good food as you wait for others to finish! I recomend you start of with a hot chocolate, very thick, non of that watery stuff! The arepas with chicken and avacodo are good, but a must try are the CACHAPAS. MMMMmm oh so yummy!

Pros: So much flavor for so little price!
Cons: A small place.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

10/23/07

So Good! So Good! So Good!

by l8te4ad8 at Citysearch

This cozy latin hideaway located on the corner of Shawmut Avenue and Concord Street, in the South End is absolutely divine. From the moment you step in the front door, you feel as though you could be in the house of a Venezuelan family. The decor is rustic and charming with warm colours accenting the wall, along with the spanish light fixtures make this an intimate spot without it being pretentious. The wine list was surpisingly delicious with an array of vineyards from South America. Once seated, the service was friendly and prompt, without being annoying and never once did you feel rushed. The meal was phenomenal! In an area where restaurants seem to be on every corner, and more chichi then the next, this was a terrific change of pace and a true hidden gem!

Orinoco

Hours:

Price:

Category:

Payment Methods:

Restaurant Special Features:

Cuisine:

Smoking Permitted:

What People Are Saying About Orinoco

Eric Grossman

Contributor

Editor's Tips

02/20/10

Unique but pricey

by sodoku2008 at Citysearch

09/23/08

LUNCH WAS AMAZING!

by jkiss121785 at Citysearch

04/23/08

delicious and cozy

by jjrkane at Citysearch

02/13/08

The best of the "other" south!

by putaambre at Citysearch

10/23/07

So Good! So Good! So Good!

by l8te4ad8 at Citysearch

The Details on Orinoco

Place Categories:

Things To Do Nearby Orinoco

Lists In Boston

Recent Reviews In Boston

More Info

Contact

More Navigation

Partner Sites: