03/03/09

What a find!!

by caradoll76

I found Orinoco because a friend of mine lives a block away. We went there on a whim, and I was so thrilled to discover such a delicious and affordable place. We went mid-week, so there was no wait, but I've seen huge crowds on weekends.

They only use fresh ingredients and throw out everything at the end of each day and then starts the process again the next day. This gives every dish a homemade authenticity that has all the love of a great meal made by your favorite grandmother.

• Pros: Simply delicious
• Cons: Hard to find parking

01/21/09

Meh...

by jenniferkemp

I was a pretty disappointed after my recent dining experience at Orinoco. I had heard good things about the restaurant, and I was quite excited to give it a try. The atmosphere was really nice...neighborhood-like, lively scene, appropriate noise level, attractively decorated. The restaurant was cold...granted the temps outside were below zero, but one of those heavy drapes surrounding the front door would've made a world of a difference. The drinks were great. There was a nice, creative selection. The bartender recommended the caiprihna, which lived up to her recommendation. The food was very ok. The appetizers all tasted the same...fried. My entree was good - grilled steak topped w/ cold crab salad & a cilantro-flavored drizzle. (A heads up on the "cold" crab salad would've helped...at first I thought it hadn't gotten heated. Many of the interesting dishes were unavailable that night. The desserts were a let-down...flan and a molten chocolate cake....those were the only options. It almost seemed like they didn't want anyone to stay for dessert, so they could get another table turn.

Overall, everything was average. I wouldn't go back, nor would I recommend anyone to travel to get there. If you live down the street, then go for it.

• Pros: cool decor, creative drink selection
• Cons: food was not stellar

11/21/08

Delicious Venezuelan food, lively atmosphere, fun bartenders.

by drpenguin

Delicious arepas, cachapa (savory-sweet corn pancake with melted cheese), daily specials like grilled fish, fresh salads, and excellent grilled meats. Great Sunday brunch, lively dinner scene that's great for small groups, great place to take a date and sit in the corner at the bar. I keep going back again and again and again to this great Brookline find!

10/01/08

The Worst Management Ever

by Afficionado

This could be the biggest miss in the Brookline for me. After reading a decent review, I decided to throw my BDAY party there. I lived in Spain and love Spanish influenced food. I called to book and was told that generally they don't take reservations but do make exceptions for larger parties, and asked me to call back the next day to confirm. I did, speaking to a young man that said they have a large "communal" table that could accommodate our party of 10+. I promised to call back Tuesday to confirm my final #. I then emailed my pals the info.On Tuesday I called back and this time got the manager Rick. WHAT CALLOUS, UNPROFESSIONAL & RUDE. He said (a) they would not reserve the space for us after all, (b) they have a policy against reservations. Period. (c) He didn't care that his staff had confirmed & that I had sent out the invites (d) He said if I wanted to do a set menu with just a few items, he might make an exception (as if he was doing me the favor) (e) He informed me that Andre the owner was on vacation & would back him up either way. When I asked him if he was really willing to give up such a large group who wanted to try his new restaurant, he just didn't care. My take: We're now going to the far more fabulous counterpart to South End's 28 Degrees (where I threw last year's amazing soiree), Lineage up the street. They were THRILLED to get my business and simply no attitude. I can't wait. You would think when a new restaurant comes to town, they would have the common sense to welcome those who patronize their restaurants by having parties on a Wednesday. The manager Rick of the disreputable Orinoco surely needs to be retrained. No food or restaurant is worth this kind of nonsense anyway, and as a resident of Brookline who eats out a lot, I personally don't welcome such restaurants here. Please tell all your friends to avoid this place like the plague and maybe we'll get a decent well-managed restaurant in the neighborhood sooner than later.

• Cons: Rude management that tries to allienate potential customers

05/02/08

Colorful South End restaurant opens a second location, bringing its fiery Latin American flavors to Brookline Village.

by Gerrish Lopez

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 romantic dining room, which is decorated with colorful masks, filled with mismatched chairs and is larger than the original South End location's. 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 guayanés cheese, these smoky corn pockets make for an ideal starter. Shredded beef empanadas and bacon-wrapped, almond-filled dates are among the other appetizers available. Entrees, all of which come in under $15, include adobo-rubbed tuna and Pabellón Criollo, a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains. Homemade caramel flan and molten chocolate cake provide a sweet finish.