Orinoco Harvard Square
56 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge
(617) 354-6900
Customers' Favorites
Adobo Smoked Churrasco Trip De Empanadas Empanada Mechada Atun
Pork Erapas and Chicken Ensalada
Roasted Portobella Arepa
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Plantain and Cheese
Pabellon Criollo
Baby-Back Ribs
Maracuchitos
Pork Arepas
Costillitas
Featured items
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Yuca
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Tajadas
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Tostones
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Espinaca a la Brava
Antojitos
Cocas
Spanish flatbread, two types:Champiñones: sautéed oyster & shitake mushrooms with garlic, manchego cheese, arugula, shaved black truffles, porcini glaze; or Guayaba: guava preserve, goat cheese, arugula, fig glaze.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Mini Costillitas
apple cider, slow-steamed, baby-back ribs with guava BBQ, tapas-style.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Desserts
Quesillo
homemade traditional Venezuelan custard with caramel.
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Empanadas
Empanada Mechada
Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef with a fresh greens salad tossed with queso blanco, sherry vinaigrette and mojo criollo.
Family Meals -Takeout Only
Family Meal-Costillita (2)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 2 people.
Family Meal-Costillita (4)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (2)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (4)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (4)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 4 people.
Main Dishes
Atun
adobo-rubbed high-grade yellow-fin tuna seared and served with arugula sun-dried tomato vinaigrette salad and toasted pepitas
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Cordero
pistachio-panela-plantain crusted NZ lamb chops with mint mojo, arugula/Cabrales cheese salad.
La Primera Burger
Pork/chorizo patty, Manchego cheese, Peruvian criollo salad. rocoto aioli, chipotle ketchup. On a brioche bun with truffle-salted hand cut fries.
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Costillita
apple cider juice slow-steamed baby-back ribs with guava BBQ sauce & yuca fries.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Salads
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Ensalada Mixta
Salsitas
Guasacaca
Mojo
Picante
Side Dishes
Tostones
Rice And Beans
Rice
Tajadas
Yuca
Espinaca a la Brava
Black Beans
Chorizo
Fufu
Gnocchi
Papitas
Quinoa
Side Queso Edam
Featured items
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Yuca
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Tajadas
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Tostones
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Espinaca a la Brava
Antojitos
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Cocas
Spanish flatbread, two types:Champiñones: sautéed oyster & shitake mushrooms with garlic, manchego cheese, arugula, shaved black truffles, porcini glaze; or Guayaba: guava preserve, goat cheese, arugula, fig glaze.
Mini Costillitas
apple cider, slow-steamed, baby-back ribs with guava BBQ, tapas-style.
Desserts
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Quesillo
homemade traditional Venezuelan custard with caramel.
Empanadas
Empanada Mechada
Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef with a fresh greens salad tossed with queso blanco, sherry vinaigrette and mojo criollo.
Main Dishes
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
La Primera Burger
Pork/chorizo patty, Manchego cheese, Peruvian criollo salad. rocoto aioli, chipotle ketchup. On a brioche bun with truffle-salted hand cut fries.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Cordero
pistachio-panela-plantain crusted NZ lamb chops with mint mojo, arugula/Cabrales cheese salad.
Atun
adobo-rubbed high-grade yellow-fin tuna seared and served with arugula sun-dried tomato vinaigrette salad and toasted pepitas
Costillita
apple cider juice slow-steamed baby-back ribs with guava BBQ sauce & yuca fries.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Chuleta
Dry chile-spiced rubbed Pork Loin chop with orange mermelada and French fries.
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Specials
Sopa de Calabaza
Roasted butternut squash soup with coconut milk and tajada (does not contain cream).
Side Dishes
Tajadas
Yuca
Espinaca a la Brava
Rice And Beans
Tostones
Rice
Side Carne Mechada
Black Beans
Chorizo
Gnocchi
Side Queso Edam
Papitas
Quinoa
Grilled Asparagus
Salads
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Ensalada Mixta
Salsitas
Mojo
Guasacaca
Picante
Family Meals -Takeout Only
Family Meal-Costillita (2)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 2 people.
Family Meal-Costillita (4)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (2)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (4)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (4)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 4 people.
Featured items
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Yuca
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Tajadas
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Tostones
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Rice And Beans
Empanada Mechada
Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef with a fresh greens salad tossed with queso blanco, sherry vinaigrette and mojo criollo.
Quesillo
homemade traditional Venezuelan custard with caramel.
Antojitos
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Desserts
Quesillo
homemade traditional Venezuelan custard with caramel.
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Empanadas
Empanada Mechada
Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef with a fresh greens salad tossed with queso blanco, sherry vinaigrette and mojo criollo.
Main Dishes
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Salads
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Ensalada Mixta
Pepito Salad
Salsitas
Picante
Guasacaca
Mojo
Side Dishes
Yuca
Rice And Beans
Tostones
Rice
Tajadas
Side Queso Rallado
Side De Reina Pepiada
Side Queso De Mano
Side Queso Guayanes
Black Beans
Side De Pernil
Specials
Open Item
Featured items
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Yuca
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Tajadas
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Tostones
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Espinaca a la Brava
Antojitos
Cocas
Spanish flatbread, two types:Champiñones: sautéed oyster & shitake mushrooms with garlic, manchego cheese, arugula, shaved black truffles, porcini glaze; or Guayaba: guava preserve, goat cheese, arugula, fig glaze.
Datiles
bacon wrapped, almond-filled dates.
Empanada Single
traditional corn flour turnover.
Maracuchitos
queso paisa wrapped in sweet plantains.
Mini Costillitas
apple cider, slow-steamed, baby-back ribs with guava BBQ, tapas-style.
Tequeños
guayanés cheese wrapped in crisp dough and served with chipotle ketchup.
Trio de Empanadas
queso blanco, domino, and mechada empanadas with signature mojo.
Desserts
Quesillo
homemade traditional Venezuelan custard with caramel.
Torta Fluida
molten chocolate cake made with 100% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Empanadas
Empanada Mechada
Venezuelan style stewed shredded beef with a fresh greens salad tossed with queso blanco, sherry vinaigrette and mojo criollo.
Family Meals -Takeout Only
Family Meal-Costillita (2)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 2 people.
Family Meal-Costillita (4)
Passionfruit babyback ribs and yuca fries with mojo for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (2)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pabellon (4)
Shredded beef, rice, sweet plantains and black beans for 4 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (2)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 2 people.
Family Meal-Pollo Adobo (4)
Pollo Adobo with rice & beans and sweet plantains for 4 people.
Main Dishes
Adobo Smoked Churrasco
12oz quick smoked strip-steak churrasco, char-grilled with a panela-red- wine-glaze, arugula salad in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Atun
adobo-rubbed high-grade yellow-fin tuna seared and served with arugula sun-dried tomato vinaigrette salad and toasted pepitas
Cachapa
Traditional corn pancake with melted queso de mano.
Cordero
pistachio-panela-plantain crusted NZ lamb chops with mint mojo, arugula/Cabrales cheese salad.
Costillita
apple cider juice slow-steamed baby-back ribs with guava BBQ sauce & yuca fries.
La Primera Burger
Pork/chorizo patty, Manchego cheese, Peruvian criollo salad. rocoto aioli, chipotle ketchup. On a brioche bun with truffle-salted hand cut fries.
Pabellon Criollo
shredded beef, white rice, black beans and plantains.
Panela Salmon
panela-Rum marinated salmon, cook to order, served over Aji Amarillo creamed quinoa with jicama/arugula salad and broken olive vinaigrette.
Parrilla Caraquena
grill plate with a seasoned 4oz strip steak, 1/4 marinated chicken, chorizo, guasacaca, and yuca frita with mojo.
Pollo Adobo
adobo criollo marinated-halved chicken with oregano oil and grilled scallions...17add malanga gnocchi in a trumpet mushroom cream (5.50)
Salads
Ensalada Palmito
heart of palm, fresh greens and red onions, tossed in a Cabrales cheese vinaigrette, with bacon wrapped dates.
Ensalada Remolacha con Cabra
roasted beets twith a fresh green salad, red onions, in a sherry vinaigrette with fresh goat cheese and pine nuts (add chicken 3.00).
Ensalada Mixta
Salsitas
Guasacaca
Mojo
Picante
Side Dishes
Rice And Beans
Espinaca a la Brava
Rice
Tajadas
Tostones
Yuca
Black Beans
Chorizo
Fufu
Gnocchi
Papitas
Quinoa
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Recent Reviews
A hidden gem! If you're not careful you'll miss the alleyway leading to this restaurant and that would be sad, it's worth the search. The wait staff is very friendly and forgiving of my horrible attempts at saying the names of menu items. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I was sad to leave my leftovers behind, the casualties of vacationing.
June 2025
Venezuelan restaurant with an entertaining selection of bites. I particularly liked the braised beef in the arepas, and the juice drinks. However, i think with having a restaurant in Harvard square that is a bit upscale, something is lost along the way. Small-ish servings, and a vibe that feels it caters more to the parents of Harvard students than to a community. The service was great though. No complaints there.
June 2025
The restaurant isn’t what it used to be. I frequented Orinoco’s South End location for years before they opened their Harvard location. In the years past, I’ve always had a good experience going to both their Harvard Sq and South End restaurants and deeply appreciated their food, atmosphere, and attentive service.
I was there recently for dinner with my family and had a vastly different experience.
After being seated outside, the server...
I was there recently for dinner with my family and had a vastly different experience.
After being seated outside, the server...
May 2025
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