Venezuelan Restaurants near Somerville, MA

“Excellent arepas and addicted to the green sauce. Interesting space with Aeronaut Brewing in the same place. Excited to go with the warmer weather - the shared space has a nicely sized outdoor area. Go here to fuel up before tackling Market Basket.“

“We visited the location on the MIT campus (it’s on the second floor of the student center and is only open on weekdays). Wow! So many delicious options that are all gluten free (with one exception). The arepas were fantastic! Order two if you’re hungry! They take a little longer than the bowls so if you’re in a hurry opt for the bowls instead. One in our family has celiac and didn’t have any issues. We’ll definitely go back!Dietary restrictions: All of the items (with one exception) are gluten free. They take special precautions against cross contamination and one of us who has celiac disease had no issues.“

“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.“

“First time and went with 2 arepas - I feel like the variety here is very niceI got an Reina Pepiada (chicken-salad with avocado) & Pabellón (beef, plantains, cheese, beans)The beef one was DELICIOUS so much flavor going on and it was heftyThe chicken one was good, but not as great.Cute, homey place with great people working and cooking for you. Will need to check out their Jamaica Plain location nextVegetarian options: Arepas without meatParking: On a main road mainly street parking“

“We’ve ordered delivery 3x so far from Uber eats and the food is always delicious! We’ve tried the empanadas (beef and shredded beef are my favorite), mashed potato and cheese pastelito, arepas (la Dominica is my fav), fried sweet plantains, the passion fruit juice, and lemonade are all so amazing and filling. We’re so happy we came across this restaurant! It’s becoming one of our go to take out spots. Everything we’ve tried has been flavorful and tasty. You can’t go wrong.“

“It was my first time dining at Orinoco and it was an excellent experience. The atmosphere is inviting and distinctive, felt inviting after a long day. I got an Empanada Verde and Orinoco Mojito to start, a mixed salad and Parrilla Caraqueña for my main, and Quesillo for dessert. I stray away from mojitos because of sweetness but I figured to give it a chance and I wasn’t disappointed. It had the right balance and one of my favorite mojitos I’ve ever had. The empanada had me wishing I ordered more. The main entree was excellent, hats off to the kitchen staff. The chicken, steak, chorizo, and yuca fries cooked to perfection. The flavor/seasonings were balanced, and didn’t beg of anything else (sauces, etc.). I usually don’t go for dessert but I’d say the quesillo would be a dessert to treat yourself to. Lastly, the service was incredible. Very warm, attentive, and informative, Philip and Daniel are what made the experience for me, and are the reason I will return. Highly recommend, you won’t regret giving Orinoco a try. I’m looking forward to trying out more of their menu.“

“Went for dinner with a couple of friends. It has a cozy vibe, and the restaurant was full when we reached. We ordered some calamari, pasta, tacos, arepa and a shrimp salad. All the dishes were delicious and the portion sizes were generous. We also ordered some margaritas, and the mango margarita was brilliant. Would highly recommend this place for some South American cuisine. The staff is very friendly and warm as well!“