Orinoco

The warm hospitality of owner Andres Branger sets a crucial opening tone at these two small neighborhood Venezuelan places. The follow-up is the food, which reflects the alternately rustic and sophisticated flavors of a South American cuisine that was largely unheard of in Boston before ORINOCO’s arrival. The atmosphere is dimly lit, casually romantic, with close-set tables lending a vivid buzz to the room. Affordable South American wines and a superb patio on a quiet side street in the South End location round out the picture of an unexpected success, a labor of love that has justly caught fire with locals.

ORINOCO | Various locations | orinocokitchen.com