Orinoco: A Latin Kitchen

Amid the twee boutiques and dog bakeries of the hyper-gentrified South End, this twinkling little tribute to the Venezuelan roadside restaurant known as a taguarita comes as a total surprise. So does the bold yet delicately nuanced food, served in a mask- and basket-lined dining room. The smaller plates in particular burst with flavors and textures: after a round of antojitos such as cheese-filled, deep-fried plantain chunks and rich, gooey bacon-wrapped dates, share a couple of the stuffed corn pockets called arepas -- the shredded beef and mojo-laced roast pork really stand out).