Little Donkey

4.6
1197 reviews
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$30 and under
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Tapas / Small Plates
Little Donkey is the latest restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette of Boston’s beloved Toro and Coppa. Located in the heart of Cambridge’s Central Square, less than a mile from Harvard, MIT, Inman's Square, Kendall Square, Harvard Square, Porter Square, and Lesley University. Little Donkey is Oringer and Bissonnette’s first Boston-area restaurant in over six years, offering a welcoming, day-to-night dining experience that features market-driven, global small plates, inspired by the chefs’ world travels such as the Pickle Brine Fried Chicken Sandwich, General Tso Chicken Wings, Caviar Sandwich, as well as many Vegetarian and Vegan options which are always on menu and available.

What 1197 People Are Saying
Overall ratings and reviews
Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant
4.6based on recent ratings
4.6
food
4.6
service
4.4
ambience
4.1
value
Noise · Moderate
87% of people would recommend it to a friend
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OT
New England
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Loved my food!!!

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T
New England
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Awesome brunch for my friend's birthday!

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A
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Had brunch there and there were many options. I got the friend chicken sandwich, messy, and for dessert cookie dough. The food was great and the service too. Will be coming back :)

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OT
New England
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Was great! Really enjoyed brunch here. Waiter gave great recommendations and was spot on!

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D
Chicago
20 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall 4food 4service 3ambience 3

Little Donkey was good; a little loud, interesting food choices; different wine menu; good date place

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OT
New England
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 3

Food was very good, but severely overpriced. You’d find better value at other Tapas restaurants.

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B
Seattle
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
Overall 5food 4service 4ambience 4

Nourriture excellente et audacieuse.

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NS
New England
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Everything about this place was spectacular. Great food, great drinks, could adapt for allergies without limiting the menu too much, service was wonderful and we just can't wait to go back. As tourists to Boston we ate out a lot and this was probably our favourite meal, thank you!

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NC
Washington DC
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 3

Dinner courses were excellent but underwhelmed by dessert choices

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S
New England
149 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

Little Donkey is fabulous in every way! The food is the star, with unusual and wonderful flavors and presentations (except for the "eclair" popsicle, a bit disappointing). No pretension or posturing despite the famous chefs behind it! Relaxed atmosphere, friendly service, good location near the T! Slightly pricey but good value compared to just about anywhere with its creativity and quality. I wish Little Donkey were in my neighborhood!

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OT
New England
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
Overall 4food 5service 4ambience 3

The food is awesome. The downside

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BV
New England
12 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 3

Amazing food. Totally impressed by the layers of flavor in each dish. Unfortunately they were out of the Pig's Ear - next time!

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OT
New England
1 review
Dined on March 24, 2019
Overall 3food 5service 4ambience 4

Food was great, but very expensive for tapas. We left hungry!

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S
New England
4 reviews
Dined on March 24, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Chef Bissonette’s mere presence is stimulating and exciting. His staff are amazing, his food ridiculously well thought out and unique.

I would make love to that pickle brine chicken sandwich and let Chef watch if it was permitted.

The Lao noodles were also an awesome addition. Food is delicious. Service informed and thorough. Drinks are satisfying.

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H
New England
7 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2019
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 4

Great food, great service!

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OT
New England
1 review
Dined on March 23, 2019
Overall 3food 3service 3ambience 4

Food was good but the menu wasn’t cohesive at all.

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VS
1 review
Dined on March 22, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Awesome food as always. Food menu changes from the last time we were there, but everything we had was amazing. Love the fussili pasta with truffles. Tuna poke was awesome too. Laksa ramen and lobster stir fry was all amazing. Tuna tartare was ok.

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G
New York Area
1 review
Dined on March 21, 2019
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

Service was amazing! Dana was our server and he was fabulous! Food was great! Would absolutely go back and try more...so much to taste1

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MO
New England
1 review
Dined on March 21, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Great food. Service was terrific. They surprised us with two glasses of rose for my girlfriends birthday. Super nice!

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KS
New England
1 review
Dined on March 21, 2019
Overall 3food 3service 4ambience 4

I had been waiting to go to Little Donkey for ages and my expectations were high. In the end, I was disappointed - too many of the dishes tasted the same; the service was uneven, with some food coming out really fast and other dishes lagging, three of our party got their drinks right away, the fourth had to order a second time; and though we were clear about our timing to get to a concert with an hour and a half, which seemed ample, the slow service at the end bringing our check meant we left late. Loved the crudo and the ceviche, but won't be rushing back.

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s
New England
5 reviews
Dined on March 21, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 3ambience 5

Great food. Great atmosphere. Overly efficient service.

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HM
New England
4 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Little Donkey is one of my favorite restaurants, all the food is delicious! However, the ambiance is loud and dark so typically I find my parents or people 40+ don't enjoy the atmosphere.

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M
London
7 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

It can be a special place to go or it can be for everyday. We haven’t had food like this in a long time that we can rave about. We ordered the BLT lettuce wraps, the foie gras....which was unbelievable, crab leg, and the byryani.....Delicious. Wine was great, service, can’t say enough.

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NH
San Francisco
3 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2019
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

Quite good, but I would recommend considering the cohesion of what you order due to the widely varying nature of the food.

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OT
Las Vegas
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Took a chance on this place and absolutely loved it. Food food and superb service. We’ll go back next time we’re in Boston!

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p
Toronto
3 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2019
Overall 2food 1service 3ambience 2

Poor food quality. Service ok. Wouldn’t go back. W

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A
New England
1 review
Dined on March 16, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

Amazing food and service! The king crab nachos were unreal.

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OT
New England
48 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2019
Overall 2food 2service 4ambience 3

Went last year and wanted the ramen again. It was on the menu but totally different and the coconut milk broth made it too thick and creamy and was a huge disappointment. Flavor of tuna completely missing in tuna tartare on crispy rice. I liked the hamachi tartare but husband said his piece. Not good. Think we are done w Little Doneky.

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JE
New England
1 review
Dined on March 16, 2019
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 5

Good food and service, interesting combination of plates, they were good at accommodating gluten free alternatives.

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MO
1 review
Dined on March 15, 2019
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 5

Great, but not really, really great. What you pay for in food, you get in ambiance. In other words, the food and drinks are creative, but over-priced. The ambiance is great, with no cover charge.

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ER
1 review
Dined on March 15, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Really delicious small plates and cocktails! On the expensive side but that’s what we expected so it wasn’t surprising.

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NL
1 review
Dined on March 14, 2019
Overall 4food 5service 4ambience 3

Very noisy, service was exceptional and the food was fantastic!

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j
Dallas
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

this place is money !

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LG
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

LOVED the food. Loved our waiter. We had to request to turn the music down because we couldn't hear a thing. Apparently, this request is asked a lot. And I heard the same thing from friends who have been. Please turn down the music!

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L
New England
13 reviews
Dined on March 10, 2019
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 4

Really interesting food. Best to go with a few friends and share several dishes. Get the cookie dough dessert.

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AC
Central Coast
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Our server was wonderful, her suggestions were incredible, the food was unbelievably created and did not disappoint. Flavorful and delicious!

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2
New England
1 review
Dined on March 9, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

Excellent Food, great service and overall quite accommodating

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OT
New York Area
2 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

I’m a chef from NY and was told that I had to check this place out on my visit. This was the highlight of our Boston trip. Amazing tapas! We had the blt, black truffle pasta, vietnamese bologna, parker house rolls, stroganoff, and octopus for dinner. Each one was better than the last. Each course’s flavors were so on-point and beautifully presented. For dessert we did the candybar and the cookie dough. The candy was great but the cookie dough was next level. Will absolutely be back on my next visit.

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K
New England
10 reviews
Dined on March 7, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

Great selection of tapas-style dishes that are perfect for sharing with others. Also a great mix of cuisine styles. Would definitely go back for another dinner!

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OT
Detroit
3 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2019
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Everything was delicious, and food came out quickly. Order the cookie dough dessert - it was to die for!

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