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    Little Donkey

    3.9 (1.1k reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Little Donkey Takeout or Delivery

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    LITTLE DONKEY ATMOSPHERE

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    Trendy
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    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Little Donkey

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    burger
    Laura D.

    Little Donkey is definitely more of a "let's order a few things, chat for a while, and try bites here and there" kind of spot than a place you go to when you're starving. I've been extra hungry lately, so fair warning: if you have a big appetite and care a lot about portion-to-price value, this may not fully hit the spot. First things first: no bread. Not a complaint, just important information as I discover which spots in Boston are part of the bread movement. We started with the salmon crudo. I somehow thought it came with the burnt crispy rice, but that was my mistake - it's actually four small slices of salmon. That said, it was really flavorful and tasty. Next was the arancini: three pieces plus a pepper to share. Super good if you're into cheese. Crispy outside, cheesy inside, cooked well, no complaints there. Then the burger, which came split into two. Honestly, yummy burger. Simple. Solid. Probably the most filling thing we ordered, especially alongside the beer, which I was genuinely grateful for because it helped balance out the tiny portions situation. Dessert was the cookie dough. Exactly what you'd expect: cookie dough served on a mixer ladle with cream on the side. I didn't care much for the cream, but the cookie dough itself was good in a very straightforward way. If you like cookie dough, you'll like it. Overall, I'd say it's a good spot if you want to taste and try different things in a fun atmosphere. But if you're someone with a serious appetite who's looking for generous portions and strong value for size, there are probably other spots I'd pick first. Food came out fast and with the serving sizes and the speed of eating, was done with the meal in less than an hour - should've chewed slower lol

    Tavia G.

    Came here for a friends birthday and they had menus that said "happy birthday" printed in them which was a cute touch. They also provided a free, but strange birthday dessert that was a spoonful of dry raw cookie dough and some white sweet foam like stuff. Our waiter was very nice, but the speed of service was pretty atrocious. It took roughly 7 minutes before anyone came to greet us/bring water. We ordered drinks and then ordered food probably 10 minutes later and still received some of our food before our drinks somehow? Also, the menu was never explained to us (nor stated anywhere on menu) that they were all entirely "small plates all meant to be shared that come out as ready" until we were literally done ordering our food and said "this can all come together if possible" at which point they then said they don't do it that way. We had to ask 2 separate times for club soda which eventually came after 20ish minutes. It was a busy Saturday night but the level of service was really weird because we were sat in the booth literally right next to the server station and still felt almost forgotten. As for the food, our table had mixed reviews. Some folks loved the burger and sprouts. The cacio e pepe was very creamy and rich but the miso wasn't coming through and it kind of tasted like glorified buttered noodles. The cauliflower and brussels were pretty good but very overpriced for some fried vegetables. The bangkok street noodles had good flavor but the dish was genuinely 60% bamboo shoots. Overall we found the prices to be very high for the quality and portions. The drinks were all very fine, but nothing special for an $18 price tag. Overall, the food was good, but the quality of the evening overall did not meet the price tag at all.

    Drink menu

    Unexpected we looked around and saw this place and thought it was a nice place around the central area. The food was great we had some cocktails Brain freeze, which is a frozen drink and holy moly, which is a sweet whiskey. We tried two of the oyster options, which were delicious sweet and saltiness with a buttery taste. We also had four of the appetizers wagyu steak tartare, lobster Rangoon, empanadas and piri piri octopus. Service could be a little faster.

    salmon crudo
    Jose P.

    I came here for dinner with my boyfriend for my birthday. I absolutely enjoyed every single dish we had. The tasting menu here is seasonal so you might not get the same dishes but they we all fantastic and interesting. The drinks we had were amazing as well. The staff was extremely kind, it also happened to out servers birthday. The restaurant has plenty of room and was not too crowded when we went. I would like to note that the best bite I had was the caviar blinis. They're on sale on fridays at their bar. I will definitely be returning.

    Lamb gyro

    This is a fun date night spot with super unique cocktails and food. They have amazing gluten free options as well! Just know the small plates add up and the bill can get pricey!

    Vivian H.

    The food was great as always. It came out very fast. The service was friendly and fast as well. The waiter recommended the Cacio e Pepe which was my favorite. It was made with ramen noodles. Loved the tostada and the branzino as well. The octopus was tender. The two things I didn't care for were the shrimp toasts (as it was a paste and the entire bao was fried) and the blt lettuce wraps. The lettuce didn't hold the heavy and hearty bacon, pimento cheese, and pickled onions well. I would've rather had a different vessel for all of the things together! It was busy for a Monday night but not impossible to get a seat like it normally is here!

    wagyu beef cheek
    Isabella C.

    Little Donkey was highly recommended by a couple friends, so we decided to go here for Valentines. There was a special menu, but I believe most or all of these items are available on the regular menu. I loved the halibut- it was tangy, soft, and super flavorful. The duck and mushroom were savory and hearty, and went nicely with the pastry. The crab mac and cheese was superb- a lot of crab and every bite was cheesy with a nice chew from the rice cake. The wagyu beef was also super tender and moist. The dessert wasn't my favorite, though if you're a chocolate lover it's right up your alley! It's a very cozy restaurant, and the food came out very quickly. The servers were very quick to remove empty plates and fill our waters too. Overall super pleased with our experience and definitely want to come back. One thing to note is that the tables are pretty close together, and can be annoying to get in and out from your seat.

    grilled octopus
    Anthony W.

    TLDR; nice service and location, meh food This place is really close to Le Meridien, so it's one of the few places still open after you come back to the hotel after a meeting. The ambiance is chill and the service was nice. The food was ok; presentation was great but the taste was a bit boring. The service staff were great, and the overall vibe of the restaurant was also very fun :)

    Entrance
    Caroline F.

    Little Donkey is a hip spot in Central Square great for dates, friend catch-ups or bigger groups.... It's got that foodie-vibe where you know you are going to get great food and drinks in a cool atmosphere. The menu is mix n' match small plates/tapas with an Asian spin. LD Is well known for their burger which is top notch- well seasoned patty, perfect melted American, with rich onion soup mayo cut nicely with piquant pickles and touch of spice & crunch from Jalapeño chips. The crispy chicken sandwich with thai-inspired tangy slaw & pickled jalapeños + avocado ranch was also stellar. Brussel sprouts were perfectly balanced with a hint of smoke, hot honey, and bright pomegranate seeds. I look forward to trying a few more small bites and specials at their Friday/Saturday " Donkey hour ". The cocktails rock and bartenders have been great at being attentive despite being super busy. I would also absolutely save room for the fun/tasty desserts- in fact I would come back for that cookie dough (served straight off the beater) alone! Check it out

    Tuna tostada
    Susan M.

    We had a really great meal at Little Donkey. I was slightly concerned it might be gimicky but the food was really good across the board. Cauliflower and the tuna tostada were standouts!

    Mangos after dark
    Drashti T.

    Came here for a drink with friends. This place is easy to get to if you take the red line. Parking can be a bit tricker. The drink I got was mangos after dark. It had a Greek yogurt foam on top which I wanted to try but I was not that big of a fan. The mango part of the drink was delicious and not too sweet. I would like to come back again to try the drinks. The service was great and they kept checking in with us at the bar

    cookie dough
    Seth F.

    I told my mother we went to Little Donkey and she replied do not please do not tell me you ate another donkey. Much to your dismay and much to my pleasure there is no donkey on the menu: its meat is often tough and in my humble opinion why would you eat a donkey when you could eat a cow or a horse or a sheep, or a baby version thereof. There are other options on Little Donkey's menu. The venue is well-decorated, although perhaps loud on the ear if you are seated in the middle of the room, midway between the dirty asphalt of Mass Ave and the sizzling meats and legumes of Little Donkey's kitchen in the back. Maybe a window seat, even if elevated, is the best option. I have only visited Little Donkey this one time and had a pleasant experience, insofar as the food was tasty, although perhaps not uniformly. Items that I sampled from the menu included, but were not limited to, a single oyster, tuna and salmon belly tartare, BLT lettuce wraps, manti, burger, and cookie dough. The BLT lettuce wraps were the most unexpected, and this is said in a world of endless expectations. This is a build-your-own endeavor of tender and fatty lamb bacon, a flavorful pimento concoction, green leaves of lettuce, and more. I had not anticipated a breadless BLT to be so delicious, but I was proven wrong. The burger was also good, it reminded me of Shake Shack but with several more eclectic toppings whose flavor can be described as sweeter than a green banana but sourer than a gala apple. The manti were cute due to their petiteness; their flavor was perfectly acceptable although not exceptional, and one contained a sharp bone which is natural but nevertheless undesirable. For better manti go to Tashkent Supermarket in Brooklyn. And lest I forget my single oyster: I bit into it and its organs and juices squirted throughout my mouth. The cookie dough--a dessert--was extremely dense, which made it good value. One does not visit Little Donkey for the deal of the century. One may visit for, perhaps, a unique dining experience or a nice dinner with some friends. I would return on a special occasion.

    Eggplant

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food and drink were overpriced and not outstanding. Very loud. I could not hear the people at my table.

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    3 years ago

    I've only gotten pick up/take out but the food is great! Very easy to find. It is busy on the weekends so keep that in mind.

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    4 years ago

    Soooo delicious!! The salad was really refreshing and the desserts were good too! Perfect date night

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    Page 7 of 27

    Little Donkey Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Little Donkey

    Could you please make Caldo Gallego for the winter? It's soooooo comforting.

    Is the patio heated / comfortable for cold weather?

    Absolutely not. There are vertical heaters but not nearly enough of them, and no windbreak or any shelter from rain.

    What can I order that is healthy? Trying to lose weight but I'm a foodie. Everything on the menu looks great.

    We got a burger and the chicken sandwich, so not sure, I would just chalk it up for a "cheat" day. Or at least eat lighter during the day to enjoy the food there.

    When is last call for food at the bar on a weekend night?

    about 9:00

    Is this place family friendly?

    Yes!

    Do they serve the impossible burger here?

    They do at Lunch* only - Monday-Friday 11A-5P

    Do you have any dishes for vegan?

    They have a few like empanadas with impossible chorizo

    Are there any good vegan offerings?

    The do

    View All 10 Questions

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    The Daily Catch

    The Daily Catch

    4.1(2k reviews)
    2.4 miNorth End
    $$$

    My favorite Italian in Boston, no competition. Cash only!…read more The Daily Catch's original location in the North End on Hanover St is one of my favorite places to take first-time visitors to Boston. The calamari, squid ink aglio olio pasta, and clam pasta have been my go-to orders since I found out about Daily Catch a few years back. My favorite bite has to be some of their bread dipped in the delicious garlic oil from the squid ink pasta with a bit of the garlic chunks and squid bits. It truly brings me joy. My friend recently recommended I try their shrimp scampi, either as an appetizer or as a pasta dish. This will definitely become part of my regular order - the shrimp are so plump and they're smothered in this savory, rich, garlicky sauce that is simply to die for. All in all, I can't recommend this place enough. Can't speak to their non-seafood options, but when it comes to seafood pasta, there is absolutely no competition. For ambiance, it is a bit tight in there but think of it as your classic mom and pop Italian restaurant, who treat you with such hospitality and kindness like an Italian nonna - quick and easy service

    It was a decent experience. It's a popular spot, so wait time was quite long on a Sunday evening. I…read moreknow adding reservations might take away their neighborhood charm, but it could be a better trade off considering the space is tiny. The food was good, but nothing special given the price. Raw clams were fresh and the Frutti Di Mare was great. I typically order fried Calamari, but decided to try the salad this time. That was my mistake as it was definitely not my preference. Overall, this probably wouldn't be my go to spot, but I had a good time. Our waiter was friendly.

    Photos
    The Daily Catch - Kitchen

    Kitchen

    The Daily Catch - Fried Calamari

    Fried Calamari

    The Daily Catch - The best meal I had in Boston. Get their world famous Lobster Frav Diavolo!

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    The best meal I had in Boston. Get their world famous Lobster Frav Diavolo!

    The Daily Catch - Squid ink pasta

    The Daily Catch

    4.0(241 reviews)
    2.6 miNorth End
    $$$

    I had eaten at The Daily Catch's Brookline location years ago (it no longer exists), and I always…read moreremember it as a great meal. So when I was visiting Boston with my husband two weeks ago, I thought this Waterfront location would be a great spot for dinner on our first night in Boston. The family behind The Daily Catch opened their first business in Boston (in the North End) in 1973 - a small storefront selling calamari. Since then, it's become a bit of an institution in Boston, with several locations and now a full-service, large-menued Sicilian-style seafood and pasta restaurant. I waited an hour outside their Brookline location when I ate there years ago, and the wait was worth it. People who have eaten at their North End location may remember waiting for a bit, too. But this Waterfront location? THEY TAKE RESERVATIONS. Hallelujah. We had a reservation for around 8pm on Friday night and were seated at our table right away upon arriving. The restaurant is beautiful but understated - not flashy or too modern - with indoor and outdoor patio seating. The service was top notch. Our server was PJ, and he was incredible - helpful, friendly, always checking in with us. But even other people stopped by to make sure we didn't need anything. The menu is pretty large, and I wanted A LOT OF IT. Unfortunately, we were only two people and had to order responsibly. We shared the stuffed calamari (calamari stuffed with herbed bread crumbs, pine nuts, and raisins, and served in their red sauce); a Caesar salad (classic, and we added anchovies on top); their black pasta aglio olio (ground calamari, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, romano cheese, and parsley); and their monkfish marsala (pan-seared monkfish medallions with mushrooms in a marsala wine butter sauce). What I loved? That stuffed calamari. I had it almost ten years ago when I ate at their Brookline location. I remembered it, and we had it again. It's an incredible dish. There's a reason their black pasta aglio olio is so popular. It's a classic and very delicious. The ground calamari is such a nice touch, and the dish is fresh and super garlicky and delicious. (They serve their pastas in the pan - it's something they are known for - a charming touch!) I also think their drink menu is great. I had a great glass (or two?) of wine white from Sicily (Pietradolce Etna Bianco - a 100% Carricante grape wine from the Northern slopes of Mount Etna), while my husband had a cocktail (or two?). The only thing that kept this from being an absolutely perfect dinner was the monkfish marsala. The monkfish was cooked beautifully cooked, but I found the sauce very off. It was bizarre - it tasted like maple syrup to me. I think the marsala was too sweet or not cooked out enough or - is it possible?! - something was added for additional sweetness and the balance was off. Way too sweet for me with the fish. We ate the fish but tried to get as much off the sauce off as possible. The only miss in a meal that was otherwise wonderful in service, ambiance, food, and drink! The Daily Catch is a classic for a reason. If you've always wanted to try it, this Waterfront location is great - since they do take reservations here! Great Sicilian food in the heart of Boston.

    The daily catch, as you would expect from the name, specializes in fresh seafood, oysters, etc…read more.. the environment is casual and a good good place for happy hour or work dinner. Our sever was friendly and took us through all the specials... which ended up being more than half the menu. Food arrived quickly, so overall pretty good service. I ordered the grilled octopus appetizer. It was smokey and tender. Served with white beans, grilled onion and celery. It made for a good entree if you aren't too hungry

    Photos
    The Daily Catch - Indoor Dining Room and Bar at The Daily Catch Waterfront

    Indoor Dining Room and Bar at The Daily Catch Waterfront

    The Daily Catch
    The Daily Catch

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    The Tip Tap Room - AVOCADO TOAST with a poached egg

    The Tip Tap Room

    4.0(856 reviews)
    1.9 miBeacon Hill
    $$

    I saw the steak tips listed as on Boston's list of best steak tips spots. I have tried others on…read morethe list and wanted to give Tip Tap room a try. I ordered a draft beer from a large selection of drafts and bottle, cans options. It was Jack Abbey beer... pint came 3/4 full as left a large head on beer and better for establishment pours 12-14 oz in a 16 oz glass.. Beer was warm... bad demerit again Ordered steak tips which came with three large tips on a bed of mashed potatoes, spinach . It had some sour hot nasty pepper garnish.. I wanted roasted red or green peppers with the tips instead. Steak tips were just ok and needed a marinate or side of a dipping bbq sauce or mushroom sauce or anything. Spinach, mashed potatoes needed more butter or garlic flavoring... fresh tasting but bland. Needs more steak tips too for the price tag. It was a nice bar vibe for drinks. The chicken wing lollipops I saw for an appetizer looked tasty. I left hungry for more steak tips and wanted a charcoal char on my tips . I wanted my spinach on the side with a garlic oil next to sone grilled oil drizzled roasted peppers . I don't consider these some of Boston best but certainly not the worst .

    The atmosphere here manages to be both sophisticated and relaxed, Nice view while dining. Great…read moreservice too! I ordered the steak frites cooked to a perfect medium with a deep, salty crust. It was tender enough to melt but had that essential beefy bite. The sauce was silky and sharp, tying the whole plate together without overpowering the meat. Overall a cool nice place to come enjoy dinner or sit at the bar to have a drink.

    Photos
    The Tip Tap Room - Cool 'garage doors' that open up in the nice weather. A lot of places in Boston have these.

    Cool 'garage doors' that open up in the nice weather. A lot of places in Boston have these.

    The Tip Tap Room - Tofu Tips

    Tofu Tips

    The Tip Tap Room

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    Little Donkey - tapasmallplates - Updated September 2026

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