Littler is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Durham! The menu is New American with a focus on seafood and seasonal delights. The restaurant itself is cozy with warm accents, brick walls, and wood paneling. I feel like I'm visiting a good friends home whenever I visit here. As for the menu, and I say this without exaggeration, the carrot cavatelli is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. I seriously dream about that carrot cavatelli. Here's some of my other favorites: Smoked Hamachi Puree- the toaste brioche goes perfectly with this pate-like fish dish, so insanely delicious Caramelized Onion Tart- the robiola foam is a dream and pairs perfectly with the apple Carrot Cavatelli- I would literally write the chef personally if this item was ever removed from the menu. Trust me, just order this for the table. King Trumpet- there's not much better than a grilled trumpet mushroom Seared Scallops- such a fantastic dish that comes with creamed greens and little pasta to accompany it Braised Beef Short Rib- meaty and delicious, exactly as you would expect Chocolate Mousse- a delicious, decadent dessert that's the perfect way to end a meal All in all, you can't have a bad meal at Littler. Plus the service is always excellent and they pay their staff a living wage! Definitely a do not miss in Downtown Durham read more

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Incredible service from the staff + a cozy ambiance (perfected by the unique napkin rings and dishware)! We were pleased with all the items ordered - especially the carrot cavatelli and escarole. We had the early spring 2025 menu to choose from. Entrees were delicious but slightly smaller than expected, which was the only downside. The bill definitely adds up if you have a drink with entrees read more

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One year later... still at the top of my list! For the first time had a later reservation, 8:30pm and my main course -the short rib dish was overcooked and after I called it to the attention of my server it was clear my observation didn't matter. No acknowledgement or concession suggested.... I love this place enough to extend grace. I will say that the previous 2 courses were amazing and ultimately the flavors on the overcooked meat still rose to the occasion. I shall return... just earlier vs later. read more

Glad I was able to check out Littler before they close soon! Reservations are a must. Started off with the Saint Olmstead cocktail which was delicious. Very smooth and balanced, slightly sweet and fresh (and a fun, spring-y green color). The daily bread with butter was soft and fresh. We ordered multiple plates to share between the group - be aware that portions are small and certainly not an inexpensive menu, but relatively in line with what would be expected for a dining experience focused on crafting intricate flavors. - Carrot cavatelli: creamy with nice acidic notes. The toasted hazelnuts were a nice touch. Overall yummy but as elevated pasta, just did not quite live up to the hype. - Roasted eggplant: marinated in miso flavors and great on the umami, but wish it was just a touch more tender. - Celeriac au poivre: a favorite - the sauce was rich and creamy and the celery root was tender. Paired with the lentils, absolutely a stellar combination. - Pork collar steak: a close second - juicy, tender with a bright salsa verde sauce (and more veggies! green beans). - Blueberry olive oil cake: the cake was moist, dense and filled with blueberries. Topped with olive oil and the most luscious frosting that was only slightly sweet and even almost a touch savory which I loved. Great if you're searching for thoughtfully made veggie-forward dishes full of contrasting textures and flavors in a small plate dining experience but be aware of your expectations going in! The vibes inside were cozy and rustic and the service was on point. The restaurant is relatively small so the tables are quite close to one another. 20% gratuity is included in the bill. read more

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Littler-ally (I had to lol) so happy I managed to snag a res at this Durham institution before it closes. This was a wonderful dining experience, paired with great service and a cozy, rustic ambiance. In order of my favorite to lesser liked (bc I didn't not like anything haha) things that I tried: - Blueberry Olive Oil Cake: Absolutely divine- the cake was super moist with whole blueberries inside and topped with olive oil, a light cream icing & blueberry glaze. Will be dreaming about this. - Celeriac au Poivre: Definitely my favorite entree- I've never had celery root before, and it has such a great texture. The sauce was creamy and delectable; even the lentils underneath were tasty. This dish was so pretty- reminded me of a forest floor lol. - Pork Collar Steak: Thoroughly enjoyed this- the pork was tender with a good balance of lean & fatty meat. The green beans were perfectly crunchy. I could drink the broth by the spoonful. - Daily Bread: Can def tell the bread is freshly made & that butter was amazing? Slightly citrus-y with little salt flakes. - Carrot Cavatelli: Don't get me wrong, this was tasty but perhaps my expectations were too high from all the hype... I appreciated the the fun texture of the pasta, creaminess of the sauce, and crunch from the nuts on top. - Roasted Eggplant: I liked the miso glaze, but the eggplant def needed a lot more of it; also needed a touch more cooking. Again appreciated the textural diversity from the nut topping. - Summer State: I liked the rice milk, but unfortunately could not taste the pineapple essence much. 10/10 would recommend! 20% gratuity is included. Free parking in nearby City of Durham garages on weekdays after 7pm & weekends. If you spot an open res before they close on June 21, do yourself a favor and take it! read more

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What do you want? That's a good first question when you start the hunt for the next spot to enjoy a dinner out. There are times when you want what is familiar fare, but a different twist or style that delivers something comforting that still gives you a new experience. There are other times when you are after something completely different. If you want something totally new and refreshing, but want a curated experience, Littler might just be your spot! It was for me on this Tuesday evening. I was in RD on business, but I always want to try something new and local. I wasn't ravenous for food, but knew that I wanted to experience something local and fresh from a culinary perspective. I sat at the bar and enjoyed Julia's help with understanding and navigating the options. The cocktail list is not extensive, but had just the right thing for me. The food was amazing, interesting, unique; a fun take on some familiar themes. I had the onion tart, scallops, and raspberry chiffon cake with pistachio buttercream. They were all subtle, but delivered that nuanced and differentiated experience that I was looking for. The portions are not large here. You come for the unique taste and fresh approach. Want some Linda Ronstadt played from a reel-to-reel while experiencing pistachio buttercream for the first time? This is your spot. Not an inexpensive meal, but a culinary introduction in an unexpected place! read more

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Went to Littler with a work colleague. It's a small restaurant but does provide a nice ambiance. I decided on the carrot cavatelli and the braised beef short rib based on the waiter's suggestion. They also provided us with bread before our appetizers which was so delicious we almost forgot to save room for our main courses. The carrot cavatelli was a good portion and we ended up sharing some of it. The braised beef short rib was very tender and full of flavor! read more

Came here for a birthday dinner. Food: beware the portions are very small. Tapas style dishes. The food itself is delicious and very thoughtfully prepared as are the drinks. Ambiance: it's a small place. Gives date night vibe and a more upscale feel. The seats are very close together though giving very little chance for privacy. And tables are a bit small for all the plates you end up ordering. But it is appealing and great if you are trying to impress a date. Service: very helpful and informative. I guess because of the upscale vibe they are going with I wouldn't say they are friendly but definitely attentive to the point of hovering a bit. They clear plates as soon as they think you are finished and continuously check to make sure everything is fine maybe a little too much. The couple next to us had their drinks explained to them by the bartender... not sure what you have to do to get that service. We did eat enough of the menu to say everything on the menu is probably amazing and ordered enough to feel satisfied but it came at a pretty penny as the dishes are pricy for the amount of food you get. read more

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If I could give the service, ambiance and drinks 10 stars I would! Out of this world! We did 4 of the bartenders choice last night and they were all phenomenal. It was like the bartender had known us for years I loved how intimate the space was. It was the perfect date night. The food was overall pretty good. We had the hamachi appetizer and that was great. We then had the carrot cavatelli which was good. I had the striped bass and my husband had the short rib. We didn't love the short rib, but that was our only complaint. We then had the olive cake and chocolate mousse. We loved both. The olive cake was a little dry but that seemed like it was on purpose as there was glaze on top. Overall, definitely a place to check out! read more

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A wonderful, intimate location for any special occasion. The first thing you notice when you enter, is the classic music, Play ed on LP's, over a high fidelity sound system. The menu is always seasonal, and always inventive. Local food is usually featured, and perfectly prepared. I ordered scallops, and they were perfectly done, with a crisp outside, and a melt in your mouth inside. The greens were crisp and flavorful, with a mash that added the perfect juxtaposition of texture for the dish. The dessert featured fresh berries on a passion fruit puree, with crispy toasted coconut to add the perfect texture. I've been here twice, and every time, they adhere to the French style of cooking where each dish contains a variety of textures and a perfect balance of flavors. The seating is very intimate, which ensures that the service is always impeccable. read more

Littler - Scallops - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The food is truly delicious at this restaurant.it is small plates and presented lovely. We started with the oysters, had the watermelon salad that was outstanding and finally shared the octopus. My daughter had the gnocchi and I had the eggplant, both dishes were excellent. The only thing I would say on the negative side is I felt although the food was delicious I do feel it was on the pricey side for what we received. However I do acknowledge these dishes take time. read more

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Great "little" place in CH..... great food, great service and nice atmosphere.... they served dinner in the prettiest plates! Our waitress was awesome.... I think her name is Kaitland but if you go ask her Indian name, so cool! Will be back.... read more

No frills but just great tasting dishes that make you want to come back again and again. That's precisely what happened to me. The small dinning area can be busy very quickly. Thanks to the bar top, for single dinners like me, we are lucky to always be able to fit in. The menu is interesting without being fussy. You will have to debate a little with yourself on what to get each time. But it won't be long. Haha. The dishes are savory, reflects the region, beautifully plated, good portion. read more

Littler - Counter seating - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The food and service were excellent, but the fish portions (for 2 women) were very small and we left hungry. I noticed that the patrons that had scallops appeared to have a much healthier amount of food. The restaurant decor creates a nice vibe. read more

I love the atmosphere and the food was terrific. Great service. A good place for a date or dinner with friends.

The only thing better than the MasterChef who prepares your exquisitely delicious food is the incredible service. Be sure and try something completely different. There are only about 40 seats in this place so be sure and make reservations. If you cannot get a reservation, it will be worth the wait. There are a few seats at the bar. read more

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We literally tried one of everything on the menu and it was an incredible eating experience. Classy service, amazing food, and they spaced it out like a 15 course meal. There were only 3 of us, and we found that one of everything on the menu is a lot of food. But we muscled through it and finished just about everything. (We shouldn't have ordered that second bread course). read more

Littler - December menus - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've been here twice. The service, drinks and food are consistent and exquisite. The space is intimate and to add a nice touch their music comes from a record player that is always spinning. I recommend: fresh made bread of the day, carrot cavatelli and gnocchi. They also have a sweet potato side dish that is delish. Make reservations to avoid a long wait. Even on a Tuesday night the place was packed. read more

Ordered the entire menu, since the menu is limited. From scallops to flounder - Tasty items, "littler" in quality quite big in price. Cocktails were made w care and tasty. Desserts were good. Worth trying and making your own opinion on littler read more

We stumbled upon this place to jump in for a cocktail. We weren't really looking for food at the moment, but WOW they have a phenomenal food menu. They have an elevated menu that has something for everyone. The prices were a tad high, but for the quality and what you are getting it's worth it. My mouth was watering everyone someone would bring in an order fro the kitchen. I would LOVE to come back just to try the food. So their cocktail menu was small since it was seasonal cocktails, but again quality not quantity. We tried the Vesuvio Fresco and the Falling Leaves. Lived them both. And their glasses were very retro. Great place! Can't wait to try the food! read more

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I'll start off by saying the service was exceptional and is not considered in the review. The review is only for food. Appetizers: Oysters, Latkes, and Bread. The oysters were extremely extremely salty! I am not sure if anything else was done to them but it was almost unbearable to eat. Our friends ordered the Latkes and said they were salty but the flavor was still very very good. I really loved the bread, which was fluffy and had such a delicate taste. Main course: Hanger steak, Striped Bass, Lamb Burger, Southern Fish Cassoulet, and Lima beans. The Hanger steak was juicy and cooked perfectly medium. Our friends ordered the Lamb Burger and also really liked it, but I tried the potatoes that came with it and it just tasted really funky. The sauce that came with it just did not make sense. The Striped Bass had a nice crispy skin on some parts and salted well, but overall the dish is underwhelming. There was nothing to really bring the dish together and the pickled cabbage and mousse did not make it better. I did love the oyster mushrooms, which was cooked well. The worst entree was the cassoulet, which was just a bowl of salt. If the seafood is already so salty, it is better to watch any additional salt added to this dish. It is overwhelmingly salty - and gets worst as you make your way down the bowl. Dessert: Chocolate Coupe and Currant Mousse. Wow! The red currant granita was packed with flavor and the strawberries really shined through! I was very impressed at how well the flavors were packed into this dessert. The chocolate coupe was also made well for any chocolate lover - really nice textures and contrasts of sweetness that made the dessert special. Overall, I left not feeling very impressed by the entire experience. I've been to Littler before and had a nice experience and was excited to return when they reopened. I think there were definitely moments where Littler shined and others where it dimmed. The cohesion of overall dishes remain questionable. Taste: 3/5 Presentation: 4/5 Recommend to a friend?: No Consistent: ehhh Cost: $$$ Expensive for tiny portions Parking: Plenty of parking in a deck nearby (1 block away) read more

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Oh my goodness!!!! Dinning at Littler was a tasteful delightful experience! The service, atmosphere, music and food was amazing Be prepared to pay $$ to treat yourself and you will not be disappointed. read more

It's been a while since I made it to Littler but have been meaning to go-I mean, it's not every restaurant in Durham that has in the past featured things as "adventurous" as duck tongues on the menu! Plus the reel to reel and record player are fun. Stopped in for a quick dinner at the bar and was really happy with my drinks and food. The cocktail list was interesting and the drinks I ordered were lovely. Started with tiny bread and the pickled shrimp, both of which were excellent choices. For my main I did the catch of the day which came with fun onion cups and was perfectly cooked (not always a given with fish specials!) The space is tiny (it's cozy!) and it was full-even so service was friendly and food came out promptly. Slight issue with my check which was quickly fixed. One thing to note - bar seating is pretty tight and the bar stools are geared towards compactness and not comfort. Not a terrible trade off for being able to drop in and have a nice dinner, but the tables are definitely more comfy. Looking forward to returning. read more

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Lamb shank over farro risotto! Started off with a delicious kale salad! We took a quick trip away to Elkin NC and stayed in these adorable tiny homes - Frog Holler. We wanted to support local and obviously wanted to eat well. Littler offers delicious take home meals (big portions) that include a cocktail kit, a perfectly paired bottle of wine, and 3 courses of Littler fare! It was simple, high quality ingredients and it tasted as though we were there in person! They pack it well so it was easy for us to travel with. The price is great, cocktails are unique and fun and the wine was exceptional FIRST COURSE lacinato kale salad, feta preserved lemon dressing, roasted olive croutons, pickled red onion, cured egg yolk SECOND COURSE braised lamb shank, red wine farro risotto, roasted baby bok choy, smoked mushrooms, jus THIRD COURSE pistachio/walnut blondie, golden raisins, dulce de leche caramel read more

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So glad I finally had the opportunity to try Littler. It had opened just before I moved away from Durham and have not had the chance to try it. Upon returning and getting to see all the new changes to Durham I was very happy to have such an amazing meal! We started off with the crudo, which was light and fresh! Definitely a bright entre to start with. We also had the beef heart tartar paired with the thinnest rice cake I have ever seen! Really well done. Our main was the chicken and sided up with some delicious spicy carrots. We were incredibly stuffed! Not to mention, the southern hospitality I was missing we present throughout our meal. Our hostess was very friendly and informative. The restaurant itself is a small intimate but not pretentious atmosphere. Recommend reservations for best experience. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town! read more

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The only problem I have with this place is I wasn't hungry enough to order everything. It all looks amazing! Octopus was perfect. Scallop with gnocchi was the star. Service is great and not pushy which means so much to us. Drinks also on point, wish I had time for dessert. Maybe next time!! read more

I really don't understand why this restaurant has such high reviews. The whole time through dinner I was thinking why do I torture myself and waste money here? Everything at Littler is little, except salt. When the waiter/waitress came over to serve water four times during an hour, you should know there was something wrong with your food. Lamb burger was the only thing I liked. read more

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Phenomenal food and phenomenal service. I was able to get a bit of a last minute reservation here and I'm so glad I did. The menu is on the smaller side but everything is so delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by the carrot cavatelli and had to order a second one. If you're ordering many apps, you could do with one order but it is quite small for four people (though I admittedly ate most of the second order by myself). The smoked miso baguetti was not like any bread I've had before. For my main, I ordered the sea bass and WOW IT WAS PERFECT. By then I was full, but our table still ordered all three dessert options and the chocolate coupe was by far my favorite read more

So glad we came back Two uneven meals prior to COVID, but our daughter encouraged us to go back. So glad we did! For our anniversary, we enjoyed a near-perfect evening. The dishes were fresh, local, flavorful, creative, perfectly-balanced, and nice and light for the heat of Durham in the summer. Thankfully the chef did not rely on mounds of butter/cheese to add flavor. Two perfectly conceived and perfectly cooked fish dishes, a delicious and refreshing melon-burrata appetizer, and a lovely daily market vegetable dish (what a great idea) rounded out our meal. The only miss was the over-pickled NC shrimp appetizer, which was a bit mealy in texture (though the flavor was awesome). Kudos to Littler for their outstanding new chef and the stellar service and cool/industrial-yet-cozy/vintage vibe. So Durham! So wonderful. Littler, glad you are here. read more

Very cute and welcoming spot. True to the name "Littler" as the space is little. Came here with my sister and niece. We enjoyed ourselves. My lamb burger was delicious, but the potatoes that came with it wasn't. Gave 4 stars because there was only one waitress serving so the wait for things such as lime and lemon for our sparkling water was longer than it needed. read more

Littler - Lamb burger - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The scallops I had tonight were one of the best things I've ever eaten, and everything else was also delicious. But I'm going to remember the scallops forever. Fantastic. read more

The ambiance of this place is so quaint and cozy. Super good music selection and the food and service were both top notch. The drinks were fun and unique, and as always gotta try the fish. Love me some edible flowers. read more

Littler - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had the opportunity to cross Littler off my triangle area wishlist this week. The food was excellent but a bit less memorable than that of some other peer establishments. Given the price point, a five-star would be unwarranted. read more

We very much enjoyed our dinner! Staring out with amazing cocktails, followed by delicious appetizers. We got pickled shrimp which was extremely flavorful and delicious. Latke Benedict was also amazing. We had Fish Cassoulet and lamb burger for dinner. We were too full for dessert. read more

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WOW. I'm struggling with how to start this review because of how amazing my experience was. I think I'll just describe my visit. I made reservations at littler for a work dinner. I showed up an hour early for a snack and drink before my colleagues showed up. I started with the green thumb, which was a gin based cucumber, basil, dill drink, and a melon appetizer with a soft Italian cheese and spiced with chili's. Both were incredible! My colleagues showed up, and we ordered more drinks and dinner. I ordered the mercy of the bartender next, and the bartender asked me what flavor I was in the mood for, I said something like a Moscow mule, and she brought out an amazing drink which fit the bill. Unfortunately I can't remember what it was, other than delicious. There were four of us, one order of the hanger steak, three orders of the southern fish cassoulet we're next. All were superb! The staff recommended a bottle of rose for the table, which we ordered, but what surprised us in the most pleasant way was that they brought out a red for our diner with the hanger steak. It was a perfect pairing. We ordered all the of the desserts that were offered on the menu, and all were spectacular! The bottom line is that the service was attentive and thoughtful. The menu was epic. Every dish we tried was balanced, flavorful, and unique. I want to say the menu was sofisticated without being pretentious. It was one of the best restaurant experiences I have EVER had. read more

Littler - The melon snack and green thumb cocktail - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Littler. The staff made it feel special and the food was delicious! Love the vibe of this restaurant as well. Highly recommend. read more

Very limited menu. Odd combos (bread was sweet potato and smoked miso ?!) Lots of seafood but nothing like NC trout. Flan dessert was odd. More like thick jelly consistency and chocolatey but not really? Other dishes had way too many ingredients that didn't go together. Music also got strange later with Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. Why?! read more

Amazing food. Amazing cocktails. Incredible ambiance. Service was on point - attentive but not overbearing. Our new date night spot.

Very good food. Small dining room maybe a dozen tables. Nothing super unique or impressive about the dining room, but a nice relaxing ambiance. Although it's a higher end restaurant the atmosphere is laid back and not too stuffy - very authentic Durham. The food is a little more elevated (obscure ingredients, lots of puréed things, smaller portions, etc) which is normally not my style, but it was really well done and everything was delicious. Many of the elements (pastas, breads, etc) were made scratch there. Get the little bread rolls they are delicious - I think miso rolls if I remember correctly. At first when I walked in and saw $15 apps and that they were charging for bread I rolled my eyes and expected to be disappointed, but the rolls were worth it and everything else was very good too. read more

Amazing as always! The bartender is so great. One of the few who truly know how to make a French 75. The carrot cavatelli is the best thing I've ever eaten. We go twice a month it's so delicious. Prefer sourdough bread to the popovers!! read more