Little Donkey

4.7

2117 Reviews

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 17 times today

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Lively

We’ve only got one rule: there are no rules. Our menu is an eclectic mix of global flavors, inspired by our chefs’ travels around the world. From Istanbul meat ravioli to ramen cacio e pepe, our menu is always unique and forever evolving. With a full raw bar, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, we’ve truly got something for everyone. Owned and operated by James Beard Award Winning Chef Ken Oringer, Little Donkey has been serving global tapas in Central Square since 2016

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, International, Dessert
Hours of operation
Bar Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 945-1008
Website
http://www.littledonkeybos.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Ken Oringer
Private party facilities
Little Donkey offers family-style options as well as a la cart, specially selected to accommodate any occasion. Our culinary and beverage teams will work with you to come up with the perfect wine, beer and artfully crafted seasonal cocktail selections to suit your needs. Please visit our website or email jai@littledonkeybos.com for more information

Location
505 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Cross street
Norfolk Street
Parking details
Currently street/meter parking. There are also parking lots on our block that are incredibly convenient such as Green Street Parking Garage, Franklin Street Garage, Metered lots on Bishop Allen Ave in between Essex St and Norfolk St and Norfolk St and Douglass St.
Public transit
Easily accessible by the RED LINE at CENTRAL SQUARE or the Number 1 BUS.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

sturgeon caviar*$6.00
add caviar to any oyster
clearbrook*$4.00
plump, seaweed, touch of sweet (Wellfleet, MA)
pleasant cove*$4.00
salty and kelp, mushroom and chicken bouillon (Damariscotta, ME)
jolly select*$4.00
of savory sweet with a bright sweetness of grass and root veggies (Dennis, MA)
cold bottom*$4.00
a kiss of sea salt with a touch of chicken bouillon on the finish (Plymouth, MA)
pink moon*$4.00
perfect balance of salt, creaminess, and a pleasant mineral finish (New London, PEI(CAN))
countneck clams*$3.00
plump, meaty, buttery
oyster shooter*$9.00
chef selection with a shot of bloody mary
donkey platter*$95.00
assorted shellfish + crudos with traditional & non traditional accompaniments

crudo

tuna & salmon belly tartare*$19.00
crispy sushi rice, tobiko (add caviar +15)
salmon crudo*$19.00
salsa macha, carrot, chilies, lemon
scallop crudo*$19.00
coconut dashi, hakurei turnips, annatto, sesame, finger lime
tuna tostada*$19.00
charred tortilla salsa, avocado, radish, hatch chili crema
whitefish ceviche*$17.00
leche de tigre, aji panca, cilantro, sweet potato, crispy choclo
hamachi sashimi*$17.00
white soy, ginger, grapefruit, cucumber, trout roe
snow crab*$17.00
lemongrass, thai chili, sesame leaf

snacks

caviar sandwich$25.00
grilled martin’s potato roll, whipped butter, sturgeon caviar
blt lettuce wraps*$15.00
lamb bacon, pimento cheese, tomato jam, pickled red onion cheese
wagyu steak tartare*$22.00
brazilian steakhouse style, brown bread
parker house rolls*$8.00
sesame seeds, smoked cultured butter (add pimento cheese +5)
venison heart satay*$18.00
peanut sauce, ginger tare
shrimp toast bao buns$16.00
scallion, sesame, spicy mayo
spicy duck wings*$19.00
crispy smoked duck wings, thai chili jam, black garlic ranch
yum cha $15.00
spicy chinese braised tripe, ginger, scallion
empanada*$12.00
jamaican beef, peas, mango and pepper jam mayo
crispy pork belly*$18.00
thai flavors

veggies

kowloon fried cauliflower$16.00
chili garlic, sesame
brussels sprouts*$17.00
red curry, sultanas, ginger lime
roasted beets*$19.00
burrata, kale wakame salad, gochugaru honey
roasted carrots*$16.00
pepita mole, apple cider honey, herbs, avocado crema
honeynut squash*$15.00
vadouvan spice, zhug, crispy kataifi
grilled eggplant*$16.00
miso glaze, tzatziki, almond dukkah

grains

bangkok street noodles*$18.00
roasted pork, rice noodles, fried peanuts, herbs (add egg +4)
mushroom fried rice*$19.00
gv shiitake, maitake, king trumpet, egg, szechuan (add crab +8)
crab* mac n cheese*$26.00
gf blue crab, cheddar & parmesan fondue, green tabasco, korean rice cakes
manti meat ravioli$21.00
garlic sour cream, red pepper butter
pupusa*$16.00
squash, heirloom masa, curtido, chihuahua cheese
cacio e pepe miso$22.00
ramen noodles, parmesan, black pepper

meat & fish

fried chicken sandwich*$15.00
pickled jalapeños, papaya slaw, avocado ranch
burger*$17.00
dry aged beef, buffalo pickles, onion soup mayo, foie gras, jalapeño chips, cheese
hanger steak*$26.00
mushroom escabeche, crispy shallots
branzino*$25.00
grilled mediterranean sea bass, puttanesca, shallot, lemon
grilled octopus*$22.00
peruvian purple potato, aji amarillo, quicos

Cocktails and Mocktails

PSLD$18.00
pumpkin spice espresso martini
Fall Sangria$13.00
kleos mastiha, brandy, citrus, clove
White Lotus Gin$17.00
vermouth, bitter bianco, grapefruit, bitters
Pink Donkey Club$18.00
gin, aloe, raspberry, lemon, thai basil
Mangos After Dark$17.00
vodka, rum, mango, lime, greek yogurt
Papayas on the Dancefloor$18.00
tequila, apricot, papaya, grapefruit, lime, topo chico
Ode to Pablo$18.00
mezcal, aperol, spicy ginger shrub, lime
Quincey Girl Bourbon$18.00
angostura amaro, quince, orange, lemon
Primer Corte$17.00
rye whiskey, maple, lemon, ginger beer, laphroaig rinse
Alaska Gin$17.00
yellow chartreuse, bitters
High Tide Rum$18.00
blend, coconut milk, lime, pineapple (dairy free milk punch)
Blu Wu Vodka$9.00
triple sec, lime, pandan
Nat So Scary Aperitif$12.00
lemon, agave
Stair Car Grapefruit$11.00
lemon, cinnamon, hoppy refresher
I Carried a Melon$11.00
honeydew, lime, tonic
Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water$3.50
Athletic Brewing Co. 'Run Wild' 0% IPA$8.00
CT

Wine by the Glass

Azimut Cava Brut Nature$14.00
Penedès, Spain
Gaspard 'Bulles' Brut Rosé$16.00
Pineau d’Aunis, Touraine, Loire, France
Quinta de Raza Arinto$13.00
+Vinho Verde, Basto, Portugal
Domaine Daniel Seguinot 'Chablis'$18.00
Chardonnay, Burgundy, France
Christina Gruner Veltliner$21.00
Burgendland, Austria
Vincent Caille 'Le Fay d'homme' Melon de Bourgogne$16.00
Muscadet, Loire, France
Garalis 'Terra Ambera' Muscat$17.00
Limnos, Greece
Judith Beck 'Pink'$15.00
Blaufrankisch, Burgenland, Austria
Forlorn Hope 'Queen of Sierra' Co-Ferment$16.00
Sierra Foothills, California
Folk Machine Pinot Noir$18.00
Central Coast, California
Corazon e Paterno 'Il Corzanello'$15.00
Sangiovese +, Tuscany, Italy
Kate Arnold Cabernet Sauvignon$16.00
Columbia Valley, Washington
Gut Oggau 'Cecilia' Field Blend Rose$20.00
Burgenland, Austria

Beer+

Bunker Brewing 'Machine'$12.00
Czech Style Pilsner, ME
Finback 'Rolling in Clouds'$12.00
IPA, 7.1%, NY
Oxbow 'Farmhouse Pale Ale'$13.00
PA, 6%, ME
Winter Hill Brewing 'Dr. Leo Marzen'$11.00
Marzen, 5.2%, MA
Tecate Mexican Lager$6.00
4.5%, MEX
Miller High Life$6.00
American Lager, 4.6%, WI
Allagash White Wheat Beer$9.00
5.2%, ME
Jacks Abby 'Smoke & Dagger'$8.00
Black Lager, 5.6.6%, MA
Oeronaut 'Hop Hop and Away'$10.00
IPA, 4.6%, MA
Athletic Brewing Co. 'Run Wild' 0% IPA$8.00
CT
Shacksbury 'Arlo' Cider$9.00
6.0%, VT
Ambuki Himawari Junmai Gingo$14.00
150ml
Yuki No Tenshi 'Snow Angel' Sake$12.00
Nigori, 180ml

What 2,117 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Little Donkey in Central Square is a vibrant dining spot known for its "excellent service and food." The atmosphere is lively, with "great music" enhancing the experience. The menu offers "delicious and interesting small plates," with standout dishes like the "BLT lettuce wraps" and "cacio e pepe ramen." Despite occasional noise levels, the "friendly and attentive staff" and creative cocktails contribute to a memorable dining experience.

2,117 Reviews

O
Olivia
Greater Boston
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Quality and presentation of the food were disappointing - certainly relative to sister restaurants. Particularly disappointing was the wagyu beef cheek, which was dry and served on a bed of cold rice, as well as the scallops, which were overly briny and overwhelmed by what appeared to be mayonnaise. Cocktails were good, as was the salmon crudo. Generally, however, this was unfortunately disappointing— I haven’t been in quite some time but had fond memories of Little Donkey from several years prior.
Is this helpful?
J
Jenny
Greater Boston
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The service was good and quick, but the food was disappointed! Most of dishes were salty.
Is this helpful?
T
Tara
Portland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved being here for Valentine’s Day! Service was impeccable, and the food was an interesting take on classics! Korean rice cakes in Mac and cheese— not expected, but they definitely pulled it off!
Is this helpful?
M
Michael
VIP
Greater Boston
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
As always - little Donkey delivered on a fantastic Valentine’s Day dinner. The food is amazing and the selection is excellent!
Is this helpful?
A
Andrea
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food is some of the best I’ve ever had. The BLT— you wouldn’t expect that mix of flavors— is unbelievable, 100/10. The tuna tostada is so delicious that we had to order more because we couldn’t get enough. The shrimp baos are amazing, and the drinks are great. Super fun vibe! Prices are excellent. Now I know why everybody is talking about Little Donkey.
Is this helpful?
RH
RachaelH
Atlanta
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Loved the food. Server was very nice but took a long time to order and get the check.
Is this helpful?
C
Craig
New Hampshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, fun menu, lots of variety, and everything was delicious. Staff and service were great.
Is this helpful?
T
Thomas
San Antonio
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Fun atmosphere. Excellent food. Attentive service.
Is this helpful?
Z
Zach
Greater Boston
255 reviews
5.0
255 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The BEST experience yet at our favorite go to in Central Square. We brought friends who had never been but who have lived in Cambridge for decades. They were blown away. The food, service, and atmosphere was amazing as usual. Thanks once again. ❤️
Is this helpful?
M
Mackenzie
Greater Boston
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The staff was all super friendly. Our food was really good. Always a good experience here.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Little Donkey offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Little Donkey also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 945-1008.

Little Donkey is rated 4.7 stars by 2117 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 17 times today

Order delivery or takeout

505 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Norfolk Street
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Hours of operation
Bar Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, International, Dessert
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Currently street/meter parking. There are also parking lots on our block that are incredibly convenient such as Green Street Parking Garage, Franklin Street Garage, Metered lots on Bishop Allen Ave in between Essex St and Norfolk St and Norfolk St and Douglass St.
Public transit
Easily accessible by the RED LINE at CENTRAL SQUARE or the Number 1 BUS.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ken Oringer
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.littledonkeybos.com/
Phone number
(617) 945-1008
Private party facilities
Little Donkey offers family-style options as well as a la cart, specially selected to accommodate any occasion. Our culinary and beverage teams will work with you to come up with the perfect wine, beer and artfully crafted seasonal cocktail selections to suit your needs. Please visit our website or email jai@littledonkeybos.com for more information

Little Donkey

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

raw bar

sturgeon caviar*$6.00

clearbrook*$4.00

pleasant cove*$4.00

jolly select*$4.00

cold bottom*$4.00

pink moon*$4.00

countneck clams*$3.00

oyster shooter*$9.00

donkey platter*$95.00

crudo

tuna & salmon belly tartare*$19.00

salmon crudo*$19.00

scallop crudo*$19.00

tuna tostada*$19.00

whitefish ceviche*$17.00

hamachi sashimi*$17.00

snow crab*$17.00

snacks

caviar sandwich$25.00

blt lettuce wraps*$15.00

wagyu steak tartare*$22.00

parker house rolls*$8.00

venison heart satay*$18.00

shrimp toast bao buns$16.00

spicy duck wings*$19.00

yum cha $15.00

empanada*$12.00

crispy pork belly*$18.00

veggies

kowloon fried cauliflower$16.00

brussels sprouts*$17.00

roasted beets*$19.00

roasted carrots*$16.00

honeynut squash*$15.00

grilled eggplant*$16.00

grains

bangkok street noodles*$18.00

mushroom fried rice*$19.00

crab* mac n cheese*$26.00

manti meat ravioli$21.00

pupusa*$16.00

cacio e pepe miso$22.00

meat & fish

fried chicken sandwich*$15.00

burger*$17.00

hanger steak*$26.00

branzino*$25.00

grilled octopus*$22.00

Cocktails and Mocktails

PSLD$18.00

Fall Sangria$13.00

White Lotus Gin$17.00

Pink Donkey Club$18.00

Mangos After Dark$17.00

Papayas on the Dancefloor$18.00

Ode to Pablo$18.00

Quincey Girl Bourbon$18.00

Primer Corte$17.00

Alaska Gin$17.00

High Tide Rum$18.00

Blu Wu Vodka$9.00

Nat So Scary Aperitif$12.00

Stair Car Grapefruit$11.00

I Carried a Melon$11.00

Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water$3.50

Athletic Brewing Co. 'Run Wild' 0% IPA$8.00

Wine by the Glass

Azimut Cava Brut Nature$14.00

Gaspard 'Bulles' Brut Rosé$16.00

Quinta de Raza Arinto$13.00

Domaine Daniel Seguinot 'Chablis'$18.00

Christina Gruner Veltliner$21.00

Vincent Caille 'Le Fay d'homme' Melon de Bourgogne$16.00

Garalis 'Terra Ambera' Muscat$17.00