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Little Donkey, Cambridge, MA

Little Donkey

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Visa Dining Collection

4.7
4.7
2147 Reviews
$31 to $50
Tapas / Small Plates
505 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

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2 people
19:00
Booked 40 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
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

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Tapas / Small Plates, International, Dessert
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

What 2,147 people are saying

Little Donkey reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Donkey in Cambridge is a vibrant spot known for its "amazing" international tapas-style menu and "excellent" service. The atmosphere is lively with a backdrop of "unbelievable" hip-hop beats. Standout dishes include the caviar sandwich, tuna tostada, and shrimp bao. The staff, especially servers like Melissa and Sienna, are praised for being "attentive" and "friendly." While some find the noise level high, the eclectic and adventurous menu consistently delights patrons. Reservations are recommended for this popular dining destination.
2,147 Reviews
  1. Claire

    Raleigh1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for my fiancé's birthday, and it was great! Melissa was so knowledgeable and made the BEST suggestions. Some reviewers complained of small portions, but it was perfect for us. We wanted to try a number of things and were satisfied. The only dish that didn't knock our socks off was the noodle dish (still good, just nit the type of sauce we were hoping for). Loved the bao buns. Really enjoyed the crispy rice. Save room for dessert and get the miso brownie. Holy cow that was a delicious surprise!

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  2. Ellen

    Greater Boston11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Fun drink and dinner choices! Service was lovely, attentive but not intrusive. Food was delivered as it was ready, a perfect way to eat small plates. All of it was delicious!

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  3. Chris

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Overall, excellent . A bit noisy. Variety of food and flavor were excellent 

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  4. Joanne VIP

    Los Angeles8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Vibe is cool - kind of cavernous and industrial. Menu looks sublime, but the food just doesn't match up. The promise of wagyu beef, only to find a piece of meat swimming in gravy. Greasy tacos dripping in oil. Some of the dishes were good, but the menu reads like cool, fine dining and the actual food is a bit more like a diner. Everything is greasy and full of sugar. Even the savoury relishes are sugary. Not awful. Not great.

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  5. Liya VIP

    Greater Boston8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I have been going here for years for dinner and it’s always been a great spot!! I love the vibe, the hip hop music, and the variety of international dishes! Their caviar sandwich, grilled asparagus, and Caio Caio are amazing!! And their espresso martinis are excellent! My sister and I were late due to traffic and they were very accommodating and kind! Our waiter, Fernando, last night was very attentive and we appreciated that about him! I definitely recommend this place!

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  6. Mark

    Greater Boston12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Remarkable, every bite. Ate at the bar and the service was outstanding.

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  7. Julia

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    INCREDIBLE!!!! Our first time here did not disappoint. Amazing menu with so many delicious options. I’m still dreaming about the carrots & mole. We can’t wait to go back!!

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  8. Liz

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 5 April 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Vibes were great but food was underwhelming. Great place for drinks and light bites, but if you go for a full dinner you may be disappointed

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  9. Justin VIP

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food, drinks, service, ambience, and attention to allergies. Can’t wait to go back and make my way through the menu. 

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  10. Ted VIP

    New York City15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our third time to Little Donkey in the last 3 months. Each time has been better than the last. I don’t think I’ve had a bad bite at Little Donkey. Example - tonight we shared a glazed cauliflower dish that was amazing. I don’t even like cauliflower! But we emptied the dish! We have to give a round of applause to Sienna, our server. She does an amazing job! Personable, knowledgeable, outgoing, always smiling. We wish we found servers like her whenever we go out. Thank you Sienna! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Little Donkey is rated 4.7 stars by 2147 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Boston
  5. Cambridge

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 40 times today
Google Map for Little Donkey

505 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Norfolk Street
  • Area
    Cambridge
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • 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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • 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
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