Little Bull — Restaurant in Durham

Glad to have a place like this in Durham but think the food needs to be elevated some. Cocktails are quite expensive. While that’s pretty common in the area I thought they were a little pricey. $12 for a mocktail. Average cocktail price $16. That’s more that Kingfisher which is a legit cocktail bar with some of the best drinks around. The patio is lovely and I would definitely come back in better weather to sit outside. The inside is cute as well, the bar is very nice. Service was good overall. You can tell they are still getting a handle on operations but everyone was friendly and helpful. The food was really the greatest disappointment. It just seemed to be missing something and all felt very one note. CEVICHE local fish / aji amarillo / choclo / market peppers / leche de tigre / tostada $21 -I love ceviche and this was just okay. The sauce seemed to overpower the dish and isn’t what I consider leche de tigre. It was more of a heavy pepper forward sauce. BIRRIA DUMPLINGS goat birria / consome / onion cilantro / salsa piquin $12 -heard a lot about these but don’t really understand the hype. I don’t know what the dumpling portion added to the dish as they were drowned in sauce. Would have preferred the goat birria with a tortilla. Also a very one note dish. The birria also had some bone/cartilage in it. GRILLED OCTO octopus / squid ink black beans / mexican chorizo / herbed salad $16 -the dish on the menu was served with a trio of beans with Parmesan. There were a lot of beans and a little octopus. I didn’t really get how the two worked together. A sauce (like the one in the ceviche is all the grilled octopus really needed) Also got a tomato arepa dish. A lot going on but again fell flat. There were sprigs of thyme in it but like raw sprigs with the stems attached, not something you’d want to eat. A ribeye dish which was probably the most disappointing. It was served on a skewer with chucks of meat, two tortillas and a bunch of peppers in the bottom. The steak was tough, like really tough. I assume the idea was the make a little taco but there was very little on the plate to build one. Once again, one note and not a lot of complexity going on. Churro balls were fine. A little bland but I guess I prefer that to super sweet.

The food was rather underwhelming unfortunately. I hope they make some tweaks going forward. I will certainly return to sit on the patio, have a glass of wine and try a dish or two but likely will not splurge again until there is some refinement...

Little Bull is a great new restaurant in Durham, North Carolina. The food is delicious and creative, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

The menu features a variety of small plates and larger entrees, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. I highly recommend the steak. The mocktails are also on point.

The service at Little Bull is top-notch. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience. One of the waitresses was a believable Steve Harvey complete with mustache. We also loved the other costumes the night we went.

The atmosphere at Little Bull is casual and relaxed. The restaurant is decorated with warm woods and exposed brick, and there is a large outdoor patio that is perfect for dining on a warm evening.

Overall, I highly recommend Little Bull. It is a great new addition to the Durham food scene, and it is sure to become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The menu is ever  changing. Looking forward to more from the chef.

Here are some specific things I loved about Little Bull:

The food is creative and delicious. I was particularly impressed with the steak and goat dumplings.

The service is excellent. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The restaurant is decorated with warm woods and exposed brick, and there is a large outdoor patio that is perfect for dining on a warm evening.

The prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food and service.

Overall, I give Little Bull a 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience. We...

My friend Whitney and I were excited to have our girls' night out at Little Bull in Durham. While Whitney had visited before, it was my first time, and I was excited about the experience as it had been on my list for a while.

Upon our early arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the host, who graciously accommodated our request to sit inside instead of at our scheduled outdoor reservation. Despite arriving 30 minutes before our reservation time, she assured us it was not an issue.

Our server, whose name eludes me but hails from Spain, was exceptionally kind and knowledgeable about the menu. She attentively ensured our water glasses remained filled to the brim, a gesture we appreciated. Patient and courteous, she guided us through the menu as we deliberated on our meal choices.

Bottle of:

GAMBAS A LA PLANCHA shrimp/salsa piquin/onion/ciabatta

GRILLED OCTO octopus/cannellini beans/butter beans/field peas/pink eye peas/parm herb salad

CORN (not currently listed on the menu)

BOTTLE OF LAMBRUSCO

The food was good, although I found the Gambas to be slightly salty. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed the Lambrusco, a favorite that I often purchase from our local wine store. The ambiance exuded intimacy, making it an ideal spot for a romantic date night.

While I appreciated the cozy atmosphere, I wished the lighting had been brighter for better photo opportunities. The weatherproof patio seemed inviting, offering a pleasant outdoor dining option. Surprisingly, towards the end of our meal, they opened the windows, a feature I had not been aware of. In hindsight, I would have chosen to sit by the window if given the opportunity.

Overall, my experience was positive, and I would definitely consider returning for...