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    The Painted Burro

    3.8 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    THE PAINTED BURRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Painted Burro

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    Mucho Monday All-You-Can-Eat Tacos!
    Chuan-Wei L.

    If tacos are your love language, the Painted Burro speaks it fluently. I came for Mucho Monday, which offers $29 all-you-can-eat tacos, and left completely impressed (and full). It's not just a gimmick. The tacos are genuinely creative, flavorful, and made with care. I tried almost the entire lineup, skipping only the chicken and cauliflower. Here are my top picks: The birria taco: rich, tender, and served with habanero/tomatillo salsa. The blackened mahi mahi: smoky, citrusy, and super fresh. The gulf shrimp taco: perfectly balance with a sweet and spicy mango habanero salsa that had me reaching for seconds. The vibe is casual and fun, with great service that keeps the tacos coming without making you feel rushed or awkward (yes, I went back for more than one round). It's the kind of place that's perfect for a low-key dinner with friends or a chill date night. I'll definitely be back. Mondays just got way more exciting!

    Stephanie L.

    Our friends took us here for brunch and the food was out of this world. The four of us put in reservations in advance and we were promptly seated. We quickly got started on our bottomless brunch options and had delicious tacos, eggs benedict, potatoes, cauliflower and more. Everything was so good. We left full and a bit tipsy. Service was good- there were a few times we had to flag down staff but given the crowd of the day I was incredibly satisfied with service and I would come here often if I were a local.

    Jenny R.

    If you're looking for a brunch that brings flavor and a vibe, The Painted Burro in Somerville is the spot. Their bottomless brunch is the perfect mix of bold dishes, strong drinks, and laid-back energy that makes you want to stay way past your last mimosa. The menu is stacked with creative twists on brunch favorites--churro pancakes, spicy breakfast tacos, and flavorful huevos rancheros that hit every time. The portions are solid, the cocktails are flowing, and the staff keeps the energy high and the glasses full. The space itself is colorful, cool, and full of personality. Whether you're with friends, your partner, or just there to treat yourself, it's one of those places that instantly feels like a good time. The vibe is lively but not overwhelming--just enough buzz to feel like you're in the right place at the right time. The Painted Burro knows how to do brunch right. Come hungry, bring good company, and prepare to leave full, happy, and maybe just a little tipsy.

    Fried brussels
    Angela D.

    Wonderful option in Davis Square - great for an outdoor meetup! I stopped here with a friend to catch up and we were delighted by the size of the "extra large" cocktails at a reasonable price and great flavor. I was able to get a mezcalita which is one of my favorites and it was refreshing, well balanced and not too sweet! The staff are incredibly light hearted and kind, the atmosphere friendly and casual and the seating options diverse and comfortable. I'll definitely be back for Mezcalitas - for foods there were some very tasty options like ceviche, fried Brussels and chips but all a little too firey for my stomach!

    Nopal omelett
    Lilian W.

    I went for bottomless brunch with two friends and had a lovely time! Overall, we felt the $25 was well worth the variety of choices we had. I think maybe 3-4 people is the best group size to share the tapas plates so you can order more. The service was friendly and quick, though they did forget our kale salad, so we had to ask again. We ordered a lot of different things. Our favorites included the chilaquiles, kale salad, and French toast. We enjoyed the corn, papas bravadas, and various tacos as well. I'll definitely be back!

    Andrew C.

    After attending this past year's honk fest in Somerville we decided to try this place right down the street off davis square. The place had good seating and a very nice layout with an interesting fun atmosphere. We were seated and immediately served a delicious complimentary chips and salsa that kept coming once we ate them all. The food here comes with large portions and with very tasty and deep flavor. There are so many great options on the menu and the stuff we ordered was extremely good and filling with great prices. Overall I highly recommend this place and will be returning for some authentic Mexican food!

    Guava spritzes
    Enxhi B.

    We came here for some drinks to socialize over during the weekend. They had a nice drink menu with some great sounding options. Thankfully we made a good choice - 3 guava spritzes please! They were soooo tasty and even aesthetic! Perfect choice :) good place to meet up with friends/family and even for dates.

    Nachos
    Brianna L.

    The food and service here is incredible! We love coming here for a few drinks and apps. The vibes are great if you're looking for a casual date night. Check out our foodie instagram for more: @flavorofthetaste

    Waffle Carnita taco
    Liz N.

    Very small intimate location. Bottomless brunch was amazing. Love French toast and eggs Benedict. Cauliflower potatoes and Brussels sprouts were tasty. Lychee refresher was so nice. Staff was friendly and attended to all tables on busy day. Not very spicy which I love. Loved they give tattoos at the end.

    Raha M.

    Came here with some friends for bottomless brunch. Every dish we ordered was insanely delicious and packed with flavor. My personal favorite was the chicken milanesa torta. The music in the restaurant was very upbeat, groovy, and had us dancing in our seats. The service could have been a lot better. When waiting to order more food, I had to yell "EXCUSE ME" very loudly to get a waiter's attention. Aside from that little mishap, I highly recommend this place, especially for bottomless brunch.

    Great food with a bunch of flavor combinations. Pretty large portions that are hard to find for Somerville price. Couldn't finish it all.

    If you want mexican in Somerville, Painted Burro is your place! Great portions at a good price. Amazing flavor combinations. Very good service.

    Two chicken tacos and one shrimp taco
    Jillian C.

    What a unique spot to get some tasty Mexican food! Perfect spot for a date night or meet up with friends. Plenty of seating and excellent service. The waitress was very attentive to our table and was very accommodating. The food was amazing and portions exceeded expectations. Would definitely recommend to others and come back myself.

    Beautiful bar - everything is displayed nicely.

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    11 months ago

    Delicious food, amazing service, margaritas are a must! One of the gems of Davis square!

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    6 months ago

    Efficient staff, a little rushed. Good food but pricey. Dinner for 2, 3 drinks, will run you about a hundred bucks.

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    Ask the Community - The Painted Burro

    What options do you have that are Vegan and GF?

    Avoid the brunch if you are strictly vegan as even though they might have some veggie options like the elotes(corn) or roasted cauliflowers and kale salad or Papas bravas(potato) but all them come with some form of dressing made out of either mayo… Read more

    Are there vegetarian options?

    Yes there are options for vegetarians. Not a ton from what's on the menu but for each section of the menu all but the main entrees have a vegetarian option. It's worth a try.

    Is the Chef Mexican or Anglo?

    Not sure, but the food it great!

    Is there a gluten free menu?

    Nope, but the servers help you find GF options.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Lehrhaus - Pickled vegetables

    Lehrhaus

    (45 reviews)

    I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Lehrhaus. The menu is on the smaller side but with a good…read morerange of fun and interesting, Jewish-inspired options that skew vegetarian (I.e. a beet Reuben and an eggplant dish that is a play on chopped liver). The Reuben was perfectly grilled and rich in flavor and the fries were lightly crispy and well seasoned. The cocktails were fantastic with a good array of flavor profiles. Service was great, as well, and we were well attended to throughout. While it's not necessarily fine dining, I would definitely recommend as an excellent option for drinks or a casual meal with family or friends!

    I've been meaning to try Lehrhaus for a while, and I'm really glad that I did! It seems pretty easy…read moreto get a reservation on a weekday, but you just have to watch out for its schedule since it's closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays. The interior is spacious and the service was great. I fell in love with the chopped not-liver ($13), which is a delicious eggplant spread that doesn't taste like eggplant but has a great savory flavor with a slight wine aroma. The pita bread that came with it was so warm, pillowy, and chewy. This dish was just perfection. There's an eggplant dip (Oren's eggplant) in the Bay that I have been craving, and now I have something in Cambridge that is just as good if not better. The haus smoked whitefish ($12) was also quite good. It had a lot of fish but wasn't too fishy, had good flavor and came with crunchy crackers. The fish and chips ($24) was tasty as well -- the chips are really crunchy and the fish was flaky and crunchy, and the sauce was interesting and spicy. Lastly, we got the halva ice cream sundae ($12), which was pretty decent with a lot of crunchy bits. I'm not a big fan of nutty flavors or milky ice cream, so I'm not sure if I'd get it again. There is a 20% gratuity automatically applied (we had 2 people, so I don't think it's due to party size). Service was great -- people kept checking on us and refilling our water. In conclusion, the eggplant chopped not-liver was amazing and it's everything I've been looking for. I'm excited to try more of their offerings.

    Tall Order - Firecracker Tofu

    Tall Order

    (24 reviews)

    Four of us went to Tall Order around 7 pm on a Saturday for drinks and apps, and it was exactly…read morewhat we were hoping for. The vibe is cozy and welcoming--no-frills décor, but thoughtfully laid out with a nice mix of low tables, high tops, and a long, inviting bar. It was fairly empty at first but became more lively as people trickled in. The staff really stood out, especially our server Sarah, who was warm, knowledgeable, and took the time to walk us through both the food and cocktail options without rushing us. As an extra touch, Chef Steve came out to our table to chat and describe a few of the dishes, which made the experience feel personal. Food highlights: * Firecracker tofu - perfectly fried cubes tossed in a hot-sweet Korean-style sauce; addictive. * Grilled broccoli - smoky, well-seasoned * Butternut squash soup - smooth and flavorful, elevated by roasted, ground squash seeds and a subtle curry note. * Polenta with short ribs - rich and balanced. * Smoked bluefish pâté - excellent texture though a little salty for my taste. Drinks: * Also Fancy - bright and fruity, but not overly sweet. * St. Peter's Bay - think mezcal meets Old Fashioned. * Bonus points: I asked for a custom gin gimlet, and the bartender delivered a fresh, mint-forward version that was amazing. Tall Order is a great neighborhood spot that's doing everything right. We'll absolutely be back.

    Great for drinks, okay for food! We visited Tall Order on a Saturday evening, having made a…read morereservation in advance. The interior was dimly lit with exposed brick walls and sports on the TV screens. For drinks, I chose the 1, 2, 3, 4 mocktail. This was one of the best mocktails of my life! The refreshing early grey really balanced out the tangy mango cold foam with tajin. They had a substantial non-alc and low ABV menu, which I love to see. For food, we ordered a bunch of plates to eat family-style. Our server had recommended the Pickled Mushrooms, which I thought were just alright. My favorite item was the Burrata with gooseberries, and the Caramelized Onion Dip was pretty good, as well. I was really unimpressed with the Fried Polenta, which had the skimpiest topping of braised short ribs. Service was good overall, but our drinks kept getting bussed before we were finished with them, which was unfortunate. Overall though, a good experience!

    Nook - Interior

    Nook

    (26 reviews)

    My friend found this spot online and suggested we check it out, and I'm so glad we did. When we…read morearrived, I did not expect to find an entire courtyard filled with shops and restaurants tucked behind this little alleyway. It was such a cute hidden area, and I was already excited before we even got to the place. We headed upstairs into the bar, and the vibe was perfect. It's small, cozy, dimly lit, with vibey music playing. Since it was our first time, we were a little confused at first, but the waiter was super kind and walked us through everything. I ordered the Elly the Elephant and my friend got the Laughing Gull, and we both really enjoyed our drinks. One thing I thought was really nice is that they allow you to grab food from the surrounding restaurants and bring it in to eat there. We didn't end up doing that, but we did get the charcuterie board they had. It came with cheeses, crackers, and some fruit, and you can add meats for $10, which we opted out for. I will say I was a little disappointed by the fruit portion. The menu mentioned fresh fruit, so I expected more than three thin orange slices and one sliced strawberry. HOWEVER, when I asked for more strawberries, our waiter kindly brought out a whole bowl for me, which I really appreciated. We stayed for about two hours, and as the night went on the place definitely got more crowded, so we headed out. Overall, this is such a cute and cozy cocktail bar. I'll definitely be back when the weather is warmer to try the other drinks and restaurants in the market.

    I can't believe I've never been to Bow Market before but I will definitely be back! So many hidden…read moregems. Stores, cocktail lounges, restaurants, etc. It's also lit up very nicely at night. So fun! I'd imagine it's poppin in the summer/on a warm night. I just went to Nook (located upstairs once you're in Bow Market) and it's such a vibe! They've got an extensive drink menu, a couch area to lounge on, high tables and bar seating, cool interior design, and dim lighting. I mean the ambiance is there. Highly recommend the fruity drink! I forget the exact name but the bartender suggested it to me, and it was from the "West" menu page.

    Darling - Noodles with veg

    Darling

    (57 reviews)

    $$$

    Central Square

    Had such a fun girls catch up at darling in Cambridge! Best restaurant I've tried in a while…read more Lively mysterious vibes, creative drinks, and good food! The colossal shrimp was my favorite - massive and grilled to perfection. The dumplings were my friend's favorite. We both enjoyed our drinks especially the "hope I packed a parachute" which was topped with taro foam! Will be coming back for a date night and to try the HK french toast cocktail for sure. Make sure to snag a reservation early :)

    I've been looking forward to trying Darling for a while, and I see why everyone is raving about it!…read moreThey had an interesting and varied drink menu, with combinations and ingredients I hadn't seen before. It was hard to choose one, but I got the A Perfect Circle and it was quite tasty. I'm eager to try some of their other drinks, since the cocktails were definitely the highlight of the experience for me. The dim sum portions were larger than I expected, which meant we ordered way too much food. We had the fried chicken, the cucumber salad, the shrimp, the pork wontons, the soy sauce noodles, the daikon/enoki dish (I forget the name) and the charred broccoli. There wasn't anything I didn't like, but I did find that the flavor profile seemed very similar for many of the items--it seemed like most things were topped with a generous portion of chili oil, scallions, and sesame seeds. I found that this contributed to a fairly uniform flavor experience and was getting a little weary of chili oil after several dishes. The food was also spicier than I anticipated (though to be fair, I have a low spice tolerance, so others might disagree.) I would have enjoyed some less spicy options to balance out our meal. Overall, all the food was good, though, but I think if I come back I'd get fewer items (3-4 would have been plenty for 2 people) and that might also help with everything blurring together. The service was great and our waitstaff was helpful and attentive.

    Wusong Road - Summer Rolls Shrimp (gf)

    Wusong Road

    (447 reviews)

    $$

    Harvard Square

    A little pricey, but in my opinion, very much worth it!…read more My friend and I went here for dinner the other day. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks. I got the mango sticky rice cocktail, which was served in an ADORABLE mug. The cocktail was strong ($15) but sweet like juice, a dangerous combination. I loved it and had to force myself to savor it with slow sips instead of guzzling it. We shared the pu pu platter for two, which was a bit expensive at 50-something dollars but came with a LOT of food. Plenty for two people and maybe even enough for four. The platter came with a variety of delicious things. There were chicken skewers and beef skewers, and both were cooked perfectly. The chicken was juicy and tender, and the beef was a great medium rare. There were also scallion cheese quesadillas (yum!), crab Rangoons, and fried fish. The only thing I didn't really like was the vegan egg roll. I could really tell it was vegan, and the veggie filling was too salty for my taste-buds. We also ordered the ma la tater tots. I was skeptical about ordering tater tots at an Asian restaurant, but they were fantastic! Crispy perfection and well-seasoned with a light spice. In addition to delicious food, the restaurant offered great vibes with whimsical decor, friendly staff, and a cute menu inspired by Where the Wild Things Are.

    The drinks were super fun, we loved trying them all and checking out the cute mugs(which you could…read morealso purchase)! The only food we ordered were the tater tots and they were great! The aioli was meh, but the tots were solid enough to stand on their own! The only downside was the service was slow, once we were finally able to order drinks they came out within 5 minutes though. I'd recommend this place for a fun novelty night out!

    The Painted Burro - mexican - Updated May 2026

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