Donato&co. - Berkeley

Great food, responsive service, and a relatively quiet environment. I will go back on my next trip to Berkeley. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Meal type: Dinn... read more Great food, responsive service, and a relatively quiet environment. I will go back on my next trip to Berkeley. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Meal type: Dinner Recommendation for vegetarians: Highly recommend Vegetarian offerings: Vegetarian menu or section

Not bad but not great either. I have been to Donato twice now. My first experience was good, but my more recent experience was so so, and left an unpleasant tas... read more Not bad but not great either. I have been to Donato twice now. My first experience was good, but my more recent experience was so so, and left an unpleasant taste both literally and figuratively. Everyone was nice and welcoming, but the food service was surprisingly slow, and my order had meat when I specifically requested vegetarian options for religious reasons. Italian cuisine is normally very accommodating towards vegetarians, and Donato's menu is surprisingly meat filled, almost intentionally so. That said, given that this is a Berkeley restaurant, and how many people have dietary restrictions, I am surprised how difficult the menu is to interpret. I don't plan on returning anytime soon. Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 3 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Vegetarian offerings: Not sure Vegetarian options: Not well labeled, no vegetarian options in the entrees. Dietary restrictions: Do not recommend

Service mediocre, example is that they cleared 1/3 of the table post service but when we asked for the check, they never returned to finishing clearing. They di... read more Service mediocre, example is that they cleared 1/3 of the table post service but when we asked for the check, they never returned to finishing clearing. They did not ask about food allergies or restrictions. Food was difficult to eat. Bread stale, dishes without much flavor. We do not recommend. Food: 2 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 2

The service here is exceptional! We had a wonderful time at this charming restaurant. We sampled the popular Parmigiano and Vasetto (chicken liver) and absolute... read more The service here is exceptional! We had a wonderful time at this charming restaurant. We sampled the popular Parmigiano and Vasetto (chicken liver) and absolutely loved them. The pasta was good, though it didn't blow us away. Next time, we’d like to try the Spaghetti Neri and Calamari. I also recommend making a reservation before you go.

The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was delightful! We discovered this restaurant by chance in the evening and decided to give it a shot. They have outdo... read more The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was delightful! We discovered this restaurant by chance in the evening and decided to give it a shot. They have outdoor seating with heat lamps, which was a nice touch. Our waiter welcomed us right away. I ordered the SPAGHETTI NERI (squid ink, calamari, garlic, spicy Calabria peppers, oven-dried Roma tomatoes, bottarga) and it was fantastic! You definitely need to enjoy seafood to fully appreciate this dish, as it packed a lot of flavor. We also tried a tomato appetizer, which was both healthy and tasty, along with their homemade pizza and biscotti. We left feeling satisfied and happy to have found such a great new restaurant.