Donato&co. - Feedback

It is our neighborhood restaurant, we live in the Elmwood, and we look forward to having such a nice restaurant on foot. The food is really good and the service... read more It is our neighborhood restaurant, we live in the Elmwood, and we look forward to having such a nice restaurant on foot. The food is really good and the service is fiery and knowledgeable.

Great pasta excellent cocktails and wine great service read more Great pasta excellent cocktails and wine great service

Food is consistently excellent. Service is consistently poor: either delayed or abrupt or not knowledgeable. read more Food is consistently excellent. Service is consistently poor: either delayed or abrupt or not knowledgeable.

Good food came out quickly and such a friendly staff. The portions were small but hearty and I definitley will be back. read more Good food came out quickly and such a friendly staff. The portions were small but hearty and I definitley will be back.

A lovely dining experience, perfectly prepared food and a wonderful waiter. read more A lovely dining experience, perfectly prepared food and a wonderful waiter.

The menu isn't the usual often found in Italian restaurants. The variations are interesting and we found the pasta dishes we had excellent. Service was phenomen... read more The menu isn't the usual often found in Italian restaurants. The variations are interesting and we found the pasta dishes we had excellent. Service was phenomenal.

Last night, we enjoyed an incredible meal to celebrate our 4-year anniversary! We opted for the prix fixe menu, and it was absolutely fantastic! Each course was... read more Last night, we enjoyed an incredible meal to celebrate our 4-year anniversary! We opted for the prix fixe menu, and it was absolutely fantastic! Each course was exceptional! From the homemade pasta with shrimp to the fried cod with artichokes, and finishing with the chocolate fudge paired with gelato for dessert, every dish was delightful! We strongly recommend this restaurant! The service was excellent as well.

The food is exquisite, and the service is warm and welcoming. We consistently have a fantastic experience when we eat here. If you're looking for exceptional It... read more The food is exquisite, and the service is warm and welcoming. We consistently have a fantastic experience when we eat here. If you're looking for exceptional Italian cuisine and a delightful meal, you should definitely pay a visit. We will certainly be coming back soon for more!

This was our second visit to Donato as we wanted to give it another chance after our initial experience on Valentine's Day, which was marred by some issues due... read more This was our second visit to Donato as we wanted to give it another chance after our initial experience on Valentine's Day, which was marred by some issues due to the holiday and a system failure. As a result, we ended up spending nearly three hours at the restaurant, mostly waiting and growing impatient for our meals. This time, we brought a friend along for a random Friday night dinner with a reservation. Unfortunately, the service was just as slow as before. It took about half an hour for our orders to be taken, and then we waited another hour for our food to arrive. To add to our frustration, we received a dessert menu before our last dish was even served. When we inquired about it, we were informed that it had never been put into the system and wouldn't be coming. I fail to understand the high ratings this place receives. The food is mediocre considering the prices, the service is sluggish, and it appears that the kitchen staff is overwhelmed and unable to deliver meals in a timely manner. I truly wanted to enjoy this restaurant given its glowing reviews, but it seems the only patrons who are appreciating it are older couples, which makes me think that if you don't fit that demographic, you might want to think twice about dining here. This will be our second and final visit.

Always fantastic! We enjoy coming here with family, friends, or even ordering takeout, like we did throughout the pandemic. read more Always fantastic! We enjoy coming here with family, friends, or even ordering takeout, like we did throughout the pandemic.

Prompt service by very friendly accommodating staff. delicious food. read more Prompt service by very friendly accommodating staff. delicious food.

Well Run!!! Highly recommend this local treasure with a full bar! read more Well Run!!! Highly recommend this local treasure with a full bar!

Excellent ingredient focused Italian food! great place for a date or for a small group read more Excellent ingredient focused Italian food! great place for a date or for a small group

The fresh pasta with sugo (Mezze Maniche) is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. We enjoyed the salad (Castelfranco) with the nectarines, creamy dressing, a... read more The fresh pasta with sugo (Mezze Maniche) is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. We enjoyed the salad (Castelfranco) with the nectarines, creamy dressing, and Parmesan but it needed something more acidic. The drinks were fantastic, especially my Paper Plane. Service was attentive in the most unassuming but professional way. Relaxed and pleasant atmosphere but . Worth it.

The service was great. The food, as always, was excellent. Great selections of wine Great Berkeley restaurant. read more The service was great. The food, as always, was excellent. Great selections of wine Great Berkeley restaurant.

Love your food. I went to this restaurant with my Italian Bf and he seemed quite happy with the food. The server also seems to be knowledgeable about its food.... read more Love your food. I went to this restaurant with my Italian Bf and he seemed quite happy with the food. The server also seems to be knowledgeable about its food. I loved the way she told us today's special.

So yummy! The ricotta, pork chop, and vanilla creme dessert are Staff is warm and courteous. They have lots of gluten free options (surprising for an Italian r... read more So yummy! The ricotta, pork chop, and vanilla creme dessert are Staff is warm and courteous. They have lots of gluten free options (surprising for an Italian restaurant I know! , and their chef was #1 for gluten free in Italy. I'm eagerly awaiting the gluten free version of their chocolate hazelnut cake And they're great about social distancing! We called about getting 2 tables 6ft apart so we could see friends who aren't in our bubble for dinner, and they kindly accommodated us.

The service and atmosphere at Donato and Co was wonderful. The food was delicious and quality as well. I was a bit confused by the bruschetta, traditionally it'... read more The service and atmosphere at Donato and Co was wonderful. The food was delicious and quality as well. I was a bit confused by the bruschetta, traditionally it's less of a sauce and more chunky with fresh tomatoes so that was a bit strange. I would have preferred the more authentic style. The burrata saved it for me though because that combination was excellent. The Cacio e pepe was RICH! I guess I should know that. It was delicious nevertheless, but I might try something new next time with more veggies. The homemade spaghetti was perfectly Al dente. The fettuccine duck special, though really high quality, was missing an element for me. Perhaps tomato or a sauce to really tie it all together? The fresh pasta was delicious and the duck was cooked perfectly. Overall, it was just a little one note. All-in-all, the quality and the service cannot be beat. I'll have to give it another try to see what else that have to offer.

Do any of the faithful regulars miss the gamberi (shrimp) and arugula salad? Its new replacement is a deep-fried version that is more like snack food with a dip... read more Do any of the faithful regulars miss the gamberi (shrimp) and arugula salad? Its new replacement is a deep-fried version that is more like snack food with a dipping sauce. Fried seafood all tastes like fried anything. As a non-pizza/pasta eater, and Italian cuisine offering so much variety, this was a winner. Drinks and wine always good, amiable service, but new menu more conventional. I’ll still go back for the calamari main dish, but some freshness in the heavy appetizer category would be a plus. Glad they made it through the pandemic!

Came here twice now, the steak was decent, perhaps a little more cooked than I was hoping but acceptable. The dessert was quite good. read more Came here twice now, the steak was decent, perhaps a little more cooked than I was hoping but acceptable. The dessert was quite good.

Pasta wasnt even fully cooked. Not even Al dente, the noodles were crunchy read more Pasta wasnt even fully cooked. Not even Al dente, the noodles were crunchy

Neither dish was satisfactory. The risotto was undercooked, and the meat on top was tough and inedible. The bruschetta lacked vegetables and consisted only of b... read more Neither dish was satisfactory. The risotto was undercooked, and the meat on top was tough and inedible. The bruschetta lacked vegetables and consisted only of bread, cheese, and marinara sauce. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience and the meal felt extremely overpriced.

The dessert of sbriciolona and cream has made my week so much better! read more The dessert of sbriciolona and cream has made my week so much better!

A bit on the expensive side, but absolutely worth every bite! I'm happy to indulge occasionally at Donato. The BOLOGNESE is amazing, and the chocolate mousse is... read more A bit on the expensive side, but absolutely worth every bite! I'm happy to indulge occasionally at Donato. The BOLOGNESE is amazing, and the chocolate mousse is always a hit. I decided to try the pizzelle, and it was fantastic!

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.

As for the salad, the leaves were far too large—like, not even sliced and bigger than the box the pasta came in. There were so few leaves that you could have fi... read more As for the salad, the leaves were far too large—like, not even sliced and bigger than the box the pasta came in. There were so few leaves that you could have fit them in a giant wallet if you had one. I get that serving whole leaf salads might be a trend, but they left the bitter parts on, and there wasn't enough dressing, croutons, or overpriced cheese to cover up the taste. At least the five croutons were decent.

The service and atmosphere at Donato and Co was wonderful. The food was delicious and quality as well. I was a bit confused by the bruschetta, traditionally it'... read more The service and atmosphere at Donato and Co was wonderful. The food was delicious and quality as well. I was a bit confused by the bruschetta, traditionally it's less of a sauce and more chunky with fresh tomatoes so that was a bit strange. I would havepreferred the more authentic style. The burrata saved it for me though because that combination was excellent. The Cacio e pepewas RICH! I guess I should know that. It was delicious nevertheless, but I might try something new next time with more veggies.The homemade spaghetti was perfectly Al dente. The fettuccine duck special, though really high quality, was missing an elementfor me. Perhaps tomato or a sauce to really tie it all together? The fresh pasta was delicious and the duck was cookedperfectly. Overall, it was just a little one note. All-in-all, the quality and the service cannot be beat. I'll have to give itanother try to see what else that have to offer. ???? Another note: please turn the lighting down. It was so bright in there.Gave off a strange vibe. Mood lighting is best.

Charming in a distinctly Berkeley manner, Donato is nestled at the end of Ashby Street before it reaches College Avenue. This restaurant offers a unique take on... read more Charming in a distinctly Berkeley manner, Donato is nestled at the end of Ashby Street before it reaches College Avenue. This restaurant offers a unique take on Italian cuisine that adds to its allure. It's a fantastic spot for lunch.

A truly authentic Italian pasta experience in a lovely, tranquil setting! My family and I love dining at Donato Co. whenever we get the chance. Thank you, Gianl... read more A truly authentic Italian pasta experience in a lovely, tranquil setting! My family and I love dining at Donato Co. whenever we get the chance. Thank you, Gianluca and Dayli, for the wonderful brunch!

I spent a wonderful couple of hours at this restaurant, thanks to Christian, Casey, and Shaun, who made the afternoon truly enjoyable. The entire team is fantas... read more I spent a wonderful couple of hours at this restaurant, thanks to Christian, Casey, and Shaun, who made the afternoon truly enjoyable. The entire team is fantastic. The pizelles brought back memories of home, and the cocktails were creative and delightful. I can't wait to return; this place really knows how to please the senses!

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