At Ristorante Donato, reviewers consistently note a beautiful, refined setting and attentive, sometimes exceptional service, making it feel like a top dining destination even when experiences vary. The menu earns praise for fresh, flavorful dishes such as fennel salad, arancini, burrata, branzino and ribeye, with several meals described as well balanced and elegantly presented; yet a number of guests report undercooked pasta, overly salty sauces, or dishes that did not meet the price point. While many visits are described as memorable and lively with a great atmosphere, a few experiences mention noise, inconsistency in service, or overpriced portions, suggesting Donato can be outstanding but not uniformly flawless. Overall, it remains a frequently recommended place for a special night out, offering strong dining with a chic vibe.
Wow - truly one of the most unique & memorable dining experiences we've had. The food was outstanding, but what made the evening especially exceptional was the incredible service from Margaux. She was so attentive, thoughtful, & genuinely cared about every detail & comment throughout our dinner.
What really stood out was the special touch at the end when she teamed up with the manager to make the experience even more memorable for my wife, daughter, & me. The entire Team Donato made us feel warmly welcomed & created an evening we won't forget.
We will absolutely be returning soon. Thank you again for such an amazing experience!
My nephew Daniel & Priscilla introduced me to Donato & wow !!! Food was so delicious & service was top notch thanks to Margaux for taking care of us. Also the manager Tao was super friendly & made us feel at home. Definitely will be going back. Also the ambiance & vibe of this place was great
Went to Donato Restaurant for our anniversary last night & wow… we had been told to go for a while & people were right... we now also highly recommend. The food was exquisite, exactly what we were looking for; a guaranteed good meal, great service, & amazing wine. They made our celebration feel really special, & every single person from the hostess to our waiter was just perfect. Such a gem without even needing to go downtown! Thank you again to the staff yesterday!
May 2, 2026
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Beautiful decor, nice atmosphere, & great customer service! The food was above expectations. We took burrata, octopus, calamari & steak. Very well done. One of the best margarita drinks we've ever had. The only one tiny disappointment was their pana cota for dessert. We hope to see cannoli in their menu next time ;) highly recommended
I was craving Italian food & went there for lunch. I ordered the Table d'hôtel. Both the Ceasar salad & the pasta were underwhelming. The tiramisu was good. Service was ok. Overpriced & underwhelming.
Amazing place & amazing atmosphere.
Such a pleasant service, our waiter Héol was top notch, his smile is unmatched & every recommendation was on point.
One of the best brunch spot in Montreal, & I'm a brunch guy !!
Excited to come back again for dinner, which I'm sure is nothing less than excellent.
Then restaurant was welcoming & beautiful atmosphere. We were welcome by a lovely hostess to our place. Our server Eddy was spot on the whole night with some nice recommandations for special & cocktails & wines. The beef tartare was phenomenal as well as the Bistecca! Would definitely recommend
We noticed the Maître D was involved during the service looking out for tables Wich is always a good thing. That's always a good sign of well managed establishment. Donato has a nice vibe with the choice of music & the lights. Will definitely come back!
Apr 26, 2026
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It is a nice place with good food & good drinks. The staff is friendly & the food arrived very quickly. The area is also clean & the ambiance was chill & welcoming. I had a lot of fun with my family over here.
I've been coming to this Italian restaurant for a while because I live close by & I've always enjoyed the food & the atmosphere. It's usually one of my go-to places for dinner or a date night, & I've recommended it to friends before.
I will have to come back for supper as I was told the menu is not the same but for lunch I have to say I am not impressed.
Bavette undercooked
Pizza was OK at best little bit too stringy & crepe like & the sauce abit to sweet.
Calamari rip off of a portion.
My brother pasta was OK, i make it better. some sort of ragu
First visit to Donato this week & really enjoyed it. Beautiful space with a warm ambiance, attentive service, & overall a great vibe.
Had the conchiglie pasta with spicy tomato, cream & vodka sauce, which was delicious, paired with a nice glass of chianti. Simple, flavorful, & very well done. A very enjoyable night out
Mar 29, 2026
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Très belle découverte au restaurant Donato !
La cuisine est excellente, avec des plats savoureux & bien présentés. La décoration est très sympa, l'ambiance est chaleureuse & agréable.
Mais ce qui fait vraiment la différence, c'est le service exceptionnel : une équipe très à l'écoute, attentionnée & professionnelle. On se sent vraiment bien accueilli du début à la fin.
Top steaks, & oesters. Excellent light desserts. Well balanced gluten free options over all. Service was warm & attentive. The space could use some acoustic panels or other absorption objects, as it was a bit on the loud side when busy. Yet over all nice experience. I would go again!
Last Sunday evening, without a reservation, we were graciously welcomed into Donato, & what followed was nothing short of perfection. The setting is beautiful-refined yet warm-& the staff's polished, kind, & deeply accommodating service elevated an already exceptional dining experience into something unforgettable. Every member of the team exudes genuine hospitality, making us feel not just welcomed but honored to be there.
We shared what was easily the best Chablis I've ever tasted, a crisp & elegant pairing that I enjoyed with my soon?to?be 100?year?old mother-a moment I'll cherish. The calamari was a revelation: light, delicately breaded, & perfectly fried so that it tasted almost baked-crisply golden yet never oily. The Branzino with pearl pasta was pure elegance on a plate-light, delicate, & balanced to perfection.
We were so utterly impressed that we returned the following Saturday, again without a reservation, & were once more accommodated with grace & remarkable hospitality. The service, if possible, seemed even more polished, & every dish lived up to the same impeccable standard. The tuna tartare was beautifully presented & bursting with freshness, while the filet mignon, draped in a black truffle, foie gras, & rosé dressing sauce, was simply the best I've ever had-unparalleled in tenderness & depth of flavor.
Each visit to Donato has been a masterclass in refined cuisine & first?class service. It is rare to find a restaurant that achieves perfection on every level-but Donato does, effortlessly.
I'm writing this review although I didn't go to this restaurant, but to tell you how bad is their service! I had a reservation for 5 people, I called to cancel same day because we are not able to make it cause my son was sick, the receptionist was very helpful to cancel my reservation but didn't tell me that if she cancel it they will charge me 250 CAD. The next day I see on my bank statement that I was charged 250! I call the restaurant I'm like why did you charge me they were like yeah that's open table rule if you cancel same day we will charge you 50 per person! They put the blame on open table although I canceled by phone & the receptionist didn't mention anything on the phone! They told me the manager call next day to see how they will make it up but of course he didn't so I followed up & after a long conversation he said that they can't refund the money but they will put it on my account for next visit as if it's a favor he is doing it for me 😂 This happened in June & I never went back & I'm really not willing to after this bad service but at the same time I don't want to loose my money! We have been to many many may restaurants here & I have booked a lotttttt through open table & that's the first time this have ever happened to me! BAD BAD BAD service from receptionist who didn't inform me with cancellation policy to the manager who didn't give my money back! ( please note that reservation for 5, out of the 5 people were 2 kids! So charging 100 CAD for kids that didn't show up lol) so I'm here to tell you that if you ever book to go to donato don't cancel same day cause maybe that they won't tell you when you cancel that they will charge you 50 per person because that's easy money they will gain!!!!! & to Donatooooo it's not I didn't show up I canceled & you still charged me 250! Shame on youuuuu
