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.
Je suis allée pour le brunch avec des amis. Le resto est beau & le service était bon... mais la nourriture décevante, petit, sans gout, pas ouf, sans plus. Je reviens pas.
Jun 30, 2025
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Another unfortunate experience for me here. That marks 2 rather lousy dinners for me here.
Service was slow & our server was having issues with his voice & couldn't speak loud or hear us well. For that matter we couldn't hear him well either!
We ordered drinks & every time it would take longer to get the drinks than the food! But the worst part was I ordered the foie gras ravioli special & got some sort of pasta in a red sauce. When I asked if the foie gras was in the sauce already, the server looked shocked & said'no you ordered the VODKA pasta, not foie gras'. He did apologize, take the plate & replace it, but my dinner date sat alone with their meal while it got cold & waited for my proper order to get there. It was awkward. & NOTHING was done about it. No compensating for the mistake, no apology drink or dessert or anything. Any professional establishment would have done something for such a mistake.
This is the second time I've had a bad experience with no proper apology. The food is good, but I unfortunately won't be going back.
I'm going to be a bit tougher in this review, just because the prices are a bit high for the food you get. First of all, the service & the atmosphere are wonderful! No notes. The food isn't bad, but it does feel over priced. For example, the half chicken, it's a higher price, which should make sense, because it's a half chicken. Except it's literally JUST A HALF CHICKEN. No garnish. No side. No starch. No vegetable. Just a half chicken on a plate. The other dish we ordered was a pasta dish with the vodka sauce. The sauce was great, but the pasta didn't feel freshly made. Which at those prices, I would expect fresh pasta. Overall, it was an ok experience. I don't think I'd recommend or go back unless the prices change.
May 13, 2025
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Nous avons invités notre famille pour la fête de Pâques.
Tous ont été ravis par la qualité des plats & que dire du service impeccable de Julien. D'un grand professionnalisme, Julien a su, avec son équipe agrémenter la soirée de tous nos convives.
Merci & longue vie au restaurant Donato!
Apr 20, 2025
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Ristorante Donato - 5 Stars
From start to finish, everything at Ristorante Donato was flawless. The hostess was welcoming, the waiter attentive & knowledgeable. The Pizza Margherita had a perfect wood-fired crust & fresh, flavorful toppings. The Steak Bavette was tender & rich, cooked exactly right. The Penne Arrabbiata hit the perfect balance of spice & tang. Excellent service, exceptional food - a perfect dining experience.
The bread was delicious, fluffy & full of flavour. The pasta was al dente but a little too hard even so, the sauce was good but not worth the price, same for the pizza. The truffle parmesan fries only had a hint of truffle, which was disappointing. The service was quick & efficient & they agreed to cut a cake we brought.
For the girlies, the bathroom was very aesthetic for pictures
This place is my favourite steakhouse in montreal. I like steak but Im not a die hard fan but this place makes me a die hard fan! Filet Mignon, Foie Gras, Red Wine Sauce, Black Truffle Do i need to say more!!! Its the best thing on the menu believe me! I took my boyfriend for his birthday & he loved it. The place is also beautiful & very demure. I recommend!
Apr 6, 2025
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Snow crab pasta was amazing, cocktails were fantastic! Thanks to the staff there, particularly our server Alex. Gotta make sure I come back while snow crabs are in season!
The atmosphere is nice, the owner is super NICE.
The food was below my expectations, but the owner was nice enough to come to our table & took the time to get our feedback & explain why the food can be different from our expectations & why might be different from other fungi pizza I had at the other places.
The tiramisu was very good.
I recently dined at Donato, a favourite haunt of mine in Westmount, & enjoyed a truly exceptional meal. Although an unfortunate incident occurred with dessert (through no fault of the staff), the team handled it with professionalism & grace.
Our server, Cynthia, & Manager Tao went above & beyond to rectify the situation, exceeding my expectations.
Bravo to the entire Donato team for delivering top-notch service & an amazing dining experience!
