Donatello

Nice venue; shame about the food.

The panzerotti was inedible, the lasagne like baby food, the service was inoffensive. The beer and water were very good.

If you care at all about the quality of food your eat, try somewhere else. This is a deeply cynical establishment.
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David Bryden
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Monday, October 17, 2011

Outrageous service terrible you will get better service from a burger wagon!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, May 30, 2011

We, (my husband and 2 x teenage sons), visited Brighton on Saturday 7th May 2011.

Arriving at Donatello's at around 6.30pm for dinner, the restaurant was heaving with families, friends, children and Hen parties - nobody had to wait as seating was found promptly and without fuss. Even additional tables were provided outside, when needed.

The atmosphere was buzzing and lively - as you would expect from such a cosmopoliton place!!

We had a very good meal from the set menu - plenty of choice. It was cooked perfectly, piping hot and very tasty, plus 2 rounds of drinks. All for just over £50.

No complaints at all!!!!

We all highly recommend this restaurant, the staff were pleasant and there when you wanted them.

Very impressed and I even took the time to compliment the Manager on a well run restaurant.

Well done guys!!! See you again soon. x
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Janet Osborne Williams (Essex)
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 09, 2011

I went here on a Saturday afternoon. We waited 30mins to have drink order taken, then another 15 mins for the actual drinks to arrive. In total waited over an hour for our meal, which when it arrived was dreadful. When the bill finally arrived they had the audacity to put a 10% service charge on it. Needless to say we did not pay this.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Saturday, March 05, 2011

We booked a large table in advance for the weekend The table time then got changed by the restaurant as they couldn't cope with our party size.

The seafood was awful, the meat was undercooked and sent back to the kitchen. The desserts, apart from the ice cream, were disappointing. The coffees were nice though!!

A table across from us refused to pay their service charge- reason unknown.

It's cheap + cheerful!
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

My food (starter and main) was only so-so but I suppose it wasn't too bad for the price.

In the menu they boast that tiramisu is their speciality so I had that for dessert. Sugar is about the only taste there is in their tiramisu (no, it's not good in case you wonder).

The "espresso" that I ordered was completely unacceptable. It was no espresso to begin with as it had no crema - I suppose they don't bother with training their staff to make espresso. The taste was pretty awful as well, I left it in the cup. That's pretty low standard for a place that's supposed to be 'Italian.'

The waiters were nice though but not nice enough to counter-balance the disappointing food.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Saturday, January 01, 2011

Rubbish food. They don't know how to cook pasta anywhere like a real Italian place. Too many youngsters an old people in there who just want a cheap meal. No class. After a few minuted into the meal the manager asked me if everything was ok. . I replied "so so", he thought that was fine so left me to it. When it came to the end of the meal and I had left almost all of it on my plate I told the waitress that I didn't like it and that I wasn't going to pay for it. She got the manager over and he asked me why and I told him that it was;

Too salty, the pasta was no way near Al dente, they'd chucked processsed ham from a packet on top and that ttey'd obviously put garlic powder in it and not fresh garlic.

He said they'd used fresh garlic and he can show me fresh garlic from the kitchen. I replied that of course the kitchen probably has fresh garlic but there was none in the sauce. He then went onto say thta he had asked me during my meal if it was ok and I had said yes. I disputed and said I had said " so so" and that i was really making my mind up as to if I was going to pay for it. In then end he gave me the meal for free but didn't apologise for ruining my lunch hour and welcomed me back again. Bad management.
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Nic Roe
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, December 17, 2010

I’ve eaten here a few times in Donatello - I loved the pizza and drink offer which runs during the week and makes a handy and quick lunch. The staff have always been lovely though I found eating inside a little cramped. Overall though the food has been great and the children’s menu looks to be good value.

in my view this is the best Restaurant in Brighton that's why they are to busy

well done Donatello.
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david_l
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 02, 2010

Reception hardly noticed us, but referred us to a waitress who found us a seat. However after that we were totally ignored. Finally managed to get a waitress who said in very poor English that she cannot take a meal order, but she would get us drinks and send someone for the meal order. After a further 10 minutes nobody came with drinks nor anyone to take our order. Enough is enough... we decided to leave.

When we told this story to friends they said that the Donatello group runs many restaurants in Brighton that trade under different names..not only Italian but Thai and others... Monopoly Commission should look into this...not so much Brighton & Hove...more like Brighton & Donatello...
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george collins
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, November 04, 2010

Went to Brighton with my family, and this place ruined my day. Food medicocre at best! Nasty looks from the owner NEVER AGAIN!!!
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risla - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, September 28, 2010