We came here to celebrate our anniversary and had such a wonderful experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and perfect for a special night out. One of the highlights of the meal was definitely the garlic bread -- it was absolutely to die for and honestly some of the best we've had! The pasta was cooked perfectly and full of flavor, and the branzino was fresh, tender, and delicious. Every dish we ordered tasted thoughtfully prepared and exceeded our expectations. We also want to give a special shoutout to our server, Francia, who did an amazing job accommodating us throughout the evening. She was attentive, kind, and helped make our anniversary dinner feel extra special. The only small issue we experienced was that our drinks took a little longer than expected to come out, but it really didn't take away from the overall experience. The quality of the food and the excellent service more than made up for it. Overall, we left very happy and already talking about coming back again. This is definitely a spot we'd love to return to with our friends and family. Highly recommend for a date night, celebration, or just a great meal with amazing food and service! read more

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small menu great garlic bread and pasta no issues no notes awesome sauce thanks!!!! read more

while i did enjoy this place, it didn't quite blow me away like a lot of people said it would. i can see why it's a classic in the area though. there's a certain aesthetic attached to dining at Donna's that's kinda hard to match. the service was pretty solid, very attentive. i had one server that was very polite and kinda and one that just kinda seemed like they were just trying to make it through their shift. we split a few different things: I'll start off by saying that the garlic bread was incredible and the best I've ever had. next we had the caesar salad which was also among the best I've ever had, though I don't get salads often. we finished food with lasagna. it was pretty decent, I wouldn't get it again but I'm also not big on lasagna. the cocktails were so good and really hit the spot! my favorite part about this place read more

Donna's - Garlic bread, caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A friend had a recent birthday and I told her to pick a restaurant for her birthday dinner. I've never heard of this place since Echo Park isn't exactly familiar to me but after seeing their menu, I was looking forward to trying them out. Reservations were tough to get, so she booked out a month in advance with alerts in case something else came up earlier. Nothing ever changed, so we had our 5:15p reservation on a Wednesday (they open at 5p). Before the day, I have to say their customer service was top-notch; I had reached out to let them know that it was for a birthday (since I knew the birthday girl didn't call this out herself) and if they accepted cash, and someone got back to me within an hour after I left a voicemail. They also reached out regarding parking suggestions in the area for that day since there was a Dodgers game which was greatly appreciated. We left earlier, and made it with 5 minutes to spare. Hostess desk is crammed up front right at the door, so there will be a lot of activity as you enter. She was very friendly, and led us to the dining room behind this area against the wall. This was a smaller space, but it already had several parties seated and they only opened 15 minutes prior. Still bottles of water were placed on the table, so we were able to pour ourselves which I liked. On our table tonight: -Squash Arancini ($8) -Garlic Bread ($16) -Fusilli Alla Vodka ($25) -Chicken Parmesan ($36) -Side of Spaghetti (Aglio Olio or Marinara, $13) I was a fan of the arancini with the hint of sage. The talked-about garlic bread was pretty good; it was potent towards the middle of the pre-cut slices where I could only finish one (and I love garlic bread). I tried some fusilli before the ricotta and chili oil was mixed in, and I would consider getting this for myself another time. Aglio Olio, although just a side portion, was enough of a main dish for myself and the chicken parmesan was okay, but I'm not the biggest fan of this dish in the first place. Cheese was abundant on the arancini and the garlic bread (and from what I could tell, some of the salads) but this can be put on the side as the party next to us did if you don't want to be overwhelmed with all the cheese. Dessert was cannoli's ($14), and they let us sub another chocolate for the lemon ricotta. You will get charged for the birthday dessert, but they did add a candle. To get to the restroom, you have to go through the back bar area which also has some tables, so I can see why reservations are a must here even though they will accept some walk-ins. Service here was friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed our time here at Donna's, and I'm glad to have tried an out of the way restaurant (well, for me at least). Would be happy to return! read more

Donna's - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Really amazing Italian food spot and the Fusilli Vodka is amazing. The flavor is excellent and honestly probably one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had, it's a must try. The fried calamari is really good too. I also tried the chicken parm and it was amazing. The tiramisu is very unique with the salty aspect. Overall really great food. The inside is also very beautiful and has a nice dark vibe. The service every time I've been has been okay nothing special but nothing negative to say. read more

Donna's - Fusilli Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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First time dining at Donna's and I'm glad we were able to get a reservation. The restaurant is quite small and located in echo park along sunset, so you can entertain yourself quite a bit exploring the neighborhood waiting for a table. The food is extremely flavorful and worth venturing to the neighborhood to enjoy. It was Sunday, so I passed on a cocktail (I know, boring). The stuffed peppers contained cheese and garlic and soaked in olive oil. I never had a peppadew pepper before, and they are very tiny! However, the flavor is robust and it makes a good starter. The garlic bread is legendary with butter and garlic baked in and topped with Parmesan. It's very filling so be careful. Cesar salad was solid and also topped generously with cheese. The pastas are delectable and there is quite the variety to sample. Fusilli alla vodka was rich and as good as it gets. Good old spaghetti and meatballs was anything but boring. The meatballs were an explosion of flavor. Veal piccata was very tart and heavily soaked in liquid. I might not order this next time. For dessert, panna cotta was very striking in appearance with strawberry and basil--very rich. Tiramisu was ok. I definitely would like to return to sample other dishes. How to get a reservation is the question. read more

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I came here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. To start we got the Caesar salad. This was very refreshing. We also got the calamari. This was delicious. I loved the two dipping sauces it came with and the calamari was perfectly fried. Definitely recommend both dishes. Then we got the fusilli vodka and the chicken marsala. The fusilli was absolutely delicious and I would definitely come back for this dish. Unfortunately the chicken marsala was not that good. The sauce was this off putting sweet taste and my sister and I did not like it. The chicken was incredibly tender though. For dessert we got the chocolate torte to share and this was incredibly dense and rich. Super tasty. Overall I would recommend this place and besides the marsala dish, everything else was delicious. read more

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Finally grabbed a reservation at Donna's and it did not disappoint! The vibe is cozy and perfect for dinner and casual drinks. Service was friendly and relaxed, but still attentive throughout the meal. The food leans Italian-ish with fresh, simple flavors, and everything we tried felt well executed and shareable. Portions are solid, and the menu has a good mix of lighter bites and more filling options. The wine and cocktails also hit the mark and round out the experience nicely. They offer complimentary limoncello at the end of the meal! read more

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I came here for a birthday dinner w my girlfriends. We came on a weeknight around opening. Parking: there's no private lot and I don't see valet. Hence, it's street parking. Give yourself some time to look and circle around. We each found street parking about 2-3 blocks away--all free. You can also find entered street parking as well. The restaurant itself is super cute. I love the vibe inside and the ambiance. Very cute date night Place!! The food: Meatball: I recommend! Good size and perfect to share. It comes w two which we found adequate for our group of three. Garlic bread: yum! Love the texture, seasoning, and cheese grating over the bread! Good to eat w the meatballs! Broccolini: everything is super carb heavy, so we opted for this instead of a salad, Fussili alla vodka: great choice and crowd pleaser. Linguini and clams: yummy but kind of lacking on the clams. lol! Lasagna: probably the most disappointing dish of the evening. Lacked texture. Super salty. We all thought this was the most skippable dish. Dessert panna cotta: a good finish to the evening. Came w a birthday candle. read more

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4 stars for the Garlic Bread...otherwise this would have been a 3 star. Donna's is good but don't know if it quite lives up to all the hype. Absolutely loved the Garlic Bread and Tiramisu...it would be criminal to come here and not order both. We also shared the Lasagna and Chicken Parm. The Lasagna's flavors were a bit muted...like something was missing to really give it oomph. The Chicken Parm was fine but not super memorable. These four dishes were the perfect amount for two. Our waiter was great and we loved the complimentary Limoncello shots! read more

Was on the way best home and had never been to Donna's, so we decided to stop by and see if we could get a walk in table. There was a 30 minute wait, so we put our name on the list and got seated at the bar when ready. Started out with the meatballs, which come with two. Decent size, looks tasty but, flavor wise, they felt a little lacking. Definitely were not memorable. Entrees, we got the Fusilli Alla Vodka and the chicken parmesan. The chicken parm was cooked well, could have been a little crispier on the outside, and sat in the sauce instead of having the sauce on top, so you can add as you please. Was a decent chicken parm overall. The Fusilli Alla Vodka was the winner of the evening, though, with the whipped ricotta on top and chili oil with the pecorino romano on the pasta. Just a tasty bite each time. Overall, nice little Italian restaurant in Echo Park. Definitely try the Fusilli Alla Vodka, absolutely worth it. The chicken parm is decent as well, but pass on the meatballs. read more

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I've been here two times and I have to say the ambiance and vibe is unmatched. It's so romantic but feels chill at the same time. During my first time I got a limoncello, chopped salad, vodka pasta, and the garlic bread. The second time, I got all of the same things as the first but added a Caesar, a chicken parm, and a cherry cocktail. I really liked the limoncello the first time but the second time seemed a bit more ginger forward? And the chopped salad was less vinaigrette sour and more creamy the second time but I preferred it when I first had it. The vodka pasta did not disappoint and was exactly as good as the first time. The new things: The Caesar salad was actually the better salad of the two and I usually prefer the more vinaigrette-ey salads like the chopped salad but this one was done really traditionally and you can definitely taste the fishiness of the anchovies. The cherry cocktail was quite nice and I preferred it a little more than the second time limoncello. The chicken parm was amazing and the chicken itself was so bouncy and juicy. Would definitely get these items again. read more

Donna's - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

~ food: 8/10 ~ service: 10/10 ~ ambiance: 10/10 ~ parking: limited street parking came here for my bf's birthday dinner and the vibe was great. the space feels like a cozy, welcoming italian home. our server was incredibly kind and funny and made us feel comfortable right away. i requested no ginger in my drinks, and he recommended a classic lemon drop martini instead of the specialty limoncello drop--it was amazing we ordered the famous garlic bread, but honestly i don't really see the hype beyond how aesthetic it is. it could definitely use more garlic and more seasoning the pasta was slightly undercooked, but the sauce was perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. i loved how simple yet elevated the dish felt, with all the little details coming through the chicken parm was huge. the chicken was crispy, and the tangy sauce cut through the thick layer of cheese really well. this was my favorite dish of the night the tiramisu was good, but not the best i've had. it could benefit from sitting longer to soften up more, though the flavor itself was solid overall, i would come back for the ambiance, service, and drinks, but not necessarily for the food. while everything was good, none of the dishes truly wowed me read more

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I celebrated my birthday with my sister here the other day. We shared the Tonnato Caesar Salad, Fried Calamari, Fusilli Alla Vodka and Chicken Marsala. We were both pretty hungry so we finished basically all of this. For the most part, everything was yummy and we really enjoyed the pasta. We didn't love the chicken marsala though. The chicken was super soft/tender but the soft was not a traditional mushroom flavor. It felt very heavy on the wine and sweet. We would definitely skip on this one next time. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Torte. This was yummy, but VERY decadent. Probably better shared amongst more people than 2. read more

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This is a pretty cute little place with good service and some tasty Italia fare. No reservations, so we were quoted a 90 minute wait and seated in about 75 minutes. It's cramped inside as they maximize the little space they have, so unless you're small, it's not the most comfortable place. The place is kind of charming, just the same. I had an old fashioned and it was okay. The food was very good, but with the exception Stracciatella, nothing was really overly special. Bread starter was good. My wife had lasagna and I had Rigatoni Bolognaise and both were very good. I would definitely recommend and return. read more

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Meter Parking It's a small restaurant. Wait time was about 45mins for us since we didn't have reservations. We started off with garlic bread and calamari. 3/5 - The garlic bread was tasty! They use sourdough bread and no lie. The outside was super hard. But the inside was definitely soft. I like sourdough breads but this time. It was really hard to eat the outside. 5/5 - Calamari was tasty and good. On to the food! Presentation wise, looks good! Food came out hot and fresh! Sadly, everything was pretty basic to the taste. 3/5 - Spaghetti and Meatballs 3/5 - Linguini and Clams 3/5 - Fusilli Alla Vodka They do get pretty busy. So arrive early enough to find parking. It's LA! read more

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I absolutely loved this place! My daughter brought me here for my birthday, what better experience than dining at a restaurant that shares your name. Parking is definitely a challenge. There's a paid public lot around the corner, and street parking is pretty much nonexistent, so plan accordingly. The restaurant seats about 64 people, and reservations are highly recommended. We arrived right at opening (5 PM) and there was already a line outside, but luckily we were able to grab seats at the bar. Our bartender, Valentino, was amazing and made excellent recommendations. When I told him my name, he mentioned they don't get many "Donna's". In three years, I'm only the second! The garlic bread is a must, definitely start with that. Everything I ordered was delicious. I ended the night with an espresso martini and tiramisu, and the tiramisu was the best I've ever had; not overly soaked or too heavy on the coffee liqueur. The space is beautifully decorated, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere, perfect for a special occasion or a cozy night out. I will definitely be back! read more

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After weeks of trying, I finally snagged a coveted Donna's reservation! And I'm happy to report it absolutely lives up to the hype. We arrived right at 6:45pm for our reservation and checked in with no issues. Walking inside felt like stepping into a locals only supper club. The vintage floral wallpaper and cozy interior made it feel like dinner at a nonna's house back in Italy. What we ordered: Garlic bread (10/10): spongy sourdough loaded with Parmesan cheese, butter and garlic. A must order. Caesar salad (9/10): one of the best Caesar's I've had. Lots of croutons(a win for me). Lasagna rollatini (100/10): star or the show. Simply incredible and the rolled format makes it perfect for sharing. Pan seared branzino (8/10): perfectly seared and filleted off the bone with pickled veggies and pesto which tied it together nicely. Tiramisu (8.5/10): A massivr slice with an incredible salted cream top. So happy my partner and I got to experience Donna's. Everything was so good it genuinely made me wonder if there's a team of Italian grandmas cooking in the kitchen. Truly a 10/10 dinner experience that I'll be thinking about for awhile. read more

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We finalllyyyy were able to snag a reservation here, albeit at 9:30 pm on a Monday. Even then, people were waiting outside for a table so most definitely recommend making a reservation. I absolutely love the interior. It reminds me of the cozy vibe of an old NYC Italian restaurant. We sat at the bar and service was incredibly attentive throughout our dinner. We had: -garlic bread (this is a MUST, no notes) -Caesar salad (loved it) -fusilli pasta (I loved the texture of this pasta and would definitely get it again) -chicken parm (this was good, but nothing special! -tiramisu (I like my tiramisu with more coffee flavor so didn't love this, but will get the cannoli next time) Loved this place and can't wait to work through the menu. Highly recommend. read more

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Donna's was soooo delicious and the ambiance was so perfect low lighting and just a perfect little glamorous restaurant. We ordered the shrimp scampi and the vodka pasta DELICIOUS. The noodles ABSOLUTELY perfect I've never had a spot cook noodles so nice and perfect like Donna's! We sat at the bar and roni I believe (I'm so sorry if I butchered your name) perfect bartender and was so kind and was able to help us guide the menu and recommend perfect drinks! We also came to celebrate my birthday and to end it off perfectly we added a tiramisu which completed our perfect dinner! read more

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I really liked the ambience here. It's a cute restaurant in a bustling area. I had the Donna's spritz, Fusilli à la vodka, Caesar salad, and chicken Parmesan. The spritz was just okay and I wouldn't order it again. The salad and vodka pasta were very good. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Chicken Parmesan. I'd try some other dishes if I came back, but would definitely get the vodka pasta again. The service was wonderful. read more

Donna's - Caesar salad, Donna's spritz - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Such a wonderful place to come across! Husband and I were in need of dinner and we happened to come across Donna's right as they opened. There was a line outside the door which is always a good sign! (Make reservations) We sat at the bar, with an incredibly experienced bartender! We ordered off menu classic cocktails and she made them pristinely! Caesar salad- A MUST Fussili alla vodka- Delicious!!! Not too rich, and a wonderful portion! Spaghetti & Meatballs- my husband enjoyed this, and said the meatballs were to die for. I would come back for the ambience alone, so the food being delicious was just a HUGE bonus! Can't wait to return! read more

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So delicious! Celebrated a birthday here; service and food were lovely. Everything was very delicious and the presentation was great, but not sure why it's difficult to pinpoint a favorite plate. The Caesar salad was amazing (just look at the cheese) and the spicy vodka pasta were delicious, but at the same time, I feel like I could go somewhere else to get something similar. read more

Donna's - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Finally able to snag a reservation and try Donna's. Favorite items ranked: grilled shrimp (might have been a special), lasagna, fusilli alla vodka, garlic bread, and meatballs Would come back to try more of the pastas. read more

Some of the best Italian food I've had in a long time. All the ingredients seem so fresh, the pasta is made in-house, and you can tell by the texture and flavor of the noodles. I ordered the fusilli à la vodka, a Caesar salad and their garlic bread. All of which were exceptional. The Caesar salad is probably one of the best I've had covered with fresh shaved Parmesan cheese. The garlic bread is a half loaf, sliced down the middle and filled with garlic and cheese and baked to perfection. All the ingredients and the sauces are so fresh. The restaurant it self if small and if you can get lucky to get a table without a reservation consider yourself lucky. Reservations seem impossible to get, and if you can manage to find one it's usually after 9pm. We got there right when they opened and were lucky to only wait 30 minutes for a table (party of 2). Larger parties behind us were told to return 4-5 hours later. read more

Donna's - Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for Valentine's Day and it was a great experience. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Tried a few different items and everything was great. The garlic bread was the best I've ever had. This is definitely a great place to have a nice dinner. read more

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Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Donna's is an absolute gem in Echo Park! Definitely worth the hype! Was lucky to get an early dinner reservation right when they opened (through Resy) and I truly had the best seat of the restaurant. Everything from the food, service, and vibe were all top-tier. My recommendations are: garlic bread, Tonnato Caesar, chicken parm, whichever pasta Alla Vodka, and do not skip on the tiramisu for dessert! Perfect spot for a cozy date night or any special occasion, can't wait to go back! read more

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Donna's is DELICIOUS and worth the difficult reservation. Easily one of the best restaurants I've visited in L.A. Every dish we ordered was amazing, but the mushroom arancini was the stand out. I will be back! read more

Donna's - Mushroom Arancini -- started eating before we took the photo because it was that good! - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friend and I have been wanting to try Donna's for forever and finally got a reservation. Parking was a bit hard but there are small lots nearby that are pretty cheap (we paid like $1.80 for 2 hours) if you can't find street parking. We waited for about 5 minutes before we were seated. Our waiter was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. He gave us some recommendations and made sure we always had water. We ordered a lot because we wanted to try a bit of everything. Vodka Pasta: 10/10, they didn't have fusili shape when we came and I can't remember the name of ours but this was so good. It was savory but not too salty and the sauce was so well balanced. The pasta was perfectly al dente and we kept eating it even when we were too full. Fried Calamari: 9/10, very crispy and nicely seasoned. The sauces were fun and the squid ink aioli was an interesting flavor profile. Garlic Bread: 7/10, the garlic taste isn't that strong and it was more like a cheesy bread but still good. The outside was crispy but the inside was fluffy. Spaghetti and Meatballs: 7/10, Spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce was pretty good. The meatballs were personally not our preference as it had an aftertaste we weren't fond of. Tonnato Caesar Salad: 6/10, a decent caesar salad, the tiny croutons were fun. It was however VERY salty. All our food leaned on the savory side and we were hoping this would be a fresh balance to it but it was just so salty we couldn't finish it with all our other food. Patata: 5/10, this was nothing special. Potatoes were decently roasted but there wasn't a lot of flavor besides salt. The calabrian chili aioli wasn't that strong flavor wise and sat underneath the potatoes. I wouldn't order this again. Tiramisu: 6/10, this was salty which is not something we expected. Our dishes all leaned salty and we were expecting this to be slightly sweet but it ended up being salty and we were just salted out. Zero Proof Spritz: 6/10, was a bit too sour for me. Cherry Cherry: 7/10, my friend found it okay. She wished the cherry flavor was a bit stronger. All in all we were mainly there to try the vodka pasta which did not disappoint. Some of the other dishes were hits or misses but the service and vibes were spectacular. I only hope it's not all super salty next time read more

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Highly recommend making reservations to come here because even on a Monday night, I waited for 1.5 hours on the waitlist. Pretty solid meal but would not wait that long again. The inside is dark but lively. Big fan of the decor. Started with the famous garlic bread. This was a little disappointing because the crust was so hard it hurt the roof of my mouth. The arugula salad was simple but light and refreshing. The pastas were both excellent. You can tell they're homemade from the fun pasta shapes and the perfect texture. The fusilli alla vodka was one of the best I've had in LA. The campanelle was also rich and hearty. I liked that the side of chili sauce they give was actually really spicy. Overall, I would come back if I can snag a resy. read more

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Calamari was good, the marinara and lemon were nice but they had some weird dark sauce on the side. Not sure why that was there. 4 stars. Rigatoni bolognese was very rich, the mole of Italian food. Really good for a few bites. 4.5 stars. Chicken parm was classic, plenty of really nice sweet tangy marinara, moist, well cooked chicken, and nice size. 5 stars. Donna's Dirty martini with vodka was good and the olives were delicious, maybe marinated or picked. Refreshing well balanced. 5 stars. Torn between tiramisu and espresso martini and made the wrong choice w the martinis. Had a gross cherry amaretto that ruined the r drink. One star on that. Service was good though and really liked the cute ambiance. I also liked that I was able to get a rez through email! Appreciated that. read more

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This place is hard to get a reservation, but it does offer limited walk-in availability. Was able to be seated after around 15 min on the waitlist walking in. Sat at the bar and was greeted by the best bartenders! Very welcoming and knowledgeable about not only the menu but also the drinks. He coursed out the dishes after we gave our entire order. Skip the chicken parm (it doesn't come with pasta?!) and started tasting a bit rubbery when cooled down. It is a huge portion though. Caesar salad was delish! One of the better ones I've had. Vodka pasta was perfectly al dente and my favorite of the night. Popular for a reason. Garlic bread was alright. Meatballs were succulent and flavorful, highly recommend. Skip the limoncello, it was way too sweet and disproportionately not-tart (for something that is supposed to be lemon). I almost tasted some artificial mint flavor?! Not pleasant, reminded me more of a cleaning product. Tiramisu had delicious mascarpone but the lady fingers were dry: 8.5/10 The cutest decor and ambient lighting, good noise level (not too loud), intimate and cozy. Well worth the hype! read more

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I was able to make a reservation for Saturday at 5:30 p.m., and I definitely recommend making one. When I arrived, there was a line out the door for a table, but with the reservation I was able to walk in and was seated right away. Everyone working was so kind and attentive, which made the experience even better from the start. There is metered street parking available, as well as nearby parking lots if you prefer to pay. The Limoncello Drop was perfect. It was light, refreshing, and had just the right balance of flavor. The garlic bread was out of this world! There was a generous amount of cheese on top that paired perfectly with the bread. The inside was soft, buttery, and full of flavor, while the crust was crispy and perfectly baked. I would honestly come back just for the bread. The Fusili Alla Vodka was delicious with great flavor and a nice touch of spice. The Chicken Parmesan, on the other hand, was disappointing. The sauce just tasted like tomato, and it was lacking salt, making it overall bland. I wouldn't reorder the Chicken Parmesan, but the other dishes made up for it. We ended with the tiramisu, and it was absolutely incredible. It was served nice and cold, had the perfect amount of sweetness, and the cream on top had just a hint of saltiness that tied everything together beautifully. I will definitely be coming back, and next time I need to try the Caesar salad! read more

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Came for a walk in Friday night for a friends birthday dinner - it was approx a 2 hour wait so if you don't have a reservation, and aren't wanting to commit to that wait - this isn't your restaurant for the night. But if you have this knowledge and decide to wait - it is 100% worth it! The great news is... there's a lot of bars and restaurants around (both casual, sit down) that you can do to pass the time so that's what my friends and I decided to do! I put our name down at 7:36pm and we were seated around 9:20pm. After a few apps and drinks at the other nearby restaurants we were ready for the Donna's experience! For appetizers we went with the Cesar salad, stracciatella, meatballs, and garlic bread. For our pastas we went with the linguini & clams and fusilli alla vodka And we also ordered the patata side dish. The pastas were extremely fresh and had a good amount of sauce and flavor. On an individual level I'd say they're a bit on the medium/smaller side but since we were all sharing it felt like the perfect size. Definitely a good variety for every pasta lover out there. The real showstoppers to me were those appetizers!! The stracciatella was amazing - from the fresh peaches, tomato's, and crisp pink peppercorn every bite was heavenly. My favorite item here The Cesar salad was tasty and super cheesy with crispy fresh croutons. A must order and well loved at Donna's! The meatballs were a table favorite with my friends and really added a bit extra to our pasta dishes. Especially loved the garlic bread and its cheesy goodness. Comes in 4/5 thick slices and great with the stracciatella or your pasta dishes. If I could course it out in the future I would want it closer to the pasta dishes so I can eat them together. Patatas with the Calabrian chili aioli was definitely good and one of my favorite items in general when I see it on the menu We also had some GREAT drinks - I couldn't find them on the website but I went with the cherry sour drink. We also ordered an espresso martini, margarita, lemon drop. Our waiter was amazing and extremely lively! Great ambiance overall - only downside about the restaurant layout is there is only one single stall bathroom so if you have to go... you might be waiting a while or find yourself going next door. Not a dealbreaker but a good heads up if it's your first time dining here. For dessert we ordered the olive oil cake and cannolis. We were stuffed but these desserts were great and I hope to order their tiramisu next time! Truly a great experience and I'm already looking to book my next reservation back here. Great area to eat dinner at and I'm so happy my friends recommended we eat here! Til next time, Donna's!!! read more

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After years of having this place bookmarked I finally was able to visit Donna's. I've heard a lot of hype both good and bad about this place, but service and ambiance wise this place was amazing. Hanna was our server and she did an amazing job explaining the menu while always checking in with us. As for the food let's get into it: * Fried Calamari 8/10 - The Squid Ink Aioli sauce makes this dish standout. Wish it was a bit crispier, but great appetizer. * Shrimp Scampi 10/10 - By far the best dish of the night. The Shrimp was cooked/grilled perfectly, and the sauce which had garlic and white wine was amazing! Would recommend order a side of spaghetti noodles with this dish (won't regret it). * Chicken Parmesan 7.5/10 - I've had better, but I'd actually order it again. Good cheese to sauce ratio. * Lasagna 6/10 - Least favorite dish, wasn't terrible, but I could probably make it better at home. Overall a great experience, my only negative would be the parking situation, but that's LA for you. Would I go again? Absolutely! read more

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Came to Donna's on a weekday because I thought the wait wouldn't be as long. For a party of three I waited around 90 minutes for a table Once seated, the service was prompt! My waitress was so sweet and helped provide recommendations. The ambiance was warm and intimate. I ordered the vodka and campanelle pasta. I loved the noodles! They were uniquely shaped I could tell they were fresh and house made. The garlic bread was definitely worth trying! It was thick, crisp, and had a tasty cheesy exterior. I also ordered the arugula salad, just to have some greens to balance out the meal. Overall Donna's is definitely a solid choice! While the wait it long, it's definitely worth trying! read more

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Donna was all the hype with little bites. An Italian blend of authenticity and flavor. Entrees and apps can be treated as family style but be aware the portions are small. Friendly and elegant service, quiet but dimly warmth ambiance. The Bread is so good, and lasagna and chicken parm are to try, and Sip some wine. read more

Donna's - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Words can't explain how much I love this place! Anything you try is tasty and good quality. My favorites are Alla Vodka Pasta, Caesar Salad, Garlic bread, chicken Parmesan and branzino! Drinks are amazing too. Luckily, I was able to make reservations but they have some walk ins too!! read more

Donna's - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Damn, a place that lives up to the hype! First off, got lucky on a walk in for bar seating on a Thursday. Waited like 20 minutes and slid right in. Definitely a good spot for a date night or a meet up w friends for a good catch up sesh. Ordered a few of the things so lets get to it: Martini - The martinis here are surprisingly some of the best crafted ones I've had in LA, and yeah theyre mostly simple, but it's very easy to make a shitty martini, but here A1 baby. Calamari- Got this thinking it was going to be subpar, but damn guys perfectly lightly battered, and they must beat the hell out of the squid in the kitchen because this is some of the softest calamari ive had in LA. Caesar Salad- Solid. Above average and very tasty. Get your greens in with this. Mushroom Arancini- Another thing I didnt expect, but this was so good! Cheesy mushroomy goodness and a nice crisp first bite. Fusilli Alla Vodak - This is what's made this place a legend and I see why. I will say this over Carbone ALL DAY. Creamy, but not TOO creamy, and full of flavor. If you love a vodka sauce this one is hard to beat. You've gotta experience this one. Overall a GREAT meal. Definitely will be back. Reservations are tough, but maybe try showing 10-15 before open to try to snag some bar seating to avoid a long wait without a rez. COME HERE! read more

All hype, all Parmesan, and a Friday night we won't get back. We dined at Donna's on 2/13 after seeing all the hype and were excited to try this "trending" spot. Since we didn't make a reservation, we understood the two hour wait for bar seating and didn't mind it too much. When we asked the hostess for a recommendation, she suggested the stuffed peppers... stuffed peppers? I should have taken that as a sign. We ordered the garlic bread, lasagna rollatini, and chicken parmesan. Honestly, I don't even know where to start. The food is clearly designed to look good in photos, but the excessive Parmesan on every single dish made everything overwhelmingly salty and nearly inedible. Even after scraping cheese off the top, the sauce in both entrées lacked flavor. The garlic bread was especially disappointing. We assumed we'd finish it before the entrées arrived, but after two bites it just sat there untouched. We noticed other tables also leaving theirs behind. I also should have taken it as a sign when I saw so many people walking out with to-go bags and when looking around most tables were just pushing food around their plates. The drinks were unremarkable, and I'll leave it at that. read more

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