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    Donna's

    4.3 (725 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Donna's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Linguini and clam
    Peter X.

    We made reservations to come here to celebrate one of our friend birthday. We parked at one of the parking lot nearby since it's that or street parking on Sunset. This place is almost like hidden so if you don't pay attention, you might miss it. We checked in at the host stand and she took us to go eat near the bar. This place is not that spacious and can feel compact inside. We started out with the Garlic bread and Caesar salad. I thought the garlic bread was okay but I wouldn't order it again. They have the cola in the glass bottle here. My friends ordered the chicken parmesan and lasagna rollatini. I got the linguini and clams for my dish. Our food didn't take long to come out. The portion of my dish is small and for the price, I don't believe it was worth it. I thought it was fine beside the portion size. My friends like their chicken parmesan and lasagna. Customer service was great with us and our waitress was attentive.

    Brizylla A.

    Donna's is elite. It's a lively, homey Italian restaurant offering a fun dining atmosphere, fantastic service, and top-tier food in Echo Park on Sunset Blvd. Reservations and ubering there is a must. Parking is pretty difficult. They have cute drinks and a wine menu. Definitely get a spritz, the one here is very refreshing. The menu has some great options. We got the garlic bread, caesar salad, spicy vodka pasta and the chicken parm. Hands down the best chicken parm I've had. It kind of ruined future chicken parms for me because nothing is going to top this. Caesar salad was very delicious too, super balanced, not weighed down by too much dressing and had a generous amount of cheese. I'd also put their garlic bread at the top, it's rich in flavor and the texture is spot on. The vibe inside is cozy and intimate, and our server took great care of us. Highly recommend Donna's if you haven't been!

    Megan H.

    Best pasta ever!!! The vodka pasta seriously still lives in my dreams. It was sooo creamy, flavorful, and addicting. It was easily my favorite thing we ordered! I would come back just for this pasta alone. The tiramisu was chef's kiss So light, creamy, and the perfect way to end the meal. I lovedddd everything! The garlic bread came out hot and fluffy, but I do wish it had a little more garlic butter. Still yummy though! The chicken parm was good, but I didn't think there was anything super special about the flavor. I'd probably skip it next time and just get more pasta... Also, the decor is SO sweet and charming! Every table had its own little vase of fresh flowers, which was such a cute touch and made the whole place feel cozy and intimate. Overall, such a cute spot with AMAZING pasta. The vodka pasta + tiramisu combo is a MUST!!! Parking is either street or at a near by lot; it wasn't too expensive though!

    Fusilli Alla Vodka
    Katie R.

    The fusilli alla vodka pasta is everything that lives up to its hype. It's creamy, it's flavorful, it's robust, and it's just so cozy. And of course, it's al dente. I'd come back just for this alone! The garlic bread is also good. The bread was hot and fresh. Surprisingly, I think it could use a little more flavor as the parmesan cheese and garlic alone does not make for a strong flavor profile despite its appearance. My husband enjoyed his chicken parm. We did not like the lasagna rotini as the smokey flavor was too overpowering. They offered a special which was the stuffed crab shells, I really wish we got that instead of the lasagna. We had to make a reservation well in advance. The day of, they closed for the day and moved our reservation about a month up. Luckily, we were still able to make it for the rescheduled date and we even got a complimentary slice of tiramisu for the inconvenience. Well worth the anticipation, some of the best tiramisu I've had! Ambiance is romantic with dim lighting and the place had a great aesthetic for modern cozy Italian dining. Service was also very good. Parking is definitely tricky especially on a weekend night. We ended up ubering so we wouldn't be late to our reservation time.

    Outside
    David J.

    Food, incredible. Drinks, amazing. Service, always on point! Always worth the hype when we come to Donna's. Had a booth this time and were one of the first people into the restaurant. Pro tip: the 5pm reservation never disappoints. Street parking was not bad either. Definitely a good date night spot!

    Elizabeth L.

    Donna's is inspired by the east coast with an emphasis on great red sauce. The menu reflects this and all of it is great. Make reservations or you will be waiting. You can walk in, but the wait is sometimes too long for me. Donna's is huge. It is just comfortable, spotless and a lot of fun. They have a full bar and you can eat there at the bar if you don't want to wait. The place is just adorable and the service is great, with nice staff who are helpful. They are fast to get to you once seated. The food is so great. We have eaten there and have taken out. We love all their food and their red sauce is the best. Their STUFFED PEPPERS with marinated peppadew peppers, taleggio cheese and the best roasted garlic are a great starter. We also love OLIVE OIL CAKE for desert. It is in a limoncello soak, market berries, and homemade whipped sour cream. Their mains are the best. We love their TOMATO RISOTTO which has blistered sungold tomatoes, ricotta salata and yummy pregano. Everything is great.

    Tonya M.

    Wow..what an amazing place. The ambiance. The music. The staff...the food. I'm in heaven! This was an incredible experience. Top notch. What a great evening!!!! Everything was delicious!!

    Linguine with clams, vodka pasta, broccolini
    Karen G.

    The food was good, but it wasn't blown away as I was expecting, especially considering how hard it is to get a reservation. I'd heard so much about the garlic bread, but I honestly thought it was just okay. We ordered the broccolini (which was very cheesy), the arugula salad (also very cheesy), the vodka pasta, chicken Parmesan, and the linguine with clams. The linguine was good, but I wish it had a little more seafood than just clams. I'd say the dishes I enjoyed the most were the chicken parmesan and the vodka pasta. The cocktails were actually really good, and I appreciated that they had spritz-style mocktails too. The restaurant itself is cute, cozy, and has a nice atmosphere. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I can't say it was necessarily worth the hype.

    Chicken Parm
    April V.

    Really loved my time at Donna's. Came here for my sister's birthday dinner and it was amazing. The hostesses and our server were fantastic. Appreciated o how our server recommended some of her favorites on the menu. Definitely try the arugula salad if you want to change it up a bit from the usual Caesar salad. The garlic bread was a hit! It was a great mix of buttery on the inside and crispy on the outside. Chicken parm and fusilli was also sooo good! I'd recommend to do family style and share so you can try more of the menu items. The interior is very clean and beautiful. The lighting is a bit dim but it adds to the vibes of the restaurant. Will definitely come back!

    Garlic Bread
    Joseph C.

    Donnas was absolutely perfect! The ambiance reminds of if literal small Italy cafe vibes, very intimate. Our server Hannah was absolutely kind and sweet. Definitely would come back again!   Garlic Bread (5/5) I honestly don't say this lightly, but this is probably the best garlic bread I have ever had in my entire life. The outside was crusty and crispy and the inside of the bread was to die for. Super soft and warm with oogey, gooey buttery-ness with each slice. There are small garlic pieces inside, but that's what explodes the bread with amazing flavor. If there's anything you need to get, it's the garlic bread for sure.   Caesar Salad (5/5) Also an amazing starter! I love how each bit of lettuce was coated with cheese, so every single bite had some love in it. Croutons added a nice crunch for texture. Solid to begin your meals with.    Chicken Parmesan (5/5) Size was large, so please come hungry! The chicken was breaded perfectly and the sauce wasn't too heavy at all. Everything paired so nicely with each other. Basil added a nice aromatic touch to the dish without overpowering it. Amazing meal.

    Caesar Salad
    Tristen S.

    This has to be my new favorite LA restaurant. Every dish I had was amazing, even the dessert. I was pleasantly surprised by the chicken parmesan and linguini & clams pasta. The caesar salad was also made really well. The service was friendly and quick. It's a super cute vibe inside too! Parking can get tricky since it's all street parking, but not too bad.

    Garlic bread
    Rose H.

    An LA staple for a reason- long wait time/hard to get reservations, the service is great, and the ambiance is very LA influenced. Photo ops in every corner! I would suggest this place only for smaller parties because how little space there is inside. We got the garlic bread, calamari, vodka, lasagna, seafood lemon pasta, and pesto pork pasta ??? Not sure the name and the food was good! This place is most definitely for cheese lovers- everything had SO much cheese it was a bit overwhelming. Probably won't be back because of their limited selection of pastas- really wanted to see more variety but felt it was a little lacking and the pasta was just good, not great.

    Fusilli Alla Vodka Pasta
    Kyara B.

    Getting reservations here felt like getting concert tickets for a popular artist. Reservation slots drop at 10am, 28 days in advanced. Within minutes, tickets for Saturday night were completely taken. Crazy! So much hype around this restaurant and for the most part, it did actually live up to it. Garlic Bread - Heavenly. A crunchy exterior with a soft buttery finish in between every slice and topped with parm shavings. This was definitely my favorite out of everything we got! Arugula Salad - Dressed perfectly with a tooooon of cheese on top. My type of salad! There was enough acidity in the dressing that the cheese wasn't too overpowering. Meat and Cheese Plate - Assorted meats and cheeses with olives and artichokes. All the cheeses were rich and the meats were sliced thinly. The portion of the plate as a whole was a little on the small side though. Fusilli Alla Vodka - The flavor was good but it honestly tasted like I could've made it at home. I was expecting a more rich creamy sauce with a handmade pasta. My hopes were extremely high for this dish since this is the one everyone gets. It wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't what I was expecting after seeing all the great reviews on it. Pan Seared Branzino - Comes on a bed of green sauce. The branzino itself was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The sauce felt a little out of place. A little too herby. It comes deboned. Patatas - Generous portion of crispy large potatoes with a delicious bed of aioli. Cannolis - Comes with 3 fun sized cannolis of differing flavors. Strawberry, chocolate, and I'm forgetting the other flavor. A fun take on your classic cannoli. My least favorite was the strawberry shortcake. It had the concept of a cannolis but just didn't hold up well and was more like cheesecake. The chocolate was the best. I did enjoy the toppings on either side of the cannoli for an extra crunch. Rosina - Perfectly balanced cocktail. A little sweet with enough tartness to not make it overpowering. Service was great, the interior of the restaurant was cute and homey, food came out quickly - overall, a very good experience. The hype around this place made my expectations extremely high, and although they weren't all met, this was still a meal I would definitely come back for.

    Chicken parmigiana

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    Page 1 of 19

    Donna's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Donna's

    Do they take reservations on Fridays?

    Yes

    Do they accept walk ins?

    Yes!

    How's the street parking situation?

    Get there early. Usually drive around and find street parking. Hasn't been an issue.

    Do they have vegan options?

    I dont recall specific vegan items listed but perhaps you can read their menu online. I read it before I arrived and knew what I wanted to order. The pepoers, cesar salad… 

    Reservations needed for Bar seating?

    So u need reservations for every seat..bur here is the trick...arrive at 5pm when they open. They can seat u

    Is there gluten free pasta?

    I don't recall any gluten free pasta on the small menu. Perhaps a quick call to the restaurant resolves the mystery or pull up the menu on line.… 

    Is Resy the only way to make a reservation?

    Yes https://www.donnasla.com/faqs

    Do they do takeout?

    No they do not https://www.donnasla.com/faqs

    Is valet parking offered?

    No, just street parking.

    Is it reservations only?

    The website explicitly says they have tables for walk-ins. Also, reviews note waitlist can be long.

    Do they offer anything gluten free?

    Very few

    Do they have any vegan options?

    My suggestions would be to modify the chopped salad by removing the salami and cheese. Same with the arugula salad you could just ask for no cheese. The marinated olives and seasonal giardiniera seem to be vegan as it is.

    View All 15 Questions

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    One of our absolute favorite restaurants -- we honestly look forward to coming to LA just to eat at…read moreMaccheroni Republic. The Ravioli Di Zucca and Rigatoni Pom'Amore are phenomenal -- easily some of the best pasta we've ever had. The Lasagna di Carne is delicious too, although the rich meat sauce is so generous that you don't get to appreciate their incredible pasta quite as much. Small, quaint indoor dining + a cute patio that somehow doesn't feel like you're in the heart of LA. The restaurant is first come, first served, and there's often a wait. Come early or grab a cocktail across the street at Grayson while you wait. It's worth the wait. Every. Single. Time.

    I came here last year for my birthday as well! I love how their delicious pastas are made fresh…read moredaily! I already knew that I wanted! I knew I wanted the bone marrow (again! We also ordered frtto misti (fried calamari and fried shrimp) as an additional appetizer which was deliciously light and crunchy! I've never had osso bucco before, so l presumably I thought they'd be using veal shank, but it was beef shank. The flavors tasted are of those that have been simmering cohesively on a low flame for several hours! It was what I'd expect in an Italian stew! Accompanied by a side of perfectly orchestrated I also had their squid ink risotto. Very distinctive flavor mixed within this squid ink plate. Bay scallops mixed within the squid ink and risotto. I just wish it was a little softer. I thought it could've used perhaps 5 additional minutes! Topped off with 2 perfectly cooked diver scallops! To end my birthday meal, I had a frozen creamy treat of affogato! Yay!! Happy 55 to me! I'm blessed to have enjoyed another delicious birthday dinner at Maccheroni Republic

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    OSTE - Mortadella Pinsa

    OSTE

    4.6(1.5k reviews)
    6.3 miBeverly Grove

    Their food was amazing and so was this service…read more This is like an amazing upscale causal nice place. Very cozy inside, everything was so clean, and the staff was so professional. Def try the fungi pizza and ceaser salad!

    I visited OSTE for dinner around 7 p.m. and had a reservation, which made the arrival process very…read moresmooth. From the moment we walked in, I loved the ambiance. The restaurant is very low-lit, intimate, and romantic, making it a great choice for a date night. I could also see it being a nice spot to visit with friends for cocktails or mocktails. They also have a wide variety of wines, which I really appreciated, especially when pairing wine with pasta. For our appetizer, we ordered the burrata, and it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the meal. The cheese was incredibly creamy and lightly salted, which I personally loved. It was served with roasted tomatoes and fresh bread, and the combination was simple but really well executed. We also ordered two pasta dishes, and both were delicious. The pasta was cooked really well--not overly al dente--and the sauces were rich, flavorful, and thick enough to coat the pasta beautifully. You could really taste the depth of flavor in each dish. We also tried the mussels, which was my first time having them. Personally, they weren't my favorite, mainly because of the texture. However, I think that's completely subjective, and someone with a different palate may really enjoy them. I wouldn't consider this a flaw in the restaurant so much as a personal preference. The service was another highlight. Everyone was very kind, attentive, and welcoming throughout the meal, which made the experience even better. My only real criticism would be the seating and tables. The tables were somewhat wobbly and had a few visible scratches, which felt slightly out of place compared with the otherwise beautiful and sophisticated atmosphere. The seating was also quite tight, especially with an appetizer and two pasta dishes on the table. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Oster. The romantic ambiance, delicious pasta, creamy burrata, extensive wine selection, and excellent service made it a memorable dinner. The mussels weren't personally for me, but that's simply a matter of taste. Aside from the tight seating and slightly worn tables, I thought the restaurant was a wonderful spot for a romantic Italian dinner in LA.

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