Just an absolutely wonderful meal. Incredible staff. I arrived as the kitchen was closing but they were nice enough to still seat me. Caesar salad was one of the top 3 I've had in my life. Cannelloni was exquisite.

I have tried Italian food at a number of places but let me be CLEAR. Donatello's delivers authentic Italian Food within a great backdrop filled with great service, music, and total ambiance. The food had me making noises while savoring each bite. The portions were great and I was still full the next morning. Full transparency moment. For me. It's a special occasion place, but it's well worth the trip. My pictures are a little dark but just trust me on this one. Thank me later

Excellent service and great food. 4 1/2 stars. The only issue is the noise level and the crowds on the weekend. We had the Cannelloni as recommended which was good but the Linguini in Red Clam sauce was excellent as was the spinach in garlic that was outstanding. The best part is the service, which made the experience excellent even overcoming the noisy environment.

What an unforgettable meal and dining experience at Donatello Restaurant! It's an iconic, fine dining Italian restaurant. You see photos of celebrities who dined there covering the walls upon entering. The dining room is so elegant and each table has 3 fresh roses. Here's what we ordered: ~Avocado and shrimp- avocado pear with jumbo shrimp and a European cocktail sauce. The avocado was perfectly ripe, shrimp were jumbo and fresh, and I like this cocktail sauce much more than the traditional red kind. ~Lumache farcite- snails baked in mushroom caps with parsley and garlic butter. This melted in my mouth. They were very enjoyable, and I loved the addition of the mushroom as well. ~Caesar salad -let me just say, the Parmesan ratio was ON POINT! You have to be a cheese lover for this! ~Risotto Principessa-creamy Italian risotto with scallops and lobster meat. We were blown away by the generous amount of scallops and lobster in this risotto. Also, the risotto portion was very generous too! It was creamy and the perfect dish for seafood lovers! This dish was unforgettable. The sauce was very similar to lobster bisque in flavor. ~Veal Chop Colombo- porterhouse veal chop topped with mixed mushrooms and brandy cream sauce. The sauce was creamy and delicious and I loved the mushrooms in it. It also came with some mixed veggies which were the perfect texture. Donatello is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or to go for a special and romantic date night. The service is flawless, atmosphere is beautiful, food delicious, and every woman walks out the door with a fresh red rose, which is a beautiful touch I've never seen before.

Great service! Very attentive and food was excellent. Maybe have Valet come in from main road and exit to side street for safety. I will be back.

Three years later, and three years of experiencing other Tampa Bay Italian restaurants, but Donatello still stands out amongst them all. So authentic that the waiters hardly speak English. The dining room is romantic, but lively enough that it's also perfect for a fun night out with friends. The bar and lounge area always has great live music. Our favorites are the Veal Canniloni and Ossobucco. There's an appetizer of cantaloupe wrapped in incredible prosciutto, which sounds strange but totally works. You can tell everyone truly enjoys their work, the food they're serving, and the people they work with.

What an amazing experience! One of the best restaurants I've been to in Tampa - the vibes, atmosphere, service and food were absolutely the best of the best. They make feel very special from the moment you walk in by shaking your hand and greeting you. The photos of all the celebs & VIPs who have visited hung up in the lobby is also a fun touch. The food was delicious! We had the melon and prosciutto for an appetizer which threw me off guard at first but actually paired very well together. For entrees we had a lobster pasta, but my favorite was the veal. Our server brought us a dessert sampler since they were out of the napoleon which was such a nice treat :) Can't wait to return!!

We came here for my birthday dinner just my husband and I. I've been wanting to try this place for a while and it was the perfect time. It is very romantic inside with the dim red lighting and the booths. The service here is great. I could hear a lot of the staff speaking Italian so it felt really authentic. One thing I liked is that they are preparing the pasta in front of you. They have nice selection of wine as well. I ended up getting the salmon alla Stromboli and it was delicious. I wish there was more shrimp on it though! Because it was my birthday they sang happy birthday to me in Italian and gave me some cake! The cake was delicious and they gave me a rose at the end of the meal. Definitely a great experience for a special occasion.

Step into a feeling of old world Italy with music and delicious dishes from Antipasti to pasta and meat and seafood dishes. This was my first visit and on a Saturday night, they offer valet parking only (so don't forget the cash to tip!). Entering the restaurant we were greeted warmly by "Gino" and about a hundred photos of celebrities all over the walls. From Frankie Valli to Kevin Sorbo and government leaders, for 40 years you can see this was no ordinary restaurant and has its own place in history. We made a reservation - highly recommend - and all of the tables were in a dimly lit dining room that gave you a nostalgic of grandma's kitchen, but with a bit more formality. People were dressed from casual to fancy dress and everything seemed appropriate. The lounge on the opposite side had a band playing all kids of oldies and lounge-style pop songs, that I would not have classified as "jazz" as the website said, but enjoyable nonetheless. We heard so many tables sung Happy Birthday in Italian, you can tell this was a locals favorite for special occasions. I ordered a start Caesar salad which was delicious and made table side. It was a large starter and the dressing had the perfect balance of anchovy and pepper - two ingredients some places cannot get right. My main dish was angel hair pasta with tomato and basil. It was light, tomatoes tasted fresh and they do not skimp on portion size. Everything was delicious, and service impeccable. My only criticism is the prices were a bit steep for Italian food. I'm sure you were paying for the privilege to be in this elite, family history. As we exited, ladies received a beautiful single, long-stem red rose. A romantic gesture that made you forget the bill. Definitely a lovely place for a great meal on special occasions.