Donatelli’s
2692 County Rd E, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110
Donatelli’s Menu
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Appetizer
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Appetizer - Donatellis Dunker
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Soup & Salads
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Wraps
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Half Pound Burgers
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Specialty Pizza Turnovers (calzones)
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Pastas - Specialty Pastas
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Dessert
Diabetics at McDonald's
Most burgers served at McDonald's are low in sugar but there are several burgers which are high in sodium. You must choose burger options which are low in sugar and moderate in sodium content. You can also avoid extra dressings or cheese over your burger to control diabetes at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid for Diabetics at McDonald's
Diabetics will find many tempting food items at McDonald's but most of these food items are also high in sugar or sodium. Diabetics must skip desserts and shakes at McDonald's to avoid sugar spike. You should also skip all McCafe drinks except a few containing low sugar and fat-free options. Besides the drinks and beverages, you should also avoid bacon-based and sausage-based burgers and sandwiches to limit your sodium intake. Diabetics should also skip the sausage-based salad options available at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at McDonald's
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 1070mg sodium, 27g carbs, 6g sugar, 6g fiber, 37g Protein
Egg McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 300 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 760mg sodium, 30g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets®
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 17g Protein
Kiddie Cone
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0.5g), 20mg sodium, 8g carbs, 6g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Iced Latte
Nutritional Facts: 90 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 65mg sodium, 7g carbs, 7g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
World Famous Fries®
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 160mg sodium, 29g carbs, 0g sugar, 3g fiber, 3g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for Donatelli’s
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Appetizer
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Appetizer - Donatellis Dunker
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Soup & Salads
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Wraps
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Half Pound Burgers
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Specialty Pizza Turnovers (calzones)
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Pastas - Specialty Pastas
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Dessert
High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Most burgers at fast food joints contain a high amount of sodium. You must keep your sodium intake in check if you are suffering from high blood pressure. McDonald's offers a wide range of burgers based on your diet preferences. Choose the right burger and avoid French fries at all cost while dining at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid at McDonald's for High Blood Pressure
Avoid Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Burger and Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles at McDonald's as both these burgers are high in sodium. Skip extra cheese and avoid French fries if possible as they are too greasy and can add to your sodium intake. Also, avoid all types of sausage-based burgers or sandwiches at McDonald's to limit your sodium levels.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Filet-O-Fish®
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 19g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 560mg sodium, 38g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
Baked Apple Pie
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 95mg sodium, 35g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Vanilla Cone
Nutritional Facts: 200 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 95mg sodium, 32g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Americano
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Coffee
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 20mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0 g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at MCDONALD'S
Cholesterol is the biggest concern for people visiting McDonald's, especially people suffering from high cholesterol. You can order chicken or egg burgers instead of ham or cheeseburgers to maintain your cholesterol levels at McDonald's. In addition, you can also try the salads and opt for drinks that low in sugar.
Foods to Avoid at MCDONALD'S for High Cholesterol
Bacon-based items are often too greasy and high in bad cholesterol. If you are concerned about high cholesterol, then you must avoid all bacon-based burgers and salads. Also, skip the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders to keep your cholesterol levels in check. You must also keep sausage-based items at bay when dining at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at MCDONALD'S
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Egg White Delight McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 780mg sodium, 29g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 16g Protein
McChicken®
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 590mg sodium, 39g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 15g Protein
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 125mg sodium, 22g carbs, 12g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Hamburger Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 480 calories, 16g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 680mg sodium, 62g carbs, 21g sugar, 3g fiber, 22g Protein
Cappuccino
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 6g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 80mg sodium, 9g carbs, 9g sugar, 0g fiber, 6g Protein
Yoplait® GO-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 0.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 30mg sodium, 9g carbs, 5g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A for McDonald's
When McDonald's first opened?
McDonald's began its operations by converting food and drinks stand called "The Airdrome" into first McDonald's restaurant.
When does McDonald's open?
McDonald's opens daily at 5:30 AM and stays open until 11:00 PM.
Which McDonald's is open 24 hours?
Unfortunately, there are not a single McDonald's which operates 24/7.
Where's McDonald's near me?
There are over 13,905 McDonald's outlets in the United States itself. You can find a McDonald's nearby with the help of our Restaurant Listings directory.
When McDonald's start and stop serving breakfast?
McDonald's starts serving breakfast at 5:30 AM daily until 10:30 AM.
When McDonald's start and stop serving lunch?
McDonald's starts serving lunch at 10:30 AM from Monday to Friday and 11:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Meals are also served during lunch hours.
Will McDonald's bring back the McRib?
McRib is back at McDonald's since October 2018.
Will McDonald's bring back spicy McChicken?
McDonald's in the United States has no plans currently to bring back the Spicy McChicken.
Will McDonald's bring back the Grand Mac?
McDonald's doesn't serve Grand Mac currently and there are no plans to bring it back anytime sooner. You can always try the Big Mac if you have a large appetite for burgers.
Are McDonald's milkshakes gluten free?
Yes, all flavors of McDonald's milkshakes are gluten-free. Nearly all beverages served at McDonald's are gluten-free.
Are McDonald's burgers gluten-free?
Unfortunately, McDonald's does not serve gluten-free burgers. All the buns and other ingredients such as fried chicken patties, grilled chicken patties, beef patties, sauces, condiments, etc. contain gluten.
Are McDonald's Apple Pies vegan?
Generally, Apple Pies are prepared using shortcrust pastry which contains eggs. However, McDonald's Apple Pie pocket is vegan-friendly as it is both dairy and egg free.
Are McDonald's Veggie Burgers vegan?
Veggie Burgers served at McDonald's are purely vegan. Just remember to skip the sauce as the sandwich sauce contains egg.
Are McDonald's Milkshakes vegetarian?
Yes, McDonald's milkshakes are 100% vegetarian and don't contain any meat product.
When did McDonald's introduce McCafe?
McDonald's McCafe was introduced by McDonald's as a separate coffee chain in 1993. The café also served great bakery and pastry besides offering a great variety of coffee beverages.
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About McDonald's
McDonald's is the largest American fast food company with over 37,855 outlets spread across 100 countries. Primarily known for hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and French fries, McDonald's menu also serves chicken dishes, breakfast products, soft drinks, wraps, milkshakes, and desserts today. The restaurant chain introduced smoothies, salads, fish, and fruits on the menu to offer healthy food options at McDonald's.
The restaurant began its operations in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, United States. The name of the restaurant comes from its founders Richard and Maurice McDonald. The siblings started the food business as a hamburger stand which was later converted into a restaurant franchise in 1953. The first Golden Arches logo was also introduced in the same year.
Healthy Food Options at McDonald's
McDonald's was highly criticized for its unhealthy food options. Being a renowned brand and a popular fast food chain, McDonald's decided to revamp its image and decided to serve healthy food options. Most of these healthy food choices were salads, smoothies, fruits, and fish items.
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Address :
2692 County Rd E
White Bear Lake, MN, 55110 - Phone (651) 777-9199
- Website https://www.donatellis.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Beatrice B.
I'm just passing through the area for work purposes and checked the book in the hotel room looking for something to eat. I saw the flyer for Donatelli's, looked up reviews for the restaurant online, and decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did. Everything on the menu looked delicious. They had a wide selection of salads, pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches. After much deliberation, I ordered the baked cheese ravioli with meatballs, and the food came out relatively quickly. I was eating by myself, which often makes the wait seem long, but that wasn't the case at Donatelli's. And the food was delicious. What really made the experience, however, was the server. I wish I remembered her name because she was terrific. She was chatty, but followed my cues, so if I had not wanted to talk, she wouldn't have forced conversation. She took a real interest in what I was doing in town and what my work entailed. She wanted to know where I would be working tomorrow so she could provide instructions on how to get there and give advice on the traffic situation. I enjoyed the meal, the brief conversation, and I took a dessert back to the hotel for later. I just wish I had more time in town so I could try the other menu items.
(4)Beth F.
I spent the first 18 years of my life in Mahtomedi and for as long as I can remember, Donatelli's was near the top of the list of places to go. And seriously, if it's between Donatelli's or that pizza you can get at the Wildwood Bowl, it's pretty obvious which one is the right choice--Donatelli's, hands down. It's close to the White Bear/Mahtomedi border so you're usually assured of running into people from both sides of the lake and with so many menu options, you can get much, much more than just pizza from this restaurant. I've tried a few of the pasta dishes and salads as well and have never been disappointed. I also appreciate how little the decor of this restaurant has changed. They have made some obvious improvements over the years, but the dining room has basically remained the same for a very long time. Things change and people get older but, coming here makes me feel like maybe I'm not as old as I think I am because when I look around, it feels like the exact same restaurant I used to come to when I was kid. I dig it.
(4)Kelly I.
Pizza! I love the thin crust and mountain of toppings under the cheese. We order out this pizza everytime we're back in White Bear and it's definitely a local favorite. We get the garbage pizza with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, onions, and green and black olives and of course the more basic ones for the less adventerous. They also have really good turnovers (aka calzones) and dunkers, french bread smothered in melted mozzarella cheese dipped in marinara sauce (a staple quick fix meal in my family). The dining room is cozy and usually pretty full.
(5)Matt M.
It was good but not great I saw it on Diners Drive ins & Dives and thought it would be great but I would say it's just average but average is always better than bad the lasagna was more pasts than anything very little meat I asked if it was just cheese lasagna ,the sauce was good but tasted like allot of other mom & pop Italian places you can do better but not around here!
(3)Heather W.
Went here with an Aunt and Uncle who were visiting. My aunt had seen it on DD&D and wanted to try it. She had the spaghetti pie, which could easily have fed two people with leftovers. I had the chicken and spinach Cannolini, I do not think the red sauce was everything it was talked up to be but it was decent sauce. What I had was very good. I like the combo of getting red and white sauce. The menu is big with a lot to offer all kinds of different appetites. We went at an off time so thankfully did not have to wait. I would try it again.
(4)Tony Z.
Donatelli's in White Bear Lake has some great authentic Italian. Pizza, Home-made Pasta, Great Homemade Ice Cream, and Italian Sandwiches. My Recommendations are... Heartstopper Pizza: Pepperoni,Sausage,Ham,Bacon,Ground Beef. Need I say more??? Italian Fries: Great appetizer, Pizza dough with garlic butter topped with Mozzarella cheese, Complete with Marinara dunking sauce, Great little snack before your pie comes. Spaghetti with Red Sauce: The red sauce is AMAZING!!! And there home-made Pasta is top notch, Great ol' Classic. Verdict: Great Italian food in the suburbs for an OK price. So if you live up in the Burbs head on over to Donatellis.
(4)J S.
Fresh home made pastas! You can really taste the difference, Good red sauce. Great marinara. Pizza very good thin crust. Service can be a little inconsistent. Located in a strip mall, a hidden gem.
(4)Rhonda G.
Yet another place that if it wasn't for the food channel I wouldn't know existed.This place is roomy. You walk in and the retail section is right there. When you come out, you leave with spumoni, sauce, Italian dressing, and bread, at the very least. The Christmas decorations, you've got to see to believe. The menu is endless. We tried the spaghetti pie for 2. I would have liked something a little firmer with more noodles to hold it together. But the flavor was all there. The bread is the thickest I've ever seen, and the garlic bread is very flavorful. I got full pretty fast, and ate about a fourth of the entree. Reason being, when I go Italian, I have to have a dinner salad. It was a big portion, with a perfectly balanced and seasoned homemade dressing. I plan on trying the pizza soon.Note: problems with the map to get here, and the street markings. You will see a sign highway 244, this is for a right turn only. Left, is WBL,or county rd.E, Not marked whatsoever. It's a major crossroads, and yes turn left here, the restaurant is on the left, just after the turn.(This is coming from St.Paul, across hwy.36 to Century Ave. the best way). So we kept on going and landed at county rd F, and a lake, so we did feel like idiots. My husband told this to the family matriarch, and she wasn't pleased with the city at all. Is it worth the trip, oh yeah!
(5)John A.
One time, during my senior year of high school, I went to Donatelli's with a group of friends late on a Saturday. We became rowdy and boisterous, cussing and telling dirty stories, and the owner yelled at us. Not really yelled--something along the lines of "Can you cut down on the bad language?" except not phrased as a question. More like a command. The place was nearly empty. And there were certainly no kids around us. The ire of the owner felt very parental. I remember thinking that he could have been much more tactful. I'd say this experience formed my opinion of Donatelli's. It's a neighborhood sacrament, and therefore one would be out-of-line to blaspheme inside its walls. If you want to go somewhere with you kids and your sweatpants and your mini-van, then Donatelli's is perfect. But I want to blaspheme. That's my mission when I go out to eat. Donatelli's won't allow it. If you've lived in White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, or Mahtomedi for any portion of your upbringing, you've most likely been to Donatelli's at least a dozen times, maybe more. It's been around for a very long time. It harkens back to the days of ol', when Italian diners were seedy, darkly-lit establishments with lots of cheese, tomato sauce, and neighborhood people. Up until a few years ago, Donatelli's even had those rickety quarter-operated television sets in every booth, although they became increasingly disgusting and worn-out, which prompted their inevitable removal (not to mention all the table space those damn things occupied). Speaking of decor, Donatelli's suffers from an identity crisis. There's always some kind of Pink Panther junk sitting on the ledges above the booths. Christmas decorations tend to linger into February before they're replaced with Valentine's Day decorations--and those stay until, well, the Fourth of July. It's almost as if the staff is too lazy to climb up there. Country music is frequently the soundtrack, which is a different complaint altogether. Where's the Frank Sinatra? Dean Martin? It's not an Italian-American diner without the requisite stereotypes. The pizza is among the best in town, especially the deep dish. Nonetheless, I've detected a subtle decline in quality over the years. There's not enough cheese on the deep dish--and asking for extra never solves anything. The crust is good. But not enough cheese! It's perplexing. And when I say best in town, there's not much competition besides Domino's. They've diminished, stagnated. The staff know their restaurant is a White Bear Lake staple, and thus they know the locals and out-of-towners will continue to come even if they cut corners. Donatelli's is riding on its past reputation. You don't get the sense they're trying to prove themselves to you as a patron. They just expect you to like their food. And this attitude is what breeds mediocrity and slow service. (It doesn't help that they were featured on that stupid Food Network show by the weirdo with the bleached goatee. They advertise this as soon as you walk into the restaurant, playing still-shots from the show on a giant big-screen television mounted above the entrance.) An example of this arrogance is found in the entrees. Most of the entrees, while acceptable, are overpriced. Paying over $10 for a bowl of simple spaghetti and tomato sauce is unjustified in the smaller sized portions they serve. It's never enough. Sure, if it was all-you-can-eat, like a true Italian-American diner, $10 is acceptable. But there's no reason the pasta entrees are in the $12-18 range considering the average quality. It's not bad food. It's just you can get more food, better food, and faster food at literally dozens of other establishments. The rub, however, is that if you're a high schooler in the area, it's not possible to regularly drive to St. Paul or Minneapolis to frequent these superior restaurants--such as DeGidio's, Cossetta, or Buon Giorno. Thus, Donatelli's remains the most popular in the vicinty, if only because of monopoly status. Despite the negativity and nit-picky snobbery oozing from my review, Donatelli's is still the neighborhood hang-out--or at least it was for me and my friends. I've shared many great conversations at Donatelli's sitting in the shadowy corner booths and sucking down slices of pizza and carafes of coke. It has nostalgic value for anyone who graduated from White Bear Lake High School. It's still not bad. But I'd rather eat somewhere with less mediocrity and more tolerance for sour language and blasphemy. The waitresses could be quicker, too.
(3)Jennell E.
I don't love this place, been there twice and tasted four different meals... just OK, not bad food, but I don't think I need to back.
(3)Dan A.
Sooooooo Good! Been going to Donatelli's since I was a kid. The Dunkers are the best thing in the world.
(5)Dixie B.
We had been to Donatelli's a couple of times, before my 82 year old father came up to visit. We wanted to take him somewhere special, and since Donatelli's had been featured on DDD, we took him there. (not to mention, my husband LOVES it) When our food came, it was served by Mr. Donatelli. My father, being one of the last of the old southern gentlemen, began to talk to Mr. D. He sat down, and talked to us for well over 30 minutes. He made my dad feel so welcome, and we found out that his wife had family back home in Arkansas. My dad asked that they stop in. He also told Mr. D, that he would send him some Italian sausage from our packing house back home. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of his visit. My father passed away in November, but my heart will always be with Mr. Donatelli, and the crew! We love the food, but the service, well, it will literally speak for itself! Oh, and by the way, after my dad's funeral, we brought the sausage back for Mr. D.
(5)Nikki B.
Heart stopper (all meat w/sausage, pepperoni, hamburger and bacon) deep dish pizza is the BEST!!!! Also tried the Bacon Cheese Burger turnover is also very good eats. Very big menu with pastas, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and more to choose from. I would try other things but the heart stopper is so good I have to get that every time!!
(5)Melissa G.
My favorite Italian food for miles! I always have a hard time decided between pizza and pasta. Both are amazing. This is a place where you can't go wrong no matter what you order!
(5)Becky M.
We have been "regulars" at Don's for over thirty years. The food is always outstanding and I love that you can buy sauces and soups to take home along with many other items. Don's catered our daughter's wedding 10 years ago and I've never thought of wedding food as being delicious. We had many guests tell us how delicious the food was. I have eaten just about everything on the menu from spaghetti to pizza to burgers and all of it has been outstanding. The staff is fantastic and we feel like they are family after all these years. Don't miss out on delicious food!
(5)Leslie H.
My co-workers and I ordered lunch from here and the driver, Pam, was awesome! They accidentally sent us the wrong pizza, and Pam was back within 20 minutes with the right order. The thin crust is cut into squares and it's easy to eat 7-10 pieces without even thinking about it! Fresh toppings and lots of cheese. Will order from here again for sure.
(4)Kimberly J.
Amazing Service! Amazing Food! They prepared my meal exactly how I specified. Everyone that worked in the front were very nice and the place was packed! I could tell a lot of locals eat there. Lots of menu options and you could even take home frozen pizzas and sauces.
(5)Tony K.
Ok, Tonight I tried their Deep dish heartburn deluxe pizza and I must say that it is bomb diggity. It was all mozzarella and very generous portions of mozzarella and generous amounts of toppings. We had a couple of appetizers as well. The homemade cooked Potatoe chips with sour cream were awesome, and so was there cheesy bread. Also in our group other people ordered pasta dishes they said they really liked. This place puts Buca Di Peppo to shame.
(5)Catherine H.
This is more of a 3.5 star review rating! Overall pretty good Italian food. My boyfriend and I went there because of the diners, drivers, and dives episode. We got: the caprese salad and the donatellis dunker as appetizers and split the mostaccoli and white pizza for entrees. Donatellis tastes like something I'd crave when I'm wanting big, greasy, cheesy pasta. The goods: -the Service was excellent. We were asked about 3 times in 4 minutes If someone had helped us be seated. The good service continued at the table- we were waited on promptly, served quickly, and no issues with checks, beverages, etc. -the caprese salad was amazing. Soft, fluffy mozzarella and delightful balsamic -the mostaccoli was incredible. Fluffy noodles, great meat sauce, and a huge portion. The OKs: -the pizza was just not good. We got the thin crust which didn't taste like thin crust pizza to me- I prefer thin crust pizza when it's thin and crunchy. This tasted like undercooked dough. -the dunker was just okay. Basically a breadstick with cheese and marinara. -literally no healthy options on the entire menu. Even the "healthy" part of the menu wouldn't be good for you. Overall, good experience! Good food and service.
(3)Char D.
We have been patronizing this restaurant for many years. I always order the Italian Fries, so I can't speak of any other menu items. I always tell myself that I'm goi g to try something new, but then I get there and just want what I love. Casual atmosphere & the whole neighborhood is there. Love the ice cream. Servers are relaxed and friendly, never rushing you. Sadly, the prices are a tad on the high side. My husband had spaghetti & meatballs & really enjoyed them. This place is always consistent, relaxed, & loved within the neighborhood.
(4)Karyn P.
Just bought a new house in the neighborhood and didn't have time to cook. Looked on yelp to see what was nearby and this place had good reviews so thought we'd try it. Got a family dinner of chicken and spinach cannaloni with antipasta salad and bread. Well wow we all loved it. Definitely gonna be ordering from this place again. It was delicious and done when they said it would be. Plus lots of leftovers.
(4)Chris B.
This place is awesome. Donatelli's is always on our 'must eat while we are visiting' list when we go up to Minnesota. If you happen to be lactose intolerant you will have a real bad time at Donatelli's. They put enough cheese on most dishes to clog the arteries of an Elephant. It's the exact opposite of healthy food, but damn is it good. I am pretty happy I don't live near this place because I would likely weigh 756 pounds. Give or take 5 pounds. If you don't mind indulging in some heavy, cheese-filled goodness on occasion, you shuold definitely swing by Donatelli's. I can't imagine how you could leave there unsatisfied in any way.
(5)James G.
I've enjoyed eating here for 35 years. First time I've been disappointed. I ordered the large antipasto salad. Six thin slices of pepperoni, maybe a half an ounce of ham, a dozen sliced olives at most, and I had to search to find the three small pieces of mushroom in a large bowl. They have the best Italian vinaigrette in the US (and that includes some top Italian restaurants in NYC), but that doesn't make $3 of salad ingredients worth $14.99. Even a very good restaurant can have a bad day, but what really disappointed me, is that when I mentioned how sparse the goodies in the salad were, the reply I received was "maybe it's a new cook. " No apology, and no offer to either improve or discount the salad. I'm hoping it really was a new cook and that they haven't decided to go cheap on ingredients.
(3)Dave A.
So many good Italian restaurants lately. Here's a picture of what's left of my seafood Cannelloni and fried. Ravioli appetizer. Fresh pasta and homemade ingredients are the best. No wonder it was on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. Massive menu options in every category make this a can't miss place.
(5)Steven J.
Our company highly recommended this restaurant . So we went to dinner had the spaghetti and meatballs and it was the best Iv had in years. Finished it off with a hot fudge Sunday , probably shouldn't have done that but oh well it was great too.
(5)Ryan S.
Went out with the family. They didn't really have much in the way of "lighter choices" so I went with a salad. The dressing ( I think it was a sun dried tomato vinaigrette) was really pretty good. The service was good and the rest of the group seemed to enjoy the pizzas and pastas they got. It's a little out of the way for us so I can't imagine going back any time soon.
(3)Jordan P.
Homemade pasta, noodles, and meatballs. Pretty much everything here is made from scratch daily. I was extremely excited to eat here as I'm a triple d fanatic. Tried multiple dishes including a couple baked ones, heart stopper pizza, and of course their famous meatballs. Heart stopper was decent, everything else was bland bland bland. I'm talking $1.00 can of hunts and some frozen meatballs bland. You want to try this place but can't make the drive? Spend $7.00 at the grocery store and save yourself the trouble. Scratched this one off my twin cities restaurant bucket list, but I won't be returning. Mama Mia! Thatza Crappy Meataball!
(1)Emily M.
This is a go to restaurant for my husband and I. They have a great gluten free and I've never gotten sick eating here (celiac disease). The rolls they found are amazing.The waitstaff works hard and does a great job. I would live to give this restaurant a 5. Unfortunately I can not recommend the ice cream. They clearly mark which flavors are gf. But the chance of cross contamination is high. The gf ice cream tubs are kept behind gluten filled flavors. Also, the girls working the front have an attitude. If you can pay your server the experience is great.
(3)Josh K.
The girlfriend and I stopped in Sunday evening around 6.30. Considering she grew up in the area, she said it was a must to take me here. I've known of the place well before the Triple D episode (I grew up not too far away so I know the area very well), and have wanted to go, so it was only natural to check it off. Very nice, well separated space for dining in or if you're stopping in to pick up chow to go. Like that design. We got seated, and service was great. Very attentive and questions were answered when posed to the server. The woman opted for the chicken parm sandwich with a side Caesar salad and I went with the chicken linguini pesto. Not too long of a wait and the Caesar salad arrives. Very good one I might add. Getting this as a meal with some chicken for lunch doesn't seem like a bad proposition at all. Not an over powering fishy flavor, decent lemon zest flavor to it, the croutons were not out of a box - gotta love that. As the salad plate gets cleared, a very short time later our food arrives. I opted for spinach and traditional noodles in the linguini, which was a great choice. Good flavor mix there and it looked better than all white. Pesto was ok. Not world beating great, but, not tasteless green crap some places will try and pass off to you. It was missing something though. For me, it was missing that little extra garlic zip. I know I'm a garlic junky (gotta ward off vampires at all times!), but, the pesto fell short in giving that garlicy/basily little extra. Again, it was solid in that you could get the olive oil-basil base to it, but, definitely lacked the extra I was hoping for from a place like this. Noodles were done well, and weren't too smooshy or not done enough, that's always nice when a place knows how to boil noodles properly. The chicken was plentiful and went very well with the overall flavor profile. I did need to add some cracked pepper from the table, just for that little extra flavor kick. It was a light dish though, as I was hoping for. Garlic toast was ok, I stole some of the girlfriends marinara from her sandwich to make it go beyond ok. The chicken parm sandwich, not bad. Lots of bread. We ate it without the top piece because it was just a lot of bread. I'd highly recommend keeping the top off (as any man would say to a woman) and dipping cuts into the sauce or spooning it on and cutting away. Solid place, because it's the girlfriends favorite place, I'm sure I'll be back - which isn't bad at all.
(4)Shelly E.
It was our 1st time here, can you believe that! I've always heard good things and how generous Donatelli's is in giving back to the community so I was so glad to have finally taken the time to check it out. We met a friend there on a Sunday night at 6:30pm and it was packed with families, couples and friends all having a great time. The wine list was limited but they have great whites from Italy reasonably priced. Prices were surprisingly higher than I expected but WOW was the food great and the staff was fun and inviting (love Tony). The owner was so fun to meet and talk too, everyone loves him you could tell! Thanks for a fun night! We've added Donatelli's to one of our Go-To places!!!
(4)Amy R.
I really liked this place. A friend told us this was a good place if we wanted to eat decent Italian. In our attempt to make it here the other night, we gave up as it was a 35 min wait. Drove back today during lunch and got right in. The place fills up fast though and has a pretty good customer/ regular base. Booths all along the sides. Not sure what the pink panther theme is about, but cute. Ordered the onion rings for an appetizer. They were pretty good. Not too greasy and they serve quite a few. Usually don't order apps, but we knew the pizza would take awhile. Also ordered the Super HeartBurn Deluxe deep dish which is: - Sausage -Pepperoni -Onions -Mushrooms -Green Peppers -Black and Green Olives I must say, out of all the deep dish crusts I've tried in the Twin Cities, this is my favorite by far. I don't typically like deep dish- it's too much damn crust. This was a nice thickness, good dough and subtle. Plus the cheese was on top, not sauce caked on top and then the ingredients below. Sorry Chicago deep dish- I just don't like your deep dish. J thought it was good, but not Chicago good. Service was great. Extensive Menu Gluten Free Menu Catering Menu To Go Market Gelato Really cute place and always busy. They have so many more items I would like to try. Their bread looked amazing. I'll be back.
(4)Roxanne J.
We have been dining here for years, long before the guy (DDD) episode that has sadly ruined this restaurant! We stopped in on a Monday night around 7:00 pm and boy was I excited to be back at what used to be my all time favorite restaurants. The first thing I noticed was what seemed like the staff was confused with how to seat you, the next surprise was how much they have raised the prices when looking over the menu....yikes! When the server finally found the time to visit our table she offered absolutely nothing but taking our order, she was pleasant but not helpful in any way. We ordered Italian fries as an appetizer which was good but was a little tiny portion! We ordered our entrees at the same time which took forever to come out, when my lasagne came out it was cold on one side and hot on the other and the cheese was not cooked.....the only thing this could be from is pre-made, pre-frozen and then microwaved food......I have had Stouffer's frozen lasagne at a fraction of the price that is way better! The flavor was bland and the noodles were mushy. Back to our server who offered nothing....let me explain, a different server who was bubbly and attentive with the people they sat next to us (tables are so close together in the middle section they may as well have been on our laps) well you couldn't help but over hear the conversation! She ran through the list of specials and helped them with suggestions, I was pissed when I found out they had a spaghetti and meatball special for $9.00 going on that we weren't even told about! I would have complained about my lasagne but she never came back until she offered our check and I had to request a box so I could go home and finish cooking my dinner. I left the restaurant so sad and feeling really screwed over! I don't know who they think they are kidding by serving microwaved food now? Also you have to pay an extra $4.00 for a salad? Since when do you have to pay extra for a salad that should come with an overpriced bowl of mushy microwaved bland noodles? I really think the DDD show has ruined what used to be a great place....what happened?????????? Portions have really shrunk too. Oh and I should mention the booth next to us were all complaining about the food as well so it wasn't just me!
(2)Dana J.
LOVE this place!! When you come in there is a couple freezers where you can buy the dough, sauces, soups, ice cream and gelato, and then you walk past that to find the host stand. The restaurant itself is not very big so sometimes there can be a wait. The decoration inside is nothing fancy, and the center tables can be a little squeeze sometimes. But the servers are always very quick! Pepsi products along with a large selection of wine and beer. The menu, where to begin? It's almost 20 pages! Pizza, endless pasta options, hoagies, calzones, spaghetti, burgers, wraps, and lots of gluten free options, everything! I've tried cheese curds, cheese fries, Italian fries for appetizers which are all greasy and fabulous! Pizza I have had BBQ chicken which is TO DIE FOR! A couple different size options, also for pasta I've had chicken Alfredo and chicken a la Donatellis. All very good and always enough to bring home and i would like to think I have a big appetite! Prices are average for Classic Italian. Love this family owned restaurant!!
(5)Kate H.
I usually have a great experience with Donatellis. The food and service is usually very good! I love their meatball sliders! Today I had a bad experience. Our food took longer than usual to come when we ordered our lunch for delivery. When our order arrived, one of our entrees was missing. I called the restaurant and told them what had happened. They took a while to respond but finally put the order in. Five minutes later I got a snappy phone call from Victoria who originally took the order. The customer service was awful!!!
(1)Krystal M.
Always excellent every time I am there. I grew up going here and after their renovation it is so much more roomy and nice,
(5)Gene H.
Baked Mostaccioli was awesome as were the Italian Fries.....bought some of the meat sauce to go!
(5)Sarah E.
Great experience here tonight. Service was attentive, not rushed or lagging. Food was all excellent tasting and a filling quantity. Left with enough for a couple more meals. The casual yet clean & modern atmosphere was perfect for a family dinner.
(4)Hannah F.
Reliable, good quality italian food. The gelato is great too!
(4)Ann V.
I am normally tolerable with restaurants but I feel I need to let others know. This is one of the worst places I have been to. Food was horrible and service was worse. I was expecting hand made pasta dishes. What a disappointment to have delivered heated up frozen meals. Stoeffers from the grocery is better. To top of the whole event was when the waitress took away our 3/4 full plates and did not even ask if anything was wrong. Guessing that they are use to it.
(1)Jeff N.
It is nice to have quality options when one of us (me) doesn't want Italian and the other 3 do. I have tried most of the menu and have liked everything. Lately it has been Meatball sliders for me. I love them. They have a good selection of locally brewed beers and local wines. They can be pretty busy so get there early, come on a week night or prepare to wait to be seated
(5)Cook Like A.
Always a great dining experience. Homemade pastas are de-lish. Red sauce the way it should be and THE BEST wait staff.
(5)Anne T.
I live in Minneapolis, but I have no problem making the trek out for the amazing food at Donatelli's. The ambiance is kitchy and wierd, but in a good, cozy way. I generally do not like red sauce at all - but I just could not get enough of it here. There menu is huge, but I prefer the Mostaccioli. It is so rich and cheesy, gooey, yummy. I was skeptical about the suburban strip mall location, but I'm so glad I went because it is best tasting and priced Italian food in the Twin Cities.
(5)Andrea B.
This review is for catering::: I ordered the catering for my elopement wedding reception from here...sight unseen and taste untasted completely based on one relative's recommendation and an episode on a food TV show. I'm a little crazy. It was delicious and the fella they sent to help serve the food was a gem. Manicotti with meat and cheese was awesome! Also the Alfredo pasta and the spinach tortellini (I didn't get any but everyone raved!) . Since then, we've stopped by a couple of times for food and pizza and everything on the menu has been tastetastic.
(5)William S.
If you love Italian this a must stop. The service is nothing less than outstanding! Within seconds after being seated I was greeted by my waitress and she promptly brought my drink order to the table. The restaurant was busy so I expected a wait. It was a very pleasant dining experience. The meal was perfect. The red sauce on the chicken parmesan had just the right amount of spices and not overwhelming. The meal was delivered hot and fast. A quick glance around the restaurant showed many mouthwatering dishes. Portions are very large but the waitress divided my meal in half filling the "to go" box.
(5)Gemma B.
I try not to take my dining tips from a TV personality with too much peroxide in his hair, but when we watched Guy Fieri visit this place, my husband marveled at the meatballs, and, well, I can never turn down a good bowl of pasta. So, when a bunch of us went up to Minnesota, we checked it out. It seemed like a good value. Glad we did. The meatball sandwich was made out of the same garlic toast that was on the side of my bowl of straw and hay, and the portions were huge enough for us to easily make it both our very late lunch and very early dinner. One of us ordered the butternut squash ravioli that I want to check out next time -- I simply cannot say no to house-made pasta. Please note that, when you order gelato, the portions are just huge. One scoop? Try two and a half. I'm not exactly complaining, though. Going again. And again. Will probably not go for baked pasta dishes, though, because I don't think that's the best use of the components. Give me a good pasta and a good sauce anyway. I was eyeing the meatballs on my husband's plate through the whole meal.
(5)Samuel W.
If the sight of Guy Fieri makes you lose your appetite (don't laugh; it's a serious medical condition), I'd suggest either avoiding this place or lightly burning your retinas in the parking lot to induce blurriness. I mean, don't get me wrong; I get it. He went there. That's cool. A picture reminding people would've sufficed. I'm not sure whether it's the constant assault of stills from his visit flashing across the TV on repeat or the giant poster of Guy doing the backstroke in a pool of red sauce wearing only a slice of pizza for dignity, but one of them goes too far (just kidding... about one of the two). I'll let you painfully struggle for a moment to get that image out of your head before I continue. Anyway, I've been here several times (three or four before the whole DDD thing exploded) and I actually enjoyed the food in the beginning. The prices seemed appropriate--you weren't getting anything for a steal but your wallet wasn't bled dry--and the portions were fine. I remember liking the stuffed shells and lasagna. But honestly, even though our last two visits have been disappointing in contrast to my various recollections of the place, I think they would've been disappointing regardless. We ended up waiting for a little over an hour for a table the last time we were here. This wasn't an issue as the place was obviously busy and they seemed to do a good job of keeping everyone's moods stabilized (regularly walking around with free squares of cheese pizza, cheese bread, bread sticks and offering generous samples of beer and wine) which I appreciated. However, since we were already very hungry when we first arrived, we were absolutely ravenous by the time we were seated. I almost think this little place has sort of outgrown itself. More so than almost anywhere else I get the vibe that the staff here is stretched very thin and even though everyone is nice enough you end up feeling rushed. While we were browsing the menu, we noticed that it seemed like the prices had increased quite marginally. We assumed that the quantities would be similar so we didn't give it too much thought. I went with my old reliable (or, at least, I thought) stuffed shells and my girlfriend opted for the gluten free cheese pizza. I will say that it felt like it took forever to get our food but I think it was mostly just because I was hungry like the wolf. It finally came. I spat out the hunk of paneling I had pried off the wall and started chewing on for sustenance. I looked down and, to my surprise, the portion was tiny. There were three very small stuffed shells sitting in red sauce with a mini cheese blanket. My girlfriend's pizza was a typical 10" variety. I ignored my initial disappointment and dug in. The sauce seemed very over-reduced to the point of being nearly the thickness of tomato paste and it was saltier than an old sea captain. Once I scraped the vast majority of it off, I discovered that my twelve dollar entree (of shells stuffed with absolutely nothing interesting or meaty; a concoction laden heavily with ricotta with a couple stray dry spices thrown in to the mix) could easily fit in the palm of my hand. I get it. It's probably an appropriate serving size. But around here, eagles cry glittery tears and people expect to stuff themselves like wolves with traumatic brain injuries. I ate it. It was blah. By the time I finished, I was legitimately still hungry. My girlfriend's pizza was extremely salty (from the sauce) and she, too, ended up scraping most of it off. She had a couple slices before she simply didn't want any more of it. I found myself feeling bad for our waiter who was darting around like a raped ape. He had a lot of larger tables and he overlooked us for pretty much everything other than hastily taking the order, bringing the drinks and dropping the check. When we needed something, I had to try and awkwardly flag him down while he was running past. Honestly? I'd have rather been at Degidio's, period. I'm not trying to name drop, but I can't help it. The food is way better, the ambiance is far more pleasant, the servers don't seem as under the gun and the portions easily get the weeping eagle stamp. In the end, we waited a little over an hour, received rushed service and shelled out 37 bucks (tip included) for a water, a non-alcoholic drink and two entrees that left us both still hungry. I'm giving this place three stars because it was obvious that they're trying. I really did appreciate the polite little things they did while people were waiting and the guy serving out the beer and wine samples was awesome as shit. I may try and justify coming back here at some point but it will be a long, long time. I have that Guy Fieri medical condition.
(3)Bob B.
Not a big fan anymore. Ordered a thin crust with pepperoni and green peppers. Hurt my eyes looking for the peppers. I still think their pizza is overpriced. I can get the very same pizza in NJ or AZ for half the price. Lastly, can someone explain to me why they slice it into little squares. Is this geared towards little children?
(2)Julia E.
Huge menu! Pizza is great, pasta is great, they do a good lunch that can be executed over a real lunch hour. Good place for casual family-friendly eating. Never disappointed and very friendly staff! We took a BOGO coupon here once and when they left a topping off our pizza we got to take the coupon with us to use a second time and they discounted the one pizza that we had paid for! Haven't tried their ice cream, catering, or take and bake yet, but as a pasta lover I love having them in the neighborhood!
(5)Casey P.
Not the nicest establishment as far as looks go. But worth it for the food. Prepare to wait at least 20 minutes for a table but no worries, it's worth the wait. Very good food. Just not some place you would want to stick around and hang out after your meal for long. If you're just here for a weekend, it is definitely a must go.
(4)Christina H.
I have always came here, however sadly they have gotten worse and worse the staff and the quality it just isnt what it used to be :( Very sad, to say but I would not recommend this place for a family or anyone, unless the other choice is taco bell.
(2)Rick T.
Bought a shrimp pizza at this place because I was on my DDD phase usually he gets it wrong in MN big time, but I really liked the pizza w some good red wine. It warmed me up from the frigid cold!
(4)Shaun R.
The Good: Red Sauce, Big Portions, Free Cheese Bread (while wanting), Reasonable Prices, Great Service The Bad: Gigantic Unfocused Menu, Quantity over Quality The Ugly: The Pink Panther Decor (not a deal breaker for me but I wouldn't take a first date here) The Verdict: If I am in the mood for Italian and in the area I will be back to support this Mom and Pop shop, I just wish they focused their menu a bit more and had more quality fresh ingredients.
(4)John N.
I knew this place was on Triple-D and since my whole crew from work was with me and was un-decided on where to go, I stepped up and presented this as our Dinner Recommendation. At the end of dinner everyone was very happy with the choice. There is nothing special about the actual place (being in a strip mall), however the wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. The Food was just as good as described on the show! They do not or never had Calamari... which is very odd for an Italian Place. We had a group of 8 of us and they had no problem seating us right away. Portions were big and tasty, and many menu options to choose from. Being from New York and knowing what real pizza is, I of course did not choose pizza, so when reading some of the other reviews about Pizza, I discounted them. The actual dinners were spot on and I would go back again, if I ever had the opportunity.
(5)Jer N.
Loved all the Gluten Free meals. I never thought Italian could taste so good without Gluten. I'm a Fan, Tried 4 items so far, mostly from what i saw on TV. Highly recommend this place when in the mood for Italian, hungry, and or have Gluten Allergies. I don't have allergy's, but am a believer all wheat is bad news. --Jer
(4)James S.
Antipasto salad is to die for. Also, their huge meatballs & spaghetti! So good: 5 stars.
(5)Kathy S.
I actually went to Donatelli's about 2 months ago (oops on not reviewing it earlier!) and it still sticks out in my mind as one of the greatest places for fresh pasta. I need to get around to trying some more places that do it fresh, but for now, Donatelli's will most certainly do. Portions for spaghetti were gigantic, so much so that I had it for both lunch and dinner the next day. Dessert was a huge, classic hot fudge sundae, which we polished off in about 3 minutes. The service was good, and overall it was a great experience. Only things I can complain about are the very crowded entry/waiting area, and the weird decor. Otherwise, I'll come back here for spaghetti anytime!
(4)E. C.
Go during off peak hours unless you have time to sit around and wait. They expanded about a year ago but didn't add any additional seating in the general dining area. They added a gelato bar but I don't think its really worth it as they don't have the luxuriousness, richness and depth of flavor that I would expect from traditional gelato. The pasta seems to also disappoint me too, always overcooked and bland. However the burgers (blue cheese), ice cream (all) and pizza (bacon cheeseburger) always seem to meet expectations. For the ice cream, they really give you your moneys worth so its a great sharing thing. See if they have any off menu items too, they sometimes do and are delicious! I have had their fried green beans and pepperoncini with marinara and both are tasty. The staff is funny and laid back which is awesome. They make you feel welcome and try to accommodate all requests.
(2)Aaron S.
Fantastic gem in the northern twin cities!! Their pasta is phenomenal, homemade every day. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. One of my favorites in the cities!
(5)sarah p.
After watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a few months ago, I made a mental note to make my way north to White Bear Lake to try on Donatelli's. On this chilly, chilly day, my family decided that we'd warm ourselves up with some heavy Italian for lunch and thought it was time to see what D3 was raving about. 30 minutes later, we were seated in a booth in a kitchy Christmas themed room. An absolutely perfect beginning. When we got our meals of meatballs, rigatoni, and spaghetti with meat sauce, we all raved that it was worth the trip. The red sauce was delightfully fresh, the pasta was delicately delicious. Everything tasted homemade with love. While we were all gorged by the end, husband couldn't refuse a cup of birthday cake ice cream to go (it is afterall our daughter's 1st bday tomorrow). Afterwards, we decided to take a tour of WBL, which none of us had ever been to...and I have to say that I think it's quite a cute town that I could see myself spending a day in next summer -- and I'll be sure to stop by Donatelli's to pick up some food to freeze for later.
(4)Bill W.
Donatelli's has always been a great supporter of the White Bear Lake community and it's time to give them some well deserved kudos. Yes, Donatelli's was fortunate enough to be covered on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Good for them - They deserve it! The food is OK+ ; nothing that makes me cry out in gustatory bliss but I definitely appreciate the love that goes into each and every order. I try to order stuff I don't typically make at home; their baked spaghetti pie comes to mind and was pretty darn good! Enough for 3-4 people and after splitting it with my daughter, took most of it home. By the way, their packaging of the leftovers is surprisingly good and I can see why they do such a great take-out biz The best asset of Donetelli's is the people that work here; everyone is so welcoming - treating you like neighbors that any ?? about the food is quickly overshadowed. If you have been a good boy or girl this year, treat yourself to the hot fudge cake dessert....OMG, its chocolate nirvana & crazy big so get ready !
(4)Mallory B.
UPDATE!! Pasta menu conquered and it is deeee-lish! The Smoked Mozzerella Ravioli is verrrry good! The sauce has a little kick and the chicken was done just right, not too dry! The Pizza Turnovers are also superb - with a crispy crust that pushes them over the top of all other turnovers/calzones I've ever had! Fettuccine Alfredo was great as well! Ohh...and try the Blend red wine that they currently have - it's phenom!
(5)Nate L.
Bring your empty belly, sit down and carb up. The only thing stopping a five star is prolly my personal preference for red sauce... but Donnatelli's is no slouch. Big dipper cheese bread and sauce was a nice intro to my first time at D's. Set the table for what the base of Italian pasta would be - the sauce. I went simple with Italian sausage rigatoni bowl. Sausage was good. I'm picky with that too. Anyways, my choice was a basic staple and done very neatly. Others in our crew had baked pasta dishes ranging from the rich, caloric value seafood to one promoted by that fool Ferrari (sp?). All served hot and timely. Weird it's in a strip mall. That set my expectations low, maybe not Olive Garden low but still. Perception is nothing here. Well done and thank you. Our server was excellent and had just enuf wit to put me in my place. Very knowledgeable of the menu, patient and willing to note something isn't his fav.
(4)David P.
Geez this place is great. I sampled the pizza (the best pizza in Minneapolis next to Punch) and the ballyhooed Mostaciolli. The stand out for the pizza is really the sauce. My father who I've never heard praise a restaurant couldnt say enough (or eat enough). The sauce was likewise great on the Mostaciolli (the same)? But the pasta was truly a stand out. If you've never had fresh made pasta (as they do). You *must* try it. It is much better than non-fresh! Highly recommended!
(4)Brandon B.
I have been coming to this place for about 15 years, and I have never had a bad experience. The food is always amazing, especially the Italian Jambalaya, and the service is always excellent. The only complaint that I have is how busy it has gotten since they appeared on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I will typically go there only on weekdays between the lunch and dinner rush to avoid long waits.
(4)Paul H.
Very good Italian food, good sized portions and excellent red sauce. Great lasagna and pizzas. Service is fast, friendly and attentive. My only complaint is that the prices (like everything else) has gone up dramatically. It irks me to pay over 20.00 for a large everything on it pizza, and OVER 6.00 FOR A MALT...disgusting. Guess that's what happens when you have been eating at the same place for 26 years.
(4)Jacque U.
We recently bought our first home in WBL and I figure that Donatelli's will be our new pizza place, so we checked it out a few weeks ago. We ordered a pizza for pick up, sausage & green olive, pan crust. I'm really more of a thin crust girl but hubs is a deep dish guy so we compromised (especially since they don't have a deep dish option). The pizza was good, didn't seem to be anything special to me. I'd definitely like to try the thin crust option next. I also perused the menu and they have a LOT of options! I saw a number of dishes I'd like to try. Thankfully, now that I'm practically a neighbor, I will!
(4)Andy O.
Yep, I saw it on Triple-D just like everyone else but I had to come and try it out. First of all the staff is great, super friendly service and they make you feel like family. The food is great. They have a HUGE menu so there is always something new to try. (FYI, they also have a gluten-free menu which includes pasta and pizza which was helpful for a friend of mine). The Alfredo is good, the Baked Mostaccoli is great and the Baked Linguini Carbonara is outstanding! I am always full as can be leaving with plenty leftover for tomorrow's lunch. Fun place, definitely check it out.
(4)heerain p.
So I'm a big fan of Triple D (Guy Fieri's show on Food Network) and Guy visited this family owned Italian restaurant during his travels in Minneapolis. So now I had to go too! We went right before the holidays and the decorations were simply delightful. My 2 year old daughter had a ball. I came in knowing I would get the Turnover (same as Guy) - which is synonym for a Calzone. The Salami turnover was good, but well paired with the homemade marinara sauce. My wife had the chicken & spinach pasta - half covered with the marinara sauce and other other half with a white alfredo sauce. Good food, loaded with Mozzarella, hot and very satisfying!
(3)Curio D.
So delicious and heart warming! They are welcoming to all people and are a staple of the community of White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi. Camilo my brother works here and is very happy to be an integral part of the community:)
(5)Tommy_n_Loretta C.
Great food. Our server was really nice and offered my sons a free taste of ice cream from their ice cream counter. The pasta was great, I was disappointed that the mostaccoli wasn't a bigger portion for the $15 price tag. The bread was excellent. Overall, we will return to this restaurant in the future.
(4)Alex C.
This is my standby. The food is always decent but the atmosphere and service is second to none. The buffalo chicken pizza turnover, cheese burger pizza, and Italian fries are awesome. Both the anti pasta and anti pasta lite salads are good as well as they make a great home made dressing. Everything else is decent. They provide the best ice cream deal around, get a small dish and it is four large scoops despite the posting saying there are only two scoops. Watch out for lines if you come around 5 on the weekends.
(4)Cortney G.
One word: Love. The best deep dish pizza in the TC. Even better than Davanni's, my former go-to spot when I needed a deep dish fix. Salads? So perfect. And enough to feed your whole house (slash supply yourself with lunch for the week) with one of 'em. De-lish.
(5)Adam S.
Tried Donatelli's this past weekend. I usually like to go to place a few times before I give it a review, especially a 5 or 1 star. But I'll go out on a limb and give it my 5 star review now. We were quickly seated on a friday night, which I was surprised about based on a few comments, but a line formed shortly after. They bribed their waiting customers with Italian Fries, made me wish we would've had to wait. I split a pizza with friend and the wives ordered Pasta. Everyone was very happy with their meal. Their sauce has the right blend of spice in it, pack's a little punch, but paltable for everyone. I thought their sausage could've been better, but it was ok. Service was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly and very quick. Sadly no tap beers, but I can drink summit from a bottle.
(5)Marie H.
Awesome food, awesome service. Great for hungry kids. DO IT! :)
(5)Cobb N.
If you think this place is great, you don't know great Italian food. It isn't terrible, but you won't get a taste of the old world here. Food is "supposedly" fresh, but flavors leave you wanting more. I would recommend staying away from the steak and alfredo sauce. A couple things that rub me wrong about this place: 1) They increased all their prices after being on DD&D, which to me is a slap in the face to all their former customers that kept them in business prior. But I guess it makes good business sense... 2) The higher prices don't reflect the quality you'd expect Instead of being a place that took pride in their food, they took pride in their publicity and to me are now something of a "tourist" attraction. So much hype it can never live up to expectations. Time to resume the quest for the real deal...
(2)Esther K.
Had high hopes it wasn't anything special, not bad just ok... Maybe we caught them on a bad day the place was packed and they've been around a long time.
(3)Andrew H.
Talk about high expectations that were met. We saw this restaurant on DDD a few months ago and thought "if we are ever in Minneapolis..." well sure enough we found ourselves planning a Midwest vacation this year. To say we planned the trip around a visit to Donatelli's might be a slight exaggeration but it was definitely on the "must see" places. Our original plans had us landing at MSP at noon and we were going to drive up and have lunch here, well after an 8 hour maintenance delay (thank you Delta) we finally got to Minneapolis at 8 p.m. We called Donatelli's and luckily they are open until 10 so we scooted up there. After searching the strip malls on all four corners of the intersection we found it. Sat right down and relaxed after a very long day. The friendliest waitress in the world came up, took one look at our tired faces and asked us what kind of beer we wanted and the first ones were on her. What a great start to an even better meal and experience. So began one of the most pleasant dining and social experience Kathy and I have had in a long time. The bread was amazing, hot and fresh, we split the Baked Mostaccioli and it was everything you could ever want in a cheesy, meaty goodness of a dish. Had an extra meatball on the side and another couple of beers. During the course of the meal she asked us about where we were from, why were in Minnesota (wife is from Austin) and all the friendly things people ask about in the Midwest. After finished the owner came over and said hello, thanked us for coming and told us about the decor, which is not to everyone's taste, but still fun. Anyway -- do not miss the opportunity to eat here, it is a true gem and find.
(5)Mark H.
It smells like heaven when you walk into the place (which, is located in an unassuming suburban strip mall). You are quickly whisked away to your table (if there is no line ahead of you -- good luck). I found the food to be adequate, but not all the rave that Guy Fieri made it out to be on the episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives that highlighted Donatelli's. I ordered the baked mostaccioli with meatballs. It was pretty good but not as good as the same dish at Degidio's in Saint Paul. The sauce itself was very good, but the meatballs were small and mealy -- like the binder had not fully set. If you want a GREAT meatball, head into Saint Paul and go to Degidio's. We were sitting in one of the many side booths which are nice if you want to attempt to have a normal conversation, but the noise level is still quite high when the place gets to full capacity. The booths have very high backs, which make it somewhat difficult to catch your server's attention when you eventually run out of beverage (you will). Overall, a good place to eat, but not a great place to eat. It does not live up to the Food Network hype.
(3)Krissy D.
I've been going here since I was born. My favorite food/restaurant/people ever. Can't go wrong with ANYTHING on the menu, but be sure to order the I-Fries as an app, or a meal! Also offer GREAT Gluten-Free pasta/pizza/I-Fries!
(5)Mark S.
From what fast experience I had, the place is as advertised. Nice staff. I had the meatball sandwich. My daughter had spaghetti off the kids menu ( she's 2 1/2). Then she started melting down. Thus the short visit. Good selection, I will have to return.
(4)Jayme S.
Went with a party of 6 and were seated within 15 minutes, which was great considering there was quite a waiting line. Only complaint is that one seat was directly in front of a pole --if I tilted my head back an inch, I was whacked a good one. Service fantastic-I love having the carafe of water/iced tea right in front of me so I can fill my glass when I'm ready. Several of us had the meatball sandwich, which was very good, but would have been nice to have a small dish of sauce on the side. Haddock sandwich was huge and delicious as was the baked mostaccioli. A shared order of french fries disappeared in seconds they were so crispy and tasty. Prices a little high, but tolerable. Wanted to get a gelato on the way out, but the narrow hallway was crowded (two people). Would be better served around the corner of the counter where there is a huge spacious lobby. Can't wait to go back again and try something else. Just FYI, we left a 7:45 and there were at least 20 people waiting for a table..
(4)Kristi C.
Like others, I'd heard of this place because of watching Triple D on the Food Network. The Italian Fries are the best I've had. They have outstanding red sauce here! Ordered the Baked Spaghetti Pie. This is enough food for 4 people, not 2 as the menu suggests. It was good, but could have used more sauce. I'd ask for some on the side next time. The garlic bread has a light texture and is heavenly! The decor can be described in one word...quirky! Service wasn't bad, but our server did the disappearing act once our food was served.
(3)Maxine M.
I am very impressed with Donatelli's - the staff, food & unique ambiance. I am a vegetarian. I ordered spagetti with red sauce. I wanted to confirm there was no meat in it so I asked the server. He informed me that it contains beef base so he suggested I subsitute the marinara. I was impressed - typically servers have no clue. Everyone at my table was pleased with their food overall. My husband did not like the alfredo sauce. It wasn't mind blowing but it was good. This place won't replace my favorites in DT St. Paul (Cosetta's & Degidio's) but at least I'll have an option if I want to stay close to home.
(4)Jeremy C.
I have to bump this place into the 5 star category. The atmosphere is a bit odd. Why do you have pink panther all over the place? Whatever, you probably won't look away from you plate once it arrives because it's so good. I did the rigatoni with garlic bread and a meatball today. As others mention, red sauce = amazing. The meatball I think was even better. Perhaps the pasta itself was a bit floppy, but when you top it with perfection you won't notice. Service is super friendly and fast. When I sat down I had about a minute before they came to take my order. I had already figured out what I wanted. I placed my food order with my drink order and it was less than 5 minutes before I had my food. They are very quick for the lunch crowd. Last but not least, this great of food for $11 with tip.
(5)DJ A.
The food here is always amazing, with lots of flavor. I'm a fan of the pizza and the bleu bacon burger. I also usually get their "hot chips," with a few extra sides of their red sauce, which is the best I've had just about anywhere. I'll echo what a few others have said about the service. When it's good, it's second to none, but when it's not good, it can be downright irritating. Some of the staff are great, and others seem to disappear the moment you need them. The prices have risen considerably in the last few years, and while quite good, the food just doesn't seem to justify it for our family. We used to eat there almost every week, and now only go a few times a year. Still, the food is GREAT, and the ambiance is something to behold. Plus, they have dishes here that you just can't get anywhere else.
(4)Christina A.
I had wanted to try Donatelli's for a couple of years after hearing my neighbor rave about it constantly. Ordered a deep dish heartburn pizza and also pizza fries for take-out. I gave them a time that I would be there to pick it up - it was ready when I arrived. The pizza was hot but the pizza fries were cold. The pizza was very tasty. The children loved the pizza fries, even though they were cold. I will order from here again.
(4)Ashley F.
I'll admit that my boyfriend drove me here in a flurry one night because he saw it on the Food Network, and it was apparently so delicious looking he couldn't go another night without eating there. And boy, am I glad he did. Our waitress was friendly, and actually brought us an additional order of Italian Dunkers because she thought the chef was skimpy on the first one. I ordered off the kids menu (Lasagna) and was still unable to finish my food. Boy got the Baked Mostacholi (spl?) and his first thought was "Is this just a bowl of cheese?" I would suggest fasting the day before, because this place gives you so much delicious food. And you will want to finish it.
(4)Kat W.
I saw the show, and apparently have a number of friends from WBL who knew about this place and had been holding out on me for all of this time. Tried the baked mostaccioli, which was tasty and as smothered in cheese as I had suspected it would be. The slice of garlic toast was seriously excellent. However, the service was incredibly inconsistent and the girl at the cash register gave my friends and I some serious 'tude for expecting her to be able to split a check. If they didn't have a clearly up-to-date system, no card machine, etc. MAYBE I would understand, but even still. For the kind of family place that this is supposed to be, I was not expecting that. The seasonal Pink Panther decor is way-bizarre but seriously makes it.
(3)Jason C.
Guy Fieri was right - the Baked Mostaccioli is the way to go. Too much food for this mere human. I looked around at other dishes being served - the spaghetti and meatballs = crazy portion sizes. Fresh homemade pasta, sauce, cheese - everything. I wish I had a couple more friends with me so that I could have tasted some other dishes, like the pizza. Next time when I'm in the area. Good value for all the food you get. Beer and/or wine to wash it all down too.
(4)Mandy J.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! My fiance and I went to Donatelli's to try out their catering menu for an upcoming wedding. We were blown away. Often times, you find that "pasta is just pasta", but Donatelli's is a little above this common phrase. We had their famous red pasta dish--which impressively was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives". It was delightful. The taste is familiar--like mama's cooking, but unique enough that I knew I couldn't make it at home. The salads blew us out of the water and the garlicy spinach tortellini... can I just say Mmmm. As a caterer their prices and services seem about on par with what we have been seeing... But as a friendly Sunday afternoon stop for lunch--GO! It is amazing!!
(5)Kayla L.
Donatelli's catered our wedding, and it could not have been better! The team was professional, the food was excellent, and the prices were very reasonable, especially considering it was full service catering. We were doing our wedding on a tight budget. The hall we rented had to be set up by us the morning of. The catering team arrived at the hall as early as they could be let in. Trish, the head of catering, gave us very helpful tips with room set up, and the team assisted us with moving tables. The linen table cloths and napkins and the real silverware made the no frills hall shine. At the reception we had many of the guests complementing us on our wonderful choice of food. The buffet was enough food for everyone, and whoever wanted seconds got seconds. The leftovers were packaged up and sent home with us at the end of the night.
(5)Dee T.
I've been here a few times and really, truly, just don't get it and DEFinitely don't understand how it made Triple D. The pastas are horrible, overcooked way beyond al dente into baby-food mush territory. I've had the red sauce and it just seems over-sweetened and over-herbed. And cheese does *not* make everything better. I haven't had the pizza and will never put my mouth around anything called a Dago...but don't plan to make the trek back to give it a try.
(1)Maribella M.
I live out of state and was so excited to go to this place after seeing it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I ordered the deep dish pizza and was superbly disappointed. The crust was nothing special, the pizza sauce was nasty (tasted cheap), the cheese was just plopped in the middle and not melted well, and the meatballs, again, tasted cheap. Huge disappointment...sucks we drove an hour out of the way to eat here. It kind of ruined the show for me too. Guy makes all the restaurants look like the food is heaven, but not this one. Maybe the restaurants pay to have him come?
(1)J S.
We have gone to Donatellis numerous times and have always been pleased. All of the food has been tasty. The place is located in a strip mall, but they offer good service and nice casual atmosphere. They have different types of frozen italian style dinners in the case up front in case you want to grab dinner and go. I like the fact that they have a variety of food including salads so that there is something for everyone. I know they are known for the italian dishes which are indeed excellent, but nice to have other options sometimes.
(4)K J.
SERVICE IS ATROCIOUS! But the food is better. The thin crust pizza is great. I ordered the chicken parmesan because it was a "favorite", and cannot understand why. The chicken was crispy & was delicious, but was ruined by the terrible red sauce (tasted like ragu) that smothered the entire dish. The homemade spaghetti noodles were oversized, over cooked, and nothing special. A box of creamette tastes better. Their menu is HUGE! Truly something for everyone at Donatelli's. However, like I said, the waitress was awful! Rarely came around, and when she did we had to ask for refills on our completely empty cups, and then had to wait 10 minutes for our water/soda/wine refills to arrive. They might not be so busy if they could clear tables quicker. We (table of 4) were there for 2 hours because the service was so neglectful. By the end of our meal, we just wanted the check, but we could not locate our waitress for quite some time. If I were management, my number one focus would be on re-training the staff in order to turn tables quicker (and keep paying patrons happier), therefore seating more people every night. This place is definitely worth a visit, but you really have to wonder how fresh their ingredients are given the fact that their menu is SO expansive.
(3)Jennie D.
Being new to White Bear, I have been on the lookout for a good pizza joint. I have to say that my first trip to Donatelli's was awesome. We ordered a deep dish "Heartburn", and after the very first bite - I was hooked. The toppings were generous, the cheese perfectly gooey. I was really impressed with the food options too. You can pretty much find anything, plus they serve alcohol, and I am told they have fantastic ice cream. The service was good, at first, but then it was like our waitress went on break or something, because we sat in the booth for 10 minutes waiting to get our pizza boxed and the check. The pizza prices are a little steep, but SO worth it. I will definitely be going back, and back, and back.....
(4)John P.
It wasn't the worst I ever had but I was very disappointed. As I walked in the front door, someone almost ran in to me and asked me if I had been helped. I said "No, I'm just walking in the door". It was only 4:00 and the place was mostly empty but I was rushed to my booth as if it were a dinner rush at a fast food joint. I ordered a Turnover and a Coke. The price was excessive ($20 with the tip). $2.50 for the glass of coke and that wasn't listed on the menu. I suppose I should have asked? The very edges of the turnover were slightly crispy, everything else was under done and the center was cold. Most of it was soggy and luke warm. It was a small portion for the price. It didn't look very small but there wasn't much meat or Mushroom or flavor. There was a little sausage, and even less pepperoni (I think I encountered two pieces). It was mostly Green peppers and onions. I'm pretty sure they forgot the mushrooms, garlic and basil completely. I feel like I was served an undercooked pizza (minus 2/3 of the toppings) folded in half and charged extra for the folding. The two little pickled peppers on the side of the plate were the highlight of this meal. The service was decent but rushed. That's about as close to a compliment as I can get with this place.
(1)