Donatello’s Italian Restaurant

Great portion size for lunch. I had to have a box. The creamy Gorgonzola is very good. Got a free dessert with a check-​in on Unilocal.Third time here, but first time for lunch. Definitely going to do lunch again!

Service and food were very good. Mom had shrimp scampi and liked it so much she ate it all, which is very unusual for her. She also loved the minestrone soup — served nice and hot. The bread is excellent. I had Chicken Marsala, which was also very good. We will return.

Great food but unbelievably slow lunch service. The waiter was barely polite; we had to laugh because he more or less threw items on the table and was visibly irritated when a co-​worker asked a question about the menu. I will not visit here again.

Tried to dine at Donatello’s but left because of the rudeness of the staff. May have been just a bad day, but not risking my money for an unpredictable experience.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. While it was a very nice sit down restaurant that you would have a formal dinner at, the prices (at least for lunch), were very reasonable especially for the large portion sizes. I had the soup of the day which was chicken potpie soup. It was soooo good, I wish they served this daily. We also got a free dessert for checking in on Unilocal which was a cannoli and it was to die for.
This is the kind of restaurant that you would want to take your clients to for lunch and your sig-​other for dinner.

Great pizza! The salad was ok but the pizza and asiago cheese bread was amazing. We needed up with a pepperoni and cheese pizza and both were delicious. It was recommended next time to get the founders special! It’s on the list!

My girlfriend and I had dinner here recently, and unfortunately it was not a very good experience.
Our waiter was not very friendly and was very short with us. His persona was awkward, and unfriendly. I hoped that the food would be better, but alas…
I ordered veal parmesan, and there was so much marinara on the plate that I could taste nothing else; the marinara lacked flavor and was one-​dimensional.
My girlfriend ordered a caprése salad, which is the only reason this review gets 2 stars instead of 1. The pasta she ordered was so forgettable that I cannot recall what it was called.
All in all, I spent about $ 60 on food that I did not enjoy, and an experience that I do not want to relive.

Meh. That’s all I can say about the food. Big disappointment as I love Italian food. The ambience is OK. The servers, however, are not the greatest (not just ours… Everyone else sees to have equally sub-​par servers), and the receptionist/​traffic director did not make a great first impression.

WONDERFUL! Simply fantastic all the way around! Incredible food, excellent customer service, and universally ideal ambiance. One of my top pics for Carmel/​City Center Dining*

One of the best in Carmel let alone in Indy. Staff is also tentative and warm. We love this place

Arrived at 7:00 on a Saturday Tables tables everywhere but could not be seated till 8:30 I can’t stand when a restaurant turns away business

We sat outside on a Friday night. The atmosphere was the best part. The owner’s son served us. He was friendly and attentive. The food, however, was school cafeteria/​nursing home caliber. My husband got the spaghetti with meat sauce. He said Fazoli’s had better. I had chicken Alfredo. The sauce was disgusting. It lacked flavor, had too much cream and not enough Parmesan. The chicken was bland. It was way overpriced for crappy food. What happened to Mangia?! Now that was good Italian!

Tried this establishment tonight from recommendations from a friend. WORST SERVICE EVER! ISIAH, the waterboy, was the BEST PART OF THE NIGHT. After an hour and half, our waiter started apologizing for the bad service. A comp meal was only worth the experience of never coming back here again. The owner Adam did not have any time to explain the bad service. After I offered him a seat to talk Adam he said «I don’t have time for you». Beth, an owner, finally came over only to usher us out. A first time experience that was very bad.

We always enjoy this wonderful local Italian restaurant. It can be a bit pricey; mainly because the first bottle of wine went so fast with the amazing calamari and soup/​salad course! When we go, we want to experience all the courses offered from appetizers to the yummy homemade dessert.
We’ve been fortunate to hit this small family owned business on their good days. I can only imagine working so closely with ones family that there would off days. Pat, Beth, and Adam are genuine, kind, attentive, and very hard working to make Donatello’s the best restaurant ever. Kudos to them!
After our special occasion anniversary meal, we looked at each other and asked ourselves-​why don’t we come here more often?! We plan to frequent Donatello’s more… and we plan to stick to one bottle of wine.

I was very excited to try this place based on all the wonderful reviews I read. Unfortunately, the experience we had was anything but wonderful. We entered the restaurant and a woman barked at us to move to a certain section of the restaurant (but based on watching her with other guests, that is just her personality).
Our server was a very sweet young man who was knowledgable and attentive. However, we waited over an hour for our entrées, which of course is not the server’s fault. He apologized and offered us a free sampling of soup. However, the table behind us did not receive the same service. They were being waited on by the owner, a very stern and unpleasant woman who acted as if she were giving us food instead of treating her patrons as what they are (paying customers!!!). The woman behind us was served her dinner and stopped the rude server by stating «wait I’m highly allergic to this item and made sure I told you before I ordered.» The owner grabbed the plate and briskly walked away while exclaiming; «no one told us that!» I was outraged just watching.
The main courses were all under seasoned and bland. One of my friends ordered a dish with cream sauce and it tasted like warm cream with no salt or cheese. My tortellini had a good flavor, but was very oily and had an overwhelming bacon flavor after the first few bites.
It is my hope that this was merely an off night for this Mom & Pop spot. I really want this small restaurant to be successful and will be returning for another try. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the conversation with our server.

Best Italian food in Indianapolis. Our mushroom ravioli melted in your mouth and had a rich enticing flavor. The shrimp penne perfectly played with robust pesto flavors. It was quiet and a perfect date place. Edible Indy gives you thumbs up!

I’m already planning my return to this amazing little Italian restaurant. I’m not usually comfortable in such a quiet, intimate dining room, but the service made us feel right at home. We had the Gorgonzola, walnut and apple salad; let me just say, they don’t skimp on the good stuff. We then had the seafood bisque, according to my sister, it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted. We also had the cheese tortellini with bacon, excellent dish.
Can’t wait to return.

Terrific food, great atmosphere, and friendly staff.
In town for business and had an urge for Italian. Actually came on to Unilocal and read reviews and menu. Called to find they would be closed the next night for a private party, but had open tables inside… so i made a reservation and headed over.
Ambiance was nice, although I felt a bit under dressed. Waiter recommended the calamari… I’m much of a fan, but I figured I should be adventurous. BEST CALAMARI I HAVE EVER HAD BAR NONE! It’s like nothing I’ve ever had before: thick and juicy pieces with two great sauces. Dinner salads were good too, but paled in comparison.
Chicken Alfredo was huge and very good. The chicken parmesan was outstanding as well. And in spite of what I read, the bread was warm, fresh, and very tasty as well.
So, I could not help but notice that everyone around was ordering what looked like a wedding cake for dessert. As it turns out, the owner makes a light white lemon cake… OMG…I don’t know if it’s available all the time or not, but it was unbelievable!
Highly recommend this place… actually looking forward to trying more menu items next trip.

Oh my gosh is this place great. Very small dining area but some of the best Italian I’ve had since moving to Carmel.
A little awkward when you first walk in considering their is no hostess stand but as soon as your seated you’ll forget all about that!
Fresh sourdough bread and butter to start you off. A list of amazing appetizers but unfortunately we weren’t hungry enough to order any. I ordered the spaghetti carbonara and it was once of most rich and flavorful pastas I’ve ever had. So creamy and decadent. I could stop telling everyone around me to try it.
The desserts all sound wonderful a swell but we did not have the room! Can’t wait to go back

Magic atmosphere is hard to create and Donatello’s succeeds. It comes from everybody who talks to you being happy to be there and genuinely helpful (making a spot on a busy night in the coffee shop for us who neglected to make a reservation).
Have mention Tiramisu first as my senses are freshly overwhelmed by it and the mind refuses to relinquish the thought. Strong espresso boost hiding under stiff peaks in cappuccino. Delicious combination of heat, spice and red bell pepper flavor in tomatoes soup.
We will be back and will try to remember a reservation next time…