Food was excellent, but overshadowed by poor service. Our appetizers were delivered but the appetizers plates were not, until we asked, and even then only kids were given plates despite there being adults. We were given a small glass of water when we were seated and they were not refilled until half way through dinner. The restaurant owner brought by a small carafe of water soon after he started making rounds, but our waiter's attention was elsewhere. read more

Lovely food, central location and quick service, what else could you possibly ask from a restaurant? I went in there for a lunch time meal, which is a great way to save costs without quality compromise. Despite the limited selection the choice was fantastic and I don't think you can go wrong. I have to mention that a charity donation has been added to our bill without asking us wether wanted it. I haven't made up my mind yet whether it's a good thing or not. As one hand if you can afford a restaurant maybe you can afford to donate a pound to charity, on the other I don't like when others decide what should I spend my money on. read more

Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Horrible service. 30 mins to wait for a drink order. My birthday and all we wanted to do was leave. Calamari 11 pounds for 6 rings was laughable. The overpriced veal was mostly breading no veal. Will never go back Don't go here read more

SCAM SCAM SCAM ALERT!! It tells a lot about how much you should trust the food when the owner is a scammer and dishonest. Imagine how much corners they cut in the kitchen to save money. We went for lunch under the highly advertised extended eat out to help out scheme. Huge advert on the window of 50% off. When we got the bill, there was surcharges up and down the bill. Surcharge for "premium" menu items, surcharge for COVID 19 (what is this for? Do I need to pay for your cleaning supplies and your masks?!?). . And mandatory 15 percent service charge. Only thing I didn't get charged extra for was the toilet paper since I didn't use the bathroom. Small minded restaurant run by a small minded little man. My suggestion to you is to run an honest business, serve amazing food and allow customers to feel great. These customers will return over and over again. As for us, we will give our business to the professionally run San Carlos restaurants in Manchester. read more

Don Giovanni has really suffered of late, mainly down to consistency. In its' prime, it can deliver some of the best gluten-free pasta and Italian food I've tasted but it is a question of when it wants to be up to those standards, I'm beginning to give up waiting now as it's pretty much hit and miss and at high prices even with 15% off, that isn't good enough. It has failed to hit the mark due to the following reasons 1. Misleading prices Don Giovanni claims to offer 15% off if you pick up your food, that sounds good right? BUT - It is 15% off the restauraunt prices, rather than the prices you'd pay on delivery sites such as Deliveroo and UberEATS (Again there are different prices between the sites), this could result in certain dishes being more expensive to collect even with the said discount as the 15% off is off a higher price meaning you don't save anything 2. Pasta Quality As I've said previously, the pasta is some of the best I've had outside of Italy but it is a question of when they want to get it up to that standards. My recent carbonara order made with penne was so smudgy, it was like a paste and was disgusting. After giving them another chance, they'd changed the pasta to gluten-free spaghetti however I wasn't informed of this first (misleading again as they claim to only have penne pasta), this meant I had to go all the way back to the restauraunt from the nearby bench where I was eating to check they'd given me the right pasta (This is after they'd overcharged me, with my food going cold), to eventually find out they'd changed it. By the time all this was over, the food had started to go cold and this time the pasta had no flavour, and the meat even the chicken which was previously so good, was hard. It was so bad even the pigeons I threw some to flown away after attempting to taste it. There really is a lack of consistency with food quality and prices, and considering they charge more than many nearby rivals this isn't good to see. If they charge a high-end price, they should deliver a product worthwhile. It shouldn't be hit or miss and that really does disappoint me as I've seen how good this place can be, yet I've also seen how bad it could be with even the staff coming in late on one occasion, meaning the store had to open late. I might return after the pandemic is over to see if they can deliver the amazing dining experience they once did, but until then I'm going to avoid Don Giovanni and that is a real shame. 2* read more

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I was most impressed with the service. Management and wait staff were very attentive and polite. The food was good, but not the best Italian I've had. For a starter i tried the calamari which tasted very fresh BUT, the batter had absolutely no flavor. Even with the lemon wedge and side of tartar it fell very bland on my tongue. I was a little disappointed because I LOVE calamari. And the food presentation could have definitely been improved. At least it did taste very fresh and not frozen. For my main I had the salmon. I'd give it a 4 out of 5. Was cooked perfectly and the sauce was very flavorful and creamy. The Panna cotta for dessert was excellent, mainly for the food presentation. Was beautiful to look at haha. The Panna cotta was rich and creamy and the fresh berry coulis was a nice complement. Overall, good food but nothing special worth going back to. read more

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More so a 2.5 star experience. My friend and I were really looking forward to eating here following a lovely evening of jazz at Matt and Phred's in the NQ. Armed with our 50% off voucher we arrived bang on 7.15pm. We were met by friendly staff and led to our table. The restaurant had a lovely buzz about it and a lot of the staff were Italian. Great start but it wasn't to last. We ordered olives and a bottle of champagne to start and both decided on the spinach and ricotta cannelloni for our mains. I was really looking forward to chatting and catching up with my friend but the mains arrived in under 10 minutes! We hadn't even got our olives yet! It felt rushed and poorly planned. We felt like we had to wolf down the olives so that the cannelloni didn't get cold. Annoying. The waiter kept coming over to top up our glasses and we felt it interrupted our conversation as he made small talk each time. We also had to ask for water 3 times before finally getting some. The olives and champagne were lovely but the cannelloni tasted like a standard microwave meal, very disappointing. I've eaten at Don Giovanni before prior to the refurbishment and I feel standards have really slipped. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again. read more

Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Last Thursday, myself and my guest headed to Don Giovanni after years of just passing it when walking down Peter Street. I guessed it had a good reputation due to how long it has been running (30 years), and that every time I pass it always seems to be bustling with a busy crowd. No matter what day or time of day it's been, it's rare I pass the place and see it looking quiet. The inside interior is very modern to say the restaurant has been open for many years, which deep tan coloured booths and seats, plus a warming gold/bronze feel to the bar area with it's pretty lighting. We were greeted by a pleasant and polite front of house lady, who took our coats and lead us to our booth close to the window. We ordered a large glass of house red wine to go with our food, which was lovely and rich. To say it was the house red, it tasted a lot more expensive.. The waiter who delivered us our wine, who then served us for the evening, was possibly the happiest and most attentive waiter I have ever experienced which was a refreshing service to have. He was so smiley, friendly and approachable, I knew straight away he had no problem looking after us for the evening Menu is extensive: pasta and risotto choices were endless, but there were also lots of other enticing choices too such as pizzas, meats, fish, salads and steaks. Just to prove it's not your bog standard Italian with unexciting pasta dishes, there were options such as Lobster Ravioli (and crab ravioli), squid ring risotto, half lobster served in the shell with garden peas, onion and garlic, and smoked salmon and pink peppercorn farfalle pasta. Fish dishes included some tasty options such as wild Scottish monkfish, sea bass fillets and salmon served with prawns. I was slightly spoilt for choice with the starters list, but opted for Melon and Prosciutto, and my guest went for Cornish Crab Cakes. Other slightly enticing options from the starters included Melanzane Parmigiana, pan fried octopus and duck and chicken pate. I was given more than a generous amount of melon (so much I had to pass a slice to my guest), and the prosciutto was delicious. I tasted the crab cakes too and they were also a great call. As for my main, I chose Lobster Ravioli purely because this is my very favourite Italian dish, and not everywhere offers it. The version at Don Giovannis came with a touch of chilli and featured 7 large parcels packed with lobster, and it didn't disappoint at all. It was full of flavour which a slight chilli kick, yet kept its creamy base. My guest went for tagliolini with langoustines, king prawns, garlic, chilli and tomato, and was a thoroughly enjoyable dish too. Portion sizes were just right, and costing around £14 for a pasta dish full of seafood is quite reasonable I would say. The slice of cheesecake I had for dessert was actually the best size for a dessert, as it wasn't over-facing like some can be. It tasted lovely, with a sweet touch of berries to layer up on my fork. A great Italian addition to Manchester! read more

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Taking advantage of the 50% offer on food throughout August if you book online to make reservations, which makes this a very good value meal. We went here as a last minute and instead of walk in, we booked online at 6pm for a table at 7:15pm. We did try to look at the tc for the offer but all it says on website is on all food on a la carte menu. We were seated quite quickly and only then it was explained additional supplement costs (£5.00) to order steak and fish course for the 50% deal, which works out roughly 30% off on steak and fish courses and the rest of the food was 50% off. Food was delicious which i can't really fault at all and the service was good. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars because the cutlery given for my main was dirty so I had to send it back. Otherwise it would have been perfect and definitely a 5 stars! In terms of value, the 50% off deal makes this a very value for money meal offer as it equals to each paying£21 for party of 3, where we ate 3 course meals plus 2 sides and drinks. read more

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Back when I first moved to Manchester I had an ill-advised first date with an unsuitable suitor at Don Giovanni's, in its old guise. You see, before DGs was a sexy, glass-plate cathedral to good lighting and glossy food, it was a more homely little brasserie across the road in the soon-to-be-defunct Elisabeth House. It was pretty, with little arched windows and a huge mass of twinkly little fairy lights festooned across the ceiling. Unfortunatel my date wasn't as lovely, but that's not DGs fault. Nowadays, DGs is a glossy, shiny superhero version of its former self. No longer content with fairy lights, the owners of DGs have shelled out approximately twelve bajillion pounds for super awesome light fittings that make this place glow like a beacon of loveliness. The decor is really something. No longer is DGs a cute little hole in the wall; it has become a fully fledged designer restaurant, with food to match. The food is truly great, and it comes beautifully presented too. Expect fresh zingy flavours and modern takes on traditional Italian fare. I love the fusili al pesto, which blends pesto, pine nuts and pecorino. the pasta dishes are really generous, and don't expect to pay more than £9. While I nommed down on my pasta, the boyf tucked into a veal escalope that was juicy and succulent, and beautifully cooked. Mains are priced around £15, and you can grab a fillet steak for under £20. The prices really are great, with starters priced around £4. The wine list is good, but not very extensive. However, there's something for most palettes and pockets, and their Valpolicella (£19.50) is great value. There's a confusing bit on the wine list; their Prestige Wine Club, which just appears to be the pricier wines, set apart at the top of the list. An interesting gimmick, Mr Giovanni, but no way no how am I shelling out £90 for a bottle of plonk! DGs is a good place to pop in for lunch, as they'll always find a table for you, but the sexy decor and intimate booth seats mean that it is also a great date venue. And it's not as pricey as it looks from outside! read more

Don Giovanni - www.dongiovannis.co.uk - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Don Giovanni's is absolutely fantastic. If you like Italian food you will absolutely adore it here. In a nice location just across from St Peter's Square, Don Giovanni's looks spectacular when you stumble across, beautifully decorated inside, the glass windows kind of showcase it and even though you've already walked past at least two Italian restaurants on the same road (no matter what direction you've come from!) you will find yourself wondering about this place. The most shocking thing about is the prices. San Carlos is my second favourite restaurant behind Don Giovanni's and the price margin is significantly higher over there! The food is just plain exquisite. I swore I hated risotto until I came here with a friend and she persuaded me to try hers...I am now officially in love! The menu is phenomenal, I have been here a few times now and persuaded myself to have something different everytime despite really wanted to have the same as last time as it is always amazing! The wine menu is also fantastic and the desserts and incredible. I can't give Don Giovanni's a higher recommendation, basically go here and do it soon! read more

Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Had a lovely evening here tonight celebrating a family birthday. We were lucky enough to be seated in the corner of the restaurant so it felt quite private. One of the headlights was a little bright but overall there was a good ambience to the place. We ordered the focaccia as a starter which turned out to be the size of a pizza so thank goodness we hadn't chosen pizzas for main as it would have been bread overload! I had the mussels which were absolutely delicious...generous portion and delightfully in a chilli and tomato sauce instead of the usual garlic and white wine most other restaurants offer. Sadly they didn't have the cheesecake I was hoping to demolish for dessert so instead I had strawberries and ice cream...can't really go wrong to be fair! The staff (who seemed to be mostly Italian) were very polite and accommodating without being over bearing. They offered to put our costs in the cloakroom which was a nice touch too. The ladies toilets were out of order which did generate a pretty large queue for the disabled toilet instead. Overall though we had a very good experience. read more

Don Giovanni - Strawberries and ice cream - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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I'm really impressed with this restaurant. It has moved locations recently and although from the outside the windows make it look a little like a fish bowl, inside the decor is chic and glamorous, with large leather booth seating (make sure you reserve one of these tables if you're a party of 4 of more), gorgeous lighting fixtures and well chosen art. What clinches the deal for me is that the service and the food is top notch yet the prices are still so reasonable compared with other Italian restaurants in town. Salads and soups start at a mere £3.50, and the choice is mind boggling. Pastas, Risottos and Pizzas generally fall between £6-9 and although the mouthwatering fish and meat dishes are between £12 and £17, it really is quality you're paying for, and still cheaper for the same standard elsewhere. The wine list is well thought out for the style of food and the waiter is very happy to help you pair the perfect dish and bottle. We were very surprised to find that the bill was so cheap. Then we realised that they'd forgot to put a dessert and some coffees on. Nevertheless, when the bill was amended (it deserved paying for in full) it still came in at only £27 each. Great ambiance, helpful staff and authentic, unpretentious Italian cuisine. read more

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Maybe a Saturday night during the height of business isn't representative, but if that's so they need to try harder on weekends. It was packed and perhaps the LOUDEST restaurant I've ever been to. Our party of seven took a while to get our food and my gnocchi was bland, even worse than a can of Chef Boyardee. My wife's pizza was also flavorless and soupy. A friend's lasagna wasn't worth finishing. A cheap chip shop would've been far more satisfying. I'm writing this review a day later and my tinnitus from last night is epic. read more

Waiter service, wine selection, food was not that well. I would expect more for this rating and price range. The worst thing is, that I came here to celebrate my brother getting his job at a very successful company. Very disappointing. Never would come here. In details, red wine was not full bodied, lobster spaghetti was over cooked with absolutely no flavor. Same with chicken fungi. This place will probably close in less than 1 month in LA. read more

They're getting a star because negative stars are not an option. Surprisingly, they had the audacity to charge us a service fee and asked us for a review, so here it is. There were many options on the menu, and the food came out relatively fast but the staffs were rude and this ruined our special dinner (I was celebrating graduating from university with my family and friends). The things that ruined our night were: * The celebration package (apparently the table gets decorated with confetti and balloons, you get a special dessert and you also get a card from Don Giovanni) that I had asked for was not there when we arrived. The table was covered in large white papers, making it look oddly cheap for a restaurant that appears to be elegant. * There were six of us but instead of sitting at a long table, we sat at a round table in the corner which was not big enough for our drinks and food. * One of the waiters rushed me to choose the sauce for my steak, but couldn't even tell me what sauces were available (they were written in Italian so I wanted clarification). * While we were ordering, another waiter came with our drinks and started asking who ordered which drink (a bit chaotic when you're trying to order but also listen to see if the other waiter has mentioned your drink or not). * We had to ask for water 3 times and when it came, they only brought one glass even though we asked for it for the whole table. It was my first time eating at Don Giovanni and I would never go back there again. I'm not trying to be harsh but if you consider the price that you would be paying at this place, I think it's fair to have high expectations. I was hoping for the food and the service to be good (if not excellent) so that I can spend some quality time on my special day with family and friends. Instead, I got some edible pretentious food and incompetent unpleasant waiters. read more

Me and my Italian friend visited Don Giovanni on a Thursday afternoon for a lunch. The menus offered a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine which were prepared well enough to receive an approving nod from her! However despite the restaurant being relatively empty at the time there was still an unusually high wait time in service. The atmosphere is best in the evening but was still a perfect place for a romantic outing even during the day! I am yet to try everything in the menu so can't speak for the rest of the items on it but I will definitely be back for a second run and recommend anyone looking for some authentic Italian to visit Don Givo! read more

Weellll this is a mixed bag..... We came here most recently for my graduation meal but it was surprisingly not busy considering it was round the corner from Bridgewater Hall, perhaps what we saw was the reason why... Things why it wasn't so great... -the waiters were trying but not hard enough- service was sporadic and very forgetful -Waitress could not speak English -They messed up my drink order (did not know what pimms was?!) -Starters didn't come at the same time -Did not bring/know what we were on about when we asked for bread and oils (balsamic and olive oil) -Mains came quickly and together however it took them 10 minutes to give us the coffee menu by that time we wanted to leave! Good points! :) -I do have to say that the calamari was lovely and mains arrived together. -My dad had the lobster ravioli from the express menu which was absolutely amazing. -Lasagne was average and I had the dolce vita pizza with a soft egg on top which was tasty but not mind blowing. Bit disappointing overall would perhaps come back with a discount. Venue is very appealing and the place is impressive, 3 and a half for food and 2 for service. read more

Don Giovanni easily slips in to my mind when I'm to think of a perfect place I would want to picture a serene, sophisticated and beautiful evening. Whether its with friends or with a date, this place can cater to all your needs without any difficulty. The Menu is large and varied and offers some of the best Italian dishes in all of Manchester! They have antipasta's which are cheesy and tasty enough to fill you right there even before you can attack the mains! All the pasta's can be ordered as antipasta's which is half the price and trust me if you're the little eater of your group, this would be perfect for you! Don't miss out on the garlic bread and cheese here as a starter, I know its common but it will send you off straight to Italy! The risotto's are creamy and delicious as well! You can also order champagne and drinks at the bar or your table and the staff will be happy to assist you. Coming to the staff, they're obviously Italian or european which is clear by their accents! It's great to come to a authentic place and be served by them too! I love the way they pronounce their menu, I like the learning process of it! Don Giovanni's is a very beautiful restaurant too, done up all glassy and structured. Well spaced out and posh. Dining is to another level here altogther! read more

I went on the Don Giovanni website to refresh my memory regarding its menu, and gosh it confused me. I don't know what it is, but its online companion has a hotel feel. I assure you Don Giovanni is not a hotel, nor is it located in one. It is simply a rather lovely Italian restaurant in the city centre and one in which I tasted some delightful food. The prices are pretty amazing too. Whatever you do, don't miss out on the rosemary, tomato and garlic pizza bread, it's too delicious. And don't get me started on the breaded mozzarella fingers. You wouldn't believe the salads. For £4.95 the caprece salad is a delicious mix of mozzarella, vine tomatoes and basil with caramelised balsamic vinegar. Soups range from £3.50 to £5.95 and mains incorporate everything from risottos to baked and stir-fried pastas, pizzas, seafood skewers, fish dishes and a massively varied amount of meat dishes. The amusingly named 'Le Cube' is my absolute favourite dessert, not just because of that preposterous moniker but also the fact that it's part-baked chocolate cake with raspberry and ice cream. Drool much? There might be a lot of Italian restaurants in Manchester now but this is one of the oldest, and I will say it's one of my favourites too. Obey the Don. Come and feed your face in a gorgeously decorated restaurant practically built for people-watching. read more

Birthday dinner with the family. Although there was a misunderstanding concerning our reservations, it was promptly dealt with. The atmosphere of this resturant is what you expect from a high end italian place. I ordered the seafood pasta (see photo), it was delicious. I had the Rocca salad for appetizer. The desert, strawberry mille-feuille was out of this world. I have to say thank you to our waiter Mr Mohamad who was on top of things despite having to deal with so many tables on this busy night. read more

Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Amazing Italian and very friendly staff! Love the spaghetti carbonara! I went there for a work party and was really impressed with their food and service! Dressing up would be a good idea for this place and I definitely recommend this for a first date! :) read more

I had lunch at DG but with its decor and bar area it is perhaps better suited for the late night crowd. Service is keen and attentive, but the food is very much middle of the road and nothing to write home to Italy about. I can see this place working perfectly for a night out with work or an after date meal, but would not take a business client or serious love interest here. And the worn, orange upholstery really needs to be replaced... read more

Absolutely ridiculous. I walk in for a quick glass of wine and a bite to eat. Restaurant is maybe 25% full and the hostess says... we are all full... are you kidding me? How ridiculous is that. I said, I'm not here for a 3 hour meal, and she said they would ha a more than 150 people in less than 30 min. Couldn't even sit at a high top by the bar. I'll make sure all my co workers who are in this city every day of the week know the service I just got. Never again. read more

I think it's only right to appreciate the venue! It does not mean they get any extra stars for it!! Lucky them and we vegetarians, they have good food to get them the stars!! There are not many veggie mains but my girlfriend and I shared 3 starters as the mains ( don't forget the antipasti) and it was worth it!! They were all tasty and It appears being smart definitely helps when it comes to food Don't forget the Tiramisu read more

Out of all the Italian restaurants I have been to in Manchester this has to be one of the bestif not THE best. It's dripping in style, class and first-rate service; robbie_1981 is spot-on about the feeling you get that the staff are only too pleased to have you there. I found it reasonably-priced and all; my fiance and I shared a starter, had a main course each, a glass of wine each, I had a dessert and she had a coffeeall for £16 a head which by my reckoning ain't bad. Whilst other places would have been quiet on our particular Monday night, this place wasn'twhich I'm taking as a good sign of its popularity and quality. And I bet you won't find 'Dyson Airblade' hand-dryers in any other toilets, either! read more

The restaurant moved across the road to a new premises not so long ago and the new setting is much improved. The restaurant is spacious, modern and airy making it a pleasure to eat in. The only reason I have given Don Giovannis 4 stars instead of 5 is that twice when we have been to this restaurant in a big group the bill has been incorrect. Once they added another meal onto the bill and a second time they charged us for a more expensive wine than we had drank and were not apologetic when we pointed this out. So make sure you check your bill carefully. Other than this the food is nice and the service is normally with a smile. read more

Probably my favourite Italian restaurant in Manchester. Each time we've eaten there, the staff have been attentive and very welcoming. We always seem to start with the garlic bread, which is always soaked in olive oil but totally irresistible! The pasta dishes are cooked to perfection without being stodgy, and the rest of the menu is both seasonal and very inventive indeed. This is also an ideal place to take children, as the family Italian atmosphere is perfect for small families dining out. This is an ideal pre-theatre eatery as it is so close to the palace, the atmosphere is buzzing and the food reasonably prices and very tasty indeed! read more

First time in this restaurant. Waiters and waitresses were nice but a little slow, The pollo pizza was really good. Make sure you ask for your check when you want to leave as the waiters and waitresses don't rush you out the door. read more

Although it is a chain, I rather like it. It has a lovely friendy atmosphere which is not always present in Italian restaurants I find. I like the location of this particular branch. The food is of good standard,the menu could do with updating from time to time but they normally have a varied specials board. I love their bread basket and olives whilst waiting for a main. It's a child friendly place, and as mentioned before it's often full of yummy mummy's or families so I would not recommend as a romantic meal out! Reasonably priced and a fantastic deli with many lovely Italian treats to take home Great Breakfast menu which seems to be very popular as always busy - great coffee. read more

An excellent dining experience all round! I took my wife for her birthday, we were greeted by very friendly staff who were extremely knowledgable about things on the menu we were unsure about. What I liked most about the menu was the great selection of fish, as I love it (although I had a steak)! Both mine and my wifes food were superbly prepared and cooked, and they even sang happy birthday and brought us a tiramisu with a candle in it :-)) read more

Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I ordered takeaway from their shop today. After arriving in the restaurant, I was told by the hostess to sit by the bar and wait. I waited 5 minutes, spoke to a bartender, who told me to continue waiting. After another 10 minutes, someone finally came to help and get my food. However, because of this delay, by the time I got home, the food was cold. I had paid for the takeaway online- why did it take me so long to get my food? In addition, the restaurant failed to provide utensils in the takeaway bag, nor did they cut my pizza. I have never gotten takeaway and faced these issues before. Disappointing for the price I paid. read more

If you are a student or under the age of 30 (or both) I would NOT recommend this restaurant. The waiter was incredibly rude, and uninterested in myself and my partner. The atmosphere he created, and the couple sat at the booth next to us, was a very unpleasant one, and we were not made to feel welcome at all. The quality of food was below par, and in extremely small portions, thus, bad value for money. What should have been a lovely romantic dinner was an overpriced, unwelcoming fiasco. Whether we were treated so poorly, (despite being dressed as nicely as the other patrons, myself in a shirt, bowtie, and black trousers, and my partner in a £400 Ted Baker dress) because we were young and maybe, obvious students I'm not sure. Either way it was not something I'd wish to endure twice. If, however, you are like the couple next to our table, who like to drink Rose wine (yes, male and female.) and look down at patrons who aren't as old or 'world experienced' as your 'Holier-than-thou' attitude, then this may be the place for you. read more

Every so often, your body just craves Italian food. There is something about this cuisine that is so comforting, so decadent and so deliziosa that one must simply give in to it when it beckons. So off to Don Giovanni's we went. The restaurant itself is bright and classy. The menu is impressive, with an array of starters, pastas, pizzas, steak, risotto, mains, salads and sides. We slid into our booth and the ritual began. Which ritual, you ask? There is this thing us girls do when we go out to eat together, where we all start out emphatically stating that we will be 'good' and get something light and healthy, only to talk each other into ordering something deliciously naughty...have you heard of it? Yeah, we did that. So we snacked on freshly baked bread and a tasty little bowl of olives as we rationalized why we were allowing ourselves to cast calorie-consciousness to one side and enjoy the hell out of this lunch. For starters, we selected Calamari In Padella (pan fried calamari, served with crushed cauliflower salad) Bresaola (thinly sliced aged beef served with rocket and aged parmesan) and a nice refreshing Prosciutto E Melone (cantaluppo melon served with aged parma ham). The calamari was incredibly fresh with a nice, firm bite to it inside and a smidge of lemon juice, garlic and chilli to give it some kick. The paper-thin aged beef was sensational to say the least, and perfectly set off with wedges of aged parmesan, rounded out with a subtle splash of lemon juice and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. All eyes were on Rambo and her starter..the fresh melon with 24 month aged parma ham looked divine. On to the mains, and aside from the hefty selection on the printed menu there were also several daily fish specials posted neatly on the mounted chalk board. We made a solemn pact to opt for three different dishes and share amongst ourselves, as it was proving impossible for us to decide on what to order. After pointing to the items on the menu like 5 year old children because we didn't want to mangle the names of the dishes by attempting to pronounce them, we ordered one of the specials of the day Capesante Casereccie (king scallops served in their shell), Saltimbocca Alla Romano (fresh veal escalops with parma ham in soft butter sauce) and the dish that made us shriek with delight, the Lobster Thermidor. A word of advice to you, beloved reader, is that you do NOT eat breakfast if you plan on coming here for lunch. In fact, the portion sizes are such that you may even consider not eating dinner the night before. Often times, a generously sized dish will suffer in the taste and quality departments...all fur coat and no knickers. But not here. The Capesante Casereccie was beautifully presented in the aforementioned shells, dressed in a garlic, chilli, sun-dried tomato and white wine sauce. The scallops were exceedingly fresh and cooked to absolute perfection. Even after sharing it among three people, there were still a few on the plate. The veal dish, Saltimbocca Alla Romano, almost melted when prodded gently with a knife and fork. The flavours here are very robust and earthy, with the parma ham-topped veal swimming in a pool of velvety, lemony butter. Defo not a choice for one watching their waistline, but the immense pleasure gotten from gobbling up this dish will quickly squelch any guilt or remorse felt for ordering it. But the star of the show was the Lobster Thermidor. Classically made with one whole lobster worth of meat pan fried with egg yolk, cream, a touch of tomato and mustard, topped off lovingly with parmesan and finished in the oven, we oooh-ed and aaah-ed when it was placed on the table. A certain someone almost did not keep to our sisterly oath and tried wolfing the lobster down before the others were able to dig in, but we all did get to experience the wonder that was this dish. Even the sides of spinach, vegetables, fried zucchini and roast potatoes were carefully prepared as if they were the star attraction instead of a simple supplement to the meal. Don Giovanni's is renowned for their dessert, but quite frankly there was no more room left in our swollen tummies to even attempt to order puds. Instead, we lumbered to the door in a deeply satisfied food coma, did our goodbye hugs and took off in a different directions, with the kind of cheeky grin that only a masterfully cooked lunch can spawn. read more

Had the worst valentine day here. Food was quite pricey but I didnt mind if it was of good quality. My partner ordered me a lemon sole and prawn dish which was hitting the £20 mark. When It arrived it just had small prawns floating in tomato sauce. When I asked where the lemon sole was they claimed to have done a typo on the menu... and it was meant to say lemon sauce...gee because that tomato sauce oozed of lemon. ..had to argue to get anything back which spolit the night. They tried fobbing me off with a wine voucher to use there next time..yeah like im going back. .. read more

Pre-theatre menu offering from Don Giovannis on a busy Friday evening, and with musical accompaniment ! The offering being 2 courses for £14.95, and 3 for £18.95 - with some Italian classics in there - ravioli, lasagne and tiramisu. They also offer 2 for 1 on cocktails from 5-7pm, and then 9pm to close. A pretty good selection on the menu, given the cost and that if you were actually going to the theatre; time would be at a premium. We were a table of 5, and placed near a window, in an alcove. I opted for a starter of Pate (duck and chicken liver) , which was served with toasted and a berry compote. Nicely presented and the perfect light starter. Not the most original of choices, but lasagne was next up for my main course and a nice contrast to my light starter, with the heavier tastes of bolognese, bechamel sauce and mozzarella. Warming, filling and tasty too ! For dessert, I would normally go for tiramisu - but I opted instead for waffles, served with maple syrup, cinnamon and ice cream. It was very sweet (obviously !), but the ice cream gave another nice contrast. The tiramisu did look good though that my dining companions had opted for. All in all though, a good experience at Don Giovannis (I think over a year since my last visit) and would happily visit again to enoy the full a la carte menu. I would add that there is a very nice bar area if you are early for you meal, or you wish to enjoy a drink beforehand. read more

This place serves some crazy good pizza. Weird, like no pizza I have had anywhere (including Italy), but damn tasty. Me and my boyfriend came here a couple of years ago for an anniversary and we had a really lovely time. The waiter was really laid back and could see we don't eat in restaurants much, he told us which wine was best and didn't try to get us to buy a pricey one, just told us which was the best and worth the price. We had to wait a bit for a table as it was a busy Saturday, but to make up for it we were given a free plate of delicious bruscetta which more than made up for the wait! Anyway - back to the pizza. I got a Margarita and was totally blown away. The base was so bloody thin it was like eating a pancake. Actually, turning over a slice the Base looked as if it had been cooked like a pancake with the same browning patterns you get when you fry a pancake. It sounds weird but it tastes amazing! The tomato sauce was fresh, sweet and zingy, and the mozzarella was perfectly creamy and stingy. I also had a really basic rocket and Parmesan salad which was crunchy and delicious, if a little over seasoned. The food here is lovely, fresh Italian staples with a modern twist. It is a little more pricey than some other Italian's in the city, but you are guaranteed a great night. read more

This is a very friendly run restaurant, I have always felt very welcomed when dining here. Don Giovannis has been around in Manchester since 1984, so as you can imagine.. they are definitely getting it right! with a traditional Italian menu with lots of different styles of pasta, pizzas and a good choice of more substantial mains, including steak and fish specials. As well as the a la carte, there something to please most in a large group... and there is space for such in this 150 seat restaurant. There is also a private function room to accommodate 15-40 guests with 4 courses for just £35 per head. as this place is set in the theatre district of Manchester, I would recommend it as a place to eat before going to see a show/play. read more

Don't know about all the rest off you, you clearly don't eat out much if you think this is good food and service? The food was poor at best, over cooked salmon and duck, the salmon was not fresh! "Petit Pois".... er no frozen burnt peas more like, wine was poor at £18 per bottle, staff seem to not really know what they are doing, dropping plates etc..no waiter seems to have a certain area to work with so staff running around ignoring customers, we were sat 40mins before we even got the wine. when the food eventually arrives they don't ask if meals are good once you have them Long waits in between courses, a poor standard all round, I am surprised this place is still busy, but then looking at the customers, they don't seem to have a clue about good food and what they are eating...A POOR MANS SAN CARO.... but the price is probably similar to other top Italians Don't bother, San Carlo, or Jamie's for me. We sent both mains back and paid for the poor quality rip of wine and left after the waiter seems to not even think anything is wrong with the completely below average food quality and presentation, a bad cook could do better for home, trust me. POOR SERVICE POOR FOOD STAY AWAY UNLESS YOU WANT TO THROW MONEY AND A GOOD NIGHT OUT AWAY!!!!! read more

Beautiful Italian food, much better location from the old place across the road, which was always packed fri/sat nights- enough room for more people. I wouldn't say it's cheap- but it's definately not the most expensive Italian out there. Easy to get to via bus/metro or walking from MCC. There isn't any parking at the restaurant, nearest is NCP at gmex. read more