Donato & Co. features regional Italian eats, operated by a partnership of 2 chefs. offerings: "farms & fields, pasta & co., salt & flour, rice & flour" eats: lunch prix fixe lunch, (20) restaurant week -Antipasto:Pane e Panelle "sauteed wild prawn, garbanzo bean fritter, served on sesame bun & sour carrot sauce" single wild shrimp tasty ala amebi. fried fritter just crunchy in honey tasty bun, carrot sauce bland, not sour. -Primo:Risotto Biete e Caprino "carnaroli risotto, organic beets & creamy caprino cheese, fried basil" short grain rice al dente with red sauce, cheese splashes, veggie topping. filling, tasty though it didn't look it. -Dolce:Cremoso di cioccolato, Nocciole e Mandarino "dark chocolate cremoso, hazelnut crunch, mandarin sorbet" decadent, dense chocolate-like dessert, frigid faint mandarin sorbet. 3.5 stars. -that's italian have trouble reading menu. frix prix eats are great! measured, courteous service. read more

2 stars for presentation of the appetizers and atmosphere. Otherwise, I don't have anything positive to say. We ordered the fish & polenta appetizer & the salad with fried egg. Both had beautiful presentation but lacked any wow flavor. I ordered the special truffle tagliatelle ($40) and sadly it had been left sitting out under the heat lamp. The actual bowl was super hot & the pasta looked dry - it had to be mixed for moisture. Also, the truffles were already shaved on top, which were probably sitting under the heat lamp as well. No flavor whatsoever. Such a sad truffle experience- and I love truffles. Canada ordered the lamb- one piece was not edible and the other piece he struggled with. And he didn't really touch the wilted veggies underneath. Again, so sad as Lamb is on of his favorite dishes. Was looking forward to this restaurant, but it severely missed the mark. I would not recommend. read more

Donato & Co - Fish & polenta appetizer. Nice presentation but otherwise lacked the wow factor. - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is Donato's newest venture - a nice neighborhood Italian place in Berkeley. It's handsome and in the evening with the lights down low - has a kinda sexy, classy feel to it. There's a lot of beautiful woodwork, including the tables. The menu is very straightforward. There is no pretense going on here. The dinner menu is a single page with drinks, wine, etc. on the flip side of the page. The food is also straightforward but very good. Unfortunately, I lost my notes of what we had that night but there were four of us and we were all delighted with our meal selections. Our friends travel to Italy at least twice a year or more and they brought a beautiful bottle of Barolo that was in the $200 - $300 range. We shared a taste of it with Donato! We had a truly wonderful time! The only negative is the parking - on the street. Jim read more

Donato & Co - This is Donato, a great guy and superb chef! - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Meh. This place has a nice ambiance and our server was professional and personable. We ordered a variety of apps and pastas and a pork chop as secondi piatti. Nothing was terrible ... but it was all under-seasoned and a bit uninspired. At this price point, I expected much better. read more

So glad I was able to finally sample the newest gem in Berkeley's Elmwood District with Chef Donato Scotti's mini empire that just keeps growing and growing and now he has made his mark with his fourth restaurant and first stop in Berkeley! Upon entry you will notice Donato & Co. is a more slightly upscale, detail-oriented counterpart to Scotti's Desco restaurant in Oakland with a bit of a hipper outlook. They completely spiffed the previous tenant's Advocate locale, with dimly lit interior highlighted by brick-lined walls, a sleek bar, an open kitchen and even a vespa parked right in the middle of the dining room. I came on late on a Friday evening, Black Friday in fact, where the crowds were smaller and the parking on College Avenue was somewhat better. We were easily sat on a two-top with another couple right next to us, also enjoying the place for the very first time. The menu is uniquely divided into four categories Farm & Fields, sort of vegetable based smaller plates; Salt & Water, where meat based smaller plates are; Pasta & Co., obviously where their signature pastas reside; and Iron & Fire where their fire-roasted main meat dishes are featured. The menu is small but mighty thanks to a number of enticing options. Tonight we wanted a full example of what their menu had to offer so to start, we went with what many an aspiring photog posted on Yelp, the Assortment of house made/ cured Salumi, pickled vegetables & olive oil focaccia alongside the smaller version of the Organic Cauliflower "Bistecca" served with butternut squash cream, Pantelleria capers & almond pesto. Some of the house made Salumi tasted better than others but you could not go wrong with their freshly baked olive oil focaccia, which was some of the best I've had. But the highlight of our meal, maybe our evening, was the cauliflower bistecca, perfectly grilled and seasoned it was pure heaven on a plate. For our main courses, we knew we were going with a pasta and main dish, once again our fellow Yelpers did us right by aiding us in what looked good in pictures on the app. We both agreed that the Fresh Pappardelle pasta with gulf prawns, cannellini beans & lemon zest looked the best as did the Carnaroli Risotto alla Parmigiana topped with Nebbiolo braised beef oxtail. The Pappardelle and shrimp were nicely prepared and seasoned but the beans were overpowering and felt a little out of place on the dish while the oxtail wasn't as tender so it falls off the bone as I would have liked it, but the risotto was a nice flavorful accompaniment. To conclude our meal, we went with a nightcap of lemoncello along with two desserts recommended by our server Helena, who suggested we go with the Semifreddo Alla Lavanda with lemon curd & meringues topped lavender "semifreddo" and the Affogato with vanilla gelato topped with chocolate and espresso. I'm normally not a meringue fan, but the Semifreddo was one of the best desserts I have had in a long time, as it had the perfect ratio of tangy flavor and tartness. Donoto & Co. has something really special going for it. For our entire meal for three courses plus beverages, the total amount was extremely affordable and the service was top notch. I really want to return so I can explore this fascinating menu more in depth as some of the dishes sound absolutely delectable. I'm just thankful this extraordinary space didn't sit vacant for too long and now Donato Scotti and his team can thrive in a neighborhood that needs it more than ever. read more

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A lovely neighborhood restaurant with ambiance and great food. They focus on organic food and it is deliciously served up. There were quite a few Vegan options as well; I loved my cocktail "milk and honey" which contained bourbon a white wine reduction and frothy egg white. It was yummy. Service was excellent read more

Donato & Co - "Milk and Honey" specialty cocktail - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

European portions and prices served with style. A friend and I grabbed lunch here today. First impressions, we were both really impressed by the interior of the restaurant. The tasteful decor really makes it more suited for a date night or special occasion. We ordered the smaller size buckwheat ravioli and rigatoni sorentini. They weren't kidding about small portions. It really was probably half the size you would get at another Italian place for about the same price, basically European style. Other than the reminder about proper portion control, the meal wasn't particularly satisfying in either quantity or taste. The food was good but nothing special especially for the price. Additionally, they only offer bread if you request it, but that was also quite dry and unappetizing. I think the biggest plus of this place is the ambience. read more

Donato & Co - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Absolutely delicious. Wonderful food and service. All the food was so well balanced. Everything paired beautifully with the wine that was recommended to us. read more

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My goodness what our tastebuds have been missing since Covid messed up our weekend brunch tradition! Today was our first brunch at Donato & Co. in years! Saturday brunch--I had bronzino fish with steamed artichokes and potato cake, sooooo delicious. Hub had oxtail risotto and couldn't resist eating every tasty morsel. Even forced myself to have the excellent Italian dessert confection. If you haven't been, you must go. The interior is pleasant with lovely lighting and there is some sidewalk seating. Support this great local restaurant please! read more

DO NOT ORDER FROM DOORDASH - we paid $14 for bruchetta and only got ONE PIECE OF BREAD - i could buy a whole meal for $14 but instead I got one piece of bread... if they ran out they should have removed the item and charge but nope I got 1 bread for $14. Pasta was also mediocre, don't waste your money here. Seems like they have a low rating for a reason. read more

Donato & Co - $14 for 1 piece of bread - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

wonderful place, great food, fabulous cocktails. All wrapped in a classy, sophisticated package. Highly recommended!! read more

Had the opportunity to test the restaurant before its official opening. As with other Donato restaurants, the food is fantastic. We tried SOTTO TERRA and the parmigiano shell was spectacular. We loved the PIZZELLE. The RISOTTO with the oxtail melts in your mouth (if you like Bigoli e Coda at Donato, you'll love it). Do not miss the SALAME di cioccolato, which reminded me of my Italian grandma... The selection is great. The ambient is very cozy and pleasant, with a Vespa on display and Bergamo's pictures on the wall. I never thought I would say this, but I am considering moving to Berkeley :-) read more

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The ambiance is excellent. Love the every detail of the interior from the color the wall, divider made by wine corks, scooter for deportation and so on. All the ingredients for the food were fresh but was just not executed well. The timing of the foods and drinks were not served at odd timings. First, we ordered a cocktail before we order our food but it did not come until we finish our appetizer. Half way through we were eating our appetizer, our main courses arrived along with our cocktail that we order to have before our food, and the glass of wine that I that meant to have with my main dish. The appetizer - Ricootta with homemade ricotta cheese. Again, ,the ingredients were fresh and good. It tasted as they forgot to add the Trapani sea salt on the plate. It was obvious that the dish would've been great if a sea salt was on it to pull it together as a whole. The sauce was good for the Risotto but was shockingly small portion - seems more like an appetizer size and the rice was too al dente. On the side note, you should ask for a knife if you are ordering one because the pork belly is a chunk that you would want to cut to eat. Dessert - Tortino Di Nocciola Piemonte - cake was moist but gelato wasn't portion right, chocolate sauce was "bitter" but not "Bittersweet"enough to compliment the cake and gelato. Srisolona E Crema was simply a poor choice. Fluffy mascarpone was good if the cornmeal crumble was in a small pieces, and if it was well balanced with caramel sauce and dark chocolate like it describes on the menu. It is very unfortunate as it has such a great potential to be a great place. read more

We had a wonderful dinner and look forward to coming again. It was a nice start with the arancini "rice ball" appetizer and a gamberi shrimp salad. The branzino was flavorful and light, tagliatelle, spaghetti neri, and casonsei sausage ravioli delighted each guest. The Pasetti Montepulciano completed the meal to the point we'll have to come back to try the many yummy desserts. The owner stopped at our table to check on our dining experience, an interaction that enhanced our time there. Nelly provided great service. Grazie read more

Pretty pretty pretty good love their bruschetta along with their spaghetti Neri. Drinks were on point and they have a nice decor, service was amazing friendly staff. read more

I'm not sure about others' 5-star ratings, but I had lunch there with friends last week. A bad experience. We had a tall young man for a waiter. He seemed distant and unfriendly. We had pasta dishes. There was no parmesan on the table, nor was any offered. One of our party, a woman from Italy(!), asked for cheese. The waiter told us that there might be an extra charge. He disappeared for at least 5 minutes, enough to let our pasta cool, and brings back a bowl of soft cheese that had been cut into squares. What kind of waiter in an ITALIAN restaurant doesn't know that parmesan goes with pasta? He acted miffed when we specified that we wanted parmesan. I should also comment on the prices. The least expensive glass of wine is $12, and prices rise from there. Since I've been an accountant for 45 years, and have worked for restaurants, Donato's has the hallmark of new ownership and/or the need to service a loan, or possibly it was simply profiteering, which has become all too common recently. read more

I wanted to love this place because it looks authentic. But the execution of most dishes is mid. Just average. The beef tartar with bone marrow was extremely underwhelming and not pleasant to eat. Arancini were mid. Branzino was good because the fish was good The risotto was not even made the proper recipe. It was a bit watery and not flavorful. Affogato was just an ice cream scoop with coffee on top not even inside like they do it in Italy. Cocktails were good So $300 later for two, I will not go back. read more

Donato & Co is alright. The food is not outstanding or worth the price by any means. If you want mediocre Italian food that satisfies a pasta craving this works. All of the waitstaff were very nice and attentive, just wouldn't choose to go here again. read more

Nice atmosphere in large open room, friendly and attentive wait staff. The food, however, is not great. We ordered the special pasta with mushrooms. No flavor. The fish entree was also bland and almost boiled. The bacalao mousse appetizer was strongly recommended for what reason I could not fathom. The Arancini were good but that should be easy for a restaurant like this. I honestly couldn't find anything on this menu I would want to eat again. read more

Lovely surroundings, unusual dishes, great desserts and drinks, attentive staff, and you can have a conversation even when the restaurant is full. One of our favorites. read more

Amazing authentic Italian food. The cappelletti was so unique and delicious. The tartufo was such a savory appetizer. They make their own salumi and it's delicious. The service was smooth and not rushed. We'll definitely be going back! read more

I'm Italian guy& I think this restaurant is a true Italian restaurant the food is so good bravo Chef. read more

Donato & Co - Calamari I love it - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Poor service with preference obviously given to large groups. Took us 45 mins to just get water. The waiter was completely blaze about it. Food was okay but portions tiny it felt ridiculously overpriced. My pasta Nero was prob dispensed with an ice cream scoop. The cocktails were nice and that's about it. On top of everything they close at 9.30. For a place claiming to be authentically Italian it's just funny. Doubt I'll go there again. read more

We ordered delivery and had hot, delicious, so wonderfully tasting Italian food in 30 minutes. We are outside picnic style at a table and everything was spot on! Would totally recommend! Had the prosciutto, tagliatelle Bolognese and the walnut ricotta ravioli! Missed the veggies, but who cares when the meal is so tasty!! read more

Kind, attentive staff. Wonderful menu, great food. Love this place :) I'll definitely be back.

One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Berkeley/Oakland. The room is great -- and the noise system works wonders -- but the main thing is the warmth of the staff, where everyone is treated as a regular (and many actually are). it's a perfect neighborhood restaurant, but with the menu and quality of a destination one. I frankly don't know how some become critics darlings and others are off the radar, but I'm glad because though Donato is usually pretty full, it's possible to go at the last minute, and to see a lot of familiar faces. It's not cheap, but definitely at the reasonable end of good food (mains $23-45), and as a result it has one of the most diverse clienteles, in age, background, etc. of any restaurant I know. read more

I eventually spit my first, and only piece of beef into my napkin. I hoped it's texture and lack of taste might be the only bad piece so I didn't mention it to my dinner companies. It was not until my companions saw that I had chewed on a piece of meat and tried to discreetly hide it on my plate that they realize I had stopped eating. Not willing to share my displeasure and influence my guest dinner experience, I did not tell them that I thought the meat was uneatable until we got in the car. I had asked the waitstaff to pack up all of my uneaten meal so I could take it home. I tried one piece of the beef the next day, chewed forever with no flavor, and again spit it out. I'm am/was not willing to give that meat to my dog! read more

If your craving authentic Italian food Donato & Co. Is my absolute favorite restaurant in Berkeley! My husband and I have dined here over the last couple months and they never disappoint. We enjoy the crispy risotto balls, tiny trio of pizzas and all the house made pasta!! Oh and the Oxtail over risotto is a must have! But Let's not forget dessert!! the hazelnut cake and chocolate ganache are everything, it was so rich and satisfying. Even during mandatory takeout the food was just as tasty! They now offer cook at home options for future meals as well. Nice addition during these uncertain times. We always tell everyone about this gem and they always enjoy it as much as we do. See you sooner than later and thanks for staying OPEN. read more

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Absolutely fantastic happy hour. We had the chef's board, pappardelle, and truffle ravioli. All three were outstanding. And the Italian wines are very good and flowing! read more

The food is creative Italian but the portion sizes are simply unacceptable. I'm speaking as 110 pound tall woman that is health conscious and the portions are still unacceptable. A $28 linguini seafood pasta had one shrimp. Unacceptable. Stop cutting corners and give us a reasonable portion size with more than one shrimp. it's a shame because the food is actually good but the value stinks and the service is also subpar. we waited several minutes before someone even came over to our table to offer us some water. When you're paying $28 for an entrée I would expect exceptional service in the bay area. Don't waste your time and money at this place. read more

Thankful this kind of place came into the spot where the Advocate used to be. The chef cares about the food. You can taste it see and smell it. The place is clean, people are kind and the drinks are good. Hopefully Donato &Co will last! read more

If you are ordering pasta, prepare yourself for disappointment. If you order the rigatoni, I would also order a casket. Overwhelmingly salty and the the olives were overpowering. I will say, the prosciutto was delightful and the drinks were alright... but I could actually cook better tasting pasta with water from a swamp. Our waitress was lovely, but the male host was unfriendly. Overall mixed feelings that are more negative than positive. read more

There were several Italian restaurants where we could have eaten last weekend but we chose Donato because I had a craving for cacio e pepe. What a mistake to order this simple dish at Donato! Apparently it was beyond the capabilities of their kitchen because what came out was a dish of undercooked pasta smothered in a congealed cheese sauce. Yes, I know, pasta is supposed to be served al dente but this pasta was just plain dry. Pouring on a huge quantity of the sauce was probably meant to hide the error with, unfortunately, another error. My dining companion ordered what he thought was going to be pappardelle with chanterelles. What he got was green pasta with zigzag edges and mixed mushrooms. When he pointed this out to the waiter, the explanation he got was that there was a problem with the menu. To make up for this miss, he got a dessert on the house which was lost on him since he didn't want it. I ate it because I couldn't eat much of my dish. The dessert was ok but our radicchio salad was a miss too. It was a large quantity of undercut, over-dressed leaves accompanied by 3 slices of a nectarine and a few slices of crostini. When we walked in I was impressed with the warm, almost homey atmosphere. Too bad about the high level of noise, my uncomfortable seat, and glacial service. What a shame because the parts of a good restaurant are there but the final product is a failure. read more

Went here tonight with my boyfriend. Although the service is excellent, the vibe is a bit uppity and so I think it might discourage some from trying it out. I didn't see any diversity in terms of the clientele in the restaurant. Mostly just wealthy people drinking finewine and congratulating themselves. Didn't like that. The nice waiter told us the specials. I ordered the gnocchi in a fondue cheese sauce, sprinkled with nutmeg. Very tasty! Boyfriend got a pasta dish and he liked it. I'd recommend this place. Just don't be intimidated by the menu and people. It's good food; the place and culture just needs a little work. read more

Oh my goooooddd. You guys. This is the best restaurant in Berkeley. Holy mother of g. We ordered the lamb chop special, prosciutto, and some appetizers plus the sbrisolona e crema for desert, it blew my mind. I wish I knew this place existed before. Our waiter Samuel was so knowledgeable and kind and attentive. They have a really unique and delicious wine list. Plus it's one of few places I've found where you can order a glass of amaro without people looking at you sideways. Best Italian food I've had in the US. Recommend to everyone, atmosphere is great and not stuffy and the team is really professional and on top of their stuff. Will come back so many more times. read more

Made reservation through Open Table for Monday at noon. Required a credit card for the table. And it's closed. Owner should update their Open Table profile to show when it's actually open. read more

We went here for Sunday brunch when the place opened. The atmosphere was lovely and the dining room remained nearly empty the entire time we were there. Perhaps it just hasn't caught on for breakfast because the food was delicious and prices comparable to other fine dining establishments in the area. read more

Nice restaurant and service overall. Food was tasty and really loved the ricotta and beets appetizer. Portion sizes were small. Came for a birthday and no one wished or gave anything complimentary to celebrate, so sad and disappointing. Don't think I'll be returning anytime soon. read more

I've been here 3 times: once for lunch, once for drinks, and once for drinks/appetizers. It's a great date spot if you're seeing a movie nearby, or just want to grab a drink. I have yet to be disappointed :) PROS: - usually no wait for a table - they have a deal w/ the Rialto movie theater for free apps with a drink before you see a movie - friendly staff - great wine list, cocktails are delicious (try the Aviation!) - appetizers are filling but light CONS: - lacks a bit of ambiance (partly because the space is so large and never fills up) - parking can be difficult read more

Super friendly staff. Light and airy space with high ceilings. Open kitchen with a wood-burning stove. New menu is is divided into four sections: apps and salads, "salt and water," pasta, and chicken and meat. Pasta options come with a lot of seafood and shellfish. For an Italian restaurant, they have interesting options including ox tail ravioli and chicken liver vasetto. We tried the ouvo salad, which comes with greens, candied walnuts, and a panko-crusted, fried soft boiled egg with a runny yolk. The egg is delicious but the salad is so salty it's hard to eat the greens. We also split the arenccini, deep-fried ricotta and mozzarella balls, which were crunching and yummy. We split a variety of the pasta dishes including the squid ink pasta and the fettuccine with pork ragu. We found the dishes to be incredibly salty, including the salads. All told, this is a nice dining experience and perhaps good for a night out, but the food is mediocre. read more

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