What's that blinding light?
Written: Mar 14 '01
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Pros: Great food, nice ambiance
Cons: A bit costly, especially for Saugus.
The Bottom Line: This is an excellent choice for a quiet night out with your date or spouse. (But not both.)
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| argyle's Full Review: Donatello |
Ristorante Donatello sits on a small hill overlooking Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts. In the fall, the all-glass facade brilliantly catches the setting sun...
... and reflects it into the eyes of rush-hour traffic.
This is how I first spotted Ristorante Donatello. Not the greatest introduction, I suppose, but the architecture of the building clashed with the surrounding neighborhood on Route 1 to the point where I was intrigued. This isn't the classiest stretch of road in the world (not too far from the Golden Banana strip club, in fact), so a fancier-looking building would have caught my attention even it it didn't burn out my retinas.
Eventually, my wife and I decided to try the place. Good move on our part, because it happens to be a great restaurant.
The first thing you'll note after pulling into the driveway is that the parking lot is a bit of a nightmare. Remember, this restaurant is on a hill. Fortunately, the second thing you notice is the valet parking.
I've always made reservations, but have been told each time that they're usually not necessary. (My best guess is that you'll want reservations on the weekends, though.) The table IS ready when you get there, which you'd think would be a given, but isn't with a lot of restaurants.
The waitstaff is always attentive and helpful. There isn't too much else to say on that point -- you know what waiters are supposed to do, and they do it well.
The food, primarily Northern Italian, is always a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The presentation isn't so fancy that you'd label it artistic, or -- god forbid -- nouvelle, but the presentation is always sharp. My personal favorite is the veal chop stuffed with cheese and roasted red peppers. If you prefer simpler fare, though, the corner of the upstairs dining room is graced with a brick oven, where you can watch them make your gourmet pizza.
The restaurant is casual, having no dress code to speak of, but you'll feel out of place in shorts. Maybe even in jeans, come to think of it. This is what your mother would call a "Nice Place," and you should probably dress appropriately.
It's a bit more expensive than the other restaurants in the area, which are mostly chains. However, you get what you pay for, in quality of both food and service.
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening
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Epinions.com ID:
argyle
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Member: Jason Roth
Reviews written: 44
Trusted by: 8 members
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