Donetto: Authentic Italian Pizzas, Pastas, and Brunch
Donetto is an Italian restaurant on Atlanta’s West Side. Unlike most Italian restaurants in the city, Donetto specializes in Tuscan cuisine, which truly sets it apart. This means shareable plates — including pizzas — and meat-driven dishes, like steak Florentine (read more about it below).
WHY GO:
Because you want authentic Italian pizza, but with a fun modern twist.
THE VIBE:
Sleek and cool, with a hint of mid-century modern. Outside, there’s a lovely patio with string lights and a huge fire pit.
The dining room of Donetto (c) Anna Lanfreschi
The firepit on Donetto’s outdoor patio (c) Anna Lanfreschi
DRINK THIS:
Try one of the cocktails.
The netspritz & chill is Donetto’s take on the classic Aperol spritz, with the addition of Campari and vodka. And the encore cocktail is great if you’re a fan of spirit-forward, not-too-sweet drinks.
Donetto is also one of the few Atlanta restaurants with an extensive amaro list. An after-diner glass of this herby, slightly bitter liqueur is a classic Italian move, but if you’re not sure how to choose one, ask your server or bartender for help.
Netspritz and chill cocktail on Donetto’s patio (c) Anna Lanfreschi
The encore cocktail at Donetto (c) Anna Lanfreschi
EAT THIS:
Check out the pizza portion of the menu. All the pizzas are handmade to order and cooked in the restaurant’s wood burning pizza oven.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fungo pizza, which is topped with roasted mushrooms and creamy taleggio cheese (see the first picture in this blog post).
Another standout is the prosciutto pizza, which, in addition to prosciutto, also has buffalo mozzarella, mustard greens, and roasted garlic on it.
Prosciutto pizza from Donetto (c) Anna Lanfreschi
And Donetto also has a vegan pizza: It is topped with local peaches and fresh greens and has cashew cheese on it, but you wouldn’t know it.
Donetto also has some of the best pasta in Atlanta. The ripiena and the bucatini are particularly memorable, but you cannot go wrong with any of their freshly made selection.
What this restaurant is really known for is the steak Florentine: Size and price vary daily depending on availability, but it is always large enough to serve two people, and it is cooked perfectly every time!
Seafood crudo: A new appetizer on Donetto’s menu (c) Anna Lanfreschi
Raspberry pistacchio panna cotta at Donetto (c) Anna Lanfreschi
LOGISTICS:
Donetto is located on the West Side, near The Painted Duck and the restaurant Aix. There is self and valet parking available in the adjacent deck.
The restaurant served dinner nightly, and on Sundays, they have a great brunch program, called Cosa Nostra. The brunch menu boasts southern twists on classic Italian dishes, such as the frittata with seasonal veggies or the cacio e pepe scramble.
Reservations are encouraged, especially for Sunday brunch, and you can make one on OpenTable.