Donna’s

My partner and I visited Donna’s after it came highly recommended by friends in the local food scene. They raved about it, so naturally, we were excited to try it out. I really wanted to like it—but sadly, it missed the mark for us. To start, the service was warm and the staff were friendly—definitely a highlight 🙂‍↕️ And to preface: the Morel Lasagna, which was our shared main, did taste delicious! We also ordered the oysters and ham croquettes, which were just okay. We didn’t get a chance to snap photos of the lasagna or croquettes since we dove right in after the oysters. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit underwhelming for the price. The oysters ($3.50 each) came out first—small, and hard to justify cost-wise. They were served simply with lemon and hot sauce, resting on a bed of salt. For the price, we expected a bit more flair or thoughtful presentation. The croquettes ($12) followed: just two pieces, about the size of mozzarella sticks. The lasagna ($29) was served in a ceramic ramekin roughly 6.5–8” long. Splitting it between the two of us gave us just a few bites each. Even if I came back to order one just for myself, it still doesn’t feel worth nearly $30 😔 We wanted to love Donna’s—especially after all the glowing reviews—but for the price and portions, it just wasn’t quite the experience we were hoping for.

Cute restaurant and cozy vibe in a relatively obscure area. Couldn’t quite place their dishes but I’d say Asian fusion? Tried their prawn brown rice in broth and really enjoyed the flavour - a hint of ginger and just warms you from the inside on a chilly day. The dish itself feels healthy (the brown rice I suppose?) and the prawns and veg. Would return to try their other dishes!

A lovely friend took me here for a belated bday dinner and I loved it! Such a hidden gem on the west end ✨ This spot is so vibey with such flavorful dishes - I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy each single dish was! The oysters are so fresh, along with the pea salad 🥗. My fave was the mushroom lasagna. The red snapper was delicious, but on the saltier side. We got their strawberry trifle for dessert 🍓and it was so yummy until we hit the wine jelly at the bottom (just too strong for me haha). The drinks were well-rounded and tasty too! It’s patio season now so we sat outside to enjoy the weather. The atmosphere was so lively and comforting! ☀️ I would definitely come again to try their other dishes (and new ones as the menu changes)! 😋

4.5/5 Came here for dinner and tried a few of their dishes, it’s family style so everything is better shared. Mackerel tartar was the highlight, I only wish it came with more rye crisps. We also tried the croquettes, lamb liver on toast, the pea salad, and the snapper on the plancha. Most of these are fun and tasty. Unfortunately the snapper was way too fishy, we could smell it as it was carried to our table. I’ve had snapper and other sorts of fish at other places and it didn’t smell like this. But it was still a good dish.

Today at lunchtime, we went to Donna’s and tried their sandwiches — and they were truly excellent. We loved the bread they use and the quality of their ingredients, especially the mushroom sandwich and the roast beef sandwich. I highly recommend this spot for a casual meal with friends or a relaxed date. It also seems like a great place to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine or cocktails — although we didn’t try them this time, their drink menu looked quite extensive. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be back!

I loved everything about this place. The vibe is awesome, and the service was good. The food however was AMAZING. My friend and I split the roast beef sandwich and the leafy salad for lunch and it was both incredible and filling. I can’t wait to go back for dinner!

Such a sweet little spot I’m so happy I decided to try it. Great atmosphere great food. Treated myself to a solo snack and dessert and it was excellent.

Good was SO good. Such a cozy neighbourhood spot and each plate was so flavourfulz

the intimate ambiance, made it a perfect choice for a romantic dinner. The short but thoughtfully crafted menu showcased a culinary experience that left a lasting impression.

Went for breakfast and had a great meal. Excellent execution (had the full English and Danish breakfasts). Attentive and friendly service. Cute and eclectic ambiance. We will be back to try the dinner menu!

We went to Donna's for Valentine's Day, and it was a nice dinner, but unfortunately it left a little bit more to be desired on the food front. Now, seeing as it was Valentine's Day, I'm sure the staff were super busy and tired and the kitchen was probably rushing to get orders out but I had heard really good things and personally it didn't reach the standards I was expecting. The inside of the restaurant has a really nice set up. It almost feels like a cosy 80s vibe with all the interesting lights and art on the wall. For food we started with oysters which were pretty standard and the squash salad, which was my favourite dish of the night. For mains we got the beef tongue and roasted duck which were pretty good and for dessert we got rice pudding. Like I mentioned, the food was just pretty good. I thought it be a lot better considering the price (portions were quite small) and all the good things I had heard and the high reviews but maybe I had an off night due to Valentine's Day. I would still recommend checking it out. It seemed like it was more ideal for bigger groups to try out a lot of the dishes and share, but it was still nice as a date as well.

Stopped in for a few sandwiches and omg we were blown away. The roast beef is too good- recommend!!! The veggie melt was also excellent- we got two sandwiches and split them. It was only a lunch experience but will def be back to try a dinner! Big fan!!

Stopped by for lunch and ordered the Shrimp Salad Sandwich. It was packed and very tasty but a little small, like it belongs on the kid menu. Not sure why I thought it would come out like a banh mi size. All in all, a cute place, the waitress was very welcoming , I will come back.

Donna's got 3rd Best New Restaurant in Canada 2019 (Air Canada enRoute) so I had to check it out for myself. It definitely emits hip grandma vibes but the food itself stole the show. Split between two, we ordered baked kohlrabi, rice with shrimp, braised oxtail salad, and colston basset stilton. It was just the perfect amount of food if you are not extremely hungry. The braised oxtail salad was my favourite dish of the night. Everything was delicious, no complaints. Friendly and attentive staff.

Donna's is located at Lansdowne and Wallace, about a 7-8 minute walk away from Lansdowne subway station. The restaurant is a chill, casual eatery serving a variety of shareable dishes (or if you don't want to share that is fine too!). I had heard about Donna's for a while now and had been wanting to try this place out. This review pertains to the takeout service by Donna's during the pandemic. Ordering my food online, the menu and website was fairly easy to navigate. The one great thing was that Donna's had also recently extended their takeout hours (from 12-7pm) so I was able to get food after work. During the online ordering process I was able to select a specific time on when I could pick up my food. Upon arrival at Donna's, my meal was already ready and waiting for me. In terms of food I ordered a leafy salad (eggs, croutons, pickled beans, brown butter dressing) and the shrimp salad sandwich (with iceberg and dill). Both were packaged nicely and still fresh as I saved some of the food to eat the next day. In terms of the leafy salad, the overall combination worked well, I loved the eggs in the salad as it provided an overall richness to the dish. The pickled beans gave the salad a nice refreshing twist. The shrimp salad sandwich was great as well. The shrimp salad was actually quite refreshing and not too heavy. Overall, great simple food. Would definitely want to return for dine-in service in the future to see what else Donna's has to offer!

Part of a longer review... "Next up was a rather disappointing braised duck with olive and pine nuts. My guest and I were hoping to sink our teeth into something flavorful and satiating -- especially at a $22-dollar price point. Unfortunately, the broth that the braised meat floated in was quite the contrary -- more than a shake of salt was required to redeem this dish. On top of that, a disproportionate heap of curly-leaf parsley sat on top of the meat, almost acting as a thoughtless space-filler, and detracted from the overall flavor. I did, however, enjoy the sporadic bite of duck that included a toasted pine nut. As we grew hungrier, we dreamed of the sole on the bone being placed before us. We waited. And waited. And waited. No one came to check in, refill our water or ask if we wanted un autre verre du vin. At that point, I would have gladly obliged. Finalement, our server came over and asked if we needed anything else and we explained that we were waiting on the sole. His distant expression said it all: he had forgotten. Instead of ordering the sole at that point and having to wait another fortnight to pass, we opted to remove it from the bill." "

Simple, TASTY food done right. The menu is limited, but every dish we ordered was done to perfection, that the favours really stood out. Space is repurposed and it works. I look forward to warmer weather to enjoy the restaurant's picnic tables out front. Unless your kid has a sophisticated palate, I wouldn't recommend dinner; lunch would be a better option. Good for groups. Prices are good.

Donna's is delightful. The restaurant décor is simple, disorientingly decadeless vintage, but so comforting. It felt like somewhere between a mom-and-pop diner and your childhood best friend's home kitchen. We arrived on a Saturday night and were seated within fifteen minutes (I expect longer waits in the near future). The menu has a large drink list including cocktails, wine and beer, in widely varying price ranges. It is divided between before (apps) and after (mains) 6pm dishes. There are some good vegetarian/vegan options. We ordered: The cold roast pork, endive and tarragon - well liked (I didn't try this one). Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese and carrot chutney - the sweetness of the carrot chutney combined with the cheese was beautiful and the small toasts were served warm. I wasn't a huge fan of the cream crackers on the plate (although I normally like them) and would have preferred more toasts. Sole with red butter, hazelnuts and a side of Brussel sprouts - The red butter sauce was warm and spicy and the hazelnuts added a nice nutty crunch. The Brussels sprouts were the best I have ever tasted. What a combination! The dish was perfectly sized for two people. The staff suggested the (locally made) bread and butter to go with the pork, which rounded out the meal nicely. Everything was flavourful and well thought-out. The quality of the food experience reminded me of those I've had at Black Hoof and Liverpool House. The service was friendly and professional. I would like to come back to try their lunch menu! Well done Donna's.

Do get the almond brioche. There, I said it. Now beware of it being sold out earlier than anticipated. The sausage roll IS good, however is it worth $9? You will finish it in a few bites. The broccoli quiche is also a so-so. The quinoa persimmon salad is a refreshing combo. I do enjoy the vibe and the service as you can tell they care about every detail they put out.

Excitedly strolled in on a late, sunny Saturday afternoon and warmly greeted at the door. With no reservations my gf and I were quickly seated at the large communal table at the back of the restaurant. The room is bright, with a worn, vintage aesthetic giving the place a relaxed, cozy vibe. A great music playlist fills the background. The communal table seats about 10, but can feel a bit cramped as drinks and dishes arrive and accumulate for all at the table. Also, be prepared to be asked to shift seats to accommodate other non-reservation diners as they arrive. We were asked to shift twice, which we happily entertained the first time, however the second time felt disruptive to our experience and made us feel like we were becoming a bit of a nuisance, so we abandoned the idea of staying for dessert and opted for the cheque instead. Service was attentive and friendly, although pacing of dishes to table was much too quick. Before the second bite of our first dish, our second and third dishes arrived and ultimately one dish suffered - super soggy lamb liver on toast :( - as it awaited our attention from the other dishes we were tearing into. The dishes were beautifully presented and delicious. The marinated mussels and terrine dishes were standouts, brightly coloured and full of interesting textures and flavours. The large leafy salad with eggs was nicely dressed and a refreshing pause in between the heavier dishes. The lamb liver toast, aside from its sogginess having awaited our attentions, was tasty as well. We also had the chicken thigh, which sadly fell a bit flat for us - a appetizing dish no doubt, but considering $25 for a single chicken thigh, quartered potato and side gravy, we expected a bit more from this humble dish. Overall, Donna's delivered on exceptional food, but service fell a bit short with the excessive speed of food service and disruptive seating adjustments. But nothing that can't be corrected. Although next time I'll be sure to make a reservation to avoid having to play musical chairs.

Lunch is deceptively simple but delicious and detail oriented. Lovely service and atmosphere indoors. I highly recommend the surprisingly substantial pea salad and the warm Spanish potato tortilla slice with chilli oil and cream. They take reservations. Really affordable.

Go to this sweet little spot immediately! I've been twice in the last two weeks and I cannot say enough amazing things about Donna's! First time I had the the ham plate - I think they cure it in-house. Ham is soft, salty and silky deliciousness served with a lovely leek salad, butter and some crispy, crunchy baguette. My partner had the pork belly sandwich and loved it. I went to Donna's thinking I would get the sausage roll (I heard it was great) but unfortunately they were all out that day so I returned a few days later to try the sausage roll which completely lived up to my high expectations! Served with some hot Coleman's mustard and onion chutney. I can't wait to go back to Donna's and try other menu items. Great wine list, fun music, super nice service! I love you Donna's! See ya'll real soon.

I stopped by Donna's for a quick bite to eat on a busy Saturday morning. I was quickly seated at the communal table as I was dining alone. I had a great view of all the action going on in the kitchen and all the wonderful looking food being ordered up. I decided on a simple broccoli quiche and the short rib soup. I wasn't quite sure about the quiche when it arrived. The crust looked thin and dense, but I couldn't have been more wrong. It was firm, but flakey and buttery - a great accompaniment to the creamy filling and perfectly cooked broccoli in the quiche. The short rib soup was plentiful and flavourful while maintaining a perfect balance of lightness and umami (some type of chili pepper also gave it a slight kick). The service was top notch and the food was comforting and delicious, what more could you ask for?

Awesome spot. Small and cozy. Not stuffy at all. Friendly and helpful staff. Pretty good wine list. Food was delicious, with the lamb liver, leafy salad and the pork standing out for me.

I won't lie: I was pretty bummed when I read that one of my favorite brunch spots in the city (Hello Darling) had closed. But when I read all about Donna's and who was behind it, I was immediately excited. Donna's is on a sleepy stretch of Lansdowne, right by Wallace Avenue. The restaurant itself isn't huge, but it's got an open-concept kitchen and a bunch of cozy tables painted brightly. On the night that I decided to check it out with a pal, we were able to snag a table without issue. The menu is chill and relaxed: think cozy kitchen. We ordered a chili bowl (dried chilis with peanuts) and bread and butter as a starter. For our mains, we got the leafy salad, shrimp with rice and chicken thighs with potatoes. Can I just say: wow. So the salad gave me some serious Cobb Salad vibes, although it totally was not that. What I loved is that it was something so simple as a salad, but it was a fucking standout. My mouth is literally watering thinking about the rice and shrimp, with its brothy consistency. Bread was such a good score to soak up all those flavours. The restaurant and the staff were truly wonderful and honestly, although this place hasn't been open for long - it's going to be a top Toronto restaurant. I cannot wait to go back and check out the sole, plus I keep hearing so much about the ham plate. From my understanding, the menu will be changing seasonally. So get into it!

This place is a breath of fresh air in a city full of vacuous restaurants. It's quality without pretension. I was tempted to give 1 star in the hopes that it deters people and remain a neighbourhood spot...but I couldn't do that to such a talented group of people. Top picks so far (no order): 1) Shrimp sandwich 2) Ham plate 3) The humble sausage roll

Sausage rolls WILL sell-out. And the orange fennel scone are ...flaky, more croissant that scone, UNF LOVE IT. Lancaster Cheese sandwich is cold thus, to counter this wintry Toronto day, opted for the pork belly sandwich. Most excellent. Neat space, sweetest servers, will be back.

My wife and I moved to the GTA in 2019. Although we were happy to be back in Canada, we REALLY missed our favourite restaurants in Portland, Oregon. We found Donna's through social media and have throughly enjoyed every meal we've had here. The only reason for not giving five stars is due to the customer service. In our experience the staff has been a bit unfriendly. Unfortunately, this has been consistent along with delicious food.

Been here for lunch and a dinner. I'd say it's better for lunch. The roast beef sandwich was delicious. Their bean dish was really good and the lamb was fatty but good. Some really great dishes with a few so so ones.

Unbelievable! The food here was incredibly delicious. Well chosen recipes, executed well, with super fresh ingredients. Cute space, unpretentious. Lovely staff. The clams (little neck) were fabulous - with corn kernels and swiss chard in a burnt chili broth - wow what else is in that broth? I could eat that dish every day! The leafy greens salad had huge mounds green and red frilly leaf lettuce - mounds of it - with pickled green beans (strong green with a snap), a luscious quartered boiled egg (even that tasted wildly incredible), house made croutons - all dressed perfectly with a great tangy vinaigrette. The staff was wonderful. The only downsides were that the croutons were hard as rocks, burnt and could break a tooth, inedible for the most part. Fix that Donna's! And it is a tad pricey. The clams in broth at $32 should have come with bread to sop up the broth but that costed $6 extra! I've been in a bit of restaurant funk - disappointed by a lot of what is on offer in this city, but Donna's busted me out of that. And no, I'm not just saying that because my name is Donna!

Delicious food and excellent service made for a great Friday night dinner! Would highly recommend.

The most adorably toronto atmosphere ever - it was like being in a good friend's home who just happened to be a world-class chef. Comfort-food elevated to a new level. Not a single menu item I haven't loved.

The best local establishment to open in recent history. Excellent food, nice atmosphere, reasonable prices, friendly attentive service. We asked for s 7 pm reservation for 4 people. They considered the request and suggested that we come in at 6:45, because they had 2 fairly large groups coming in, and wanted to make sure that we got served ahead of those groups. How considerate is that? Go to Donna's. Like now.

I was there yesterday. The food can be described in one word: terrible. Ice cold ham hock terrine that was 20% meat only. Canned sardines and crisps as started. Floury cheese sauce with half assed cooked kohlrabi and the meat dishes were horrible. It was recommended by a friend I usually trust. I can only hope the chef was home with a seasonal cold and asked a friend who has never cooked to cover. :(.

Go there for the starters to share! Including the bread and butter with mussels for sure And the desserts Super hipster decor so depends on your taste but clean and fresh One issue: 1 chicken thigh & 4 prices of potato) for $25...yikes...they should take it off the menu cause not representative of the value and quality! Oh and the rice and shrimp too salty but I liked where they were going.... Good music, and atmosphere Service was great - knowledgeable and friendly servers!

Great new spot. Minimalist is the name of the game here....from the storefront, to the decor, to the food presentations. None of the budget wasted on things that don't improve the food quality or taste. With regards to what we had, everything was outstanding. From the bread and butter, to the ham terrine, to the fresh pea salad, to the shrimp and rice, to the steamed clams....it was all top notch. A high-end tasting experience that you can enjoy in shorts and a t-shirt. Highly recommended.

Love this adorable space and the insanely delicious food & drinks. The mushroom sandwich is incredible! Great spot for lunch or dinner.

Donna's is an awesome neighbourhood spot. Very difficult to describe what type of food they serve-British maybe? Doesn't matter, everything is delicious. Staff is great, room is very inviting. These guys know what they're doing.

Stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night. Restaurant had a great, relaxed vibe. Menu is small but everything is delicious. Highlights: the bread and butter, ham and leeks (I normally hate ham), sole, duck. Don't miss this spot!