| rev:text
| - I have a mixed reaction.
Donovan's has been around the Valley for more than a decade now. When you step inside the first set of doors, you're in an alcove that makes me think of really old-timey restaurants from the 1960s or maybe even older than that. Go through the next set of double doors and you're at the host stand.
The place oozes of pretense.
We went on a Monday night on a Groupon deal with reservations for 6:45 p.m. We arrived early and a "complimentary" valet took the vehicle away for us - I'm OK with valet, especially when it's billed as complimentary, but I'd also really like the ability to just park my own vehicle even if it means I'm walking from the back 40. Complimentary valet really is never actually free - those people have to sit outside in the brutal heat in the hope of being tipped. Makes me feel awkward.
Back inside: we were greeted immediately. We confirmed our reservation, were told that we were quite early so our table would be ready closer to the time promised. We declined the opportunity to go spend money in their bar. Having read other reviews, I think this might be their MO. The dining room was visibly nowhere near full. As had been promised, we were shown to a table pretty close to our reserved time. This disappointed me - I didn't understand why we were made to wait. I'd go for 2 stars for this part of the experience.
The table service was very much up to the expectation created by the pretense that is Donovan's. Five stars here. Very attentive despite them being fully aware we were there on a Groupon deal. Bravo.
The menu had many yummy sounding choices. We ordered their "Prix Fixe" but were then told that the Groupon offer couldn't be combined with other offers. Odd. This could have been communicated better. Or, better yet, not really worried about at all. I believe the reason for the Groupon deal is to get people to come in and give the place a try - shine as brightly as possible and, hopefully, a percentage of the deal-seekers will be back and pay full boat.
On to the food: the Caesar salad - no anchovies - was not fully traditional but was very well prepared. Seafood chowder soup was excellent. 6 oz. filet was a very good cut and prepared perfectly to order. But, as has been pointed out in other reviews, they season this to death. Bummer. I didn't order a pepper crusted steak. But, that's what I got. Too bad. The skillet fried potatoes, recommended by the captain, were not good! Crusted in salt. Deserts: creme brulee - just OK - and triple chocolate brownie - righteous! - ended the night.
For menu pricing, no way I'm coming back. For the Groupon deal, yup, I'd come back. The ambience of this place is not really my style - it's a bygone era. There are other high-end steakhouses around that don't feel so ancient and that deliver a more modern take on super expensive steak dinners.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)