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| - My husband and I really liked the original Donovan's Steak House in La Jolla when we lived there several years ago, so when we moved to Phoenix we were glad to hear that a second Donovan's had been opened here. We invited my in-laws out for a nice dinner on a Wednesday night and decided it was time to investigate this place.
Honestly, we were a bit disappointed. Donovan's Phoenix has the same ultra-low lighting and dark wood-panelled ambience as its big sister in California, which wasn't a surprise. Even so, the dining room felt particularly stodgy; the low light seemed more oppressive than elegant, and the dining tables are strangely small and feel crowded. (Luckily, we were able to upgrade to a booth when my father-in-law told the waiter that he couldn't read the menu in the room's low light).
The menu itself was relentlessly predictable. I realize that Donovan's touts itself as a classic steak house, but they could stand to show a little more verve in their appetizer and side dish selections - even the dessert selections were nothing I wouldn't expect to see in a thousand other less expensive places. Our steaks were, eh, OK; I ordered mine rare (I like 'em bloody), but it came definitely more medium-rare. Neither my husband nor I felt that the quality of our cuts was what we'd hoped they'd be for the price point. All told, the meals were enjoyable, but I came away feeling underwhelmed, like the kitchen was phoning it in.
Again, understanding that Donovan's is aiming for a classic vibe, it still seems to me like they could try harder to maintain that character and still show some inspiration and creativity in the details. Our search for a favorite steak place in the greater Phoenix area continues.
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