An Evening at Donna Deli
A quirky little restaurant review
My friend and I had been eagerly looking forward to our Friday night outing to Donna Deli for two weeks, only to leave before dessert, feeling utterly disappointed.
I had seen it pop up frequently on Instagram stories and thought, ‘It looks so pretty, I need to go here.’ The interiors certainly lived up to the hype. Whoever designed the space deserves a raise. Golden lights and glass chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, created a stunning atmosphere. However, the washrooms were both too small and inconveniently close to the kitchen—a big no-no. The restaurant also did not include any wheelchair accessibility. A beautiful space should also be practical; Donna Deli missed the mark here.
As vegetarians and somewhat picky eaters, my friend and I had pre-planned our menu, confident that nothing could go wrong. Boy, were we wrong.
We chose to sit inside because the outdoor seating allows smoking, which, while catering to some people, wasn’t for us. Inside, we were seated in a cosy two-person booth. The ambience was pleasant enough, though the constant replay of ‘Breakeven by The Script’ suggested someone was nursing a broken heart.
Our culinary journey began with high hopes. The cheese fondue was delectable. The hot, gooey cheese paired perfectly with crispy fries. The croutons were a bit soggy, but the seasoned stir-fried vegetables were so good I could have eaten them on their own. It seemed like we were off to a good start.
But then came the pizza. A classic Margarita with basil should be a safe choice, but this one was a disaster. One side was burnt, the bottom was undercooked and stuck to the plate, and the marinara sauce was overly sweet. While I understand that mistakes happen in the kitchen, the audacity to serve trash to a customer is inexcusable.
Disappointed, we decided to skip dessert – despite our anticipation for the tiramisu – and headed to Chantilly instead. There, we enjoyed a cappuccino tres leches that did not fail to impress. I might be biased towards Chantilly, but they always deliver. I even took home a cold butterbeer for my mum, which, though no longer cold after an hour, was still a hit.
Reflecting on the evening, the best part was the company and the dessert at Chantilly. While Donna Deli might appeal to some with its house white and tiramisu, the presence of influencers with cameras might be off-putting to others. Despite their excellent service – a rare gem in many places – the overall experience was a letdown.
In the end, I’d give Donna Deli a 3.8/10. I wish it had lived up to its fame.
Service: 10/10
Food: 1/10
Ambience: 3/10
Decor: 10/10
Accessibility: 3/10