I’ve been pretty open on this blog about my love for all things pasta or really any food that involves a starch with red sauce. My latest entry into amazing Italian food in Atlanta is Donetto, located on the up-and-coming Westside (trust me, this is where all the best new things are going right now). Now Donetto isn’t exactly new, they had just celebrated their 1-year anniversary at the time of my visit several weeks ago. The name Donetto comes from the largest Chianina bull ever recorded in history, weighing in at a legendary 3,840 lbs (for whom there is a large portrait in the main dining room). Not only is the Chianina breed the heaviest and largest of its kind, it is also one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world – Chianina bulls have been raised in Italy’s Tuscan region for over two thousand years. All that to say, I’m just realizing that I had a massive and delicious meal, without actually ordering any meat. Well, I guess that’s just all the more reason to go back.
The Cocktails
When first entering Donetto, you’re greeted by a large and warmly glowing bar. My friend Christina and I were feeling a little chilly that day and couldn’t resist taking our meal at the bar. If you can, grab the bartender Aliyah for her menu recommendations. She will not do you wrong. I have a tendency to make my first cocktail at any restaurant of Italian persuasion a form of the Aperol Spritz. It’s what I drink in Italy so it’s a little nostalgia that I like to start off my meal. Luckily, Donetto has a special version of the Spritz on their menu that they actually change with the season. Theirs is a perfect blend of the sweet bubbles of the prosecco, the bitterness of the Aperol, and the tartness of the lemon. So perfect. You won’t go wrong with this order as your first for the night.
The Food
Christina and I were so blessed to have come in at the beginning of a service before the dinner rush, so we were able to sit, savor, and pace ourselves through a ton of food from all over the menu (though again, we forgot to order any of the meats). My absolute favorite bite of the entire night was actually one of their Contorni items, the Twice Cooked Potatoes. I think Christina may have only been able to try one maybe two potatoes because they got quite a bit of my attention. The baby octopus is absolutely perfect and I beg anyone who hasn’t eaten it to use Donetto’s as your first try. It’s prepared beautifully and is so delicious with the proscuitto vinaigrette. For our main courses, we sampled two very different pastas. I order the Lumache (now served as Bucatini) with the ragu al’Amatriciana which is a spicier sauce. It’s a bit salty so you’ll definitely want to keep your water nearby but it’s an addictive salty like a potato chip. Christina ordered the Tagliatelle with crab, lemon, and bottarga. The sauce is super light, but the crab gives the dish an overall oceanic quality that is soft and doesn’t overwhelm the palate. Both are really great options, but I lean more towards the red sauce out of habit.
The Perfect Order
Netspritz & Chill
Baby Octopus
Butternut Squash
Bucatini or Lumache w/ Ragu al’Amatriciana
Twice Cooked Potatoes
Warm Peach Crumb Crostata
