|
| |
Mietta's Photos | |
| |
|
Donovans
Ph: 9534 8221; 40 Jacka Blv, ST KILDA 3182 www.donovanshouse.com.au
Modern Australian, $$ +, ** for Food & Ambience, Good Wine List
Open 7 days noon-10.30pm, Closed 25th december dinner; Licensed; AE DC MC V
Chef Robert Castellani (5-12-08) Owner Gail & Kevin Donovan, Richard Fisher & Jeannie Donovan-Fisher (5-12-08)
Photo: Tony Knox
Mietta's Review
The Donovan's were in hotels and their care and attention to the detail of the concept are very much in evidence. The conceit in this case being that the restaurant is their house into which you have been invited. A privilege indeed, as few of us have palatial houses on the beach that could double as a ski lodge. It is a big hit with its comfortable, over forty-year-old clientele. Service is good as the Donovan's are always 'around'. Prices are what you would expect from such an upmarket establishment. Robert Castellani's 'Italian' food is the star of this comfortable seaside home.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 17/20 "Few restaurants know themselves as well as Donovans. Every detail speaks of elegance and ease: the barrel of walking sticks in the foyer, the sublimely simple dressed salad leaves, and the waiters stepping with crisp grace in their pastels"
Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: * "This sprawling beach house, with its Santa Fe decorative touches and more-is-more approach to style, is all about reassurance. It's one of the few really stellar seaside locations in the Melbourne restaurant firmament, a fact reflected in the largeish prices listed on the menu"
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 17/20, Two Hats "In less assured hands, Donovans' design mag/ beach-house schtick could easily cross the line into twee. But despite mountains of scatter cushions, meticulously chipped paint and mismatched furniture, this beachside diner feels composed, rather than posed"
Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide Score: ** "While the inspiration for this bayside restaurant is relaxed beach house, the experience is far more chic than shack"
Herald Sun Eat, Bob Hart, 14-10-06 "Those who occupy tables in the airconditioned and reassuring interior of Donovans are seldom skaters, however. More like high-rollers, actually.They can be heard to remark on the curious attire, hairstyles and bodily adornments favoured by locals"
The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 17/20 2 Hats "you'll have a great time. Seasoned owners Gail and Kevin Donovan, with long-time chef Robert Castellani and a battalion of snappily dressed, personable staff, will make sure of that. The consistently good food continues to evolve, with recent visits suggesting a more sophisticated approach, though not at the expense of hedonistic simplicity."
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide ** "Donovans readily springs to mind as the restaurant to impress overseas and interstate visitors. The reborn bathers' pavilion opening out onto St Kilda beach offers a very Melbourne experience: not flashy or showy, but hospitable, with responsive service and impeccable food and wine."
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide Best views "Donovans does similarly good things (to Stokehouse) on the water"
The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "YOU don't need to be celebrating to come to Donovans. Every meal here becomes a special occasion. A comfortable beach-house atmosphere is created through the meticulous accretion of details."
Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "Relax. Take in the sea view. Absorb the beach-house atmosphere. You've never been in better hands. There's nothing like walking into a restaurant and getting the feeling these folk know just what they're doing and will feed you just how you like it."
The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'For special occasions you won't find a better place to go.Gail and Kevin Donovan are the absolute tops in service and food professionals.The water views and the wine list are also outstanding.'
Age Good Food Guide 2004 17/20, two chefs hats
Herald Sun, citystyle, 9/3/04, Stephen Downes, Score 11/20,'If you don't mind competent, plain food with your view and an exceptionally relaxing ambience, then Donovans is for you.Mind you, you'll have to pay for it. The wine list, too, is vast and expensive, and even the seven table whites and seven reds by the glass are well above average prices.'
The Age, Agenda, 7/3/04, Dani Valent,'It's a hot day and Donovans' picture windows reveal a patchwork of beach towels and shimmering water. You'd be thinking baby squid from the charcoal barbecue, maybe tiny prawn ravioli'
Gourmet Traveler Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, 2 Black Stars, Excellent wine list, Good vegetarian options,'Staggeringly successful, sublimely consistent and always hospitable.Donovans is a place for generous, well-crafted dishes which are consumed with enormous relish...The prices are high, but the value is undeniable.'
Vogue Entertaining & Traveller, March April 2003
Herald Sun, City Style, Dining Out, 29/7/03, Michael Harden
Age, A2, Food&Wine, John Weldon, 5/7/03
Sunday Herald Sun, sunday magazine, eating out, 2003, Sally Fisher
The Age Good Food Guide 2003. Score 16/20
The Age, Epicure, Restaurants, John Lethlean, 4/6/02, Score 16/20
The Herald Sun, 26.01.02, Bob Hart
The Weekend Australian, 22.09.01, Cameron Stewart
Or perhaps ...
100 Mile Cafe Victoria
The Algarve Victoria
Politely fashionable, fairly fishy, food at reasonable prices, a minimal wine list and a pleasant courtyard area are found in this Elwwod eatery.
The Apartment Victoria
Cafe at lunch tapas and drinks later - pleasant 'corporate' scene with live music at weekends
Aroma Bar Restaurant Victoria
One of many popular cafes in this strip of Ormond Rd which open out completely onto the street.
Barca Food & Wine Victoria
Bar Corvina Victoria
Nothing ground breaking but a great feel. Bar Corvina, as the French say "fits well in its skin".
Bar Humbug Victoria
Birdcage Restaurant Victoria
Seriously groovy young things swarm here for the hip style, cool location at the mouth of the George Ballroom.
Blue Bar Victoria
Cool and stylish bar that attracts a young crowd. Music most nights and drinks till late.
Bluecorn Victoria
The food is Mexican, the chef is trendy, prices are reasonable and the service minimalist.
Cabinet Victoria
Caboose Victoria
Cafe 97 Victoria
This small, simple cafe is situated on the entrance of a once grand mansion and so has a de facto courtyard.
Cafe Chagall Victoria
The quintessentially cosmopolitan Cafe Chagall is a very family-friendly restaurant.
Cafe Max Victoria
People like the buffet food at lunch here. There's usually a big display of salads available or you can order from a menu of pastas and grills.
Cafe Miro Victoria
Hardware Lane is vibrant, busy and chic, and this establishment fits in perfectly. Miro is contemporary but not pretentious.
Cafe Orange Victoria
It feels a bit like a student house albeit an orange one and it has a great hidden garden with a big old peppercorn out the back.
The Candy Bar Victoria
A pioneering Greville St bar. Still packing them in for DJs, drinks and mod oz meals.
Chez Olivier Victoria
The Church Street Pantry Victoria
This great cafe in Church Street, overlooking the ground of St. Andrews Church, is a well-kept secret.
Daguerres Victoria
A funky Prahran cafe whose charcoal grey and orange walls are adorned with coloured photographs that Daguerre could only have dreamt of.
David Jones Foodhall Victoria
Donovans Victoria
A comfortable restaurant right on the St Kilda beachfront. Good Italian food. Mains $30-$40.
Eat Drink Bento Victoria
Flying Duck Hotel Victoria
This old pub has a good environment with a courtyard and a beer garden and open fires in winter.
The Fringe Cafe Victoria
Busy commercial operation in a central Acland St position. Well priced, something-for-everyone menu.
The Garden Restaurant Victoria
The Great Provider Victoria
A fabulous situation. Perched on the water's edge at the St Kilda Marina The Great Provider's generous windows look out onto a busy nautical scene.
Gust Cofetarie Victoria
A bright, sometimes noisy place with a fresh interesting flavour to its style and its dishes.
Half Moon Victoria
The clever renovation which transformed the hotel by the station into a smart cafe bistro continues to attract the beautiful young things.
The Hare and Tortoise Victoria
Hotel Max Victoria
Idea Fine Food & Wine Victoria
A Chinese restaurant with Japanese (and Cantonese) food with a huge bargain priced wine list.
Jackie O Victoria
This bright and light cafe is open on all sides - you can check out all the action on the street.
Lezzet Modern Turkish Cuisine Victoria
A bright cheerful Turkish cafe turning out pizzas, kebabs dips and all the other things that make this such an attractive cuisine.
Lill's Backroom Bistro Victoria
Mamaca's Mediterranean Kitchen Victoria
Manchester Lane Victoria
A splendid setting for an eclectic mix of quality music and the venue for lots of meetings and interesting events.
Mary Martin Bookshop Cafe Victoria
With expanded seating and kitchen facilities, you can now get real food for the stomach as well sustenance for the soul at Mary Martin's.
Meli Melo Victoria
Mini Restaurant & Wine Bar Victoria
Two rooms, partially below the pavement, a high communal table, plain timber tables and chairs and banquets along the wall - good Greek style dishes
The Mint Bar And Bistro Victoria
Money Order Office (MOO) Victoria
The situation is fabulous - a basement filled with antiques and fantasy.
One Eleven Spring Street Victoria
No longer the Lounge but a 'modern European' restaurant with cocktail bar. It serves breakfast and the traditional Windsor afternoon teas.
One Fitzroy Street Victoria
The large room follows Fitzroy St around the corner and overlooks the yachts at St Kilda Marina. Food in the modern manner - mains around $32.
One Fitzroy Street Bistro Victoria
A basic bistro at street level below the One Fitzroy St restaurant. Good wine list
Oyster Victoria
Prahran Hotel Victoria
Punch Lane Wine Bar Victoria
Classy bar with an excellent wine list and a great selection of Australian and international cheeses.
Railway Cafe And Bar Middle Brighton Victoria
Riva St Kilda Victoria
Great views of the bay over the St Kilda Marina, this modern cafe is a splendid place for a leisurely summer meal
Salto Victoria
Sapore Victoria
Sarti Victoria
A lovely rooftop space with courtyard serving simple but well executed dishes. There's also a cheaper bar menu.
Seamstress Victoria
Sofi's Victoria
Soupanatural Victoria
Sous Sol Victoria
Spudbar Victoria
Stokehouse Downtairs Victoria
This really is a lovely room - dark but with great windows onto the beach with an open fire and lounges at one end for the winter.
Stork Hotel Victoria
The Stork is a bit daggy, and has the feel of a country pub, serving basic pub meals in the front bar and with a cafe, The Pantry, out the back.
Strangers Corridor Victoria
Suger Victoria
Syracuse Victoria
This is a wine 'lounge' with good food. The room is beautiful, high ceilings, Greek columns and an eclectic mix of Victorian furniture and marble. The focus is on the enormous wine list.
The Establishment Victoria
Three Degrees Bar Brewery Brasserie Victoria
Tjanabi Victoria
Treasury Restaurant Victoria
The Treasury, is situated on one side of a large open space that used to be the lobby. It's open for breakfast & dinner daily, lunch Mon-Fri.
Verge Victoria
This is a place to enjoy. There's a fabulous view over the Treasury gardens, the service is particularly well judged
Vineyard Victoria
The Vineyard is a food and drink joint by day and a dance and drink spot by night. Popular amongst all who frequent St Kilda
The Windsor Castle Hotel Victoria
The Windsor Castle has long had a reputation for good bistro food and great counter meals, all served in a comfortable situation.
The Windsor Hotel Victoria
Za'Ba Cafe Victoria
Zartowa Victoria
It's particularly well positioned, with a large space outside cribbed from the road which is ideal for 'parking' the dalmation.