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Donovan's Steak and Chop House
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Seafood Steakhouses, Seafood [Edit]
570 K St(between 6th Ave & 5th Ave)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighbourhoods: Gaslamp, East Village
(619) 237-9700
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
255 reviews for Donovan's Steak and Chop House
Review Highlights
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"The creme brulee was creamy perfection." In 23 reviews -
"Au Gratin potatoes are the perfect side, in my opinion." In 10 reviews -
"Unlike Ruth's Chris, the steaks come with a potato and..." In 13 reviews
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254 reviews in English
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Review from Robert B.
5/14/2012
The level of service at Donovan's is excellent. I've dined at many restaurants in the Gaslamp as well as in San Diego, and Donovan's offers the finest service, hands down. The hostess and wait staff at Donovan's were very accommodating.
When we recently visited for Mother's Day Donovan's offered a special fixe prix menu as well as selections from their regular menu. I ordered the New York strip and my girlfriend ordered the rib eye. We enjoyed the warm and steamy bread and a bottle of wine while our steaks were being prepared. I was already stuffed before my food arrived.
When our steaks arrived they were cooked to perfection. Tender beyond expectation and the most flavorful meat I have enjoyed in San Diego. The au gratin potatoes were rich and served in a generous wedge. If you go, ask for Jeff, our waiter. He was polite and polished. -
Review from Danielle O.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2012
*****Happy Hour Review Only*****
I like this place, it knows what kind of establishment it is and sticks to it all the way--wood paneling, dim lighting and a menu chock full of American classics.
The appetizers were really, really good. We were there early and were offered several of their delish steak sandwiches. My friends ordered the shrimp cocktail and we shared the lamb chops, which were perfectly seared on the outside and warm and juicy red inside. In short, they were one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted.
Even during happy hour, you'll spend a pretty penny. They have a few wines for $6/glass and their martinis are $9 (regularly $15). I don't know much about scotch but their American spirits list was your average, large batch brands; however, these were a nice price point considering the cost of the martini's. The rye I had was served with one nice rectangle of ice, which got my thumbs up. Unfortunately, the poor Manhattan I had was shaken to death--I know this because it had broken ice chunks floating in it--such a no-no, stir it guys!
Of course, the service was fantasic (I'm sure if I would have breathed a word of complaint about my cocktail it would have immediately been taken off our bill) and I loved the real towels in the ladies room. While the lounge at Donovan's is too fancy for me on a regular Friday night, I'd be back in a heartbeat for a special occasion. -
Review from Albert G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/18/2012
It had been a while since I had a chance to explore San Diego, not since I was in my younger knucklehead days had I been in Downtown San Diego. I don't think I would have really appreciated such a fantastic meal then. I was lucky enough to be treated to Donovan's by a friend we where visiting in San Diego (thanks again!) I really should name my first born after him! as this is a meal I won't soon forget.
We started off with the Fried Calamari, what can i say? Simply sublime!. We also had the Seared Lamb Chops which just melted in my mouth! words cannot describe how great they where. My friends ordered the Bone-In Rib Chop, and Prime Filet. I went with the 10 oz. Peppercorn Filet. All our steaks where cooked to perfection just how we ordered and tasted heavenly. Their garlic mash is also quite fantastic and their Asparagus is perfectly cooked!
Service was top notch as well I've seen some reviews with negative feedback on service but I didn't notice any. Our waiters where polite and prompt as well as very helpful. Donovan's is the kind of place you come celebrate something very special, for my friends and I it was just the celebration of life and I think that's something very special just like Donovan's. -
Review from Debbi S.
Long Beach, CA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome steak house my first time here I must say I'm impressed from the decor the wait staff and the food.
I got the veal chop with gratin and roasted asparagus and carrots. My hubby got the new York steak with mashed potatos and roasted asparagus and carrots. The food came out well seasoned and cooked perfectly I ordered my well done veal had a nice crust and very tender and moist. I must warn you there is a 30 to 35 min wait for the steaks so it's best to order an appetizer or a salad. -
Review from wayne f.
Escondido, CA
5/20/2012
Poorly cooked fish, arrived cold after an extended wait between courses. I'd have walked out except i was a guest of my kids to celebrate our 40th anniversary. No way that fish was in the top 2% of Chilean Sea bass. Bar service before dinner was non existent, except for the water boy.
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Review from Joane B.
Irvine, CA
5/9/2012
Wonderful experience We have just had our first meal at Donovan's and it was excellent. The room is dark wood lightened by bland paintings. The menu is what you want when you go to a steak house. Our steaks were cooked just right, the salad and veggies were very fresh and not over-dressed or overcooked. Bread excellent. Wine list very good with multiple price options. My creme brulee was OK; he loved his mousse cake. Wait staff very professional but friendly.
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Review from Robert H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
This place is phenomenal. I ate here last Saturday after a Padres game and left wanting more. I had the cajun ribeye and it was on par with any Vegas steakhouse and Cooked a perfect medium rare. Hostesses were young and attractive and thats basically all I remember as I was about 10 drinks deep at that point.
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Review from Martin W.
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Did a little research on Yelp and picked Donovan's as a fancy place we could have nice steak dinner. We have been to almost all of them, but Donovan's was by far one of the best we have been to for the following reasons.
-Food was great! Not only my steak (filet), but also my wife's salmon and our calamari appetizer was great as well.
-Service was also what I would expect, exceptional. Very classy establishment, very classy service
-And a perk that many probably did not know about, they actually operate a shuttle. We didn't know this before our walk to the restaurant but we found out after and took it back to our hotel. Great service! On a rainy San Diego night, we really found this service to be the icing on the cake. -
Review from Deanna D.
San Diego, CA
5/13/2012
We went here for my bf's birthday. Got there fairly early on a Saturday evening hoping to enjoy their happy hour. Unfortunately there was no room in the bar (it's quite small). We had a great dinner, I had the scallops and my bf had the new york steak. We both shared the macaroni and cheese which was good. We ordered the carrot cake which is probably the best cake ever! In addition they brought him a $25 gift card and some truffles for his bday.
Great place and fantastic service! -
Review from Amanda M.
San Diego, CA
3/21/2012
By far the BEST Steak House. EVER. ANYWHERE.
Don't go to Donovans expecting fancy-shmancy creative meals with small portions. You go to Donovans to get the best steak, best cocktails, and fantastic service.
Plan ahead because during most weekends, reservations are hard to come by.
Happy hours are great time try out Donovan's without paying premium prices. Restaurant week is a decent semi-low price meal to test out the waters, but definitely look no further than Donovans for a great piece of meat! However, regular prices are high...you will run about $180 for two (including a decent bottle of wine to share) but the money is worth it.
I celebrated my birthday, my anniversary, my husbands birthday at Donovans because I'm that big of a fan. Every single time was wonderful. You can even coordinate a free ride to and from your residence if you want to drink without worry. -
Review from Chris G.
5/3/2012
Is a review even necessary? This place is so good the food speaks for itself. If you've lived in San Diego long enough then you've heard of this place and probably know how good it is. The only steak I've had that beats this place was at Gordon Ramsey in London. For the price and location, this is the place to go for a great steak and fine dining experience.
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Review from Edward W.
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
A solid 4 stars. Donovan's is a go-to San Diego steakhouse in the shadow of Petco Park.
The decor is old school, clubby, just the way a steakhouse should be. Service is great, too. Refined, yet fun.
Warm crusty bread. Great drinks. Perfectly prepared steaks. Maybe the best seasoned piece of bull meat you'll find anywhere. Simply delish shrimp scampi.
Unlike other ala carte steak places, entrees at Donovan's come with sides - tonite, garlic smashed potatoes and a healthy veggie trio. You can opt out of the mashed, and I suggest you do - consider the scalloped potatoes. But that's just me. Get 'em a little burnt on top. Boy, are they good!
Donovan's ranks up there with the best steakhouses in the country. Great food, great ambience. Pricey but worth it. -
Review from Tim C.
Palmdale, CA
4/4/2012
FINALLY!!!
A restaurant in San Diego that I came specifically to eat and did not get disappointed!
I went 0 for 2 and did not completely strike out...third time really is a charm.
I was beginning to lose faith in SD and Donovans, you brought back the love, the respect and raised the bar to top it off.
I mostly went in for drinks(between 4-6 is happy hr M-F)
Happy hr has their usual $15 cocktails for $9, and they are pretty darn good cocktails. I dont exactly remember what they were but just know that I tried all of them, and their was not one poorly designed drink.
Also to note, during happy hour, they bring trays of prime filet burritos and Philly cheesesteaks for the customers to snack on. The burritos are good, juicy, and in a cheese sauce, good stuff but what I was hoping I would be able to try was their Cheesesteak
I had heard soooo many good things about their cheesesteak sandwich but arrived at 4:30 after the first plate of sandwiches already passed thru and then for the next hour and 15 it was only burritos.
I asked my waitress if they were going to bring anymore out for happy hour and she had told me it is not very likely since they had so many extra burritos left over. Fortunately for me we ordered plenty of drinks and she made a special request for one last plate of cheesesteaks that came just AFTER 6pm!!!
SAAWEEEEET!!! Oh My Gooooodness these babies were good. Crunchy, baguette bread, grilled onions and mushrooms, a light sauce that the steak was cooked in and melted cheese. Whoa. I have had Philly cheesesteaks in many different places but this one absolutely rocked.
The meat was sooo tender, I could not believe it. I thought to myself, and this is free bar food??? amazing
I will definitely be coming back here for a nice, romantic dinner sometime in the near future.
THANK YOU Donovan's. Your happy hr food strategy worked on me -
Review from Trever F.
Vista, CA
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
If your going to splurge do it here. The steak is pretty good, the service is out of this freaking world! The place is absolutely stunning. The staff makes you feel like they are there just for you at your every beckon call. If you do get the steak, which why the hell wouldn't you, make sure you get it Oscar style, unless your allergic to shellfish then stay the hell away from it and just tear up as you watch others enjoy it Oscar style because you are missing out my friend, you know what as long as your have your epi-pen you might as well try the Oscar style because it is so worth it. Save up some cash pull out the best cloths that you bought from goodwill and take your lady or mother to this place and be prepared to be pampered.
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Review from Daniel K.
Tysons Corner, VA
3/14/2012
Absolutely fantastic. My diver scallops were amazing. The bread is amazing. Soup was amazing. The whole experience was TOP NOTCH. I was wearing slacker clothes and they were as attentive and nice to me as to the guy wearing a full suit at the table next to us. Nice people.. they even sang to us as we walked in as a joke. Can't say enough good things. WIll be back.
Note - it is Not a cheap place. Don't go in expecting $10-15 meals.. this is Mortons level pricing.. but you do get sides with your meal. -
Review from Juli A.
Otay Mesa, San Diego, CA
4/4/2012
Bad Customer Service!
Went here for my parents anniversary, heard good reviews and thought it was my best option. I obviously want it for them to enjoy a great time so went ahead and made my reservation & requested a window seating.
We showed up On Time, to find out our reserved table was next to the bathrooms and under the AC (should have brought my blanket). The place was full and of course forget the thought of being moved. Window seating?, yep not on the menu tonight. We decided to make the best of it, but couldn't avoid noticing the serious bad attitude of the headwaiter rolling her eyes at us. The other waiter avoiding eye contact.
Regarding food, it was okay, Flemming's is by far better on every aspect.
I really think my family and i were missed judged, maybe they didn't liked our appearance, yes we are not rich people, but I sure know we were nicely dressed & believe everybody deserves to be treated equally. At the end My boyfriend regardless of the service, decided to stick to his 25% Tip for a $400 bill, that's when we finally got a better attitude from them and I thank you for coming. For me this Place was over that day! Heard la Jolla is way better, but I think there's other options I rather consider before giving Donovans my appreciation. -
Review from Zildheam D.
San Diego, CA
2/15/2012
I am a steak lover, a meat lover, a cow eating person who looks at vegetarians and thinks 'oh good, more meat for us' ...So with that being said, I have to give Donovans three stars, the steaks are small, cooked at the perfect temp and a little on the bland side. For the price you pay here you can walk to Flemings and have a better steak, just my opinion. The mountain of chopped salad I received was scary,
a salad should not be as large as my head.
Now, the service at Donovans is EXCELLENT. They really are awesome when it comes to service!
Just did not live up to the high end steak house expectation of mine. -
Review from Dan N.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great deal during restaurant week. If you're looking to try Donovan's and want to save some money this is the time to go.
For a high end steakhouse Donovan's does not disappoint.
I had the 3 course meal which started off with:
Ceasar salad which was surprising large. It was your basic salad nothing too special about it but it was good. 4 out of 5 sporks.
Then my main course was the 6 oz prime filet. It was cooked med rare and melted in my mouth. So soft and tender that every bite was totally delicious. One of the best steaks I've ever had. It was accompanied by some mash potatoes and grilled veggies. 5 out of 5 sporks!
Also on the side were some shrimp covered in creme sauce. It was also good but compared to the steak it was more of an afterthought. 3 out of 5 sporks.
Finished off the meal with a slice of cheesecake which was creamy had a soft crumbly crust and full of yummy flavor. 5 out of 5 sporks!
The decor is like an old timey fancy restaurant with dark lighting wood furniture and waiters in tuxedos.
Great for an intimate date. But not so much for groups or more then 3 people.
The service was very attentive and the hostesses were super friendly and nice.
Price is not cheap. expect to pay $50+ for a meal here.
Overall, for a high end steakhouse this place is good. If you're OK with the high price then you will not be disappointed. You get what you pay for here. I once read an article saying Donovan's is one of the best steakhouses in the country and now I can see why. -
Review from Jon Y.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/24/2012
4.5 stars.
After seeing all the reviews and praise in magazines for Donovan's Steak and Chop house, I had to check it out while in SD.
Located in the gaslamp quarters, it's fun checking out all the other stores, bars and restaurants on the walk over. Not to mention the interesting people and bums asking for cash. That said, be careful not to wander too far from the gaslamp area late at night. It gets seedy pretty quickly.
The great:
-16oz NY strip. Good seasoning. Great sear. Comes with veg. and potatoes instead of everything a la carte. wet aged for 21 days as opposed to dry aged.
-skillet fried potatoes!
-Beefsteak tomato and red onion salad
-seared ahi tuna
-the free bread. wow. came out warm and fresh. nice crunchy crust. it's like when you get a stick of french bread from your local grocery store, right after it comes out of the oven, but take a bite into it before you get home.
-creme brulee. It looks huge when it comes out because it's in a large but shallow dish. This is advantageous because it maximizes the burnt sugar 'crust' you get to bust through. The custard may be the best I've had in a creme brulee. Not overwhelming with vanilla flavor, but a strong egg flavor (think back to the taste of a chinese egg custard tart...kinda like that).
Just okay:
-Oysters rockerfeller. Tasty and a large helping, but nothing spectacular. Also having them sit on a bed of sea salt is cool, but it leads to a bunch of salt hanging out on your plate and tainting everything else until they swap out for a clean plate.
-long island iced tea. it was potent, which is good, but not much else. It pretty much tasted like vodka on the rocks.
-side garlic mushrooms. just okay. large dish of them though.
Definitely coming back here next time I'm in SD. -
Review from Butterfly W.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/19/2012
Deep, dark and classy. Donovan's is a top notch steak house that rings true to what you expect of the GREAT steak houses (IMHO). And management is a class act.
Food - The BEST bread and Creme Brulee (Yes, I know it's a steak house, but I can't help but comment on these fantastic other offerings as they stood out as so memorable).
Steak and Seafood - Potato and vegetable are included in the price. Succulent shrimp and lobster. Steaks cooked perfectly. Only disappointment was the bacon wrapped scallops (On the small side and overcooked, yet the bacon was somehow undercooked and soggy. Only miss of the night. Go with the shrimp instead).
Drink - Extensive wine list that pairs perfectly with the menu offerings. Check out the Reserve A Rafanelli Zinfandel - nice find. And the Martinis are generous and delicious. The Ten Fresh was a clean, crisp surprise. They serve their water out of Donovan's glass bottles which is a nice little detail touch.
Service - Unobtrusive, yet spot on.
For business and pleasure dining, it was a wonderful find. You pay high end steakhouse prices, but get the quality and experience you are expecting. -
Review from Geo P.
Orange, CA
3/3/2012
Great dinner here on our last business trip with clients.
Food, service, and wine were outstanding! I don't eat steak anymore but my Ahi was fantastic and it paired nice with a great Chablis Grand Cru that was recommended to us by the wine steward!
You wont be disappointed. -
Review from Michael M.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Donovans is a nice spot for Happy Hour. Lets say those steak tray passes they do. You can never go wrong with those.
All the staff were more than helpful if I had any questions at all.
Never a worry about returning here. -
Review from Kristin G.
San Diego, CA
2/2/2012
Came here for restaurant week. I'd say the food was definitely a disappointment from what I expected.
Cream of broccoli soup - meh. Pretty watery for a cream-based soup, and sort of an unappealing greenish color. Also had a pretty overpowering smoked ham taste to it
6 oz filet and shrimp scampi - both of us ordered our filets medium-rare. Mine was beyond rare. For a place that specializes in steak, you'd think they'd pretty on point with this. Her steak was closer to medium-rare, but still slightly under, but a delicious flavor to the meat and a nice crust . The shrimp scampi was good, but tasted nothing like shrimp scampi to me. It was more like a funky cream sauce.
Chocolate sin cake - absolutely nothing at all like what I expected. It was basically a giant piece of fudge with white chocolate shavings. I found it to be way too rich, and couldn't take more than 2 bites. Why is it called cake if there's no cake in it?!
The waitstaff was super attentive and nice, but I'd probably never return here, considering the quality for the price. -
Review from Dan L.
Bothell, WA
3/7/2012
I was in San Diego for a weekend vacay with the wife. Before we married she was not a beef eater. I've converted her by taking her to places such as Bob's and Nick & Sam's in Dallas, Daniels and John Howie in Seattle, Carl's in NYC and all the other national chains (Ruth Chris, Morton's, and everything in between). Not trying to show off or anything...just trying to tell you where I'm coming from. In other words, Outback and Chili's don't count for steak!!
Anyway, we started with a Chef's special appetizer. It was a seasoned ahi tuna with 5oz of crab and avacado. An absolute perfect way to start the meal. Light, flavorful and beautifully presented. Along with the tartar the bread and butter were top notch as well. But don't fill up on the bread....pure beef bliss is coming.
8oz filet medium rare for her and the T-Bone medium rare for me. Absolute perfection. I always cut into the strip side of my t-bone to save the tenderloin. The meat was cut ever so slightly on the thin side but, by no means, did i feel gypped. I bit into the perfectly cooked meat and it was the MOST flavorful piece of beef i have ever put into my mouth. I like the strip because it's a little more toothy and i feel like i'm chewing on my meal. This strip was buttery and perfectly seasoned. Not a bunch of butter sauce or anything like that it was just top notch steak with just a bit of red juice running onto the plate. I was almost sad on the last bite because it was done. The filet part of my t-bone was just as flavorful but the highlight was the strip.
My wife's 8oz filet was perfectly cooked and she was in heaven. There is nothing in the world that makes me more happy than when my wfie is happy. Well, she savored every single bite and loved it until the end. Her first bite was an edge piece so it was more medium-well, but the next bite was a center cut medium-rare and it was bliss after that.
We both got baked potatoes loaded with butter, sour cream, chives and bacon bits. that is the only way i can eat a steak and i've taught my wfie those ways. I'm from Texas. Ask for an extra spoonful of bacon because we all know what bacon does to any piece of food.
This was our anniversary dinner and our waiter brought us out a complimentary creme brulee. A perfect ending to a truly perfect dinner. It is a shallow dish so you get a great ratio of burnt sugar to the vanilla custard. Fresh strawberries complimented the dessert and it was all topped off by a candle.
Finally, the service. Every turn was carefully executed and there was not a thing that we could find to complain about. Water refill, pace of service, check-ins, surprise dessert. Oh Donovan's I miss you already. D out. -
Review from Jay S.
San Diego, CA
2/1/2012
This is the perfect place if you're looking for a good classic steakhouse. No foams or micro greens or all that wizardry. Its a caeser salad / steak with potatoes and asparagus / chocolate cake kind of place.
The ambiance matches the food too; dimly lit (...in a classy-nice way not sketchy-back-alley way), wood paneled walls, older guys drinking scotch and waiters crumbing away. Overall excellent service and PERFECT steaks. Because this is a steakhouse too i always try to order my steaks a little more cooked than i actually want it, a.k.a. if you usually go for medium-rare, order medium.
If you're not trying to drop 50 bucks on an entree only happy hour is a pretty good deal. If you order a drink (and there's drink specials too!) you can just chill at the bar or adjacent bar area and eat mini steak sandwiches or mini steak burritos FO' FREE. They don't come around suuuuper often but you'll get 3-4 of them and might i remind you they are FREE. If you're still hungry get the mac n cheese, its bomb.
The drinks are pretty good and definitely strong. I recommend the girly one with the blueberry for females and they make a good manhattan if whiskey is your thinggg. Get there early for happy hour because by 5:30 pm all the tables are pretty crowded. There's a super nice blonde waitress who always makes sure you get your fair share of sandwiches, so try and sit in her area! -
Review from Jay D.
San Diego, CA
2/26/2012
During a recent conversation with a friend, I was told that Donovan's downtown is far less superior of a restaurant than its twin-brother in La Jolla. After a visit to the downtown location in December, I can wholly agree.
Nonetheless, the food options, service, drink quality, and ambience were all precisely as good as Donovan's La Jolla. Unfortunately, the steak fell far short. My steak (the largest, most expensive cut on the menu) was under-seasoned and un-charred (too much grey meat--not enough caramelization). I might sound like I am nit-picking but we can all agree that the steak is the centerpiece of any steakhouse meal and also the most memorable element of the dining experience. Since I paid $62 for my cut, I had high expectations. I was disappointed and I think my friend was, too.
Luckily, our appetizers were good. Shrimp cocktail, dozen oysters, and calamari all came out fine. The steaks were the low point and our extra side of creamed spinach was also under-seasonsed.
Will I come back? Probably not to the downtown location. I've had perfectly cooked steaks in La Jolla and will checkup on that location soon. -
Review from Keesy S.
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Such a wonderful dining experience! My beau and I came on NYE to prep for a special night. We arrived early for our reservation and were seated promptly. We were offered menus, water, informed of the specials, and then given time to peruse the menu.
Our waitress (sorry I've forgotten her name) was very nice. We weren't sure of the wine we wanted to try so she offered us sample glasses of the wines we were debating on. Service was nothing extraordinary because we are not very fussy people and are easily satisfied, but even still we got the impression that they really do try to make your experience a pleasant one.
The food was AH-MAZING! I know everybody has said the same, but it's true. Our steaks were cooked to perfection and my favorite part was there was no steak sauce! Why? Because a truly delicious steaks requires NONE!
Only "gripe" would be that they serve corn-fed beef. For their prices I would expect grass-fed, but even this does nothing to deter me from digging my chompers into a nice pink steak.
Will I come back? Are you kidding me? Have you not been listening? This place is outstanding! I definitely have my eye on other menu items.Listed in: Wining and Dining
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Review from Jehan Z.
West Sacramento, CA
5/8/2012
My first trip to donovans after many visits to San Diego left me quite impressed, to say the least. This was the last stop after a 3 city business trip with my boss(Phoenix AZ, Lancaster CA, San Diego CA) of which left us craving a "real steakhouse" meal. Much to our unfortunate surprise both of the former stops left us with an insationable appetite for a first class steak experience.. We explained to the waiter just how bad the last two steakhouses were, and with a rather comforting grin he put all our worries aside. Being as it was on the boss mans tab, I went all out and got the prime filet. Not generally a fan, as filet can be rather bland and pointless given the price. Hands down the best filet I've ever had, anywhere. Boss went with the pork chops, he was astounded as it was seared perfectly yet incredibly moist and succulent. Overall Donovan's should not go unvisited as it was undoubtably the saving grace to this business trip!
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Review from Amy W.
Chula Vista, CA
3/11/2012 6 photos
My husband has always heard great things about this restaurant and we finally got the chance to try it lastnight....and it was GREAT!
We arrived on time and were seated promptly. You don't just get one waiter, you get a whole team of waiter who serves you. I usually grade a restaurant's service by how long I'd have to wait for to get my water glass refilled. This restaurant did not disappoint. Through our meal I was constantly drinking water, and my water glass never went below half empty. I loved it.
We started out with 2 appetizers. Bacon wrapped scallops and captain crunch coated seared ahi. Both were amazing, but I particularly loved the ahi. There are times when I had ahi in high end restaurant and the ahi still disappoints me with their fishy after taste. Such was not the case lastnight. It was like eating a piece of melt-in-your-mouth candy I wished I could make a whole meal out of it!
For entrees, my husband and I both had rib eyes with sauteed mushrooms and asparagus. All of the dishes were phenomenal. I must add that all of the entrees automatically comes with a side of potatoes (choose from baked, au gratin, garlic mashed, or fries) and seasonal vegetable. This is quite a nice surprise since it's rare in most steakhouses I've dined in. The mushrooms had great taste, the asparagus were cooked just right. My medium rare rib eye was tender but chewy at the same time, which is just the way I like it. If I absolutely had to complain, it was that the seasoning on my steak was a tad bit too salty for my taste. Although, I have recently decreased my sodium intake so it could just be that I was beginning to get use to not have heavy seasoning on my food. Regardless, my husband and I had an absolutely fantastic meal. We are definitely making Donovan our special occasion go to restaurant. -
Review from J.D. L.
Phoenix, AZ
12/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
My table is made of rainforest, Mahogany. Dark woods everywhere. It's obvious Donovan's sets the standard for fine dining excellence.
To start, a full body, aromatically arousing red Rafanelli Zin. An exceptional wine that is only available from the vineyard.
While we are chatting with the cordial and friendly gals. Delightful complimentary prime steak sandwiches are brought to our table. We feel VIP.
Our meals arrive. I ordered a Bull Named Prime Filet. Served with garlic smashed potatoes and piping hot vegetables.
My companion, North Atlantic Salmon. Baked-Poached to perfection and served with Maître'D Butter. Her plate so beautiful we should give it a baby name.
Our supper is cooked to perfection and extremely flavorful. Everything in this restaurant is over the top.
I have been to few culinary institutions that ooze Americana more than Donovans. And every where else I'll toss my peanut shells on the floor. -
Review from Jenifer P.
La Mesa, CA
1/13/2012
My husband and I went here for our five year wedding anniversary and I must say I was not disappointed! The waiters here are fabulous, it's one of those places where they wear tuxedos and fold your napkin when you go to the bathroom. I had the oysters on the half shell to start which were fabulous, the petite filet mignon and scallops wrapped in bacon, all very, very decadent! Plus, we told them it was our anniversary when we made the reservation so dessert was on them!
This place is very, very expensive and we wouldn't have come here if it weren't a special occasion but it was and I am glad we did. If you have a big anniversary or something very special to celebrate and want to class it up this is the place to do it! -
Review from Amy G.
Long Beach, CA
12/3/2011
Not a must stop when I'm in San Diego, but I wouldn't mind going back. The most surprising victual: the bread--warm, fluffy, buttery with an outside baked to a thin crust. I had the prime rib-eye medium rare with baked potato mixed with butter, sour cream, and chives, and the vegetables. The meat was properly cooked to a warm, juicy, very tender medium rare. Good marbling throughout the meat, but not as flavorful as other rib-eyes I've had. The chocolate mousse cake was a light, moist, moussy, chocolatey bittersweet cake topped with shards of dark chocolate.
Notables: fine service, but I didn't think the price was worth the meal. The restaurant is a couple of blocks down the street from The Omni Hotel, right across the street from Altitude Bar, and a couple of blocks away from Prohibition. All are within walking distance. -
Review from Ben P.
Bonsall, CA
1/9/2012
Went there for my birthday, not a bad place for special occasions, I got the rib eye, it was cooked to perfection. Highly recommended.
A+++++++ -
Review from Khounkeo S.
San Jose, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with my bf and niece. My niece was visiting from TN so I wanted to take her to a good steakhouse. Our experience was wonderful. The staff was friendly and very attentive. They knew how to make us feel special like they were only attending to us and no one else. I loved that!!!
The atmosphere was lightly lit and romantic. It was set up to where you can sit and talk during dinner. Hear each other's conversation and actually interact with one another.
The food was pretty awesome.
I had ordered the 10 oz. prime filet with au gratin potatoes. My steak was cooked to perfection... med-rare and perfectly crusted. The potatoes were cheesy and tasty. My bf ordered the bone-in chop with the mashed potatoes. There was nothing left so that should speak for itself. My niece ordered one of the specials. It was an 8 oz. filet with crab legs on the side. She enjoyed her dinner so I was happy. For our sides, we ordered the cream of spinach, sauteed mushrooms and mac&cheese casserole. I would have to say we over did it with the sides. Each of us barely touched them. -
Review from Leslie P.
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
On a Monday night, while I was in San Diego for business, I got out of work early. I had some time to kill before meeting a friend for dinner, so I stopped here.
I came just past 5pm, and Donovan's was pretty slow. I grabbed a chair at the bar and ordered a sauvignon blanc for $6. Immediately after, I was handed mini steak burritos! The wine was good and so was the food. All three bartenders were extremely nice and chatty.
With Monday Night Football on & the big screen right in front of me, I could have stayed here all night! But I still had to grab dinner with my friend so I left about an hour later. This place has good happy hour deals, and I would like to come back to try something off their dinner menu.
HH runs 4-6pm and specials include:
M-F: Martinis & cocktails $8, some wines $6
Daily: Complimentary steak sandwiches and mini steak burritos; some discounted appetizersListed in: As Seen on TV
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Review from Raechel L.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure if this is a valid review, as I came here for a Yelp elite event. However, it's not every day I am at one of these fine dining restaurants, so I had to review! :) I loved the ambiance of Donovan's. It exuded classiness and refinement as soon as I walked in the door. The oyster bar was fantastic, as were the chardonnay and pinot noir that were given to us. I was a HUGE fan of the crab cakes they were passing around, but the salmon pastry balls were a little too greasy and not the best I've had. Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience, and I hope to be here as a normal patron to sample what Donovan's is known for--their meat!
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Review from Jeff S.
10/14/2011
A standing theme of my reviews is to judge the place not purely off food, but also the service. If a place has decent food but they treat you like crap, unless after my first bite I am crying tears of joy, the place will have low low low stars. There are ton's of places with great food, and good service.
Let me start of by saying, Donovan's staff and service is beyond good. Donovan's is a classier steak house. No windows, no jeans, very private club house environment.
What we ordered:
New York Steak - Was good
Captain Crunch Tuna - Real good, the Captain Crunch was interesting
Salmon - Good
The food was good. Did it make me cry? No. As sacriligious as it may seem I didn't think their steak was better than say Ruth Chris.
Then why is this place a 5 star?
One of the things that annoys me is when you drop almost two hundred on a "nice meal" and the service is comparable to what you could expect at a $10 Pho restaurant.
Walking in the staff is extremely professional. At no point did my drink level even remotely get near half way. I was thirsty. Seriously my water cup was always full. I would talk, drink, eat, look back and the water would be full. Amazing... 5 star amazing? yah... Moving on, the service was mind blowing. Not just one time either, I've been here a few times for business lunches and other dining dinners, and it has always been top notch.
Recap: Food is good. Service is better. -
Review from Gaye W.
San Diego, CA
4/20/2012
I made a reservation at the Gaslamp Donovan's for the special occasion of my birthday. We were looking forward to a great evening with good food, great atmosphere and great service. IT WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS! First of all, there is a $20 charge for valet parking, After we were seated we waited at least 20 minutes for anyone to approach us with menus. Actually we had to ask the bus-girl to find our waiter just to get menus. Once we had menus had selected our meals, we waited another 20 minutes for the waiter to show up. After we ordered, it took 45 MINUTES for our food to arrive. Obviously, we let the waiter know that we were displeased with the wait time. The food was good, but by the time it arrived, all we wanted to do was leave the place; but we stayed there because were were hungry. About this time a pompous "someone" came to our table to tell us that he understood that we were displeased because we had waited so long for the food and offered to comp us not one but TWO desserts and recommended the creme brulee and a chocolate something. AND that he was personally going to deliver it to us, as if that were some great honor. We had no idea who this person was as he never announced his name or his position. We didn't know whether he was the maitre d', the manager, or the bus boy that we were supposed to be impressed with. Since we were still eating, I told him that I would prefer to decide what to order for dessert until after I had finished my meal. When we finished our meals, we waited again for at least 10 minutes for our plates to be removed, and then had to ask for the dessert menu. When the waiter brought the dessert menu, he again said that he recommended the creme brulee and the chocolate something. We ordered the creme brulee (even though I didn't want to because I felt that they were pushing it at us) and NOT the chocolate thing but New York Cheese Cake. ALL THREE desserts were delivered to our table. We told the waiter that we had not ordered the chocolate thing and that we didn't want it. When the bill came, the chocolate thing showed up and then taken off, but we were charged for the two desserts we had ordered (even though we had been offered TWO desserts to make up for the poor service.
In addition to the above, we were a couple who was there for a romantic evening -- we were seated next to not one but TWO loud tables of 10 or 12 people one after the other, which made a quiet conversation virtually impossible.
The restaurant did comp the two classes of wine we had ordered @ $15 each, and that was it. All in all, it was maybe the worst dining experience I have ever encountered, and I have dined in some of the best restaurants all over the world. I will NEVER go back to Donovan's and recommend that you don't either. It was a VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE. -
Review from John G.
8/11/2011
Pricey, right?
Here's a tip:
They have the one of the best Happy Hour deals. Monday to Friday, from 4PM - 6PM, they serve FREE Philly Cheesesteaks.
Order a drink or two and enjoy the ambiance and grub.
Dress code applies. Meaning no shorts, flip-flops, cut-offs, tee shirts, gym wear or other inappropriate dress.
Wonder if this includes a Giants jacket?
Only one way to find out.Listed in: San Diego Spots
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Review from Kimberly B.
Downey, CA
9/22/2011
Came here for SD Restaurant Week and my friends and I were very happy with our dining experience.
The three course meal started with soup or salad. My caesar salad was decent, I wish they had better choices for the first course. My friend really liked her Cream of Spinach soup so I would suggest getting soup over salad.
My main course was the 6oz filet and shrimp scampi. Absolutely delicious. Their steaks are so tender and tasty. Donovan's ranks high on my list of favorite steakhouses. The shrimp scampi was really good too. Jumbo shrimp in a delicious sauce, I definitely recommend it. Smashed potatoes were an excellent side and I enjoyed this meal immensely.
Dessert was cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Nothing spectacular but good, nonetheless.
Service was very attentive and everyone we encountered was very friendly and accommodating.
I want to come back here to try more of their dishes.Listed in: san diego eats
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