Don Giovanni’s

First time in this restaurant. Waiters and waitresses were nice but a little slow, The pollo pizza was really good. Make sure you ask for your check when you want to leave as the waiters and waitresses don’t rush you out the door.

Fantastic service and delightful food. Cannot fault the service at all; waiter was helpful with determining portion sizes and style of pastas available. Even offered to remove the olives from the bill if we didn’t like them.

Last Thursday, myself and my guest headed to Don Giovanni after years of just passing it when walking down Peter Street. I guessed it had a good reputation due to how long it has been running (30 years), and that every time I pass it always seems to be bustling with a busy crowd. No matter what day or time of day it’s been, it’s rare I pass the place and see it looking quiet.
The inside interior is very modern to say the restaurant has been open for many years, which deep tan coloured booths and seats, plus a warming gold/​bronze feel to the bar area with it’s pretty lighting. We were greeted by a pleasant and polite front of house lady, who took our coats and lead us to our booth close to the window.
We ordered a large glass of house red wine to go with our food, which was lovely and rich. To say it was the house red, it tasted a lot more expensive. The waiter who delivered us our wine, who then served us for the evening, was possibly the happiest and most attentive waiter I have ever experienced which was a refreshing service to have. He was so smiley, friendly and approachable, I knew straight away he had no problem looking after us for the evening
Menu is extensive: pasta and risotto choices were endless, but there were also lots of other enticing choices too such as pizzas, meats, fish, salads and steaks. Just to prove it’s not your bog standard Italian with unexciting pasta dishes, there were options such as Lobster Ravioli (and crab ravioli), squid ring risotto, half lobster served in the shell with garden peas, onion and garlic, and smoked salmon and pink peppercorn farfalle pasta. Fish dishes included some tasty options such as wild Scottish monkfish, sea bass fillets and salmon served with prawns.
I was slightly spoilt for choice with the starters list, but opted for Melon and Prosciutto, and my guest went for Cornish Crab Cakes. Other slightly enticing options from the starters included Melanzane Parmigiana, pan fried octopus and duck and chicken pâté. I was given more than a generous amount of melon (so much I had to pass a slice to my guest), and the prosciutto was delicious. I tasted the crab cakes too and they were also a great call.
As for my main, I chose Lobster Ravioli purely because this is my very favourite Italian dish, and not everywhere offers it. The version at Don Giovannis came with a touch of chilli and featured 7 large parcels packed with lobster, and it didn’t disappoint at all. It was full of flavour which a slight chilli kick, yet kept its creamy base. My guest went for tagliolini with langoustines, king prawns, garlic, chilli and tomato, and was a thoroughly enjoyable dish too. Portion sizes were just right, and costing around £14 for a pasta dish full of seafood is quite reasonable I would say.
The slice of cheesecake I had for dessert was actually the best size for a dessert, as it wasn’t over-​facing like some can be. It tasted lovely, with a sweet touch of berries to layer up on my fork.
A great Italian addition to Manchester!

Weellll this is a mixed bag…
We came here most recently for my graduation meal but it was surprisingly not busy considering it was round the corner from Bridgewater Hall, perhaps what we saw was the reason why…
Things why it wasn’t so great…
–the waiters were trying but not hard enough– service was sporadic and very forgetful
–Waitress could not speak English
–They messed up my drink order (did not know what pimms was?!)
–Starters didn’t come at the same time
–Did not bring/​know what we were on about when we asked for bread and oils (balsamic and olive oil)
–Mains came quickly and together however it took them 10 minutes to give us the coffee menu by that time we wanted to leave!
Good points! :)
–I do have to say that the calamari was lovely and mains arrived together.
–My dad had the lobster ravioli from the express menu which was absolutely amazing.
–Lasagne was average and I had the dolce vita pizza with a soft egg on top which was tasty but not mind blowing.
Bit disappointing overall would perhaps come back with a discount.
Venue is very appealing and the place is impressive, 3 and a half for food and 2 for service.

Pre-​theatre menu offering from Don Giovannis on a busy Friday evening, and with musical
accompaniment ! The offering being 2 courses for £14.95, and 3 for £18.95 — with some Italian
classics in there — ravioli, lasagne and tiramisu. They also offer 2 for 1 on cocktails from
5−7pm, and then 9pm to close. A pretty good selection on the menu, given the cost and that
if you were actually going to the theatre; time would be at a premium. We were a table of
5, and placed near a window, in an alcove. I opted for a starter of Pâté (duck and chicken liver)
, which was served with toasted and a berry compote. Nicely presented and the perfect light
starter. Not the most original of choices, but lasagne was next up for my main course and a
nice contrast to my light starter, with the heavier tastes of bolognese, bechamel sauce and
mozzarella. Warming, filling and tasty too ! For dessert, I would normally go for tiramisu — but
I opted instead for waffles, served with maple syrup, cinnamon and ice cream. It was very sweet (obviously !), but the ice cream gave another nice contrast. The tiramisu did look good though that my dining companions had opted for. All in all though, a good experience at Don Giovannis (I think over a year since my last visit) and would happily visit again to enoy the full a la carte menu. I would add that there is a very nice bar area if you are early for you meal, or you wish to enjoy a drink beforehand.

Had a lovely evening here tonight celebrating a family birthday. We were lucky enough to be seated in the corner of the restaurant so it felt quite private. One of the headlights was a little bright but overall there was a good ambience to the place.
We ordered the focaccia as a starter which turned out to be the size of a pizza so thank goodness we hadn’t chosen pizzas for main as it would have been bread overload! I had the mussels which were absolutely delicious… generous portion and delightfully in a chilli and tomato sauce instead of the usual garlic and white wine most other restaurants offer. Sadly they didn’t have the cheesecake I was hoping to demolish for dessert so instead I had strawberries and ice cream… can’t really go wrong to be fair!
The staff (who seemed to be mostly Italian) were very polite and accommodating without being over bearing. They offered to put our costs in the cloakroom which was a nice touch too. The ladies toilets were out of order which did generate a pretty large queue for the disabled toilet instead. Overall though we had a very good experience.

We have eaten here several times when we are in Manchester and we are never disappointed. The food is very good, the service is attentive without being overbearing, and the prices are very reasonable. My one critique is that during our last visit the «background» music was way too loud making it hard to hear the conversation at our table.

Every so often, your body just craves Italian food. There is something about this cuisine that is so comforting, so decadent and so deliziosa that one must simply give in to it when it beckons. So off to Don Giovanni’s we went.
The restaurant itself is bright and classy. The menu is impressive, with an array of starters, pastas, pizzas, steak, risotto, mains, salads and sides. We slid into our booth and the ritual began. Which ritual, you ask? There is this thing us girls do when we go out to eat together, where we all start out emphatically stating that we will be ‘good’ and get something light and healthy, only to talk each other into ordering something deliciously naughty… have you heard of it? Yeah, we did that. So we snacked on freshly baked bread and a tasty little bowl of olives as we rationalized why we were allowing ourselves to cast calorie-​consciousness to one side and enjoy the hell out of this lunch.
For starters, we selected Calamari In Padella (pan fried calamari, served with crushed cauliflower salad) Bresaola (thinly sliced aged beef served with rocket and aged parmesan) and a nice refreshing Prosciutto E Melone (cantaluppo melon served with aged parma ham). The calamari was incredibly fresh with a nice, firm bite to it inside and a smidge of lemon juice, garlic and chilli to give it some kick. The paper-​thin aged beef was sensational to say the least, and perfectly set off with wedges of aged parmesan, rounded out with a subtle splash of lemon juice and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. All eyes were on Rambo and her starter. the fresh melon with 24 month aged parma ham looked divine.
On to the mains, and aside from the hefty selection on the printed menu there were also several daily fish specials posted neatly on the mounted chalk board. We made a solemn pact to opt for three different dishes and share amongst ourselves, as it was proving impossible for us to decide on what to order. After pointing to the items on the menu like 5 year old children because we didn’t want to mangle the names of the dishes by attempting to pronounce them, we ordered one of the specials of the day Capesante Casereccie (king scallops served in their shell), Saltimbocca Alla Romano (fresh veal escalops with parma ham in soft butter sauce) and the dish that made us shriek with delight, the Lobster Thermidor.
A word of advice to you, beloved reader, is that you do NOT eat breakfast if you plan on coming here for lunch. In fact, the portion sizes are such that you may even consider not eating dinner the night before. Often times, a generously sized dish will suffer in the taste and quality departments… all fur coat and no knickers. But not here. The Capesante Casereccie was beautifully presented in the aforementioned shells, dressed in a garlic, chilli, sun-​dried tomato and white wine sauce. The scallops were exceedingly fresh and cooked to absolute perfection. Even after sharing it among three people, there were still a few on the plate. The veal dish, Saltimbocca Alla Romano, almost melted when prodded gently with a knife and fork. The flavours here are very robust and earthy, with the parma ham-​topped veal swimming in a pool of velvety, lemony butter. Defo not a choice for one watching their waistline, but the immense pleasure gotten from gobbling up this dish will quickly squelch any guilt or remorse felt for ordering it.
But the star of the show was the Lobster Thermidor. Classically made with one whole lobster worth of meat pan fried with egg yolk, cream, a touch of tomato and mustard, topped off lovingly with parmesan and finished in the oven, we oooh-​ed and aaah-​ed when it was placed on the table. A certain someone almost did not keep to our sisterly oath and tried wolfing the lobster down before the others were able to dig in, but we all did get to experience the wonder that was this dish. Even the sides of spinach, vegetables, fried zucchini and roast potatoes were carefully prepared as if they were the star attraction instead of a simple supplement to the meal.
Don Giovanni’s is renowned for their dessert, but quite frankly there was no more room left in our swollen tummies to even attempt to order puds. Instead, we lumbered to the door in a deeply satisfied food coma, did our goodbye hugs and took off in a different directions, with the kind of cheeky grin that only a masterfully cooked lunch can spawn.

Had the worst valentine day here. Food was quite pricey but I didnt mind if it was of good quality. My partner ordered me a lemon sole and prawn dish which was hitting the £20 mark. When It arrived it just had small prawns floating in tomato sauce. When I asked where the lemon sole was they claimed to have done a typo on the menu… and it was meant to say lemon sauce… gee because that tomato sauce oozed of lemon. .had to argue to get anything back which spolit the night. They tried fobbing me off with a wine voucher to use there next time. yeah like im going back..

I had lunch at DG but with its décor and bar area it is perhaps better suited for the late night crowd. Service is keen and attentive, but the food is very much middle of the road and nothing to write home to Italy about.
I can see this place working perfectly for a night out with work or an after date meal, but would not take a business client or serious love interest here.
And the worn, orange upholstery really needs to be replaced…

Amazing Italian and very friendly staff! Love the spaghetti carbonara! I went there for a work party and was really impressed with their food and service!
Dressing up would be a good idea for this place and I definitely recommend this for a first date! :)

they recently had a refurb here and to be honest they have upped their game considerably to compete with the other Italian resturants in the city. I have dined in here on the lunch time menu and it was always excellent with superb service.
Keep it up!

Nice setting at one end of Oxford Road. Felt like any standard restaurant and the place was very open with a full bar to sit and wait if it was busy. Service was excellent and the food was very nice. It was a typical standard Italian and I would go back again but it didn’t have anything that would make it stand out from the crowd for me.

This place serves some crazy good pizza. Weird, like no pizza I have had anywhere (including Italy), but damn tasty. Me and my boyfriend came here a couple of years ago for an anniversary and we had a really lovely time. The waiter was really laid back and could see we don’t eat in restaurants much, he told us which wine was best and didn’t try to get us to buy a pricey one, just told us which was the best and worth the price. We had to wait a bit for a table as it was a busy Saturday, but to make up for it we were given a free plate of delicious bruscetta which more than made up for the wait!
Anyway — back to the pizza. I got a Margarita and was totally blown away. The base was so bloody thin it was like eating a pancake. Actually, turning over a slice the Base looked as if it had been cooked like a pancake with the same browning patterns you get when you fry a pancake. It sounds weird but it tastes amazing! The tomato sauce was fresh, sweet and zingy, and the mozzarella was perfectly creamy and stingy. I also had a really basic rocket and Parmesan salad which was crunchy and delicious, if a little over seasoned.
The food here is lovely, fresh Italian staples with a modern twist. It is a little more pricey than some other Italian’s in the city, but you are guaranteed a great night.

Don Giovanni easily slips in to my mind when I’m to think of a perfect place I would want to picture a serene, sophisticated and beautiful evening. Whether its with friends or with a date, this place can cater to all your needs without any difficulty.
The Menu is large and varied and offers some of the best Italian dishes in all of Manchester! They have antipasta’s which are cheesy and tasty enough to fill you right there even before you can attack the mains! All the pasta’s can be ordered as antipasta’s which is half the price and trust me if you’re the little eater of your group, this would be perfect for you! Don’t miss out on the garlic bread and cheese here as a starter, I know its common but it will send you off straight to Italy!
The risotto’s are creamy and delicious as well! You can also order champagne and drinks at the bar or your table and the staff will be happy to assist you. Coming to the staff, they’re obviously Italian or european which is clear by their accents! It’s great to come to a authentic place and be served by them too! I love the way they pronounce their menu, I like the learning process of it!
Don Giovanni’s is a very beautiful restaurant too, done up all glassy and structured. Well spaced out and posh. Dining is to another level here altogther!

Probably my favourite Italian restaurant in Manchester.
Each time we’ve eaten there, the staff have been attentive and very welcoming. We always seem to start with the garlic bread, which is always soaked in olive oil but totally irresistible!
The pasta dishes are cooked to perfection without being stodgy, and the rest of the menu is both seasonal and very inventive indeed.
This is also an ideal place to take children, as the family Italian atmosphere is perfect for small families dining out.
This is an ideal pre-​theatre eatery as it is so close to the palace, the atmosphere is buzzing and the food reasonably prices and very tasty indeed!

I went on the Don Giovanni website to refresh my memory regarding its menu, and gosh it confused me. I don’t know what it is, but its online companion has a hotel feel. I assure you Don Giovanni is not a hotel, nor is it located in one. It is simply a rather lovely Italian restaurant in the city centre and one in which I tasted some delightful food. The prices are pretty amazing too. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the rosemary, tomato and garlic pizza bread, it’s too delicious. And don’t get me started on the breaded mozzarella fingers.
You wouldn’t believe the salads. For £4.95 the caprece salad is a delicious mix of mozzarella, vine tomatoes and basil with caramelised balsamic vinegar. Soups range from £3.50 to £5.95 and mains incorporate everything from risottos to baked and stir-​fried pastas, pizzas, seafood skewers, fish dishes and a massively varied amount of meat dishes. The amusingly named ‘Le Cube’ is my absolute favourite dessert, not just because of that preposterous moniker but also the fact that it’s part-​baked chocolate cake with raspberry and ice cream. Drool much?
There might be a lot of Italian restaurants in Manchester now but this is one of the oldest, and I will say it’s one of my favourites too. Obey the Don. Come and feed your face in a gorgeously decorated restaurant practically built for people-​watching.

Back when I first moved to Manchester I had an ill-​advised first date with an unsuitable suitor at Don Giovanni’s, in its old guise. You see, before DGs was a sexy, glass-​plate cathedral to good lighting and glossy food, it was a more homely little brasserie across the road in the soon-​to-​be-​defunct Elisabeth House. It was pretty, with little arched windows and a huge mass of twinkly little fairy lights festooned across the ceiling. Unfortunatel my date wasn’t as lovely, but that’s not DGs fault.
Nowadays, DGs is a glossy, shiny superhero version of its former self. No longer content with fairy lights, the owners of DGs have shelled out approximately twelve bajillion pounds for super awesome light fittings that make this place glow like a beacon of loveliness. The décor is really something. No longer is DGs a cute little hole in the wall; it has become a fully fledged designer restaurant, with food to match.
The food is truly great, and it comes beautifully presented too. Expect fresh zingy flavours and modern takes on traditional Italian fare. I love the fusili al pesto, which blends pesto, pine nuts and pecorino. the pasta dishes are really generous, and don’t expect to pay more than £9. While I nommed down on my pasta, the boyf tucked into a veal escalope that was juicy and succulent, and beautifully cooked. Mains are priced around £15, and you can grab a fillet steak for under £20. The prices really are great, with starters priced around £4.
The wine list is good, but not very extensive. However, there’s something for most palettes and pockets, and their Valpolicella (£19.50) is great value. There’s a confusing bit on the wine list; their Prestige Wine Club, which just appears to be the pricier wines, set apart at the top of the list. An interesting gimmick, Mr Giovanni, but no way no how am I shelling out £90 for a bottle of plonk!
DGs is a good place to pop in for lunch, as they’ll always find a table for you, but the sexy décor and intimate booth seats mean that it is also a great date venue. And it’s not as pricey as it looks from outside!

I’m really impressed with this restaurant. It has moved locations recently and although from the outside the windows make it look a little like a fish bowl, inside the décor is chic and glamorous, with large leather booth seating (make sure you reserve one of these tables if you’re a party of 4 of more), gorgeous lighting fixtures and well chosen art.
What clinches the deal for me is that the service and the food is top notch yet the prices are still so reasonable compared with other Italian restaurants in town. Salads and soups start at a mere £3.50, and the choice is mind boggling. Pastas, Risottos and Pizzas generally fall between £6−9 and although the mouthwatering fish and meat dishes are between £12 and £17, it really is quality you’re paying for, and still cheaper for the same standard elsewhere. The wine list is well thought out for the style of food and the waiter is very happy to help you pair the perfect dish and bottle.
We were very surprised to find that the bill was so cheap. Then we realised that they’d forgot to put a dessert and some coffees on. Nevertheless, when the bill was amended (it deserved paying for in full) it still came in at only £27 each.
Great ambiance, helpful staff and authentic, unpretentious Italian cuisine.

Don Giovanni’s is absolutely fantastic. If you like Italian food you will absolutely adore it here.
In a nice location just across from St Peter’s Square, Don Giovanni’s looks spectacular when you stumble across, beautifully decorated inside, the glass windows kind of showcase it and even though you’ve already walked past at least two Italian restaurants on the same road (no matter what direction you’ve come from!) you will find yourself wondering about this place.
The most shocking thing about is the prices. San Carlos is my second favourite restaurant behind Don Giovanni’s and the price margin is significantly higher over there!
The food is just plain exquisite. I swore I hated risotto until I came here with a friend and she persuaded me to try hers… I am now officially in love!
The menu is phenomenal, I have been here a few times now and persuaded myself to have something different everytime despite really wanted to have the same as last time as it is always amazing!
The wine menu is also fantastic and the desserts and incredible. I can’t give Don Giovanni’s a higher recommendation, basically go here and do it soon!