Don Giovanni's

I have eaten many times at Don Giovanni’s since the time when they had a fine little restaurant at its original location across the road next to the old Odeon. Since moving to its new premises a few years ago, I must admit the standard of food and service had diminished considerably each time I had visited. After each time, I had always decided to give them another chance but the last straw was on a birthday occasion with a group of four on a weekday.

The restaurant was not busy and we had a table by the window. It took a while once we were seated before we were asked for drinks. Our food orders were eventually taken and starters were delivered within a reasonable time. We had to desperately seek attention of the waiters for the pepper pot.

With the mains, the steaks were overcooked. We had asked specifically to cook the steak right when we ordered (as this had happened on a previous occasion) and we could see that the steak was not medium rare as requested but more medium. When speaking to a waiter, he was incredibly arrogant and stated that he himself was a chef and that the steak was indeed medium rare. After further deliberation with the head waiter, the steak was changed and arrived as requested.

Obviously, our celebratory mood had evaporated and for the rest of our meal, none of the waiting staff approached us and were giving us 'dirty looks'. How very unprofessional and terrible service for supposedly a good restaurant. This is totally unacceptable from any restaurant and naturally we will not be returning nor recommending Don Giovanni’s to anyone. Apparently, this place has changed ownership a few times, but there is no excuse for such shoddy and rude service.
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Ant
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Monday, July 06, 2009

I had recived a very good recccomendation about the restauraunt and was looking forwards to lunch. As We had not eaten there before we went for the lunch menu and decided if it was good we would come back in the future and order al la carte. Initially service was quite poor as we had to wait for anyone to speak to us and show us to our table for over five minutes despite the restaurant being quiet. We found that generally the service was quite poor and the waiters were inattentive. The starters were passable but the mains were horrible. My partner ordered a veal pasta dish but the veal had a very gristly texture and did not taste nice at all. I had an extremely bland pizza with mince and beans which seemed to have been put together for the lunch menu only. After the meal I had to ask for the petit fours offered on the menu and they were quite stale biscuits from a packet.

If the meal had been nicer I would have no doubt returned as the setting is very nice but I would not reccomend it to anyone after the lunch we recieved.
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richard - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 13, 2009

A group of us reserved a table and the night was brilliant up until we had to pay. Even though the restaurant was busy they were attentive and the food was gorgeous. The waiter when trying to put my card payment through before I had entered my pin number, he done this 3 times which caused the bank to block my card. When I told him he had done this 3 times without my pin he became rude so I asked to speak to the manager. He came over and the waiter insulted me and said I had no money, and I was a skank!!! Luckily I had my credit card with me, otherwise I assume they would have called the police!!! The manager handled the situation well until i wanted to complain then he walked away and would not speak to me. Considering I had just spent over £300 in his restaurant I did not find this acceptable. San Carlo all the way where I have never experienced behaviour like that from any of their staff!!!!
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Katie Hussey
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Sunday, June 15, 2008

We went to Don Gioanni's last saturday evening and had a very warm welcome. We were then asked whether we wanted to have a drink at the bar first. We chose to sit down straight away. The table was ready, and every single item on it was spotless. The menues were given to us by our designated waiter. We then ordered wine and other drinks. We had the drinks served within a couple of minutes. The manager himself brought the wine and opened it at the table. We were all very impressed. "I think this guy must hold the fastest record for wine bottle opening. The place was absolutely heaving, but everybody seemed to have a good time. The food arrived within about 15mns. Very good quality, large portions and well presented. The main courses were great. My girlfriend thinks they make the best filet in the world. The pepper sauce was gorgeous. I can't understand how other people can think otherwise. All in all a very delightful dining experience.
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David Maxwell
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Ate at Don Giovanni's this week for the second time. Food very well cooked and presented. Classic avocado and prawn starter, in a generous portion, followed by halibut in a deliciously light lemon and mustard sauce, with fresh vegetables and saute potatoes. Elegant but unpretentious surroundings. Attentive service. Thoroughly recommended.
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last man in - View all reviews by this user
Saturday, April 26, 2008

i have been reading through some of these comments in utter belief we booked for a party of 8 for my sons 18th birthday the services was excellent and the staff fell over themselves to help us our 12 year old son had a broken ankle at the time and the staff from the kitchens to the bar staff went out of their way to make sure he was looked after the food and service where outstanding
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teresa roberts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

I am seriously astonished...I think most of you who have reviewed this restaurant must have visited with blinkers on!!

We booked a table for a Friday night at 645, plenty of time to eat before our film at the Cornerhouse at 830. We arrived on time, and were asked to wait in the bar for a drink. Very nice we thought, contemporary decor and design, and its busy, it must be good. 15 minutes later, after a decrepit selection of 'nibbles' and being frowned upon for having asked for tap water (god forbid!) we we taken through a maze of misplaced tables to get to our seats...we almost needed a map and directions!

Placed right in front of the kitchen and being a Friday evening, a hive of activity, we got our menus after 5 minutes (could they not have given these while we waited at the bar??). 10 minutes later a waiter (different from the one who had shown us to our seats and the other who had given us our menu) took our drinks order and we again asked for tap water...which was met with another disrespectful 'oh, just tap water, erm, not still, or sparkling? Do you not want any wine?'. Someone different came back after another 10 mins to take our food order.

Our starter arrived quickly. I had some bizarre bruschetta with goats cheese and swirls of highly unnecessary green and red sauce on the outside which added nothing to the course. My partner had calamari which was totally overcooked and inedible. We summoned a waiter over and explained the issue to which we were met with a defensive, "Its fine, thats what it is supposed to be like. I'll take it back if you really want and get you another one?" Had this person ever eaten proper food!?

The main courses arrived not long after, whereas the replacement starter was nowhere in sight. We trundled on through the main courses-they were ok, but nothing special. Oh, and the final insult-we didn't even ask for the bill, they just gave it to us!

Steer well clear of this place. You would get better service in McDonalds along the road. Staff were rude, incompetent, disrespectful and quite obviously incapable of working in a high pressure restaurant environment. Also, if they insist on placing you next to the kitchen then their kitchen staff should be professional dressed (not in dirty tracksuits) and shouldn't be having arguments with their colleagues whilst you are eating alongside.

The food. It was alright, but we can cook better ourselves at home, which pretty much defeats the point of going out for dinner in our opinion.

This place needs a huge kick up the ar*e from a Gordon Ramsay type if its going to have any chance of lasting. Looks aren't everything.
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Jules Robinson
Saturday, March 29, 2008

I have eaten twice at this restaurant within the last two weeks - firstly on Saturday 1st March with my daughter, and secondly on 7th March with my husband - both pre-theatre dining.

On 5th March we both had pasta dishes, which were tasty, interesting and definitely above average in quality. Service was polite, efficient and quick, which is what was required.

On 7th March, my husband and I had fish, which was perfectly cooked and thoroughly enjoyed. Although busy, again the service was attentive, speedy and courteous.

The restaurant is very modern and busy and does not have the same intimacy as their old restaurant. I had not visited their new premises before this month, but on both occasions I could not fault the food or the attentive staff.
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Thursday, March 13, 2008

My husband and I chanced upon this restaurant whilst staying in Manchester for one night for work. We didn't have a reservation and we were seated straight away. We found that generally the service was quite poor and the waiters were inattentive. Once we had ordered bread was bought to our table with sachets of margarine and no butter, we were surprised by this but as we didn't want bread anyway it wasn't too much of a problem. I ordered a tricolour salad. The avocado came with Marie rose sauce poured all over it, what a way to spoil avocado! My husband ordered soup & bruschetta. The bruschetta came with a plate decorated with little blobs of pesto and sweet chilli sauce. We avoided the chilli sauce, it really didn't complement the dish, which wasn't all that good anyway. Our main courses were pizza, these were generally okay. We also ordered a mixed salad, it came undressed. We had to get someone’s attention to ask for both oil and vinegar and black pepper. The wine we ordered was quite nice although the glasses of tap water we were served were horrible tasting (not necessarily the restaurants fault I know).
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Friday, February 08, 2008

Visited Don Giovanni's on a Monday evening to eat before visiting the theatre. Arrived approx. 5.45 pm without a reservation and although the restaurant was relatively quite, there seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not they could accommodate us. Once it became clear they could, they opted to seat 5 of us around a 4 seater table, actually intended for 3! When we threatened to go elsewhere, they seated us at a very nice table suitable for 8. The service was good, food excellent and cost very reasonable. I
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Monday, February 04, 2008