La Bella Donna Restaurant — Restaurant in County Donegal

It’s a shame I am only able to leave a 2 star review for La Bella Donna, particularly when it had come recommended to us by a local and it otherwise has such positive reviews.

My wife and I attended on what was her birthday, we had never previously been to Donegal and this was our second day. There was a short wait of about ten minutes to get a seat which was fine as they were busy and we did not have a reservation.

My wife is 6 months pregnant with our first child and so is very careful about what she eats and so we enquired about the fillet steak starter and told the waitress that we hoped it wasn’t fussy to ask but it was important due to the pregnancy that the steak was well done - the waitress said yes no problem. We had mistakenly thought the steak would come out in strips but it was in fact cold meat, in a form similar to how chorizo or salami would be. So to err on the side of caution my wife decided against eating it and instead waited for me to finish my starter and we were then looking forward to our main course.

We did not mention anything about what we thought was our misunderstanding to any staff but an older female member of staff (possibly the owner) was passing and whilst on the way to another table about a few metres away (so within earshot of everyone around us) said to my wife: “the meat was cooked” - we hadn’t engaged her in conversation she just said this as she could see that my wife hadn’t eaten it. This made my wife feel embarrassed and as we were about to explain/respond, the waitress turned her back and began speaking with the table she was on her way to, people either side of us looked awkwardly on and as a result of what we felt was an unnecessary and rude attitude I decided to leave.

The same waitress was then at the till when I asked for our bill and said: “so you aren’t staying for your mains?” I told her that we perhaps misunderstood the form the starter would take and were happy to pay for both starters and the beer that I ordered, but the problem was when she turned her back on us after calling across to us.

I think she apologised but in any case the damage was done. I have since recounted this episode to two other business owners in the town. Before I mentioned where this happened, one guessed it correctly in one. The second said of that waitress that’s she’s “known to be a bit sharp sometimes.” A pity, as given the other reviews, it...

I never give bad reviews nor do I ever say the food wasn't nice if I don't finish the meal, I normally say I am too full. But on this occasion I am writing from my own personal opinion. We visited here on Saturday gone by, a booking had already been made earlier in the week by myself, I love Italian, as a vegetarian, it is one of the style restaurants I pick every time we go out for food Italian. On arrival we walked in without a greeting or take a seat there from a lady middle aged (not much manners at all) making coffees at the bar I am guessing the manager, we sat there for about 3 mins and she said 2 people in our direction. We confirmed that was correct, then again continued about the bar, then a few minutes passed and said the same again to us, then we were brought upstairs, not checking to see were we booked in or to confirm we were in fact one of the couples who booked for 8.30pm (the atmosphere as in activity and bustle seemed to be downstairs) the upstairs was more of a spare open space that was somehow forced to look like a restaurant, and cold very cold we were put into a corner with jutting out walls each side so you couldn't see down or up the restaurant. A young pleasant waitress took our order, bruschetta which came out laced in garlic chunks and garlic bread which was normal not overpowering, margarita pizza and a pepperoni and spicy sausage pizza (no pepperoni but said salami the exact same) and roasted potatoes in garlic ( which in fact was boiled baby potatoes that barely got time to cook in the pot tossed in the pan for a split second and laced in garlic) I heard of bite in the vegetables but this was more than that. I have never left a pizza behind but I left half of it just wasn't to my liking. Possibly the lumps of garlic that had been left throughout the bruschetta and garlic boiled potatoes might have been it, I ended up sick numerous times that night, from the garlic it was just too much. I really never give bad reviews or comment when in the restaurant but I was just very disappointed in it and the lack of greeting when you walk in the door. Again just my personal opinion, we don't all enjoy the same foods and atmosphere...

I read the reviews before we booked… of which there was mixed opinions. So off we went, got seated very promptly and served drink as promptly as well. We got a nice wee bread and butter free side order to tide us over… which I had taken as, dinner might be a while. It was very busy and seemed to be understaff. We give our order within 15 mins and watched as others come in and their orders came out… 50 Mins had past and we asked about the food…. After that it was with us in 10 mins. So I take it it didn’t get put through to kitchen… but luckily enough my wife and I were having a good wee natter . The food was absolutely fantastic, well worth the wait. The customer service could do with a brush up… but going to my earlier comment…. It looked very busy and very understaff with staff probably not having a break. The owner lady I would say was under pressure and trying her best…. Hence the sharp tone that people have Misjudged as rude…. Just my opinion. Would I go back,...