CARMEL, Ind. – A small, romantic Italian restaurant is the newest addition to the Carmel Arts and Design District.
Donatello’s Italian Restaurant, located at 9 W. Main St., Carmel, Ind., opened its doors on Jan. 30, 2010, just before the New Year.
This upscale eatery is a true family business. Its owners are Beth and Patrick Aasen (the forces behind Arturo’s Italian Restaurant in Indianapolis) and their son, Adam, a former newspaper reporter turned restaurateur. Chef Patrick Aasen won numerous awards for his cooking at Arturo’s, including several “Best Italian Restaurant – Critic’s Choice” honors from Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.
Their newest venture is much smaller than Arturo’s. The dining room seats 32 people, which makes for a cozy, intimate, romantic atmosphere. The walls are painted in a bold retro red color. White table cloths adorn the tables. The menu isn’t the size of War and Peace. The portions aren’t grotesquely large. The owners are trying to go back to the basics of fine dining.
Most classic Italian dishes can be found on the menu, but unique offerings include Ravioli Gorgonzola (plump three-three ravioli served in a rich cream sauce), Tortellini Michelangelo (jumbo cheese tortellini served with mushrooms, pancetta and onions in a blush cream sauce), Gorgonzola Fruit Salad (bold cheese scattered on top of lettuce, tart apples, dried fruit, croutons and walnuts, topped with raspberry vinaigrette dressing), Veal Dolce Vita (veal scaloppini topped with ricotta cheese, spinach and mozzarella, served in a blush white wine sauce), Wild Mushroom Risotto (Arborio rice with porcini and button mushrooms, rich and expertly reduced), and Bistecca al Pepe (filet mignon in a peppercorn Dijon sauce).
Prices range from $7 to $13 for lunch and $14 and $24 for dinner. A full menu can be found on the Web site, www.donatellositalian.com.
Donatello’s is open for lunch and dinner. The hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sundays. There is ample free parking behind the business. The restaurant is located a short distance from the Palladium, opening soon in Carmel.
Call 317-564-4790 to make reservations or check out the place at www.donatellositalian.com. Diners can also become a fan on Facebook or follow the place on Twitter at @EatAtDonatellos