Donovan's Modern American Meatery

Review summary

1. SZ

   SandraZ

   Tampa2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was wonderful. Staff was friendly and Heather was the best. We love it there.
   

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2. D

   Diana VIP

   Tampa11 reviews

   1.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   A Mixed Experience: Exceptional Service, but Serious Kitchen Issues I visited Donovan’s recently, and while the ambience was pleasant and the service was outstanding, the food quality was deeply disappointing—so much so that I feel compelled to write this review. The Good: From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Our server was attentive, and the manager went above and beyond to address our concerns. When I pointed out issues with the food, she was incredibly professional and sincerely apologetic. She even comped our entire meal, despite my offer to at least pay for the drinks. It was clear that she genuinely cared about the restaurant’s standards and customer experience. The Bad: Unfortunately, the food itself was a disaster. The vegetables had a beautifully charred exterior but were still hard and undercooked inside. My steak, ordered medium rare, had the same issue—charred outside but completely raw inside. This suggests that the kitchen is cooking at too high a temperature, searing the exterior while leaving the interior underdone. The Worst: The most concerning part of my experience was what happened afterward. Despite the food not being properly cooked, I ate my meal—something I now regret. Shortly after, I began feeling unwell. I had to leave our movie early due to frequent trips to the bathroom, and my symptoms continued throughout the night and into the next morning. Given that the manager admitted this wasn’t the first time they had issues with improperly cooked food, this raises serious concerns about food safety. Final Thoughts: I truly appreciate the level of customer service we received—some of the best I’ve experienced. However, no amount of great service can compensate for a meal that makes a customer sick. I hope management takes this issue seriously and addresses the root cause, as it’s not just about food quality but also customer safety. I won’t be returning unless I hear that these kitchen issues have been permanently
   

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Tampa2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 8 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Heather was a fantastic server who knew her stuff. She made our experience exceptional. The food was outstanding and the live music topped it off. We definitely recommend.
   

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4. S

   Sarah VIP

   Tampa9 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 7 March 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   We have tried the steak 2 xs now and we bought different cuts each time. Neither was good. We got New York strip which was supposed to be Prime but it was not. Had a lot of grizzle in it. We haven’t gotten what was actually ordered the last 2 times there. It’s unfortunate because we’d really like to go there more often. It’s convenient and we’d really like to stay in Brandon and not have to drive to Tampa for a good dinner.
   

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5. K

   Kirby VIP

   Orlando25 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 1 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We decided to go for lunch as we had been here for dinner previously. Dinner was great and lunch was just as amazing. Donovan’s has become our favorite local fine dining restaurant. I can’t wait to share it with my family when they visit!
   

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6. C

   Chad VIP

   Tampa46 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 28 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Our server Hayden was excellent, he provided great service. The only issue was 2 people in our party ordered steaks and both were over-cooked. One med-rare came out medium, and the other was supposed to be medium came out med-well. For a restaurant that specializes in steaks, getting the temperature correct should be a priority. Our server verified the temperatures when he took our order. He, as well as the manager, did offer to have new ones cooked.
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Francisco1 review

   5.0

   Dined on 28 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Highly recommend. Delicious food. Great staff. Wonderful owner. Wonderful ambience. Can’t go wrong!
   

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Atlanta1 review

   5.0

   Dined on 26 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything was exceptional. The food was delicious and the service was excellent.
   

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9. B

   Bryan

   Tampa1 review

   5.0

   Dined on 21 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Our food was excellent. Their attention to wine details and cocktails were great. Dessert is a must. Hayden was our server and did an excellent job.
   

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10. A

    Alkesia

    Orlando3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Kiran was the best server ever! He was very attentive, pleasant and provided great recommendations. Our first time there was awesome.
    

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