Mr. Donahue’s
“Awake the inner 1940s within, with glass plates, (perfect) roast beef, and big band tunes.”
“Three of us shared the addictively slightly-spicy jerk mushrooms, the chock-full-of-crab crab imperial, and the creamy ricotta gnocchi.”
“Chicken Fried Pork Cheek, as a "chicken fried" dish was as good if not better as anything in Texas.”
Mr. Donahue’s
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Incredibly solid.
From the restaurateurs behind Uncle Boons, Mr. Donahue's is a tiny, tiny no-frills casual eatery, with only 9 seats in the whole place, and the feel of an old-school diner. I would come here without the expectation of your experience being anything like that of Uncle Boons, as the menu is pretty different and the general vibe is way more casual. We came in the early evening, and the place was generally empty. However, as our meal went on, more and more people started showing up, and the place got a little cramped, even though there were only 6 or 7 people. However, since the weather outside was nice, they opened up the windows and doors, so it opened up the space a little bit.
All of the main dishes here come with your choice of sauce and 2 sides. The sides menu is very extensive, and we had a bit of trouble figuring it out. However, we did get some good recommendations from the waitress, and don't regret our decision. We got the chicken fried pork cheeks with crispy onions, spicy avocado sauce, and spicy crab imperial, and the roast beef with steak sauce, pickled red onions, gnocchi, and rainbow chard. To be honest, the roast beef had a pretty good flavor and fattiness, and you really didn't need the steak sauce. The spicy crab imperial was pretty unique, and very tasty on top of a saltine cracker. However, the star was really the chicken fried pork cheeks. The crispiness was just right, and with the spicy avocado to dip in, a killer combination.
Service was very attentive, although it's kinda hard not to be given that there is a maximum of 9 customers at a time. Nonetheless, we got some good recommendations, and were solidly satisfied at the end of the meal. Value is pretty outstanding, as we only paid about $24 per person between the two of us. We didn't get drinks, but at that price, I'm pretty impressed. Definitely one of the main draws of Mr. Donahue's.
While none of the dishes were particularly outstanding, I really did enjoy my time at Mr. Donahue's. At those prices and at that quality, I'd likely come back for a casual meal, and try some of their other sides and main dishes. Credit and debit only, no cash.
KenScale: 8.0/10
I've always loved the hearty Thai food at Uncle Boons behind the husband and wife duo of Ann Redding and Matt Danzer. When they announced an opening of a new restaurant showcasing American traditional comfort food, I was both intrigued and puzzled at the same time. Can they translate their magic touch at Uncle Boons into completely new cuisine? When I first showed up, there was one concise menu with mains, sauces and sides that you can combine together for a full meal (the standard format is one main, one sauce and two sides per person). It's difficult nowadays in New York to see classic "meat and three" places these days, not to mention restaurants that are actually good at it, with all the hype about seasonal New American cuisine that places emphasis on creativity, not some retro diner-like joints paying homage to the American past. I'm pleased to report that Mr. Donahue's has successfully built a cozy place in this rapidly dwindling category.
Any meal at Mr. Donahue's must have at least one plate with roast beef as a main. Served medium, I absolutely loved the juicy and tender texture of this meat that was not only cooked perfectly but its seasoning also on point, striving for moderation to give more room for the meat's texture to shine. A side of crab imperial (warm spicy crab salad with saltine crackers) was also quite delicious, although the whole artichoke wasn't as impressive as it looked. The other main dish that my dining companion and I tried was chicken fried pork cheeks, a nicely battered piece of meat that we finished quickly, accompanied by a side of decadent Duchess potato and crispy onions with ranch dressing. I really liked how, despite the rustic looks of the plates, the overall flavor was actually quite balanced instead of leaning on the heavy side so each bite doesn't get boring over time. We also finished our meal with two desserts. I liked the sweet touch of banana rum pudding, but the highlight was root beer float, which was pure decadence even though I don't like the flavor of root beer in general!
The restaurant is really tiny (seating 9 people at most) and doesn't take reservations, so show up as early as possible. I was very lucky that there was one empty table left when I showed up around 7 p.m. on a Friday evening. I liked the warm, fuzzy feel of this tiny space where you feel like you're transported to some local diner in an American countryside. You can complement your meal with limited selections of wine and beer. Mr. Donahue's is a great second act for the Uncle Boons team; while it may lack the comfort in terms of the space's size and proximity to other diners, there is no doubt that the food will make you walk out satisfied.
Mr. Donahue's is killing it!
This restaurant serves a hearty great-value 1950's style meal that is so delicious! Which is no surprise, since Mr. D's is brought to you by Ann Redding and Matt Danzer, the couple behind Uncle Boon's.
*Food*
The Rose was sweet and light without being cloying or tangy bitter. It was great start to the evening. The white wine was cold and refreshing.
Each entree comes with two sides and a sauce so don't order 3 sides as apps as we did. It was too much food.
Three of us shared the addictively slightly-spicy jerk mushrooms, the chock-full-of-crab crab imperial, and the creamy ricotta gnocchi. I had the juicy perfectly- salted-and-peppered roast beef with steamed artichoke and more crab imperial. (If you have a choice, get more crab! ) The cowboy butter was not necessary but a salty garlicky parsley butter is a great accompaniment to the medium rare beef.
My friends loved the meal! They kept saying, 'oh! This is so good!' + 'We are coming back here!' K missed out on an amazing meal, so I am definitely coming back with him.
I also tried their crunchy non oily chicken-fried pork cheeks and crispy fried onions. So good. The crispy fried onions with the ranch dressing was wonderful! My friend and I could not stop eating this side until every morsel was gone. It tasted like a great real-life sour cream and onion Pringle.
The creamy buttery sweet Pattypan squash had these delicious mini crispy cheesy parm chips. Well worth the $7.
*Ambience*
Retro lighting, palm tree and beautiful old wooden bar decorated with small bouquet of flowers. Feels like you stepped into a house from the 1950s. This 9-seater definitely encourages you to converse with your fellow diner, esp if you sit at the bar. Your check comes with hard candies, taken from a large 1-gallon candy jar.
Love it! I will definitely come back.
This tiny little spot has just 9 seats (one table with 5 chairs and a bar with 4 stools).
So get there early, the food is excellent. Especially the Roast Beef ($26). And get it with the shells.
Charming, delightful Mr Donahue's delivers an endearing and delicious dining experience. From the lacy placemats to cute China, the little touches mean so much. The food is like a super inventive riff on diner fare.
Ate: Roast Chicken dinner with two sides- an artichoke & white gazpacho $19
You get a choice of sauce- I went with Romesco
The food was a wow- my favorite meal in weeks, no pretension, amazing gazpacho- I would have licked the bowl, the chicken and Romesco were a perfect pairing. Love Mr Donahue!
I was expecting GREAT based on the reviews but came away a little disappointed.
At first this place has all the potential, antique lighting, marble table tops, classic tunes.
The menu is set to pick your entree, two sides and a sauce.
I picked the rotisserie chicken cooked perfectly but the skin was a little underwhelming. Just tasted like every other chicken I've had.
I chose the spicy avocado sauce – chicken and Avo? Can't go wrong right? Wrong. So conflicting and sour I had to replace it with something else.
Imperial crab was one side which was nice and spicy but the amount of cream overpowers the crab taste
My side of picked beets were delicious! And probably the star on my plate which is disappointing.
My partner had roast beef which was delicious and tender. His side of duchess potato was creamy and tasty too but imperial crab he felt the same.
Banana rum pudding was underwhelming tasting refrigerated and soggy crumbs
Delicious!!
Beware of how small the restaurant is – either come early or be prepared to wait!
How this restaurant works – the menu is small but what they do serve, they excel in. There are a handful of proteins and about 10-15 sides to choose from. You pay the price of the protein and pick 2 sides from their extensive list.
I had the Swedish meatballs with the Pattypan squash parm and ricotta gnocchi. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy. The Swedish meatballs really hit the spot since there aren't many places that serve them in Manhattan.
My mom had the roast beef with cowboy sauce and mashed potatoes + asparagus. Her roast beef was very tender and not tough at all. I quite liked the cowboy sauce, which was recommended by our waitress.
Service was attentive and efficient. The host at the counter was very nice and helpful – taking our bags to the back so we'd have more space.
After reading about the size of the restaurant and the excellent reviews, we came today at 4:35p (Saturday) and were the only people waiting. After being seated at 5p, the first customers came right away at 5p, and the place was full within 20 minutes. There are just a table with 5 seats and 4 bar stools. The vibe is beyond chill, with soothing Jazz is playing in the background. Even the restroom is relaxing.
The menu is small, but there are several interesting dishes to try.
Roast beef: very tender, and wonderfully complemented by the cowboy butter sauce.
Chicken fried pork cheeks: crunchy and soft at the same time, almost melting in your mouth. We ordered them with spicy avocado sauce, but it was a little too aggressive. Next time we should get the honey mustard sauce.
Rainbow chard: tasty, but not particularly original.
Crispy onions: pretty good.
Crab imperial: I loved it, but if you don't like fishy dishes, you should probably skip it.
Fregola pasta with tomato and tarragon: delicate and flavorful.
Banana rum pudding: very tasty, caramelized like a creme brûlée.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and would surely go back for me (once the menu has evolved to different dishes).
We were served by professional and attentive staff.
Recommended.