Food and drinks are a very big part of what we do around here. But after 50 years, we’ve learned that Donatelli’s has always been about something bigger: the people. It all started back in 1976, when Steve Donatelle purchased what was no more than a small restaurant with a soda fountain. There was no grand plan for what Donatelli’s might someday become; just a little neighborhood restaurant with good food and the hope that people would keep coming back. And they did. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know generations of families around our tables. Kids who grew up eating here came back with kids of their own. Familiar faces became old friends. We’ve celebrated birthdays and graduations, watched families grow, and through our catering, been invited to bring Donatelli’s to their weddings, milestone celebrations, and gatherings of just about every kind. A lot has changed since that little restaurant opened its doors in 1976. We’ve grown beyond those original walls, with a second restaurant and a catering business that has allowed us to feed more people in more places than we could have ever imagined. Somewhere along the way, Donatelli’s even found its way onto Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (not once, but twice), and you can still find the dishes that brought Guy Fieri through our doors on the menu today. But through all of that growth and change, the part that matters most has stayed remarkably simple. When people choose to risk their dinner plans and dollars with us, we better make certain we give them a little more than a great meal for their effort. We want you to feel like family when you’re here. We want to have the privilege of being there for the moments, big and small, that matter to you. That’s why our purpose is still pretty simple: To make everyone’s day a little better and brighter.
The man who started it all! While Steve has stepped away from the day to day operations, he's still a familiar face at our original White Bear Lake location. You'll often find him stopping in to enjoy a meal and catch up with the many longtime guests who have come to know him over the years.
Ever wonder where our panther came from? Back in the early days, Steve had a habit of humming the Pink Panther theme whenever things got busy in the kitchen. It was his little way of calming his nerves during the rush, and eventually inspired a panther of our very own! What started as a simple tune became a beloved part of Donatelli's history, and a familiar face you'll still find at our original White Bear Lake location today.
A little throwback to when Guy Fieri stopped by Donatelli's! Here he is getting a firsthand lesson in how we prepare our homemade sauces fresh each day, alongside our very own Jessica (who still works at our White Bear Lake location today!).