FOOD | Equal parts new-school sensitive and reliably classic.
VIBE | Inviting and fuss-free.
DECOR | Open, bright and modern.
DISH | Donna “Mac & Cheese” with cavatelli, burrata, bacon and Parmesan.
TIP | Don’t forget bar snacks and sides. The cheesy crullers and grilled carrots can elevate the experience
The distinctly modern twist Donna Mac gives to classic dishes is juxtaposed by the simple elegance of the bright but minimal interior. Vast windows, white walls and rotund light fixtures are crisp for lunch and brunch by day and iridescent when the lights are lowered for dinner and cocktails at night. Dedicated to being good neighbours, Donna Mac invites vegans, vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant to enjoy as wide a range of dishes as their animal-eating, wheat-worshipping cohorts. Seasonal comfort food and finer fare are treated with the same thoughtful care by chef Justin Longpre. Meat lovers will swoon for the double cheeseburger with pork belly and the hanger steak with tomato jam in equal measure; vegan diners will delight in both the mushroom fried rice with charred-onion peanut sauce and a rotating vegan blue-plate special. For drinks, try the “sippable” or “crushable” cocktail offerings or a wine from the “old school” or “new school” designations on the menu.
What ultimately makes Donna Mac a new sensation in the city is its dedication to having solid options. You can order as adventurously or conservatively as you happen to feel on any given night, and you’ll have no trouble including (and impressing) friends with different dietary needs and preferences than your own.
1002 9 St. S.W., 403-719-3622, donnamacyyc.ca
