Located just south of the Williamsburg Bridge, Donna was founded in 2012 by Leif Huckman and designed by the brothers Evan and Oliver Haslegrave. As the owner themselves say, this is for the dirty kids in Brooklyn.
Huckman described his dream of Donna, to the Gothamist by saying:
“I felt there was a lack of late-night places on the Southside to grab a bite to eat and drink. I wanted to create a place for ‘dirty kids.’ I love places with a dilapidated elegance, that look like they’ve been lived in, that aren’t too pristine.”
By “dirty kids”, he meant that there are tons of cool people that enjoy really good stuff, but aren’t into dressing up that much. We definitely can relate! Plus, many of our reading love a cool spot, but this a laid back vibe.
The building chosen to house the place, dates back to 1850. Inside is definitely something! A domed ceiling, an ArtDeco bar that is gorgeous, reclaimed-pine floors, a unique lightning project, wooden tables and chairs! Ah…and the vintage mood. Love it!
The cuisine is Central American style where you’ll find fantastic tacos. Most of the menus on the item are gluten-free!
We recommend, for vegetarians, the Roasted Root Veg with beets, yams, carrots, guacamole, pico de gallo and cilantro. For the meat eaters, the Slow-Roasted Pork with salsa verde, pickled cabbage, pickled onion, cotija, chicharron and tajin.
They still have several small dishes to share, so you might want to order a few, to taste them all. We like the ceviche and the guacamole.
Don’t skip dessert! Their Churros with cinnamon, sugar and salted chipotle honey are worth every calorie. They also serve Van Leuween Ice Cream with vegan flavors.
Their cocktail list is great with interesting options for all taste buds. They still have wine, beer, draft and other options, so you’ll find your perfect match.
As they say: “Donna is the mini-vacation you can take any day of the week.“
It’s a great spot to host private events and even corporate gatherings. The place is relatively big, so don’t worry about “over-inviting” people. You’ll be fine!
There are other great spots around that you might be interested. Sunday in Brooklyn for one of the coolest weekend brunches. For a afternoon lunch, coffee or an exciting night out, go to Freehold. And last, if you’re a massive meat eater, Peter Luger Steakhouse is a place you might want to visit.
Hours:
Sunday: 4pm – 12am (last call)
Monday – Thursday: 5pm–1am (last call)
Friday: 5pm – 3am (last call)
Saturday: 4pm – 3am (last call)
Location: 27 Broadway, South Williamsburg
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alexander Thompson
*Last Update on March/2020.*
