Donovan's   

112 Savin Hill Ave
Dorchester, MA 2125
617-436-2226
www.cfdonovans.com

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The eternal question goes: What's in a name? If you're heading to Donovan's, the answer is everything. Be it bar or restaurant, many neighborhoods still have a hangout where regulars are addressed by nickname and their favorite drink is poured on sight, so that it's waiting in front of them before they even touch a bar stool. Yes, it truly happens. Such is the case at eclectic C.F. Donovan's. The Savin Hill pub has an old-school charm, the energy of a relaxed sports bar, and an authenticity you're reminded of each time Arthur Donovan himself strolls past your table to make sure everything is OK. But Donovan is in the habit of knowing how the neighborhood likes to eat. After all, for 30 years he ran Patty's Pantry, a bustling take-out joint in Savin Hill. His restaurant, though, which has become a neighborhood institution since it opened at the turn of the millennium, is something of a colonial ale house-meets-family diner, as depicted by the brush of Norman Rockwell. A diverse crowd of old-timers and freshly relocated hipsters easily mingle here. It's seamlessly designed, featuring colorful walls, sizeable tables and a black marble bar. Televisions splashed across the space remind you it's a cool place to catch a game, but on the upside, it's clean, new and well-lit, unlike some area sports dives. The menu is jam-packed with diner delights that could have come out of any grandmother's kitchen, and the portions are as plentiful as any that Grandma would have loaded onto your plate. In addition to a range of grilled, baked, fried and seared seafood that makes you wonder whether you accidentally skipped over the border to Maine, there's a roster chock full of hearty fresh soups, pasta platters, chicken parmigiana, homemade meatloaf and an oven-roasted turkey dinner so wholesome, you just might find yourself thinking about a change of plans for next Thanksgiving.