So… it was my birthday recently (hold the applause), and seeing as food is now officially my business, I decided it was only right to get taken out for a meal. Not too much to ask, right? One birthday meal. Unlimited Lasagne. Sorted.

The Lasagne Plan (Or So I Thought…) 🤔📅

Top of my birthday wish list was Don Giovanni’s Unlimited Lasagne deal – £15pp, Mon–Fri, 12–4pm. A steal. A serve. A sensational slab of Italian comfort. I was already envisioning wave after wave of bubbling, cheesy, beefy joy.

First port of call? My little sister Shannika (aka Neek), who was actually the first person to ask me what I wanted to do for my birthday. It felt only right.

Her response?

Silence.

Cue me standing in front of the mirror, taking a long, hard look at myself, blinking back birthday tears. Then it hit me.. Neek did previously mention she was over lasagna. So really, the silence made sense. My bad. I followed up with a humble message, acknowledging my poor judgement and letting her know I’d circle back.

Still set on lasagna, I turned to Ainsley (older brother — also a neek, but for other reasons) and Marcus (little brother). Both were in. Wednesday was confirmed. I was feeling hopeful.

But then, on a casual phone call a few days later with Marcus, I dropped the Lasagna plan into conversation.

“Don’t you mean Tuesday?”

No, Marcus. I absolutely meant Wednesday.

Turns out, he’d mixed his dates up and had a prior commitment on the Wednesday that he couldn’t duck out of. Little brothers, ey?

I still really wanted to celebrate with Marcus and Neek, so I hopped on my own website to find something last-minute we could all do on Sunday.

Sunday Search & Chicken Dreams 🐔🔍

First idea: Tartuffe. I had been eyeing up their Sunday Service – ½ rotisserie chicken, 2 sides and a sauce for £21. For those who remember, I tried once before when it was advertised at £16 (see: Burgers, Booze & a Spider-Man Glow-Up).

I thought Sunday would be the perfect chance to finally try it — but a bit more digging revealed that the lunch menu isn’t available on Sundays, as they focus exclusively on their Sunday Service. Rude.

Enter: Deano’s — Italian, offering 50% off the food bill via First Table, and a constant presence on my FYP thanks to its deep-dish pizzas and mozzarella cheese pulls.

Quick check with Neek and Marcus – both on board. Booking confirmed.

While I was at it, I also reached out to Ty (another brother — yes, there are a lot of us) to see if he could join. His own birthday was approaching, but he had a holiday the next day so wasn’t sure he’d make it. He didn’t say no outright, and even messaged on the day to say he might pull up — spinning plates, quite literally. He later confirmed he couldn’t make it, but I appreciated the effort and we agreed to grab lunch once he’s back.

Deano’s: The Deep Dish Disaster 🍕😵

I jumped in the car, scooped up Marcus and Neek, and we were pizza-bound. Despite Manchester’s finest drizzle trying to dampen the vibe, we made it to Deano’s unscathed.

We sat down and agreed to get a variety of starters (for the content, of course):

Mozzarella sticks for Marcus
Garlic twists with Napoli sauce for Neek
Cheesy garlic bread for me (naturally)

For mains, we each ordered a deep-dish pizza. When the waiter asked Marcus if he just wanted a slice, we blinked in confusion. Just… a slice?

Absolutely not.

Marcus went for the Meatball Melt. Neek chose Spicy Veg, and I finished off the trio with Pepperoni & ’Nduja Honey.

Then they arrived.

These weren’t just pizzas — they were units. Focaccia-thick, molten with cheese, stacked with toppings. It was only then that we spotted the note on the menu:

“Our pizzas are on a double fermented focaccia style base; we recommend slice pizza – 2 slices per person or the full pizza to share…”

Yeah. We were in trouble.

The cheese pulls were elite, but the density was real. We barely made it halfway through. The fear in our eyes probably validated the waiter’s earlier doubt. Respectfully, we admitted defeat. But the war wasn’t over — boxes were requested and leftovers taken home.

I celebrated my victory with round two later that evening. I didn’t dare ask how the others fared.

The Lasagne Redemption Arc 🏆

Wednesday rolled around, and with Marcus out of the running, it was just me and Ainsley for the Unlimited Lasagne battle at Don Giovanni. £15pp for as many lasagnes as you can handle (usually £14.50 for just one). Say less.

Ainsley pulled up late (not surprised), but he brought baby Fenton (my nephew), so I let it slide. He was greeted with the oohs and aahs he deserved (Fenton, not Ainsley).

I had already ordered his lasagne in anticipation. While he ducked out for some quick dad duties, my first lasagne landed.

And let me tell you… it landed hard. Rich ragu, silky béchamel, pasta perfectly stacked. I devoured it before he even got back. When he returned, I took baby Fenton off his hands so he could enjoy his own.

We were both full after one wave, but giving up after a single plate would be disgraceful. So, we did the only logical thing: Round Two.

Once complete, we looked at each other, nodded, and agreed — we were done. No dessert needed. No regrets.

We thanked the staff for their service. We thanked Italy for their contribution. And I thanked myself for persevering through birthday chaos.

The Takeaways: 📌

🎉 Birthday Plans: Chaotic but determined.
🍝 Don Giovanni’s Unlimited Lasagne: A top-tier £15pp lunchtime steal.
🍗 Tartuffe’s Chicken: Still on the to-eat list.
🍕 Deano’s Deep Dish: A delicious trap. Go hungry or go home.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sibling Logistics: Trickier than table bookings.
🧀 Cheese Pulls: S-tier content, D-tier stomach space.

Where To Eat Next? 🧭👀

Found a birthday-worthy deal? Spotted a new deep-dish champion? Slide into my inbox.

And if you're plotting your own celebration, head over to the latest Find Dining deals — the table awaits.

'Til next time. 🍴

Birthday Behaviour, Unlimited Lasagne & A Focaccia Fumble 🎂🍝