St Kilda restaurant Donovans reopens six months after fire

Six months after fire swept through its kitchen,well-loved St Kilda restaurant Donovans will reopen its doors Friday, March 6.

It has been a long and expensive process for owners Gail and Kevin Donovan, who have rebuilt and refurbished most of the building since the August 27 blaze.

The restaurant's facelift came with a $3 million pricetag.

But Ms Donovan insists that while the interior has been modernised, the establishment still has its home-style charms, complete with a wall of Donovan family photos.

"We have always had this thing of trying to make you feel like you are eating in our own house," Mrs Donovan said.

The couple first opened the restaurant on the St Kilda foreshore in 1995. They never expected to be relaunching Donovans again 20 years later.

After embers from the open chargrill escaped into the roof six months ago, the flames completely destroyed the kitchen and office areas, forcing 80 diners to flee from the building.

While firefighters were able to contain the fire and the building was deemed structurally sound, smoke and water damage meant the dining room's roof, floor and everything in between needed to be replaced.

th-birthday dinner two years in advance – the fire looked set to ruin his party plans.

But as fate has it, Gail and Kevin were able to tell Mr Hanley last week the restaurant would be open in time for his birthday on Saturday.

The owners hope this will be the restaurant's last opening night.

"She's back and she's here to stay," said Gail Donovan.