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| - It's about time that I write a review for La Fontanella given that I've become a regular. And I live in New York City. That an Italian restaurant nearly across the country would not only win over my stomach but my heart is a major deal given that I come from the world of great Italian cuisine. That all being said, La Fontanella continues to exceed my expectations and win over everyone that I bring with me to eat their food. I feel like an insider at this point given that I've eaten there so often that I ended up having my wedding reception there. But given that the owners are so present and charming in the place day in and day out, you'll feel like a regular on your very first visit.
I've seen the other negative reviews on here and I have to tell you that if you are looking for a run-of-the-mill, inexpensive red-sauce joint, this is not the place for you. La Fontanella is for gourmands and romantics who are serious about quality ingredients and dishes prepared with a heavy measure of love. Everything (and I mean every last thing) from pasta to sauces to dessert is made in house, and special dishes are focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Case in point - we begged for the artichokes in August that we enjoyed in March, but the owner wouldn't dare serve them to us out of season. Not because she wanted to deny us our request, but that she only wanted to serve us the best of the best.
Cutting to the chase, on my first visit we decided to take a tour of the menu and see what would blow us away. We started with stuffed mushrooms (luscious and savory), artichokes braised in olive oil (garlicky goodness) and the popular suppli (addictive fried rice balls stuffed with oozy mozzarella, served over homemade bolognese). The appetizers were rich enough to almost make a meal, but we charged forth nonetheless. We ordered the Seabass Adriatico (hands-down my favorite - moist flaky filet topped with a toothsome dressing of tomatoes and basil), Pork Loin with Fig Compote, simply grilled lamb chops (great with a squeeze of lemon), and Pescatore Diabolo, a fiery assortment of seafood and crushed red pepper over a tangle of fettucine. Stuffed and happy, we couldn't eat another bite...and yet, we managed dessert - homemade gelato and zuppa inglese. A night to remember, we lumbered to the car knowing that we had found a new favorite.
On subsequent visits, we found other new favorites, like the sinfully rich Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Peas (aka the night where my friend Dave asked for thirds on the homemade bread and dipping oil) and the homemade grilled sausage skewers (aka the night where my husband asked if I could go back into the kitchen and beg to learn the recipe).
If you are in the neighborhood and are looking for a treat of the most authentically Italian kind, this is the way to go. From the romantic, candlelit interior, jovial (and often talkative) servers, to the detail placed on quality ingredients, La Fontanella is memorable and instantly lovable. It is absolutely no surprise that this place has been around since the 80s, and I'm only sad that I hadn't found it sooner!
PS. Know that the place tends to close early - the rush is usually at around 5pm and by 8pm the place is quieting down. Good to know if you want to beat the throngs (or why it's emptier later at night!)
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