$12 Italian lunch buffet. Pretty standard offerings - pizza, mussels, cheese ravioli, meatballs, beef with mushrooms, mixed vegetables, saffron rice, chicken., salad bar. My personal favorites were the pizza, meatballs, and beef with mushrooms. I must admit, food was average, but for the price and service, definitely a good value. I'd come back again.
(3)
Steven W.
I'm giving Fontina the old 4 Stars for a "Neighborhood" restaurant. That means don't drive 30 miles to eat here, but if it's in close proximity you'll love it. I'm happy to live in close proximity. Fontina is that place where you can eat any night and count on a good, simple, tasty, Italian meal. Whether you are ordering pastas, pizza, fish, or veal, you won't be sorry. Everything is flavorful and fulfilling. Entrees come with a salad which makes it a nice value as well. The staff is always friendly and they make you feel like regulars, even when you're not. It's also a great place to take the parents, or go for larger family gatherings. Just a solid Italian option in Rockville...and the best restaurant in King Farm by a long shot!
(4)
Jonathan L.
Nice neighborhood spot for a quick bite and a drink. $10 lunch buffet during the week is pretty good, although starts to get bare after 1:30pm. The sandwiches are the bar are a solid choice.
(4)
J G.
Service is a crap shoot, but usually slow and with little personality. I've been going to this place many times now since I tried their pizza. I would recommend the Pizza a la Vodka. It features a creamy tomato sauce, cheese, bacon, sausage, and pepperoni. It's delicious! I've also tried the cannoli because they told me its from Vacarro's of Baltimore, MD (m y favorite pastry shop). The cannoli was good, not great. I think this is because its not as fresh as I am used to at Vacarro's. The drink selection is good, but pricey.
(3)
Greg S.
Great place if your looking for good Italian food. The staff all take care of you and go the extra mile to make your dining experience enjoyable. Very well kept and outside dining area are what brings so many back here. As a bonus this place is awesome for NFL games. Many Eagles Fans here - may need to paint it green :)
(5)
Melissa U.
The food at Fontina Grille is enjoyable and reliable to be the same quality each time. The staff is friendly and the owner stops by the tables to say hi and see how your meal is. I have been eating there for years now, and bring folk there when they are visiting me. My favorite dish is the Shrimp Risotto. I have also enjoyed the spinach manicotti, lasagna and chicken brunella just to name a few. Hint: Check for daily specials. I have enjoyed their ealy bird special and their Monday night pasta night. This is definitely a goto restaurant for me.
(4)
Deena H.
We came here for dinner with my husband's relatives. We started with pelligrino and calamari. The calamari was below average and tasted rubbery. We also ordered artichoke spinach crab dip. I didn't try it but my husband did and he said it was very good. For my main meal I had the sea bass which was excellent! It had capers, lemony sauce with roasted veggies. The sea bass itself was crispy on the edges and tasted so so good. The service is top notch! I would say the food is average (not all but the calamari for sure ) but the service makes this place stand out. There's plenty of parking outside so don't worry. It is a fairly large restaurant with a full bar. The dessert was also average but there were multiple choices. We had the tiramisu, chocolate cake and a large ice cream. It was good but like I said, average. I could see myself coming back here because of the excellent service.
(4)
Val V.
I beg to differ on those who liked their pizza. My Son got a plain cheese and the sauce had a taste which caught my attention. When he picked it up, cheese slid out of the pie. Would not recommend. Had the Calamari Siciliana, Eggplant Rollatini & Chix parmigiana and all are good. Serving size is good for 2-3. Service was great from Jose. Entrees are in the 12-20 range but serving is huge.
(3)
Fred K.
Solid 4 stars for their delicious lunch buffet. $10.98 per person plus soda (unlimited refills) $1.98. They will always have in the lunch buffet the following: a big crock of soup, two kinds of pizza (cheese and white pizza), cheese ravioli, mussels, beef tips, rice, steamed veggies, various salads, and my favorite chicken dish. The server does take your dirty plates pretty fast and refills your drinks in a timely manner. It's not too loud do you can have a good meal and conversation with your dining guests. I wish the parking was a bit better though. You have to park near the Safeway and walk over to Fontina Grille. It's one of the few places in King Farm worth going too. Nicks Chophouse is the other place I can think of that has table service in King Farm.
(4)
Joshua D.
Went here for a work event. Service was fine, everything was OK. I noticed some things that are traditionally served a certain way are lacking respective elements here. The seating is a little cramped, and it was a little warm inside. Overall a fine place to hang out I guess.
(3)
Sunshine C.
OMG the Rosemary Foccaccia with the dipping sauce!!!! I could just eat this ALLLLLLLLLLLL Day. I was struggling between ordering the Spaghetti with Marinara and meatballs or the Spaghetti Carbonara... i chose the earlier. My meal came with a Caesar salad. Spaghetti was okay... nothing special about it or stood out about it. Caesar Salad is your average salad.... i also had the creme brulee which again was okay, and average. i shouldve ordered the pizza since that what everyone is raving about... but i wanted pasta. My server was friendly and tended to me well. At the end of the day would i remember this place with all the places i travel to and eat? - No. But when i eat foccaccia from here on out, i will flash back to that one place in Maryland where i cant really remember what I ate, but that Rosemary bread they had was off the chain.
(2)
Lauren B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years and we absolutely love it. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is quiet and quaint and the service is exceptional. We often share a few appetizers and a pasta dish and we have never been disappointed. We are also huge fans of their bread and dip and their pizza. You really can't go wrong here.
(5)
Andrew B.
The staff is very friendly, my bartender tonight had such a great personality. Food was very fresh and fairly priced. Will definitely return!
(5)
Victoria C.
Pizza is pretty amazing. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza and it's pretty hard to find a good one in Maryland. The pizza is ALMOST like the New York style ones. I got the vodka pizza which I haven't seen anywhere except in NYC. It's pretty similar. The crust isn't oily at all, which is a blessing considering how Pizza Hut and Domino's treats their crusts. Everything else is okay. The atmosphere is really clean. The waiters are all extremely nice. Floors and tables have a very clean feel to it. The rest of the food is okay. The pasta is just average as well as the sandwiches. Mixed drinks could be a bit better, but that's only according to my dad. Basically, just get the pizza. It's delicious!
(4)
Drew J.
Food was great but service was terrible. We asked for bread, the waitor said they're making it. Understandable, except the bread came out cold. i.e. they weren't making it. I asked for water, no water came. 10 minutes later I flagged down the manager and politely re-asked for water. No apology and said "the waitor is busy". Apparently this is the first restaurant in history with busy waitors. The waitor never asked us how we were doing. The waitor got the specials mixed up, so when the bill came, there were extra charges. I asked for the manager again, and the manager said "our waitor wouldn't tell you guys that". I said "well, he did." Manager said "no he didn't". (For the record, the manager was not there when we ordered) We gave very low tip. Hopefully they'll improve their service and stop making excuses.
(1)
Paul M.
Great pizza! We came in just before the kitchen closed and everyone was kind and the food was great
(4)
El W.
Got More for your money here then most of the restaurants in the area My guest had a salmon Salad and I had a House Salad and the Wild Mushroom burger, Both of our meals were too much for us to finish so we did get a to go box. The food was cooked perfectly and served with a smile and expertise. The waiter also knew the menu and the specials. Will come again
(4)
Casey K.
Food was great but the star count is low for terrible service. The crab Caesar salad was awesome while the steak salad I had a bite of was also spectacular. The rub of the meal came as soon as our waitress appeared. She practically ignored my brother when he ordered his drink that we weren't sure if she heard his order. My dad ordered soup, and she brought out a salad instead (proving that she doesn't listen). She was condescending and rude on all fronts and we will not be back.
I'm in town for a week for a class and staying at a nearby hotel. I had a ton of work to do but needed to unwind. After looking at a few neighborhood options online, i grabbed my laptop and asked for a small booth in back. The server was easy -going, understood my pace and pleasant. The house chianti was perfectly priced and my rockfish salad hit the spot. The ambiance was just right for 7pm on a tuesday. I was relaxed for the first time all day and pleasantly productive.
(5)
Rita W.
My SO and I come here most Monday nights for the special. Buy one pasta, get the second pasta for $2. I think they run specials every day of the week and they also have an early bird special from 4-6PM on weekdays. Both of us LOVE the Chicken Brunello. None of the other pastas stand a chance against it. Also, we add a side caesar salad (+$2). The caesar salad here is also really fresh and tasty. My guess is that the parmesan cheese they use is aged perfectly to my taste. Tried the lasagna once and was disappointed from it's flavor and presentation. Service is always on point. I haven't experienced any server being rude and they've always been very accommodating.
(4)
Karena J.
Food is good enough for a quiet, intimate yet chic atmosphere. We like bringing our parents here because it's never too crowded or noisy and is consistent with pretty good food. Pastas are tasty and the mussels are good but slightly oily. Service can be extraordinary or subpar depending on who you get. Bar is nice and cozy for watching Monday night football (although they usually close before game's end). Outdoor seating is a great change of pace when the weather is nice.
(3)
Ashley W.
Lunch buffet is off the chain! Bonus points because you can take it to go! Mussels, pizza, salad, pasta, rolls, it's all here. For 9.99 or 10.99 or something. Extra bonus points because they purchase their food from local farmers. Great deal and good food. It is not a gourmet Italian place it's just a local place that hits all the right spots- pasta, meat, bread and sauce. I mean we ain't in Italy!
(4)
Jessica N.
Fontina is a party in a neigborhood full of boring places. Seriously, over half of the King Farm shops are empty or uninteresting. Fontina is FUN and friendly!!! The food is good- consistently tasty. Their pizzas are our favorite thing to bring home and we thoroughly enjoy them! The drinks are good, the prices are good, the cheesecake is deeelicious. There are a couple bartenders that we adore and the atmosphere is good. When Lauren is at the bar, we have a blast. If we're in the mood to walk somewhere for dinner and a drink, we don't think twice. It's always Fontina. They always recognize us, ask how we're doing, treat us great and make me want to go back!
(5)
Caroline M.
We went for the first time today, 2 adults and a 2.5 y.o. We were greeted by a really nice host, and the waiter was very nice too. Our son had buttered penne and a huge meatball, the portion was huge, so we had the leftover boxed. We shared the mussels for starter (delicious), then the risotto and the Chesapeake, with 2 glasses of wine. Everything was very good. The Chesapeake was light on the crab, but other than that it was lovely. We will be back.
(4)
Charlie B.
Lauren (bar tenter) was awesome.... Food amazing. Service very fast ... Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Joan K.
We were goign to have a typical Thursday night dinner out with bf and friends and couldn't decide where to go, so we just decided to grab a bite in my neighborhood (King Farm Village) at this place. I had been once last year with my mother and haven't returned since because the experience was so mediocre. I'd read the positive yelp reviews so I was pretty hopeful we would be met by decent food and service this time. I should've just gone with my gut instinct that kept telling me, "Stay away! It's not worth it!" The wine list was SUCH a disappointment. I think I can recall ALL of their white offferings (two people wanted white that night which is why I can't remember any reds)- Cavit PG, Woodbridge SB, (I think just these first two alone are enough to set the overall tone of the wine list), J. Lohr Chard, and a spanish white (marques de la villa?). I probably sound like such a snot, and I'm not really trying to be one (ok, maybe just a little bit). There is nothing wrong with drinking any of the big value brands. A lot of them are very palatable, they're great values, and I like drinking them too. They are, however, NOT appropriate for serving in restaurants for $5/glass. Casual neighborhood restaurant aside, if your average entrees cost over $15, you really shouldn't be serving Woodbridge (let's not get me started on the fact that I don't think ANY restaurant should be serving woodbridge/cavit/beringer/etc. There are SO SO many GREAT, CHEAP boutique offerings that are still easy to obtain in Moco). I'll stop whining about wine (hee hee :P) and take a second to emphasize my BIGGEST complaint. They sat 4 people at what is technically a 2-top. It seemed as if this is the norm bc I noticed that ALL of their 2-tops had 4 chairs....this is horribly cramped and uncomfortable in general. Even MORE so when the tables aren't cleared properly. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think the decor was that trendy. I noticed in the bathroom that they have great soaring ceilings. Painting the entire restaurant red really seems to have diminished this great feature. Also, they need to move the hostess stand to a place you can see it as soon as you walk in. We felt kinda awkward looking around for a hostess for a couple minutes. While the bar seemed to be pretty busy here (perhaps the neighborhood singles?), the restaurant itself was mainly filled with older couples. Which is why our server must've taken half an hour to verify our 4 licenses when we ordered a bottle. We had a 29 year old, two 25 year olds and one 24 year old....yet she still scrutinized the IDs as if we were 16 year olds trying to get into a club with an open bar. I think service is where we had our main issues- in general, she was quite spacey, slow and just not on-point. She tried to take someone's food away while his fork was still in his hand! We probably could have done a better job of ordering, but the food was terribly mediocre as well. Everyone's entrees seemed really bland. Portion sizes weren't very large either. I think we're going to continue to drive the extra 2.5 minutes to Mamma Lucia's for weeknight Italian cravings. It's the same price, has STELLAR service, makes a yummier marinara sauce, and serves three times the food!!!
(2)
Alicia P.
I Love this place, its great food, i love the crab ravioli, staff is very friendly and so do the owner........ Thanks for being around.....
(4)
Young P.
I went here for a lunch since I was meeting a friend. I've ordered spaghetti and extra meatballs. Food was bit bland for me. Food - 2.0 Service - 3.0 Ambiance - 3.0
(2)
Scott M.
We actually 1st stopped in about a year or so ago. Was quite pleased to try it as we had a coupon to use. However, after a quick scan of the menu even w/the coupon the prices were way out of range of what I am willing to pay for pasta so we left. Really had no plans of going back. Just to expensive for me and after all ,this isn't Ruth Chris's Steak House in Bethesda. Recently a Friend told me about this great lunch buffet she found in King Farm. I was quite excited to hear of a new spot. Turns out it wasn't a new spot it was Fontina Grill. I was immediately a bit sceptically but let her give me the complete low down. Sounded really good and for $11 per person which was quite reasonable considering what was being offered. I also consider her a great food and restaurant critic and value her opinion. Based on her recommendation, I gave it a try and wasn't disappointed. The buffet had a very nice selection, Soup, white pizza & regular pizza, mussels, ravioli, steak & chicken dishes, yellow rice and a vegi as well as 3 different kinds of salad to choose from and fixins, fruit and corn bread. I knew I was in for a lot of eating so I didn't have any of the soup or cornbread. The salad I choose was very good except for too many onions in my opinion. Luckily they were large enough chunks I could easily get them out. I tried everything else except the vegis and everything was very good. Well Worth the $11. Oddly, I found that this lunch buffet had a striking resemblance to a restaurant I used to visit called Cafe Mileto formerly located in the shopping center at Great Seneca & Mateny Rd, in Germantown. Not sure if it is the same owner or not but the sauce the mussels were in was identical to Cafe Mileto! (thats a good thing!!) My only complaint was that the food in the buffet was not kept up. Everything was empty until you asked for more with the exception of the pizza I had to ask the guy who spent a lot of time standing next to the buffet to refill each item I wanted. For example I went for the Greek looking salad. The bowl was empty. I asked him for more salad and he immediately went to the kitchen and refilled it. Ate my salad came back for Mussels and that tray was empty. Again asking this same guy for mussels. He ran to the kitchen and came back and said ready in 5 min. He did bring more but not many. Felt bad for the guy behind me but I took them all because I was running out of time and didn't want to wait again. Then went back to try the ravioli which I had noticed was empty when I was getting the mussels. It was still empty and the guy was still standing there at the buffet. I again asked him to refill the rav and he happily did but I again had to wait. After the ravioli I went back to try the steak and rice dish and you guessed it, no steak. Again the guy stands there looking at all the empty dishes on the buffet I asked him for steak and again he grabs the pan and heads for the kitchen. I went back to my seat to wait and before I got a chance to go back to the buffet he brought a plate over to my table which was really nice. I just don't understand why the heck they don't keep the buffet stocked or why he just stands there looking at the empty dishes and doesn't fill them on his own. So if you are in a hurry this place wont work because of this piece meal deal on the buffet. The idea of the buffet is so you can eat and run not spend all afternoon trying to get lunch. That is the only reason it didn't get 5 stars.
(4)
kevin k.
Good food. lunch buffet is awesome (good pizza, mussle, chicken and salad) always crowded. the pasta is good to. check out their web site for other deals such as monday night pasta or happy hour.
(4)
Lisa W.
Went there on there with a group of GF's on a Wed. night. We were seated in the rear of the restuarant, which was great since we can be a little loud. I look up and they are seating two table filled with children. They gave us a most inexperienced waitress. She took drink orders and it took approx. 30 min. for the drinks. Upon delivering the drinks, she had no clue who ordered what. There were two menus on the table and we asked for more since there were 11 of us. Her response.. uh let me see if we have any more. The place was fairly empty and you have no menus???? I ordered eggplant parm... the pasta was cold and had a weird taste. One lady at the table ordered ice tea and repeatly asked the waitress for sugar. She finally ended up walking to the table next to us and getting sugar from them (WTH). We went here last year with the same number of women and everything was fabulous that we decided to go back again this year. Will NOT recommend for 2011.
(1)
Ginny H.
I've eaten lunch here twice in the last month, and I love the new menu, the manager's willingness to please, and the neighborhood feel of this place. They have great pizza, as well as fancier dishes. (I've eaten the pizza in New Haven, New York and New Jersey, so I'm experienced...)
(4)
Joey R.
Only have done takeout from here and seem to gravitate toward the same thing every time. Service is quick and quality is good for the money. Never had a poor experience...
(4)
Jeremy D.
I lived at the Farm for a while and this place was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I usually ordered the chicken marsala with spaghetti pasta. It is pretty good. The bread and olive oil they serve is excellent. The salads are also fresh. I remember the bruschetta is excellent as well. It's a nice neighborhood place, especially if you have a family with kids and want to go out for a decent dinner. At night the bar area could sometimes be mistaken for an episode of Cougar Town. Just an observation.
(3)
Jeff G.
I have been here twice. Once for lunch and tonight for dinner. I really like this place. Its in a cool area and they have a broad menu from pizza to pasta to steaks. I sat at the bar but they have a very nice dining room. They have a decent selection of beers and around 6 on tap, a nice wine list with a decent "by the glass" selection, and a full bar for about any cocktail you can imagine. When I came for lunch I had a pasta dish. It was chicken Saltimbocca. I was impressed. Beautifully done, lots of flavor, and an all around great experience. Tonight I really wanted to try one of their specialty pizzas but I am trying to eat healthier so I went with the Sea Bass with vegetables and a lemon wine sauce. The fish was perfect. Nice and crisp on the outside and flaky and moist on the inside. The vegetable were perfect. They still had a nice crunch but obviously not raw. The sauce was my only issue. It seemed they forgot the wine in my lemon wine sauce. It was so bitter I could not eat the vegetables. Thankfully that sauce was not on my fish or I wouldn't have been able to eat it. It was funny because the bartender said "Do you not like vegetables?". I laughed because I wasn't going to say anything. I love vegetables. I vacuumed down my salad like I was homeless and hadn't eaten in days. I told her my opinion and she was very nice and offered me a different side or some sort of concession. I wasn't looking for anything other than giving honest feedback. The service both times has been good. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Kyle F.
The wait staff is younger people who are just trying to make a few extra bucks. Not very professional and just left a bad taste in my mouth. The food is actually not that bad, it's not your hole in the wall Mom and Pop shop straight from Napoli but just looking from the outside on the street you get the feeling it's just Americanized Italian bar and grille food. If you want really good Italian food and service, hit up Il Pizzico in Rockville, it's only a 4-minute drive away. EDITED: Went back for dinner, the younger wait service was no where in sight. Wish Yelp would give half stars, rank it 2 1/2 out of 5.
(2)
Shawn H.
Good food but haggard service. We visited on a Friday night so you expect them to be busy but the service was not great. We tried the mussels, a caprese salad, pizza, spaghetti, and a chicken dish and all were good. But the waiter disappeared for long stretches, he brought the wrong entree for one in our party and it took forever to get the bill. At least the prices were reasonable.
(3)
Mark L.
I wish I could review the food at Fontina but we never made it past the waiting area. We made a 7:00 pm reservation with Open Table, when we arrived the host told us they were more crowded than expected. We were asked to wait "no more than 15 minutes" but an hour later we were still waiting and gave up. Throughout this experience the staff seemed completely overwhelmed. Other people arrived with reservations and were similarly kept waiting. The wait staff's response was to avoid eye contact, abandon the hostess station, and when they did speak with waiting customers, it was to blame them. I was told i should have made our reservation at least six hours previously ("then why did you accept my reservation when you did?" I asked.) All in all, an awful experience.
(1)
Stephanie C.
I was really impressed with this place, thinking it would hardly register a notch above an Olive Garden. Doesn't help that it is nestled in a development of cookie-cutter houses built on a former farm ("King Farm"). But instead, I enjoyed a great meal. They offer a variety of wines, many imported, and hot, satisfying food. I had the Cioppino with a small salad, served with fluffy (!) Italian bread and dipping oil. For dessert, a particularly wicked Bomba. My friend treated herself to the scampi, a salad, and creme brulee. We enjoyed a wonderful meal. Good service; food plentiful and hot. I liked the place. Parking is so-so. It is a long-ish but not impossible walk from Shady Grove Metro.
(4)
Jessica L.
Service has improved a great deal. The host is very friendly and the server was on point. Food was amazing. Love their pizza and love the lunch buffet. Just get there early for the lunch buffet so you don't get the bottom of the bowl if you get there near the end.
(4)
Abegail A.
Happy hour daily from 4:30-7:30pm. What?! The fact that Fontina Grille's happy hour ended at 7:30pm drew me to this restaurant. A little after 7pm on a Wednesday, the bar area was full. There are a good amount of stools, several high tops, and a couple tables lining the bar. We were able to snag a table. The chairs weren't very comfortable, so I was glad two seats opened up at the bar. Their HH specials included discounted beer and wine, as well as $5 appeteasers. Decided on a glass of pinot grigio and the mussels caprese (in tomato broth) to start. The mussels caprese was tasty and the portion size was generous, especially for $5. The tomato broth was flavorful and was a nice dipping sauce for their bread (which was a little boring and over toasted). The mussels were fresh, most of the meat were plump and not overcooked. For the main, we ordered a large New Yorker Pizza (homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella- $17) with pepperoni ($1.70 extra). The pizza came out super hot, so we waited awhile before grabbing a slice or else the cheese totally would have slid off. The pizza was okay. Did it remind me of a pizza from NY? I guess so. It was thin and foldable. Service was good. Our glasses were never empty. The bartender was friendly. I'll be back to check out their weekly specials and other menu items.
(3)
Nadrina N.
Way overpriced for the quality. Not any better than most can make at home. Mediocre food and mediocre service. The place likely is surviving on its location, we wanted to find a decent place for dinner and since there weren't too many other options in King Farm. My friend even left almost his whole dish in the plate and when I tasted it I realized why. Not inedible by any stretch just not worth the price, the sauce was watery and bland, tasted little different than pasta from a pizza take out. If you're going to spend your money on a decent meal, unless you're strapped for time and need just something close, I would go the extra couple miles to a decent restaurant.
(2)
Eddie K.
We only eat their lunch buffet so I can't comment on their regular lunch or dinner entrees. The lunch buffet is awesome. It is $10.99 a person (doesn't include soda) and they offer two different pizzas, a pretty good selection of food and some cold salads. They usually have their white pizza and cheese pizza. Those are my favorites. Most of the times they have mussels, some pasta dishes, this really good chicken dish and chicken salad.
(4)
Harris H.
Had a horrible experience with a waiter on the way delivery. Waiter on the way was awesome, but the one entree was horrid and we basically threw it away. My sister had experienced a similar experience the night before but at the restaurant with the same entree. 2 weeks ago, Ali, the owner contacted my via yelp and offered to send a coupon to invite us back after seeing my negative review. We have been very regular customers for years and many larger group celebrations we spend there as well. I amended my update to positive due to him reaching out by yelp to offer to fix it, even though this was 2 weeks after I submitted my complaint on the website. To this day, 2 weeks later, I have yet to receive any coupon in the mail after replying with my address. There are TONS of great italian restaurants in the area so I feel no need to stress over this one. I have told my wife, I am done and we will never go back. In addition, I am making sure that all my friends that I have suggested to go here are aware of the situation and how it was handled. The last few times we have been there we were not real happy anyway. One time we asked for parm cheese for our food and watched the waiter grab an open cup with a spoon from an adjacent table, that another couple was using, and just set it on our table. Time to move on.
(1)
Art K.
Food quality and taste is average or what can be expected in this area. Service is a hit or miss. One time my wife and I walked into the restaurant and we're totally ignored and stood there for a few minutes to be seated. We just walked out. My wife hasn't been there since; I have been there for business meals. I suspect that because my wife and I weren't dressed up (in workout clothes) we were ignored.
(2)
Jesse W.
This place was awesome! All their food tasted very good and never smacked you in the face with Italian. A lot of Italian places overuse garlic and this restaurant used very little but knocked it out of the park with great tasting food. Only 4 stars because of the wait staff. The wait staff was very good but my waiter was working 8 to 10 different tables so unfortunately I was the smallest bill. Not his fault but whoever schedules people bring more waiters in!!!
(4)
Lisa C.
Used a groupon to try this place out. 1. Waited a good 10 min to be acknowledged at the front. This should have been the first sign. 2. Got seated and then had to wait another 15 to get our order in. 3. Bread that was served was stale. 4. 45 min later we got our food. The calamari was fried in old oil. It was disgusting. And the rest of our order consisted of 2 salads. One mozzarella caprese and a caesar salad....not so complicated. We left with a belly ache. Needless to say, never going back.
(1)
K R.
Don't bother with eating here. The food is barely edible. I had the fried calamari and it tasted like fried rubber. Honestly, the worst calamari I have ever had. We also got chicken tenders for the kids, and they were not good at all. For the quality of food, they are very overpriced. Save your money and do not dine here.
(1)
Cheetos H.
Years ago, we went to this on e fabulous restaurant. It's been years since we ate there and decided to give it a try. We went there last week for lunch. The lunch buffet looked lacking so we ordered a la carte. I had the chicken marsala and my husband ordered the Chesapeake pasta. Our food was so bland, I didn't even bother taking the leftovers. Chicken marsala is supposed to be a bit lemony bit it was slightly sweet and bland. It was so poorly executed. There were only a few mushrooms and I don't know about you but chicken Marsala is supposed to have quite a few. I didn't taste any lemon at all. My husband's Chesapeake pasta was supposed to have crab meat but there was hardly any in his dish We tried putting parmesan cheese to make it more palatable but even that didn't work. This restaurant lost its spark. Don't bother.
(1)
Michelle L.
This was absolutely terrible! We ordered carry out. They messed up my order. I wanted penne pasta with sausage. I got penne with chicken. The chicken was disgusting! ! The peanut butter cheesecake did not have any flavor. I will never go back here again! !
(1)
Jen L.
Okay, standard Italian food in a comfortable standard setting with superior customer service. The bread was pretty soft and very flavorful. The appetizer was okay - a bit soft and not as crispy or fresh as some other restaurants. The main entree was not especially flavorful and not especially tender, but still edible and above average in deliciousness. All in all, the food was pretty good, but did not stand out or "wow" me. On the other hand, the service from the server was quite phenomenal. He was very courteous, very attentive, and very patient. The setting was slightly odd - a bit like a more upscale pizza shop - the red walls, yellow lamps and yellow accessories, and odd "pizza-shop-like" shapes in the glass were interesting. It was like a small-town restaurant that was trying to be upscale. I think the setting would be improved if the colors didn't clash (red and yellow).
(3)
Merlyn R.
I've eaten here for lunch several times, and while I usually get their salmon salad with Raspberry vinaigrette, I have enjoyed their large lunch buffet. It's the best restaurant in King Farm so can get pretty crowded day and night, but I highly recommend it!
(4)
Ken S.
Great food, nice place. This is the second time our family has eaten here and all of the food has been delicious. Nice atmosphere, great food And good portions for the price. Can get crowded so reservations are a good idea. Will definitely visit again!
(5)
Cyn K.
Great Italian restaurant with fantastic service. Been going almost every week for months now with my parents who live in King Farm and we have enjoyed every meal there. Best meatballs in the county imo. Must try the Pizza ala Vodka and Fettucine Bolognese. Great wine selection.
(5)
Kate M.
This is a great neighborhood gem in King Farm. If I was to give the stars just on the pizza it would be 5 stars. The Shrimp diablo pizza is fantastic and my goto item, but I have enjoyed the vegetable pizza and the honey pizza too. Really can't go wrong with the pizza. I always order pizza, the person I come with changes it up. Last time he had the wings and said they were good. He has had the pasta a few times and hasn't been terribly impressed. The Crab dip and calamari are also pretty good. For dessert I have had the tiramasu, my only complaint is I wish the piece was bigger:) The service can be hit or miss. The last time I came and sat on the patio it was great, but I have come before and sat inside and it was lacking. The owner or manager is ALWAYS hustling about and super friendly, which is appreciated.
(4)
Susan M.
I don't know about the rest of the menu but their steak salad is freakin' DELICIOUS. My co-workers opted for the lunch buffet that looked pretty darn good. Great lunch spot - I'll be back for that salad.
(4)
Steve G.
One word of caution, the house salad dressing is a bit tart so you may want to opt for the Caesar. After multiple trips here this is not only our favorite Italian but our favorite local hangout. Mussels Fontina are FABULOUS, pizza's are great, every meal we have had here has been excellent. Great service and value. Highly recommend.
(5)
Vincent E.
Over the last 10 years, gathering at the Fontina Grille for a great lunch or dinner has become a family tradition. The lunch buffet is great, especially if you're looking for a break from the typical burrito/pizza "on-the-go" lunch and want something more substantial. Our family favorite is the mussels on the lunch buffet. I'd recommend Fontina Grille for anyone looking for the feel, flavor, and personality of one of the neighborhood's family-oriented italian restaurants.
(5)
Mike M.
First visit. They put out a buffet at lunch. Not a buffet fan and really it's kind of disgusting to see these tables of people going back again and again for plate after plate. So, that out of the way, the menu looks nice, had a steak salad which was very good. The steak was prepared as I ordered it and was generously applied to the salad along with a tasty dressing. It was topped with string-thin onion rings. The waitress was attentive, kept my tea glass full, and service was efficient. I'll be back and look forward to trying more menu items.
(3)
Christina S.
this place! The owner Ali, is fantastic. Friendly, helpful and runs a great restaurant. I stick to my usuals, the steak salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegarette, fresh mozzarella capresa, crab cakes, pizza and the meatball appetizer. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, the staff attentive and friendly. Easy to locate, plenty of parking and quick if you're in a hurry. My girls and I have weekly lunches here and it's one of my favorites.
(5)
Rick R.
Ali is very personable and the food is consistently tasty. In my opinion, this is a "guaranteed winner" to chose anytime you want a delicious meal and good service.
Atmosphere is really nice. Food and service were excellent. We make it a point to come here every time we're in town.
(5)
Meredith H.
Fontina Grille is pretty good - I feel like a lot of it is overpriced for what you get, but only slightly. I love their Ricotta and Honey Pizza. Seriously, it's really great! The Sea Bass is excellent as well. I wasn't as impressed with the Shrimp Risotto, or the Pollo alla Piccata, which is a shame, because the latter is a personal favorite. Hopefully, I'll go again and have something that really wows me! I have high hopes, and I look forward to going back and finding something special.
(3)
Tom C.
I come here for the lunch buffet and it's pretty satisfying. The selection is decent and there's plenty of meat for my inner carnivore. The ravioli is amazing. The pizza is pretty good. mussels, steamed veggies, soup, and fruit salad make for a pretty well rounded menu. They keep the buffet pretty well stocked. I've heard that ordering from the menu can take a while during lunch time. I want to find out more about the brunch.
(4)
David D.
Everything here is always great. Very good chicken parm and seafood pastas. Prices are fair. The lunch buffet is great. Pizza ravioli chicken beef mussels and other things all for around 10 bucks is hard to beat. Give this place a try
(4)
Zara K.
i have to admit, despite some issues i have with their servers(which i havent had lately) king farm really wouldnt be as enjoyable to live in if there wasnt Fontina Grill there! i would give it four stars but the additional star is political in nature:P (and also because its a king farm gem!):) i havent tried all their dishes but i can give an overview of the ones i have...i dont dare taste the fancy shmancy ones because im very hard to please with food and i dont want to waste my money either...however here is a list of things i didnt waste my money on at all:) eggplant rollatini : i should get free eggplant rollatini since i advertise it everyday of my life...they really know how to make this delicious dish..the spaghetti that comes with it is really good too ( they cater the spaghetti aswell, i asked!) calamari: pretty good...actually il be fair... its quiite good mussels: a hit or a miss...and when a hit u cant stop eating them.....can be bad sometimes and then ur seafood sick for a month and cant even go the beach cos it reminds you of terrible seafood.. ravioli: had both kinds....its a safe meal to start with...you wont hate it, you wont love it, youll enjoy it but you know they can make it better! i have faith in you fontina!! (maybe use better pasta for the ravioli...please?:D) salmon: my hubby had a salmon dish off their special menu...ummm id give it three and a half stars.... peanut butter bomba : really good:D i had so much fun!!! (order it with fries) Fries: their fries are awesome...my favourite fries atm! Creme Brule : yumm....quite impressive, esp for the price. canolli: okay now the canolli im really impressed by, its comparable to authentic italian canolli and much better than il pizzicos....! and thats a compliment! PIZZA: now the pizza requires a seperate review to be fair........it really is delicious...i love thier pizzas..a lil tip...tell them to make it well done because its saucy and hard to eat sometimes...( i loveee the sauciness) five stars to ALL their pizzas but especially the new yorker HAPPY HOUR:....its as happy as it gets....:D five dollar appetizers, which include calamari AND mussels....pretty good deal complimentary bread: i love that bread...i always want some:$ SHRIMP Fra Diablo: Pretty decent.i would still avoid getting something too fancy but this was perfect. spicy, prawns were great, the pasta was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, i really enjoyed it a good basic prawn and red sauce dish perfected! (they also did apologize for bad service which i really appreciate and so i started going their again, since then i have had no such problems and i go their atleast once a week to have a great time...thankyou fontina!:)
(5)
Cara K.
I have tried this place again and again (it's close to my house), but am disappointed every time. We have been for weekend lunch, happy hour, and dinner but always found the food subpar and the drinks are a crapshoot depending on the bartender. If you're looking for a beer or jack and coke no problem, but ask for a Margarita or Long Island and it gets iffy. The bread (made in house) is usually Ok, but it's not surprising to find a burnt piece in the basket. If you're looking for Americanized Italian food, you're better off going to Olive Garden as the entrees at Fontinas run $12-18 and the quality is about the same (reheated frozen food with pasta sauce on top).
(2)
Vincent V.
Nice place. Good food. GREAT service. Will stop by again.
(5)
Jeff S.
Fontina is the best Italian eatery in King Farm, the key words being "in King Farm". This place is passable solely because Rockville in general and King Farm specifically has no high quality Italian fare. If you come from a city with a good choice of Italian restaurants, this place will be the equivalent of eating at an Olive Garden at best (no offense to the good folks at the Olive Garden). I was born and bred in NYC, so I grew up eating good pizzas and pastas. But I also lived in Rockville for a year and had the misfortune to eat here a few times. I was constantly underwhelmed with everything; the pizza, salads, and pasta are all very mediocre and the flavors are typically muddled. If your expectations are realistic then you can get a filling hot meal at a fair price. But 5 star Italian food it ain't.
(2)
David B.
Wonderful family restaurant. We love their wide varieties of pastas and their specials are usually very good. In all of our visits, we have never had a problem with the wait staff, they always seem to go out of their way to provide excellant service.
(5)
Mike K.
I like this place, the food is good, done well and quickly, prices are reasonable, wine selection is better than other places. My one comment is that happy hour drink discounts could be better. Tthey focus on the food quality, which I appreciate. Good Pizza too.
(4)
Nikon Nysaya Nyah H.
My husband and I went there for lunch today. It was not what I thought it was. We got the buffet and it was cold nothing to offer and just a waste. The chicken and the rice dish was the only good thing on it. The service was slow and not really friendly to say. The food on the buffet toke for ever to refill and nothing was on the buffet worth $10.99. I won't be back.
(2)
Linda F.
Fontina Grille has become our go to restaurant. Reservations are always honored. The managers and wait staff are terrific. We always feel well taken care of. The food is very consistent. Our granddaughter loves their fried calamari! We love the fish, steak and pasta!!
(5)
Tina D.
This place sucks. Made a reservation for 7 and didn't get seated until an hour later. Host service unhelpful. As more people piled into the restaurant, hostess stand was unmanned. Seemed like nobody wanted to deal with the mess. Only reason why we stayed was because we had a gift card. Will never come back here again as food isn't even that great.
(1)
A J.
I went with a friend and our 2 kids today for the lunch buffet. It was really busy around noon and the dining room was packed. I'd say that the buffet was good, kind of average, but for the price and the service, it was well worth it. The salads were nice, the pizzas were plain cheese and white, which were good but not super jazzy, the ravioli was also good and the meatballs were very plain. Their lunch was very basic. Not knock your socks off good but definitely not bad either. Nice place to grab a quick inexpensive lunch. We will be back. :)
(4)
ken p.
Fontina Grille is a superb Italian restaurant that can be compared to the best of them. Over their short history, they have consistently improved & I feel privileged to know of this fine dining location tucked away in the King Farm neighborhood. I realized I must have hit a choice, some time ago on their brunch menu, that didn't measure up. This little glitch was promptly corrected & now the brunch menu is up to par with the rest of fine choices. Today I ordered the Grilled Samon & it was excelent. My honey got the fettucini as usual & it was better than it ever was before - and it was good before. Fontina seems to have a strong following of regulars & I think I will be one of them. Thank You & Happy New Year
(5)
Susan G.
The restaurant has a good ambiance and a nice bar atmosphere. The restaurant area is pretty empty when I have been there so it is easy to sit a group of any size. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty good but it is hard to find healthy options on the menu. The bread that they serve when you come in is delicious. Some of my favorite items are spinach/artichoke pizza, peanut butter cheesecake, ahi tuna salad.
(3)
Steve H.
Last minute Mother's Day brunch with my wife's grandma, booked through Open Table. The food was excellent! We had the Crab Benedict and Philly Omelet, and she had the Shrimp Scampi. Our server Alicia was very courteous and attentive. We'll have to come back for dinner sometime. Thanks Fontina!
(4)
Isaiah W.
The food was really good and things were decently priced. Dishes to try are the Crab Caesar Salad or the Eggplant Parmesan! Would recommend for people in the area!
(4)
Alias C.
Verdict: Ugly Folks, let's be real - the customer is always right, period. In short, a horrible experience and poor management toward customer satisfaction. The owner, yes the owner defended the poor service of the kitchen staff after my order was incorrectly prepared and no courtesy was extended to mitigate the situation. To be fair, a complimentary drink was offered but it was too little, too late. One might think that the owner would have had the foresight to grow customer base but instead he was argumentative and hostile. I actually had to pay after a battle of words...again, I was the customer. Oh well, if you desire to support this business, I wish you better luck than my experience. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in my thinking but customer satisfaction should always be on the menu - no charge.
(2)
Rebecca T.
Fotina Grille has a wonderful lunch buffet. The pepperoni pizza has just the right mix of sauce so it is delicious. The Lasagne is out of this world. The buffet is worth the $10. The minestrone soup is good. I went with 3 other people and the service was great. When we went to pay, I paid originally with a credit card. One of the girls I was with wanted to split it down the middle and they accommodated us. The servers were pleasant and helpful. That gives stars in my book.
(4)
Nana L.
Never again. The service was not great and the food was subpar. My husband and I went to the Fontina Grille for Valentine's Day. When we arrived the restaurant was about half full and looked very lively. We were greeted by one of the surliest hostesses I've seen in a while. She was obviously not happy to be at work. We were seated quickly and our waiter came and took our order. We started with the calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was gummy and bland. My husband ordered Linguini with Clam Sauce and I got the Chicken Saltimbocca. My chicken was decent, but my husband's Linguini was less than best. We could have done better at home. I could have dealt with the mediocre food if the service had been better. I am a water drinker at restaurants. The best way to keep me happy is to keep my water glass filled. We got water at the beginning of the meal and no one ever came back to refill the glasses. If the restaurant had been really busy, I would have understood, but no water in a half-filled restaurant? Unacceptable. Finally, I just drank my husband's water and the water from my personal water bottle. The last irritation was when we got the check and we were charged for desserts that we didn't order. We alerted the waiter and he fixed the issue, but we won't be going back.
(1)
Sara E.
Very poor customer service. Bartender failed to serve me first, even though I was at the bar longer AND a female. Then the bartender didn't offer me a menu and instead picked up her phone to chat w a friend and walked off. All the while I'm watching another employe casually finish her breakfast while her table was waiting for service and failed to wash her hands before returning to serve patrons. Left my drink untouched on the bar and left. They clearly don't need or want my service.
(1)
Lucy B.
This used to be our local, neighborhood bar/restaurant we would come to a few times a month for solid pizza and apz. The service we had this past week was miserable. Our food wasn't what we expected, so we asked our waitress why it looked the way it did, "because that's what you ordered." Oh, OK, cool. Now, I totally understand if you goof and order the wrong thing but, this has never happened to us before here, we always order the same thing and we always get the order we expect. This tall, blonde, Russian (I think) waitress' response when I asked if we could please get the order we expected was "no, it would be a waste of this food." WEIRD. Then, we ordered 2 beers, twice. I noticed on the bill she didn't include one round which, I figured was her saying, my bad, have a beer on us. Nope, she had already given us the bill, in the leather black thing, as we were putting our credit card in the leather holder thing she came back, took the check she had already presented us with and said, "I forgot your last 2 beers, heres the updated check." Sweet. I do have to say that I never had this poor of service in all the times I came here, but, her piss poor attitude was offensive. The manager/owner always comes and says hello to us, super friendly. This girl though, no thank you. She kept practically ignoring us. There was another girl who kept checking our table and relaying what we needed to our waitress/bartender.
(2)
Ronney B.
This is my favorite neighborhood anytime restaurant. This is my stand by usual place. I bring my friends and family. The food is great and the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Bob S.
I AMA KF resident, so have been here many times and recommend it. The staff and owners recognize repeat customers and you quickly become family. If it's rush hour, the trick is to simply make clear to the wait staff what you want. The pizza is a bit expensive, but it is not Jerry's and if that is what you want, go there. If you ask, they will serve the simpler bar menu in the restaurant. The burgers and salads are both huge and great. Thanks for being the neighborhood bar and sports pub, too.
(5)
Sam S.
4 stars because of a great lunch but you have to keep notifying the managers to get new pizza and steak. Steak, Salad and great cheese pizza is all I need to satisfy me for $10.95 lunch buffet. The service is good but it isn't great.
(4)
Janice V.
My family and me came here for dinner with a groupon last friday night. I didn't think it would be so popular, or that I would have to wait 20 minutes at 7:45 pm or that it would smell like grease (not good). After we finally got seated, The waitress greeted us nicely, she took our drinks, and came back 5 minutes later. The crab and artichoke dipped we ordered for appetizer was okay with shredded crab, but very cheesy, which helped the dish. The 14" steak house pizza (steak, goat cheese, peppers, and onions) I didn't like very much since it had no char on the bottom of the crust, so the toppings kept falling down onto my plate. The veal saltimbocca entree that I ordered came with a solid layer of oil on top. I took it off because it didn't look healty or appetizing to eat. The penne pasta was undercooked, so when I had it as leftovers the next day, it was cooked perfectly! Overall the whole dining experience was okay, the food was mediocre, and the server could have been more attentative.
(3)
Zachary A.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this place. A great place for families to go for a nice night out. The ownership changed last year, and the quality of the food has greatly increased. FOOD: (5 STARS) My party had the special of Chilean Sea Bass (special), the calamari marinara and the penne arrabiata (changed for linguini). We're Italian-Americans from Jersey, and the red sauces were just as flavorful as Service: This was the only disappointment. Server was attentive to the order, but failed to fill up water glasses promptly. I drink more water than a fish, and love to always have my glass full. The owner came and spoke with us and was EXTREMELY attentive. Overall, if you're looking for a decent family night out.
(4)
R A.
Wow. Awful service, incompetent staff, incorrect orders, long (absurdly long) waits, MORE incorrect orders.... ridiculous. They did NOT earn my business. At least the place looked nice. (I had gone a few times before and had a fine experience....and then management changed and it all went to pieces. This experience was the lesser of a few less-than-stellar meals here. Tried to maintain loyalty to what was once a good establishment, but the poor service and disappointing quality don't merit returning customers.)
(1)
Krad K.
We just ordered a Steak Pizza from Fontina Grill and it was amazing. The service was quick, the food quality is great. If you want to experience great pizza, check out Fontina Grill.
(5)
Howard H.
I have eaten at Fontina Grille about a dozen (or more times). This place is a real find. I have tried fish, chicken, steak - everything that I have had has been very good. The staff and management are friendly and interested in a good dinning experience. I wish them the best; I think this place is a diamond. Those not giving it good reviews should try again.
(5)
Georgia R.
I've been to Fontina Grille like three times and its always been a good experience for me. The staff is friendly the bartenders make good drinks and the pizza is da bomb!! Also the calamari is banging fried or sauteed and the mussels delish!!
(3)
Jennifer M.
I gave this place 4 stars because the food is really good and the portions are huge. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer, and it would have been sufficient as a dinner entree. The chicken parm dinner was huge. All in all, the food and service were good. The atmosphere is okay, nothing great. A nice restaurant for a nice dinner date.
(4)
Erica Y.
This review is for their lunch buffet only. At $10.99, you get a selection of two green salads, chicken/tuna/egg salads, soup, mussel in garlic sauce, one pasta, one cooked vegetable, two main entrees (usually a chicken and a beef, or fish), and more. Oh, also two types of pizza! I am sure I am forgetting other things, but what a deal! Everything taste pretty good too. Even if you are a picky eater I am sure you can find something you like. I highly recommend for lunch here.
(4)
Ross M.
AVERAGE. NOTHING SPECIAL: This is what happens when you are hungry and just punch in Italian Restaurant into your GPS. You end up here... WHAT I HAD: calamari - typical, nothing special, small pieces soup - typical vegetable soup, nothing amazing salad - fresh salad, typical, not a whole lot going on ravioli - ordinary, not a lot to it, very plain penne napolian- very plain, not a lot of flavor CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant, this is honestly not it. I have no reason to go back. There has to be something better than this.
(2)
Crystal F.
This place is very cozy. The waitstaff is very friendly even if you just sit at the bar to watch the football game. But the food...ummm, nah. It was just...blah. It seemed like it had no seasoning, no creativity, no imagination.
(2)
Lianne Z.
Absolutely wonderful meal. A friend found this gem of a place and we had a fantastic girls night here. The decor is homey and pretty "trendy" for Rockville, MD (no offense Moco). Red walls, trendy glass arrangements and simple wood tables. We met the owners of the place who happened to be in that night- two funny and witty guys who definitely made sure our meal was more than pleasurable. We began with a sampler of their most popular appetizers- calamari, mozzarella/tomato/basil and bruschetta. Okay, first of all most of you know by now that I'm not a big carb eater so regular bruschetta holds no interest for me. It's tomatoes and bread. Gross. However, after one of the owners talked up the bruschetta I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it. I am now going to trust him with my life. It was DELICIOUS. I don't know what they do to their bread but it soaks up so much flavor and works incredibly well with the wonderfully marinated tomatoes it carried. It was tasty without being soggy. The calamari was crispy and not too oily (always a plus and evidently harder to do than it sounds). However, the crowning glory of the night goes to their tomato/mozzarella. It was topped with the most AMAZING balsamic vinegar glaze I have ever had. That's saying a lot considering I have an intense love affair with all things EVOO and balsamic. Evidently they home make it and it is not sold to the general public. Trust me, I asked. We also got a spinach and crab dip which was heavenly. Served with fresh tortilla chips it takes Maryland's best known food (Maryland's blue crab) and mixes it with a standard appetizer staple. Not only that, it was FILLED with chunks of sweet crab meat. There's no skimping whatsoever. For our entree we decided to share two small pizzas. One Puttanesca and one standard Margherita (it's called something else there though which I can't remember at the moment). The Puttanesca was innovative and very tasty. It had artichoke, olives and capers, melted wonderfully with fresh cheese and tangy tomato sauce. Everything's made to order and the ingredients are very fresh. The Margherita was good- nice, sweet plum tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and sweet basil. The portions were perfect and the crust was doughy but thin enough without stirring me into a carb frenzy. Also, I was told you can ask for it extra crispy. The restaurant is sizable and tucked away into the King Farm's shopping center. They have a bar area and if the lights were just a little dimmer it'd be a perfect wine bar for some boozin' and schmoozin'. They do not have an official "drinks menu" yet (only a wine list) but don't think that stops them from having a fully stocked bar capable of all your hard liqour fantasies. Oh, and don't fret- rest assured that they will have all their cocktails on paper soon enough. Just you wait. Definitely a great find and worth a try. And as defined by a Yelp four stars, YAY! I'm a fan.
(4)
Maria M.
Great meal! The ambience of the place was very warm and homey with red walls and hanging lights. The food was pretty much amazing. We started of with 2 appetizers split between the 4 of us girls. The first one was the spinach and crab dip. Ummm, they definitely did not skimp out on the crab. It was so full of crab, that my chips would break if i try to scoop a big bite of it. I ended up just taking the crab dip with my spoon, put it on my chip and eating it that way. Loved it. The other appetizer was a sampler with calamari, bruschetta, and crapes (tomato, mozarella, and basil with balsamic vinegar on top.. i think it's called crapes?)... the calamari and the bruschetta was delicious, but I think I fell inlove with the tomato/mozarella/basil/balsamic vinegar. Mmmmm mmm mmm... i don't know what they put in their balsamic but it was heavenly. =P We then ordered 2 pizzas to split between the 4 of us and they definitely did not disappoint. Puttanesca pizza and Margharita (sp?) pizza. The first one was good, but I'm not a big capers (taste kinda like olives) fan so it wasn't my favorite. The Margharita one was pretty much awesome. Made with mozarella, tomatoes and basil, with a crunchy thin crust... mmm mmm mmm! I loved it =) We also met the owners of the place who just happened to be sitting at the bar that night, so of course, they made sure we had a great time. Definitely try this place out! Their bar is fully stocked and I'm sure they will try to make whatever you ask them =) So big yay for this place! YAY!!
(4)
Emily S.
The lunch buffet is a great deal and very tasty! Love the mussels (in garlic and wine) as well as ravioli, chicken, steak, salads (including a greek salad w feta and a great dressing) and of course pizza. A great find! Only one issue - get there before one pm or you have to wait while they refill the popular items.
(4)
Julie W.
went to dinner here a few months ago and i must say it was far from good. i ordered some salmon dish and it had the fishiest smell as soon as it was placed in front of me. i took three bites and it tasted worse than it smelled. i decided to try some of the pasta...only to find that the fishy taste had infiltrated the pasta. needless to say i stopped eating. after 30 minutes of the food settling i became incredibly sick and threw up as soon as i got home...i'm surprised i was able to hold it in for that long. i ended up missing work the next day due to STILL being sick. after this experience i've had to slowly reintroduce salmon into my life. a fish i once loved but had done me wrong. thanks for that, fontina grille. i will never be back.
(1)
Kathleen M.
Fontina Grille is a staple when I come to MD to visit the fam. Solid dining experience with some pretty delicious entrees--I've sampled the rich, but delectable shrimp risotto and the shrimp scampi most recently, although I think my Mom was the winner last time we went in with the salmon entree. Meals come with some warm, tasty foccacia (with oil for dipping) and soup or salad (no iceberg, which is a plus!). They also have a fantastic lunch buffet that includes salad, soup, mussels, some of their tasty pizza, and typically 1-2 entrees. The space is well laid out such that you don't feel cramped and the decor is nice. However, this place doesn't ever make me feel that I'm in an environment that is worthy of the food. Tables and chairs are a bit more TGIFridays or Olive Garden than one would expect and the lighting is a bit bright. Service is attentive, but somewhat overly so, but this may be because last time we actually hit up the early bird special (an unfortunate consequence of having parents over 60) and there weren't too many people in the restaurant. Nice wines by the glass and some tasty desserts (try the tiramisu!) round out the mix. Overall, a nice place to go out for a dinner with familiy or friends. If you're looking for a place to impress your date, though, I'd head somewhere else because the ambiance is lacking a bit here.
(3)
Enlai W.
Decent food. Horrible service. Had to get our own menus. Severely under staffed. Owner and Waitress wouldn't light candles outside in the dark, because they were "too busy". Said we could light them ourselves if we want! Waited a while for food and got order wrong... don't go on a busy night... and don't expect courtesy when they are busy...
(2)
Lauren J.
Decent enough. It's not the worse place you could go to, it's not by far the best. If your looking for a cheap lunch buffet option with lots of carbs and sauces, walkable to your work, this is it. Don't seek this place, if your coming from Bethesda or DC, it's not worth the trip. The happy hours on Thurs night are very reasonable and about the only reason I'd consider going back. I think 2 glasses cost me about $15 with tip included, so not a bad HH option...
(2)
Kim S.
Two words - steak salad. Trust me you won't be disappointed. Their pizza, especially the BBQ chicken one, is also quite the tasty choice. Nice place for happy hour with a few coworkers but beware, the sun hits the bar side of the building right after work. Add their fire burning oven and it can get a bit toasty.
(4)
Nicole C.
I stopped in for the first time yesterday. I sat at the bar and the service was great. The staff seemed friendly. I ate the grilled salmon and it was yummy. They made it with lots of garlic which is how I like it...I will be back.
(4)
Sara N.
Fontina Grille is another nice find out in Kings Farm. I had the white pizza and it was verrrry good. I wanted to eat the whole thing! Fontina Grille has a good amount of vegetarian options. Other than the white pizza, they have a New Yorker and a Puttanesca pizza, which I haven't tried, but I doubt would please everyone. Capers and artichokes sound like a weird combination- and not necessarily in a good way! They also have salads, 5 pasta choices (capellini, broccoli penne, spaghetti, ravoli and manicotti) and a sandwich. However, it's not very vegan-friendly. Dishes are cheese heavy, except for a few salads. The waiter was very attentive throughout and they filled up our water a lot. The decor was really lovely too: black, red, and perhaps mahogany? I really thought it was pretty. A word to the ethical vegetarian, they do serve veal here. I'm not sure why higher end restaurants insist of serving that, but it's there. If you're into happy hours, they have them Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (ladies only), Friday, a wine night on Tuesday from 4-7. Happy eating!
(3)
Ruth S.
The best Itlalian food I've had in a long time! The Penne Ala Vodka is so incredibly fabulous... The depth of flavor & blend of seasonings is superb!!
(5)
N E.
I have had brunch, lunch and dinner at this place many many times.... And there is a reason I go back there.....this place is very cozy, the food is great and you can sit there for couple hours, eat, drink, catch up with your friends and there are no eyes waiting for you to leave so they can grab your table like other fancy, trendy restaurants....and the service is excellent....
(5)
Leyali R.
I have been meaning to write a review for this go-to staple of mine in Rockville for some time. FG is nestled in the middle of King Farm, and just a quick jaunt from my office. I often order lunch from here, and have stopped in after work for dinner as well. My vegetarian favorites and the casual, warm neighborhood environment here are what keep me coming back. I regularly order the minestrone soup, which is always tastes really fresh and is a perfect light option on some days with their focaccia bread. Their margherita pizza has a fantastic crust, flavorful cheese, and is plentiful with the tomatoes and basil (I note this as its a pet peeve of mine when restaurants skimp on such things). But my favorite entree by far is the capellini d'angelo. I always request that they toss in some spinach and the combination of flavors is heavenly- the perfect blend of garlic in the light olive oil sauce compliment the tang of the tomatoes extremely well. I have also had occasion to try their eggplant parmesan to go, and despite an hour-long drive home, I found the eggplant was still surprisingly crispy (an amazing feat for this sort of dish) and seasoned very well. Dining companions who have tasted the grilled salmon dinner and the fried calamari appetizer recall both fondly, and I've ordered a platter of their caprese salad appetizer for a party of mine that was a complete hit as well. The service at Fontina Grille is always friendly and helpful, and the owner of the place is an absolute darling! His personal touch ensures all who dine at the restaurant have a special experience, and he will go to any length to ensure all is right with your order. Service of such nature always speaks volumes to me, and I highly recommend Fontina Grille as a great local place for lunch, date night, or otherwise.
(5)
Greg S.
Great place if your looking for good Italian food. The staff all take care of you and go the extra mile to make your dining experience enjoyable. Very well kept and outside dining area are what brings so many back here. As a bonus this place is awesome for NFL games. Many Eagles Fans here - may need to paint it green :)
(5)
Melissa U.
The food at Fontina Grille is enjoyable and reliable to be the same quality each time. The staff is friendly and the owner stops by the tables to say hi and see how your meal is. I have been eating there for years now, and bring folk there when they are visiting me. My favorite dish is the Shrimp Risotto. I have also enjoyed the spinach manicotti, lasagna and chicken brunella just to name a few. Hint: Check for daily specials. I have enjoyed their ealy bird special and their Monday night pasta night. This is definitely a goto restaurant for me.
(4)
Deena H.
We came here for dinner with my husband's relatives. We started with pelligrino and calamari. The calamari was below average and tasted rubbery. We also ordered artichoke spinach crab dip. I didn't try it but my husband did and he said it was very good. For my main meal I had the sea bass which was excellent! It had capers, lemony sauce with roasted veggies. The sea bass itself was crispy on the edges and tasted so so good. The service is top notch! I would say the food is average (not all but the calamari for sure ) but the service makes this place stand out. There's plenty of parking outside so don't worry. It is a fairly large restaurant with a full bar. The dessert was also average but there were multiple choices. We had the tiramisu, chocolate cake and a large ice cream. It was good but like I said, average. I could see myself coming back here because of the excellent service.
(4)
Fred K.
Solid 4 stars for their delicious lunch buffet. $10.98 per person plus soda (unlimited refills) $1.98. They will always have in the lunch buffet the following: a big crock of soup, two kinds of pizza (cheese and white pizza), cheese ravioli, mussels, beef tips, rice, steamed veggies, various salads, and my favorite chicken dish. The server does take your dirty plates pretty fast and refills your drinks in a timely manner. It's not too loud do you can have a good meal and conversation with your dining guests. I wish the parking was a bit better though. You have to park near the Safeway and walk over to Fontina Grille. It's one of the few places in King Farm worth going too. Nicks Chophouse is the other place I can think of that has table service in King Farm.
(4)
Joshua D.
Went here for a work event. Service was fine, everything was OK. I noticed some things that are traditionally served a certain way are lacking respective elements here. The seating is a little cramped, and it was a little warm inside. Overall a fine place to hang out I guess.
(3)
Sunshine C.
OMG the Rosemary Foccaccia with the dipping sauce!!!! I could just eat this ALLLLLLLLLLLL Day. I was struggling between ordering the Spaghetti with Marinara and meatballs or the Spaghetti Carbonara... i chose the earlier. My meal came with a Caesar salad. Spaghetti was okay... nothing special about it or stood out about it. Caesar Salad is your average salad.... i also had the creme brulee which again was okay, and average. i shouldve ordered the pizza since that what everyone is raving about... but i wanted pasta. My server was friendly and tended to me well. At the end of the day would i remember this place with all the places i travel to and eat? - No. But when i eat foccaccia from here on out, i will flash back to that one place in Maryland where i cant really remember what I ate, but that Rosemary bread they had was off the chain.
(2)
Lauren B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years and we absolutely love it. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is quiet and quaint and the service is exceptional. We often share a few appetizers and a pasta dish and we have never been disappointed. We are also huge fans of their bread and dip and their pizza. You really can't go wrong here.
(5)
Victoria C.
Pizza is pretty amazing. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza and it's pretty hard to find a good one in Maryland. The pizza is ALMOST like the New York style ones. I got the vodka pizza which I haven't seen anywhere except in NYC. It's pretty similar. The crust isn't oily at all, which is a blessing considering how Pizza Hut and Domino's treats their crusts. Everything else is okay. The atmosphere is really clean. The waiters are all extremely nice. Floors and tables have a very clean feel to it. The rest of the food is okay. The pasta is just average as well as the sandwiches. Mixed drinks could be a bit better, but that's only according to my dad. Basically, just get the pizza. It's delicious!
(4)
Brian L.
$12 Italian lunch buffet. Pretty standard offerings - pizza, mussels, cheese ravioli, meatballs, beef with mushrooms, mixed vegetables, saffron rice, chicken., salad bar. My personal favorites were the pizza, meatballs, and beef with mushrooms. I must admit, food was average, but for the price and service, definitely a good value. I'd come back again.
(3)
Steven W.
I'm giving Fontina the old 4 Stars for a "Neighborhood" restaurant. That means don't drive 30 miles to eat here, but if it's in close proximity you'll love it. I'm happy to live in close proximity. Fontina is that place where you can eat any night and count on a good, simple, tasty, Italian meal. Whether you are ordering pastas, pizza, fish, or veal, you won't be sorry. Everything is flavorful and fulfilling. Entrees come with a salad which makes it a nice value as well. The staff is always friendly and they make you feel like regulars, even when you're not. It's also a great place to take the parents, or go for larger family gatherings. Just a solid Italian option in Rockville...and the best restaurant in King Farm by a long shot!
(4)
Ashley W.
Lunch buffet is off the chain! Bonus points because you can take it to go! Mussels, pizza, salad, pasta, rolls, it's all here. For 9.99 or 10.99 or something. Extra bonus points because they purchase their food from local farmers. Great deal and good food. It is not a gourmet Italian place it's just a local place that hits all the right spots- pasta, meat, bread and sauce. I mean we ain't in Italy!
(4)
Drew J.
Food was great but service was terrible. We asked for bread, the waitor said they're making it. Understandable, except the bread came out cold. i.e. they weren't making it. I asked for water, no water came. 10 minutes later I flagged down the manager and politely re-asked for water. No apology and said "the waitor is busy". Apparently this is the first restaurant in history with busy waitors. The waitor never asked us how we were doing. The waitor got the specials mixed up, so when the bill came, there were extra charges. I asked for the manager again, and the manager said "our waitor wouldn't tell you guys that". I said "well, he did." Manager said "no he didn't". (For the record, the manager was not there when we ordered) We gave very low tip. Hopefully they'll improve their service and stop making excuses.
(1)
Paul M.
Great pizza! We came in just before the kitchen closed and everyone was kind and the food was great
(4)
El W.
Got More for your money here then most of the restaurants in the area My guest had a salmon Salad and I had a House Salad and the Wild Mushroom burger, Both of our meals were too much for us to finish so we did get a to go box. The food was cooked perfectly and served with a smile and expertise. The waiter also knew the menu and the specials. Will come again
(4)
Casey K.
Food was great but the star count is low for terrible service. The crab Caesar salad was awesome while the steak salad I had a bite of was also spectacular. The rub of the meal came as soon as our waitress appeared. She practically ignored my brother when he ordered his drink that we weren't sure if she heard his order. My dad ordered soup, and she brought out a salad instead (proving that she doesn't listen). She was condescending and rude on all fronts and we will not be back.
I have been here twice. Once for lunch and tonight for dinner. I really like this place. Its in a cool area and they have a broad menu from pizza to pasta to steaks. I sat at the bar but they have a very nice dining room. They have a decent selection of beers and around 6 on tap, a nice wine list with a decent "by the glass" selection, and a full bar for about any cocktail you can imagine. When I came for lunch I had a pasta dish. It was chicken Saltimbocca. I was impressed. Beautifully done, lots of flavor, and an all around great experience. Tonight I really wanted to try one of their specialty pizzas but I am trying to eat healthier so I went with the Sea Bass with vegetables and a lemon wine sauce. The fish was perfect. Nice and crisp on the outside and flaky and moist on the inside. The vegetable were perfect. They still had a nice crunch but obviously not raw. The sauce was my only issue. It seemed they forgot the wine in my lemon wine sauce. It was so bitter I could not eat the vegetables. Thankfully that sauce was not on my fish or I wouldn't have been able to eat it. It was funny because the bartender said "Do you not like vegetables?". I laughed because I wasn't going to say anything. I love vegetables. I vacuumed down my salad like I was homeless and hadn't eaten in days. I told her my opinion and she was very nice and offered me a different side or some sort of concession. I wasn't looking for anything other than giving honest feedback. The service both times has been good. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Kyle F.
The wait staff is younger people who are just trying to make a few extra bucks. Not very professional and just left a bad taste in my mouth. The food is actually not that bad, it's not your hole in the wall Mom and Pop shop straight from Napoli but just looking from the outside on the street you get the feeling it's just Americanized Italian bar and grille food. If you want really good Italian food and service, hit up Il Pizzico in Rockville, it's only a 4-minute drive away. EDITED: Went back for dinner, the younger wait service was no where in sight. Wish Yelp would give half stars, rank it 2 1/2 out of 5.
(2)
Shawn H.
Good food but haggard service. We visited on a Friday night so you expect them to be busy but the service was not great. We tried the mussels, a caprese salad, pizza, spaghetti, and a chicken dish and all were good. But the waiter disappeared for long stretches, he brought the wrong entree for one in our party and it took forever to get the bill. At least the prices were reasonable.
(3)
Mark L.
I wish I could review the food at Fontina but we never made it past the waiting area. We made a 7:00 pm reservation with Open Table, when we arrived the host told us they were more crowded than expected. We were asked to wait "no more than 15 minutes" but an hour later we were still waiting and gave up. Throughout this experience the staff seemed completely overwhelmed. Other people arrived with reservations and were similarly kept waiting. The wait staff's response was to avoid eye contact, abandon the hostess station, and when they did speak with waiting customers, it was to blame them. I was told i should have made our reservation at least six hours previously ("then why did you accept my reservation when you did?" I asked.) All in all, an awful experience.
(1)
Bobbi Z.
I'm in town for a week for a class and staying at a nearby hotel. I had a ton of work to do but needed to unwind. After looking at a few neighborhood options online, i grabbed my laptop and asked for a small booth in back. The server was easy -going, understood my pace and pleasant. The house chianti was perfectly priced and my rockfish salad hit the spot. The ambiance was just right for 7pm on a tuesday. I was relaxed for the first time all day and pleasantly productive.
(5)
Rita W.
My SO and I come here most Monday nights for the special. Buy one pasta, get the second pasta for $2. I think they run specials every day of the week and they also have an early bird special from 4-6PM on weekdays. Both of us LOVE the Chicken Brunello. None of the other pastas stand a chance against it. Also, we add a side caesar salad (+$2). The caesar salad here is also really fresh and tasty. My guess is that the parmesan cheese they use is aged perfectly to my taste. Tried the lasagna once and was disappointed from it's flavor and presentation. Service is always on point. I haven't experienced any server being rude and they've always been very accommodating.
(4)
Stephanie C.
I was really impressed with this place, thinking it would hardly register a notch above an Olive Garden. Doesn't help that it is nestled in a development of cookie-cutter houses built on a former farm ("King Farm"). But instead, I enjoyed a great meal. They offer a variety of wines, many imported, and hot, satisfying food. I had the Cioppino with a small salad, served with fluffy (!) Italian bread and dipping oil. For dessert, a particularly wicked Bomba. My friend treated herself to the scampi, a salad, and creme brulee. We enjoyed a wonderful meal. Good service; food plentiful and hot. I liked the place. Parking is so-so. It is a long-ish but not impossible walk from Shady Grove Metro.
(4)
Jessica L.
Service has improved a great deal. The host is very friendly and the server was on point. Food was amazing. Love their pizza and love the lunch buffet. Just get there early for the lunch buffet so you don't get the bottom of the bowl if you get there near the end.
(4)
Lisa C.
Used a groupon to try this place out. 1. Waited a good 10 min to be acknowledged at the front. This should have been the first sign. 2. Got seated and then had to wait another 15 to get our order in. 3. Bread that was served was stale. 4. 45 min later we got our food. The calamari was fried in old oil. It was disgusting. And the rest of our order consisted of 2 salads. One mozzarella caprese and a caesar salad....not so complicated. We left with a belly ache. Needless to say, never going back.
(1)
Nadrina N.
Way overpriced for the quality. Not any better than most can make at home. Mediocre food and mediocre service. The place likely is surviving on its location, we wanted to find a decent place for dinner and since there weren't too many other options in King Farm. My friend even left almost his whole dish in the plate and when I tasted it I realized why. Not inedible by any stretch just not worth the price, the sauce was watery and bland, tasted little different than pasta from a pizza take out. If you're going to spend your money on a decent meal, unless you're strapped for time and need just something close, I would go the extra couple miles to a decent restaurant.
(2)
Abegail A.
Happy hour daily from 4:30-7:30pm. What?! The fact that Fontina Grille's happy hour ended at 7:30pm drew me to this restaurant. A little after 7pm on a Wednesday, the bar area was full. There are a good amount of stools, several high tops, and a couple tables lining the bar. We were able to snag a table. The chairs weren't very comfortable, so I was glad two seats opened up at the bar. Their HH specials included discounted beer and wine, as well as $5 appeteasers. Decided on a glass of pinot grigio and the mussels caprese (in tomato broth) to start. The mussels caprese was tasty and the portion size was generous, especially for $5. The tomato broth was flavorful and was a nice dipping sauce for their bread (which was a little boring and over toasted). The mussels were fresh, most of the meat were plump and not overcooked. For the main, we ordered a large New Yorker Pizza (homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella- $17) with pepperoni ($1.70 extra). The pizza came out super hot, so we waited awhile before grabbing a slice or else the cheese totally would have slid off. The pizza was okay. Did it remind me of a pizza from NY? I guess so. It was thin and foldable. Service was good. Our glasses were never empty. The bartender was friendly. I'll be back to check out their weekly specials and other menu items.
(3)
Art K.
Food quality and taste is average or what can be expected in this area. Service is a hit or miss. One time my wife and I walked into the restaurant and we're totally ignored and stood there for a few minutes to be seated. We just walked out. My wife hasn't been there since; I have been there for business meals. I suspect that because my wife and I weren't dressed up (in workout clothes) we were ignored.
(2)
Harris H.
Had a horrible experience with a waiter on the way delivery. Waiter on the way was awesome, but the one entree was horrid and we basically threw it away. My sister had experienced a similar experience the night before but at the restaurant with the same entree. 2 weeks ago, Ali, the owner contacted my via yelp and offered to send a coupon to invite us back after seeing my negative review. We have been very regular customers for years and many larger group celebrations we spend there as well. I amended my update to positive due to him reaching out by yelp to offer to fix it, even though this was 2 weeks after I submitted my complaint on the website. To this day, 2 weeks later, I have yet to receive any coupon in the mail after replying with my address. There are TONS of great italian restaurants in the area so I feel no need to stress over this one. I have told my wife, I am done and we will never go back. In addition, I am making sure that all my friends that I have suggested to go here are aware of the situation and how it was handled. The last few times we have been there we were not real happy anyway. One time we asked for parm cheese for our food and watched the waiter grab an open cup with a spoon from an adjacent table, that another couple was using, and just set it on our table. Time to move on.
(1)
Jesse W.
This place was awesome! All their food tasted very good and never smacked you in the face with Italian. A lot of Italian places overuse garlic and this restaurant used very little but knocked it out of the park with great tasting food. Only 4 stars because of the wait staff. The wait staff was very good but my waiter was working 8 to 10 different tables so unfortunately I was the smallest bill. Not his fault but whoever schedules people bring more waiters in!!!
(4)
Cheetos H.
Years ago, we went to this on e fabulous restaurant. It's been years since we ate there and decided to give it a try. We went there last week for lunch. The lunch buffet looked lacking so we ordered a la carte. I had the chicken marsala and my husband ordered the Chesapeake pasta. Our food was so bland, I didn't even bother taking the leftovers. Chicken marsala is supposed to be a bit lemony bit it was slightly sweet and bland. It was so poorly executed. There were only a few mushrooms and I don't know about you but chicken Marsala is supposed to have quite a few. I didn't taste any lemon at all. My husband's Chesapeake pasta was supposed to have crab meat but there was hardly any in his dish We tried putting parmesan cheese to make it more palatable but even that didn't work. This restaurant lost its spark. Don't bother.
(1)
Michelle L.
This was absolutely terrible! We ordered carry out. They messed up my order. I wanted penne pasta with sausage. I got penne with chicken. The chicken was disgusting! ! The peanut butter cheesecake did not have any flavor. I will never go back here again! !
(1)
Jen L.
Okay, standard Italian food in a comfortable standard setting with superior customer service. The bread was pretty soft and very flavorful. The appetizer was okay - a bit soft and not as crispy or fresh as some other restaurants. The main entree was not especially flavorful and not especially tender, but still edible and above average in deliciousness. All in all, the food was pretty good, but did not stand out or "wow" me. On the other hand, the service from the server was quite phenomenal. He was very courteous, very attentive, and very patient. The setting was slightly odd - a bit like a more upscale pizza shop - the red walls, yellow lamps and yellow accessories, and odd "pizza-shop-like" shapes in the glass were interesting. It was like a small-town restaurant that was trying to be upscale. I think the setting would be improved if the colors didn't clash (red and yellow).
(3)
Merlyn R.
I've eaten here for lunch several times, and while I usually get their salmon salad with Raspberry vinaigrette, I have enjoyed their large lunch buffet. It's the best restaurant in King Farm so can get pretty crowded day and night, but I highly recommend it!
(4)
Ken S.
Great food, nice place. This is the second time our family has eaten here and all of the food has been delicious. Nice atmosphere, great food And good portions for the price. Can get crowded so reservations are a good idea. Will definitely visit again!
(5)
Cyn K.
Great Italian restaurant with fantastic service. Been going almost every week for months now with my parents who live in King Farm and we have enjoyed every meal there. Best meatballs in the county imo. Must try the Pizza ala Vodka and Fettucine Bolognese. Great wine selection.
(5)
Eddie K.
We only eat their lunch buffet so I can't comment on their regular lunch or dinner entrees. The lunch buffet is awesome. It is $10.99 a person (doesn't include soda) and they offer two different pizzas, a pretty good selection of food and some cold salads. They usually have their white pizza and cheese pizza. Those are my favorites. Most of the times they have mussels, some pasta dishes, this really good chicken dish and chicken salad.
(4)
K R.
Don't bother with eating here. The food is barely edible. I had the fried calamari and it tasted like fried rubber. Honestly, the worst calamari I have ever had. We also got chicken tenders for the kids, and they were not good at all. For the quality of food, they are very overpriced. Save your money and do not dine here.
(1)
Kate M.
This is a great neighborhood gem in King Farm. If I was to give the stars just on the pizza it would be 5 stars. The Shrimp diablo pizza is fantastic and my goto item, but I have enjoyed the vegetable pizza and the honey pizza too. Really can't go wrong with the pizza. I always order pizza, the person I come with changes it up. Last time he had the wings and said they were good. He has had the pasta a few times and hasn't been terribly impressed. The Crab dip and calamari are also pretty good. For dessert I have had the tiramasu, my only complaint is I wish the piece was bigger:) The service can be hit or miss. The last time I came and sat on the patio it was great, but I have come before and sat inside and it was lacking. The owner or manager is ALWAYS hustling about and super friendly, which is appreciated.
(4)
Susan M.
I don't know about the rest of the menu but their steak salad is freakin' DELICIOUS. My co-workers opted for the lunch buffet that looked pretty darn good. Great lunch spot - I'll be back for that salad.
(4)
Steve G.
One word of caution, the house salad dressing is a bit tart so you may want to opt for the Caesar. After multiple trips here this is not only our favorite Italian but our favorite local hangout. Mussels Fontina are FABULOUS, pizza's are great, every meal we have had here has been excellent. Great service and value. Highly recommend.
(5)
Vincent E.
Over the last 10 years, gathering at the Fontina Grille for a great lunch or dinner has become a family tradition. The lunch buffet is great, especially if you're looking for a break from the typical burrito/pizza "on-the-go" lunch and want something more substantial. Our family favorite is the mussels on the lunch buffet. I'd recommend Fontina Grille for anyone looking for the feel, flavor, and personality of one of the neighborhood's family-oriented italian restaurants.
(5)
Mike M.
First visit. They put out a buffet at lunch. Not a buffet fan and really it's kind of disgusting to see these tables of people going back again and again for plate after plate. So, that out of the way, the menu looks nice, had a steak salad which was very good. The steak was prepared as I ordered it and was generously applied to the salad along with a tasty dressing. It was topped with string-thin onion rings. The waitress was attentive, kept my tea glass full, and service was efficient. I'll be back and look forward to trying more menu items.
(3)
Christina S.
this place! The owner Ali, is fantastic. Friendly, helpful and runs a great restaurant. I stick to my usuals, the steak salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegarette, fresh mozzarella capresa, crab cakes, pizza and the meatball appetizer. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, the staff attentive and friendly. Easy to locate, plenty of parking and quick if you're in a hurry. My girls and I have weekly lunches here and it's one of my favorites.
(5)
Rick R.
Ali is very personable and the food is consistently tasty. In my opinion, this is a "guaranteed winner" to chose anytime you want a delicious meal and good service.
Atmosphere is really nice. Food and service were excellent. We make it a point to come here every time we're in town.
(5)
Meredith H.
Fontina Grille is pretty good - I feel like a lot of it is overpriced for what you get, but only slightly. I love their Ricotta and Honey Pizza. Seriously, it's really great! The Sea Bass is excellent as well. I wasn't as impressed with the Shrimp Risotto, or the Pollo alla Piccata, which is a shame, because the latter is a personal favorite. Hopefully, I'll go again and have something that really wows me! I have high hopes, and I look forward to going back and finding something special.
(3)
Tom C.
I come here for the lunch buffet and it's pretty satisfying. The selection is decent and there's plenty of meat for my inner carnivore. The ravioli is amazing. The pizza is pretty good. mussels, steamed veggies, soup, and fruit salad make for a pretty well rounded menu. They keep the buffet pretty well stocked. I've heard that ordering from the menu can take a while during lunch time. I want to find out more about the brunch.
(4)
David D.
Everything here is always great. Very good chicken parm and seafood pastas. Prices are fair. The lunch buffet is great. Pizza ravioli chicken beef mussels and other things all for around 10 bucks is hard to beat. Give this place a try
(4)
Jonathan L.
Nice neighborhood spot for a quick bite and a drink. $10 lunch buffet during the week is pretty good, although starts to get bare after 1:30pm. The sandwiches are the bar are a solid choice.
(4)
J G.
Service is a crap shoot, but usually slow and with little personality. I've been going to this place many times now since I tried their pizza. I would recommend the Pizza a la Vodka. It features a creamy tomato sauce, cheese, bacon, sausage, and pepperoni. It's delicious! I've also tried the cannoli because they told me its from Vacarro's of Baltimore, MD (m y favorite pastry shop). The cannoli was good, not great. I think this is because its not as fresh as I am used to at Vacarro's. The drink selection is good, but pricey.
(3)
Zara K.
i have to admit, despite some issues i have with their servers(which i havent had lately) king farm really wouldnt be as enjoyable to live in if there wasnt Fontina Grill there! i would give it four stars but the additional star is political in nature:P (and also because its a king farm gem!):) i havent tried all their dishes but i can give an overview of the ones i have...i dont dare taste the fancy shmancy ones because im very hard to please with food and i dont want to waste my money either...however here is a list of things i didnt waste my money on at all:) eggplant rollatini : i should get free eggplant rollatini since i advertise it everyday of my life...they really know how to make this delicious dish..the spaghetti that comes with it is really good too ( they cater the spaghetti aswell, i asked!) calamari: pretty good...actually il be fair... its quiite good mussels: a hit or a miss...and when a hit u cant stop eating them.....can be bad sometimes and then ur seafood sick for a month and cant even go the beach cos it reminds you of terrible seafood.. ravioli: had both kinds....its a safe meal to start with...you wont hate it, you wont love it, youll enjoy it but you know they can make it better! i have faith in you fontina!! (maybe use better pasta for the ravioli...please?:D) salmon: my hubby had a salmon dish off their special menu...ummm id give it three and a half stars.... peanut butter bomba : really good:D i had so much fun!!! (order it with fries) Fries: their fries are awesome...my favourite fries atm! Creme Brule : yumm....quite impressive, esp for the price. canolli: okay now the canolli im really impressed by, its comparable to authentic italian canolli and much better than il pizzicos....! and thats a compliment! PIZZA: now the pizza requires a seperate review to be fair........it really is delicious...i love thier pizzas..a lil tip...tell them to make it well done because its saucy and hard to eat sometimes...( i loveee the sauciness) five stars to ALL their pizzas but especially the new yorker HAPPY HOUR:....its as happy as it gets....:D five dollar appetizers, which include calamari AND mussels....pretty good deal complimentary bread: i love that bread...i always want some:$ SHRIMP Fra Diablo: Pretty decent.i would still avoid getting something too fancy but this was perfect. spicy, prawns were great, the pasta was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, i really enjoyed it a good basic prawn and red sauce dish perfected! (they also did apologize for bad service which i really appreciate and so i started going their again, since then i have had no such problems and i go their atleast once a week to have a great time...thankyou fontina!:)
(5)
Cara K.
I have tried this place again and again (it's close to my house), but am disappointed every time. We have been for weekend lunch, happy hour, and dinner but always found the food subpar and the drinks are a crapshoot depending on the bartender. If you're looking for a beer or jack and coke no problem, but ask for a Margarita or Long Island and it gets iffy. The bread (made in house) is usually Ok, but it's not surprising to find a burnt piece in the basket. If you're looking for Americanized Italian food, you're better off going to Olive Garden as the entrees at Fontinas run $12-18 and the quality is about the same (reheated frozen food with pasta sauce on top).
(2)
Vincent V.
Nice place. Good food. GREAT service. Will stop by again.
(5)
Jessica N.
Fontina is a party in a neigborhood full of boring places. Seriously, over half of the King Farm shops are empty or uninteresting. Fontina is FUN and friendly!!! The food is good- consistently tasty. Their pizzas are our favorite thing to bring home and we thoroughly enjoy them! The drinks are good, the prices are good, the cheesecake is deeelicious. There are a couple bartenders that we adore and the atmosphere is good. When Lauren is at the bar, we have a blast. If we're in the mood to walk somewhere for dinner and a drink, we don't think twice. It's always Fontina. They always recognize us, ask how we're doing, treat us great and make me want to go back!
(5)
Val V.
I beg to differ on those who liked their pizza. My Son got a plain cheese and the sauce had a taste which caught my attention. When he picked it up, cheese slid out of the pie. Would not recommend. Had the Calamari Siciliana, Eggplant Rollatini & Chix parmigiana and all are good. Serving size is good for 2-3. Service was great from Jose. Entrees are in the 12-20 range but serving is huge.
(3)
Caroline M.
We went for the first time today, 2 adults and a 2.5 y.o. We were greeted by a really nice host, and the waiter was very nice too. Our son had buttered penne and a huge meatball, the portion was huge, so we had the leftover boxed. We shared the mussels for starter (delicious), then the risotto and the Chesapeake, with 2 glasses of wine. Everything was very good. The Chesapeake was light on the crab, but other than that it was lovely. We will be back.
(4)
Charlie B.
Lauren (bar tenter) was awesome.... Food amazing. Service very fast ... Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Jeff S.
Fontina is the best Italian eatery in King Farm, the key words being "in King Farm". This place is passable solely because Rockville in general and King Farm specifically has no high quality Italian fare. If you come from a city with a good choice of Italian restaurants, this place will be the equivalent of eating at an Olive Garden at best (no offense to the good folks at the Olive Garden). I was born and bred in NYC, so I grew up eating good pizzas and pastas. But I also lived in Rockville for a year and had the misfortune to eat here a few times. I was constantly underwhelmed with everything; the pizza, salads, and pasta are all very mediocre and the flavors are typically muddled. If your expectations are realistic then you can get a filling hot meal at a fair price. But 5 star Italian food it ain't.
(2)
David B.
Wonderful family restaurant. We love their wide varieties of pastas and their specials are usually very good. In all of our visits, we have never had a problem with the wait staff, they always seem to go out of their way to provide excellant service.
(5)
Mike K.
I like this place, the food is good, done well and quickly, prices are reasonable, wine selection is better than other places. My one comment is that happy hour drink discounts could be better. Tthey focus on the food quality, which I appreciate. Good Pizza too.
(4)
Nikon Nysaya Nyah H.
My husband and I went there for lunch today. It was not what I thought it was. We got the buffet and it was cold nothing to offer and just a waste. The chicken and the rice dish was the only good thing on it. The service was slow and not really friendly to say. The food on the buffet toke for ever to refill and nothing was on the buffet worth $10.99. I won't be back.
(2)
Linda F.
Fontina Grille has become our go to restaurant. Reservations are always honored. The managers and wait staff are terrific. We always feel well taken care of. The food is very consistent. Our granddaughter loves their fried calamari! We love the fish, steak and pasta!!
(5)
Tina D.
This place sucks. Made a reservation for 7 and didn't get seated until an hour later. Host service unhelpful. As more people piled into the restaurant, hostess stand was unmanned. Seemed like nobody wanted to deal with the mess. Only reason why we stayed was because we had a gift card. Will never come back here again as food isn't even that great.
(1)
A J.
I went with a friend and our 2 kids today for the lunch buffet. It was really busy around noon and the dining room was packed. I'd say that the buffet was good, kind of average, but for the price and the service, it was well worth it. The salads were nice, the pizzas were plain cheese and white, which were good but not super jazzy, the ravioli was also good and the meatballs were very plain. Their lunch was very basic. Not knock your socks off good but definitely not bad either. Nice place to grab a quick inexpensive lunch. We will be back. :)
(4)
ken p.
Fontina Grille is a superb Italian restaurant that can be compared to the best of them. Over their short history, they have consistently improved & I feel privileged to know of this fine dining location tucked away in the King Farm neighborhood. I realized I must have hit a choice, some time ago on their brunch menu, that didn't measure up. This little glitch was promptly corrected & now the brunch menu is up to par with the rest of fine choices. Today I ordered the Grilled Samon & it was excelent. My honey got the fettucini as usual & it was better than it ever was before - and it was good before. Fontina seems to have a strong following of regulars & I think I will be one of them. Thank You & Happy New Year
(5)
Susan G.
The restaurant has a good ambiance and a nice bar atmosphere. The restaurant area is pretty empty when I have been there so it is easy to sit a group of any size. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty good but it is hard to find healthy options on the menu. The bread that they serve when you come in is delicious. Some of my favorite items are spinach/artichoke pizza, peanut butter cheesecake, ahi tuna salad.
(3)
Steve H.
Last minute Mother's Day brunch with my wife's grandma, booked through Open Table. The food was excellent! We had the Crab Benedict and Philly Omelet, and she had the Shrimp Scampi. Our server Alicia was very courteous and attentive. We'll have to come back for dinner sometime. Thanks Fontina!
(4)
Isaiah W.
The food was really good and things were decently priced. Dishes to try are the Crab Caesar Salad or the Eggplant Parmesan! Would recommend for people in the area!
(4)
Alias C.
Verdict: Ugly Folks, let's be real - the customer is always right, period. In short, a horrible experience and poor management toward customer satisfaction. The owner, yes the owner defended the poor service of the kitchen staff after my order was incorrectly prepared and no courtesy was extended to mitigate the situation. To be fair, a complimentary drink was offered but it was too little, too late. One might think that the owner would have had the foresight to grow customer base but instead he was argumentative and hostile. I actually had to pay after a battle of words...again, I was the customer. Oh well, if you desire to support this business, I wish you better luck than my experience. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in my thinking but customer satisfaction should always be on the menu - no charge.
(2)
Rebecca T.
Fotina Grille has a wonderful lunch buffet. The pepperoni pizza has just the right mix of sauce so it is delicious. The Lasagne is out of this world. The buffet is worth the $10. The minestrone soup is good. I went with 3 other people and the service was great. When we went to pay, I paid originally with a credit card. One of the girls I was with wanted to split it down the middle and they accommodated us. The servers were pleasant and helpful. That gives stars in my book.
(4)
Karena J.
Food is good enough for a quiet, intimate yet chic atmosphere. We like bringing our parents here because it's never too crowded or noisy and is consistent with pretty good food. Pastas are tasty and the mussels are good but slightly oily. Service can be extraordinary or subpar depending on who you get. Bar is nice and cozy for watching Monday night football (although they usually close before game's end). Outdoor seating is a great change of pace when the weather is nice.
(3)
Nana L.
Never again. The service was not great and the food was subpar. My husband and I went to the Fontina Grille for Valentine's Day. When we arrived the restaurant was about half full and looked very lively. We were greeted by one of the surliest hostesses I've seen in a while. She was obviously not happy to be at work. We were seated quickly and our waiter came and took our order. We started with the calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was gummy and bland. My husband ordered Linguini with Clam Sauce and I got the Chicken Saltimbocca. My chicken was decent, but my husband's Linguini was less than best. We could have done better at home. I could have dealt with the mediocre food if the service had been better. I am a water drinker at restaurants. The best way to keep me happy is to keep my water glass filled. We got water at the beginning of the meal and no one ever came back to refill the glasses. If the restaurant had been really busy, I would have understood, but no water in a half-filled restaurant? Unacceptable. Finally, I just drank my husband's water and the water from my personal water bottle. The last irritation was when we got the check and we were charged for desserts that we didn't order. We alerted the waiter and he fixed the issue, but we won't be going back.
(1)
Sara E.
Very poor customer service. Bartender failed to serve me first, even though I was at the bar longer AND a female. Then the bartender didn't offer me a menu and instead picked up her phone to chat w a friend and walked off. All the while I'm watching another employe casually finish her breakfast while her table was waiting for service and failed to wash her hands before returning to serve patrons. Left my drink untouched on the bar and left. They clearly don't need or want my service.
(1)
Lucy B.
This used to be our local, neighborhood bar/restaurant we would come to a few times a month for solid pizza and apz. The service we had this past week was miserable. Our food wasn't what we expected, so we asked our waitress why it looked the way it did, "because that's what you ordered." Oh, OK, cool. Now, I totally understand if you goof and order the wrong thing but, this has never happened to us before here, we always order the same thing and we always get the order we expect. This tall, blonde, Russian (I think) waitress' response when I asked if we could please get the order we expected was "no, it would be a waste of this food." WEIRD. Then, we ordered 2 beers, twice. I noticed on the bill she didn't include one round which, I figured was her saying, my bad, have a beer on us. Nope, she had already given us the bill, in the leather black thing, as we were putting our credit card in the leather holder thing she came back, took the check she had already presented us with and said, "I forgot your last 2 beers, heres the updated check." Sweet. I do have to say that I never had this poor of service in all the times I came here, but, her piss poor attitude was offensive. The manager/owner always comes and says hello to us, super friendly. This girl though, no thank you. She kept practically ignoring us. There was another girl who kept checking our table and relaying what we needed to our waitress/bartender.
(2)
Ronney B.
This is my favorite neighborhood anytime restaurant. This is my stand by usual place. I bring my friends and family. The food is great and the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Bob S.
I AMA KF resident, so have been here many times and recommend it. The staff and owners recognize repeat customers and you quickly become family. If it's rush hour, the trick is to simply make clear to the wait staff what you want. The pizza is a bit expensive, but it is not Jerry's and if that is what you want, go there. If you ask, they will serve the simpler bar menu in the restaurant. The burgers and salads are both huge and great. Thanks for being the neighborhood bar and sports pub, too.
(5)
Sam S.
4 stars because of a great lunch but you have to keep notifying the managers to get new pizza and steak. Steak, Salad and great cheese pizza is all I need to satisfy me for $10.95 lunch buffet. The service is good but it isn't great.
(4)
Janice V.
My family and me came here for dinner with a groupon last friday night. I didn't think it would be so popular, or that I would have to wait 20 minutes at 7:45 pm or that it would smell like grease (not good). After we finally got seated, The waitress greeted us nicely, she took our drinks, and came back 5 minutes later. The crab and artichoke dipped we ordered for appetizer was okay with shredded crab, but very cheesy, which helped the dish. The 14" steak house pizza (steak, goat cheese, peppers, and onions) I didn't like very much since it had no char on the bottom of the crust, so the toppings kept falling down onto my plate. The veal saltimbocca entree that I ordered came with a solid layer of oil on top. I took it off because it didn't look healty or appetizing to eat. The penne pasta was undercooked, so when I had it as leftovers the next day, it was cooked perfectly! Overall the whole dining experience was okay, the food was mediocre, and the server could have been more attentative.
(3)
Zachary A.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this place. A great place for families to go for a nice night out. The ownership changed last year, and the quality of the food has greatly increased. FOOD: (5 STARS) My party had the special of Chilean Sea Bass (special), the calamari marinara and the penne arrabiata (changed for linguini). We're Italian-Americans from Jersey, and the red sauces were just as flavorful as Service: This was the only disappointment. Server was attentive to the order, but failed to fill up water glasses promptly. I drink more water than a fish, and love to always have my glass full. The owner came and spoke with us and was EXTREMELY attentive. Overall, if you're looking for a decent family night out.
(4)
R A.
Wow. Awful service, incompetent staff, incorrect orders, long (absurdly long) waits, MORE incorrect orders.... ridiculous. They did NOT earn my business. At least the place looked nice. (I had gone a few times before and had a fine experience....and then management changed and it all went to pieces. This experience was the lesser of a few less-than-stellar meals here. Tried to maintain loyalty to what was once a good establishment, but the poor service and disappointing quality don't merit returning customers.)
(1)
Krad K.
We just ordered a Steak Pizza from Fontina Grill and it was amazing. The service was quick, the food quality is great. If you want to experience great pizza, check out Fontina Grill.
(5)
Howard H.
I have eaten at Fontina Grille about a dozen (or more times). This place is a real find. I have tried fish, chicken, steak - everything that I have had has been very good. The staff and management are friendly and interested in a good dinning experience. I wish them the best; I think this place is a diamond. Those not giving it good reviews should try again.
(5)
Georgia R.
I've been to Fontina Grille like three times and its always been a good experience for me. The staff is friendly the bartenders make good drinks and the pizza is da bomb!! Also the calamari is banging fried or sauteed and the mussels delish!!
(3)
Jennifer M.
I gave this place 4 stars because the food is really good and the portions are huge. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer, and it would have been sufficient as a dinner entree. The chicken parm dinner was huge. All in all, the food and service were good. The atmosphere is okay, nothing great. A nice restaurant for a nice dinner date.
(4)
Erica Y.
This review is for their lunch buffet only. At $10.99, you get a selection of two green salads, chicken/tuna/egg salads, soup, mussel in garlic sauce, one pasta, one cooked vegetable, two main entrees (usually a chicken and a beef, or fish), and more. Oh, also two types of pizza! I am sure I am forgetting other things, but what a deal! Everything taste pretty good too. Even if you are a picky eater I am sure you can find something you like. I highly recommend for lunch here.
(4)
Ross M.
AVERAGE. NOTHING SPECIAL: This is what happens when you are hungry and just punch in Italian Restaurant into your GPS. You end up here... WHAT I HAD: calamari - typical, nothing special, small pieces soup - typical vegetable soup, nothing amazing salad - fresh salad, typical, not a whole lot going on ravioli - ordinary, not a lot to it, very plain penne napolian- very plain, not a lot of flavor CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant, this is honestly not it. I have no reason to go back. There has to be something better than this.
(2)
Lianne Z.
Absolutely wonderful meal. A friend found this gem of a place and we had a fantastic girls night here. The decor is homey and pretty "trendy" for Rockville, MD (no offense Moco). Red walls, trendy glass arrangements and simple wood tables. We met the owners of the place who happened to be in that night- two funny and witty guys who definitely made sure our meal was more than pleasurable. We began with a sampler of their most popular appetizers- calamari, mozzarella/tomato/basil and bruschetta. Okay, first of all most of you know by now that I'm not a big carb eater so regular bruschetta holds no interest for me. It's tomatoes and bread. Gross. However, after one of the owners talked up the bruschetta I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it. I am now going to trust him with my life. It was DELICIOUS. I don't know what they do to their bread but it soaks up so much flavor and works incredibly well with the wonderfully marinated tomatoes it carried. It was tasty without being soggy. The calamari was crispy and not too oily (always a plus and evidently harder to do than it sounds). However, the crowning glory of the night goes to their tomato/mozzarella. It was topped with the most AMAZING balsamic vinegar glaze I have ever had. That's saying a lot considering I have an intense love affair with all things EVOO and balsamic. Evidently they home make it and it is not sold to the general public. Trust me, I asked. We also got a spinach and crab dip which was heavenly. Served with fresh tortilla chips it takes Maryland's best known food (Maryland's blue crab) and mixes it with a standard appetizer staple. Not only that, it was FILLED with chunks of sweet crab meat. There's no skimping whatsoever. For our entree we decided to share two small pizzas. One Puttanesca and one standard Margherita (it's called something else there though which I can't remember at the moment). The Puttanesca was innovative and very tasty. It had artichoke, olives and capers, melted wonderfully with fresh cheese and tangy tomato sauce. Everything's made to order and the ingredients are very fresh. The Margherita was good- nice, sweet plum tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and sweet basil. The portions were perfect and the crust was doughy but thin enough without stirring me into a carb frenzy. Also, I was told you can ask for it extra crispy. The restaurant is sizable and tucked away into the King Farm's shopping center. They have a bar area and if the lights were just a little dimmer it'd be a perfect wine bar for some boozin' and schmoozin'. They do not have an official "drinks menu" yet (only a wine list) but don't think that stops them from having a fully stocked bar capable of all your hard liqour fantasies. Oh, and don't fret- rest assured that they will have all their cocktails on paper soon enough. Just you wait. Definitely a great find and worth a try. And as defined by a Yelp four stars, YAY! I'm a fan.
(4)
Maria M.
Great meal! The ambience of the place was very warm and homey with red walls and hanging lights. The food was pretty much amazing. We started of with 2 appetizers split between the 4 of us girls. The first one was the spinach and crab dip. Ummm, they definitely did not skimp out on the crab. It was so full of crab, that my chips would break if i try to scoop a big bite of it. I ended up just taking the crab dip with my spoon, put it on my chip and eating it that way. Loved it. The other appetizer was a sampler with calamari, bruschetta, and crapes (tomato, mozarella, and basil with balsamic vinegar on top.. i think it's called crapes?)... the calamari and the bruschetta was delicious, but I think I fell inlove with the tomato/mozarella/basil/balsamic vinegar. Mmmmm mmm mmm... i don't know what they put in their balsamic but it was heavenly. =P We then ordered 2 pizzas to split between the 4 of us and they definitely did not disappoint. Puttanesca pizza and Margharita (sp?) pizza. The first one was good, but I'm not a big capers (taste kinda like olives) fan so it wasn't my favorite. The Margharita one was pretty much awesome. Made with mozarella, tomatoes and basil, with a crunchy thin crust... mmm mmm mmm! I loved it =) We also met the owners of the place who just happened to be sitting at the bar that night, so of course, they made sure we had a great time. Definitely try this place out! Their bar is fully stocked and I'm sure they will try to make whatever you ask them =) So big yay for this place! YAY!!
(4)
Emily S.
The lunch buffet is a great deal and very tasty! Love the mussels (in garlic and wine) as well as ravioli, chicken, steak, salads (including a greek salad w feta and a great dressing) and of course pizza. A great find! Only one issue - get there before one pm or you have to wait while they refill the popular items.
(4)
Julie W.
went to dinner here a few months ago and i must say it was far from good. i ordered some salmon dish and it had the fishiest smell as soon as it was placed in front of me. i took three bites and it tasted worse than it smelled. i decided to try some of the pasta...only to find that the fishy taste had infiltrated the pasta. needless to say i stopped eating. after 30 minutes of the food settling i became incredibly sick and threw up as soon as i got home...i'm surprised i was able to hold it in for that long. i ended up missing work the next day due to STILL being sick. after this experience i've had to slowly reintroduce salmon into my life. a fish i once loved but had done me wrong. thanks for that, fontina grille. i will never be back.
(1)
Crystal F.
This place is very cozy. The waitstaff is very friendly even if you just sit at the bar to watch the football game. But the food...ummm, nah. It was just...blah. It seemed like it had no seasoning, no creativity, no imagination.
(2)
Kathleen M.
Fontina Grille is a staple when I come to MD to visit the fam. Solid dining experience with some pretty delicious entrees--I've sampled the rich, but delectable shrimp risotto and the shrimp scampi most recently, although I think my Mom was the winner last time we went in with the salmon entree. Meals come with some warm, tasty foccacia (with oil for dipping) and soup or salad (no iceberg, which is a plus!). They also have a fantastic lunch buffet that includes salad, soup, mussels, some of their tasty pizza, and typically 1-2 entrees. The space is well laid out such that you don't feel cramped and the decor is nice. However, this place doesn't ever make me feel that I'm in an environment that is worthy of the food. Tables and chairs are a bit more TGIFridays or Olive Garden than one would expect and the lighting is a bit bright. Service is attentive, but somewhat overly so, but this may be because last time we actually hit up the early bird special (an unfortunate consequence of having parents over 60) and there weren't too many people in the restaurant. Nice wines by the glass and some tasty desserts (try the tiramisu!) round out the mix. Overall, a nice place to go out for a dinner with familiy or friends. If you're looking for a place to impress your date, though, I'd head somewhere else because the ambiance is lacking a bit here.
(3)
Enlai W.
Decent food. Horrible service. Had to get our own menus. Severely under staffed. Owner and Waitress wouldn't light candles outside in the dark, because they were "too busy". Said we could light them ourselves if we want! Waited a while for food and got order wrong... don't go on a busy night... and don't expect courtesy when they are busy...
(2)
Lauren J.
Decent enough. It's not the worse place you could go to, it's not by far the best. If your looking for a cheap lunch buffet option with lots of carbs and sauces, walkable to your work, this is it. Don't seek this place, if your coming from Bethesda or DC, it's not worth the trip. The happy hours on Thurs night are very reasonable and about the only reason I'd consider going back. I think 2 glasses cost me about $15 with tip included, so not a bad HH option...
(2)
Kim S.
Two words - steak salad. Trust me you won't be disappointed. Their pizza, especially the BBQ chicken one, is also quite the tasty choice. Nice place for happy hour with a few coworkers but beware, the sun hits the bar side of the building right after work. Add their fire burning oven and it can get a bit toasty.
(4)
Nicole C.
I stopped in for the first time yesterday. I sat at the bar and the service was great. The staff seemed friendly. I ate the grilled salmon and it was yummy. They made it with lots of garlic which is how I like it...I will be back.
(4)
Sara N.
Fontina Grille is another nice find out in Kings Farm. I had the white pizza and it was verrrry good. I wanted to eat the whole thing! Fontina Grille has a good amount of vegetarian options. Other than the white pizza, they have a New Yorker and a Puttanesca pizza, which I haven't tried, but I doubt would please everyone. Capers and artichokes sound like a weird combination- and not necessarily in a good way! They also have salads, 5 pasta choices (capellini, broccoli penne, spaghetti, ravoli and manicotti) and a sandwich. However, it's not very vegan-friendly. Dishes are cheese heavy, except for a few salads. The waiter was very attentive throughout and they filled up our water a lot. The decor was really lovely too: black, red, and perhaps mahogany? I really thought it was pretty. A word to the ethical vegetarian, they do serve veal here. I'm not sure why higher end restaurants insist of serving that, but it's there. If you're into happy hours, they have them Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (ladies only), Friday, a wine night on Tuesday from 4-7. Happy eating!
(3)
Ruth S.
The best Itlalian food I've had in a long time! The Penne Ala Vodka is so incredibly fabulous... The depth of flavor & blend of seasonings is superb!!
(5)
N E.
I have had brunch, lunch and dinner at this place many many times.... And there is a reason I go back there.....this place is very cozy, the food is great and you can sit there for couple hours, eat, drink, catch up with your friends and there are no eyes waiting for you to leave so they can grab your table like other fancy, trendy restaurants....and the service is excellent....
(5)
Leyali R.
I have been meaning to write a review for this go-to staple of mine in Rockville for some time. FG is nestled in the middle of King Farm, and just a quick jaunt from my office. I often order lunch from here, and have stopped in after work for dinner as well. My vegetarian favorites and the casual, warm neighborhood environment here are what keep me coming back. I regularly order the minestrone soup, which is always tastes really fresh and is a perfect light option on some days with their focaccia bread. Their margherita pizza has a fantastic crust, flavorful cheese, and is plentiful with the tomatoes and basil (I note this as its a pet peeve of mine when restaurants skimp on such things). But my favorite entree by far is the capellini d'angelo. I always request that they toss in some spinach and the combination of flavors is heavenly- the perfect blend of garlic in the light olive oil sauce compliment the tang of the tomatoes extremely well. I have also had occasion to try their eggplant parmesan to go, and despite an hour-long drive home, I found the eggplant was still surprisingly crispy (an amazing feat for this sort of dish) and seasoned very well. Dining companions who have tasted the grilled salmon dinner and the fried calamari appetizer recall both fondly, and I've ordered a platter of their caprese salad appetizer for a party of mine that was a complete hit as well. The service at Fontina Grille is always friendly and helpful, and the owner of the place is an absolute darling! His personal touch ensures all who dine at the restaurant have a special experience, and he will go to any length to ensure all is right with your order. Service of such nature always speaks volumes to me, and I highly recommend Fontina Grille as a great local place for lunch, date night, or otherwise.
(5)
Joan K.
We were goign to have a typical Thursday night dinner out with bf and friends and couldn't decide where to go, so we just decided to grab a bite in my neighborhood (King Farm Village) at this place. I had been once last year with my mother and haven't returned since because the experience was so mediocre. I'd read the positive yelp reviews so I was pretty hopeful we would be met by decent food and service this time. I should've just gone with my gut instinct that kept telling me, "Stay away! It's not worth it!" The wine list was SUCH a disappointment. I think I can recall ALL of their white offferings (two people wanted white that night which is why I can't remember any reds)- Cavit PG, Woodbridge SB, (I think just these first two alone are enough to set the overall tone of the wine list), J. Lohr Chard, and a spanish white (marques de la villa?). I probably sound like such a snot, and I'm not really trying to be one (ok, maybe just a little bit). There is nothing wrong with drinking any of the big value brands. A lot of them are very palatable, they're great values, and I like drinking them too. They are, however, NOT appropriate for serving in restaurants for $5/glass. Casual neighborhood restaurant aside, if your average entrees cost over $15, you really shouldn't be serving Woodbridge (let's not get me started on the fact that I don't think ANY restaurant should be serving woodbridge/cavit/beringer/etc. There are SO SO many GREAT, CHEAP boutique offerings that are still easy to obtain in Moco). I'll stop whining about wine (hee hee :P) and take a second to emphasize my BIGGEST complaint. They sat 4 people at what is technically a 2-top. It seemed as if this is the norm bc I noticed that ALL of their 2-tops had 4 chairs....this is horribly cramped and uncomfortable in general. Even MORE so when the tables aren't cleared properly. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think the decor was that trendy. I noticed in the bathroom that they have great soaring ceilings. Painting the entire restaurant red really seems to have diminished this great feature. Also, they need to move the hostess stand to a place you can see it as soon as you walk in. We felt kinda awkward looking around for a hostess for a couple minutes. While the bar seemed to be pretty busy here (perhaps the neighborhood singles?), the restaurant itself was mainly filled with older couples. Which is why our server must've taken half an hour to verify our 4 licenses when we ordered a bottle. We had a 29 year old, two 25 year olds and one 24 year old....yet she still scrutinized the IDs as if we were 16 year olds trying to get into a club with an open bar. I think service is where we had our main issues- in general, she was quite spacey, slow and just not on-point. She tried to take someone's food away while his fork was still in his hand! We probably could have done a better job of ordering, but the food was terribly mediocre as well. Everyone's entrees seemed really bland. Portion sizes weren't very large either. I think we're going to continue to drive the extra 2.5 minutes to Mamma Lucia's for weeknight Italian cravings. It's the same price, has STELLAR service, makes a yummier marinara sauce, and serves three times the food!!!
(2)
Alicia P.
I Love this place, its great food, i love the crab ravioli, staff is very friendly and so do the owner........ Thanks for being around.....
(4)
Young P.
I went here for a lunch since I was meeting a friend. I've ordered spaghetti and extra meatballs. Food was bit bland for me. Food - 2.0 Service - 3.0 Ambiance - 3.0
(2)
Scott M.
We actually 1st stopped in about a year or so ago. Was quite pleased to try it as we had a coupon to use. However, after a quick scan of the menu even w/the coupon the prices were way out of range of what I am willing to pay for pasta so we left. Really had no plans of going back. Just to expensive for me and after all ,this isn't Ruth Chris's Steak House in Bethesda. Recently a Friend told me about this great lunch buffet she found in King Farm. I was quite excited to hear of a new spot. Turns out it wasn't a new spot it was Fontina Grill. I was immediately a bit sceptically but let her give me the complete low down. Sounded really good and for $11 per person which was quite reasonable considering what was being offered. I also consider her a great food and restaurant critic and value her opinion. Based on her recommendation, I gave it a try and wasn't disappointed. The buffet had a very nice selection, Soup, white pizza & regular pizza, mussels, ravioli, steak & chicken dishes, yellow rice and a vegi as well as 3 different kinds of salad to choose from and fixins, fruit and corn bread. I knew I was in for a lot of eating so I didn't have any of the soup or cornbread. The salad I choose was very good except for too many onions in my opinion. Luckily they were large enough chunks I could easily get them out. I tried everything else except the vegis and everything was very good. Well Worth the $11. Oddly, I found that this lunch buffet had a striking resemblance to a restaurant I used to visit called Cafe Mileto formerly located in the shopping center at Great Seneca & Mateny Rd, in Germantown. Not sure if it is the same owner or not but the sauce the mussels were in was identical to Cafe Mileto! (thats a good thing!!) My only complaint was that the food in the buffet was not kept up. Everything was empty until you asked for more with the exception of the pizza I had to ask the guy who spent a lot of time standing next to the buffet to refill each item I wanted. For example I went for the Greek looking salad. The bowl was empty. I asked him for more salad and he immediately went to the kitchen and refilled it. Ate my salad came back for Mussels and that tray was empty. Again asking this same guy for mussels. He ran to the kitchen and came back and said ready in 5 min. He did bring more but not many. Felt bad for the guy behind me but I took them all because I was running out of time and didn't want to wait again. Then went back to try the ravioli which I had noticed was empty when I was getting the mussels. It was still empty and the guy was still standing there at the buffet. I again asked him to refill the rav and he happily did but I again had to wait. After the ravioli I went back to try the steak and rice dish and you guessed it, no steak. Again the guy stands there looking at all the empty dishes on the buffet I asked him for steak and again he grabs the pan and heads for the kitchen. I went back to my seat to wait and before I got a chance to go back to the buffet he brought a plate over to my table which was really nice. I just don't understand why the heck they don't keep the buffet stocked or why he just stands there looking at the empty dishes and doesn't fill them on his own. So if you are in a hurry this place wont work because of this piece meal deal on the buffet. The idea of the buffet is so you can eat and run not spend all afternoon trying to get lunch. That is the only reason it didn't get 5 stars.
(4)
kevin k.
Good food. lunch buffet is awesome (good pizza, mussle, chicken and salad) always crowded. the pasta is good to. check out their web site for other deals such as monday night pasta or happy hour.
(4)
Lisa W.
Went there on there with a group of GF's on a Wed. night. We were seated in the rear of the restuarant, which was great since we can be a little loud. I look up and they are seating two table filled with children. They gave us a most inexperienced waitress. She took drink orders and it took approx. 30 min. for the drinks. Upon delivering the drinks, she had no clue who ordered what. There were two menus on the table and we asked for more since there were 11 of us. Her response.. uh let me see if we have any more. The place was fairly empty and you have no menus???? I ordered eggplant parm... the pasta was cold and had a weird taste. One lady at the table ordered ice tea and repeatly asked the waitress for sugar. She finally ended up walking to the table next to us and getting sugar from them (WTH). We went here last year with the same number of women and everything was fabulous that we decided to go back again this year. Will NOT recommend for 2011.
(1)
Ginny H.
I've eaten lunch here twice in the last month, and I love the new menu, the manager's willingness to please, and the neighborhood feel of this place. They have great pizza, as well as fancier dishes. (I've eaten the pizza in New Haven, New York and New Jersey, so I'm experienced...)
(4)
Joey R.
Only have done takeout from here and seem to gravitate toward the same thing every time. Service is quick and quality is good for the money. Never had a poor experience...
(4)
Jeremy D.
I lived at the Farm for a while and this place was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I usually ordered the chicken marsala with spaghetti pasta. It is pretty good. The bread and olive oil they serve is excellent. The salads are also fresh. I remember the bruschetta is excellent as well. It's a nice neighborhood place, especially if you have a family with kids and want to go out for a decent dinner. At night the bar area could sometimes be mistaken for an episode of Cougar Town. Just an observation.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Brian L.
$12 Italian lunch buffet. Pretty standard offerings - pizza, mussels, cheese ravioli, meatballs, beef with mushrooms, mixed vegetables, saffron rice, chicken., salad bar. My personal favorites were the pizza, meatballs, and beef with mushrooms. I must admit, food was average, but for the price and service, definitely a good value. I'd come back again.
(3)Steven W.
I'm giving Fontina the old 4 Stars for a "Neighborhood" restaurant. That means don't drive 30 miles to eat here, but if it's in close proximity you'll love it. I'm happy to live in close proximity. Fontina is that place where you can eat any night and count on a good, simple, tasty, Italian meal. Whether you are ordering pastas, pizza, fish, or veal, you won't be sorry. Everything is flavorful and fulfilling. Entrees come with a salad which makes it a nice value as well. The staff is always friendly and they make you feel like regulars, even when you're not. It's also a great place to take the parents, or go for larger family gatherings. Just a solid Italian option in Rockville...and the best restaurant in King Farm by a long shot!
(4)Jonathan L.
Nice neighborhood spot for a quick bite and a drink. $10 lunch buffet during the week is pretty good, although starts to get bare after 1:30pm. The sandwiches are the bar are a solid choice.
(4)J G.
Service is a crap shoot, but usually slow and with little personality. I've been going to this place many times now since I tried their pizza. I would recommend the Pizza a la Vodka. It features a creamy tomato sauce, cheese, bacon, sausage, and pepperoni. It's delicious! I've also tried the cannoli because they told me its from Vacarro's of Baltimore, MD (m y favorite pastry shop). The cannoli was good, not great. I think this is because its not as fresh as I am used to at Vacarro's. The drink selection is good, but pricey.
(3)Greg S.
Great place if your looking for good Italian food. The staff all take care of you and go the extra mile to make your dining experience enjoyable. Very well kept and outside dining area are what brings so many back here. As a bonus this place is awesome for NFL games. Many Eagles Fans here - may need to paint it green :)
(5)Melissa U.
The food at Fontina Grille is enjoyable and reliable to be the same quality each time. The staff is friendly and the owner stops by the tables to say hi and see how your meal is. I have been eating there for years now, and bring folk there when they are visiting me. My favorite dish is the Shrimp Risotto. I have also enjoyed the spinach manicotti, lasagna and chicken brunella just to name a few. Hint: Check for daily specials. I have enjoyed their ealy bird special and their Monday night pasta night. This is definitely a goto restaurant for me.
(4)Deena H.
We came here for dinner with my husband's relatives. We started with pelligrino and calamari. The calamari was below average and tasted rubbery. We also ordered artichoke spinach crab dip. I didn't try it but my husband did and he said it was very good. For my main meal I had the sea bass which was excellent! It had capers, lemony sauce with roasted veggies. The sea bass itself was crispy on the edges and tasted so so good. The service is top notch! I would say the food is average (not all but the calamari for sure ) but the service makes this place stand out. There's plenty of parking outside so don't worry. It is a fairly large restaurant with a full bar. The dessert was also average but there were multiple choices. We had the tiramisu, chocolate cake and a large ice cream. It was good but like I said, average. I could see myself coming back here because of the excellent service.
(4)Val V.
I beg to differ on those who liked their pizza. My Son got a plain cheese and the sauce had a taste which caught my attention. When he picked it up, cheese slid out of the pie. Would not recommend. Had the Calamari Siciliana, Eggplant Rollatini & Chix parmigiana and all are good. Serving size is good for 2-3. Service was great from Jose. Entrees are in the 12-20 range but serving is huge.
(3)Fred K.
Solid 4 stars for their delicious lunch buffet. $10.98 per person plus soda (unlimited refills) $1.98. They will always have in the lunch buffet the following: a big crock of soup, two kinds of pizza (cheese and white pizza), cheese ravioli, mussels, beef tips, rice, steamed veggies, various salads, and my favorite chicken dish. The server does take your dirty plates pretty fast and refills your drinks in a timely manner. It's not too loud do you can have a good meal and conversation with your dining guests. I wish the parking was a bit better though. You have to park near the Safeway and walk over to Fontina Grille. It's one of the few places in King Farm worth going too. Nicks Chophouse is the other place I can think of that has table service in King Farm.
(4)Joshua D.
Went here for a work event. Service was fine, everything was OK. I noticed some things that are traditionally served a certain way are lacking respective elements here. The seating is a little cramped, and it was a little warm inside. Overall a fine place to hang out I guess.
(3)Sunshine C.
OMG the Rosemary Foccaccia with the dipping sauce!!!! I could just eat this ALLLLLLLLLLLL Day. I was struggling between ordering the Spaghetti with Marinara and meatballs or the Spaghetti Carbonara... i chose the earlier. My meal came with a Caesar salad. Spaghetti was okay... nothing special about it or stood out about it. Caesar Salad is your average salad.... i also had the creme brulee which again was okay, and average. i shouldve ordered the pizza since that what everyone is raving about... but i wanted pasta. My server was friendly and tended to me well. At the end of the day would i remember this place with all the places i travel to and eat? - No. But when i eat foccaccia from here on out, i will flash back to that one place in Maryland where i cant really remember what I ate, but that Rosemary bread they had was off the chain.
(2)Lauren B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years and we absolutely love it. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is quiet and quaint and the service is exceptional. We often share a few appetizers and a pasta dish and we have never been disappointed. We are also huge fans of their bread and dip and their pizza. You really can't go wrong here.
(5)Andrew B.
The staff is very friendly, my bartender tonight had such a great personality. Food was very fresh and fairly priced. Will definitely return!
(5)Victoria C.
Pizza is pretty amazing. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza and it's pretty hard to find a good one in Maryland. The pizza is ALMOST like the New York style ones. I got the vodka pizza which I haven't seen anywhere except in NYC. It's pretty similar. The crust isn't oily at all, which is a blessing considering how Pizza Hut and Domino's treats their crusts. Everything else is okay. The atmosphere is really clean. The waiters are all extremely nice. Floors and tables have a very clean feel to it. The rest of the food is okay. The pasta is just average as well as the sandwiches. Mixed drinks could be a bit better, but that's only according to my dad. Basically, just get the pizza. It's delicious!
(4)Drew J.
Food was great but service was terrible. We asked for bread, the waitor said they're making it. Understandable, except the bread came out cold. i.e. they weren't making it. I asked for water, no water came. 10 minutes later I flagged down the manager and politely re-asked for water. No apology and said "the waitor is busy". Apparently this is the first restaurant in history with busy waitors. The waitor never asked us how we were doing. The waitor got the specials mixed up, so when the bill came, there were extra charges. I asked for the manager again, and the manager said "our waitor wouldn't tell you guys that". I said "well, he did." Manager said "no he didn't". (For the record, the manager was not there when we ordered) We gave very low tip. Hopefully they'll improve their service and stop making excuses.
(1)Paul M.
Great pizza! We came in just before the kitchen closed and everyone was kind and the food was great
(4)El W.
Got More for your money here then most of the restaurants in the area My guest had a salmon Salad and I had a House Salad and the Wild Mushroom burger, Both of our meals were too much for us to finish so we did get a to go box. The food was cooked perfectly and served with a smile and expertise. The waiter also knew the menu and the specials. Will come again
(4)Casey K.
Food was great but the star count is low for terrible service. The crab Caesar salad was awesome while the steak salad I had a bite of was also spectacular. The rub of the meal came as soon as our waitress appeared. She practically ignored my brother when he ordered his drink that we weren't sure if she heard his order. My dad ordered soup, and she brought out a salad instead (proving that she doesn't listen). She was condescending and rude on all fronts and we will not be back.
(2)Tao W.
Foods are kind of greasy. Lunch menu contains only sautéed chicken, no steak or decent seafood. Service is very good though.
(2)Bobbi Z.
I'm in town for a week for a class and staying at a nearby hotel. I had a ton of work to do but needed to unwind. After looking at a few neighborhood options online, i grabbed my laptop and asked for a small booth in back. The server was easy -going, understood my pace and pleasant. The house chianti was perfectly priced and my rockfish salad hit the spot. The ambiance was just right for 7pm on a tuesday. I was relaxed for the first time all day and pleasantly productive.
(5)Rita W.
My SO and I come here most Monday nights for the special. Buy one pasta, get the second pasta for $2. I think they run specials every day of the week and they also have an early bird special from 4-6PM on weekdays. Both of us LOVE the Chicken Brunello. None of the other pastas stand a chance against it. Also, we add a side caesar salad (+$2). The caesar salad here is also really fresh and tasty. My guess is that the parmesan cheese they use is aged perfectly to my taste. Tried the lasagna once and was disappointed from it's flavor and presentation. Service is always on point. I haven't experienced any server being rude and they've always been very accommodating.
(4)Karena J.
Food is good enough for a quiet, intimate yet chic atmosphere. We like bringing our parents here because it's never too crowded or noisy and is consistent with pretty good food. Pastas are tasty and the mussels are good but slightly oily. Service can be extraordinary or subpar depending on who you get. Bar is nice and cozy for watching Monday night football (although they usually close before game's end). Outdoor seating is a great change of pace when the weather is nice.
(3)Ashley W.
Lunch buffet is off the chain! Bonus points because you can take it to go! Mussels, pizza, salad, pasta, rolls, it's all here. For 9.99 or 10.99 or something. Extra bonus points because they purchase their food from local farmers. Great deal and good food. It is not a gourmet Italian place it's just a local place that hits all the right spots- pasta, meat, bread and sauce. I mean we ain't in Italy!
(4)Jessica N.
Fontina is a party in a neigborhood full of boring places. Seriously, over half of the King Farm shops are empty or uninteresting. Fontina is FUN and friendly!!! The food is good- consistently tasty. Their pizzas are our favorite thing to bring home and we thoroughly enjoy them! The drinks are good, the prices are good, the cheesecake is deeelicious. There are a couple bartenders that we adore and the atmosphere is good. When Lauren is at the bar, we have a blast. If we're in the mood to walk somewhere for dinner and a drink, we don't think twice. It's always Fontina. They always recognize us, ask how we're doing, treat us great and make me want to go back!
(5)Caroline M.
We went for the first time today, 2 adults and a 2.5 y.o. We were greeted by a really nice host, and the waiter was very nice too. Our son had buttered penne and a huge meatball, the portion was huge, so we had the leftover boxed. We shared the mussels for starter (delicious), then the risotto and the Chesapeake, with 2 glasses of wine. Everything was very good. The Chesapeake was light on the crab, but other than that it was lovely. We will be back.
(4)Charlie B.
Lauren (bar tenter) was awesome.... Food amazing. Service very fast ... Can't wait to come back.
(5)Joan K.
We were goign to have a typical Thursday night dinner out with bf and friends and couldn't decide where to go, so we just decided to grab a bite in my neighborhood (King Farm Village) at this place. I had been once last year with my mother and haven't returned since because the experience was so mediocre. I'd read the positive yelp reviews so I was pretty hopeful we would be met by decent food and service this time. I should've just gone with my gut instinct that kept telling me, "Stay away! It's not worth it!" The wine list was SUCH a disappointment. I think I can recall ALL of their white offferings (two people wanted white that night which is why I can't remember any reds)- Cavit PG, Woodbridge SB, (I think just these first two alone are enough to set the overall tone of the wine list), J. Lohr Chard, and a spanish white (marques de la villa?). I probably sound like such a snot, and I'm not really trying to be one (ok, maybe just a little bit). There is nothing wrong with drinking any of the big value brands. A lot of them are very palatable, they're great values, and I like drinking them too. They are, however, NOT appropriate for serving in restaurants for $5/glass. Casual neighborhood restaurant aside, if your average entrees cost over $15, you really shouldn't be serving Woodbridge (let's not get me started on the fact that I don't think ANY restaurant should be serving woodbridge/cavit/beringer/etc. There are SO SO many GREAT, CHEAP boutique offerings that are still easy to obtain in Moco). I'll stop whining about wine (hee hee :P) and take a second to emphasize my BIGGEST complaint. They sat 4 people at what is technically a 2-top. It seemed as if this is the norm bc I noticed that ALL of their 2-tops had 4 chairs....this is horribly cramped and uncomfortable in general. Even MORE so when the tables aren't cleared properly. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think the decor was that trendy. I noticed in the bathroom that they have great soaring ceilings. Painting the entire restaurant red really seems to have diminished this great feature. Also, they need to move the hostess stand to a place you can see it as soon as you walk in. We felt kinda awkward looking around for a hostess for a couple minutes. While the bar seemed to be pretty busy here (perhaps the neighborhood singles?), the restaurant itself was mainly filled with older couples. Which is why our server must've taken half an hour to verify our 4 licenses when we ordered a bottle. We had a 29 year old, two 25 year olds and one 24 year old....yet she still scrutinized the IDs as if we were 16 year olds trying to get into a club with an open bar. I think service is where we had our main issues- in general, she was quite spacey, slow and just not on-point. She tried to take someone's food away while his fork was still in his hand! We probably could have done a better job of ordering, but the food was terribly mediocre as well. Everyone's entrees seemed really bland. Portion sizes weren't very large either. I think we're going to continue to drive the extra 2.5 minutes to Mamma Lucia's for weeknight Italian cravings. It's the same price, has STELLAR service, makes a yummier marinara sauce, and serves three times the food!!!
(2)Alicia P.
I Love this place, its great food, i love the crab ravioli, staff is very friendly and so do the owner........ Thanks for being around.....
(4)Young P.
I went here for a lunch since I was meeting a friend. I've ordered spaghetti and extra meatballs. Food was bit bland for me. Food - 2.0 Service - 3.0 Ambiance - 3.0
(2)Scott M.
We actually 1st stopped in about a year or so ago. Was quite pleased to try it as we had a coupon to use. However, after a quick scan of the menu even w/the coupon the prices were way out of range of what I am willing to pay for pasta so we left. Really had no plans of going back. Just to expensive for me and after all ,this isn't Ruth Chris's Steak House in Bethesda. Recently a Friend told me about this great lunch buffet she found in King Farm. I was quite excited to hear of a new spot. Turns out it wasn't a new spot it was Fontina Grill. I was immediately a bit sceptically but let her give me the complete low down. Sounded really good and for $11 per person which was quite reasonable considering what was being offered. I also consider her a great food and restaurant critic and value her opinion. Based on her recommendation, I gave it a try and wasn't disappointed. The buffet had a very nice selection, Soup, white pizza & regular pizza, mussels, ravioli, steak & chicken dishes, yellow rice and a vegi as well as 3 different kinds of salad to choose from and fixins, fruit and corn bread. I knew I was in for a lot of eating so I didn't have any of the soup or cornbread. The salad I choose was very good except for too many onions in my opinion. Luckily they were large enough chunks I could easily get them out. I tried everything else except the vegis and everything was very good. Well Worth the $11. Oddly, I found that this lunch buffet had a striking resemblance to a restaurant I used to visit called Cafe Mileto formerly located in the shopping center at Great Seneca & Mateny Rd, in Germantown. Not sure if it is the same owner or not but the sauce the mussels were in was identical to Cafe Mileto! (thats a good thing!!) My only complaint was that the food in the buffet was not kept up. Everything was empty until you asked for more with the exception of the pizza I had to ask the guy who spent a lot of time standing next to the buffet to refill each item I wanted. For example I went for the Greek looking salad. The bowl was empty. I asked him for more salad and he immediately went to the kitchen and refilled it. Ate my salad came back for Mussels and that tray was empty. Again asking this same guy for mussels. He ran to the kitchen and came back and said ready in 5 min. He did bring more but not many. Felt bad for the guy behind me but I took them all because I was running out of time and didn't want to wait again. Then went back to try the ravioli which I had noticed was empty when I was getting the mussels. It was still empty and the guy was still standing there at the buffet. I again asked him to refill the rav and he happily did but I again had to wait. After the ravioli I went back to try the steak and rice dish and you guessed it, no steak. Again the guy stands there looking at all the empty dishes on the buffet I asked him for steak and again he grabs the pan and heads for the kitchen. I went back to my seat to wait and before I got a chance to go back to the buffet he brought a plate over to my table which was really nice. I just don't understand why the heck they don't keep the buffet stocked or why he just stands there looking at the empty dishes and doesn't fill them on his own. So if you are in a hurry this place wont work because of this piece meal deal on the buffet. The idea of the buffet is so you can eat and run not spend all afternoon trying to get lunch. That is the only reason it didn't get 5 stars.
(4)kevin k.
Good food. lunch buffet is awesome (good pizza, mussle, chicken and salad) always crowded. the pasta is good to. check out their web site for other deals such as monday night pasta or happy hour.
(4)Lisa W.
Went there on there with a group of GF's on a Wed. night. We were seated in the rear of the restuarant, which was great since we can be a little loud. I look up and they are seating two table filled with children. They gave us a most inexperienced waitress. She took drink orders and it took approx. 30 min. for the drinks. Upon delivering the drinks, she had no clue who ordered what. There were two menus on the table and we asked for more since there were 11 of us. Her response.. uh let me see if we have any more. The place was fairly empty and you have no menus???? I ordered eggplant parm... the pasta was cold and had a weird taste. One lady at the table ordered ice tea and repeatly asked the waitress for sugar. She finally ended up walking to the table next to us and getting sugar from them (WTH). We went here last year with the same number of women and everything was fabulous that we decided to go back again this year. Will NOT recommend for 2011.
(1)Ginny H.
I've eaten lunch here twice in the last month, and I love the new menu, the manager's willingness to please, and the neighborhood feel of this place. They have great pizza, as well as fancier dishes. (I've eaten the pizza in New Haven, New York and New Jersey, so I'm experienced...)
(4)Joey R.
Only have done takeout from here and seem to gravitate toward the same thing every time. Service is quick and quality is good for the money. Never had a poor experience...
(4)Jeremy D.
I lived at the Farm for a while and this place was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I usually ordered the chicken marsala with spaghetti pasta. It is pretty good. The bread and olive oil they serve is excellent. The salads are also fresh. I remember the bruschetta is excellent as well. It's a nice neighborhood place, especially if you have a family with kids and want to go out for a decent dinner. At night the bar area could sometimes be mistaken for an episode of Cougar Town. Just an observation.
(3)Jeff G.
I have been here twice. Once for lunch and tonight for dinner. I really like this place. Its in a cool area and they have a broad menu from pizza to pasta to steaks. I sat at the bar but they have a very nice dining room. They have a decent selection of beers and around 6 on tap, a nice wine list with a decent "by the glass" selection, and a full bar for about any cocktail you can imagine. When I came for lunch I had a pasta dish. It was chicken Saltimbocca. I was impressed. Beautifully done, lots of flavor, and an all around great experience. Tonight I really wanted to try one of their specialty pizzas but I am trying to eat healthier so I went with the Sea Bass with vegetables and a lemon wine sauce. The fish was perfect. Nice and crisp on the outside and flaky and moist on the inside. The vegetable were perfect. They still had a nice crunch but obviously not raw. The sauce was my only issue. It seemed they forgot the wine in my lemon wine sauce. It was so bitter I could not eat the vegetables. Thankfully that sauce was not on my fish or I wouldn't have been able to eat it. It was funny because the bartender said "Do you not like vegetables?". I laughed because I wasn't going to say anything. I love vegetables. I vacuumed down my salad like I was homeless and hadn't eaten in days. I told her my opinion and she was very nice and offered me a different side or some sort of concession. I wasn't looking for anything other than giving honest feedback. The service both times has been good. I would definitely come back.
(4)Kyle F.
The wait staff is younger people who are just trying to make a few extra bucks. Not very professional and just left a bad taste in my mouth. The food is actually not that bad, it's not your hole in the wall Mom and Pop shop straight from Napoli but just looking from the outside on the street you get the feeling it's just Americanized Italian bar and grille food. If you want really good Italian food and service, hit up Il Pizzico in Rockville, it's only a 4-minute drive away. EDITED: Went back for dinner, the younger wait service was no where in sight. Wish Yelp would give half stars, rank it 2 1/2 out of 5.
(2)Shawn H.
Good food but haggard service. We visited on a Friday night so you expect them to be busy but the service was not great. We tried the mussels, a caprese salad, pizza, spaghetti, and a chicken dish and all were good. But the waiter disappeared for long stretches, he brought the wrong entree for one in our party and it took forever to get the bill. At least the prices were reasonable.
(3)Mark L.
I wish I could review the food at Fontina but we never made it past the waiting area. We made a 7:00 pm reservation with Open Table, when we arrived the host told us they were more crowded than expected. We were asked to wait "no more than 15 minutes" but an hour later we were still waiting and gave up. Throughout this experience the staff seemed completely overwhelmed. Other people arrived with reservations and were similarly kept waiting. The wait staff's response was to avoid eye contact, abandon the hostess station, and when they did speak with waiting customers, it was to blame them. I was told i should have made our reservation at least six hours previously ("then why did you accept my reservation when you did?" I asked.) All in all, an awful experience.
(1)Stephanie C.
I was really impressed with this place, thinking it would hardly register a notch above an Olive Garden. Doesn't help that it is nestled in a development of cookie-cutter houses built on a former farm ("King Farm"). But instead, I enjoyed a great meal. They offer a variety of wines, many imported, and hot, satisfying food. I had the Cioppino with a small salad, served with fluffy (!) Italian bread and dipping oil. For dessert, a particularly wicked Bomba. My friend treated herself to the scampi, a salad, and creme brulee. We enjoyed a wonderful meal. Good service; food plentiful and hot. I liked the place. Parking is so-so. It is a long-ish but not impossible walk from Shady Grove Metro.
(4)Jessica L.
Service has improved a great deal. The host is very friendly and the server was on point. Food was amazing. Love their pizza and love the lunch buffet. Just get there early for the lunch buffet so you don't get the bottom of the bowl if you get there near the end.
(4)Abegail A.
Happy hour daily from 4:30-7:30pm. What?! The fact that Fontina Grille's happy hour ended at 7:30pm drew me to this restaurant. A little after 7pm on a Wednesday, the bar area was full. There are a good amount of stools, several high tops, and a couple tables lining the bar. We were able to snag a table. The chairs weren't very comfortable, so I was glad two seats opened up at the bar. Their HH specials included discounted beer and wine, as well as $5 appeteasers. Decided on a glass of pinot grigio and the mussels caprese (in tomato broth) to start. The mussels caprese was tasty and the portion size was generous, especially for $5. The tomato broth was flavorful and was a nice dipping sauce for their bread (which was a little boring and over toasted). The mussels were fresh, most of the meat were plump and not overcooked. For the main, we ordered a large New Yorker Pizza (homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella- $17) with pepperoni ($1.70 extra). The pizza came out super hot, so we waited awhile before grabbing a slice or else the cheese totally would have slid off. The pizza was okay. Did it remind me of a pizza from NY? I guess so. It was thin and foldable. Service was good. Our glasses were never empty. The bartender was friendly. I'll be back to check out their weekly specials and other menu items.
(3)Nadrina N.
Way overpriced for the quality. Not any better than most can make at home. Mediocre food and mediocre service. The place likely is surviving on its location, we wanted to find a decent place for dinner and since there weren't too many other options in King Farm. My friend even left almost his whole dish in the plate and when I tasted it I realized why. Not inedible by any stretch just not worth the price, the sauce was watery and bland, tasted little different than pasta from a pizza take out. If you're going to spend your money on a decent meal, unless you're strapped for time and need just something close, I would go the extra couple miles to a decent restaurant.
(2)Eddie K.
We only eat their lunch buffet so I can't comment on their regular lunch or dinner entrees. The lunch buffet is awesome. It is $10.99 a person (doesn't include soda) and they offer two different pizzas, a pretty good selection of food and some cold salads. They usually have their white pizza and cheese pizza. Those are my favorites. Most of the times they have mussels, some pasta dishes, this really good chicken dish and chicken salad.
(4)Harris H.
Had a horrible experience with a waiter on the way delivery. Waiter on the way was awesome, but the one entree was horrid and we basically threw it away. My sister had experienced a similar experience the night before but at the restaurant with the same entree. 2 weeks ago, Ali, the owner contacted my via yelp and offered to send a coupon to invite us back after seeing my negative review. We have been very regular customers for years and many larger group celebrations we spend there as well. I amended my update to positive due to him reaching out by yelp to offer to fix it, even though this was 2 weeks after I submitted my complaint on the website. To this day, 2 weeks later, I have yet to receive any coupon in the mail after replying with my address. There are TONS of great italian restaurants in the area so I feel no need to stress over this one. I have told my wife, I am done and we will never go back. In addition, I am making sure that all my friends that I have suggested to go here are aware of the situation and how it was handled. The last few times we have been there we were not real happy anyway. One time we asked for parm cheese for our food and watched the waiter grab an open cup with a spoon from an adjacent table, that another couple was using, and just set it on our table. Time to move on.
(1)Art K.
Food quality and taste is average or what can be expected in this area. Service is a hit or miss. One time my wife and I walked into the restaurant and we're totally ignored and stood there for a few minutes to be seated. We just walked out. My wife hasn't been there since; I have been there for business meals. I suspect that because my wife and I weren't dressed up (in workout clothes) we were ignored.
(2)Jesse W.
This place was awesome! All their food tasted very good and never smacked you in the face with Italian. A lot of Italian places overuse garlic and this restaurant used very little but knocked it out of the park with great tasting food. Only 4 stars because of the wait staff. The wait staff was very good but my waiter was working 8 to 10 different tables so unfortunately I was the smallest bill. Not his fault but whoever schedules people bring more waiters in!!!
(4)Lisa C.
Used a groupon to try this place out. 1. Waited a good 10 min to be acknowledged at the front. This should have been the first sign. 2. Got seated and then had to wait another 15 to get our order in. 3. Bread that was served was stale. 4. 45 min later we got our food. The calamari was fried in old oil. It was disgusting. And the rest of our order consisted of 2 salads. One mozzarella caprese and a caesar salad....not so complicated. We left with a belly ache. Needless to say, never going back.
(1)K R.
Don't bother with eating here. The food is barely edible. I had the fried calamari and it tasted like fried rubber. Honestly, the worst calamari I have ever had. We also got chicken tenders for the kids, and they were not good at all. For the quality of food, they are very overpriced. Save your money and do not dine here.
(1)Cheetos H.
Years ago, we went to this on e fabulous restaurant. It's been years since we ate there and decided to give it a try. We went there last week for lunch. The lunch buffet looked lacking so we ordered a la carte. I had the chicken marsala and my husband ordered the Chesapeake pasta. Our food was so bland, I didn't even bother taking the leftovers. Chicken marsala is supposed to be a bit lemony bit it was slightly sweet and bland. It was so poorly executed. There were only a few mushrooms and I don't know about you but chicken Marsala is supposed to have quite a few. I didn't taste any lemon at all. My husband's Chesapeake pasta was supposed to have crab meat but there was hardly any in his dish We tried putting parmesan cheese to make it more palatable but even that didn't work. This restaurant lost its spark. Don't bother.
(1)Michelle L.
This was absolutely terrible! We ordered carry out. They messed up my order. I wanted penne pasta with sausage. I got penne with chicken. The chicken was disgusting! ! The peanut butter cheesecake did not have any flavor. I will never go back here again! !
(1)Jen L.
Okay, standard Italian food in a comfortable standard setting with superior customer service. The bread was pretty soft and very flavorful. The appetizer was okay - a bit soft and not as crispy or fresh as some other restaurants. The main entree was not especially flavorful and not especially tender, but still edible and above average in deliciousness. All in all, the food was pretty good, but did not stand out or "wow" me. On the other hand, the service from the server was quite phenomenal. He was very courteous, very attentive, and very patient. The setting was slightly odd - a bit like a more upscale pizza shop - the red walls, yellow lamps and yellow accessories, and odd "pizza-shop-like" shapes in the glass were interesting. It was like a small-town restaurant that was trying to be upscale. I think the setting would be improved if the colors didn't clash (red and yellow).
(3)Merlyn R.
I've eaten here for lunch several times, and while I usually get their salmon salad with Raspberry vinaigrette, I have enjoyed their large lunch buffet. It's the best restaurant in King Farm so can get pretty crowded day and night, but I highly recommend it!
(4)Ken S.
Great food, nice place. This is the second time our family has eaten here and all of the food has been delicious. Nice atmosphere, great food And good portions for the price. Can get crowded so reservations are a good idea. Will definitely visit again!
(5)Cyn K.
Great Italian restaurant with fantastic service. Been going almost every week for months now with my parents who live in King Farm and we have enjoyed every meal there. Best meatballs in the county imo. Must try the Pizza ala Vodka and Fettucine Bolognese. Great wine selection.
(5)Kate M.
This is a great neighborhood gem in King Farm. If I was to give the stars just on the pizza it would be 5 stars. The Shrimp diablo pizza is fantastic and my goto item, but I have enjoyed the vegetable pizza and the honey pizza too. Really can't go wrong with the pizza. I always order pizza, the person I come with changes it up. Last time he had the wings and said they were good. He has had the pasta a few times and hasn't been terribly impressed. The Crab dip and calamari are also pretty good. For dessert I have had the tiramasu, my only complaint is I wish the piece was bigger:) The service can be hit or miss. The last time I came and sat on the patio it was great, but I have come before and sat inside and it was lacking. The owner or manager is ALWAYS hustling about and super friendly, which is appreciated.
(4)Susan M.
I don't know about the rest of the menu but their steak salad is freakin' DELICIOUS. My co-workers opted for the lunch buffet that looked pretty darn good. Great lunch spot - I'll be back for that salad.
(4)Steve G.
One word of caution, the house salad dressing is a bit tart so you may want to opt for the Caesar. After multiple trips here this is not only our favorite Italian but our favorite local hangout. Mussels Fontina are FABULOUS, pizza's are great, every meal we have had here has been excellent. Great service and value. Highly recommend.
(5)Vincent E.
Over the last 10 years, gathering at the Fontina Grille for a great lunch or dinner has become a family tradition. The lunch buffet is great, especially if you're looking for a break from the typical burrito/pizza "on-the-go" lunch and want something more substantial. Our family favorite is the mussels on the lunch buffet. I'd recommend Fontina Grille for anyone looking for the feel, flavor, and personality of one of the neighborhood's family-oriented italian restaurants.
(5)Mike M.
First visit. They put out a buffet at lunch. Not a buffet fan and really it's kind of disgusting to see these tables of people going back again and again for plate after plate. So, that out of the way, the menu looks nice, had a steak salad which was very good. The steak was prepared as I ordered it and was generously applied to the salad along with a tasty dressing. It was topped with string-thin onion rings. The waitress was attentive, kept my tea glass full, and service was efficient. I'll be back and look forward to trying more menu items.
(3)Christina S.
this place! The owner Ali, is fantastic. Friendly, helpful and runs a great restaurant. I stick to my usuals, the steak salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegarette, fresh mozzarella capresa, crab cakes, pizza and the meatball appetizer. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, the staff attentive and friendly. Easy to locate, plenty of parking and quick if you're in a hurry. My girls and I have weekly lunches here and it's one of my favorites.
(5)Rick R.
Ali is very personable and the food is consistently tasty. In my opinion, this is a "guaranteed winner" to chose anytime you want a delicious meal and good service.
(5)Kory S.
Fontina gets a 3-star in the grand scheme of eateries but IT IS THE BEST RESTAURANT NORTH OF ADDIE'S. We lived in Fallsgrove for 2 years and struggled to find our go-to place. Everything in fallsgrove was BAD and I mean BAD. King farm... Same jam. Literally chipotle was number one. We even had delivery from one Italian place and asked for a refund (the gave us store credit...touché). Then there was Fontina. It's not perfect, and maybe $2 over priced per entree. But still, we could come here any day and know we'd have a great meal. The pastas were all fantastic. My wife is full-on NY Italian and she even liked their meat sauce. Oh man and the bread w Parmesan and oil they give you-probably the best I've ever had as a premeal freebie. We even loved their house salad. Super fresh, GREAT olives. I ate it plain every time it was so good. In fact when we moved away we had to eat out for a week . We stopped in and had them set us up w a few orders of grilled chicken breasts, salad, and of course the bread. We had three days worth of great food at home. I also can't forget to mention the service. They are beyond nice. It's that kind of nice you see at restaurants that are struggling bc they want to make sure you come back. The same kind that successful places forego bc they no longer need to. Not here. I don't recall the guys name but I think he's a manager, has an accent I don't think is Italian. He is the nicest guy I've ever met. I wish I could tip him. The waitresses weren't always pro-style but it wasn't a problem. You may have to remind them about something or your coffee may run dry. That's about the worst of it. If you can remember that it's a restaurant in King Farm and notice that most servers aren't there again the next time your go it is understandable. I think there are two servers I saw with any regularity. Not a problem. That's suburbia. Oh and Pro Tip: go to the lunch buffet. Please. It needs to never go away. It's such a good deal.
(3)Damon K.
Atmosphere is really nice. Food and service were excellent. We make it a point to come here every time we're in town.
(5)Meredith H.
Fontina Grille is pretty good - I feel like a lot of it is overpriced for what you get, but only slightly. I love their Ricotta and Honey Pizza. Seriously, it's really great! The Sea Bass is excellent as well. I wasn't as impressed with the Shrimp Risotto, or the Pollo alla Piccata, which is a shame, because the latter is a personal favorite. Hopefully, I'll go again and have something that really wows me! I have high hopes, and I look forward to going back and finding something special.
(3)Tom C.
I come here for the lunch buffet and it's pretty satisfying. The selection is decent and there's plenty of meat for my inner carnivore. The ravioli is amazing. The pizza is pretty good. mussels, steamed veggies, soup, and fruit salad make for a pretty well rounded menu. They keep the buffet pretty well stocked. I've heard that ordering from the menu can take a while during lunch time. I want to find out more about the brunch.
(4)David D.
Everything here is always great. Very good chicken parm and seafood pastas. Prices are fair. The lunch buffet is great. Pizza ravioli chicken beef mussels and other things all for around 10 bucks is hard to beat. Give this place a try
(4)Zara K.
i have to admit, despite some issues i have with their servers(which i havent had lately) king farm really wouldnt be as enjoyable to live in if there wasnt Fontina Grill there! i would give it four stars but the additional star is political in nature:P (and also because its a king farm gem!):) i havent tried all their dishes but i can give an overview of the ones i have...i dont dare taste the fancy shmancy ones because im very hard to please with food and i dont want to waste my money either...however here is a list of things i didnt waste my money on at all:) eggplant rollatini : i should get free eggplant rollatini since i advertise it everyday of my life...they really know how to make this delicious dish..the spaghetti that comes with it is really good too ( they cater the spaghetti aswell, i asked!) calamari: pretty good...actually il be fair... its quiite good mussels: a hit or a miss...and when a hit u cant stop eating them.....can be bad sometimes and then ur seafood sick for a month and cant even go the beach cos it reminds you of terrible seafood.. ravioli: had both kinds....its a safe meal to start with...you wont hate it, you wont love it, youll enjoy it but you know they can make it better! i have faith in you fontina!! (maybe use better pasta for the ravioli...please?:D) salmon: my hubby had a salmon dish off their special menu...ummm id give it three and a half stars.... peanut butter bomba : really good:D i had so much fun!!! (order it with fries) Fries: their fries are awesome...my favourite fries atm! Creme Brule : yumm....quite impressive, esp for the price. canolli: okay now the canolli im really impressed by, its comparable to authentic italian canolli and much better than il pizzicos....! and thats a compliment! PIZZA: now the pizza requires a seperate review to be fair........it really is delicious...i love thier pizzas..a lil tip...tell them to make it well done because its saucy and hard to eat sometimes...( i loveee the sauciness) five stars to ALL their pizzas but especially the new yorker HAPPY HOUR:....its as happy as it gets....:D five dollar appetizers, which include calamari AND mussels....pretty good deal complimentary bread: i love that bread...i always want some:$ SHRIMP Fra Diablo: Pretty decent.i would still avoid getting something too fancy but this was perfect. spicy, prawns were great, the pasta was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, i really enjoyed it a good basic prawn and red sauce dish perfected! (they also did apologize for bad service which i really appreciate and so i started going their again, since then i have had no such problems and i go their atleast once a week to have a great time...thankyou fontina!:)
(5)Cara K.
I have tried this place again and again (it's close to my house), but am disappointed every time. We have been for weekend lunch, happy hour, and dinner but always found the food subpar and the drinks are a crapshoot depending on the bartender. If you're looking for a beer or jack and coke no problem, but ask for a Margarita or Long Island and it gets iffy. The bread (made in house) is usually Ok, but it's not surprising to find a burnt piece in the basket. If you're looking for Americanized Italian food, you're better off going to Olive Garden as the entrees at Fontinas run $12-18 and the quality is about the same (reheated frozen food with pasta sauce on top).
(2)Vincent V.
Nice place. Good food. GREAT service. Will stop by again.
(5)Jeff S.
Fontina is the best Italian eatery in King Farm, the key words being "in King Farm". This place is passable solely because Rockville in general and King Farm specifically has no high quality Italian fare. If you come from a city with a good choice of Italian restaurants, this place will be the equivalent of eating at an Olive Garden at best (no offense to the good folks at the Olive Garden). I was born and bred in NYC, so I grew up eating good pizzas and pastas. But I also lived in Rockville for a year and had the misfortune to eat here a few times. I was constantly underwhelmed with everything; the pizza, salads, and pasta are all very mediocre and the flavors are typically muddled. If your expectations are realistic then you can get a filling hot meal at a fair price. But 5 star Italian food it ain't.
(2)David B.
Wonderful family restaurant. We love their wide varieties of pastas and their specials are usually very good. In all of our visits, we have never had a problem with the wait staff, they always seem to go out of their way to provide excellant service.
(5)Mike K.
I like this place, the food is good, done well and quickly, prices are reasonable, wine selection is better than other places. My one comment is that happy hour drink discounts could be better. Tthey focus on the food quality, which I appreciate. Good Pizza too.
(4)Nikon Nysaya Nyah H.
My husband and I went there for lunch today. It was not what I thought it was. We got the buffet and it was cold nothing to offer and just a waste. The chicken and the rice dish was the only good thing on it. The service was slow and not really friendly to say. The food on the buffet toke for ever to refill and nothing was on the buffet worth $10.99. I won't be back.
(2)Linda F.
Fontina Grille has become our go to restaurant. Reservations are always honored. The managers and wait staff are terrific. We always feel well taken care of. The food is very consistent. Our granddaughter loves their fried calamari! We love the fish, steak and pasta!!
(5)Tina D.
This place sucks. Made a reservation for 7 and didn't get seated until an hour later. Host service unhelpful. As more people piled into the restaurant, hostess stand was unmanned. Seemed like nobody wanted to deal with the mess. Only reason why we stayed was because we had a gift card. Will never come back here again as food isn't even that great.
(1)A J.
I went with a friend and our 2 kids today for the lunch buffet. It was really busy around noon and the dining room was packed. I'd say that the buffet was good, kind of average, but for the price and the service, it was well worth it. The salads were nice, the pizzas were plain cheese and white, which were good but not super jazzy, the ravioli was also good and the meatballs were very plain. Their lunch was very basic. Not knock your socks off good but definitely not bad either. Nice place to grab a quick inexpensive lunch. We will be back. :)
(4)ken p.
Fontina Grille is a superb Italian restaurant that can be compared to the best of them. Over their short history, they have consistently improved & I feel privileged to know of this fine dining location tucked away in the King Farm neighborhood. I realized I must have hit a choice, some time ago on their brunch menu, that didn't measure up. This little glitch was promptly corrected & now the brunch menu is up to par with the rest of fine choices. Today I ordered the Grilled Samon & it was excelent. My honey got the fettucini as usual & it was better than it ever was before - and it was good before. Fontina seems to have a strong following of regulars & I think I will be one of them. Thank You & Happy New Year
(5)Susan G.
The restaurant has a good ambiance and a nice bar atmosphere. The restaurant area is pretty empty when I have been there so it is easy to sit a group of any size. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty good but it is hard to find healthy options on the menu. The bread that they serve when you come in is delicious. Some of my favorite items are spinach/artichoke pizza, peanut butter cheesecake, ahi tuna salad.
(3)Steve H.
Last minute Mother's Day brunch with my wife's grandma, booked through Open Table. The food was excellent! We had the Crab Benedict and Philly Omelet, and she had the Shrimp Scampi. Our server Alicia was very courteous and attentive. We'll have to come back for dinner sometime. Thanks Fontina!
(4)Isaiah W.
The food was really good and things were decently priced. Dishes to try are the Crab Caesar Salad or the Eggplant Parmesan! Would recommend for people in the area!
(4)Alias C.
Verdict: Ugly Folks, let's be real - the customer is always right, period. In short, a horrible experience and poor management toward customer satisfaction. The owner, yes the owner defended the poor service of the kitchen staff after my order was incorrectly prepared and no courtesy was extended to mitigate the situation. To be fair, a complimentary drink was offered but it was too little, too late. One might think that the owner would have had the foresight to grow customer base but instead he was argumentative and hostile. I actually had to pay after a battle of words...again, I was the customer. Oh well, if you desire to support this business, I wish you better luck than my experience. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in my thinking but customer satisfaction should always be on the menu - no charge.
(2)Rebecca T.
Fotina Grille has a wonderful lunch buffet. The pepperoni pizza has just the right mix of sauce so it is delicious. The Lasagne is out of this world. The buffet is worth the $10. The minestrone soup is good. I went with 3 other people and the service was great. When we went to pay, I paid originally with a credit card. One of the girls I was with wanted to split it down the middle and they accommodated us. The servers were pleasant and helpful. That gives stars in my book.
(4)Nana L.
Never again. The service was not great and the food was subpar. My husband and I went to the Fontina Grille for Valentine's Day. When we arrived the restaurant was about half full and looked very lively. We were greeted by one of the surliest hostesses I've seen in a while. She was obviously not happy to be at work. We were seated quickly and our waiter came and took our order. We started with the calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was gummy and bland. My husband ordered Linguini with Clam Sauce and I got the Chicken Saltimbocca. My chicken was decent, but my husband's Linguini was less than best. We could have done better at home. I could have dealt with the mediocre food if the service had been better. I am a water drinker at restaurants. The best way to keep me happy is to keep my water glass filled. We got water at the beginning of the meal and no one ever came back to refill the glasses. If the restaurant had been really busy, I would have understood, but no water in a half-filled restaurant? Unacceptable. Finally, I just drank my husband's water and the water from my personal water bottle. The last irritation was when we got the check and we were charged for desserts that we didn't order. We alerted the waiter and he fixed the issue, but we won't be going back.
(1)Sara E.
Very poor customer service. Bartender failed to serve me first, even though I was at the bar longer AND a female. Then the bartender didn't offer me a menu and instead picked up her phone to chat w a friend and walked off. All the while I'm watching another employe casually finish her breakfast while her table was waiting for service and failed to wash her hands before returning to serve patrons. Left my drink untouched on the bar and left. They clearly don't need or want my service.
(1)Lucy B.
This used to be our local, neighborhood bar/restaurant we would come to a few times a month for solid pizza and apz. The service we had this past week was miserable. Our food wasn't what we expected, so we asked our waitress why it looked the way it did, "because that's what you ordered." Oh, OK, cool. Now, I totally understand if you goof and order the wrong thing but, this has never happened to us before here, we always order the same thing and we always get the order we expect. This tall, blonde, Russian (I think) waitress' response when I asked if we could please get the order we expected was "no, it would be a waste of this food." WEIRD. Then, we ordered 2 beers, twice. I noticed on the bill she didn't include one round which, I figured was her saying, my bad, have a beer on us. Nope, she had already given us the bill, in the leather black thing, as we were putting our credit card in the leather holder thing she came back, took the check she had already presented us with and said, "I forgot your last 2 beers, heres the updated check." Sweet. I do have to say that I never had this poor of service in all the times I came here, but, her piss poor attitude was offensive. The manager/owner always comes and says hello to us, super friendly. This girl though, no thank you. She kept practically ignoring us. There was another girl who kept checking our table and relaying what we needed to our waitress/bartender.
(2)Ronney B.
This is my favorite neighborhood anytime restaurant. This is my stand by usual place. I bring my friends and family. The food is great and the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask for?
(5)Bob S.
I AMA KF resident, so have been here many times and recommend it. The staff and owners recognize repeat customers and you quickly become family. If it's rush hour, the trick is to simply make clear to the wait staff what you want. The pizza is a bit expensive, but it is not Jerry's and if that is what you want, go there. If you ask, they will serve the simpler bar menu in the restaurant. The burgers and salads are both huge and great. Thanks for being the neighborhood bar and sports pub, too.
(5)Sam S.
4 stars because of a great lunch but you have to keep notifying the managers to get new pizza and steak. Steak, Salad and great cheese pizza is all I need to satisfy me for $10.95 lunch buffet. The service is good but it isn't great.
(4)Janice V.
My family and me came here for dinner with a groupon last friday night. I didn't think it would be so popular, or that I would have to wait 20 minutes at 7:45 pm or that it would smell like grease (not good). After we finally got seated, The waitress greeted us nicely, she took our drinks, and came back 5 minutes later. The crab and artichoke dipped we ordered for appetizer was okay with shredded crab, but very cheesy, which helped the dish. The 14" steak house pizza (steak, goat cheese, peppers, and onions) I didn't like very much since it had no char on the bottom of the crust, so the toppings kept falling down onto my plate. The veal saltimbocca entree that I ordered came with a solid layer of oil on top. I took it off because it didn't look healty or appetizing to eat. The penne pasta was undercooked, so when I had it as leftovers the next day, it was cooked perfectly! Overall the whole dining experience was okay, the food was mediocre, and the server could have been more attentative.
(3)Zachary A.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this place. A great place for families to go for a nice night out. The ownership changed last year, and the quality of the food has greatly increased. FOOD: (5 STARS) My party had the special of Chilean Sea Bass (special), the calamari marinara and the penne arrabiata (changed for linguini). We're Italian-Americans from Jersey, and the red sauces were just as flavorful as Service: This was the only disappointment. Server was attentive to the order, but failed to fill up water glasses promptly. I drink more water than a fish, and love to always have my glass full. The owner came and spoke with us and was EXTREMELY attentive. Overall, if you're looking for a decent family night out.
(4)R A.
Wow. Awful service, incompetent staff, incorrect orders, long (absurdly long) waits, MORE incorrect orders.... ridiculous. They did NOT earn my business. At least the place looked nice. (I had gone a few times before and had a fine experience....and then management changed and it all went to pieces. This experience was the lesser of a few less-than-stellar meals here. Tried to maintain loyalty to what was once a good establishment, but the poor service and disappointing quality don't merit returning customers.)
(1)Krad K.
We just ordered a Steak Pizza from Fontina Grill and it was amazing. The service was quick, the food quality is great. If you want to experience great pizza, check out Fontina Grill.
(5)Howard H.
I have eaten at Fontina Grille about a dozen (or more times). This place is a real find. I have tried fish, chicken, steak - everything that I have had has been very good. The staff and management are friendly and interested in a good dinning experience. I wish them the best; I think this place is a diamond. Those not giving it good reviews should try again.
(5)Georgia R.
I've been to Fontina Grille like three times and its always been a good experience for me. The staff is friendly the bartenders make good drinks and the pizza is da bomb!! Also the calamari is banging fried or sauteed and the mussels delish!!
(3)Jennifer M.
I gave this place 4 stars because the food is really good and the portions are huge. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer, and it would have been sufficient as a dinner entree. The chicken parm dinner was huge. All in all, the food and service were good. The atmosphere is okay, nothing great. A nice restaurant for a nice dinner date.
(4)Erica Y.
This review is for their lunch buffet only. At $10.99, you get a selection of two green salads, chicken/tuna/egg salads, soup, mussel in garlic sauce, one pasta, one cooked vegetable, two main entrees (usually a chicken and a beef, or fish), and more. Oh, also two types of pizza! I am sure I am forgetting other things, but what a deal! Everything taste pretty good too. Even if you are a picky eater I am sure you can find something you like. I highly recommend for lunch here.
(4)Ross M.
AVERAGE. NOTHING SPECIAL: This is what happens when you are hungry and just punch in Italian Restaurant into your GPS. You end up here... WHAT I HAD: calamari - typical, nothing special, small pieces soup - typical vegetable soup, nothing amazing salad - fresh salad, typical, not a whole lot going on ravioli - ordinary, not a lot to it, very plain penne napolian- very plain, not a lot of flavor CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant, this is honestly not it. I have no reason to go back. There has to be something better than this.
(2)Crystal F.
This place is very cozy. The waitstaff is very friendly even if you just sit at the bar to watch the football game. But the food...ummm, nah. It was just...blah. It seemed like it had no seasoning, no creativity, no imagination.
(2)Lianne Z.
Absolutely wonderful meal. A friend found this gem of a place and we had a fantastic girls night here. The decor is homey and pretty "trendy" for Rockville, MD (no offense Moco). Red walls, trendy glass arrangements and simple wood tables. We met the owners of the place who happened to be in that night- two funny and witty guys who definitely made sure our meal was more than pleasurable. We began with a sampler of their most popular appetizers- calamari, mozzarella/tomato/basil and bruschetta. Okay, first of all most of you know by now that I'm not a big carb eater so regular bruschetta holds no interest for me. It's tomatoes and bread. Gross. However, after one of the owners talked up the bruschetta I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it. I am now going to trust him with my life. It was DELICIOUS. I don't know what they do to their bread but it soaks up so much flavor and works incredibly well with the wonderfully marinated tomatoes it carried. It was tasty without being soggy. The calamari was crispy and not too oily (always a plus and evidently harder to do than it sounds). However, the crowning glory of the night goes to their tomato/mozzarella. It was topped with the most AMAZING balsamic vinegar glaze I have ever had. That's saying a lot considering I have an intense love affair with all things EVOO and balsamic. Evidently they home make it and it is not sold to the general public. Trust me, I asked. We also got a spinach and crab dip which was heavenly. Served with fresh tortilla chips it takes Maryland's best known food (Maryland's blue crab) and mixes it with a standard appetizer staple. Not only that, it was FILLED with chunks of sweet crab meat. There's no skimping whatsoever. For our entree we decided to share two small pizzas. One Puttanesca and one standard Margherita (it's called something else there though which I can't remember at the moment). The Puttanesca was innovative and very tasty. It had artichoke, olives and capers, melted wonderfully with fresh cheese and tangy tomato sauce. Everything's made to order and the ingredients are very fresh. The Margherita was good- nice, sweet plum tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and sweet basil. The portions were perfect and the crust was doughy but thin enough without stirring me into a carb frenzy. Also, I was told you can ask for it extra crispy. The restaurant is sizable and tucked away into the King Farm's shopping center. They have a bar area and if the lights were just a little dimmer it'd be a perfect wine bar for some boozin' and schmoozin'. They do not have an official "drinks menu" yet (only a wine list) but don't think that stops them from having a fully stocked bar capable of all your hard liqour fantasies. Oh, and don't fret- rest assured that they will have all their cocktails on paper soon enough. Just you wait. Definitely a great find and worth a try. And as defined by a Yelp four stars, YAY! I'm a fan.
(4)Maria M.
Great meal! The ambience of the place was very warm and homey with red walls and hanging lights. The food was pretty much amazing. We started of with 2 appetizers split between the 4 of us girls. The first one was the spinach and crab dip. Ummm, they definitely did not skimp out on the crab. It was so full of crab, that my chips would break if i try to scoop a big bite of it. I ended up just taking the crab dip with my spoon, put it on my chip and eating it that way. Loved it. The other appetizer was a sampler with calamari, bruschetta, and crapes (tomato, mozarella, and basil with balsamic vinegar on top.. i think it's called crapes?)... the calamari and the bruschetta was delicious, but I think I fell inlove with the tomato/mozarella/basil/balsamic vinegar. Mmmmm mmm mmm... i don't know what they put in their balsamic but it was heavenly. =P We then ordered 2 pizzas to split between the 4 of us and they definitely did not disappoint. Puttanesca pizza and Margharita (sp?) pizza. The first one was good, but I'm not a big capers (taste kinda like olives) fan so it wasn't my favorite. The Margharita one was pretty much awesome. Made with mozarella, tomatoes and basil, with a crunchy thin crust... mmm mmm mmm! I loved it =) We also met the owners of the place who just happened to be sitting at the bar that night, so of course, they made sure we had a great time. Definitely try this place out! Their bar is fully stocked and I'm sure they will try to make whatever you ask them =) So big yay for this place! YAY!!
(4)Emily S.
The lunch buffet is a great deal and very tasty! Love the mussels (in garlic and wine) as well as ravioli, chicken, steak, salads (including a greek salad w feta and a great dressing) and of course pizza. A great find! Only one issue - get there before one pm or you have to wait while they refill the popular items.
(4)Julie W.
went to dinner here a few months ago and i must say it was far from good. i ordered some salmon dish and it had the fishiest smell as soon as it was placed in front of me. i took three bites and it tasted worse than it smelled. i decided to try some of the pasta...only to find that the fishy taste had infiltrated the pasta. needless to say i stopped eating. after 30 minutes of the food settling i became incredibly sick and threw up as soon as i got home...i'm surprised i was able to hold it in for that long. i ended up missing work the next day due to STILL being sick. after this experience i've had to slowly reintroduce salmon into my life. a fish i once loved but had done me wrong. thanks for that, fontina grille. i will never be back.
(1)Kathleen M.
Fontina Grille is a staple when I come to MD to visit the fam. Solid dining experience with some pretty delicious entrees--I've sampled the rich, but delectable shrimp risotto and the shrimp scampi most recently, although I think my Mom was the winner last time we went in with the salmon entree. Meals come with some warm, tasty foccacia (with oil for dipping) and soup or salad (no iceberg, which is a plus!). They also have a fantastic lunch buffet that includes salad, soup, mussels, some of their tasty pizza, and typically 1-2 entrees. The space is well laid out such that you don't feel cramped and the decor is nice. However, this place doesn't ever make me feel that I'm in an environment that is worthy of the food. Tables and chairs are a bit more TGIFridays or Olive Garden than one would expect and the lighting is a bit bright. Service is attentive, but somewhat overly so, but this may be because last time we actually hit up the early bird special (an unfortunate consequence of having parents over 60) and there weren't too many people in the restaurant. Nice wines by the glass and some tasty desserts (try the tiramisu!) round out the mix. Overall, a nice place to go out for a dinner with familiy or friends. If you're looking for a place to impress your date, though, I'd head somewhere else because the ambiance is lacking a bit here.
(3)Enlai W.
Decent food. Horrible service. Had to get our own menus. Severely under staffed. Owner and Waitress wouldn't light candles outside in the dark, because they were "too busy". Said we could light them ourselves if we want! Waited a while for food and got order wrong... don't go on a busy night... and don't expect courtesy when they are busy...
(2)Lauren J.
Decent enough. It's not the worse place you could go to, it's not by far the best. If your looking for a cheap lunch buffet option with lots of carbs and sauces, walkable to your work, this is it. Don't seek this place, if your coming from Bethesda or DC, it's not worth the trip. The happy hours on Thurs night are very reasonable and about the only reason I'd consider going back. I think 2 glasses cost me about $15 with tip included, so not a bad HH option...
(2)Kim S.
Two words - steak salad. Trust me you won't be disappointed. Their pizza, especially the BBQ chicken one, is also quite the tasty choice. Nice place for happy hour with a few coworkers but beware, the sun hits the bar side of the building right after work. Add their fire burning oven and it can get a bit toasty.
(4)Nicole C.
I stopped in for the first time yesterday. I sat at the bar and the service was great. The staff seemed friendly. I ate the grilled salmon and it was yummy. They made it with lots of garlic which is how I like it...I will be back.
(4)Sara N.
Fontina Grille is another nice find out in Kings Farm. I had the white pizza and it was verrrry good. I wanted to eat the whole thing! Fontina Grille has a good amount of vegetarian options. Other than the white pizza, they have a New Yorker and a Puttanesca pizza, which I haven't tried, but I doubt would please everyone. Capers and artichokes sound like a weird combination- and not necessarily in a good way! They also have salads, 5 pasta choices (capellini, broccoli penne, spaghetti, ravoli and manicotti) and a sandwich. However, it's not very vegan-friendly. Dishes are cheese heavy, except for a few salads. The waiter was very attentive throughout and they filled up our water a lot. The decor was really lovely too: black, red, and perhaps mahogany? I really thought it was pretty. A word to the ethical vegetarian, they do serve veal here. I'm not sure why higher end restaurants insist of serving that, but it's there. If you're into happy hours, they have them Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (ladies only), Friday, a wine night on Tuesday from 4-7. Happy eating!
(3)Ruth S.
The best Itlalian food I've had in a long time! The Penne Ala Vodka is so incredibly fabulous... The depth of flavor & blend of seasonings is superb!!
(5)N E.
I have had brunch, lunch and dinner at this place many many times.... And there is a reason I go back there.....this place is very cozy, the food is great and you can sit there for couple hours, eat, drink, catch up with your friends and there are no eyes waiting for you to leave so they can grab your table like other fancy, trendy restaurants....and the service is excellent....
(5)Leyali R.
I have been meaning to write a review for this go-to staple of mine in Rockville for some time. FG is nestled in the middle of King Farm, and just a quick jaunt from my office. I often order lunch from here, and have stopped in after work for dinner as well. My vegetarian favorites and the casual, warm neighborhood environment here are what keep me coming back. I regularly order the minestrone soup, which is always tastes really fresh and is a perfect light option on some days with their focaccia bread. Their margherita pizza has a fantastic crust, flavorful cheese, and is plentiful with the tomatoes and basil (I note this as its a pet peeve of mine when restaurants skimp on such things). But my favorite entree by far is the capellini d'angelo. I always request that they toss in some spinach and the combination of flavors is heavenly- the perfect blend of garlic in the light olive oil sauce compliment the tang of the tomatoes extremely well. I have also had occasion to try their eggplant parmesan to go, and despite an hour-long drive home, I found the eggplant was still surprisingly crispy (an amazing feat for this sort of dish) and seasoned very well. Dining companions who have tasted the grilled salmon dinner and the fried calamari appetizer recall both fondly, and I've ordered a platter of their caprese salad appetizer for a party of mine that was a complete hit as well. The service at Fontina Grille is always friendly and helpful, and the owner of the place is an absolute darling! His personal touch ensures all who dine at the restaurant have a special experience, and he will go to any length to ensure all is right with your order. Service of such nature always speaks volumes to me, and I highly recommend Fontina Grille as a great local place for lunch, date night, or otherwise.
(5)Greg S.
Great place if your looking for good Italian food. The staff all take care of you and go the extra mile to make your dining experience enjoyable. Very well kept and outside dining area are what brings so many back here. As a bonus this place is awesome for NFL games. Many Eagles Fans here - may need to paint it green :)
(5)Melissa U.
The food at Fontina Grille is enjoyable and reliable to be the same quality each time. The staff is friendly and the owner stops by the tables to say hi and see how your meal is. I have been eating there for years now, and bring folk there when they are visiting me. My favorite dish is the Shrimp Risotto. I have also enjoyed the spinach manicotti, lasagna and chicken brunella just to name a few. Hint: Check for daily specials. I have enjoyed their ealy bird special and their Monday night pasta night. This is definitely a goto restaurant for me.
(4)Deena H.
We came here for dinner with my husband's relatives. We started with pelligrino and calamari. The calamari was below average and tasted rubbery. We also ordered artichoke spinach crab dip. I didn't try it but my husband did and he said it was very good. For my main meal I had the sea bass which was excellent! It had capers, lemony sauce with roasted veggies. The sea bass itself was crispy on the edges and tasted so so good. The service is top notch! I would say the food is average (not all but the calamari for sure ) but the service makes this place stand out. There's plenty of parking outside so don't worry. It is a fairly large restaurant with a full bar. The dessert was also average but there were multiple choices. We had the tiramisu, chocolate cake and a large ice cream. It was good but like I said, average. I could see myself coming back here because of the excellent service.
(4)Fred K.
Solid 4 stars for their delicious lunch buffet. $10.98 per person plus soda (unlimited refills) $1.98. They will always have in the lunch buffet the following: a big crock of soup, two kinds of pizza (cheese and white pizza), cheese ravioli, mussels, beef tips, rice, steamed veggies, various salads, and my favorite chicken dish. The server does take your dirty plates pretty fast and refills your drinks in a timely manner. It's not too loud do you can have a good meal and conversation with your dining guests. I wish the parking was a bit better though. You have to park near the Safeway and walk over to Fontina Grille. It's one of the few places in King Farm worth going too. Nicks Chophouse is the other place I can think of that has table service in King Farm.
(4)Joshua D.
Went here for a work event. Service was fine, everything was OK. I noticed some things that are traditionally served a certain way are lacking respective elements here. The seating is a little cramped, and it was a little warm inside. Overall a fine place to hang out I guess.
(3)Sunshine C.
OMG the Rosemary Foccaccia with the dipping sauce!!!! I could just eat this ALLLLLLLLLLLL Day. I was struggling between ordering the Spaghetti with Marinara and meatballs or the Spaghetti Carbonara... i chose the earlier. My meal came with a Caesar salad. Spaghetti was okay... nothing special about it or stood out about it. Caesar Salad is your average salad.... i also had the creme brulee which again was okay, and average. i shouldve ordered the pizza since that what everyone is raving about... but i wanted pasta. My server was friendly and tended to me well. At the end of the day would i remember this place with all the places i travel to and eat? - No. But when i eat foccaccia from here on out, i will flash back to that one place in Maryland where i cant really remember what I ate, but that Rosemary bread they had was off the chain.
(2)Lauren B.
My husband and I have been coming here for a few years and we absolutely love it. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is quiet and quaint and the service is exceptional. We often share a few appetizers and a pasta dish and we have never been disappointed. We are also huge fans of their bread and dip and their pizza. You really can't go wrong here.
(5)Victoria C.
Pizza is pretty amazing. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza and it's pretty hard to find a good one in Maryland. The pizza is ALMOST like the New York style ones. I got the vodka pizza which I haven't seen anywhere except in NYC. It's pretty similar. The crust isn't oily at all, which is a blessing considering how Pizza Hut and Domino's treats their crusts. Everything else is okay. The atmosphere is really clean. The waiters are all extremely nice. Floors and tables have a very clean feel to it. The rest of the food is okay. The pasta is just average as well as the sandwiches. Mixed drinks could be a bit better, but that's only according to my dad. Basically, just get the pizza. It's delicious!
(4)Brian L.
$12 Italian lunch buffet. Pretty standard offerings - pizza, mussels, cheese ravioli, meatballs, beef with mushrooms, mixed vegetables, saffron rice, chicken., salad bar. My personal favorites were the pizza, meatballs, and beef with mushrooms. I must admit, food was average, but for the price and service, definitely a good value. I'd come back again.
(3)Steven W.
I'm giving Fontina the old 4 Stars for a "Neighborhood" restaurant. That means don't drive 30 miles to eat here, but if it's in close proximity you'll love it. I'm happy to live in close proximity. Fontina is that place where you can eat any night and count on a good, simple, tasty, Italian meal. Whether you are ordering pastas, pizza, fish, or veal, you won't be sorry. Everything is flavorful and fulfilling. Entrees come with a salad which makes it a nice value as well. The staff is always friendly and they make you feel like regulars, even when you're not. It's also a great place to take the parents, or go for larger family gatherings. Just a solid Italian option in Rockville...and the best restaurant in King Farm by a long shot!
(4)Ashley W.
Lunch buffet is off the chain! Bonus points because you can take it to go! Mussels, pizza, salad, pasta, rolls, it's all here. For 9.99 or 10.99 or something. Extra bonus points because they purchase their food from local farmers. Great deal and good food. It is not a gourmet Italian place it's just a local place that hits all the right spots- pasta, meat, bread and sauce. I mean we ain't in Italy!
(4)Drew J.
Food was great but service was terrible. We asked for bread, the waitor said they're making it. Understandable, except the bread came out cold. i.e. they weren't making it. I asked for water, no water came. 10 minutes later I flagged down the manager and politely re-asked for water. No apology and said "the waitor is busy". Apparently this is the first restaurant in history with busy waitors. The waitor never asked us how we were doing. The waitor got the specials mixed up, so when the bill came, there were extra charges. I asked for the manager again, and the manager said "our waitor wouldn't tell you guys that". I said "well, he did." Manager said "no he didn't". (For the record, the manager was not there when we ordered) We gave very low tip. Hopefully they'll improve their service and stop making excuses.
(1)Paul M.
Great pizza! We came in just before the kitchen closed and everyone was kind and the food was great
(4)El W.
Got More for your money here then most of the restaurants in the area My guest had a salmon Salad and I had a House Salad and the Wild Mushroom burger, Both of our meals were too much for us to finish so we did get a to go box. The food was cooked perfectly and served with a smile and expertise. The waiter also knew the menu and the specials. Will come again
(4)Casey K.
Food was great but the star count is low for terrible service. The crab Caesar salad was awesome while the steak salad I had a bite of was also spectacular. The rub of the meal came as soon as our waitress appeared. She practically ignored my brother when he ordered his drink that we weren't sure if she heard his order. My dad ordered soup, and she brought out a salad instead (proving that she doesn't listen). She was condescending and rude on all fronts and we will not be back.
(2)Tao W.
Foods are kind of greasy. Lunch menu contains only sautéed chicken, no steak or decent seafood. Service is very good though.
(2)Jeff G.
I have been here twice. Once for lunch and tonight for dinner. I really like this place. Its in a cool area and they have a broad menu from pizza to pasta to steaks. I sat at the bar but they have a very nice dining room. They have a decent selection of beers and around 6 on tap, a nice wine list with a decent "by the glass" selection, and a full bar for about any cocktail you can imagine. When I came for lunch I had a pasta dish. It was chicken Saltimbocca. I was impressed. Beautifully done, lots of flavor, and an all around great experience. Tonight I really wanted to try one of their specialty pizzas but I am trying to eat healthier so I went with the Sea Bass with vegetables and a lemon wine sauce. The fish was perfect. Nice and crisp on the outside and flaky and moist on the inside. The vegetable were perfect. They still had a nice crunch but obviously not raw. The sauce was my only issue. It seemed they forgot the wine in my lemon wine sauce. It was so bitter I could not eat the vegetables. Thankfully that sauce was not on my fish or I wouldn't have been able to eat it. It was funny because the bartender said "Do you not like vegetables?". I laughed because I wasn't going to say anything. I love vegetables. I vacuumed down my salad like I was homeless and hadn't eaten in days. I told her my opinion and she was very nice and offered me a different side or some sort of concession. I wasn't looking for anything other than giving honest feedback. The service both times has been good. I would definitely come back.
(4)Kyle F.
The wait staff is younger people who are just trying to make a few extra bucks. Not very professional and just left a bad taste in my mouth. The food is actually not that bad, it's not your hole in the wall Mom and Pop shop straight from Napoli but just looking from the outside on the street you get the feeling it's just Americanized Italian bar and grille food. If you want really good Italian food and service, hit up Il Pizzico in Rockville, it's only a 4-minute drive away. EDITED: Went back for dinner, the younger wait service was no where in sight. Wish Yelp would give half stars, rank it 2 1/2 out of 5.
(2)Shawn H.
Good food but haggard service. We visited on a Friday night so you expect them to be busy but the service was not great. We tried the mussels, a caprese salad, pizza, spaghetti, and a chicken dish and all were good. But the waiter disappeared for long stretches, he brought the wrong entree for one in our party and it took forever to get the bill. At least the prices were reasonable.
(3)Mark L.
I wish I could review the food at Fontina but we never made it past the waiting area. We made a 7:00 pm reservation with Open Table, when we arrived the host told us they were more crowded than expected. We were asked to wait "no more than 15 minutes" but an hour later we were still waiting and gave up. Throughout this experience the staff seemed completely overwhelmed. Other people arrived with reservations and were similarly kept waiting. The wait staff's response was to avoid eye contact, abandon the hostess station, and when they did speak with waiting customers, it was to blame them. I was told i should have made our reservation at least six hours previously ("then why did you accept my reservation when you did?" I asked.) All in all, an awful experience.
(1)Bobbi Z.
I'm in town for a week for a class and staying at a nearby hotel. I had a ton of work to do but needed to unwind. After looking at a few neighborhood options online, i grabbed my laptop and asked for a small booth in back. The server was easy -going, understood my pace and pleasant. The house chianti was perfectly priced and my rockfish salad hit the spot. The ambiance was just right for 7pm on a tuesday. I was relaxed for the first time all day and pleasantly productive.
(5)Rita W.
My SO and I come here most Monday nights for the special. Buy one pasta, get the second pasta for $2. I think they run specials every day of the week and they also have an early bird special from 4-6PM on weekdays. Both of us LOVE the Chicken Brunello. None of the other pastas stand a chance against it. Also, we add a side caesar salad (+$2). The caesar salad here is also really fresh and tasty. My guess is that the parmesan cheese they use is aged perfectly to my taste. Tried the lasagna once and was disappointed from it's flavor and presentation. Service is always on point. I haven't experienced any server being rude and they've always been very accommodating.
(4)Stephanie C.
I was really impressed with this place, thinking it would hardly register a notch above an Olive Garden. Doesn't help that it is nestled in a development of cookie-cutter houses built on a former farm ("King Farm"). But instead, I enjoyed a great meal. They offer a variety of wines, many imported, and hot, satisfying food. I had the Cioppino with a small salad, served with fluffy (!) Italian bread and dipping oil. For dessert, a particularly wicked Bomba. My friend treated herself to the scampi, a salad, and creme brulee. We enjoyed a wonderful meal. Good service; food plentiful and hot. I liked the place. Parking is so-so. It is a long-ish but not impossible walk from Shady Grove Metro.
(4)Jessica L.
Service has improved a great deal. The host is very friendly and the server was on point. Food was amazing. Love their pizza and love the lunch buffet. Just get there early for the lunch buffet so you don't get the bottom of the bowl if you get there near the end.
(4)Lisa C.
Used a groupon to try this place out. 1. Waited a good 10 min to be acknowledged at the front. This should have been the first sign. 2. Got seated and then had to wait another 15 to get our order in. 3. Bread that was served was stale. 4. 45 min later we got our food. The calamari was fried in old oil. It was disgusting. And the rest of our order consisted of 2 salads. One mozzarella caprese and a caesar salad....not so complicated. We left with a belly ache. Needless to say, never going back.
(1)Nadrina N.
Way overpriced for the quality. Not any better than most can make at home. Mediocre food and mediocre service. The place likely is surviving on its location, we wanted to find a decent place for dinner and since there weren't too many other options in King Farm. My friend even left almost his whole dish in the plate and when I tasted it I realized why. Not inedible by any stretch just not worth the price, the sauce was watery and bland, tasted little different than pasta from a pizza take out. If you're going to spend your money on a decent meal, unless you're strapped for time and need just something close, I would go the extra couple miles to a decent restaurant.
(2)Abegail A.
Happy hour daily from 4:30-7:30pm. What?! The fact that Fontina Grille's happy hour ended at 7:30pm drew me to this restaurant. A little after 7pm on a Wednesday, the bar area was full. There are a good amount of stools, several high tops, and a couple tables lining the bar. We were able to snag a table. The chairs weren't very comfortable, so I was glad two seats opened up at the bar. Their HH specials included discounted beer and wine, as well as $5 appeteasers. Decided on a glass of pinot grigio and the mussels caprese (in tomato broth) to start. The mussels caprese was tasty and the portion size was generous, especially for $5. The tomato broth was flavorful and was a nice dipping sauce for their bread (which was a little boring and over toasted). The mussels were fresh, most of the meat were plump and not overcooked. For the main, we ordered a large New Yorker Pizza (homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella- $17) with pepperoni ($1.70 extra). The pizza came out super hot, so we waited awhile before grabbing a slice or else the cheese totally would have slid off. The pizza was okay. Did it remind me of a pizza from NY? I guess so. It was thin and foldable. Service was good. Our glasses were never empty. The bartender was friendly. I'll be back to check out their weekly specials and other menu items.
(3)Art K.
Food quality and taste is average or what can be expected in this area. Service is a hit or miss. One time my wife and I walked into the restaurant and we're totally ignored and stood there for a few minutes to be seated. We just walked out. My wife hasn't been there since; I have been there for business meals. I suspect that because my wife and I weren't dressed up (in workout clothes) we were ignored.
(2)Harris H.
Had a horrible experience with a waiter on the way delivery. Waiter on the way was awesome, but the one entree was horrid and we basically threw it away. My sister had experienced a similar experience the night before but at the restaurant with the same entree. 2 weeks ago, Ali, the owner contacted my via yelp and offered to send a coupon to invite us back after seeing my negative review. We have been very regular customers for years and many larger group celebrations we spend there as well. I amended my update to positive due to him reaching out by yelp to offer to fix it, even though this was 2 weeks after I submitted my complaint on the website. To this day, 2 weeks later, I have yet to receive any coupon in the mail after replying with my address. There are TONS of great italian restaurants in the area so I feel no need to stress over this one. I have told my wife, I am done and we will never go back. In addition, I am making sure that all my friends that I have suggested to go here are aware of the situation and how it was handled. The last few times we have been there we were not real happy anyway. One time we asked for parm cheese for our food and watched the waiter grab an open cup with a spoon from an adjacent table, that another couple was using, and just set it on our table. Time to move on.
(1)Jesse W.
This place was awesome! All their food tasted very good and never smacked you in the face with Italian. A lot of Italian places overuse garlic and this restaurant used very little but knocked it out of the park with great tasting food. Only 4 stars because of the wait staff. The wait staff was very good but my waiter was working 8 to 10 different tables so unfortunately I was the smallest bill. Not his fault but whoever schedules people bring more waiters in!!!
(4)Cheetos H.
Years ago, we went to this on e fabulous restaurant. It's been years since we ate there and decided to give it a try. We went there last week for lunch. The lunch buffet looked lacking so we ordered a la carte. I had the chicken marsala and my husband ordered the Chesapeake pasta. Our food was so bland, I didn't even bother taking the leftovers. Chicken marsala is supposed to be a bit lemony bit it was slightly sweet and bland. It was so poorly executed. There were only a few mushrooms and I don't know about you but chicken Marsala is supposed to have quite a few. I didn't taste any lemon at all. My husband's Chesapeake pasta was supposed to have crab meat but there was hardly any in his dish We tried putting parmesan cheese to make it more palatable but even that didn't work. This restaurant lost its spark. Don't bother.
(1)Michelle L.
This was absolutely terrible! We ordered carry out. They messed up my order. I wanted penne pasta with sausage. I got penne with chicken. The chicken was disgusting! ! The peanut butter cheesecake did not have any flavor. I will never go back here again! !
(1)Jen L.
Okay, standard Italian food in a comfortable standard setting with superior customer service. The bread was pretty soft and very flavorful. The appetizer was okay - a bit soft and not as crispy or fresh as some other restaurants. The main entree was not especially flavorful and not especially tender, but still edible and above average in deliciousness. All in all, the food was pretty good, but did not stand out or "wow" me. On the other hand, the service from the server was quite phenomenal. He was very courteous, very attentive, and very patient. The setting was slightly odd - a bit like a more upscale pizza shop - the red walls, yellow lamps and yellow accessories, and odd "pizza-shop-like" shapes in the glass were interesting. It was like a small-town restaurant that was trying to be upscale. I think the setting would be improved if the colors didn't clash (red and yellow).
(3)Merlyn R.
I've eaten here for lunch several times, and while I usually get their salmon salad with Raspberry vinaigrette, I have enjoyed their large lunch buffet. It's the best restaurant in King Farm so can get pretty crowded day and night, but I highly recommend it!
(4)Ken S.
Great food, nice place. This is the second time our family has eaten here and all of the food has been delicious. Nice atmosphere, great food And good portions for the price. Can get crowded so reservations are a good idea. Will definitely visit again!
(5)Cyn K.
Great Italian restaurant with fantastic service. Been going almost every week for months now with my parents who live in King Farm and we have enjoyed every meal there. Best meatballs in the county imo. Must try the Pizza ala Vodka and Fettucine Bolognese. Great wine selection.
(5)Eddie K.
We only eat their lunch buffet so I can't comment on their regular lunch or dinner entrees. The lunch buffet is awesome. It is $10.99 a person (doesn't include soda) and they offer two different pizzas, a pretty good selection of food and some cold salads. They usually have their white pizza and cheese pizza. Those are my favorites. Most of the times they have mussels, some pasta dishes, this really good chicken dish and chicken salad.
(4)K R.
Don't bother with eating here. The food is barely edible. I had the fried calamari and it tasted like fried rubber. Honestly, the worst calamari I have ever had. We also got chicken tenders for the kids, and they were not good at all. For the quality of food, they are very overpriced. Save your money and do not dine here.
(1)Kate M.
This is a great neighborhood gem in King Farm. If I was to give the stars just on the pizza it would be 5 stars. The Shrimp diablo pizza is fantastic and my goto item, but I have enjoyed the vegetable pizza and the honey pizza too. Really can't go wrong with the pizza. I always order pizza, the person I come with changes it up. Last time he had the wings and said they were good. He has had the pasta a few times and hasn't been terribly impressed. The Crab dip and calamari are also pretty good. For dessert I have had the tiramasu, my only complaint is I wish the piece was bigger:) The service can be hit or miss. The last time I came and sat on the patio it was great, but I have come before and sat inside and it was lacking. The owner or manager is ALWAYS hustling about and super friendly, which is appreciated.
(4)Susan M.
I don't know about the rest of the menu but their steak salad is freakin' DELICIOUS. My co-workers opted for the lunch buffet that looked pretty darn good. Great lunch spot - I'll be back for that salad.
(4)Steve G.
One word of caution, the house salad dressing is a bit tart so you may want to opt for the Caesar. After multiple trips here this is not only our favorite Italian but our favorite local hangout. Mussels Fontina are FABULOUS, pizza's are great, every meal we have had here has been excellent. Great service and value. Highly recommend.
(5)Vincent E.
Over the last 10 years, gathering at the Fontina Grille for a great lunch or dinner has become a family tradition. The lunch buffet is great, especially if you're looking for a break from the typical burrito/pizza "on-the-go" lunch and want something more substantial. Our family favorite is the mussels on the lunch buffet. I'd recommend Fontina Grille for anyone looking for the feel, flavor, and personality of one of the neighborhood's family-oriented italian restaurants.
(5)Mike M.
First visit. They put out a buffet at lunch. Not a buffet fan and really it's kind of disgusting to see these tables of people going back again and again for plate after plate. So, that out of the way, the menu looks nice, had a steak salad which was very good. The steak was prepared as I ordered it and was generously applied to the salad along with a tasty dressing. It was topped with string-thin onion rings. The waitress was attentive, kept my tea glass full, and service was efficient. I'll be back and look forward to trying more menu items.
(3)Christina S.
this place! The owner Ali, is fantastic. Friendly, helpful and runs a great restaurant. I stick to my usuals, the steak salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegarette, fresh mozzarella capresa, crab cakes, pizza and the meatball appetizer. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, the staff attentive and friendly. Easy to locate, plenty of parking and quick if you're in a hurry. My girls and I have weekly lunches here and it's one of my favorites.
(5)Rick R.
Ali is very personable and the food is consistently tasty. In my opinion, this is a "guaranteed winner" to chose anytime you want a delicious meal and good service.
(5)Kory S.
Fontina gets a 3-star in the grand scheme of eateries but IT IS THE BEST RESTAURANT NORTH OF ADDIE'S. We lived in Fallsgrove for 2 years and struggled to find our go-to place. Everything in fallsgrove was BAD and I mean BAD. King farm... Same jam. Literally chipotle was number one. We even had delivery from one Italian place and asked for a refund (the gave us store credit...touché). Then there was Fontina. It's not perfect, and maybe $2 over priced per entree. But still, we could come here any day and know we'd have a great meal. The pastas were all fantastic. My wife is full-on NY Italian and she even liked their meat sauce. Oh man and the bread w Parmesan and oil they give you-probably the best I've ever had as a premeal freebie. We even loved their house salad. Super fresh, GREAT olives. I ate it plain every time it was so good. In fact when we moved away we had to eat out for a week . We stopped in and had them set us up w a few orders of grilled chicken breasts, salad, and of course the bread. We had three days worth of great food at home. I also can't forget to mention the service. They are beyond nice. It's that kind of nice you see at restaurants that are struggling bc they want to make sure you come back. The same kind that successful places forego bc they no longer need to. Not here. I don't recall the guys name but I think he's a manager, has an accent I don't think is Italian. He is the nicest guy I've ever met. I wish I could tip him. The waitresses weren't always pro-style but it wasn't a problem. You may have to remind them about something or your coffee may run dry. That's about the worst of it. If you can remember that it's a restaurant in King Farm and notice that most servers aren't there again the next time your go it is understandable. I think there are two servers I saw with any regularity. Not a problem. That's suburbia. Oh and Pro Tip: go to the lunch buffet. Please. It needs to never go away. It's such a good deal.
(3)Damon K.
Atmosphere is really nice. Food and service were excellent. We make it a point to come here every time we're in town.
(5)Meredith H.
Fontina Grille is pretty good - I feel like a lot of it is overpriced for what you get, but only slightly. I love their Ricotta and Honey Pizza. Seriously, it's really great! The Sea Bass is excellent as well. I wasn't as impressed with the Shrimp Risotto, or the Pollo alla Piccata, which is a shame, because the latter is a personal favorite. Hopefully, I'll go again and have something that really wows me! I have high hopes, and I look forward to going back and finding something special.
(3)Tom C.
I come here for the lunch buffet and it's pretty satisfying. The selection is decent and there's plenty of meat for my inner carnivore. The ravioli is amazing. The pizza is pretty good. mussels, steamed veggies, soup, and fruit salad make for a pretty well rounded menu. They keep the buffet pretty well stocked. I've heard that ordering from the menu can take a while during lunch time. I want to find out more about the brunch.
(4)David D.
Everything here is always great. Very good chicken parm and seafood pastas. Prices are fair. The lunch buffet is great. Pizza ravioli chicken beef mussels and other things all for around 10 bucks is hard to beat. Give this place a try
(4)Jonathan L.
Nice neighborhood spot for a quick bite and a drink. $10 lunch buffet during the week is pretty good, although starts to get bare after 1:30pm. The sandwiches are the bar are a solid choice.
(4)J G.
Service is a crap shoot, but usually slow and with little personality. I've been going to this place many times now since I tried their pizza. I would recommend the Pizza a la Vodka. It features a creamy tomato sauce, cheese, bacon, sausage, and pepperoni. It's delicious! I've also tried the cannoli because they told me its from Vacarro's of Baltimore, MD (m y favorite pastry shop). The cannoli was good, not great. I think this is because its not as fresh as I am used to at Vacarro's. The drink selection is good, but pricey.
(3)Zara K.
i have to admit, despite some issues i have with their servers(which i havent had lately) king farm really wouldnt be as enjoyable to live in if there wasnt Fontina Grill there! i would give it four stars but the additional star is political in nature:P (and also because its a king farm gem!):) i havent tried all their dishes but i can give an overview of the ones i have...i dont dare taste the fancy shmancy ones because im very hard to please with food and i dont want to waste my money either...however here is a list of things i didnt waste my money on at all:) eggplant rollatini : i should get free eggplant rollatini since i advertise it everyday of my life...they really know how to make this delicious dish..the spaghetti that comes with it is really good too ( they cater the spaghetti aswell, i asked!) calamari: pretty good...actually il be fair... its quiite good mussels: a hit or a miss...and when a hit u cant stop eating them.....can be bad sometimes and then ur seafood sick for a month and cant even go the beach cos it reminds you of terrible seafood.. ravioli: had both kinds....its a safe meal to start with...you wont hate it, you wont love it, youll enjoy it but you know they can make it better! i have faith in you fontina!! (maybe use better pasta for the ravioli...please?:D) salmon: my hubby had a salmon dish off their special menu...ummm id give it three and a half stars.... peanut butter bomba : really good:D i had so much fun!!! (order it with fries) Fries: their fries are awesome...my favourite fries atm! Creme Brule : yumm....quite impressive, esp for the price. canolli: okay now the canolli im really impressed by, its comparable to authentic italian canolli and much better than il pizzicos....! and thats a compliment! PIZZA: now the pizza requires a seperate review to be fair........it really is delicious...i love thier pizzas..a lil tip...tell them to make it well done because its saucy and hard to eat sometimes...( i loveee the sauciness) five stars to ALL their pizzas but especially the new yorker HAPPY HOUR:....its as happy as it gets....:D five dollar appetizers, which include calamari AND mussels....pretty good deal complimentary bread: i love that bread...i always want some:$ SHRIMP Fra Diablo: Pretty decent.i would still avoid getting something too fancy but this was perfect. spicy, prawns were great, the pasta was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, i really enjoyed it a good basic prawn and red sauce dish perfected! (they also did apologize for bad service which i really appreciate and so i started going their again, since then i have had no such problems and i go their atleast once a week to have a great time...thankyou fontina!:)
(5)Cara K.
I have tried this place again and again (it's close to my house), but am disappointed every time. We have been for weekend lunch, happy hour, and dinner but always found the food subpar and the drinks are a crapshoot depending on the bartender. If you're looking for a beer or jack and coke no problem, but ask for a Margarita or Long Island and it gets iffy. The bread (made in house) is usually Ok, but it's not surprising to find a burnt piece in the basket. If you're looking for Americanized Italian food, you're better off going to Olive Garden as the entrees at Fontinas run $12-18 and the quality is about the same (reheated frozen food with pasta sauce on top).
(2)Vincent V.
Nice place. Good food. GREAT service. Will stop by again.
(5)Jessica N.
Fontina is a party in a neigborhood full of boring places. Seriously, over half of the King Farm shops are empty or uninteresting. Fontina is FUN and friendly!!! The food is good- consistently tasty. Their pizzas are our favorite thing to bring home and we thoroughly enjoy them! The drinks are good, the prices are good, the cheesecake is deeelicious. There are a couple bartenders that we adore and the atmosphere is good. When Lauren is at the bar, we have a blast. If we're in the mood to walk somewhere for dinner and a drink, we don't think twice. It's always Fontina. They always recognize us, ask how we're doing, treat us great and make me want to go back!
(5)Val V.
I beg to differ on those who liked their pizza. My Son got a plain cheese and the sauce had a taste which caught my attention. When he picked it up, cheese slid out of the pie. Would not recommend. Had the Calamari Siciliana, Eggplant Rollatini & Chix parmigiana and all are good. Serving size is good for 2-3. Service was great from Jose. Entrees are in the 12-20 range but serving is huge.
(3)Caroline M.
We went for the first time today, 2 adults and a 2.5 y.o. We were greeted by a really nice host, and the waiter was very nice too. Our son had buttered penne and a huge meatball, the portion was huge, so we had the leftover boxed. We shared the mussels for starter (delicious), then the risotto and the Chesapeake, with 2 glasses of wine. Everything was very good. The Chesapeake was light on the crab, but other than that it was lovely. We will be back.
(4)Charlie B.
Lauren (bar tenter) was awesome.... Food amazing. Service very fast ... Can't wait to come back.
(5)Jeff S.
Fontina is the best Italian eatery in King Farm, the key words being "in King Farm". This place is passable solely because Rockville in general and King Farm specifically has no high quality Italian fare. If you come from a city with a good choice of Italian restaurants, this place will be the equivalent of eating at an Olive Garden at best (no offense to the good folks at the Olive Garden). I was born and bred in NYC, so I grew up eating good pizzas and pastas. But I also lived in Rockville for a year and had the misfortune to eat here a few times. I was constantly underwhelmed with everything; the pizza, salads, and pasta are all very mediocre and the flavors are typically muddled. If your expectations are realistic then you can get a filling hot meal at a fair price. But 5 star Italian food it ain't.
(2)David B.
Wonderful family restaurant. We love their wide varieties of pastas and their specials are usually very good. In all of our visits, we have never had a problem with the wait staff, they always seem to go out of their way to provide excellant service.
(5)Mike K.
I like this place, the food is good, done well and quickly, prices are reasonable, wine selection is better than other places. My one comment is that happy hour drink discounts could be better. Tthey focus on the food quality, which I appreciate. Good Pizza too.
(4)Nikon Nysaya Nyah H.
My husband and I went there for lunch today. It was not what I thought it was. We got the buffet and it was cold nothing to offer and just a waste. The chicken and the rice dish was the only good thing on it. The service was slow and not really friendly to say. The food on the buffet toke for ever to refill and nothing was on the buffet worth $10.99. I won't be back.
(2)Linda F.
Fontina Grille has become our go to restaurant. Reservations are always honored. The managers and wait staff are terrific. We always feel well taken care of. The food is very consistent. Our granddaughter loves their fried calamari! We love the fish, steak and pasta!!
(5)Tina D.
This place sucks. Made a reservation for 7 and didn't get seated until an hour later. Host service unhelpful. As more people piled into the restaurant, hostess stand was unmanned. Seemed like nobody wanted to deal with the mess. Only reason why we stayed was because we had a gift card. Will never come back here again as food isn't even that great.
(1)A J.
I went with a friend and our 2 kids today for the lunch buffet. It was really busy around noon and the dining room was packed. I'd say that the buffet was good, kind of average, but for the price and the service, it was well worth it. The salads were nice, the pizzas were plain cheese and white, which were good but not super jazzy, the ravioli was also good and the meatballs were very plain. Their lunch was very basic. Not knock your socks off good but definitely not bad either. Nice place to grab a quick inexpensive lunch. We will be back. :)
(4)ken p.
Fontina Grille is a superb Italian restaurant that can be compared to the best of them. Over their short history, they have consistently improved & I feel privileged to know of this fine dining location tucked away in the King Farm neighborhood. I realized I must have hit a choice, some time ago on their brunch menu, that didn't measure up. This little glitch was promptly corrected & now the brunch menu is up to par with the rest of fine choices. Today I ordered the Grilled Samon & it was excelent. My honey got the fettucini as usual & it was better than it ever was before - and it was good before. Fontina seems to have a strong following of regulars & I think I will be one of them. Thank You & Happy New Year
(5)Susan G.
The restaurant has a good ambiance and a nice bar atmosphere. The restaurant area is pretty empty when I have been there so it is easy to sit a group of any size. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty good but it is hard to find healthy options on the menu. The bread that they serve when you come in is delicious. Some of my favorite items are spinach/artichoke pizza, peanut butter cheesecake, ahi tuna salad.
(3)Steve H.
Last minute Mother's Day brunch with my wife's grandma, booked through Open Table. The food was excellent! We had the Crab Benedict and Philly Omelet, and she had the Shrimp Scampi. Our server Alicia was very courteous and attentive. We'll have to come back for dinner sometime. Thanks Fontina!
(4)Isaiah W.
The food was really good and things were decently priced. Dishes to try are the Crab Caesar Salad or the Eggplant Parmesan! Would recommend for people in the area!
(4)Alias C.
Verdict: Ugly Folks, let's be real - the customer is always right, period. In short, a horrible experience and poor management toward customer satisfaction. The owner, yes the owner defended the poor service of the kitchen staff after my order was incorrectly prepared and no courtesy was extended to mitigate the situation. To be fair, a complimentary drink was offered but it was too little, too late. One might think that the owner would have had the foresight to grow customer base but instead he was argumentative and hostile. I actually had to pay after a battle of words...again, I was the customer. Oh well, if you desire to support this business, I wish you better luck than my experience. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in my thinking but customer satisfaction should always be on the menu - no charge.
(2)Rebecca T.
Fotina Grille has a wonderful lunch buffet. The pepperoni pizza has just the right mix of sauce so it is delicious. The Lasagne is out of this world. The buffet is worth the $10. The minestrone soup is good. I went with 3 other people and the service was great. When we went to pay, I paid originally with a credit card. One of the girls I was with wanted to split it down the middle and they accommodated us. The servers were pleasant and helpful. That gives stars in my book.
(4)Karena J.
Food is good enough for a quiet, intimate yet chic atmosphere. We like bringing our parents here because it's never too crowded or noisy and is consistent with pretty good food. Pastas are tasty and the mussels are good but slightly oily. Service can be extraordinary or subpar depending on who you get. Bar is nice and cozy for watching Monday night football (although they usually close before game's end). Outdoor seating is a great change of pace when the weather is nice.
(3)Nana L.
Never again. The service was not great and the food was subpar. My husband and I went to the Fontina Grille for Valentine's Day. When we arrived the restaurant was about half full and looked very lively. We were greeted by one of the surliest hostesses I've seen in a while. She was obviously not happy to be at work. We were seated quickly and our waiter came and took our order. We started with the calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was gummy and bland. My husband ordered Linguini with Clam Sauce and I got the Chicken Saltimbocca. My chicken was decent, but my husband's Linguini was less than best. We could have done better at home. I could have dealt with the mediocre food if the service had been better. I am a water drinker at restaurants. The best way to keep me happy is to keep my water glass filled. We got water at the beginning of the meal and no one ever came back to refill the glasses. If the restaurant had been really busy, I would have understood, but no water in a half-filled restaurant? Unacceptable. Finally, I just drank my husband's water and the water from my personal water bottle. The last irritation was when we got the check and we were charged for desserts that we didn't order. We alerted the waiter and he fixed the issue, but we won't be going back.
(1)Sara E.
Very poor customer service. Bartender failed to serve me first, even though I was at the bar longer AND a female. Then the bartender didn't offer me a menu and instead picked up her phone to chat w a friend and walked off. All the while I'm watching another employe casually finish her breakfast while her table was waiting for service and failed to wash her hands before returning to serve patrons. Left my drink untouched on the bar and left. They clearly don't need or want my service.
(1)Lucy B.
This used to be our local, neighborhood bar/restaurant we would come to a few times a month for solid pizza and apz. The service we had this past week was miserable. Our food wasn't what we expected, so we asked our waitress why it looked the way it did, "because that's what you ordered." Oh, OK, cool. Now, I totally understand if you goof and order the wrong thing but, this has never happened to us before here, we always order the same thing and we always get the order we expect. This tall, blonde, Russian (I think) waitress' response when I asked if we could please get the order we expected was "no, it would be a waste of this food." WEIRD. Then, we ordered 2 beers, twice. I noticed on the bill she didn't include one round which, I figured was her saying, my bad, have a beer on us. Nope, she had already given us the bill, in the leather black thing, as we were putting our credit card in the leather holder thing she came back, took the check she had already presented us with and said, "I forgot your last 2 beers, heres the updated check." Sweet. I do have to say that I never had this poor of service in all the times I came here, but, her piss poor attitude was offensive. The manager/owner always comes and says hello to us, super friendly. This girl though, no thank you. She kept practically ignoring us. There was another girl who kept checking our table and relaying what we needed to our waitress/bartender.
(2)Ronney B.
This is my favorite neighborhood anytime restaurant. This is my stand by usual place. I bring my friends and family. The food is great and the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask for?
(5)Bob S.
I AMA KF resident, so have been here many times and recommend it. The staff and owners recognize repeat customers and you quickly become family. If it's rush hour, the trick is to simply make clear to the wait staff what you want. The pizza is a bit expensive, but it is not Jerry's and if that is what you want, go there. If you ask, they will serve the simpler bar menu in the restaurant. The burgers and salads are both huge and great. Thanks for being the neighborhood bar and sports pub, too.
(5)Sam S.
4 stars because of a great lunch but you have to keep notifying the managers to get new pizza and steak. Steak, Salad and great cheese pizza is all I need to satisfy me for $10.95 lunch buffet. The service is good but it isn't great.
(4)Janice V.
My family and me came here for dinner with a groupon last friday night. I didn't think it would be so popular, or that I would have to wait 20 minutes at 7:45 pm or that it would smell like grease (not good). After we finally got seated, The waitress greeted us nicely, she took our drinks, and came back 5 minutes later. The crab and artichoke dipped we ordered for appetizer was okay with shredded crab, but very cheesy, which helped the dish. The 14" steak house pizza (steak, goat cheese, peppers, and onions) I didn't like very much since it had no char on the bottom of the crust, so the toppings kept falling down onto my plate. The veal saltimbocca entree that I ordered came with a solid layer of oil on top. I took it off because it didn't look healty or appetizing to eat. The penne pasta was undercooked, so when I had it as leftovers the next day, it was cooked perfectly! Overall the whole dining experience was okay, the food was mediocre, and the server could have been more attentative.
(3)Zachary A.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this place. A great place for families to go for a nice night out. The ownership changed last year, and the quality of the food has greatly increased. FOOD: (5 STARS) My party had the special of Chilean Sea Bass (special), the calamari marinara and the penne arrabiata (changed for linguini). We're Italian-Americans from Jersey, and the red sauces were just as flavorful as Service: This was the only disappointment. Server was attentive to the order, but failed to fill up water glasses promptly. I drink more water than a fish, and love to always have my glass full. The owner came and spoke with us and was EXTREMELY attentive. Overall, if you're looking for a decent family night out.
(4)R A.
Wow. Awful service, incompetent staff, incorrect orders, long (absurdly long) waits, MORE incorrect orders.... ridiculous. They did NOT earn my business. At least the place looked nice. (I had gone a few times before and had a fine experience....and then management changed and it all went to pieces. This experience was the lesser of a few less-than-stellar meals here. Tried to maintain loyalty to what was once a good establishment, but the poor service and disappointing quality don't merit returning customers.)
(1)Krad K.
We just ordered a Steak Pizza from Fontina Grill and it was amazing. The service was quick, the food quality is great. If you want to experience great pizza, check out Fontina Grill.
(5)Howard H.
I have eaten at Fontina Grille about a dozen (or more times). This place is a real find. I have tried fish, chicken, steak - everything that I have had has been very good. The staff and management are friendly and interested in a good dinning experience. I wish them the best; I think this place is a diamond. Those not giving it good reviews should try again.
(5)Georgia R.
I've been to Fontina Grille like three times and its always been a good experience for me. The staff is friendly the bartenders make good drinks and the pizza is da bomb!! Also the calamari is banging fried or sauteed and the mussels delish!!
(3)Jennifer M.
I gave this place 4 stars because the food is really good and the portions are huge. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer, and it would have been sufficient as a dinner entree. The chicken parm dinner was huge. All in all, the food and service were good. The atmosphere is okay, nothing great. A nice restaurant for a nice dinner date.
(4)Erica Y.
This review is for their lunch buffet only. At $10.99, you get a selection of two green salads, chicken/tuna/egg salads, soup, mussel in garlic sauce, one pasta, one cooked vegetable, two main entrees (usually a chicken and a beef, or fish), and more. Oh, also two types of pizza! I am sure I am forgetting other things, but what a deal! Everything taste pretty good too. Even if you are a picky eater I am sure you can find something you like. I highly recommend for lunch here.
(4)Ross M.
AVERAGE. NOTHING SPECIAL: This is what happens when you are hungry and just punch in Italian Restaurant into your GPS. You end up here... WHAT I HAD: calamari - typical, nothing special, small pieces soup - typical vegetable soup, nothing amazing salad - fresh salad, typical, not a whole lot going on ravioli - ordinary, not a lot to it, very plain penne napolian- very plain, not a lot of flavor CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant, this is honestly not it. I have no reason to go back. There has to be something better than this.
(2)Lianne Z.
Absolutely wonderful meal. A friend found this gem of a place and we had a fantastic girls night here. The decor is homey and pretty "trendy" for Rockville, MD (no offense Moco). Red walls, trendy glass arrangements and simple wood tables. We met the owners of the place who happened to be in that night- two funny and witty guys who definitely made sure our meal was more than pleasurable. We began with a sampler of their most popular appetizers- calamari, mozzarella/tomato/basil and bruschetta. Okay, first of all most of you know by now that I'm not a big carb eater so regular bruschetta holds no interest for me. It's tomatoes and bread. Gross. However, after one of the owners talked up the bruschetta I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it. I am now going to trust him with my life. It was DELICIOUS. I don't know what they do to their bread but it soaks up so much flavor and works incredibly well with the wonderfully marinated tomatoes it carried. It was tasty without being soggy. The calamari was crispy and not too oily (always a plus and evidently harder to do than it sounds). However, the crowning glory of the night goes to their tomato/mozzarella. It was topped with the most AMAZING balsamic vinegar glaze I have ever had. That's saying a lot considering I have an intense love affair with all things EVOO and balsamic. Evidently they home make it and it is not sold to the general public. Trust me, I asked. We also got a spinach and crab dip which was heavenly. Served with fresh tortilla chips it takes Maryland's best known food (Maryland's blue crab) and mixes it with a standard appetizer staple. Not only that, it was FILLED with chunks of sweet crab meat. There's no skimping whatsoever. For our entree we decided to share two small pizzas. One Puttanesca and one standard Margherita (it's called something else there though which I can't remember at the moment). The Puttanesca was innovative and very tasty. It had artichoke, olives and capers, melted wonderfully with fresh cheese and tangy tomato sauce. Everything's made to order and the ingredients are very fresh. The Margherita was good- nice, sweet plum tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and sweet basil. The portions were perfect and the crust was doughy but thin enough without stirring me into a carb frenzy. Also, I was told you can ask for it extra crispy. The restaurant is sizable and tucked away into the King Farm's shopping center. They have a bar area and if the lights were just a little dimmer it'd be a perfect wine bar for some boozin' and schmoozin'. They do not have an official "drinks menu" yet (only a wine list) but don't think that stops them from having a fully stocked bar capable of all your hard liqour fantasies. Oh, and don't fret- rest assured that they will have all their cocktails on paper soon enough. Just you wait. Definitely a great find and worth a try. And as defined by a Yelp four stars, YAY! I'm a fan.
(4)Maria M.
Great meal! The ambience of the place was very warm and homey with red walls and hanging lights. The food was pretty much amazing. We started of with 2 appetizers split between the 4 of us girls. The first one was the spinach and crab dip. Ummm, they definitely did not skimp out on the crab. It was so full of crab, that my chips would break if i try to scoop a big bite of it. I ended up just taking the crab dip with my spoon, put it on my chip and eating it that way. Loved it. The other appetizer was a sampler with calamari, bruschetta, and crapes (tomato, mozarella, and basil with balsamic vinegar on top.. i think it's called crapes?)... the calamari and the bruschetta was delicious, but I think I fell inlove with the tomato/mozarella/basil/balsamic vinegar. Mmmmm mmm mmm... i don't know what they put in their balsamic but it was heavenly. =P We then ordered 2 pizzas to split between the 4 of us and they definitely did not disappoint. Puttanesca pizza and Margharita (sp?) pizza. The first one was good, but I'm not a big capers (taste kinda like olives) fan so it wasn't my favorite. The Margharita one was pretty much awesome. Made with mozarella, tomatoes and basil, with a crunchy thin crust... mmm mmm mmm! I loved it =) We also met the owners of the place who just happened to be sitting at the bar that night, so of course, they made sure we had a great time. Definitely try this place out! Their bar is fully stocked and I'm sure they will try to make whatever you ask them =) So big yay for this place! YAY!!
(4)Emily S.
The lunch buffet is a great deal and very tasty! Love the mussels (in garlic and wine) as well as ravioli, chicken, steak, salads (including a greek salad w feta and a great dressing) and of course pizza. A great find! Only one issue - get there before one pm or you have to wait while they refill the popular items.
(4)Julie W.
went to dinner here a few months ago and i must say it was far from good. i ordered some salmon dish and it had the fishiest smell as soon as it was placed in front of me. i took three bites and it tasted worse than it smelled. i decided to try some of the pasta...only to find that the fishy taste had infiltrated the pasta. needless to say i stopped eating. after 30 minutes of the food settling i became incredibly sick and threw up as soon as i got home...i'm surprised i was able to hold it in for that long. i ended up missing work the next day due to STILL being sick. after this experience i've had to slowly reintroduce salmon into my life. a fish i once loved but had done me wrong. thanks for that, fontina grille. i will never be back.
(1)Crystal F.
This place is very cozy. The waitstaff is very friendly even if you just sit at the bar to watch the football game. But the food...ummm, nah. It was just...blah. It seemed like it had no seasoning, no creativity, no imagination.
(2)Kathleen M.
Fontina Grille is a staple when I come to MD to visit the fam. Solid dining experience with some pretty delicious entrees--I've sampled the rich, but delectable shrimp risotto and the shrimp scampi most recently, although I think my Mom was the winner last time we went in with the salmon entree. Meals come with some warm, tasty foccacia (with oil for dipping) and soup or salad (no iceberg, which is a plus!). They also have a fantastic lunch buffet that includes salad, soup, mussels, some of their tasty pizza, and typically 1-2 entrees. The space is well laid out such that you don't feel cramped and the decor is nice. However, this place doesn't ever make me feel that I'm in an environment that is worthy of the food. Tables and chairs are a bit more TGIFridays or Olive Garden than one would expect and the lighting is a bit bright. Service is attentive, but somewhat overly so, but this may be because last time we actually hit up the early bird special (an unfortunate consequence of having parents over 60) and there weren't too many people in the restaurant. Nice wines by the glass and some tasty desserts (try the tiramisu!) round out the mix. Overall, a nice place to go out for a dinner with familiy or friends. If you're looking for a place to impress your date, though, I'd head somewhere else because the ambiance is lacking a bit here.
(3)Enlai W.
Decent food. Horrible service. Had to get our own menus. Severely under staffed. Owner and Waitress wouldn't light candles outside in the dark, because they were "too busy". Said we could light them ourselves if we want! Waited a while for food and got order wrong... don't go on a busy night... and don't expect courtesy when they are busy...
(2)Lauren J.
Decent enough. It's not the worse place you could go to, it's not by far the best. If your looking for a cheap lunch buffet option with lots of carbs and sauces, walkable to your work, this is it. Don't seek this place, if your coming from Bethesda or DC, it's not worth the trip. The happy hours on Thurs night are very reasonable and about the only reason I'd consider going back. I think 2 glasses cost me about $15 with tip included, so not a bad HH option...
(2)Kim S.
Two words - steak salad. Trust me you won't be disappointed. Their pizza, especially the BBQ chicken one, is also quite the tasty choice. Nice place for happy hour with a few coworkers but beware, the sun hits the bar side of the building right after work. Add their fire burning oven and it can get a bit toasty.
(4)Nicole C.
I stopped in for the first time yesterday. I sat at the bar and the service was great. The staff seemed friendly. I ate the grilled salmon and it was yummy. They made it with lots of garlic which is how I like it...I will be back.
(4)Sara N.
Fontina Grille is another nice find out in Kings Farm. I had the white pizza and it was verrrry good. I wanted to eat the whole thing! Fontina Grille has a good amount of vegetarian options. Other than the white pizza, they have a New Yorker and a Puttanesca pizza, which I haven't tried, but I doubt would please everyone. Capers and artichokes sound like a weird combination- and not necessarily in a good way! They also have salads, 5 pasta choices (capellini, broccoli penne, spaghetti, ravoli and manicotti) and a sandwich. However, it's not very vegan-friendly. Dishes are cheese heavy, except for a few salads. The waiter was very attentive throughout and they filled up our water a lot. The decor was really lovely too: black, red, and perhaps mahogany? I really thought it was pretty. A word to the ethical vegetarian, they do serve veal here. I'm not sure why higher end restaurants insist of serving that, but it's there. If you're into happy hours, they have them Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (ladies only), Friday, a wine night on Tuesday from 4-7. Happy eating!
(3)Ruth S.
The best Itlalian food I've had in a long time! The Penne Ala Vodka is so incredibly fabulous... The depth of flavor & blend of seasonings is superb!!
(5)N E.
I have had brunch, lunch and dinner at this place many many times.... And there is a reason I go back there.....this place is very cozy, the food is great and you can sit there for couple hours, eat, drink, catch up with your friends and there are no eyes waiting for you to leave so they can grab your table like other fancy, trendy restaurants....and the service is excellent....
(5)Leyali R.
I have been meaning to write a review for this go-to staple of mine in Rockville for some time. FG is nestled in the middle of King Farm, and just a quick jaunt from my office. I often order lunch from here, and have stopped in after work for dinner as well. My vegetarian favorites and the casual, warm neighborhood environment here are what keep me coming back. I regularly order the minestrone soup, which is always tastes really fresh and is a perfect light option on some days with their focaccia bread. Their margherita pizza has a fantastic crust, flavorful cheese, and is plentiful with the tomatoes and basil (I note this as its a pet peeve of mine when restaurants skimp on such things). But my favorite entree by far is the capellini d'angelo. I always request that they toss in some spinach and the combination of flavors is heavenly- the perfect blend of garlic in the light olive oil sauce compliment the tang of the tomatoes extremely well. I have also had occasion to try their eggplant parmesan to go, and despite an hour-long drive home, I found the eggplant was still surprisingly crispy (an amazing feat for this sort of dish) and seasoned very well. Dining companions who have tasted the grilled salmon dinner and the fried calamari appetizer recall both fondly, and I've ordered a platter of their caprese salad appetizer for a party of mine that was a complete hit as well. The service at Fontina Grille is always friendly and helpful, and the owner of the place is an absolute darling! His personal touch ensures all who dine at the restaurant have a special experience, and he will go to any length to ensure all is right with your order. Service of such nature always speaks volumes to me, and I highly recommend Fontina Grille as a great local place for lunch, date night, or otherwise.
(5)Joan K.
We were goign to have a typical Thursday night dinner out with bf and friends and couldn't decide where to go, so we just decided to grab a bite in my neighborhood (King Farm Village) at this place. I had been once last year with my mother and haven't returned since because the experience was so mediocre. I'd read the positive yelp reviews so I was pretty hopeful we would be met by decent food and service this time. I should've just gone with my gut instinct that kept telling me, "Stay away! It's not worth it!" The wine list was SUCH a disappointment. I think I can recall ALL of their white offferings (two people wanted white that night which is why I can't remember any reds)- Cavit PG, Woodbridge SB, (I think just these first two alone are enough to set the overall tone of the wine list), J. Lohr Chard, and a spanish white (marques de la villa?). I probably sound like such a snot, and I'm not really trying to be one (ok, maybe just a little bit). There is nothing wrong with drinking any of the big value brands. A lot of them are very palatable, they're great values, and I like drinking them too. They are, however, NOT appropriate for serving in restaurants for $5/glass. Casual neighborhood restaurant aside, if your average entrees cost over $15, you really shouldn't be serving Woodbridge (let's not get me started on the fact that I don't think ANY restaurant should be serving woodbridge/cavit/beringer/etc. There are SO SO many GREAT, CHEAP boutique offerings that are still easy to obtain in Moco). I'll stop whining about wine (hee hee :P) and take a second to emphasize my BIGGEST complaint. They sat 4 people at what is technically a 2-top. It seemed as if this is the norm bc I noticed that ALL of their 2-tops had 4 chairs....this is horribly cramped and uncomfortable in general. Even MORE so when the tables aren't cleared properly. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think the decor was that trendy. I noticed in the bathroom that they have great soaring ceilings. Painting the entire restaurant red really seems to have diminished this great feature. Also, they need to move the hostess stand to a place you can see it as soon as you walk in. We felt kinda awkward looking around for a hostess for a couple minutes. While the bar seemed to be pretty busy here (perhaps the neighborhood singles?), the restaurant itself was mainly filled with older couples. Which is why our server must've taken half an hour to verify our 4 licenses when we ordered a bottle. We had a 29 year old, two 25 year olds and one 24 year old....yet she still scrutinized the IDs as if we were 16 year olds trying to get into a club with an open bar. I think service is where we had our main issues- in general, she was quite spacey, slow and just not on-point. She tried to take someone's food away while his fork was still in his hand! We probably could have done a better job of ordering, but the food was terribly mediocre as well. Everyone's entrees seemed really bland. Portion sizes weren't very large either. I think we're going to continue to drive the extra 2.5 minutes to Mamma Lucia's for weeknight Italian cravings. It's the same price, has STELLAR service, makes a yummier marinara sauce, and serves three times the food!!!
(2)Alicia P.
I Love this place, its great food, i love the crab ravioli, staff is very friendly and so do the owner........ Thanks for being around.....
(4)Young P.
I went here for a lunch since I was meeting a friend. I've ordered spaghetti and extra meatballs. Food was bit bland for me. Food - 2.0 Service - 3.0 Ambiance - 3.0
(2)Scott M.
We actually 1st stopped in about a year or so ago. Was quite pleased to try it as we had a coupon to use. However, after a quick scan of the menu even w/the coupon the prices were way out of range of what I am willing to pay for pasta so we left. Really had no plans of going back. Just to expensive for me and after all ,this isn't Ruth Chris's Steak House in Bethesda. Recently a Friend told me about this great lunch buffet she found in King Farm. I was quite excited to hear of a new spot. Turns out it wasn't a new spot it was Fontina Grill. I was immediately a bit sceptically but let her give me the complete low down. Sounded really good and for $11 per person which was quite reasonable considering what was being offered. I also consider her a great food and restaurant critic and value her opinion. Based on her recommendation, I gave it a try and wasn't disappointed. The buffet had a very nice selection, Soup, white pizza & regular pizza, mussels, ravioli, steak & chicken dishes, yellow rice and a vegi as well as 3 different kinds of salad to choose from and fixins, fruit and corn bread. I knew I was in for a lot of eating so I didn't have any of the soup or cornbread. The salad I choose was very good except for too many onions in my opinion. Luckily they were large enough chunks I could easily get them out. I tried everything else except the vegis and everything was very good. Well Worth the $11. Oddly, I found that this lunch buffet had a striking resemblance to a restaurant I used to visit called Cafe Mileto formerly located in the shopping center at Great Seneca & Mateny Rd, in Germantown. Not sure if it is the same owner or not but the sauce the mussels were in was identical to Cafe Mileto! (thats a good thing!!) My only complaint was that the food in the buffet was not kept up. Everything was empty until you asked for more with the exception of the pizza I had to ask the guy who spent a lot of time standing next to the buffet to refill each item I wanted. For example I went for the Greek looking salad. The bowl was empty. I asked him for more salad and he immediately went to the kitchen and refilled it. Ate my salad came back for Mussels and that tray was empty. Again asking this same guy for mussels. He ran to the kitchen and came back and said ready in 5 min. He did bring more but not many. Felt bad for the guy behind me but I took them all because I was running out of time and didn't want to wait again. Then went back to try the ravioli which I had noticed was empty when I was getting the mussels. It was still empty and the guy was still standing there at the buffet. I again asked him to refill the rav and he happily did but I again had to wait. After the ravioli I went back to try the steak and rice dish and you guessed it, no steak. Again the guy stands there looking at all the empty dishes on the buffet I asked him for steak and again he grabs the pan and heads for the kitchen. I went back to my seat to wait and before I got a chance to go back to the buffet he brought a plate over to my table which was really nice. I just don't understand why the heck they don't keep the buffet stocked or why he just stands there looking at the empty dishes and doesn't fill them on his own. So if you are in a hurry this place wont work because of this piece meal deal on the buffet. The idea of the buffet is so you can eat and run not spend all afternoon trying to get lunch. That is the only reason it didn't get 5 stars.
(4)kevin k.
Good food. lunch buffet is awesome (good pizza, mussle, chicken and salad) always crowded. the pasta is good to. check out their web site for other deals such as monday night pasta or happy hour.
(4)Lisa W.
Went there on there with a group of GF's on a Wed. night. We were seated in the rear of the restuarant, which was great since we can be a little loud. I look up and they are seating two table filled with children. They gave us a most inexperienced waitress. She took drink orders and it took approx. 30 min. for the drinks. Upon delivering the drinks, she had no clue who ordered what. There were two menus on the table and we asked for more since there were 11 of us. Her response.. uh let me see if we have any more. The place was fairly empty and you have no menus???? I ordered eggplant parm... the pasta was cold and had a weird taste. One lady at the table ordered ice tea and repeatly asked the waitress for sugar. She finally ended up walking to the table next to us and getting sugar from them (WTH). We went here last year with the same number of women and everything was fabulous that we decided to go back again this year. Will NOT recommend for 2011.
(1)Ginny H.
I've eaten lunch here twice in the last month, and I love the new menu, the manager's willingness to please, and the neighborhood feel of this place. They have great pizza, as well as fancier dishes. (I've eaten the pizza in New Haven, New York and New Jersey, so I'm experienced...)
(4)Joey R.
Only have done takeout from here and seem to gravitate toward the same thing every time. Service is quick and quality is good for the money. Never had a poor experience...
(4)Jeremy D.
I lived at the Farm for a while and this place was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I usually ordered the chicken marsala with spaghetti pasta. It is pretty good. The bread and olive oil they serve is excellent. The salads are also fresh. I remember the bruschetta is excellent as well. It's a nice neighborhood place, especially if you have a family with kids and want to go out for a decent dinner. At night the bar area could sometimes be mistaken for an episode of Cougar Town. Just an observation.
(3)