Cafe La Fontana used to be one of my favorite places to enjoy a meal with my husband. He took me there on Valentine's Day, planned to proposed to me there, we've celebrated anniversaries there, the whole bit. The key word in all of that is USED to be. Since they hired a new chef and tried to revamp their menu, the whole restaurant has gone downhill. They broke everything up into a la carte options, drastically upping the price of what used to come all as one. I used to order salmon or chicken parm that would be accompanied by a potato and veggie du jour. On my last visit to Cafe La Fontana, you had to order sizes separately. The portions had shrunk and the food was subpar. Some of the best menu items were removed, such as the crab spinach dip. Some of our last visits to Cafe La Fontana involved a longgggggg wait time. It just wasn't worth it to us anymore. We've found we get excellent food that is similar in terms of offerings at Villa Barolo. It's become easy to pass up this place. Kind of a shame.
(1)
Alex P.
Great food- can't go wrong with any of their pastas and a dessert. They just have an older vibe in there which I think deters potential clientele. It would be a beautiful date spot or even engagement/birthday etc.... party location
(4)
Sean C.
Very small portions, everything is ala carte. Who has ever been to an Italian restaurant and ordered veal parmigiana and you pay extra for pasta? Seriously!!! Food is tasteless.
(1)
Jim D.
Excellent. Had a perfectly cooked mixed seafood pasta dish. Everything that came to to table was outstanding. Their breads, garlic knots, appetizers and meal were all just great. One of my new favorites.
(5)
Lisa F.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious - and varied - their Sunday brunch buffet was. We met friends there this past Sunday and were immediately treated warmly by the staff. We had to switch tables since our friends brought their kids and there were more of us than expected. No problem at all. Service was punctual and present during our meal. The buffet itself was vast in it's selections, and the food was really good! There is something for everyone there. Even something as simple as scrambled eggs just tasted yummier and heartier than normal. So bravo to the chef! I would only suggest that the owners redo the inside if they want to draw a larger and more modern crowd. It is dated. As far as service and food go, this place rocks! (And that's coming from 2 city foodies) :)
(4)
Jeffrey R.
I had a great meal with my wife. The service was very good and the staff is friendly. I had calamari appetizer and tuna and both were done wonderfully.
(5)
M B.
We had the rigatoni and sausage and the raviolis; the former was quite good and the latter was just alright. A decade ago this place was a 5 - wear and tear has diminished it a bit. Their cannolies are top notch though.
(4)
William Thomas C.
Dude!! On Easter Sunday, when I show you that my water glass has a three inch crack in it and you say you'll be right back with a new glass. I'm still waiting. I all of my previous experiences at the restaurant, the food was excellent and the service just as good. But no, not this Easter Sunday. It was a much different experience. Other then my wife's ravioli, which had an awkward taste which ruined the dish, the food was good. The wait staff and food was extremely slow. Not the norm for this place. Bread took forever, orders took forever. In some ways it seemed like we were being served by the minor league team. I'm sure we'll go back, but more because our experiences at the restaurant in the past have been wonderful. They may have been an off night, but that's no excuse, especially in the restaurant business.
(3)
The Liquid C.
Love this place. Awesome food, great staff and excellent prices. Lots has changed: the menu has good causal food now. Like wings and burgers but they serve them with a great Italian twist. They still have Classic Italian dishes that are great but they also let me chose what goes with my food for sides and such. Super important to me cause I am a picky eater. They accommodate my shellfish allergy and my tomato allergy with out skipping a beat which is huge for me. Hard to get that everywhere. The new chef is active and spends time with customers. I like that. His dishes are adventurous and timeless a tough combo to find. If you haven't been for a while.... Give it another try.... Totally worth it
(5)
Will D.
Service was a bit weak. Our server was friendly, and clarified our orders before leaving the table, but forgot to bring our drinks and needed to be asked 2 or 3 times for bread. The food was mixed: The chicken saltimbocca was OK, but I've had better. The side-dish of potatoes was very tasty. The appetizer (brie with fruit) and salads were pretty good. The mozzarella sticks were fair and their marinara sauce was poor. The gemelli pollo was pretty good, though the meat was too salty. The dining room is nicely appointed and kept clean. The short story: I'm in no hurry to return.
(3)
Chris D.
So I really hate that I have to give this two stars because generally I really always have enjoyed my meals here in the past. Went here for my birthday dinner and was disappointed to see that the menu looked like it had been chopped in half. We ordered the crab spinach dip to start and what looked like would be a decent serving because of the size of the dish ended up being like 4 TBS of dip with more crostini than there was dip for. OK I get it if you are trying to cut costs...but add a little more spinach so peeps don't feel like they are getting hosed on the price. I had the tortellini with chicken and it was just OK...the chicken I feel like should have been prepped differently instead of a few sparing chunks thrown in. The serving size was decent and I took the rest home, it actually tasted better the next day, haha! Just sad and disappointed that it this place seems to be faltering a bit...hopefully they 'll get it back for 2013!
(2)
Emma B.
Had my bridal shower there and the food was mediocre. The service was bad. The staff didn't ask anyone if they needed anything, and when they were asked to bring a drink, it seemed like they were doing them a huge favor. They seem to never be busy, and if that's how the staff treats guests, I see why. I would not go back there or recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Mama O.
Due to the mixed reviews I feel compelled to give my opinion. My family & I finally tried this restaurant. We've driven by for a couple years now , just never stopped. I LOVEd it! We all did. PRO #1 - to be seated right away on a Friday night is always wonderful!! -Great Service! I wish I knew our waitress's name because she could not have been better! Plus food was served quickly. - Cute ambiance! Nice, yet casual & friendly. Loved the lounge/bar area & dj. - Huge glasses of wine. Size of 2 typical glasses- needed to only order 1 :) - Very accommodating - food made-to-order.. My daughter wanted an entree from the regular menu & they "kid-sized" it.. Just ask. - Food was very good, especially the eggplant parm- yummo -bread , butter, oil, Garlic knots served generously - delicious -Nice dessert selection, tho I didn't indulge - Did not find it overpriced for a nice meal at a non- chain restaurant at all. We've paid just about as much at Friday's! Overall- We will be back :)
(4)
Kristen S.
I love bread and they do not disappoint. Their garlic knots are to die for and they just keep 'em coming. The crab dip is amazing and so are all of their appetizers. They are half priced during happy hour, so I have tried them all! I have never had a bad meal. I usually go for dinners, but my cousin had her shower here this year. The brunch food was yummy too. Plus the mimosas were a nice addition.
(5)
Suni A.
This place was horrible! Sent an e-mail telling the owner of our bad experience, and the reply was to not come back to his restaurant. They serve cold bread. The waiter (Mark?) didn't pay us any attention, their alcoholic beverages are so over priced! We were not asked how we wanted our steak cooked. When it came to us, we told the waiter to take it back and the waiter said to us, "We can prepare it only one way." WHAT!
(1)
Julia S.
We've gone here a few times since I've moved back. We've enjoyed our food every time. Prices are really good for what they serve. I've brought back leftovers every time we've been there. Their wine selection is alright- nothing special. Decor is nice. They have a piano player there some nights, too. I've been here for a baby shower once, too, and they had a good selection of food. Staff has always been attentive and nice. The best part....they bring you complimentary garlic knots!!! Really good!
(4)
John H.
I have eaten both lunch and dinner at Cafe La Fontana and have always enjoyed the food and especially the service. While our area is brimming with Italian restaurants, only a few offer the white linen, fine dining experience that you get here. I disagree with other reviewers that the pricing is out of line. Yes, it is more expensive than other Italian places but the atmosphere, the food, the attentive service and the quality is worth it to me.
(4)
Cynthia C.
First, let me begin by saying this restaurant was our go to date night restaurant for a long time Tonight we had an opportunity to go again, and were met with GREAT disappointment. A previous four and a half star place, it has plummeted to two stars, with using obvious canned ingredients compared to the fresh produce used to prepare once delicious, brightly flavored dishes. We were informed that the menu had changed, and the chef had been replaced. No longer is the delicious potato au gratin offered, but they have also turned to an a la carte format for their menu. I ordered my usual chicken dish there, and was not impressed. Dull flavor, overly salty, bland Caesar salad. No flavor to my husbands pasta dish he ordered. Service was at best mediocre, as everyone was trying, but has the feel of a college campus with all the young kids, I'm only 40ish, but not the atmosphere it once was, to make a long story short, this place is clinging on to life, and this format is not going to be the life boat. It was a good run the times we did go, but we won't be back. The garlic knots were still good, but I wouldn't go back just for those. Dull food, diner grade service, mediocre atmosphere ( nice tables, though), and unorganized service/long wait times make this a sinking ship.
(2)
Michael V.
I will continue to go back to experiment in a dish or two, however after having the Veal Parm that was ok, I to this day never heard of an Italian place charging extrra for pasta with it. Never. Supposedly a potato or veg was to come with it at no charge. Has pasta gone up in price that $2 extra is necessary? I have had hundreds of veal parms elsewhere and its a given to serve pasta with it. BIZARRE!
(3)
Allison H.
I am not a fan of this place at all. Rude staff, stale bread and horrible parking. This place has diner food with a huge price tag.
I've been here a handful of times and have enjoyed myself each time. The menu is a little limited though. most of the appetizers are seafood and for someone who can't have seafood it's a little disappointing that you can't share an appetizer. The happy hour is always nice, not too crowded the times I was there. The dinner specials have always been creative and enticing, and I love the desert presentation. I'll only give four out of five stars because I have thought that the prices were a little high for the food we received but it didn't break our bank so it's not too big a deal.
(4)
Nicole S.
Good service, pretty good food, nice ambiance. I've had good individual pizzas. I also like the pasta with shrimp and scallops in a vodka sauce. Pasta, seafood, vodka, yum.
(4)
James S.
not the same after changing chef!
(1)
Valued C.
Cafe La Fontana is a great place. I have been here several times and have never been let down. Good service and great food. You name it and its good; pizza, beef, pork, chicken, or just the veggies. Never had a bad meal.
(5)
Abby I.
Came here for lunch with a group of friends. Loved the garlic knots they served (in addition to their bread). I had the tuna salad sandwich with french fries. Delicious! And a very sizable portion! I had three people help me out with the fries...(I know...major fail). Honorable mentions = Insalata di Tacchinono (balsamic reduction sauce was a winner) and the Penne Al Salmone. They let us pre-order our orders which also helped save us time. Great decor and a very extensive wine menu. My friends that have been coming here for awhile said that they never had a bad meal here and I totally believe that! (We were a bit bummed you guys didn't have chocolates for us after our meal! Hint hint!) I can't wait to come back and try their other menu items!
(4)
Rachel E.
For how nice the place looks, it certainly missed the mark. The food was not fresh, and tasted like I could have made it from buying pasta and francesca rinalde tomato sauce or newman's own vodka sauce from the store. The servers were rude to me and my boyfriend who were here for our six-month semiversary dinner. But the atmosphere is very nice. I had to give it 3 instead of 2 stars because my boyfriend and family like the place so much, so there must be something I'm missing. This might be better for a nice lunch instead of a special dinner.
(3)
Susan H.
This is a trememdous suburban Italian restaurant. I believe the chef is originally from S. Philly. Mussels, garlic knots, pizzas, pastas, fish, you name it, they do a great job! Definitely listen to the specials, there are usually a few notable ones. Good for family celebrations! We try to get there once every couple of months. Check it out! Ciao.
(5)
Teri M.
To get straight to the point, I would not go back to this place for any reason. I was looking for Italian in the area, still am looking for a reasonably priced place with good Italian food, but alas. The atmosphere was alright, but some of the decor is questionable. The sign outside is comical with it's Mr. Rogers Neighborhood kind of font, yet the inside has chandeliers and white linen tablecloths. There are some strange blue orb light fixtures atop some wooden pillars that really serve no purpose between a seating area and the dining area. There was a piano player in the bar area, but to tell you the truth, I had to laugh then groan because I never thought I would hear Creed played seriously for an audience on a lounge piano. But I digress...on to the food. My friend and I split our meal, based on the suggestion of another reviewer for the $2 split charge, which was good because this placed is definitely overpriced for the quality. The quantity was just fine for us as it also came with a salad, we just ordered an extra salad. My mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette was very boring and they only gave me one sliced tomato. The vinaigrette was bland and I have never had to do this before, but I had to add some sugar to my salad to give the balsamic some flavor. My friend's Caesar salad was also a bit bland and the croutons were quite stale and funny tasting. The dish we had was linguine with mussels in a red sauce. The mussels, to give credit, were cooked fine and tasted good. The sauce on the pasta was a bit cloudy/milky looking...which I was concerned about because it did not look fresh or home made. It looked like something out of a Chef Boyardee can, which is something I have chosen not to eat since I was a child. I could tell at first bite the sodium content was really high, so I was very disappointed in the quality of the sauce and would bet it was probably canned. The pasta was a tad overcooked too, so it really was a lot like eating spaghettios. :/ We did not bother having any of the desserts they showed us on the dessert tray, not only because they looked old and congealed (I know, it's been on display, but still - presentation!) but after all that, we didn't trust them to deliver the taste we were expecting. The server was matter of fact, but knew her stuff and we had no complaints with service. They had a runner deliver all the food and she followed with grated pepper and Parmesan cheese, although I didn't care, some might find this, being offered pepper on your salad after you've eaten a quarter of it already. Bottom line: The prices are not worth the quality of food. Our meal was about $16 plus the split charge and the salad ($5, which was the only reasonably priced item on the menu). All the other entrees were priced from $15 to $29. I might have gotten a different result with another entree, but I was so unimpressed that I will not bother to try them out again. If you are reading this and you ARE looking for excellent Italian regardless of price, I highly recommend Moonstruck in Rockledge/Fox Chase. They are also pricey, but their food is good enough that it is worth the money.
(2)
Stella H.
Terrific location, given there aren't many good, casual Italian restaurants in the Hatboro/Horsham area. Dinners are a little on the pricey side, which is why this restaurant seems to suffer from lack of business during weekdays. Weekend business picks up considerably when folks typically go out to dinner and don't mind spending a little more. Cafe LaFontana should consider some additional more moderately priced ($10-$12 range) entrees and they might see traffic pick up little. Also, I find their food overly-salted, regardless of what I order.
(2)
Diane E.
We had a Great dinner for four here last night. Everything was delicious and perfectly prepared. Plus our waiter timed our dishes arrival perfectly. Yup the Garlic knot bread to start off was super tasty! Only thing is that even though we were given plenty everyone wanted more. I especially liked the ones with a bit of outer crust. Mussel appetizer was plentiful and in a rich tasty tomato sauce. Bruchetta was fresh and delicious and the bread had a great smoky char to it. Entrees were plentiful and the plating was lovely. Substitutions were treated graciously (pasta for potatoes) and even the side serving of caesar salad was a good amount (though not huge) and the dressing was wonderfully tasty and not overpowering. I had the pork with the pear reduction it was INCREDIBLE!! We each loved our entrees - chicken with shitake mushrooms and crab was wonderfully cooked. Chicken was so tender and crab was plentiful. I had a piece of crab with almost every mouthful. We would definitely go back and bring a group too. The service was attentive but not overbearing and all the wait staff was very pleasant. The restaurant itself was very comfy and attention to detail and lighting made it wonderful. Why did they play the Godfather theme though???? Made us go into a discussion of the horse head in the bed which I could have avoided while eating. But let's not beat a dead horse. Go there! You'll have a great meal at not a wallet crunching price.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No 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.
Larissa L.
Cafe La Fontana used to be one of my favorite places to enjoy a meal with my husband. He took me there on Valentine's Day, planned to proposed to me there, we've celebrated anniversaries there, the whole bit. The key word in all of that is USED to be. Since they hired a new chef and tried to revamp their menu, the whole restaurant has gone downhill. They broke everything up into a la carte options, drastically upping the price of what used to come all as one. I used to order salmon or chicken parm that would be accompanied by a potato and veggie du jour. On my last visit to Cafe La Fontana, you had to order sizes separately. The portions had shrunk and the food was subpar. Some of the best menu items were removed, such as the crab spinach dip. Some of our last visits to Cafe La Fontana involved a longgggggg wait time. It just wasn't worth it to us anymore. We've found we get excellent food that is similar in terms of offerings at Villa Barolo. It's become easy to pass up this place. Kind of a shame.
(1)Alex P.
Great food- can't go wrong with any of their pastas and a dessert. They just have an older vibe in there which I think deters potential clientele. It would be a beautiful date spot or even engagement/birthday etc.... party location
(4)Sean C.
Very small portions, everything is ala carte. Who has ever been to an Italian restaurant and ordered veal parmigiana and you pay extra for pasta? Seriously!!! Food is tasteless.
(1)Jim D.
Excellent. Had a perfectly cooked mixed seafood pasta dish. Everything that came to to table was outstanding. Their breads, garlic knots, appetizers and meal were all just great. One of my new favorites.
(5)Lisa F.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious - and varied - their Sunday brunch buffet was. We met friends there this past Sunday and were immediately treated warmly by the staff. We had to switch tables since our friends brought their kids and there were more of us than expected. No problem at all. Service was punctual and present during our meal. The buffet itself was vast in it's selections, and the food was really good! There is something for everyone there. Even something as simple as scrambled eggs just tasted yummier and heartier than normal. So bravo to the chef! I would only suggest that the owners redo the inside if they want to draw a larger and more modern crowd. It is dated. As far as service and food go, this place rocks! (And that's coming from 2 city foodies) :)
(4)Jeffrey R.
I had a great meal with my wife. The service was very good and the staff is friendly. I had calamari appetizer and tuna and both were done wonderfully.
(5)M B.
We had the rigatoni and sausage and the raviolis; the former was quite good and the latter was just alright. A decade ago this place was a 5 - wear and tear has diminished it a bit. Their cannolies are top notch though.
(4)William Thomas C.
Dude!! On Easter Sunday, when I show you that my water glass has a three inch crack in it and you say you'll be right back with a new glass. I'm still waiting. I all of my previous experiences at the restaurant, the food was excellent and the service just as good. But no, not this Easter Sunday. It was a much different experience. Other then my wife's ravioli, which had an awkward taste which ruined the dish, the food was good. The wait staff and food was extremely slow. Not the norm for this place. Bread took forever, orders took forever. In some ways it seemed like we were being served by the minor league team. I'm sure we'll go back, but more because our experiences at the restaurant in the past have been wonderful. They may have been an off night, but that's no excuse, especially in the restaurant business.
(3)The Liquid C.
Love this place. Awesome food, great staff and excellent prices. Lots has changed: the menu has good causal food now. Like wings and burgers but they serve them with a great Italian twist. They still have Classic Italian dishes that are great but they also let me chose what goes with my food for sides and such. Super important to me cause I am a picky eater. They accommodate my shellfish allergy and my tomato allergy with out skipping a beat which is huge for me. Hard to get that everywhere. The new chef is active and spends time with customers. I like that. His dishes are adventurous and timeless a tough combo to find. If you haven't been for a while.... Give it another try.... Totally worth it
(5)Will D.
Service was a bit weak. Our server was friendly, and clarified our orders before leaving the table, but forgot to bring our drinks and needed to be asked 2 or 3 times for bread. The food was mixed: The chicken saltimbocca was OK, but I've had better. The side-dish of potatoes was very tasty. The appetizer (brie with fruit) and salads were pretty good. The mozzarella sticks were fair and their marinara sauce was poor. The gemelli pollo was pretty good, though the meat was too salty. The dining room is nicely appointed and kept clean. The short story: I'm in no hurry to return.
(3)Chris D.
So I really hate that I have to give this two stars because generally I really always have enjoyed my meals here in the past. Went here for my birthday dinner and was disappointed to see that the menu looked like it had been chopped in half. We ordered the crab spinach dip to start and what looked like would be a decent serving because of the size of the dish ended up being like 4 TBS of dip with more crostini than there was dip for. OK I get it if you are trying to cut costs...but add a little more spinach so peeps don't feel like they are getting hosed on the price. I had the tortellini with chicken and it was just OK...the chicken I feel like should have been prepped differently instead of a few sparing chunks thrown in. The serving size was decent and I took the rest home, it actually tasted better the next day, haha! Just sad and disappointed that it this place seems to be faltering a bit...hopefully they 'll get it back for 2013!
(2)Emma B.
Had my bridal shower there and the food was mediocre. The service was bad. The staff didn't ask anyone if they needed anything, and when they were asked to bring a drink, it seemed like they were doing them a huge favor. They seem to never be busy, and if that's how the staff treats guests, I see why. I would not go back there or recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Mama O.
Due to the mixed reviews I feel compelled to give my opinion. My family & I finally tried this restaurant. We've driven by for a couple years now , just never stopped. I LOVEd it! We all did. PRO #1 - to be seated right away on a Friday night is always wonderful!! -Great Service! I wish I knew our waitress's name because she could not have been better! Plus food was served quickly. - Cute ambiance! Nice, yet casual & friendly. Loved the lounge/bar area & dj. - Huge glasses of wine. Size of 2 typical glasses- needed to only order 1 :) - Very accommodating - food made-to-order.. My daughter wanted an entree from the regular menu & they "kid-sized" it.. Just ask. - Food was very good, especially the eggplant parm- yummo -bread , butter, oil, Garlic knots served generously - delicious -Nice dessert selection, tho I didn't indulge - Did not find it overpriced for a nice meal at a non- chain restaurant at all. We've paid just about as much at Friday's! Overall- We will be back :)
(4)Kristen S.
I love bread and they do not disappoint. Their garlic knots are to die for and they just keep 'em coming. The crab dip is amazing and so are all of their appetizers. They are half priced during happy hour, so I have tried them all! I have never had a bad meal. I usually go for dinners, but my cousin had her shower here this year. The brunch food was yummy too. Plus the mimosas were a nice addition.
(5)Suni A.
This place was horrible! Sent an e-mail telling the owner of our bad experience, and the reply was to not come back to his restaurant. They serve cold bread. The waiter (Mark?) didn't pay us any attention, their alcoholic beverages are so over priced! We were not asked how we wanted our steak cooked. When it came to us, we told the waiter to take it back and the waiter said to us, "We can prepare it only one way." WHAT!
(1)Julia S.
We've gone here a few times since I've moved back. We've enjoyed our food every time. Prices are really good for what they serve. I've brought back leftovers every time we've been there. Their wine selection is alright- nothing special. Decor is nice. They have a piano player there some nights, too. I've been here for a baby shower once, too, and they had a good selection of food. Staff has always been attentive and nice. The best part....they bring you complimentary garlic knots!!! Really good!
(4)John H.
I have eaten both lunch and dinner at Cafe La Fontana and have always enjoyed the food and especially the service. While our area is brimming with Italian restaurants, only a few offer the white linen, fine dining experience that you get here. I disagree with other reviewers that the pricing is out of line. Yes, it is more expensive than other Italian places but the atmosphere, the food, the attentive service and the quality is worth it to me.
(4)Cynthia C.
First, let me begin by saying this restaurant was our go to date night restaurant for a long time Tonight we had an opportunity to go again, and were met with GREAT disappointment. A previous four and a half star place, it has plummeted to two stars, with using obvious canned ingredients compared to the fresh produce used to prepare once delicious, brightly flavored dishes. We were informed that the menu had changed, and the chef had been replaced. No longer is the delicious potato au gratin offered, but they have also turned to an a la carte format for their menu. I ordered my usual chicken dish there, and was not impressed. Dull flavor, overly salty, bland Caesar salad. No flavor to my husbands pasta dish he ordered. Service was at best mediocre, as everyone was trying, but has the feel of a college campus with all the young kids, I'm only 40ish, but not the atmosphere it once was, to make a long story short, this place is clinging on to life, and this format is not going to be the life boat. It was a good run the times we did go, but we won't be back. The garlic knots were still good, but I wouldn't go back just for those. Dull food, diner grade service, mediocre atmosphere ( nice tables, though), and unorganized service/long wait times make this a sinking ship.
(2)Michael V.
I will continue to go back to experiment in a dish or two, however after having the Veal Parm that was ok, I to this day never heard of an Italian place charging extrra for pasta with it. Never. Supposedly a potato or veg was to come with it at no charge. Has pasta gone up in price that $2 extra is necessary? I have had hundreds of veal parms elsewhere and its a given to serve pasta with it. BIZARRE!
(3)Allison H.
I am not a fan of this place at all. Rude staff, stale bread and horrible parking. This place has diner food with a huge price tag.
(1)Kait K.
I was really hoping that this would be an amazing place. However, I was disappointed. We waited a long time for our food, which was okay once we got it. Nothing to really truly rave about. The atmosphere was okay, kind of an older crowd to be honest. They certainly fill up the wine glass and my fiancé's rum and coke was not short on the rum. Our servers (one in training) were kind and helpful. I feel like this place could be so much more. I have heard mixed reviews on this place for awhile now. It seems like they don't have a consistency. At least if a restaurant is horrible, it is consistent. I am not rushing to try Cafe La Fontana again.
(2)Rebecca L.
I've been here a handful of times and have enjoyed myself each time. The menu is a little limited though. most of the appetizers are seafood and for someone who can't have seafood it's a little disappointing that you can't share an appetizer. The happy hour is always nice, not too crowded the times I was there. The dinner specials have always been creative and enticing, and I love the desert presentation. I'll only give four out of five stars because I have thought that the prices were a little high for the food we received but it didn't break our bank so it's not too big a deal.
(4)Nicole S.
Good service, pretty good food, nice ambiance. I've had good individual pizzas. I also like the pasta with shrimp and scallops in a vodka sauce. Pasta, seafood, vodka, yum.
(4)James S.
not the same after changing chef!
(1)Valued C.
Cafe La Fontana is a great place. I have been here several times and have never been let down. Good service and great food. You name it and its good; pizza, beef, pork, chicken, or just the veggies. Never had a bad meal.
(5)Abby I.
Came here for lunch with a group of friends. Loved the garlic knots they served (in addition to their bread). I had the tuna salad sandwich with french fries. Delicious! And a very sizable portion! I had three people help me out with the fries...(I know...major fail). Honorable mentions = Insalata di Tacchinono (balsamic reduction sauce was a winner) and the Penne Al Salmone. They let us pre-order our orders which also helped save us time. Great decor and a very extensive wine menu. My friends that have been coming here for awhile said that they never had a bad meal here and I totally believe that! (We were a bit bummed you guys didn't have chocolates for us after our meal! Hint hint!) I can't wait to come back and try their other menu items!
(4)Rachel E.
For how nice the place looks, it certainly missed the mark. The food was not fresh, and tasted like I could have made it from buying pasta and francesca rinalde tomato sauce or newman's own vodka sauce from the store. The servers were rude to me and my boyfriend who were here for our six-month semiversary dinner. But the atmosphere is very nice. I had to give it 3 instead of 2 stars because my boyfriend and family like the place so much, so there must be something I'm missing. This might be better for a nice lunch instead of a special dinner.
(3)Susan H.
This is a trememdous suburban Italian restaurant. I believe the chef is originally from S. Philly. Mussels, garlic knots, pizzas, pastas, fish, you name it, they do a great job! Definitely listen to the specials, there are usually a few notable ones. Good for family celebrations! We try to get there once every couple of months. Check it out! Ciao.
(5)Teri M.
To get straight to the point, I would not go back to this place for any reason. I was looking for Italian in the area, still am looking for a reasonably priced place with good Italian food, but alas. The atmosphere was alright, but some of the decor is questionable. The sign outside is comical with it's Mr. Rogers Neighborhood kind of font, yet the inside has chandeliers and white linen tablecloths. There are some strange blue orb light fixtures atop some wooden pillars that really serve no purpose between a seating area and the dining area. There was a piano player in the bar area, but to tell you the truth, I had to laugh then groan because I never thought I would hear Creed played seriously for an audience on a lounge piano. But I digress...on to the food. My friend and I split our meal, based on the suggestion of another reviewer for the $2 split charge, which was good because this placed is definitely overpriced for the quality. The quantity was just fine for us as it also came with a salad, we just ordered an extra salad. My mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette was very boring and they only gave me one sliced tomato. The vinaigrette was bland and I have never had to do this before, but I had to add some sugar to my salad to give the balsamic some flavor. My friend's Caesar salad was also a bit bland and the croutons were quite stale and funny tasting. The dish we had was linguine with mussels in a red sauce. The mussels, to give credit, were cooked fine and tasted good. The sauce on the pasta was a bit cloudy/milky looking...which I was concerned about because it did not look fresh or home made. It looked like something out of a Chef Boyardee can, which is something I have chosen not to eat since I was a child. I could tell at first bite the sodium content was really high, so I was very disappointed in the quality of the sauce and would bet it was probably canned. The pasta was a tad overcooked too, so it really was a lot like eating spaghettios. :/ We did not bother having any of the desserts they showed us on the dessert tray, not only because they looked old and congealed (I know, it's been on display, but still - presentation!) but after all that, we didn't trust them to deliver the taste we were expecting. The server was matter of fact, but knew her stuff and we had no complaints with service. They had a runner deliver all the food and she followed with grated pepper and Parmesan cheese, although I didn't care, some might find this, being offered pepper on your salad after you've eaten a quarter of it already. Bottom line: The prices are not worth the quality of food. Our meal was about $16 plus the split charge and the salad ($5, which was the only reasonably priced item on the menu). All the other entrees were priced from $15 to $29. I might have gotten a different result with another entree, but I was so unimpressed that I will not bother to try them out again. If you are reading this and you ARE looking for excellent Italian regardless of price, I highly recommend Moonstruck in Rockledge/Fox Chase. They are also pricey, but their food is good enough that it is worth the money.
(2)Stella H.
Terrific location, given there aren't many good, casual Italian restaurants in the Hatboro/Horsham area. Dinners are a little on the pricey side, which is why this restaurant seems to suffer from lack of business during weekdays. Weekend business picks up considerably when folks typically go out to dinner and don't mind spending a little more. Cafe LaFontana should consider some additional more moderately priced ($10-$12 range) entrees and they might see traffic pick up little. Also, I find their food overly-salted, regardless of what I order.
(2)Diane E.
We had a Great dinner for four here last night. Everything was delicious and perfectly prepared. Plus our waiter timed our dishes arrival perfectly. Yup the Garlic knot bread to start off was super tasty! Only thing is that even though we were given plenty everyone wanted more. I especially liked the ones with a bit of outer crust. Mussel appetizer was plentiful and in a rich tasty tomato sauce. Bruchetta was fresh and delicious and the bread had a great smoky char to it. Entrees were plentiful and the plating was lovely. Substitutions were treated graciously (pasta for potatoes) and even the side serving of caesar salad was a good amount (though not huge) and the dressing was wonderfully tasty and not overpowering. I had the pork with the pear reduction it was INCREDIBLE!! We each loved our entrees - chicken with shitake mushrooms and crab was wonderfully cooked. Chicken was so tender and crab was plentiful. I had a piece of crab with almost every mouthful. We would definitely go back and bring a group too. The service was attentive but not overbearing and all the wait staff was very pleasant. The restaurant itself was very comfy and attention to detail and lighting made it wonderful. Why did they play the Godfather theme though???? Made us go into a discussion of the horse head in the bed which I could have avoided while eating. But let's not beat a dead horse. Go there! You'll have a great meal at not a wallet crunching price.
(5)