Fontana in North Down

We had missed Fontana. We wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary and chose to eat here once again. Really enjoyed our meal. We made our choices of scallops and veal. Both excellent.

Called into Holywood today and decided to stop and have lunch, for a birthday treat and we were not disappointed.I was really in the mood for a few chips so ordered a small roast cauliflower, Gubbeen cheese & barley with a side order of chips and it an absolutely delicious combination of flavours.My husband had the piccata chicken, ciabatta and skinny fries, which he enjoyed very much. Incredibly friendly atmosphere & a thoroughly enjoyable experience overall.

World class service featuring replica standard menu, absolute pleasure to attend and the team are always welcoming. Would highly recommend!

As a regular at Fontana, I thought that it was time I repaid them with a well deserved review.I Attended last Friday with my kids and was accommodated without a booking by the lovely Elaine.We all ordered of the set menu, having pulled pork brushetta, goat cheese with butternut squash, followed by curried monkfish and gnocchi with parmesan cheese. We added a couple of sides and a bottle of sauvignon blanc. The whole thing came to £115, less than 40 quid per head. Best restaurant and best value in Holywood, we are fortunate to have it.

My family and I are regulars at Fontana’s and I’ve been going there for more than 15 years (only 22). Fontana is the best restaurant in Holywood and competes with the best in Belfast (personally prefer Holywood to the city centre).Eileen and the staff always make us feel at home and are very attentive. This is the cherry on the top, and brings the whole experience together.I’ve not had a bad meal here, with the last one always topping the previous one. Personal favourites consist off; lobster corquil, prawn risotto, monkfish curry, duck and raspberry due, goat cheese fritters. And countless others.Last time we went was Friday 17th Jan. Eileen was able to squeeze us in on short notice and get us table 5 (best table in the house). We opted for the 2 course set price £21.50 (can’t beat it). I opted for a new starter. roasted butternut squash with whipped goats cheese- I can only describe it has divine. As main I got the monkfish curry with pak choi. The curry has a kick of flavour and spice but is perfectly balanced with coconut making it light and flavourful. To end the evening we got the warm apple and cinnamon pie, it speaks for itself and a perfect way to end the evening.If you’re looking for the perfect lunch/ dinner spot, look no further. There’s no wonder how this place has got a Michelin guide. It consistently creates a gastronomical experience every time.

This is the best restaurant, the food was superb, sea bass was gorgeous and the pistachio and honey cake for dessert was the perfect end. Not only is the food the best you will eat the staff are fantastic, Sophie was our waitress, she was such great craic. Every meal we have here is the one we then compare everywhere else to. Make sure you visit Fontana’s

We were four couples out for dinner mid-December 2019 ... small portions, overpriced, a case of style over substance Im afraid e.g. my husband and I had Turbot for main course, it was the tiniest thin tail piece of Turbot resting on greasy vegetables £27, my husband said it looked like 'a rasher of Turbot'. A starter of one scallop, half a baby potato and a smear of puree, said Scallops plural on menu, it all just seemed to lack imagination and skill; the service was slow, our waitress did try her very best, she was under pressure,I did mention to her very quietly of our dissatisfaction; Dinner was £160.00 per couple including wine and only one person of the eight had a pudding! I have had many spectacular meals in Ox and Muddlers both Michelin star restaurants for less. Im sorry Fontana, I wanted my experience there to be better.

I had been many years before but I was curious if it was still as good. Iced water was served flavoured with fruit , and there was a Christmas a la carte menu. There were so many appealing dishes on the menu that it took some tome to decide. The starters were both excellent and my partner was already impressed with the venue. I had traditional turkey for main course , most unlike me , but I can honestly say it was the tastiest turkey dinner I have ever experienced. Sprouts were perfect , turkey was moist etc. I even opted for a dessert and again wasn’t disappointed. Staff were friendly and attentive and I would definitely go back !Thanks Fontana

We've been before and have never been disappointed. Again we had an excellent lunch with attentive service. Very relaxing ambience and really good food. We were given a sample of a wine to try. We'll definitely be back again.

Even our local guests had not previously tried this restaurant so we acted as the guinea pigs. The entrance, décor and furnishings could best be described as "homely" at worst slightly downtrodden. Nevertheless the restaurant recently celebrated its 20th anniversary so it clearly has followers, In the evening there is a choice of A La Carte or Set Menu midweek and both the range and sophistication of the dishes was impressive for High Street, Holywood.I started with Lobster Coquille, fennel, chilli, beurre blanc, breadcrumbs and parmesan (£10.00) which seems a lot of ingredients to cram onto an upturned shell but the flavour and texture were really good even though one suspects the amount of lobster was small. For the main course, I chose Mustard & herb crusted rack of lamb, dauphinoise potatoes, roast beets and red wine jus (£23.50) with the meat served pink unless otherwise requested. The lamb was perfectly cooked, tender and offset with the crunchy crust. No desert for me although my wife's Apple & Blackberry crumble with homemade vanilla ice cream looked and tasted delicious.All four of us were unanimously delighted with Fontana for its surprisingly good food. Recommended and I am sure another 20 years is possible.

Thank you to everyone at Fontana for such a fantastic day on a Sunday for my mums 80th celebrations. The food was outstanding - everyone loved their meal. The service was also superb - you could not have done anymore for us. A brilliant day.

Fantastic meal tonight. Food delicious and service exceptional. Very impressed with Chloe- an asset to any restaurant. Will be back.

I use Fontana regularly, but I'm a little lazy about posting reviews, preferring to post about excellent restaurants when I'm travelling - but Fontana deserves more, more reviews and more accolades as it matches and sometimes exceeds all those restaurants I've relied in the past. My wife and I called last Saturday without a booking and were accommodated at a lovely table at the back of the restaurant. Service was attentive and very warm and friendly. Our menu choice included lots of fish, meat and vegetarian options and we both loved all we were served. I have to give special mentions to my starter though - Fois Gras with pickled blackberry and ginger - it was simply stunning. I will return to Fontana - and write more reviews; we are lucky to have such a culinary delight in North Down.

Dîner un vendredi soirVisiblement le lieu chic où aller pour la vieille Irlande de Holywood ! Accueil très sympathique, lieu très agréable, jolies tables, belle carte et bons vins. Service soigné, un peu lent (il faut prévoir d'y passer du temps). Bien pour un dîner en amoureux mais pas pour dîner rapidement. Tout était très bien, bien présenté, mais quand même un peu cher pour la qualité.

Slow service but worth the wait. Very enjoyable dining experience. Would recommend this restaurant. Staff friendly and helpful.

Malgré une arrivée tardive (14 heures) nous avons été très bien accueillis. Le menu est attrayant et les plats sont superbement présentés ! L’addition est raisonnable, ce qui ne gâche rien au plaisir.

Visited Fontana on a one night break, on entering restaurant staff very friendly and welcoming which is a good start.

We have lived in Belfast for a year now, and finally tried Fontana. It was one of the best meals out we have had in Northern Ireland. Everything was home-aide and full of flavour. We will be back again soon.

While sauntering around Holywood, we happened upon the beautifully decorated laneway entrance, which enticed us in to check out this lovely restaurant.

Normally enjoy this restaurant however last week visit was spoiled by an incompetent server. He was not fully informed about drinks or food menu, was not aware red organic wine was not available, brought me white organic with no explanation until I queried it. I feel servers in this restaurant lack training. When I was leaving I informed him I didn’t enjoy my experience, but he didn’t seem at all concerned that it might put me off coming back.

We went as a family group to celebrate a birthday.

Lovely place to have dinner with frieds. The decor isnt up to date but the food is really excellent.

We had dinner at Fontana last night. Starter, main, dessert & bottle of red wine from the set menu (£59.99) Absolutely delicious. Elaine our server was extremely attentive. Highly recommend this restaurant for a relaxed, fine dining experience.

Having written a less than complimentary review about Fontana some time ago, I thought I would redress this after eating a really excellent meal there last night. We were a party of five, and we all enjoyed every single course. The 3 front of house staff were knowledgeable and remained courteous throughout, in spite of the the pressure of 80+ covers. I will certainly return soon.

We are regulars to this fabulous restaurant. Where not only is the food always great but the attention to detail on the presentation is always spot on. The staff are wonderful too.

After a high recommendation, I decided to book our work Board Dinner at Fontana and we were not disappointed!

We visited fontana on 31st of jan to avail of the set menu.My partner ordered a beetroot terrine as shes a limited meat eater for a starter, unfortunately foie gras (something she would never ever order) had been sent out but before realising the mistake had consumed a mouthful which was then later rectified , unfortunately the kitchen dont seem to know the difference between the two dishes, the taste of the foi gras put my partner of the rest of her meal which totally ruined the evening.Did Email restaurant no response. Poor service all round which is a shame as food we did order was good.

This was my first visit to this restaurant. From the minute you enter the door you are made to feel welcome. With a menu and wine list to match we had a wonderful evening. Food was first class and service attentive without being over powering. Look forward again to visiting in February. Thank you.

What other excuse could there be for the most disappointing dining experience we had this evening.

There were over 20 in our group out for Christmas dinner.We were all welcomed warmly and a drinks’ order taken immediately.Our various courses all arrived together hot and to order.Would highly recommend and cannot wait to return.

6 of us had a Christmas lunch which was absolutely delicious - everybody loved everything they had. Service was excellent, ambience brilliant, and very reasonably priced. And a lovely Malbec as well!!

I was fortunate to be invited to lunch on what appeared to be one of their busiest days of the year. At no time was this reflected in the service or standard of food. The team at Fontana are professional, warm and only to pleased to accommodate your requests. The non alcoholic warm cider was a welcome addition to their delicious Christmas menu. The food was imaginative with a variety of ingredients which I am certain is what gives it a Michelin BibGourmand, year after year. It has also just won best restaurant of the year, no easy feat when so many new establishments are opening across town.

Visited Fontana on Friday evening for our office Christmas Dinner and had a fantastic time.

Having been to Fontana many times, and always been more than pleased with the service and the food , I wanted to go to celebrate my birthday with friends but unfortunately, this visit left us all underwhelmed and very disappointed.

Just thought I’d give this Awesome Restaurant a fresh update review

From the minute we arrived Elaine and her colleagues went out of their way to ensure my party group were looked after.

On Sat night Oct 27th I my husband and family -10 of us- had dinner in Fontana to celebrate his 70th . The welcome was lacking , our waitress very very tense throughout and no checks at all were made by the manager at any stage . One of the 2 baby buggies in our party was squashed between our table and the wall -very awkward for the mum and dad to attend to the baby .I made it clear after our starter-pleasantly -that the service was terribly slow .The portions were way too tiny for the men .When I was paying and was asked if I'd like to add a service charge I again voiced my extreme frustration at the slowness of the service (a different staff member,not our waitress ) . She didn't seem to take me seriously referring to the fact we were late arriving . Booked for 6 we were all seated at 6.30 and abandoned having tea or coffee at 8.45 as we needed to get home . Bizarrely we'd been advised when booking and again on the day that our table would be needed again for 8.15 . Why then did it take forever to serve the food ? Then as desserts finally came at 8.30ish we were told table wouldn't be needed til 9.45 .I chose to add 5% as a tip as I know staff pay isn't great . No gesture of goodwill was shown by the person who took payment , as she inferred that it was the chefs who were slow ,and I left gobsmacked by her final comment that she hoped I 'd be back again ! Based on this experience.........no way .The food itself -what there was of it -was fine .Usually I find restaurant portions are far too big . So a happy medium would have been very acceptable .

Disappointing experience in Fontana last night. Fontana would be a restaurant we would choose when we have guests or family visiting or to celebrate an occasion as to be honest we have only ever enjoyed great food and great service. Unfortunately the presence of a big party of diners (possibly 16 in total) in my opinion compromised the quality of our dining experience. On arrival our party of 5 were seated in a lovely booth (on one side of the big party), only to be then moved to a table on the opposite side of the restaurant “for our comfort” we were advised. However from observation I think our change of seating eased movement and access more for the serving staff. We were then told that some parts of the menu were no longer available (only one lobster starter, no fillet steaks) and when we did finally order the waitress returned to inform us that there were now no dauphinois potatoes left that should accompany the duck dish! We were of course able to order an alternative but I felt nothing but embarrassment in front of my guests at what felt like one thing after another going wrong! To finish the evening, 3 hot crumbles that we ordered for dessert arrived cold - so obviously cold that the ice cream accompaniment had not even melted!! We had to send them back.

Not my usual haunt on a Saturday afternoon but low and behold we found ourselves in Hollywood, Co. Down. Getting a bit peckish I remembered a place I’d visited for lunch a few years before and had enjoyed, but could I remember the name for the life of me? By chance I recalled it was located in a quirky plant and flower lined alleyway, the type of place that’s begging to be discovered by Conde Nast Traveller photographer! That’s how we came to be having lunch in Fontana, and by lunch I mean one of the most delicious meals I have had all year. The decor is grand but won’t win any prizes; not to worry though, the waiter’s relaxed charm and friendliness more than compensated. The menu is eclectic, with something for all tastes. I had Lobster coquille to start and duck for main: both were exceptional. The cold bottle of white just added to the experience. Will I forget Fontana’s name again? Not likely!

A mid week visit to this secluded Holywood restaurant. Near the Maypole an archway leads you to a steep flight of stairs to this great restaurant above some main street shops.

Came here with a large group for a birthday celebration. Excellent service in a lovely atmosphere.

Enjoyed the meal and the service was excellent but why we couldn't have a table at 7.30 remains a mystery. Phoned several days ahead to be told we could only book a table at 7pm. When we arrived we were the only people there and when we left at 8.40 there were about 12 customers on the premises.

My friend and I went for dinner on Friday 27th - I’ve been for dinner on a few occasions and I’ve never been disappointed. We both ended up have the same meal - Prawn risotto for starter and scallops for the main - both were absolutely delicious. We shared a dessert apple and cinnamon crumble - this was also delicious. The wine, the service and the ambiance were all of a high standard. I would recommend Fontana as a place to eat in Holywood - well worth a visit.

Such a lovely place with a delicious food and cosy atmosphere. Pulled pork was incredible, so yummy. Desserts were great too. If you are visiting Holywood this restaurante is a must :)

I have always loved Fontana since they opened twenty years ago? It’s stylish- both in the food and the interior of the restaurant. Probably one of the best restaurants in Ireland. The flavours are wonderful- the lobster coquille, garlic & chilli spaghetti, as well as the coconut creme brûlée with the mango & mint salsa were sublime. I also love their wine selection. Just a beautiful dining experience.

Delicious melt in your mouth food and lovely staff! I highly recommend the apple crumble. I was dinning here for my birthday lunch and the staff put a candle/sparkler in my dessert, which was such a lovely surprise, as no one had prompted them to do so. The menu offers plenty of vegetarian options.

It was my first time in Fontana and I absolutely loved it. The food was fantastic - I had a prawn risotto and scallops, perfectly paired with a dry Tokaj. The service led by the kind and attentive Elaine was excellent. I'm looking forward to my next experience at Fontana. Highly recommended.

This place really never disappoints. Our more recent visit was a business dinner with guests from Sweden and Holland...each of whom had quite varied tastes. The magnificent kitchen team and the wonderful Elaine in front of house didn’t even flinch! All tastes were accommodated and every taste bud left delighted with dishes which would have their origins to the corners of just about every continent on the planet. My Prawn risotto was superb as always, the Hake perfect, others raved about the Scallops, the Duck Ragu, the Thai Curry.

Hi we decided on a midweek night out and off we went for our first visit to Fontana in Holywood just outside Belfast...

Experiences a couple of years ago (service & attitude related) had kept us away from Fontana, but we decided to give it a try & was pleasantly surprised! Food was really excellent (although portion sizes of sides were on the small side & the mark up on wines was OTT); service was both friendly & efficient. Not my favourite place to eat in Hollywood but don't discount it!

Came here two days after a wonderful meal in river cafe Manhattan, two Michelin stars. Ok the views in New York are better but honestly the food we had tonight far surpassed the American meal. What more can you say, friendly staff, great food and as you can imagine no comparison in the bill.

This is an excellent restaurant. The staff were friendly and helpful, particularly in greeting us and introducing the a la carte dinner menu. For starters we had prawn risotto and pan seared fois grad. Risotto can disappoint in some restaurants and become rather sticky and thick. The risotto in Fontana was carefully cooked and had perfect consistency and texture. It was an excellent starter. The pan seared fois gras was also excellent. Our main courses were pan seared duck breast and pan roast scallop. Duck can also be disappointing in some restaurants mainly due to overlooking, which is unforgivable in a good restaurant. The duck dish in Fontana was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The scallops were also excellent. Both dishes were imaginative in their creativity and the accompanying vegetables were also very well cooked and presented. We decided not to have a dessert, but we are confident that Fontana maintain their very high standards in this part of the menu. Finishing the meal with quality coffee is essential and so many restaurants provide poor coffee. The coffee in Fontana was just acceptable, but all restaurants offering high quality food should match this standard with high quality coffee.

Fontana in Holywood is a good restaurant in the centre of Holywood. Approached from High Street through an archway and upstairs, its high ceilings, unobtrusive lighting, many paintings, other art and friendly staff make a great initial impression. They now have an excellent and varied Gin Menu - the Bathtub Gin was very good. We did not have to look beyond the set menu (Tuesday - Friday), good value at £21.50/£26.50 for 2/3 courses, with its choice of Soup, Crab/fish cakes, Pork bruschetta or a Goat's cheese pizzetta. My starter crab cakes were delicious. I had the slow- cooked pork belly main course, set on a base of apple mash, delicious crispy kale with surprisingly tasty roast turnip, which looked as good as it tasted, while my companion had an excellent pan-fried hake with samphire and triple cooked chips. Other choices were a rib-eye or a vegetarian choice based on spinach gnocchi, though we did not try those. The wine list is good value and varied - I had a white Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, and Vermentino blend Cote Mas to start, followed by the house Malbec, both of which were pleasant. Despite planning to forego dessert I fell for the Chocolate Brownie sundae which came chopped up in a bowl with cream, honeycomb, berries and mint ice-cream overlaid with a little chocolate - looked extraordinary and melted in the mouth. The staff were attentive without obtrusiveness -thanks Janey and the others! At just over £40 a head for a delicious meal with interesting gins and wine, it was good value for a great evening out. It's a favourite place for us and well worth a visit.

Lovely meal - duck cooked to perfection - scallops delicious - panna cotta mmmm - friendly staff - great wine

Amazing food, excellent service, great ambience! If you are looking for that" somewhere special to dine " book Fontana

Hadn't been in Fontana for a few years and decided to revisit. Fontana has so many positives - a wonderful...

Had a very nice family meal, the restaurant was busy but service was good. Food was excellent, the mains and...

A wonderful meal , flavours galore Stimulated the taste buds . We had to rush to theatre but will be...

Went with colleagues for our Christmas lunch. At £25.50 for two courses we were all shocked at the small portion...

Once iridescent landmark has lost a little lustre. . . Having ascended the snug stairwell, you are rewarded at the...

Fontana never disappoints. One of the best in the Belfast area. Greeted by a friendly, professional team with a warm...

All in all this was a great experience. 3 courses were delicious. Portions perfect and the service was attentive without being over-bearing. The menu was varied without being too long or confusing. Local produce, innovative dishes and a taste sensation. Thanks for a lovely evening. Would recommend and return.

After a hard day christmas shopping we dropped in for lunch. Our table was great lots of room and able to talk. Menu came with some great ideas to eat. We both had Spaghetti with lobster good choice along with a nice chilled wine. Flavorful hot tasty all of this. We shared a dessert also good. Lets do it again soon.

A party of eight ate here mid week for my wife's 60th birthday. The food was excellent but you would need to order the full 3 courses to ensure you do not leave feeling hungry. Attempting to charge £30 for a bottle of Procecco is a little naughty if one considers that the average price for a bottle in the UK last year was £6.72 Unfortunately our evening was overshadowed by the very poor customer service. The waitress spilt a drink over 2 of our party which was unfortunate for her but not the end of the world. Considering our 2 guests has to sit through the rest of the evening in wet clothing the correct response should have been along the lines of " our apologies, here is a complimentary drink or we have discounted your bill. sent us the bill for your dry cleaning". But no, all we recieved were instructions to bring the receipt back to the restaurant and they will cover the cost. Not very helpful when we dont live in Holywood,Disappointed

This was our 3rd visit in recent months and again it did not disappoint.

Attended mid week with family having not been here in a few years. The three course set menu had plenty of choice for everyone at a price that is unbeatable. Each and every dish was fresh and delicious with a definite fine dining edge. The staff were really helpful, pleasant and paid us just the right amount of attention. Holywood has some great restaurants but I will definitely be making a return visit to Fontana.

Went in a large group over the summer and really disappointed. 2 of the steaks were inedible. Rest of food just ok. Service not great. Bill ended up extortionate even though most of us ordered the 3 courses and wine for 2.Feel this restaurant has really lost its edge. There are too many excellent restaurants in Ballyhackamore and Belfast for them to sit back .

The important stuff is the food ...right ? and I must say the food was all beautifully cooked and well presented , not large portions, especially the starter which was literally two pieces of ravioli, but certainly fine dining. The steak was cooked to order, and my friend who had the fish also devoured the dish .I just felt it all was a bit old fashioned and stuffy, the art work, the décor and seating, there was definitely an older feel about the place, and I think this was reflected in the other patrons in that night. Its not cheap , and so again maybe that's why its a more mature clientele than some of the other popular restaurants in Holywood. For me a place to take the parents, or maybe a business meal, but not a place to go with mates for a relaxed meal / night out.

This is a place to go for all three courses. Every one will be tasty and interesting, so you don't want to miss out. I also liked the service - very but not overly attentive, and helpful when it comes to menu options. Don't be afraid to ask them to mix and match. They are also very clear on vegetarian options. Very nearly all five stars, but just a couple of things happened to knock our experience down ever so slightly. Firstly, there was a party in which meant the place was noisy - I didn't like this, but I gather it isn't common. Secondly, the current sauce on the steak doesn't work for me (although the steak itself was still divine). Minor quibbles, which may not have applied on another night - call it four and a half!

Great food. Duck confit risotto for starter was lick the plate delicious. Excellent chunkiest chunky chips, light and fluffy, they were cut like bricks!! Lovely restaurant atmosphere. Only two waitresses serving, one look very stressed but we never had to ask for anything twice or wait very long. Look forward to going back

Visited with my partner and have to say we were not disappointed with the food, staff & decor. We went for the three course set menu. Tomato soup and char grilled pizzetta for starters which where delightful and full of flavours. Rib eye steak and pork belly for mains, again no complaints at all as well cooked and full of flavours. Dessert was apple & cinnamon crumble and chocolate brownie sundae. The crumble was very good despite no hint of cinnamon. The sundae was possibly one of the nicest desserts I have ever had. What a perfect mix of fresh berries, honeycomb, chantilly cream, chocolate brownie topped with hazelnut ice cream- yummy ! The staff were very friendly and our waitress was a lovely well mannered and pleasant girl. I would have given five stars if it hadn't of been for the ONLY child in the restaurant who had to be beside me. My heart sank when I saw our table. My chair stuck out a bit so I was right beside her and I had to endure this approx three year old, swishing her pony tail on my arm, touching my chair back and coat, twirling around beside me and listening to her very loud cartoons on her phone. Unfortunately this ruined the whole evening for me. We have children but were out for the evening to get away from them ! I don't think young children should be in a restaurant like this after a certain time especially on a Friday night. It won't put me off coming back, hopefully next time our romantic evening will be as perfect as the food.

Walking down the main High Street in Holywood you could walk past his restaurant. Located down a short walkway and up a flight of stairs you are welcomed into a reasonable sized restaurant.The kitchen is open so you can see what is going on. The staff are very attentive but not intrusive at the same time. The night we went there were two menus to choose from which was not an easy task as it all sounded superb. None of us were disappointed with what we ordered. The food is well presented and cooked to an exceptional quality with local fresh produce. This was my first visit and will certainly not be my last.

There is nothing to dislike about this restaurant , the food is amazing,staff members are friendly and attentive and there is a good "buzz" about the place.The 3 course menu for two includes a bottle of wine,and at £57, is fantastic value for a dining experience of such a high standard.

This is a very good restaurant indeed.The menus are ambitious and seductive.The food is cooked with finesse and served enthusiastically by very good staff.The wine list is novel and very affordable.We had a great evening and will look forward to going again.

Although by no means the Font of all knowledge, I do know what I like, and I do like Fontana.Hidden away just off main street Holywood Co. Down a warm welcome awaits from Elaine and her staff.I and some 'friends' ( I use the term loosely ) have eaten there on a number of occasions and have never been disappointed.The best news is that you don't' have to travel all the way to California to sample the delights of Fontana.

This is a restaurant without a highly visible frontage on the Main Street but once down the alley and up the stairs the Fontana reveals itself as a hidden gem. Walk past the kitchen and into the comfortable table area and very soon we are relaxing whilst surveying a menu selection to really tempt the tastebuds. Friendly service, really good food and an eye for attention on all fronts are the lasting impressions. Well worth the trip down the alley and up the stairs.

Another beautiful lunch in Fontana, this is a restaurant we always return to as the menu, food & service never disappoint.

Dinner for a party on a Saturday night was hit and miss. The service was erratic and it seemed that there was insufficient staff to cope with the number of diners. Our meal was very slow to come to the table and it was difficult to get attention. My starter of crab ravioli was on the small side and the pasta was undercooked, the wrong side of al dente. For mains I had the pan fried sea bass which was lovely but the chunky chips were on the stodgy side as if they had been sitting. One of my party was served the wrong meal and when the correct one did arrive it was inedible as was another of the steaks. These were deducted from the bill. As the portions were not the largest we asked for sides which came just as we were finishing our meal. I am not a sweet toothed diner but I went for the chocolate brownie and I have to say it was one of the best desserts I have ever had, accompanied with fresh berries, chantilly cream, chocolate dirt and honeycomb. The restaurant was nearly full and had a good buzz, a warm ambience and a pleasing and comfortable decor. An enjoyable evening was had by all but a little refinement is required to address the issues mentioned.

I have been to Fontana with family and friends on many occasions. This restaurant is welcoming from the minute you walk through the door...the staff are always warm and jovial. The menu provides a wide range of dishes and I have never been disappointed with any of my choices. Fontana is well worth a visit and is simply superb !!!

Great restaurant. Had a fab night. Cocktails amazing. Staff very attentive especially front of house. Can't wait to go back.

Approach to the entrance was nice. Once up the stairs it was untidy and cluttered. Staff were pleasant though. It was my first time to Fontana being sold on the menu online. I was underwhelmed, the lamb dish was over seasoned but still flavoursome, The quality of the lamb was not good, I couldn't taste any lamb from it, and it was sinewy. The plate seemed thrown together. My lobster starter was very nice. My wife enjoyed her soup and sea bass. The herb garden is a nice touch. Northern Ireland has lots of fine, and I mean really fine eating options today but there are still places where you can get caught out - paying good money for something average dressed up with culinary language and in vogue ingredients these two things are easy to get right. Sourcing the best quality ingredients, cooking and presenting are where I want to see most of my money going. I'm afraid I wont be back or recommending. Like I said, plenty more establishments elsewhere on my list to try.

Just an experience in this restaurant every time we visit. Staff are so warm and attentive and the food is off an extremely high standard. The flavor pairings, even in the deserts are amazing. Not to be found in another restaurant in surrounding area. Advice: choose something you wouldn't normally go for, it will be gorgeous. Thanks as always Fontana for a great night

Had an excellent meal at Fontana when we visited with our grown up family this week. We live in different parts of the UK and so it was a special occasion for five of us to meet in N. Ireland and have dinner together. We were not disappointed, we had the a la carte menu and as we had different choices we covered a range of dishes. Particularly memorable were the foie gras as starter and the lamb as a main course.Would definitely have been a five star rating had it not been for the wait before the main courses arrived. Nevertheless the service was friendly and professional and we would certainly recommend Fontana and return in future.

Just lunched here with our Kiwi Sis, tots amazeballs!!! Will be back very soon. Can't believe we've never been before now.

We had a fabulous dinner here one Saturday evening last summer. The food was really good, with a good selection on the menu. From waht i recall it was also pretty good value.

The dinner menu including the wine really is superb with everything cooked and served just perfectlyThe attention to detail and atmosphere is good

The quality of the food is spectacular, the service is superb and not too intrusive. Maybe a little more pricey than other options in Holywood but you get what you pay for and every dish was delicious and very well presented. Great for a special event meal! Not a huge amount of options for kids and maybe a little more expensive than other eateries but my little girl loved her pasta!

We have eaten in this place many times and never had a bad evening, the food is terrific, and the staff are excellent nothing is to much bother. Put on your list for a lovely dining experience..

Had a great meal at Fontana, fantastic value and great atmosphere. The fixed price menu is a steal. Also enjoyed a cookery demo by Dino, at the Food and Fashion event in Holywood. Hey what's not to enjoy?

It has been quite a few months since we last visited - I am not quite sure why, as it was excellent then.Unlike its closest rival in the town, you are not under starters orders from the very minute you sit down. Fontana has the space and offers a wonderfully relaxed easy atmosphere which to be honest is what a good lunch or dinner should be all about.Fontana ticks many boxes, and for my opinion is the best restaurant in North Down.The menus ( there are several - a la carte,lunch or dinner options and thoughtfully a purely vegetarian ), will cater for the vast majority of tastes i.e. those who like more straightforward food to the much more exciting and adventurous . I do admit to having struggled to make a decision on what to eat as there were many things I would have happily have settled on. An extensive gin menu is available and the wine list is quite extensive, offering good value together with a good range of choice.Service is accomplished and the day we visited, the owner was waiting on tables.We ordered from the lunch menu which offers the options of small plates at £7.50 and large at £13 across the range of options.My starter - fish tacos - was generous in portion size and bold and exciting with flavours. Terrific. My wife had pulled duck with silky home made pappardelle. It was exceptional- rich flavours and melting duck with amazing pasta.I settled on the pea,courgette and lemon risotto as it was springtime - even if the weather outside thought otherwise. The risotto was a bit too heavy for my taste, with a thick flavoursome pea purée somewhat overpowering the dish. I asked for a wedge if lemon which cut through the richness. To be honest I wouldn't order it again,simply because I like my risottos fresher and lighter,but I should say there will be many who would not agree and will be delighted with this.My wife had Korean chicken which came in a box with compartments . Beautiful sticky rice in one,spicy Asian slaw in another,a little pot of soy sauce,steamed greens in another and chunks of very spicy beautifully tender chicken in the final one. I wished I had have ordered it. It was generous in size and I happily assisted.A very good bottle of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc and iced water went well.We left after about 2 and a half hours,happy ,relaxed and satisfied eager to return much sooner than before.In the evenings they do a 3 course menu for 2 people including a bottle of wine for under £60. An absolute steal and where you still enjoy full portion sizes.You also won't find you are presented with your main course around 20 minutes after ordering,having had a starter - unless of course you ask for that speed of service.

We were looking for somewhere to go for a birthday meal We booked Fontana with less than a week's notice. A beautiful interior with a calm atmosphere, just the quiet murmur of people chatting at their tables. The waiting staff were brilliant, enthusiastic and informative. Our order was taken in reasonable time but we were given long enough to view the menu and not feel rushed into a decision. We took the set menu choice of a 3 course meal for 2 and a bottle of wine for just under £60. When our food arrived it was beautifully presented and very well cooked. It tasted delicious. All in all we had a very nice evening and will definitely be returning.

Fontana promised a very attractive menu but ultimately failed to deliver due to poor execution.In our group, lobster starter was poor however prawn risotto was better from the starters.A series of overcooked steaks and soggy undercooked chips left the group disappointed. Whilst all faulty dishes were recooked, the evening was severely disrupted. Scallops mains were well cooked but the dish was predominantly style over substance.Puddings were pleasant but too little too late.Would return during a weekday evening but not at a weekend.

My wife and I had a lovely meal in Fontana on Saturday night. This is not at all unusual as the quality and presentation of their food is first class, ALWAYS! There is an excellent a la carte menu but their set menu is equally as good (as long as you find something to suit your taste) and very reasonably priced. Fontana has a comprehensive wine list and a "Gin Menu" to be sampled at all costs. I would highly recommend the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and GInger!! Fontana is very popular, particularly on Saturday nights, so booking is advisable. We were looked after very well by Ruairi, who is a great asset to the business. We'll be back again.

The service was slow but I don't mind that and it was unobtrusive so you got peace to eat your meal and chat. Starter was good (goat's cheese), turkey dinner main course was ordinary. Turkey looked a bit grey, didn't like the cranberry sauce and not enough gravy! Desserts were good. Though the banquette seating includes built-in radiators so felt like I was sitting on an overly-hot electric blanket for lunch (despite asking a few times to turn it off!)

We were treated to a 3course lunch here and WOW! It was fabulous...great friendly staff but non intrusive....superb food and delicious suggestions! Hadn't been in Fontana for such a loooong time but it was great!! Can't wait....will be back soon...

I have always loved this restaurant as it is one of my locals. Unfortunately I have been disappointed on my last two visits for lunch. I had beef tempura on my last visit which was just a brown plate of food. Come on Fontana go back to what has always been lovely and enjoyable.

Always good - service and food are top quality. One of the places in Holywood which servers a little later - which is nice.

Eight of us booked this restaurant for a meal on a busy Friday night. Every aspect was really good. From pour welcome, drinks order, patience as two of our party were delayed, to the fabulous service and excellent food. I have only praise and nothing negative to say. We all chose off the set menu, all of us having different requirements for the cooking of our meat and all were completely happy. I would have no hesitation recommending this restaurant to all my friends and family.

I visited with my family and we had the three course set menu on a Tuesday evening. The food was contemporary and good quality, although the portions were rather small, but this meant that we could easily eat all 3 courses. The service was discreet and the décor simple. It was definitely a memorable dining experience.

Had a lovely steak meal here. It was a busy night and service was quite slow although friendly. I do think it is slightly overpriced.