La Fontana Della Citta Reviews

A very pleasant and welcoming staff all around. Our compliments. Foodwise, a different matter. Appetizers and pasta were fine but entrees and desert were major disappointments. My veal and my wife's chicken were drowning in sauce and looked and tasted like they were served off a banquet buffet steam table. Deserts seemed right out of a frozen foodservice box. Everything was edible for sure but certainly not the basis for a recommendation or return visit. Though we have a residence in the same block, we had never tried this restaurant before and probably will not again. Maybe it was their way of handling Phila. Restaurant Week patrons?

Food was good. Had a party of 15. Out of town guests. Made the ordering simple for the waitress. No specials but charged 20% for service that was AOL for an hour. Had to track the waitress down...twice. All were tired and wanted to leave. Pissed.

This is our go-to BYO Italian restaurant. The food is consistently good, the wait staff very friendly and attentive. In addition, they are very flexible creating additions or deletions as tastes require.%

Very pleasant restaurant with tables on the street and excellent service and good food. House pasta was very good.

When vising our daughter in Philly during restaurant week , we decided to go to head out for some Italian fare and chose La Fontana. Our prix fixe menu included a salad/ app choice, a pasta course entree and dessert. We especially loved the mussels in white sauce, spinach salad , veal combination and the tirimisu. But the hit of the night was definitely the Gorgonzola gnocci! The place is cute and the service very good. Our waiter was helpful and attentive. This is a affordable choice in the city.

My son, who lives in Philadelphia suggested this restaurant. This establishment is family run & it shows, from the moment you walk in, they are happy we came & recognized my son. We started with Bruschetta & my entree was Lobster Ravioli with red sauce, both were excellent. This is a small establishment with some bistro seating outside so I recommend getting a reservation. Service was friendly, quick but not rushed. If you want to eat like a local, try this gem.

We had 15 people in our party. The food was to die for. I had the Gnocchi Sorrentino and my husband had the Chicken Parm. It was the one of the best meals we have had in the city and to top it off I had a cannoli and he had the cheesecake. Highly recommend both! The staff there is great!

Small setting, attentive staff but not hovering. Salads were large, but delicious (an arugula and a spinach). Penne Arrabiata was excellent. We were last in Italy in May 2017 - comparable. Risotto Alla Pescatore - very good, though would have been nice to have equal portions of all seafood. The cannoli was billed as 'homemade' and it certainly seemed like it. The shell was crisp and the filling delicious. Also had the vanilla ice cream rolled in chocolate - very nice. The only downside, we were brought the check without asking, and we would have liked an espresso. No worries - we were quite sated. Definitely would return and recommend. One more thing - it is BYOB - they have no wine - corking fee is minimal.

We’ve been here twice before over the last five-6 years and never had a “great meal” here but my cousin heard go things – and we like to patronize places during Restaurant Week – so we booked lunch for 4 of us today. Two days ago we were at a “similar” but better restaurant – La Viola – where we always have great friendly service and large portions. Both restaurants are owned by Albanians but serve Italian food because Albania is right next to Italy. We made reservations for 1pm and when we arrived there were only 2 tables occupied. During our meal they left and 2 more groups of four arrived. We were presented with the regular (much higher priced) menu. When the ONE waiter came over I asked if they had the Restaurant week menu (3 selected courses for $20). He said “Oh you want the Restaurant Week One?”. Duh! Most folks book for RW for that “bargain”. The menu was small with one soup and three salads for first course. The entrees included penne with pancetta, gnocchi, two fishes and three chicken or veal dishes . Usually these restaurants (La Viola and La Fontana) serve potatoes and a vegetable on the plate – and sometimes will give you a side of pasta. We asked what comes with meat or fish dishes. The waiter said “just meat or fish”. That surprised us. The food was tasty but not fabulous (in our opinion) and we really needed a veggie or something. The waiter really seemed bored and never said thank you or asked how the food was. He did not bus the crumbs off the table. Dessert was excellent. The Tirimasu was large and the cannoli was kingsize. The best course. It is a BYOB and so we brought wine. The waiter opened the bottle but did not pour any. He left for us to pour. No it wasn’t a BAD meal – just average compared to other Italian restaurants- and the service was really below par in attentiveness and attitude. Not sure we have any reason to return in the future – even on Restaurant Week. La Viola is so much better (comes with veggies and potatoes too) and a friendlier attitude.

We visited this restaurant on a Saturday evening with our daughter and son-in-law during a recent trip to Philadelphia. It was recommended by the staff at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed at on Pine Street so it was within walking distance. We were very impressed that you can bring your own bottle of wine for ONLY $1.99 coverage charge. The restaurant was very busy ( a good sign right??? ) and yes it was a little loud because there were a lot of people. However, we enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was great. We thought the food was very good with larger portions ( two of us had a seafood pasta dish and the others had gnocci and lamb ). When we left the restaurant there was a line-up people waiting to get in. This is a restaurant we would definitely return to.

A busy Friday night during Restaurant Week. The 4-course menu for $40 was appealing to us. Plus, we could bring our own champagne and wine. Prior to our reservation that night, I called to let them know someone in our party was celebrating a birthday and asked if they could put a candle in her dessert. When we got to the restaurant, I also let the hostess know and even pointed our friend out. When it came time for dessert, no candle or mention of a birthday. As far as the meal, I was told the eggplant rollatini was an appetizer hit as was the Pasta Faggioli soup. The salad was just ok. We all loved the variety of 3 pastas served before the entrée. My entrée, tilapia, was delicious. It was lemony and included capers and a few red peppers. The chicken parmigiana, on the other hand, had some bland tomato sauce on it and didn't include any pasta. Desserts were on the small side although the cheese cake was good. This was our second visit, and this place just seems tired and dated particularly with the red carpets. While we were there, a large party of scantily clad 20-somethings paraded back and forth to the bathroom during our dinner. This will probably be our last visit. There are too many other BYOBs to visit particularly in the suburbs.

Large portions. The gnoochi sorrentina and shrimp linguine were good but service was not great. They accidently got my friend's dishes mixed up and instead of just passing the plate down the table they insisted on taking it back to the kitchen first even the piece of shrimp she had already taken. There was a bug in another friend's lasagna which apparently also had sauce tasting like spaghetti-os. After their not so great service they required a 20% gratuity because we were a fairly large group. Overall we were notpleased and don't expect to go again.

We had our rehearsal dinner there for our son's wedding. Food was fabulous. The service was extraordinary. They were so very attentive, professional, and especially adorable. Thank you for everything!

My husband and I ate there on Monday night April 30, 2018. It is a lovely restaurant. Not huge but very nicely decorated. We were greeted and seated immediately. Water was brought to our table and as we brought out our bottle of wine the waiter came over opened and poured our wine. We were told about the specials and we ordered our dinner. Our food came out piping hot. The food was excellent ! ! Both of us ordered seafood dishes. The seafood was the freshest I had ever had. Our waiter, Ari, was very attentive, friendly and informative. I would recommend this restaurant and we will definitely be back ! ! ! !

We went there as it was near the play were seeing at Plays and Players on Sansom St. We had heard it was good. The room was nice, but the seating was somewhat close. The menu was very good, the portions ample, and the food good for 3 out of our four. Service was prompt, attentive, and friendly. It was not noisy, and we could have a good conversation even though it was crowded on a Tuesday night. The prices were reasonable, and as a BYOB, we felt it was good for a revisit when we are in the neighborhood.

The BEST of the BEST - very friendly staff - The food was SO good. Wish if I lived here it would be my regular place to eat. Great Italian food - my sever Essy could not have been better - thank you.

Remember that this restaurant is BYOB. And, that you get a discount if you pay in cash but, you have to print the certificate off the website and give it to them for accountability. Where do I begin on the service? No one was at front desk checking reservations/checking people in. I checked in with 3 different people who disappeared and I saw servicing tables. Almost 20 minutes after our reservation, we were seated. Now, it was Restaurant Week, so, they were busy. But, we sat for another 15 minutes or longer with water and no menus. Finally, after our water glasses being filled 3 times, my husband asked for menus and the server stated, "Sorry, I thought you had already ordered." Our table shared the mussel appetizer in white wine which was good but not served very hot. We were not given any additional bread to use to sop up the broth which was too bad as the broth was good. During Restaurant Week, the entire table must order off same menu (standard menu or Restaurant Week menu). House salad was good and my party was all happy with their menu selections (lasagna, eggplant parm, penne, and a veal piccata.)

My dining companions would have given this restaurant 4 stars. I, however, cannot. And its really because I picked an appetizer and entree that perhaps shouldn't even be on the menu. My mushrooms and roasted red peppers app was drenched in balsamic vinegar. I ate about a third, it was too overwhelming on it's own. The other salads at the table, a Caesar and a Caprese were fine - nothing unusual but good starters, light and refreshing. For my entree, the tasteless Risotta Primavera. I needed salt, pepper and parmesan cheese to wring some flavor out of the dish. Once again, simply not worth finishing my portion. The penne arrabiata was a hearty slightyly spicy version and was enjoyed as was the chicken parmigiano with a side of pasta. We sampled two desserts, a homemade tiramisu and a tartufo. Both were fine, not OMG exceptional but tasty. It's a BYO which is nice because it keeps the price of dining affordable. The service is fast (!). Our 3 course meal was over in a little over an hour, perhaps setting a new speed record.

First the Pros: The location is great - near Rittenhouse Square and within walking distance of the Sofitel where we were staying. The atmosphere was nice, and the food was good. The cons: Service was very spotty. We were brought to our table and seated right away, but it was a while before anyone brought us menus, despite the restaurant only having a few people at that time. We were hoping to relax over a drink before ordering, but once we got our menus, we noticed that this was a BYOB restaurant. While other people noted on TripAdvisor that they were also unaware of this policy, yet they were offered a glass of wine, we were not approached by anyone with the same offer. We had to wait some time before our server came back. It seemed as though a co-worker or family member came by with her new baby and the other servers went over to say, "Hello" and see the baby. This went on for quite some time. Normally, I would not have minded this but a very large party of about 30 people came in, it was getting busy, and we were hungry. Eventually, our server returned and took our order. No one came back later to check on water refills or to ask us about our meal. I think the manager and staff that night lost sight of the fact that there were customers who should have been taken care of first.

We had a pleasant, pre-orchestra dinner here last weekend, walking in with no reservation. We were pleased with how moderate the noise level is and how much space there is between tables. Service was very good, and our waiter offered us a complimentary glass of wine as we didn't realize this was a BYOB. We split a salad--the arugula with pecorino cheese--which was fine but nothing exciting, and each ordered a seafood-based pasta dish. The food was good but a bit salty; I wouldn't say this is a great venue for true foodies. But the overall experience was very nice.

Loved this place! A familiar Italian menu in a homey atmosphere, the kind of neighborhood Italian place we miss from our days in Manhattan. Nothing pretentious here--just really good food, especially pasta, reasonable prices, and friendly servers.

No really what I was going for on a Christmas Day. Staff bustling everywhere. Polite but god knows they didn’t linger. Had to ask for bread, which then arrived very quickly by a never-pausing server— three slices for 4 people. No one refilled our water glasses. We had to ask for a dessert menu. Food came quickly and efficiently but we felt invisible. T White table cloths, nice lighting, tables not too packed together. Upscale crowd.

Worst Italian Food I ever ate in Philadelphia. It’s a real shame I wanted to like it but I knew it was going down hill when I had to remind the waiter after 20 min that we didn’t order and the bathroom had no toilet paper. The Caprese Salad was made with unripe tomatoes, that where mushy most likely from being cold and not ripe sorta like the tomatoes you get on a Big Mac. The wait staff was too busy running up and down the isles to pay any attention to our dining us trying to get their attention the fact we waited an hour to get our meals and one our water glass was dirty. I could deal with bad service I’d the food was palatable. Never again I would have been better off at “Olive Garden” which would have tasted like a gourmet meal compared to the food we had. Never again will I go back.

We went on a Thursday night during Restaurant Week. We ordered off the regular menu, though. We were seated right away with a reservation. The service was professional and attentive, but not overbearing. Each course was served promptly. Overall, the food was good but not great. I had the Farfalle Barese and my wife had Lasagna Bolognese. Compared to other restaurants in Rittenhouse Square area, it is reasonably priced.

My husband and I ate dinner here the night before the Love Run Half Marathon. (We had previously eaten at this restaurant when visiting Philadelphia for another race and had a good experience.) We made our reservation via OpenTable and were seated right on time. The service was fast and the food was a good quality. The restaurant is also BYOB! Note: This restaurant gets very crowded on the weekends and asks that you be “mindful” of customers “waiting to be seated” after finishing your meal.

A mostly pleasant dining experience for our group of 5. However, my entree was what the menu called "rack of lamb" requested medium rare. What was delivered was thin, well-done lamb chops in a lovely sauce. I pointed out the brown interior of the 2 chops I had cut into. The food was taken away without asking if I'd prefer a different dish. Very shortly I was presented with more lamb chops, cooked on the outside and bloody raw on the inside. I refused it, and added that I understood rack of lamb to be a single piece of meat. The waiter shrugged and said "this is how we do it here." Well then, why not call it lamb chops? I ate my side dish of ok fettuccine Alfredo, we paid and left. I will say the calamari appetizer was as perfect as my entree was terrible.

I visited Saturday 01/10/2015 with a large group of 14 girls. Pros: - Our number of guests kept changing and they accommodated us as best they could. We were upstairs and there were several large parties like ours, so if you're coming with a big group - they definitely can fit you. It was a bit cramped but we didn't mind. - Large menu with a lot of options. - Not terribly pricey. - BYOB Cons: - Creepy owners and waitstaff. They kept hitting on us which was very uncomfortable and unprofessional. Maybe I could excuse the waitstaff from doing this, but the owners and managers? No. - A group near us complained that they got kicked out after they were done eating because they had more reservations coming in. They were loudly yelling about it. Not sure how true this is.. but I could see it happening here. - Food was just okay. Someone ordered the bruschetta and I had one bite - it tasted fresh but was rather oily. I ordered the Risotto Primavera. I think the server forgot to ask me what sauce I wanted because it came with no sauce and was very dry. It would've been delicious with some sort of sauce as the menu specified. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals, though. - Slow. We were there for 3 hours. - Very small place. I might consider giving this place another try, but I'm not sure with so many other good places in the city. I would probably return if it wasn't for the creepy staff. Also - I would not recommend this for a date - especially a first date. It is so loud and cramped in there. It is not a romantic, intimate setting at all.

Went here for Valentines Day and it was one of the best Italian meals that I've had in a while! Prix-Fix menu, but we were able to pick from the full menu. Everything was just amazing and portions were huge, which is always a plus for leftovers. Its also a byob so bring some wine! Small corkage fee, but its worth it. Service was also impressive and the food came out quickly. Bottom line, GREAT Italian food, recommend the chicken parm and lasagna!

Fabulous food, great service, very inexpensive, BYO. Go when it's not crowded. Like a late lunch or early dinner. It's our favorite Italian in Philly.

Has a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15 for 8 people. Arrived on the dot and waited 10 minutes before I had to hunt down someone to put my name in. Hostess informed me that my reservation was changed to 8:30 (without informing me) and that all the tables were full and they could not give me any estimate as to when we'd be seated. Hostess then walked away and avoided the reception area. Would have been nice if they at least called to state they were running late or opened our wine and provided wine glasses while we waited. Party of 5 who had a reservation at 8 that was not even sat at 8:30. Be prepared to wait, even if you have a reservation. Went to Branzino across the street who immediately made accommodations to seat us and it was delicious.

We booked La Fontana for a family evening prior to a show at the Kimmel Center and found it convenient to the theater and a very good value. The menu had a southeastern Italy influence setting it apart from the crowd. Everything was properly and tastefully prepared from the broccoli rabe to the sea bass. The service was good and friendly without being intrusive. The restaurant is a BYOB establishment, and the staff was thoughtful enough to switch glasses when a second, different bottle was opened. If there is a negative it is that the restaurant was crowded and noisy, and the seating cramped. This made ot difficult for the staff to serve properly and to coordinate the service. The waiter had a good deal of difficulty filleting fish tableside due to the cramped space between tables and a side dish was not delivered with one of the meals. This was rectified when pointed out. All in all a very good restaurant.

The restaurant was really good,nice worm place. But the food it was unacceptable... to much off everything, dressing,sauce... not going back for sure!!!

Wow what a fabulous place.!!!! We dined here on Friday night table for four, double date with my son and girlfriend. Service was excellent. Was warmly greeted sat down,ordered our entrees and realized we forgot a bottle of wine, waitress said she would get us some house wine, very impressed with her hospitality. Served us each a glass of wine. Our whole table loved the food and service will all agreed that this was our favorite place that we had dined during restaurant week. Will definitely return in the future. Don’t forget byob.

A center city restaurant, no shortage of italian choices, not to mention South Philly a short cab ride away, No need to travel, this a fine choice to dine. It is BYOB, which isn't a problem for us, as we are not drinkers. But the food is delicious. Nicely presented, fresh, good portion size. Table bread served is rustic with a good hard crust which nicely dips into the Olive Oil served along side. Servers professional, and readily available.

This BYOB restaurant has become our “go-to” Italian eatery when in Philadelphia for running events; we have had dinner here several times and have always had a good experience. We recently ate here the night before the Philadelphia Half Marathon and 8K. As usual, we made our reservation via OpenTable and were seated on time. We have previously only dined in the main dining room, but for the first time, were seated in separate dining space downstairs. I much preferred the atmosphere in the main dining room to the downstairs room, but we still had terrific service and the food was excellent.

The restaurant was quaint, and the food was above average. However, our waiter was absolutely terrible! The restaurant was not busy, but our waiter was extremely slow. He seemed bothered/annoyed when we asked for gluten free options. It took him 30 minutes to confirm gluten free options, and another 45 minutes for our food to arrive. He did not check back with us to update us about our food taking so long. We did call ahead to make sure they could accommodate gluten free patrons, and our reservations were 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. We would not go back, especially when there are so many other amazing options that also have terrific service.

We went last night and were not overwhelmed. The waiter was pushing the restaurant week menu. The noise level was on the loud side. My ceasar sale was just ok but it was not overderessed, which I appreciated. My husband ordered the caprese salad, which could have been fresher. The pasta arrabiata was flavorful. The veal was just ok. Kind of tough. The chocolate mousse had raisins in it, which we thought was strange and it would have been better without them. The service was fine, but the waiter never asked how everything was. I would not go out of my way to come here.

Held a family banquet here last week and the main course/dessert were outstanding. Salad was fair and service was good. Nice niche Italian restaurant in Center City.

Awful.…. Starting with an extremely non attentive waiter which lead to extremely poor service, a missed meal and a table that remained filled with dirty dishes from start to finish…Food was adequate and difficult to rate because the experience overall was horrible.

This is a wonderful neighborhood Italian restaurant with a varied menu. There are plenty of choices for everyone. We went again last evening and all four of us ordered something different and each of us was very pleased. It is very conveniently located at 17 th and Spruce St. not far from the Kimmel Center (Broad St/Spruce St). You have very good food, nice atmosphere, great service, and it is a BYOB............ can't ask for more!

Friday night during Restaurant Week may not be the best time to visit? I don't know. I visited La Fontana with my wife and 4 friends. We had a nice time but there were a few things that made the night less than i had hoped. First let me state the the staff were absolutely great! The service is top notch. The atmosphere was not as much. The restaurant was packed as it was Friday night during the Center City Restaurant week. When our party arrived, having reservations, we were immediately seated. We were put in the downstairs dining room which at first was fine as we were the only ones in the dining room. However that was short lived and there were several other parities. When the room got full, the noise was unbelievable. you could hardly hear yourself speak. The food was OK. We had a number of dishes as it was a price set dinner that included appetizer, pasta, entree' and desert. I had the mussels for an appetizer and was disappointed, they were not as fresh as i would like and they tasted a bit fishy and were rather small in size. The pasta was pretty good. They had a sampling of 3 different pastas. The gnocchi was great. As for the entree's they had that mass produced look and feel almost as if they were cooked on an assembly line. The meats did not impress me as being of select quality and there just did not seem to be anything special about the flavors of the various dishes. The positives, GREAT service, It's a BYOB. Detractions, Noisy and food was just ok.

large group -- 16 of us...were shoved in a section of the restaurant more appropriate for 10....and the rest of the lace looked cramped as well but the food was really good and for a large group, e had very good service. BYOB kept the price down to reasonable. The special veal chop was excellent..as were the mussels. The Ceasar salad was very good but the Cabrese salad -- well not tomato season....pasta dishes were well portioned and flavorful....and the desserts were wonderful -- glad we split them! For the price -- would go back but expect loud and cramped and pretty darn good food....

We had the prix fixe menu. #1, which, on their website lists 6 entrees to choose from. But it turned out there were only 2 choices, which were not much of a choice. We were not informed ahead of this during the confirmation call. Also the portions were tiny. They did not serve rolls. The staff were not friendly. We're very unhappy.

My husband and I ate at this restaurant when it first opened, perhaps 7 or 8 years ago. We thought it was good, but nothing special. We walk past it all the time, and it is always packed, especially on the weekends. Another couple suggested we try it again this week, and I am so glad we did! First of all, I had forgotten how pretty it is inside, with its very high ceilings, gorgeous chandeliers, and an ambience that reminds me of little dining spots we find in Rome. It is about a 5-minute walk from Rittenhouse Square. We're not fans of overly crowded restaurants on weekends, so we visited on a Tuesday. The noise level was quite low, which is a real treat in Center City, and we were able to hold a conversation easily, without yelling across the table at each other. Our server was pleasant and efficient without being cloying. Service between courses was a little slow, especially considering that the place was only about half full, but since we weren't in a rush, we didn't mind. My husband wanted a caesar salad, but they were out of it, so he had bruschetta instead. He said it was fresh and delicious. The rest of us had arugula salads with a lemony vinaigrette dressing. The salad was nothing more than arugula and a few shavings of cheese, but it was very good nonetheless. The stars of the show were the entrees. The portions were quite large, and we all ate every bite. My husband said the spaghetti with crab was excellent, the other two diners raved about their eggplant parmesan, and I thought my veal parmesan was the best I have had anywhere in Center City in the past 12 years. The veal was perfectly cooked, very fresh, and it had just the right amount of mozzarella on it. The spaghetti sauce was rich and delicious, much like the sauce I remember from my favorite childhood Italian restaurant. The restaurant is a BYOB, and we each brought a bottle. The corkage fee was less than $2 per bottle, which is reasonable. We were all too stuffed for dessert, but the dessert menu looked really mouthwatering. We'll try it next time. And there will definitely be a next time. According to friends who go there often, the restaurant is very crowded and extremely loud on weekend evenings, so this will be one of our mid-week favorite places to go. It is bright and very clean and welcoming. There is also outdoor seating. Prices are typical for Center City BYOBs --- about $35 per person, for two courses, without dessert. All in all, a wonderful little Italian restaurant that is now on our list of favorites.

Had dinner here with a friend and was very pleased with my delicious, plentiful, GF version of Chicken Picante. The free glass of very good red table wine was a nice treat, and the service was excellent. The atmosphere is very pleasant: Mediterranean, and open but not noisy. There seemed to be an over 40 crowd - that were dining at the same time which was nice actually as there were no screaming babies, or young people vying for each other's attention within the high ceilinged rooms. All in all very nice dinner experience. Oh and my friend said his glutenous gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese was incredibly delicious.

Under another friend's recommendation, I got the gnocchi sorrentina which was very good! Portions were huge and bear in mind that because its just pasta and sauce you get quite full after a short while. I don't think I even had half of my dish. The other pastas were decent too. My gnocchi sorrentina was good with a blush sauce and fresh mozzarella chunks. Friend's gnocchi gorgonzola was good too although I couldn't taste the gorgonzola (which is a good thing because I do not like that cheese at all). Their spicy arrabiata was spicy enough which provided a good kick! And last but not least, their meat sauce bolognese was good with quite a lot of meat. Oh and not to forget, they have an amazing dessert here! If you're going with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, you might want to ask them for their "special cannoli" in the shape of a certain something ;) You won't be disappointed! It tastes good too, one of the better cannolis I've had!

It's a complete mystery why anyone eats here; I've sworn off it after my second time. The food would have to improve to be mediocre, which is hard to justify in a city of great Italian food (and with the cheaper and much better La Viola a few blocks away). The menu is awash with hidden fees and surcharges - a fee to share a dish, a minimum order per person, a corkage fee (at a putatively BYOB restaurant). The service is rude and unhelpful. Truly the worst Italian restaurant in Philadelphia.

When you can't get into your favorite BYOB on Spruce St., what do you do? Ask around, check some reviews and walk a few blocks to La Fontana. Really good food, great service, and only a little bit loud at times. And Yes, it is a BYOB.

The staff in this restaurant with the exception of the young man that served our water and bread who was lovely - the rest forget it! We picked this place as it was on the same block as us and was a cold, rainy night so seemed a good choice to have some Italian food. Our waiter after advising of the specials took our order and within minutes a young lady came out to apologize that the soup special was unavailable, I would have thought the waiter would have known this prior to advertising it. Especially as it was a Tuesday night and quiet when we arrived. She made a nice gesture of offering us a glass of red wine each, we accepted one glass. Ohh dear, I think it may have been a left over from a previous diner as it was so bitter and tasted like vinegar. The food overall was average and the service went even further downhill. The management should remind their staff that just because they hear a non-American accent they should not assume we don't know how to tip based on service etc. Our tip to the staff reflected the poor quality overall, we have consistently tipped over 20% elsewhere due to good service. This place we tipped around 2% which will give you an idea.

Overall we all enjoyed this restaurant. All of the food was delicious. I enjoyed the veal parm and the soup of the day. Service was very good all around. Also it is another byob so don’t forget your wine or beverage of choice when you go. Would recommend this restaurant to others as well.

Three of us went in on a Monday night. The place was not very busy. Very nice menu. The place is BYOB, which is always great. Two of us got the Linguine with Clams. The pasta was perfect, and the clams were generous and also nicely cooked. One issue: The wine sauce was not very "clammy". They should probably add some clam juice to the sauce. We also got the Chicken Parm. It was perfect. The large cutlet was pounded thin, but not overcooked. Service was excellent. A number of different people kept an eye on us. BOTTOM LINE: I would definitely go back again. The menu has a number of dishes I would love to try. Might even give the clams another go.

My boyfriend and I have young faces and are often made to feel uncomfortable when going out to eat at certain restaurants. This was no different. When walking in the hostess raised her eyebrow at us and asked if we had a reservation with quite an attitude. We had made the reservation over a week prior to our visit and decided that we should stay in hopes that the dining experience would get better. The tables were uncomfortably close but the general decor was nice. I enjoyed looking out the large windows at Spruce street and the high ceiling. Our food was good (the pastas and desserts are particularly well done) but the server literally dropped our plates on the table in front of us. I was also disappointed with the fact that our coffee was ice cold. Based on the service alone we will not be returning to La Fontana Della Citta

Great place for a large group dinner

One of my best friends takes me to La Fontana whenever she wants to celebrate. She loves the did and orders the same dish every time . And she is Italian.....so she should be nle to tell goo Italian from bad.....or....apparantly not. I have joined my friend on several occaision snow and I have never had anything good. I hardly ever eat more than a few bites. The menu is right out of 1970s circa Greek diner. No fresh pasta, lots of breaded deep fried greasy food buried in marinara or some other gloppy thick sauce. Even the bread is horrible. With all the great Italian bread available in philly ....theirs tastes like the wonder bread version. Service should have been great since there were at least eight staff for the two of us we were the only customers. But service was awful. We had to ask twice for menus. And the management had chosen to keep the air conditioning off. So it was very warm and the residual smells from the floors were very detectable. When dessert time came we were given a manufacturers list of traditional Italian desserts. All factory made freeze-thaw products . This seems to be the kind Of place only someone like my friend could like. She is a center city apartment dweller who eats to sustain life and for no other reason. Going to La Fontana is easier for her than cooking....but that is all that this joint has going for it. My advice.....you would get a better meal at Olive Garden....or at the kitchen of Chef Boyardee!

My boyfriend and I had dinner here before a show at the Kimmel Center, less than 2 blocks away. This was one of the best Italian meals I've ever had. Love that it's BYOB. I had the chicken Fantasia, delicious chicken dish with asparagus, lemon wine sauce and fresh melted mozzarella on top. Incredible. My boyfriend had the special, which was rigatoni with a pink sauce, scallops, crab meat, shrimp and broccoli rabe. He said it was one of the best meals he's ever had. Service was excellent. Ever present, yet not overbearing. Tiramisu for dessert was so light and delicious, one of the best tiramisus I've had too! I will definitely be back. What a find.

Outside tables are not 6 feet apart, more like 2.5 feet apart. When I asked about it, the staff simply said that they are busy so that is why the tables are so close. Not acceptable, there is no excuse and should not be allowed to operate if they can’t comply!

A friend and I were early for a performance at the 1812 Theater Company and stopped in. We had less than an hour before the show started and our waiter promised that we would be out. Around six the restaurant has a few tables filled. Our only regret a BYOB and we did not bring any wine and no place near by to purchase. The the food was reasonably priced, however, the staff was attentive and an attempt was made to get us out on time. Standard pasta fare, good and solid- like an standby restaurant. I had a salad-Caesar not the best but my friend's veal was good and a decent portion size.

The food was amazing. Everything on the menu is worth trying, and, since it is a BYOB, you can enjoy your favorite wine along with it. Service was also very good.

Goo italian BYOB...friendly, fast service. Liked the specials.

I recently ate there for the restaurant week promotion and would without a doubt go back and eat off the full price menu. Their promotional menu had a little bit of everything and between my boyfriend and I we tried the calamari, caprese salad, tilapia, veal, 3 different vodkas (the gnocchi gorgonazola is to die for) and had excellent desserts. Our waiter was attentive and authentic Italian! This place is BYO, the atmosphere is perfect for a date or a group of people. Sitting near the window gives you a nice view of Spruce Street. The pasta was delcious, the tilapia felt like it would melt in my mouth and the cheesecake (while I usually try to avoid it) was a little slice of heaven. One of the best Italian meals I've ever had.

My husband & I had an excellent experience here. I’m still confused as to why this place doesn’t have a solid 4 or 5 rating. We stumbled across this place while walking through Philly on a Friday evening. Service was excellent. Food was delicious and authentic. We were unaware that the restaurant is BYOB until we noticed every table had a bottle, but we survived and had nightcaps once we got back to our hotel. Lack of alcohol was compensated by the authentic cuisine - calamari was the best we’ve ever had (tender and fresh, not over fried), lobster ravioli was perfect, seafood risotto (did seem more like long grain rice but the seafood was SO fresh and the sauce so rich & buttery it didn’t matter). Many seem to have had bad service, hence the lower ratings; but I felt that this place allowed you to enjoy the dining experience without someone interrupting your conversation every 5 seconds to ask questions or clear plates. We forget to enjoy the dining experience as Americans; but this restaurant gave a beautiful reminder that we need to slow down and enjoy life. EXCELLENT!!

I was expecting good Italian food in a city like Philadelphia. This is not it, and the prices were very high in my opinion for what was served. The service disappointed also, as it seemed like the waitstaff was spread too thin for a Saturday Night. Last, but not at all least, was the noise level. Not a good place to hear anything. A real disappointment for over $100 for two people without beverages.

We have been coming to this restaurant for years. This evening we were seated next to a large party. The noise was outrageous (worse than any frat party I attended in college) and the Maitre D' made no effort to accommodate us at a quieter table (of which there were several available) nor to say even one word to the party to ask them to be a bit more considerate of the other guests. In general we felt as though the wait staff found our suffering amusing. The food at this restaurant is very nice and prior to this evening it was a place I looked forward to coming. After tonight I will not be back. A frat party atmosphere at such a lovely restaurant should be unacceptable to the staff and they should have made some effort to alleviate an untenable situation. Too bad.

The service was amazing! Such great attention to detail. The calamari was amazing. The best calamari we have ever had. Dinner was amazing. I can not wait to go back!!!!! Thank you to Ari and staff for such an amazing experience!!

I do not know where to start. The food was poor but the service was not there at all, we start thinking as soon as they got our order the waiters went to kitchen and cook it themself and them came out. Cause they disappear. No water refill nor bread.And the food tasted like it was cook by someone without a touch or passion for what he or she was doing

A group of friends and I decided to take our friend out to a nice dinner in the city last night for her birthday. Normally, the customer is always right when they are in a restaurant setting. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. Once we got to the restaurant, on time for our reservation, and after sitting at our table for two minutes, specifically telling the waitstaff that we were waiting for the rest of our party, we were hassled by the whole waitstaff of when the others were coming. Secondly, while we (myself and three other female friends) were waiting for the rest of our party, the waitstaff acted like total pigs and made us feel uncomfortable, and we never knew who our actual waiter was. On top of that we were never asked what we wanted to drink, and never heard what the specials were, while tables around us, the majority of them being older patrons, had incredible service. At the end of the dinner, which I will admit was a great meal, a friend of ours who works in a restaurant himself approached the manager to let him know of the poor service, the manager basically laughed in his face, saying "It happens" and badgering us about how we were twenty minutes late, when in fact the majority of us made the reservation on time. For the amount of money that we spent, in addition to the undeserved 20% gratuity tacked on to the bill, this was a disappointing and lackluster experience. When eating at a restaurant, yes the food must be amazing, but the atmosphere and waitstaff must be commendable as well in order to have a great experience. One can not simply have one or the other. There is a great plethora of Italian restaurants all over Philadelphia that will make you feel welcome with their menu as well as their service. The bottom line is: La Fontana Della Citta is NOT one of them.

Our family and several others had dinner here pursuant to our children or grandchildren graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. The restaurant was very crowded, but the servers managed to do their jobs quite well. The food was very good and we enjoyed our meal. But the noise level was so loud and excruciating that we pretty much quit trying to have a conversation across the table. For that reason, I would never go back to this restaurant.

Delicious Italian food for cheap. And a BYOB!

It was decent. Owned and operated Albanians, so I wouldn't necessarily call it authentic Italian.

This restaurant has good food, good prices, a very friendly staff, and a nice, quiet environment (with indoor and outdoor seating).

My husband and I ate here the night before the Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. This Italian restaurant is BYOB. (I normally would have brought a bottle of wine but didn’t with the race the next morning.) Our hotel made a reservation for us and we were seated immediately upon arriving at the restaurant. The food and service were great and my pasta was perfectly cooked. I would recommend this restaurant to others when in the Philly area.

We stopped in without a reservation and we fortunately to get seated immediately. The outdoor dining and indoor was probably @ 90% when we arrived and probably about 20% when we left a little over an hour later. As stated in other reviews it is a BYOB restaurant which we were unaware of but not a huge deal. What was a big deal is the waiter service inside it was horrible. We were virtually ignored for a good 15 minutes and despite no bar they did offer complimentary red wine which turned to out to be white when it arrived. 20 minutes later he came and apologized to us as they were out of red. We now were able to order finally and chose the mussels in white wine and a Ceasar. The Ceasar was good and the mussels absolutely cold. By the time they cleared the Appetizers the young lady who brought the bread and was working very hard asked how our meal was I just said horrible. This is very unlike me the whole wait time was amazing. We just wanted out of there. By the time the meal came we really needed to eat and ate quickly and left. The linguine fra diavlo was very good so that was some saving grace. The service need to be worked on and I am sure the mussels sat a good 10 minutes before being brought to us. Anyway research and make a reservation elsewhere you will be glad you did.

Had lunch here a few days ago. The crab or seafood sachets (little bags filled with something delicious) was a special offered, and about $30. It was amazing. I often cannot complete restaurant entrees, but for this one I ate every morsel and trace of the luscious sauce. Everyone was quite pleased with the food and service. This is a BYOB establishment, so you can save money in this way. We were the only customers there for lunch on a Friday. We were a little late for a normal lunch, 1:30, but we were wondering why they would be completely empty. Perhaps they don't promote low-priced specials. In any case, we were delighted to have the place to ourselves.

Went to an early lunch during restaurant week prior to our trip to the Barnes. The lunch was excellent. i had Pasta Fagioli soup, which was one of the best I have ever had and I consider myself an expert. I also had Chicken Piccata which was very good. Everyone was very happy with their meals. We all had iced tea and it was very fresh and clear, not bitter. Good service. All told, an excellent experience.

Hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner for 48 People. Staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating. Dinners were excellent as all attending remarked. I would return for dinner or hold another event there without question.

If you're looking for a very good Italian BYOB in Philadelphia, this is the place. Food is fabulous, wait staff is pleasant, and the atmosphere is true Italian!

This restaurant is doing very well under its new management. Was here with 6 adults, a toddler and an infant. We had asked for a quiet table when we made our reservation, and we were seated at a great corner table. Several of us had the bronzino which was a large portion and delicious. Other members of our party had the special and chicken and were very happy with their meals as well. Someone in our party had a dairy allergy and they were accommodating. Will definitely come here again and highly recommend you give it a try!

Went to La Fontana Della Citta with my husband, daughter and her partner to celebrate my daughter's law school graduation. It was an easy walk from the Ritz Carlton Philly. I chose the place based on availability and the fact that it was a BYOB establishment. We had a 2pm reservation and basically had the place to ourselves. The service was exemplary and we were offered our choice of tables and chose to sit inside. We brought 2 bottles of wine with us, which the waitress gladly uncorked. The chef sent out a complimentary antipasto plate which was delicious. We each ordered a different dish and sampled them all. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the eggplant dish he ordered and my daughter and her partner shared 2 pasta dishes, one with grab meat in a red sauce which was delicious as well. I had linguini tossed with garlic and olive oil and sausage with veggies. It was good as well. Other patrons began to trickle in during the course of our lunch and the service remained excellent. We finished with coffee and desert, both delicious. I would recommend for a nice meal. Entrees averaged 24 dollars and the portions were quite large.

We have been here before with a large crowd; this time it was just the two of us. Great, friendly service. The antipasto was fresh and tasty. The veal steak special was excellent. It is BYOB and a real easy stop if you want a good meal at a far price.

The staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly. The service they provide is outstanding. Every meal we've tried has been excellent, but the homemade gnocchi gorgonzola is by far the best gnocchi I've ever tried. Their chicken parmigiana is also fabulous and a large serving, so be ready to take some with you. Their veal dishes are all very tender and their daily prepared homemade pasta is always good. If I had to criticize anything, some of their dishes come with too much sauce which at times can smother certain meats. Lastly, since this is a BYOB, the cost for a great dinner is quite inexpensive. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys italian food; mangiare!

Overall, the restaurant had good food but the atmosphere was "chilly" at best. Service was perfunctory but lacked any warmth or real attentiveness. Basically we were served and that was about it. And we were immediately put off by the "rules" for the restaurant at the top of the menu. We were there on a weeknight and the menu blatantly told weekend visitors not to linger after they ate because "seating was limited." We weren't sure if the rest of the "rules" applied to evenings other than the weekend, but they expected an expenditure of at least $16.95 per person, had a corkage fee (at a BYOB?!), rules on check sharing and even instructions to keep the noise level down. Overall, the impression left was get in, eat your food and get out, and please don't force us to make an extra effort or bother us,. And while the food was good, it was not remarkable compared to other Italian restaurants in Center City or the suburbs and frankly not worth the price point. As we were leaving to attend the theater, we agreed that we wouldn't be coming back, nor could we recommend the restaurant. It was an unusual couple of weeks where we attended Kimmel Center events only 8 days apart, and the experience here at La Fontana was seriously lacking compared to that of restaurant we had been to the previous week where the service was first rate and delightful. Overall, don't waste your time or money, there are far better Italian bistros with warm and friendly service (and no "rules") where you will feel welcome.

Good Italian food, but a bit pricey. Also gets too noisy when there's a large group. Needs more bathroom space. But the staff was friendly. Weekdays might be better.

Extremely disappointed to find out there was no wine or any liquor for that matter. We were seated and I was looking forward to a glass of wine after a long day of sightseeing. The food was okay, not great. The service also okay. The wood chairs were very uncomfortable and they had no cushions to offer. All in all, I couldn't wait to leave instead of wanting to hang out for a while.

They were able to accommodate my request to add a different seafood to the capellini dish for me. My friend got the branzino which was wonderful as well. Great portions, Fabulous waitstaff and management! The manager came by and was attentive. The baker killed it with the cannoli!!

We stopped here to eat before a performance at a local theater. I ordered the risotto and my friend had spaghetti with sausage. Risotto tasted like regular rice and her sausage was way over cooked, inedible (they did not charge for it as it was extra). I did not finish my meal and that was all I had as it is an a la carte menu.. service was mediocre and all in all a disappointment. Too many good places to eat to return here.

Great place for a date night! Be aware out of towners it is a BYO! Atmosphere and authentic fare was awesome!

I live nearby and we must literally go here once a month. I can not speak more highly of the food. They always have a special which is some sort of pasta and seafood. Their bruschetta is the best I have ever had. One note to remember is that La Fontana is a BYOB which is really quite common in Philly. They will offer you a complimentary glass of white or red wine should you forget your wine. If you can, sit outside. It just feels right.

Party of 20 people. Over half received food poisoning so badly they had to alter travel plans the following day. I have NOT contacted the restaurant yet.

I had dinner there with three friends. At 6 PM the place was half full and then quickly filled. An Albanian waiter caught us off guard by asking us if we wanted a complimentary glass. We all said yes. For free, It wasn't bad. It was free because the restaurant s a BYOB place. We wee next presented with bread which left much to be desired. had the Chicken Cacciatore. The chicken breasts (three pieces) was cooked to perfection. The tomato sauce was delicious. My Caesar salad was a disappointment in that it had no anchovy taste and was bit too lemony. My friends were happy with their Arugula salads and pasta dishes. One friend had a Tartuffe with which he was happy. The ricotta cheese cake was a little too lemony and sweet. I wondered if he flavor was artificial. The staff was friendly and attentative.

We were a group of 11 on Sunday evening. The restaurant is byob which is a plus. The service was friendly, gracious, accommodating, professional and fun. The food was delicious, the menu is large and varied, the fish was fresh. All of us had a great time and all of us look forward to returning!

My friends and I happened upon this restaurant during Philadelphia restaurant week. when we arrived early for our reservation the staff was friendly and cordial and submitted us immediately. The atmosphere was intimate but not crowded and they had an abundance of round tables which are wonderful for conversation. The restaurant week menu was fantastic and the portion sizes, unlike some other establishments during restaurant week were the standard size which was substantial. There was a large selection of appetizers and the welcoming attitude of the staff made my friend and I feel as though we had visited an Italian house hold. The wait staff was efficient but not intrusive at all. The food was terrific, it was probably some of the best pasta I have ever eaten and I had just returned from a trip to the Amalfi coast. Most of our party had a veal dish which was served promptly and was delicious, the desserts were to die for and the fact that it was a BYOB we did not break the bank when paying the check. Would highly recommend this restaurant for all aspects of fine dining.

Was excited for an Italian byob... not even Italians run it. Albanians. Food did not taste fresh. Tiramisu seemed boxed. Not much room, felt like we were eating with the people next to us. Wouldn't go back.

This restaurant is several notches above the stereotypical pizza and pasta neighborhood "Italian" restaurant, but it's not someplace you would go for a serious Italian meal. They prepare veal in all the usual ways, but they apparently do the old restaurant trick of disguising tired or ordinary cuts of meat with a tastey sauce. The gnocchi was excruciatingly sweet. The only good thing was that we could get a seat immediately on a Friday night...which says a lot about its local popularity. All in all, a mediocre experience.

From the moment we walked in, a staff member even got the door for us from outside, we were treated like we were incredibly important to them. The entire staff, from the hostess, to our AMAZING server ERVIS, to the staff members who cleared our table quickly and efficiently, to the amazing young staff members who NEVER let our water glasses get below half full, this place was something special!! The quiet, comfortable, homey atmosphere sets the mood for an amazing array of classic Italian dishes prepared like the CHEF really cares. Every dish that we tried had small, personnal touches by the CHEF that took each one to another level. You can ABSOLUTELY tell the the owners and the staff really know and LOVE what they do. Grazie Mille , La Fontana and staff for your contribution to a truly memorable visit. We hope to see you soon!!

Rittenhouse neighborhood. Dinner for 4 on a Saturday evening at 5:45. $90 w/o tip (entrees only). BYOB. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Service was excellent. We can definitely recommend this little place and will return. If you are wondering, I would say dressier casual attire (after all, how often do you dine in the city?) and reservations are probably a must. If you are not familiar with this neighborhood, plan parking in advance. There is a small garage on Latimer Street about a 1 1/2 blocks away.

good solid Italian food, great service and byob...good location. we have gone 2x in the past 2 months and have enjoyed the food and atmosphere.. Highly recommend..

Server was very nice. Food ok. Caesar salad, not sure but didn’t seem like Caesar dressing? Gnocchi Sorrento.. odd to have diced mozzarella unmelted on top, usually is melted maybe they forgot? Was ok though. Linguini with seafood, many mussels were not opened which means “do not eat” but they didn’t know apparently? Hmm? Risotto was fine, lots of oil and not very creamy but we were starving so ate. This is an ok place. So many other choices around, it’s be hard to go back. Would like to blame it on maybe so busy etc… but we were one of maybe three tables in the whole place. They did comp us a nice birthday dessert which was pretty good.

We went on a Saturday night at 7 and the place was packed. We were seated next to a large group of 16. It was so loud that you couldn't possibly hear the specials from the waiter. It was impossible to ask him questions or carry on a conversation with our friends. The food was very good though. The veal florentine was tender and the sauce was great. All of us got different salads and they were very good. When we left around 9 (and we did get hustled out pretty quickly after finishing our dessert) the very small waiting area was packed to overflowing. Although the food was good, I wouldn't go back unless it was earlier or on a weekday.

Darn. I had heard this place wasn't the best food-wise, but upon a visit myself I think the food is fine; it's the service that's severely lacking. I got the caesar salad and then the carbonara. I thought they were both pretty good, especially the carbonara. But the service was non-existent. For most of my meal it was just me and one other table of 3 so service should not be lacking for that few people. She was barely around and was very cold towards me when she was around. I did not feel welcome there especially as a solo diner. In the end, I paid the check in cash to avoid the 4% card surcharge and the waitress never brought back my change. She just assumed she would be getting the rest as a tip. Never asked "do you want change?" Just said "thank you" and left me waiting for my change that never came. Perhaps she knew I would not be giving her the full tip from her terrible service. I would not have left the 20% otherwise. I will not be returning after that scummy practice that she may also pull on other diners. The restaurant temperature is set very cold which was unfortunate given the outside temperature was 15 degrees and I'm sure I'm not the only one who was looking forward to warming up after arriving. The second star is only from enjoying the carbonara so much it was otherwise a 1 star experience.

The worst restaurant ever. The manager(Rafael) is a terrible person and rude. He told us quote"If you don't like the food get the hell out of here." Terrible experience. I feel sorry for those who work there. Nice people, but extremely under stress working under that terrible manager. We shall never be back there, ever.

I went here recently on a Saturday night. The place was so packed you would have thought they were giving food away. There were only two of us so, thankfully, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The service was very good - our server, and the bus help, were friendly and efficient. But, the food was entirely unremarkable. I had a Caesar sald that was completely unremarkable and mediocre; the dressing tasted like it was lemon juice, olive oil, and nothing more. Then I had mushroom risotto, which was OK; but, again, completely average. The best part of the meal was the eggplant rollatini appetizer; the filling was seasoned with a little bit of nutmeg, which was really a nice, and tasty, touch. I had a slice of lemon tart for dessert, which was, again, OK, but it was a little dry. My friend had gnocchi for dinner, which he said was good. Gotta admit, though, that the entree portions were generous. This is a BYOB place, so you can, of course, save money by bringing your own wine. The place is fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again.

Fontana della Citta is one of our favorite dinner spots. The food is always delicious, and they sometimes have really neat specials. The eggplant rollatini is a favorite. And we've had the tilapia so many times, we might get fins !! One thing to be careful of: we had a reservation through Open Table. When we checked in, we did not mention the words Open Table (who knew you had to), and, despite a $193 check, got no-showed by the restaurant with Open Table. So make sure you say the words "Open Table" to the hostess when you check in.

This restaurant is very convenient to the performing arts section of town. Although the dining room is long and narrow, it is a well appointed space with plenty of room for couples or a large party. We had a wonderful seat near the window were we could watch people as they passed by. We got there just as they unlocked the door and they were not quite prepared for us but made us welcome and went about the business of the day. The food was excellent, Italian of course and we brought our own wine with us (BYOB). I had the Pollo Cacitore and my with the fish of the day. The server was friendly, well informed and able to answer all the questions we had. And the back ground music was soft enough that we could talk over it and it was Italian music.

La Fontana Della Citta was the perfect spot for our first visit to a BYOB establishment in Philly! This is something very new to us and we felt odd walking around with our bottles of wine but were made to feel right at ease once we were seated. We atarted the evening with the calimari appetizer and it didn't disappoint but the star feature of the evening was the seafood pasta special that my daughter and I had. It was homemade linguine with broccoli rabe and shrimp, scallops and crab in a Rosa sauce. It was perfect and we could have split the entree it was so generous. My husband had the seafood rissotto and it too was full of seafood in the shell. My son had a delicious salmon brushetta. For dessert the 4 of us split creme brulee & a sinful chocolate cake! Perfect evening and a delightful experience. I highly recommend it.

While most of their customers come for dinner , this outstanding Italian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square is open for lunch . It was wonderful to have a quiet lunch in a lovely room. The food resembled the food we were served in Italy. While the dinner menu has more options , there were lots of choices . The mussels were delicious and , although I knew more food would come , I had to dip the Italian bread in the sauce. We both ordered a veal dish -outstanding . Couldn't resist dessert . Being lactose intolerant , I could eat everything on the menu except dessert , so the server brought me coconut sorbet - not on the menu .

We had a rehearsal dinner there. The price and quality were incredible. They managed to offer selection from over 10 entrees for a party of 50-- and they made two special entrees in response to a request. The space is very nice, although cramped. Communication in advance was not so good. A detailed request that i sent by email a week in advance, and followed up with phone call to be sure they knew i sent it, was unknown to staff at our arrival. But, they quickly and pleasantly responded at the start of event. We were last party scheduled for the evening and there was no pressure to leave.

My friends have been coming here for years, apparently. Honestly, I didn't think it was THAT good. The fresh mozzarella cheese was a great addition to the food, but the dishes don't justify the prices.

We took our family to La Fontana Della Citta on our first night in Philly. They lost our reservation but quickly pivoted to provide our party of six with an inside table. The food was good--no complaints from any of us. I would return.

I've been here for a group function as well as dinners and had great food and service each time. It's a BYOB with reasonably priced entrees and I highly recommend it.

In Philadelphia on business. Our group had reservations at La Fontana which was about a mile from the Marriott Hotel, nice walk to the restaurant. We were a group of at least 40, so reservations were a must. We did have a prepared menu which started off with the Antipasti, an arrangement of roasted vegetables, sliced tomatoes with Mozzarella. Then we started off with salads and then a trio of Ravioli, Pasta and Gnocchi. It was excellent. I chose the the La Fontana Del Pollo, Thin slices of chicken with spinach and prosciutto and mozzarella cheese. It was excellent. The dinner was accompanied with a nice red wine. If back in Philadelphia, I certainly would return. The staff did an excellent job in servicing our group, very nice and professional.

We stumbled upon this place while leaving our first choice, the overpacked pub a few blocks away. The wonderful aroma of garlic cooking pulled us in. Fortunately we were seated despite no reservation, perhaps because it was just after 7, because the place filled up. BYOB, which we didn't know, but we were provided with a complimentary glass of wine. All the servers seem to be Italian and were speaking Italian. I had the fettuccine Alfredo and my husband the fish special--bronzini with scallops, capers, artichokes, tomatoes on a bed of (house made) fettuccini, $18.95 and $34.95 respectively. We shared a lovely house made tiramisu. Outstanding service.

We found this restaurant while walking around Philadelphia. What a find! We sat outside and felt as though we were transported to Europe. The food was delicious (the tarmisu in particular), and the service was very good. It is a casual Italian restaurant. It is BYOB which we didn't realize. Next time, we will be ready.

We have dined there several times over the last few years. The food - Italian- was adequate but not great. All in it was a reasonable value. Our latest experience was a disaster....as it's a byob, we took our wine. After pouring the wine, the next waiter poured water on top of it and quickly absconded with the glass as if it was never there. When we called it to his attention, he seemed puzzled and summoned another waiter who assured us that they would "take care of it". We requested an ice bucket...it never came. The food - chicken piccata-was bland and lacked any semblance of seasoning. I asked the manager why we never received any credit for the wine that disappeared. He became very belligerent and scolded me for suggesting that the service was not up to par. Never going again.

Recently 12 of us went here for dinner. Being a BYOB made it appealing to our large group since alcohol really pads your bill. The servers were very nice, though I did feel a bit rushed when ordering. That could also be because I was almost an hour late to the restaurant (gotta love Philly traffic)! But really, the wait staff was friendly and they were quick to open our bottles. We also had a birthday cake that they were happy to serve and cut up for us. The food was good, authentic I would say. I had a pasta with red sauce and seafood. The calamari in the pasta was very fresh and not rubbery, which I think is a sign of a good kitchen using fresh ingredients. I also believe the pasta was homemade, I cannot confirm that, but it had that snap to it that most boxed pasta does not have. My partner had chicken parm, which was also very good. The red sauce was sweet and tasty. Prices were not bad, at least not for an Italian restaurant in Rittenhouse. I think the most expensive thing on the menu was $24 for a rack of lamb. Most of the pasta dishes were around $18-$20. For 12 of us, the entire bill, including tax and tip came out to be $35 a person. This place was PACKED, so I highly suggest making reservations ahead of time. All in all, a very nice experience. I would come back here again for a more intimate dinner. Twelve people is simply too many.

We returned to the restaurant for s romantic dinner celebrating my wife's birthday. We booked 7:00 PM reservations on a Friday. The main room of the restaurant was empty when we arrived, however tables were set for groups arriving later. There was also a spirited party in an adjacent room. Sound carried, but it wasn't a big deal. The restaurant has outdoor cafe seating in addition to indoor seating. We chose to dine indoors and enjoy the air conditioning. It's a BYOB restaurant. We started with the antipasto platter with two types of meats, two cheeses and various vegetables, etc. One order was plenty for two people. It wasn't the absolute best we ever had, but it was fine. We both had the puttanesca pasta, which we had ordered previously. When you combine olive oil, garlic, anchovies, olives, caper and tomatoes you get really good flavored. The Parmesan sprinkled on top afterwards makes it even better. We headed back to out hotel afterwards. It was a good dinner. We would return.

Hard for me to explain how the restaurant feels...elegant crisp napkins and attractive furnishings in a traditional way with ample waitstaff. And yet it comes across as stuffy and awkward in my opinion. We had a good time, but under the disapproving gaze of our server...who seemed to stand in judgment. I found myself a little too often trying to make the waiter like us. The support staff seemed eager to help but clueless about the rhythm of serving. Overall I have the sense that it is an "old world" approach (saw only female hostesses and not as waiters) but without the true formality and expertise that truly fine restaurants have in their DNA. The food was proper and tasty but not adventurous. I would say great idea for a business meeting but not for a special date night.

this place has great food, but i did feel a little packed in at some points. was there for an anniversary and they did make us feel special. did i mention that the food i got was really good.

Had a family visit at UPenn and stopped for lunch. Rich selection of Italian food. Had an amazing lunch. Friendly service and great people. And best coffee in town. Highly highly recommended!

I recently dined here with a group of 9. Everybody enjoyed their meals. The gnocchi sorrenta looked the best to me. I had the chicken piccata which was good. The cutlet was very thin and tasty. Most entrees ranged from 18-23 which I thought was pretty well priced, and it being a BYOB really cut the cost in half. The dinner rolls were lacking, but aside from that no complaints.

Something has changed, and not for the better. This was probably my fifth time here over a few years. I'm not just disappointed that that they used to provide a free glass of wine since they were a BYOB restaurant. But the service was horrible! Couldn't even get my water refilled, never inquired about how my food was. Then there was the food... I ordered a daily special with veal and shrimp with fresh mozzarella. Very poorly conceived dish. It was like slimy veal with the toughest most overlooked large shrimp, with barely cooked hericot vere and potatoes. The dish needed some pasta and some acid, some tomatoes, something. It was a disaster. And even though I left the four remaining shrimp and much of the dish untouched, no question from the maitre d about my food. I don't even know if I had a waiter. They seemed much more involved in singing happy birthday in Italian than table service. Wow! I will never return, and I was about to propose a business dinner here with a group. NOT

We found this restaurant by chance when we were near Rittenhouse Square enjoying the historical sites of Philly. The restaurant right across the square where we planned on eating was super crowded, noisy, and overpriced. Several blocks away, we discovered this gem. It seemed like mostly locals inside. It was Saturday, and the place slowly filled up, yet it never felt overly crowded. The service was good and the waiter had some good recommendations. Liquor is not on the menu, but you can bring your own. We didn't know this, and were really fancying some red wine with our meal. The waiter said he might have a little on hand for free, and he saved the day by returning with one glass each for my husband and I at no charge! How fabulous!! The food was gourmet. The owner and most of the employees are European, and we felt like we were on vacation in Europe. We loved our experience so much that we returned the next evening (Sunday) with a friend. He's a foodie and he loved it as well. That time we were prepared with our own bottle of wine. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Philadelphia!

As with any city restaurant, be sure to make a reservation on the weekend. Homemade gnocchi is fantastic - like little clouds of lovely, goodness. Try the gnocchi with gorgonzola. BYOB with small uncorking fee.

Really enjoyed our meal at La Fontana. The service was good and the food was very good. I ordered the branzino special and it was wonderful. However, it would have been nice if the waiter had told us in advance that the branzino special was going to cost nealry $40.... nearly twice the price of any other entree on the menu. Recieving the check was an unpleasant ending to an otherwise nice meal.

Since opinions on taste are very subjective we'll try not to go there! We were the first ones to arrive for an early dinner. Warm greeting and friendly service. Atmosphere was very nice overlooking the city streets. They had a generous selection for restaurant week. We had various pastas to veal and chicken. Each meal was served hot and nicely portioned. All were very tasty! TIp: Bring a nice bottle of red. We suggest a bottle of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Side note: The restaurant week dessert menu mentioned having Tartuffe. When we asked the waiter he said they were out. However, upon his return he managed to bring us a Tartuffe for our happy child. Grazie!

The food was good, but not exceptional. Some portions were quite large, while others not so much. Prices might be a few dollars higher than the dishes warrant. Service was attentive, which is always a plus.

Ate at this restaurant just a few days ago for a friend's 60th birthday party. Both the food and service were impeccable. Our table sampled a variety of dishes and all of them were excellent. Service was attentive from start to finish. We were a bit obnoxious in closing the place down, because we were having such a great time, but you wouldn't have known it based upon our service. We were the last to leave but still received a warm farewell. Maybe they were just happy to see us leave. Veal, Chicken and Pasta dishes all received rave reviews and the desserts were too good to pass up. Waitstaff was happy to open our wine and brought ice buckets without being asked. Seating for some was a bit cramped (for me) but that was the only minor complaint.

Small Italian restaurant that is BYOB; though they did give us a complementary glass of wine. Food was pretty good--I enjoyed my gnocchi, but another member of the party had shrimp that wasn't fully cleaned. Warm atmosphere, and nice service overall.

We had a group of 18 for dinner on Saturday night and the meal was wonderful. Our waitress Nona, effortlessly opened our wines, took our orders, served us promptly, and gave us a delicious, memorable meal that was very reasonably priced. We will be back!

We dined here over the weekend. The service was very good. Our waiter made recommendations about entrees and made the evening special for our friend's birthday. The Gnocchi was delicious and is made in house. The menu is extensive otherwise. The perfect choice for BYOB.

We hosted rehearsal dinner for 45 guests for our son’s wedding Memorial Weekend and couldn’t ask for a better place than La Fontana Della Citta for our event! Ari and his team attended to every detail. The homemade food was abundant and delicious. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The evening was wonderful and all of our guests truly enjoyed it. Thank you for taking such great care of us. BTW, don't get me wrong, before scheduling an event we did go there with my wife to check it out. It was a great dinner with excellent food and service! And it is a BYOB place!👍😉

My wife and I, along with a friend from Florida, had dinner at the restaurant on Sunday evening. We chose this restaurant because of the great experience we had at their restaurant in Strathmere, NJ. I must say that we were very disappointed especially with the service and attentiveness of the staff. After being seated I set a bottle of wine on the table. No one came so I opened it myself. Someone then came and set some stale bread on the table. I had to ask for fresh bread. I had to ask the hostess if we had a waiter because one had not come to our table yet. Finally someone came and told us the specials of the day. Then the waiter came and instead of asking us if we were ready to order he said " are we ready to rock and roll ?" The food came in a reasonable time and was good. However I didn't have a napkin and my wife didn't have a bread plate. We had to ask for them. Another group of people were seated across from us. They were apparently "gumbas" because as soon as they were seated, their wine was opened and three people were surrounding them hugging and kissing. I'll bet their experience was a lot better then ours. They will probably be back but we won't and neither will any of our friends.

We stopped for dinner without a reservation and were warmly received by the restaurant staff. Our server ,Roberta showed us to a great outside table . She is a skilled server and made our evening very comfortable. She explained the menu and went over all the dinner specials and checked in on us throughout the meal.We have eaten here before on several occasions and the food is always terrific. The Center City location is great and just steps from Rittenhouse Square.

The food here is a little expensive for what it is, though the servings are very large -- almost enough for two meals. I come here regularly with out of town friends who love it and the waiters know us well. The service as a result is very good. My favorite dish is the tiramisu. Super creamy and delicious!

I passed this restaurant walking around the Rittenhouse square area and decided to give it a try. Inside was a cozy old style Italian restaurant that I miss from when I lived up in New Jersey. I was informed by the hostess as I was clearly a tourist that the restaurant is BYOB. As off putting as this was, the smell of great food was too much to resist. Looking around the tables though, it was clear that everyone else had gotten the BYOB memo and in fact the staff and owner seemed to know everyone else who was there or came in while I was there. After a good salad I ordered the linguini de mare which was wonderful. It came out piping hot and tasted great. I just wished I had a nice chianti classico to go with it. By the way, the restaurant, for a big city is very reasonably priced.

Visited town during restaurant week and met up with 2 students from UPENN. No one was at reception desk. Checked in with 3 different people before we were seated and waited over 15 mins from time of reservation. Everyone at the table had to order from Restaurant Week menu or we could all order off regular menu. Took another 20 mins for menus to appear, after we asked and server stated, "oh, I thought you had already ordered". When we finally received menus, and then the food, it was good. You get a discount if you pay in CASH. BUT, you have to have the coupon printed out from website. We were travelling, so I did not think to print coupon before we left. They were not going to give us the discount as we did not have coupon. So, I told the waiter that I would use a credit card. They then honored the discount and I paid cash.

Food was mediocre--rubbery squid rings in the seafood pasta, little flavor overall. But the atmosphere is very pleasant--understated decorations, quiet space.

On a Saturday night with friends we enter a loud restaurant with waiters who basically would clear your plate before finished. We were rushed through dinner surrounded by high energy 20 somethings. The place was so loud we couldn't hear the waiter. The food was fair at best. Cesar salad was bland (DOLE salad bag kit had that beat). Pappardelle Bolognese was quite unmemorable, the fish dishes were better appreciated. Could barely hold a conversation with dining companions. Would not recommend.

Everything at this place was just utterly disappointing - Food was terrible, service was worse. After the order was placed they changed the prices. $20 for a plate of fried calamari is ridiculous! The rest of the food was sloppy and poorly executed. Automatically charged for 20% for gratuity for a table of 5 and the server yelled at me when I asked him to take it off.

We were lucky to get a table because somehow our reservation could not be found. Nevertheless management did find us a table and on a warm night we ate outside. One of us ordered a veal chop and had no complaints, one of us ordered a veal dish with vegetables, and I ordered a veal dish, French style, and a pasta fagioli soup. My companions ordered salads. The soup was fine and the salads were good but not exceptional. There was plenty of food (in fact, probably a little too much). The mango sorbet for dessert was very refreshing. If you are making reservations, do so a few days ahead and call back to reconfirm.

A wonderful Italian restaurant. Lots of seating indoor and outdoors. Excellent service, in spite of the restaurant being fully booked. We are vegetarians - penne arabiatta and gnocchi sorrento were amazing. Had a pleasant time with a delicious meal. Thank you La Fontana.

Good food, but you will quickly notice that they don't want you there. Disinterested, lacking personality, etc. Shame because the location is great. But walk a bit more - yo'll find many better options with staff and servers who want your business.

My family was visitng from out of town and we were looking for a place to eat fairly early on a recent Saturday evening. By the time we decided what type of food would suit everyone, we had trouble finding a restuarant that could seat us at the desired time. La Fontanta della Citta was able to accomodate us. We had never been to this restaurant and had seen some negative reviews, but decided to give it a try. We all enjoyed everything we ate. The prices were reasonable, Our table on the second level of this old house was in a very quiet part of the restaurant allowing for easy conversation, while the first floor bar level was more lively. I was early for our reservation and was willingly seated and although I waited for the rest of my party to arrive before ordering, I was never made to feel uncomfortable. The menu is large so there is something for everyone, with lots to choose from for my vegetarian son. We would certainly return.

The best way I can describe this restaurant is by comparing it with the competition: Bronzino and La Viola). Every time I eat here I leave feeling I should visit more. The food and service are really good. Many menu options with great specials, and most importantly they don't rush you out the door. I feel with some BYOB's in the city they are pushing you out once the table is clear. The restaurant is similar to La Viola West, a restaurant I visit frequently and enjoy. Both are matched evenly and do a great job at the Trattoria Atmosphere. I recently ate at Bronzino which is also on 17th street and left very disappointed. La Fontana is clearly the better eatery and would recommend it over its neighbor. With warmer weather they offer great outdoor seating, so take a night off from cooking and don't forget the bottle! Ciao!

I am in town for an event and didn't have time for a pedicure prior to my arrival. I was recommended to a spa in Rittenhouse, and after that was done I needed to grab some dinner before I headed back to the hotel. I literally walked out of the spa, crossed the street and entered La Fontana Della Citta. I was greeted immediately, looked at the menu, and the staff drew me in. They seated me on the patio just outside the door. It was a beautiful night tonight, the weather and temperature perfect. The staff was completely attentive to my needs and requests. They also offered me a complimentary glass of wine as I was dining alone. VERY thoughtful of them and a nice touch. I enjoyed the Salmon entree that was accompanied with wilted spinach, tomatoes, capers, and three wonderfully seared potatoes. The dish was outstanding and I enjoyed it very much. I was thrilled with my experience and happy to have literally stumbled upon this place. Highly recommended.

We made a reservation on Open Table for dinner about an hour before the meal and were seated as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. The food was very good (lasagna, the branzino special, and the lobster ravioli special). The description on Open Table notes that this restaurant is BYOB, which is apparently a common thing in Philly, however our server did offer us a complimentary glass of wine. Service on the whole was not terrible, but a little slow, especially considering the restaurant was only about half full.