Fontana Restaurant

Amazing food and atmosphere. The true definition of well balanced and seasoned food to perfection!

I had a solo lunch at Fontana in Holywood today, on recommendation by a friend. First impression was of a delightful setting with calm decor including many plants. Place settings were relaxed formal with linen napkins, so I was expecting a fairly hefty price tag. I had a simple light lunch of spicy Thai soup and wheaten bread was a magnificent taste experience! I now know what balanced flavour is about. The restaurant was quiet at the time, no piped music (thankfully). I was neither hassled nor ignored by the maitre d’, and felt very comfortable in spite of being the only diner present. I highly recommend this restaurant for its food and atmosphere, but also for its price, my bill was the very reasonable amount of £8.

Really nice to walk into the restaurant and get a greeting from the chefs. Good start for my first time visiting Fontana. Next was meeting a member of staff who remembered me who is lovely and an asset to the place. Now for the food! Beautifully presented fish which was light and delicious followed by scummy apple crumble. Place is nicely laid out with a good atmosphere and very efficient staff. Prices are as you would expect for such good food, wine is fairly expensive and probably a sign of the times!

Fontana’s crown jewel is its staff, I think it’s the most impressed I’ve been in a long time with a restaurant’s service. A beautiful restaurant with brilliant staff that would be fitting for any of the best restaurants across the country. We have been here a few times and tried a couple of different dishes now and the two that really stand out are the sirloin steak (beautifully tasty) and the chicken and satay spring rolls (absolutely delicious). Fontana understands its target market and flawlessly caters to their preferences, evident in its impeccable design and captivating atmosphere. It's worth mentioning that Fontana exudes an upscale fine dining vibe, reflected in its relatively higher prices. To truly appreciate the value for your money here a customer will need to be prepared to spend a higher sum of money so I recommend booking a table and indulging in a leisurely meal to savor the complete experience.

Very unsatisfactory, went there for my birthday dinner and instead of having an enjoyable time, both me and the Mrs ended up stuck to the toilet after leaving. The food was ok but the steak was 35% fat which was very disappointing. And to top of it the staff took it upon themself to add on a tip on top of the already large cheque (a tip was going to be given regardless but that’s besides the point) and when asked about it, I was met with a rather passive aggressive remark. All in all very disappointing, will not be back.

Nice atmosphere and great service! The lentils with the salmon were delicious My only gripe is I didn't get the chorizo tart with the salmon! A wee bit more cheese wouldn't hurt with the crackers either. Would recommend this restaurant overall. Amazing staff and delicious food.

Visited for dinner on Friday evening 10th Nov. Excellent main meals. I had Pork Belly which was very good but came alive when I asked for a little extra Jus. Mrs W had duck breast which she said was scrumptous. Desserts were Panacotta and cheesecake. Small but perfectly adequate and a perfect conclusion to a great meal. We'd happily recommend this restauraunt to anyone for dinner or indeed lunch. Well done Fontana!

Lovely staff and nice atmosphere. The food was nice, but quite rich and heavy, and a little old fashioned. I had the trio of mushrooms, which was very heavily seasoned and the onion chutney overpowered the mushrooms, followed by the duck breast, which was nicely cooked but the blackberry compote had no seasoning at all. It all came to £40 - which I think is pretty expensive. I would expect perfect dishes for these prices.

Where do I even begin?! This place is...just wow. I'm still in awe. Perfectly lovely staff, luxurious but very affordable, and the most exquisite food made for a tremendous evening in the fabulous Fontana. Slightly unconvinced at the location of such a restaurant (through an archway, in a door, up a windy staircase, in another door), all initial perceptions flew out the window when we were greated by our server and referred to a lovely little table for two in a bright, airy and somewhat lavish room. It was almost like stepping into Narnia...you would never have guessed that such a lovely restaurant lay at the top of those wooden stairs. Delightful! A very reasonably priced supper menu was thrust our way and both myself and my boyfriend opted for a main course and a dessert, which cost £16.50 each (1 course is £11.50, and 3 courses are £19.50). My Penne Primavera (minus the peas) was delicious, and my other half practically swallowed his Slow Roast Pork Belly whole, it was devoured so quickly! Dessert was inevitable, and the sundae did not disappoint. Vanilla ice-cream and chocolate brownie topped with hot chocolate sauce. Absolutely heavenly! Astonishingly good value too, particularly for such well-sized portions. Fontana has hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Simple food, but used in a creative way and cooked to perfection. I've paid an awful lot more for food which was a great deal inferior, but I was absolutely delighted with every aspect of this superb restaurant.

We didn't mean to go here for lunch. After a bracing walk along the shore we actually thought we'd go to Holywood favourite The Dirty Duck. When we found it fully booked, and hungry threatening to turn into hangry we headed up the high street. Fontana has been one of the classiest joints in Holywood for years and it has been a good while since I've been in. The last time I was in for lunch they had a really reasonable set lunch menu, and I did open my eyes a little at the prices on this one, but we were there. And very hungry! The maître d could not have been nicer, treating us like old friends (who we'd never met) and we settled to make our choices. It was pretty quiet for a Friday and we were the youngest people there by far, but once the food came I didn't really notice anything else. The steak with peppered sauce, truffle mushroom and triple cooked chips was practically flawless and for pudding, the Chocolate Orange Nemesis Cake with raspberry sorbet was one of those dishes worth going back for. OMG. OK, at £70 for two for lunch it is pretty expensive, but by golly it was good. I'll be back...after pay day. ;-)

Holywood is a place that I used to work and I really love its chilled out vibe. When I worked here I used to head down to the water to eat my lunch and so the entire place now has a special place in my heart. I would usuall head here for lunch on the way into Belfast but on occassion I have went to Holywood for dinner and on one of these occassions I went to Fontana and was very happy with my dining experience. As ithere have said the location is slightly uncoventional and it is a bit of a Labyrinth to get into. This is kind of cool but I couldn't help but wonder what someone who was wheelchair bound or had a lack of mobility would get in here. The food is reasonable enough and you will get two courses for just over £15 and 3 courses for around £20. Really top wee restaurant with lovely service with a smile, well worth a night out here, especially if you are on a hot date.

Holywood is kind of a new haunt for me, as in my quest to try new places all the time, I am going further from home, and this was somewhere I had heard of and vowed to give a try. It's situated above a kichenware shop - as has been mentioned, it is a strange location, but it makes this fabulous find a hidden gem in Holywood. It has a cool, tranquil, relaxing interior, and from the moment you walk in the door the staff really go above and beyond to make your visit as pleasurable as possible. I went for a simple Caesar Salad, and what I got blew every Caesar Salad I have ever eaten in my life right out of the water. The food used is the highest quality local produce, expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and professionally served. It's a bit pricey, but believe me, worth every single penny!

This is one of my family's favourite restaurants and we have never been disappointed. The menu is regularly updated and offers something for everyone, the staff are always very friendly and helpful and the decor is bright and fresh. A very safe restaurant choice suitable for any occasion.

I live in Holywood and have been a patron of this establishment since it opened , living through all its incarnations but hadn't been in the evening for several years, largely because of cost but decided to give it a go with friends several weks ago just into the new year and i have to say that the meal we had was probably the best we have ever had there and one of the best i have ever had period. we decided to be decadent and went for scallops and foie gras and lobster thermidor for starters followed by frito miso and steak for main. Having just returned from a weekend in London, trying several michelin starred venues, this knocked them all into a cocked hat. It was that good. The scallops and lobster were simply devine and after initially baulking at the 27 quid for the steak, turned out to be worth every penny. hope this standard keeps up as i am intending to take a party of 8 soon on the back of this experience. Don P

A good restaurant my wife and enjoy we have never been disappointed. The menu is regularly changed and offers something for everyone, the staff are always very polite and friendly. A very pleasant restaurant a good choice suitable for any occasion.

The freshest local ingredients, the most fabulous staff.... whenever I go here I feel like I really get away from the daily grind. Indulge in the most delicious flavours in a thoroughly relaxing environment. I just love Fontanas and the owner Colleen, she's not bad too. She's a sweetheart and is so passionate and it really comes across in her magnificent restaurant. A secret hidden treasure that I love!