Fontaine
Fontaine Photos
Business Info
Fontaine Popular Dishes
FONTAINE ATMOSPHERE
What's the vibe?
You might also consider
More like Fontaine
Recommended Reviews - Fontaine
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Fontaine is a quaint restaurant located in Old Town. They have two different seating areas. The tables in the front of the restaurant are close but you don't feel like you are sitting too close to the other tables. Although we were sat quickly. There were several tables who received their order before my table. Somehow the order for my table was impacted by a computer glitch. One of the hostess offered a crepe to make up for the error. I went on a Saturday and they were only serving the brunch and the crepe menu. The French toast was okay, definitely have had better. The French toast is a single slice of brioche bread with powdered sugar and walnuts. I opted to add the fresh strawberries.
Got GF crepes and tasted so yummm you could barely tell. Service was sub par, but we did come in half an hour before closing. Price was expensive, but outdoor seating was nice and service was quick I didn't even mind. Will be back!
I got the strawberry and Nutella crepe. It tasted so delicious. My only complaint is that it wasn't enough food. I wish it came with two crêpes, especially for the prize that you're paying...
While the ambiance was charming and the restrooms were clean, the overall experience left much to be desired. The food was overpriced given the lack of flavor, and the service was slow, we had to request nearly everything. On a particularly hot day, the minimal ice in our drinks didn't help, and we waited far too long just to place our order. But my friends loved it!
What a beautiful restaurant in the ever so quaint, Old Town Alexandria. We came for brunch on a Saturday morning, and were seated outdoors on a beautiful crisp sunny day. The brunch menu is different to one which you would ordinarily find at a restaurant. Being that it is a French restaurant and Crêperie - the brunch menu was very on brand. The options varied from a wide variety of sweet and savoury crêpes, a breakfast bruschetta, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, quiche du jour and much much more. Delicious, divine and delectable. I had the savoury Sultan crêpe, and was really impressed with the full range of flavours from the spicy lamb sausage, lentils, spinach & feta cheese!!! Such a unique take on your usual ingredients in a crêpe, and literally an unforgettable meal!! Sometimes having a table outside means that you can get forgotten, but this was far from the case in this instance. Our server was extremely attentive and also gave great recommendations for things to order when we were indecisive.
Chocolate ice cream and dark cherry wine sauce nestled inside a warm crepe. A perfect, melting bite. Nyomm!
*** updating the review and dropping to 1*. Reference the below very, wow, interesting response. Before I wrote the review, I went inside and talked to 3 employees and asked if they saw any of the money in the markup. All three said no. So, I did make an effort. Odd that none of the three employees knew enough about their benefits to clarify. Fellow readers, you decide. /////////////// Nothing special. I considered 2* but hate to do that. Enjoyed the outdoor sidewalk seating. Just stopped for a coffee and thought the large crepe menu looked interesting. Had the Wild Berry Crepe. Nothing special. Mostly strawberry icecream. Had a few strawberries. Not really what I expected (more "wild berries" maybe?). More of a dessert for sure. *** Watch out for the 10% "Restaurant Fee." It doesn't go to the staff just the owner. Hate to write but I probably won't go back anytime soon.
My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch. She had a savory crepe while I had the quiche. Both were really great! It was packed, and we waited a bit but the food was worth it. The vibe, atmosphere was cozy but it's a little cramped. I'd rather wait longer and see fewer tables. Overall, worth coming to though and we'll visit again. It is pricey, though, so be prepared.
The shakshuka was not very flavorful. Among whatever other reason, I'm sure it is in part due to the fact there are no tomatoes, just lightly seasoned tomato sauce, definitely from a can. The crepe filling was good on the old towner but the buckwheat crepe wasn't a personal preference. Great ambiance though!
Traveling and stopped at this cozy place reviews seemed reasonable and the area is very nice. We arrived as a party of 9 and the expression on their face was a shocked. They sat us towards the back where they have a larger sitting area. From the start they did not seem very happy with us visiting. We would ask questions and the responses were as if we were annoying to them. The food was good but very pricey, not worth the pricing considering all the additional charges at the end of the bill. We came during lunch/brunch and they only served brunch. You can not order anything else on the menus but brunch (including lunch is excluded). Our bill was close to $250 with all the additional fees and charges. I would have expected a much more friendly service considering the price, location and the ambiance. It's a shame that as tourist this was our impression of the area.
After nearly 800 reviews I'm not sure that there is a lot that I can add, but a few quick observations: 1. The slogan here is "Where the Locals' Eat". I've lived in the area for 20 years and hadn't been here before (color me bad on that). There did appear to be more 'out of towners' dining here when we did, so I did question that statement a bit. 2. The sidewalk seating is fantastic as this Old Town side street (off of King) is a charming environment. They have a limited number of seats inside, but an out back patio as well. All are good! 3. The Brunch and Crepe selections (no lunch items on the weekend) are terrific; tasty, unique and quite plentiful. 4. The Shakshouka is OUTSTANDING. Ample lamb sausage, veggies and a delish tomato base 5. Likewise, the Crepes are the best you'll find in NoVA. Several Yelp reviewers did note the prices seem a bit high, and possibly so, but given the quality of the food and that it is not a chain, it is understandable that they might charge a dollar or two more than what might be expected elsewhere (certainly more than iHOP, if that's your baseline, but come on, you can't compare that to Fontaine). Also, they clearly alert customers of a 10% surcharge on the front of their menus, and explain why! Like I said, been here for 20 years and remiss that we haven't been here before. So we'll be back so we can help make the statement "Where Local's Eat' ring more authentic!
5 months ago
To quote the great Tyra Banks: "I want to give you a zero, but that's not possible. So I give you a 1." Let's just say the food here was absolutely disappointing. All of the hip young girls in high school recommended this place to me and my friends and lets just say, they have never been more wrong. My girls and I went this weekend for a birthday brunch. I wanted a crepe, but when I saw it was 17 DOLLARS to slap some Nutella and strawberries on a piece of crepe is outrageous. I ordered a "Continental Breakfast," which, with tax and tip, cost me $30 DOLLARS. I wish you could have seen the look on my face when they gave me a plate of rabbit food. All 6 of us looked at the plate and laughed. Seriously, my 5 year old neice can eat 3 times as much of that in one sitting. So, in what world would that be enough food for a grown woman? My friend then went on to order the French toast for a grand total of $36 DOLLARS. Mind you, there was only one piece of toast, and the Inside was raw and soggy. Tasted like eating wet, soaked toilet paper. On top of the overpriced food and small portions, our "server" came to our table for a total of ONE SINGULAR TIME. My friend had also ordered a Chai Latte. Surprise, Surprise! It never came, and they still charged her for it. I think the nice man who brought us our food could see the look on our faces when we received our food, because he then brought us a free side of French fries. It is a huge problem when the french fries were the only sufficient thing I put in my mouth at this restaurant. I please, genuinely beg all of you to NOT waste your money. I promise there is anywhere else where you can get a crepe for double the size and half the cost. Once we left, we went down to Call Your Mother, the Jewish Deli, to get more food, as all of us left with our tummies still rumbling. Mind you, a full bagel sandwich and coffee cost HALF THE PRICE of one meal at Fontaine. Horrible. Mind you, it is 2 days later, and I am still thinking about this. I fully created a Yelp account just so I could leave a review. I think I would have a better experience eating an IHOP Continental breakfast than whatever I put in my mouth at this restaurant. Not worth the hype at all. Save your hard-earned cash and be a big baller elsewhere! read more
Tucked just off King Street, Fontaine offers crêpes and classic French dishes in a charming, bistro setting. The crepes were good, I tried the Alexandrian and enjoyed it. The menu leans traditional, with a variety of options that highlight classic French flavors. That said, it's a bit on the pricier side for the overall experience. I'd recommend Fontaine more for a specific occasion, like taking visiting parents, or if you're dining with someone who needs gluten-free options, as they have good choices. Overall, a quaint and inviting spot that brings a touch of France to Old Town. read more
2 months ago
Fontaine is a quaint restaurant located in Old Town. They have two different seating areas. The tables in the front of the restaurant are close but you don't feel like you are sitting too close to the other tables. Although we were sat quickly. There were several tables who received their order before my table. Somehow the order for my table was impacted by a computer glitch. One of the hostess offered a crepe to make up for the error. I went on a Saturday and they were only serving the brunch and the crepe menu. The French toast was okay, definitely have had better. The French toast is a single slice of brioche bread with powdered sugar and walnuts. I opted to add the fresh strawberries. read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Dear Shayla,…
1 year ago
Got GF crepes and tasted so yummm you could barely tell. Service was sub par, but we did come in half an hour before closing. Price was expensive, but outdoor seating was nice and service was quick I didn't even mind. Will be back! read more
11 months ago
I got the strawberry and Nutella crepe. It tasted so delicious. My only complaint is that it wasn't enough food. I wish it came with two crêpes, especially for the prize that you're paying... read more
1 year ago
While the ambiance was charming and the restrooms were clean, the overall experience left much to be desired. The food was overpriced given the lack of flavor, and the service was slow, we had to request nearly everything. On a particularly hot day, the minimal ice in our drinks didn't help, and we waited far too long just to place our order. But my friends loved it! read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Hi Fre,…
2 months ago
What a beautiful restaurant in the ever so quaint, Old Town Alexandria. We came for brunch on a Saturday morning, and were seated outdoors on a beautiful crisp sunny day. The brunch menu is different to one which you would ordinarily find at a restaurant. Being that it is a French restaurant and Crêperie - the brunch menu was very on brand. The options varied from a wide variety of sweet and savoury crêpes, a breakfast bruschetta, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, quiche du jour and much much more. Delicious, divine and delectable. I had the savoury Sultan crêpe, and was really impressed with the full range of flavours from the spicy lamb sausage, lentils, spinach & feta cheese!!! Such a unique take on your usual ingredients in a crêpe, and literally an unforgettable meal!! Sometimes having a table outside means that you can get forgotten, but this was far from the case in this instance. Our server was extremely attentive and also gave great recommendations for things to order when we were indecisive. read more
2 years ago
Chocolate ice cream and dark cherry wine sauce nestled inside a warm crepe. A perfect, melting bite. Nyomm! read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
E Thank you, Maria! We’re thrilled you loved the crepe—your…
*** updating the review and dropping to 1*. Reference the below very, wow, interesting response. Before I wrote the review, I went inside and talked to 3 employees and asked if they saw any of the money in the markup. All three said no. So, I did make an effort. Odd that none of the three employees knew enough about their benefits to clarify. Fellow readers, you decide. /////////////// Nothing special. I considered 2* but hate to do that. Enjoyed the outdoor sidewalk seating. Just stopped for a coffee and thought the large crepe menu looked interesting. Had the Wild Berry Crepe. Nothing special. Mostly strawberry icecream. Had a few strawberries. Not really what I expected (more "wild berries" maybe?). More of a dessert for sure. *** Watch out for the 10% "Restaurant Fee." It doesn't go to the staff just the owner. Hate to write but I probably won't go back anytime soon. read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Doug - Responding to negative reviews always allows us to communicate…
My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch. She had a savory crepe while I had the quiche. Both were really great! It was packed, and we waited a bit but the food was worth it. The vibe, atmosphere was cozy but it's a little cramped. I'd rather wait longer and see fewer tables. Overall, worth coming to though and we'll visit again. It is pricey, though, so be prepared. read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Dear Eric,…
11 months ago
The shakshuka was not very flavorful. Among whatever other reason, I'm sure it is in part due to the fact there are no tomatoes, just lightly seasoned tomato sauce, definitely from a can. The crepe filling was good on the old towner but the buckwheat crepe wasn't a personal preference. Great ambiance though! read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Hi Candace,…
3 years ago
Traveling and stopped at this cozy place reviews seemed reasonable and the area is very nice. We arrived as a party of 9 and the expression on their face was a shocked. They sat us towards the back where they have a larger sitting area. From the start they did not seem very happy with us visiting. We would ask questions and the responses were as if we were annoying to them. The food was good but very pricey, not worth the pricing considering all the additional charges at the end of the bill. We came during lunch/brunch and they only served brunch. You can not order anything else on the menus but brunch (including lunch is excluded). Our bill was close to $250 with all the additional fees and charges. I would have expected a much more friendly service considering the price, location and the ambiance. It's a shame that as tourist this was our impression of the area. read more
3 years ago
After nearly 800 reviews I'm not sure that there is a lot that I can add, but a few quick observations: 1. The slogan here is "Where the Locals' Eat". I've lived in the area for 20 years and hadn't been here before (color me bad on that). There did appear to be more 'out of towners' dining here when we did, so I did question that statement a bit. 2. The sidewalk seating is fantastic as this Old Town side street (off of King) is a charming environment. They have a limited number of seats inside, but an out back patio as well. All are good! 3. The Brunch and Crepe selections (no lunch items on the weekend) are terrific; tasty, unique and quite plentiful. 4. The Shakshouka is OUTSTANDING. Ample lamb sausage, veggies and a delish tomato base 5. Likewise, the Crepes are the best you'll find in NoVA. Several Yelp reviewers did note the prices seem a bit high, and possibly so, but given the quality of the food and that it is not a chain, it is understandable that they might charge a dollar or two more than what might be expected elsewhere (certainly more than iHOP, if that's your baseline, but come on, you can't compare that to Fontaine). Also, they clearly alert customers of a 10% surcharge on the front of their menus, and explain why! Like I said, been here for 20 years and remiss that we haven't been here before. So we'll be back so we can help make the statement "Where Local's Eat' ring more authentic! read more
1 year ago
Great location. Large. Inside and out. Good service. Breakfast. Cinnamon buns too. Get there now! Inside large clean modern hotel. Park underneath hotel. $20 for all day. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Bonjour Pau!…
10 months ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
Beautiful, quiet enough that it does not disturb the conversations happening at the surrounding tables. The food presentation was done with precision. My first bite had given me butterflies. There's no need to add anything to the dish. The Chef, and his staff magically matched the food and its decorum. A hidden gem on one of the side streets in Oldtown. I'll definitely will be returning. The food, the place, the workers come together quite majestically. I was in the mood for something different, and this was simply wonderful. read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Dear Christine,…
5 months ago
11 months ago
Used to love this place. Came here with my family from out of town and service was abysmal. They took our drinks order promptly enough, but then they didn't bring them out for almost 20 minutes. No water either. It eventually came after we'd got our drinks. We ordered crepe desserts and an order of fries. The crepes all came out after about 35 minutes, and the fries about five minutes after. So apparently we are to eat the fries after dessert. I have no idea what happened to this place. I know it was sold a while back from the two sisters who started it. But service has never been this bad even in my return visits long after it was sold. read more
1 year ago
The staff is warm and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is truly exceptional! A must visit! read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Thank you so much, Benjamin! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the food,…
Had a lovely brunch with a friend today. I appreciate the variety of both sweet and savory crepes--though I wish they had more sweet crepes that didn't come with ice cream. What about a medium sweet crepe option? Pro tip: really good chai lattes here! read more
After wandering around Old Town for Sunday brunch we happened upon this cozy gem. I tried to save half of my gluten free veggie crepe for lunch tomorrow but it was too tasty not to finish. We sat in the front area of the restaurant which gives a cozy French cafe vibe Service was prompt and friendly. My espresso martini was delicious. Definitely two thumbs up!!! read more
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you…
2 years ago
Such a quaint little spot in Old Town! I got to sit outside and enjoy the breeze! Great service and great food! read more
4 years ago
This is a small and quaint restaurant. Very cozy inside! And they had outdoor seating which must be lovely on a nice day! I went with a group of friends during lunch time and so it was fairly busy. I stood at the front of the restaurant while my friends waited outside, the sign said to wait to be seated. It took a while to be approached, no greeting, or acknowledgment for a good five minutes. Finally someone approached me and asked if I could be helped and that's when they started preparing our table for inside. All the food looked great! The shakshouka was delicious! And the bread that came with it was even more delicious. I can only account for the food that I got, but it seemed like everyone was enjoying their meal! This place is definitely worth a try! read more
1 year ago
It is a rare occasion I get to come out to Ood Town but so glad I got the nuave a great brunch here. The creperie here is real French style and love that their crepes were not overly sweet and made of buck wheat - I think it was very flavorful and health-conscious. I ordered the Virginia with eggs overeasy on top and I was very satiated after my workout! So glad to find this cute little French cafe in the Old Town. read more
My friends and I stopped in here after a long day around 4PM and were seated immediately. The waitress was nice and gave us free fries since we were watching them come out of the kitchen while we were waiting for our crepes and they looked delicious. I ordered the Old Towner Crepe and my friends ordered the Alexandrian Crepe and the Bella crepe. They took a while to come out and they definitely tasted like healthy crepes since they were buckwheat with higher quality ingredients but for $18, none of us were filled up. if you order a crepe here, you definitely need to get one with cheese or more sauce because mine tasted dry with a tiny drizzle of pest sauce on top. The Nutella on my friend's sweet crepe didn't taste like Nutella, just a less sweet chocolate sauce and the fries and the little side salad were honestly the best parts of the meal. There's also an additional "restaurant charge" of 10% that we didn't know how much to tip on top of. It wasn't the worst but for $18 crepes, I probably wouldn't come back. read more
Lovely spot for crepes! The crepes are creative and delicious. I had a lemon crepe with blueberries that had a lovely lemon flavor and wasn't too sweet. Also ordered a peach ginger cider that paired well with it. They have cute outdoor sweating and staff was very friendly. read more
3 years ago
FONTAINE CAFFE review (not the restaurant): I don't think I can love this place more than I already do on just my first visit. I went in there today thinking maybe they'll ask me to step out cause I had my newly adopted dog with me, but no! I believe it was the manager who even asked the barista to get the dog treat out. The customers were lovely as well as they can see me struggling with keeping my dog in check (he's not leash trained yet but he's getting there for sure) The coffee was so good! I had an iced caramel latte with oat milk. The cafe is next door to the restaurant and is so quaint and cozy. I just love it so much. Thank you Fontaine cafe for entertaining me and Jasper. We will be back! read more
3 years ago
The seafood here was really good Trout was the star My friend tells me that he had a different crepe than what we had today that was better! We had the strawberry Nutella which was okay. Cappuccino was average The whole team here was amazing Breakfast is also good here It is a bit pricey! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Stacey W.
Thank you so much, Richard! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your breakfast…
Came by and grabbed some pastries that are super tasty!! All of their croissants are buttery and soft. I tried the butter, chocolate, almond, and ham&cheese. All were phenomenal. The brownie was thick and gooey - a perfect brownie. The cookie was a little crumbly but really big. The blueberry scone was not crumbly but soft and had a lot of blueberries inside. 10/10. Definitely recommend this place! read more
Page 1 of 24
More info about Fontaine
119 S Royal St
Alexandria, VA 22314
Old Town Alexandria
Directions
(703) 535-8151
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.fontainebistro.com
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Fontaine Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Fontaine
Any vegan options?
Hey there, I honestly do not remember. I want to say no but check their menu or give them a call to confirm.
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
20 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
9 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
17 years ago
7 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
10 years ago
7 years ago
14 years ago
12 years ago
13 years ago
12 years ago
15 years ago
13 years ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
