DINING OUT
THE GASTRONOMES
FONTAINE CAFFE & CREPERIE 119 SOUTH ROYAL STREET OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703-535-8151 FONTAINEBISTRO.COM
The Tuscan and The Washington
Take a Holiday Break Where the Locals Eat
Fontaine Caffe & Creperie
T
his fun, cozy little place is the perfect venue for a break in your holiday shopping or just taking a night off of cooking during the hustle and bustle. While I have never traveled in France, it is what I imagine a small French Caffe is like in Paris. Fontaine’s was opened in 2008 by two sisters who wanted to bring a touch of nostalgia on to the Old Town dining scene and the Creperie became an instant hit. It recently changed ownership but it has been a seamless transition. The same high quality service, food and ambiance remain. For those of us of a certain age, it is a throwback to the 1970’s when Crepes and Fondue were “the” thing. In fact, Old Town had its very own creperie - Maison de Crepe - “back in the day” that was located in the space where Bugsy’s Pizza in the 100 block of King Street has been operating for over 30 years. We are definitely happy that crepes made a comeback. We do believe that fondue is also still alive and well within the walls of the Melting Pot Restaurant located in neighboring Arlington. Some of you may have never experienced eating crepes/ galettes. What are they exactly? Basically, they are both a VERY thin pancake made from flour (the galette is made with buckwheat flour), eggs, milk and water that is cooked on a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat until golden brown. Or…if you are fancy, you may use a “crepe maker” pan – also a popular gift item back in the 70’s. 30 | December 2019
Fontaine’s offers both sweet and savory varieties with a plethora of choices of fillings. Like all good eateries, these guys use 100% pure olive oil and organic dairy products as well as locally sourced vegetables and meats and breads along with naturally sustained seafood – most of which is delivered daily. We understand that their housemade tomato juice is a popular item among the regulars. Looks like a Bloody Mary is in the cards on a future visit. This trip to Fontaine’s was the first time for one of us but one of many for the other. I think females are more attracted to the idea of crepes than the guys are since I believe they are perceived to be “light fare”. However, that is somewhat a misnomer when it comes to the crepes at Fontaine’s. The portions are enough to satisfy most guy’s appetites. There are 10 savory options that are served with an accompanying mixed green salad tossed in their house-made Dijon red wine vinaigrette and 12 sweet versions. They also offer 4 different crepes with kids under the age of 6 years in mind. All of the savory crepes are gluten free and there are vegan options as well. In addition to the regular menu offerings, there are daily and seasonal specials featured here. Let’s talk about what we ate. We started off with a bottle of Little James’ Basket Press sauvignon viognier. The bonus is we lunched on Tuesday and Tuesdays are ½ price wine day! I ordered my absolute favorite savory – the Tuscan. This galette is loaded with sweet Italian sausage, cannellini
beans, red peppers and onion in a chunky tomato sauce. YUM! B ordered the Washington. It was on the lunch specials menu and consists of tender beef, onions, mushrooms, carrots and potatoes in a rich dark chocolate and red wine gravy. It was a hearty meal. We ended our repast by splitting the Blueberry Pie sweet crepe. This one is filled with blueberry ice cream and fresh blueberries drizzled with blueberry sauce. This was worth every bite for sure. If crepes really aren’t your thing, there are lots of other options on the menu including sandwiches – they even have crab cake sandwiches – and an assortment of roasted chicken, fresh fish and seafood dishes offered at both lunch and dinner. The wine, beer and cider menu is very extensive at Fontaine’s. For such a small place, they have a fantastic choice of beverages. There are 16 wines by the glass or bottle, 37 wines by the bottle, 10 craft beers, 15 imports and 6 ciders. I didn’t see any Coors or Bud Light on the menu however. Full bar service is also available. The interior is simple and understated with art from local talent adorning the walls. One image in particular caught our eye, a painting by Len Garon that captures the shoreline of National Harbor. A nice connection of Old Town to our neighbor across the river. There are bistro tables out front for al fresco dining during those nice winter weather days we have once in a while as well as a second dining area that
is perfect for a private dinner party or other celebration. This room is offered with personal service, including your very own server and choice of music. While we were there the exterior was being dolled up for the season by local designer Ruth Ryder. Stacy, the General Manager, asked that we give Ruth a shout out. Ruth is a longtime resident and told us that she has several clients in Old Town. She said, “My goal is to keep Old Town beautiful
and encourage others to do the same. One storefront at a time!” The price point at Fontaine’s is just about right for the area. It may actually be a bit under the norm. In any case, it is well worth a visit during the holiday season or anytime for that matter. Serving Breakfast and Lunch Monday-Friday from 9 am – 2:30 pm, Dinner WednesdaySaturday 5:30-10 pm and weekend Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 3 pm.
Inspired by foods found in cities across America with a toast to their craft brews, wines, and spirits
DECEMBER RACK OF LAMB
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