“ I had put up photos of this restaurant - Staten Island's La Fontana - and am now following that up with a review. I wanted to eat a bodacious Italian dinner and was specifically looking to eat this dinner on Staten Island after crossing the harbor on the Staten Island Ferry. I was able to land on this restaurant by looking at search engines and checking out if it could be reached by transit provided for within the MTA tourist transit card. It fit the bill. Walking from the nearby Staten Island Railway station, La Fontana is not too far. The building looks like a big stucco home given that stucco could make it look more Mediterranean. Before embarking on this review, I will take a brief detour because it's relevant. However, it will not affect my rating. When you go into a restaurant or coffeehouse, it's taken for granted that you will accept the demographics and pulse of the locale. You wouldn't go into a theoretical "Cheers" and expect to find polished people. You'd go in expecting backslapping types. Ditto for other sorts of places on the continuum of food and beverage. I will continue. In line with current events, I heard some spirited conversation from the bar upon walking in to the tune of "she's not likeable and that's why she's not going to win." Here's where the demographics come into play. The borough of Staten Island has a significant Italian(-American) population - hence tribe - and it becomes more pronounced as you head south on the island. That said, it's a more upwardly mobile suburban rendition of Italian-Americans than those from other NYC boroughs and some hamlets in Northern NJ. And, with that, come the all-too-predictable political leanings. That could mean that the person implicitly being championed is a certain "billionaire cafone." That could also hinge on that said individual exhibiting the same type of braggadocio that the audible folks are capable of because you can't expect them to completely leave the "yo" and the "yuk yuk" in the boroughs their roots might be in. It just so happened that I was seated just on the other side of the bar and could hear the conversations over there. I immediately asked to be reseated. They didn't ask questions, quickly obliged, and I got to sit where it was nice and quiet. Consistent with this, the service and timing were close to seamless throughout the meal. The menu was quickly provided to me, water and my soft drink arrived, as did a bread basket, and my order was taken. All the courses were delivered at a good pace. Not only that, this restaurant has also been around for a long time, has a steady following, and, with the more relaxed vibe of the neighborhood, the service was low key and conscientious. The food from every course in the meal was to my liking. Keep in mind that this is an Italian restaurant that leans slightly Italian-American in both what they offer and in the portions ... which are satisfying. Bring it on. It's not one of these trendy bistros where the owners and staff could possibly be annoying in a self-regarding way and their portions be small. The savory bread basked was full and I finished it off. I believe I skipped lunch and was hungry. They brought me some more bread. The salad was hearty and the robust ingredients were tasty. The plate of pasta - penne "alla Fontana" - was presented in a tomato cream sauce and, with mushrooms, prosciutto, shallots, and peas, it's very close to boscaiola sauce, which is one of my favorites. Lastly, the dessert was also very good. I saw several desserts on the menu; however, with the prix fixe menu, one was limited to choosing from among three. With one being chocolate, it was an easy pick and it really capped off the meal. La Fontana's pricing, given the geographic location, was palatable. I walked out of the restaurant a satisfied customer and, with all that food in my stomach, it was good that I had to walk back to the nearby Oakwood Heights railway station for a train that would take me right into the Richmond Staten Island Ferry terminal. When you're at this station and on the train, and not seeing water or the Verraz(z)ano, you might forget you're in a far-flung part of NYC and think you're somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. Getting closer to Richmond, however, will snap you out of that feeling. Again, I will not factor in the bar talk I heard upon walking in. If I ever came back, I would just avoid the bar area! With La Fontana dialing in the food, the portions, appropriate pricing, the amicable service, and that aura of being the kind of long running, popular Italian restaurant you'd expect in the Tri-state area around NYC, it seems to score on all the ingredients that make for 5 stars. ”

“ I'm a regular here any cant believe I have never posted a review. Great local Italian restaurant with very good food. The sauce doesn't leave you with acid heartburn some places do and not overloaded with garlic and onions. They have a great weeknight dinner special for $27 which gets you an appetizer, main course and dessert. My go to is the chicken parm which is always nice and crispy but still juicy on inside. Opted for the spumoni this week. Also great fresh Italian bread ”

“ We ordered the meatballs for appetizer and fettuccini alfredo and manicotti for entrees. Everything tasted homemade and good. Great table setup. The staff was attentive and courteous. They even included a special 'candle' in the desert that looked more like a roman candle for my grandson's birthday! He loved it! ”

“ A nice place. The food was delicious and the employees were very nice and friendly. I felt like I was dinning with family. Thomas ran the show and couldn't have made us feel more relaxed and at home. I would highly recommend this place ”

“ Food is great. This place has been around for a long time. Highly recommend. Service was good. I recommend their Ceasar Salad made table side ”

“ Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant on the island! I have been there several times and never disappointed. Bar service is excellent. Try a Cosmo! Dinner is always exceptional. Any and every pasta dish is recommended but my favorite is linguine with clam sauce. Finish it with a stuffed veal chop. OMG! Service is quick, friendly and accommodating. Price fixe menu a bargain! ”

“ We totally forgot about La Fontana for years. So happy to have been back. The food was delicious. The decor may be a little dated but the service and food were amazingly delicious. The grouper special was mouthwatering. We were so full but just had to order the cheesecake. Can't wait to go back. And tbh, not super expensive. ”