Updating my review after a visit this evening where we enjoyed two different entrees. I had the Grilled Salmon and Shrimp over Spinach with Asparagus and my partner got the Chicken Marsala. Both entrees came with a cold, fresh side salad with a tangy Italian dressing. The entrees were very good. The salmon had a nice char, but was moist and flavorful. If you like salmon with a sauce, you'll be disappointed. I like mine simple, and this is a well-prepared salmon. The shrimp (3 large) were good. The spinach had a nice garlic flavor and the asparagus was well prepared - not mushy. The chicken Marsala also was good. The Marsala was light (not thick) and somewhat sweet. Very good. Honestly, the bread service was pretty disappointing. Our last visit the bread was fine, but this basket was pretty dried out and almost seemed stale. The oil accompanying the bread had almost no cheese in it. Essentially, you dipped tasteless bread into oil. Really disappointing. I'm not going to reduce my overall restaurant score for this one thing (because the entrees were very good), but the bread service was not good. The service was good. read more

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( The first paragraph of this review is based on delivery via a third-service provider .... ) Great! Loved everything. The Wild Mushrooms with artichoke were just awesome and oh-so-plentiful, I do believe this one dish could've been a meal all in itself -- but not knowing that, I also got the Grilled Romaine because I'd never had such a thing before, and was interested in trying it. It was great! The Bowl Soup was delicious and comforting as soup is desired to be. Note on the soup: it doesn't have any pasta it in (or at least mine didn't), so if you're watching carbs or avoiding wheat, this is an excellent choice! It all came with some bread, too (that I ended up making a sandwich out of with some of the grilled romaine dish later). This was way more than one meal for me! All of it was delicious! ** Today, I fi-na-ly made it to Fontina Grille in person! It was a beautiful day to eat outside as long as there was some shade -- and so, the awning was put out just for us to lunch outdoors. There is a great selection on this menu and at lunch you can order either lunch or dinner portions. The lunch portions were certainly plentiful! The service was great, and everything was absolutely delicious! I especially enjoyed my side of zoodles. I was surprised and amazed at how well they were done -- they were so luxuriously long, it was really fun! They were also a beautiful bright green, cooked perfectly (not too hard, not too soft -- just right!), nice to twirl on a fork, and came with a really great, garlicky sauce. Mmm .... The salad greens were spectacular, the cheeses were mouth-melty, the bread at the beginning was superbly crisp on the outside and sturdy but soft enough, and chewy on the inside, the dipping olive oil with some grated cheese was excellent and helped tide me over 'til the antipasti of Wild Mushrooms came. I heard the Chilean Sea Bass in the Sea Bass Spring Salad was 'like butta,' it was so soft and easy to cut through and apparently very good. It came with salad greens, cutely-cut, skin-removed orange wedges, strawberry slices all neatly arranged around the edges, and a bit of delectably soft cheese. What can I say? Nothing was amiss! Parking was easy and couldn't be closer, with two designated accessible parking spots available right across the small street, and one not far around the corner. The ambiance outside (where we ate) was very nice. Everything was made easy. The (women's) bathroom is capacious, with a big, accessible stall and two others. The indoor dining area is very big with lots of tables. The best part of walking through the indoor area is catching a glimpse of the real fire, ready to bake! Overall, everything was totally enjoyable! read more

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This was third visit this month and there were some slight setbacks in seasoning dishes, slightly stale table bread (which when fresh- is so delicious and one of the highlights when we visit - they fit that good EVOO and parm to dip it in), and forgetting items in a dish, but I would STILL highly recommend this place. That Fontina mixed greens is a must! The Fra Diablo meatballs were tender perfection- just a touch of heat. read more

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Awesome food! Either if you are dining in or taking out, food is flavorful and a good portion. My favorite is Penne Ala Vodka.

Our server recommended the penne ala vodka with chicken and it was delicious! The chicken wasn't dry and the sauce was really good. My bf got the steak house pizza and also enjoyed it. read more

Fontina Grille - PENNE ALA VODKA with chicken - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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A time was had. The drinks are stronggggggg. The bar was clean and the service was solid. It's really the people you go with. Me and my friends enjoyed ourselves. read more

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That's one of my favorite Italian spots around here. I always go there for their tiramisu. My mini me loves their Chicken and/or Shrimp Alfredo, and I'm a big fan of their bolognese. Service is always great. They do get very busy on the weekends! read more

5.28.25 Get the penne a la vodka with Parmesan crusted chicken Milanese and thank me later. One of the best Italian dishes I have ever had and a favorite here. Portion was hearty too. I'm salivating just thinking of it right now. read more

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Always good! Have been coming here for years for various meals. Went again today for a last-minute dinner. Everything here is always solid, prices are good, and service is fast! The art is also really cool - even in the bathroom! read more

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Had a lovely date night here! It's a nice and welcoming place with cute two person booths along the side which is always nice. I enjoyed my meatball and ricotta pizza as well as a Caesar salad. I also ordered an old fashioned which was tasty but a little on the weaker side. Overall, a lovely place for a nice meal. read more

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Went here on a weekend evening. I had only been to this place once before, but for carry-out. What I had back then was amazing, so a friend and I decided to check them out. After checking in with the host and being seated, we got some complimentary bread that we dipped in a little olive oil and sprinkled a little cheese on it - the bread was really good. After ordering, we got some Caesar Salad (I haven't had that in ages) - still enjoyed it though. For the meal, I ordered what I had on my first visit - Crab & Salmon Rose - sliced salmon, lump crab meat, spinach, rose cream sauce, and linguine. It came in a good portion size, and I did taste everything as the menu stated. For dessert, I tried to look at some pictures on Yelp, but the one I ordered should have a sign that says this picture may look smaller than it is. I got the Bomba, described as classic vanilla and chocolate gelato, caramel center, almonds and chocolate coating. When it was placed in front of me, I thought it was big enough to feed three - it was HUGE. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I couldn't get over the size of it and I'm not sure I was a fan of the overall dessert. I'll need to try something different next time as I'll check them out again. read more

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Everything was fantastic! Our server, Sophie, was lovely. Very helpful, attentive, and friendly. The pasta portions were big; both of us had leftovers. The salads that come with the pastas are the perfect size! Not so big that we weren't hungry, but enough that we felt satisfied with the salad. We ordered the Penne Ala Vodka and the Capellini D' Angelo, with blackened chicken. They were both delicious. The tiramisu was yummy and the Peanut Butter Bomba was wonderful! Would definitely go back to try more. read more

Fontina Grille - CAPELLINI D' ANGELO and PENNE ALA VODKA - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Just updating my last review. This time I visited in person. Beautiful warm decor. Great friendly and efficient service. My companion agreed the food was the best Italian in the area. I had fettuccine bolognese. Even the lunch portion was huge. Perfectly cooked pasta and a rich rose sauce with ground veal. Delicious. Served with fresh baked focaccia and top quality olive oil for dipping read more

Wonderful valentines dinner! We had the mushrooms to start which were perfectly done. I had the ribeye med rare and my date had the clam dish. The atmosphere was fantastic and just perfect for valentines day. We will be back! read more

Fontana Grill is one of our absolute favorites and is a Friday night go to. Haven't had a bad meal highly recommend their pizza their pasta or their seafood. Takeout or dine in it's happening little place hidden in Kings farm. The service is always outstanding. The drinks are great if you find yourself around King Farm it's a must go to place. read more

We came here for a friend's birthday dinner. We made reservations ahead of time, since we were a party of 9, which was pretty easy. The restaurant itself is pretty small. The lighting was pretty dark, which I guess kinda gives you the romantic feel vibes. Our server was very nice and attentive and also offered a variety of suggestions. Everyone ordered drinks, and 3 of us shared a bottle of wine, which was overly priced. $38 for a resling that is usually $12 is kinda crazy, but what can you do. I asked about the gluten free options and decided to do the grilled chicken alfredo with gluten free pasta. It was actually so delicious. It's hard to find good gf pasta, and I'd have to say this was probably one of the best I've had. Overall, the food was good and it was a nice local place to try out. read more

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The food was pretty mediocre... I've had better Italian food for the price we paid at this restaurant. The staff were trying their best to be attentive to my table. We had a huge table so I'm not too upset about their timeliness. Also, the AC clearly was not working in that building. Everyone at my table was sweating bullets. Basically I would never recommend this place to anybody... read more

Came here with a party of 4 on a sunday evening without a reservation. The place was packed but thankfully they were able to find us a table right away. We had a great experience! We ordered the carbonara, fetuccine alfredo w/ pecan crusted chicken and spaghetti with meatballs. Each dish came with a side of either caesar salad, house salad or minestrone soup. The focaccia bread (super fluffy!!), salads and entrees were very tasty and the chicken was crispy. We also got to try the creme brulee dessert which was delicious and not too sweet (was on the house too since we were celebrating a birthday, thank you Fontina!) Our waitress checked on us frequently and the busser cleared plates quickly (this was appreciated as the tables are on the smaller side). Our waitress did forget to bring the bread so we had to ask again but it's okay as it was understandably busy. Other than that, we all had an amazing experience. Will be returning. read more

Thursday 11/21/2024 My little brother wanted to have his birthday family dinner at this spot so here I am back again with a new updated review. I was able to try the meatballs fra diablo $14.90, crab cakes $22.90, Chicken Chesapeake (comes with Cesar salad) $27.90, and focaccia bread (complimentary bread). Overall, the food experience was alright: meatballs & crab cakes were decent, chicken Chesapeake was very underwhelming (portion was small, lack of crab meat, and chicken wasn't very good), the focaccia bread was pretty decent, and the Cesar solid was cool. After multiple visits, I can definitely say the bbq chicken pizza, penne ala vodka, and most of all the steak pizza (best pizza in MD) are the best items here while everything else isn't worth it. They excel at pizza but you're better off going to Gregorio's for pasta. (Tip: every Wednesday they have a pizza deal: BOGO half off) read more

This is my last time ordering from here. Spent $80+ on two entrees and one app and the food was TASTELESS. How does Parmesan crusted chicken taste like nothing?! Crunchy but like it hasn't been season or anything. The pasta in the carbonara and the sauce and shrimp didn't taste like anything. How does a specialty Italian restaurant charge this much for food that isn't seasoned and taste like cardboard?! We also weren't given our salads. Calamari was bland and slightly rubbery. I wish I could get my money back. I wouldn't recommend this place. The quality is sub par and you have better chances of food tasting better at home or at Olive Garden. read more

Fontina Grille - My receipt of my online order and the most expensive tasteless food. Tasted like unseasoned cardboard - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

We dined in and ordered 2 small pizzas. They looked great truly picture perfect. And then I picked up the first slice, that when things changed. the pizza is served on a ceramic plate, there was a puddle of juices under my crust. the crust towards the center of the pizza was soggy. My first bite, quality ingredients but I couldn't taste the pepperonI, nor the marinara. read more

Amazing "Maryland" Italian food! So many options to choose from and they have rockfish and sea bass that you cannot usually find at Italian restaurants. My parents and I went fifteen years ago and my father with a rental car he rented for our next day for my cataract surgery at Hopkins in Baltimore thought it would be a good idea to drive my wife and here. We were treated by wonderful staff and were sat at one of their many tables in this large restaurant space with wonderful ambiance that is the right volume for conversation. We dared the amazing Wild Mushrooms appetizer, the Rockfish Salad, the Sea Bass Salad, and the Ravioli Rosé. Everything was so delicious and the food came out fast. This is by far the best Italian food I have had in the region outside of Georgetown in DC and Little Italy in Baltimore. read more

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I normally really like this place, but the temperature of the food has became inconsistent as of late. Also found a long hair in my fries. Very disgusting. Would have called to complain, but was so tired from a 9 hour shift that left me so very tired. Just tossed the food. Will probably not go there again. Ugh like how hard is it to wear hairnets in the kitchen? read more

Great service good good! Will come back again! Pasta was very creamy!Tiramisu was great!

Deceptively named, this place is more a solid Italian restaurant than a grille, but the food is great and the staff is really good. They have a nice menu with classic Italian fare, pizza, unique combinations and sandwiches. It smells awesome when you walk in and being served fresh focaccia right off the bat doesn't hurt! Lunch portions were plenty big and so were the kids meals. Our waiter was personable, made good suggestions and easily adapted our order for exactly what we were looking for. (I can't turn down a blush sauce!) It was very good and in a cute part of town. Check them out! read more

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Stopped in for dinner while on a business trip. I sat at the bar and the servers were super attentive. I wanted half the things on the menu and asked the barman which of two was better. He did not disappoint. The grilled salmon on pasta with a lemon white wine olive oil sauce was amazing! Seemed like everyone at the bar knew each other so definitely a locals place. The ambiance was upbeat and lively but also they left you alone if you didn't engage. Only suggestion I couldn't find a bar hook where I was sitting so maybe add some! Over all a great place for dinner. read more

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Went in on a Friday night and while the place was packed, the food & service were excellent! Food was awesome. Went to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday on a Friday during Lent & she specifically requested mussels. She got what she wanted & more. My eggplant rollatini was packed with flavor, and I opted for angel hair instead of spaghetti. Everyone's food was great - grilled salmon, cheese ravioli, shrimp & crab Aurora. We ended the feast with a birthday cannoli the server brought out. My son already wants to go back. read more

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Great dinner! Food was so tasty and service was awesome! Nice bar scene too! We'll be back again!

Fontina Grill is my go-to for homestyle Italian classics. The food is consistently delicious, from the pasta to the chicken parm, and the portions are generous. The service is always friendly and attentive. A solid choice every time. read more

Fontina is a great little gem. Happy hour offers cheap drinks and a great selection of appetizers at a discounted price. The servers are always friendly and attentive! Their patio is in a great location it's the best for any hot summer day, a great location for after work drinks. Do not think that just because I started by saying this place is great for happy hours that it stops there, this is also a great place for your family dinner or a date or even just for yourself if you are feeling like some good pasta! I highly recommend the penne a la vodka! read more

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My family went here for dinner and we really enjoyed it. This place seems to be busy on the regular so we made a reservation. The staff is very friendly and our server was very attentive. I ordered the ravioli with crab meat, two of our party ordered lasagna, and one ordered fettuccini Alfredo with chicken. Overall the food was very good, except that the chicken in the fettuccini was way over-cooked to the point that the edges were dry and crunchy. Ambiance was nice-casual and comfortable, but the tables are a bit small and close together. All that said we enjoyed our meal and will come here again. read more

We really enjoyed our meal at Fontina Grille. We have been looking for a restaurant where we could get a well made pizza without standing in line at Inferno. My wife tried the Al Fresco and I ordered the truffled mushroom one. We also ordered the Wild Mushroom appetizer, which was just as delicious as other reviewers say. It's one of the best appetizers I've ever eaten, and it would make a fine entrée if paired with a crisp salad. Her pizza was a better choice with the appetizer--too many delicious mushrooms, whose rendered juice made the pizza a bit too wet. Our waiter was attentive and warm, and very professional. We will be back--at 4 pm the restaurant was not too full, and we could converse in a normal voice. Try it; you'll like it. read more

We ordered the Fettuccine Bolognese and Eggplant Parmesan off of Fontina's lunch menu for lunch takeout. The prices were $15 for the fettuccine and $17 for the other. Fettuccine bolognese was simply AMAZING. For $15, the portions were beyond generous. The meat and the sauce were spot on. The creaminess just worked. The fettuccine itself had excellent texture. The dish tasted great even after a twenty minute drive! The eggplant Parmesan was okay. The eggplant was nice and the cheese was not bad. The spaghetti and the sauce were pretty average. We're definitely going back for the fettuccine bolognese and so should you! read more

Fontina Grille - Fettuccine Bolognese and Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

I've gone to Fontina Grille a few times over the past three months because I love it so much! I've always only ordered pasta for an entree, but I recently also tried their meatball appetizer and eggplant Parm. Their meatballs are super thick/solid. They're drowned in a sweet marinara sauce that tastes so fresh and tomatoey. I definitely recommend the carbonara (doesn't taste eggy at all!) and bolognese. Every entree comes with a salad or soup side, which is also super nice. I always feel like I get a mini multi-course meal (and for under $20!) read more

Fontina Grille - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Always a great time at Fontina. Amazing pizzas and outdoor area nice. Owners are so nice and welcoming.

My boyfriend and I went on Sunday, and our waitress was very attentive. Although she was busy, she consistently checked in on us to ensure everything was to our liking. The food was delicious!- definitely try the Meatball Fradiablo and Lobster Ravioli! My only suggestion to the restaurant would be to inspect their tableware more carefully, as two of ours had broken edges and some felt greasy and dirty on the sides. read more

Fontina Grille - MEATBALL FRADIABLO - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Fontina Grille: Where Dining Becomes an Art Form! If excellence could be served on a platter, Fontina Grille would be the Michelin-starred sculptor behind it. From the moment I walked in, I felt like royalty who somehow stumbled upon the holy grail of Italian restaurants in the DMV. I'm never going anywhere else, because clearly, this place was crafted by the pasta Gods themselves. Now, let's talk about Declan. This man is not just a waiter--he's a hospitality virtuoso, a maestro of LEGENDARY service. Declan served with the kind of confidence, precision, and charm that one would expect only in dreams or in five-star Italian dining halls on the Amalfi Coast. His attentiveness was nonplussable (and yes, I dare you to try and outdo it). I wouldn't be surprised if he moonlights as a diplomat or a secret agent because his service was that smooth. Jennifer, his right-hand helper, deserves a standing ovation. She made everything seamless, adding warmth, grace, and an extra sparkle to an already stellar experience. I'm convinced they have some secret handshake, a dance of synchronized efficiency and care. It's like watching a beautiful duet--where plates and glasses are the choreography and customer delight is the standing ovation. The food? Oh, bella vita! I had a salad so fresh, it may have whispered compliments back at me. My friend's pasta dish was a carb-laden poem--tender, flavorful, and divine. Each bite was a crescendo of Italian bliss. Clearly, the kitchen staff channels their inner Da Vinci every time they plate a dish. If this restaurant were a movie, it would sweep the Oscars. If it were a song, it would top the charts. If it were a unicorn, it would be the kind that sprinkles magic over your life. To Declan, Jennifer, and the entire Fontina Grille team: Grazie mille ! And "Un milione di grazie." You made me feel special, seen, and incredibly grateful. Never changing. Ever. IN SUMMARY: **Fontina Grille is, without question, the pinnacle of Italian dining--an experience of unparalleled excellence. Every detail, from the service to the cuisine, resonates with authentic passion and flawless execution. Simply put, it is the *apex* of EPIC Italian culinary artistry and the finest I have ever encountered. ** You become alive when you have gone to Fontina Grille - or maybe you will even become a unicorn ITALIAN MAGIC PIXIE DUST WILL FOLLOW YOU FOREVER read more

Fontina Grille - Unicorn illustrating pasta flowing - Italian Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Lackluster at best. The evening started off great. The host was fabulous, and the dining room was beautiful. We were brought bread and olive oil with powdered parmesan in it. The olive oil tasted high quality, and I thought that was a good sign. The bread tasted of nothing and was very unremarkable. The appetizer of crab/artichoke/spinach dip was a wow. It came to us still bubbling with a warning that it was hot. This is where the good ended. When our caesar salads came, they tasted of water. You don't have to have my culinary background to know if you try to dress wet lettuce, it will not grab onto any flavors. I took two bites and stopped. It was not worth eating. It seriously tasted of nothing more than water. I could not taste the dressing, yet it was visible. There were no shavings of parmesan, just a sprinkle of powder. The croutons tasted of nothing. I have never had a caesar salad taste of nothing before. I told the waiter, and this is when the good service part of the evening ended. He told me I was wrong, and that the lettuce was wet because of putting too much dressing on it. If he was correct, then that means their caesar dressing tastes like nothing more than water. He also had an attitude about it and brought me a to-go caesar when I said I didn't want anything in place of the salad I was sending back. He made a point to show the dry lettuce in the to-go container and how he put the dressing on the side so I wouldn't have to endure "too much dressing" again. Talk about tone-deaf. I specifically stated the salad tasted like nothing. How would using less dressing fix that? I tried not to let his attitude ruin our evening. All the other service personnel were great. Our waters were always full. Our dishes always taken away. My daughter said her fetuccine alfredo was good. My eggplant parmesan was not. They should rename it eggplant mozarella, because there was no parmesan on it. The sauce tasted of nothing. No garlic. No salt. Nothing. So bland. So very bland. The only parmesan to be found was the powdered parm they brought to the table, so I tried to improve my dish by adding a bunch of that, but it was still so boring. Honestly, other than the olive oil and crab dip, the experience here was completely disappointing, and the waiter was so off-putting. We won't be going back. That said, the place got pretty busy around the time we were leaving, and their loyal following seemed quite pleased. So they don't need me to love them or to revisit ever again. They have plenty of yelps to support what they are doing. That's why we tried it. But if you want your food to taste like something, stick to the crab/spinach/artichoke dip as an appetizer and then go somewhere else for your entree. read more

We have been regular customers of this resto. My husband and I were seated right away however it took a while before we were greeted and for someone to get our orders. The customer next to us (2 tables) arrived after us and were approached first and got their orders. When our food came, parmesan cheese were not offered which we normally were used to someone offering it to us when our pasta arrives. While we were eating, our server didn't come by to check how was our food or how we were doing. Which again we were used to when we come here. We love the food regardless, but I think our server just needs to be more attentive and pay attention to details. Thank you and we will still be back! read more

The best Italian food in the Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown area by far. Fresh seafood, great chick or veal dishes and wonderful pasta entrees. Even dessert was taste, and the alcohol was good too. Oh, and a spectacular wine list. All meals include a homemade house or Caesar salad or a cup of hot soup. The prices are very fair and the ambiance is quiet and engaging. read more