Mixed review. My husband had the salmon special and it was fantastic. I had the angel prawns, which were drowning in a lime/soy sauce mix. The prawns were great but the rest of the dish was a bit of a mess. The service was very nice but incredibly slow- it took over an hour to get our main course. It's a tiny cafe so it's hard to believe our order was lost. Overall I'd give it another try but stick to the specials. read more

What a great spot! We were in the Pacific NW for a long weekend and stopped by for dinner. The service and food were both excellent. We particularly loved the buffalo frog legs. read more

The baked Brie appetizer is absolutely delicious! I live is Issaquah and would drive to Port Townsend just to eat that. The wait staff is very friendly and the ambiance is lovely. I love this restaurant! read more

We went to The Fountain Cafe for our anniversary dinner and loved the food. We are locals here and when we want a special dinner with excellent service this is our first choice. My husband had the steak special and I had the linguine with chicken, wild mushrooms and Parmesan cheese and pine nuts sprinkled on top. Both dinners were excellent! For dessert we had tiramisu, which they make at the restaurant. The service was excellent and very friendly. It will continue to be our first choice! read more

Not kid friendly and waitstaff was rude. My husband and I tried to go here today with our infant son. As soon as walked in the waitress came over and told us we could not bring the stroller in. Then she walked away. We didn't know what to do. We felt embarrassed and did not feel welcome at all. Other customers were staring and a few apologized for the waitress's behavior. We ended up walking out. I will never return - even if I don't have my baby. read more

We pretty much got a mix of everything on the menu. Everything was excellent. The dishes were so flavorful. They were well portioned too. Service was very good. Nice and cozy. read more

Recently stayed near the Fountain and were reluctant to go based on "no reservations" and thoughts of long wait times. So thankful that we needed an early dinner ( movie at the Rose) so easily accommodated. Our food was extraordinarily yummy. Three of us had dinner..We sampled each others dishes. The lamb sliders are easily the best any of us have tasted. The mushroom risotto was incredible. My meal was the chipotle prawns ( I asked for them over linguine rather than fettuccine- personal preference) and they were fantastic. Our dinner was so great that we cancelled our reservation for the following evening and returned to the Fountain. This restaurant is very small - maybe 10 tables. It's fine- creative dining- in a casual atmosphere. So the second night we shared the Mediterranean appetizer ( grilled bread with the tepanade, mozzarella, tomatoes - yum. One of us had the Moroccan chicken while the other 2 of us has the steak special. The chicken was stupid good! So flavorful. The rib-eyes were perfectly cooked with Brie & demi-glacé. I enjoyed it more than my sister did- primarily because I never cook steaks this way so although rich- I appreciated the difference. ( I typically grill my steaks at home with a spicy rub..) Nonetheless, our meal was fantastic. It should also be noted that Bennett was our server both evenings- and he was terrific. We have eaten in some of the best restaurants in the US and Canada ( we live in West Vancouver, Palm Desert & Rancho Santa Fe currently.) and I have to say that the fountain was a wonderful experience- from start to finish...go! read more

Catch of the day and sliders appetizer - awesome. But won't go back because of the service. Snide remark from the waitress when we asked for bread - oh you want bread AND the sliders? She kicked my daughters purse that was placed on the floor, looked down so she saw what she had kicked and did not apologize. When we asked about the size of the crab cakes, she said well they're appetizers, so... I left a good tip anyway as I'm hoping she shares tips with other staff, and they did a great job with the food. Also, the wine selection was disappointing - hardly any Washington wines. read more

Delicious. Had the Gorganzola Chicken Breast. Delicioso. The bread was warm and the butter softened and flavored perfectly. Highly recommend it. read more

Sorry to burst the bubble of good reviews but think twice before making this choice. We experienced several issues here, starting with a server who was a bit condescending when we didn't have a reservation. That should have been a big red flag, but we persevered since the atmosphere, although rather cramped, seemed pleasant. Once seated, the server warmed up a bit and it seemed like it would be a nice experience. Then another minor red flag when we tried to order wine and the wines were presented as just California or Washington wines, no mention on the wineries. We finally asked for the information, as it wasn't offered in the verbal description. Although there were specials, these were never mentioned by the server. My husband ordered, and enjoyed, a duck salad ( although very pricey at 22. for lots of greens and not a lot of duck) and my son ordered a prawn appetizer that was eh....average. I ordered a lamb burger slider dish ( 3 slider size burgers) and a small kale Caesar. The kale Caesar was mediocre and not actually all kale ( mixed greens, long stems, difficult to eat). Moving on to the lamb burgers, there were some issues here. First, I must have received an older menu because the description stated that the three burgers were served in three different ways. It sounded creative and delicious. But when the burgers were served they looked like they were all the same. I inquired and our server simply said the menu changed and now all three burgers were the same. No apologies. Upon cutting into the first burger I noticed it was full of onions ( overloaded), more like a meatloaf than a true lamb burger. Although disappointing when one is expecting an actual lamb burger, the rest of the presentation was nice and I would have eaten it but I am allergic ( not sensitive) to onions. When I explained this to the server she didn't even remove the dish from the table- just left it sitting on the table to my left. I ordered mussels as a replacement. The mussels came out quickly, which was great as my family was now done eating. However there an odd smell. I should known better, we live on Whidbey Island and regularly enjoy fresh local mussels from our local restaurants. But I thought perhaps it was just the seasoning. The first mussel was hard to get out of the shell so I moved on and removed the second one with some difficulty. The taste was, to put it gently, like something you might find washed up n the beach: really old and decaying. At this point one might think that the server would have a few kind words, or an apology, or a comp of something, but again, no accountability. We didn't have time to try again so I left without getting an entree. Still we paid over 100. for one salad topped with some duck, one small prawn appetizer, a small mixed green kale Caesar, and three glasses of wine. Ouch. And double ouch for the way I'm feeling after eating just one bad mussel. That's all it takes, and why this establishment should have at least offered an apology. read more

We had shrimp platters and they were great! The Pinot x was very tasty. The service was good, given how busy the place was. Reservations are definitely recommended as it is very busy. Parking is also a problem. Find a spot up along Washington and walk. read more

Great tastes combined for delicious food. Great service and ample portions. A must stop in Port Townsend. Mushroom melt, clam chowder and Gorgonzola dress in on the salad. Yummy read more

Visited recently during a trip to Seattle. Had a great lunch - loved the oyster po boy and clam chowder. Oysters were huge and so fresh. Excellent! read more

We've been coming to Pt Townsend for over 5 years and can't believe we've only just now discovered this little gem. We walked in expecting sandwiches for lunch but found real gourmet food. Killer clam chowder and a nice menu, although the specials were so appealing we didn't need their standard menu. Their spicy sausage linguini pasta with local clams,leeks, slow roasted tomatoes, mushrooms with a sherry thyme butter sauce had flavor like I've not tasted in quite some time. I can't wait to try them for dinner. read more

It doesn't get any better! Superb food and impeccable service. There's no need to look elsewhere for exquisite cuisine served by a highly skilled, gracious and perceptive staff. read more

We were hungry after visiting Pourhouse taproom down the road, and were craving seafood. This place is small and serves amazing dishes! Two of us ordered the crab cakes, the mussels, and the pasta special (a seafood linguine) to share. Their wine pours are generous - we were happy and stuffed after this meal! Friendly and attentive waitstaff. Would definitely return. read more

We stopped here for dinner after getting off the ferry on our first trip through Port Townsend. Great food, service and decor. Some of the negative reviews for this place are entertaining. read more

Fabulous. My husband and I both ordered one of the specials. I got the mixed greens salad, feta, turkey, etc. and he got a seafood pasta. Both were outstanding!! read more

Husband and I went for an overnight in Port Townsend, stayed in Uptown and walked on down to the Fountain Cafe. We had to wait 20 minutes for a table on a Saturday night, but it was worth it. Atmosphere is cozy, with local art for sale hanging on the warm colored walls, service is friendly (and efficient despite the full house), and the food is Pacific Northwest at its best: fresh and local, with amazing seafood. We shared a nice dinner salad and the roast garlic/cheese/salsa fresca appetizer. Husband enjoyed the cioppino and I had "oysters durado," which is oysters w/eggplant, mushrooms, pine nuts, and garlic over linguine, both were delicious (but mine was just a little bit more delish). House red wine went well w/both dishes, and we managed to find a little bit of room to split a piece of tiramisu (of course). The oysters in both dishes were melt-in-your-mouth done just right (almost wish we had gotten an oyster appetizer ... next time). Reasonably priced for such a lovely meal, we look forward to returning more often! read more

Cheaped out on cooks. Tasteless grey broth pasta cooks forgot about concept of salt. 10/28/17 700pm was one of my most disappointing meals.

My wife and I had lunch here the other day as we passed through town on our way to port Angeles. I had the wild boar sandwich and my wife had one of the featured salads. Both were delicious as was my glass of WA syrah. The place is charming and our waitress was very friendly. read more

The duck salad is fantastic. Good selection of wines. You may feel a little awkward when you first walk in here - it wasn't until my second visit that I felt really comfortable. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I think it has something to do with how comfortable you are with that Port Townsend bohemian style :) I like the candle-lit late dinner time best. read more

Best place for a splurge in Port Townsend. Great wine list. Excellent chef's specials--order the fish.

I don't know what happened when Jenn from Tacoma went to the Fountain Cafe, but my sister and I had dinner there for the first time on Easter weekend. Our experience was just the opposite of Jenn's. We arrived for dinner at 8:30 and found an intimate, cozy restaurant with a European flare. Yes, we waited a while to get what we ordered, but it is not a fast food restaurant and we were not disappointed. We both had the duck (WOW) saffron risotto and veggies. Everything was cooked to perfection, it was some of the best duck I've had. It is my favorite dish and not easy to get right but this duck was tender, flavorful and not greasy. We couldn't believe we could find 5 star food in a cute little town! We met the owner and he was entertaining and fun to talk with! We will be back and my sister will bring her husband here too! read more

I'm so glad we stopped here. Everything was delicious, most especially the clam chowder. I wish they sold it in bottles so I could take some home with me. read more

Amazing chipotle burger. Also loved snacking on the butter and bread. Make a stop here for lunch or dinner.

We just had a wonderful lunch here. Excellent clams and mussels. The daily pasta special was very well done with fresh and local ingredients. Would recommend. read more

This is the second best restaurant in Port Townsend (I think Owl Sprit is best) but that is very high praise as I think there are lots of great places to eat around here. read more

Really an exceptional gem !! A wonderful special with halibut and chipotle .. The ambiance and flavor blended so well .. Service and chef were right there with us in the experience... Thanks !! read more

This tiny cafe was a block off the main street, but very worth the trek. The food was fantastic!! I had the Glazed Walnut Gorgonzola Penne - perfection! My husband had the turkey rueben and my son had the ABC (avacado, bacon, chicken), with the clam chowder. He said it's the best clam chowder he'd ever had! All of our meals were exquisite! Would definitely eat here again!! read more

My friend and I stopped here after a long hike on the peninsula. The food was delish, I had the Moroccan chicken and a salad. The waiter was fantastic, adorable too, he made the experience that much better (and I think he was new). read more

I ate at Fountain Cafe three times, first time in 2014, and second and third times last week (May 2016), two days a part. The first two times I had a great experience, great food, and great service. I'd easily give 5 starts. But the third time experience wasn't that great. In 2014, I went there solo, sat on the bar, and it was really cozy atmosphere. Food was good and I talked to the staff behind the counter and a frequent customer who sat next to me. On my second trip, that is in 2016, I went with a friend. We told the waiter that we are to split everything including wine. The waiter served us two glasses with half serving (well, more than that, actually), brought salad dish with two small plates to divide, etc. The service was very good. As my friend liked the food and service, we returned 2 days later. A different server served us. We said we will split wine. He brought just one glass. We asked for another glass. He just put the empty glass on our table. We didn't feel the waiter was really with us. The food - we ordered a seafood paella. What came out was more like seafood risotto. The rice was rather watery, it had cheese, the rice had not browned on the bottom. A demanding customer might have sent out the dish. So this restaurant is not run consistent manner, but overall, they are good. I'd definitely give it another chance. Oh the price was cheap for us from San Francisco Bay Area; I'd say the wine costs about half of what we used to. read more

We went here because of all the great reviews, and I'm really surprised that all these rave reviews are for this restaurant. As a local cafe, this place was totally adequate. In terms of quality food, it was not. My husband's lamb burger wasn't very good. The meat seemed low quality, the burger was overcooked, the bun was burned, and the flavor of the toppings wasn't particularly good. My salad just wasn't any good. I only ate half of it because I didn't like it, and I usually love salads (not to mention that I was super hungry because we were bike touring). I also think it was supposed to have cheese on it that was forgotten. I would have asked them to fix it, but they took so long to get our food out that we were running seriously late at that point, and I didn't want to create another delay. In sum, there are much better places to eat in town, despite the anomaly of all these fantastic reviews. read more

What a great place! My wife and I had fantastic meals along with great, friendly service! We plan to return when we visit Port Townsend.

Expect a lot of lush cheese and butter, perfect bread, perfect greens, delicious soups... Classic American cafe staples with a little extra yumminess. It's tiny and unassuming, which makes the menu seem a bit over-priced at first, but once you get your food, you'll see that their sandwiches really are worth $15. Mine was oozing with brie and pesto, a decadent treat with lovely ingredients. Service was simple and nice. A great lunch spot if you happen to catch them with open tables. read more

We had a wonderful lunch here. Friendly service and large portions. The daily special (pear gorgonzola soup) was very good. A great place.

A menu that makes it tough to choose. Huge pasta dishes. Try the warm salad and key lime pie. A total find in PTL.

We ate lunch here last year. Everything was so delicious we are going back again next week on our return to Port Townsend. Amazing!

The combination of an overly ambitious menu and limited cook and wait staff meant that we sat at our table for over an hour before our meals were served. During that time, we had to request more bread to tide us over, and I tried very hard to make my glass of wine last until my meal was served (unsuccessful). I had the Moroccan chicken, which was good, not great (chicken just a few degrees past tender). My son had the angel hair pasta, served in a broth, with LOTS of olives (too many, rendered everything olive-flavored). My husband had the baked linguine, which was good, but unexceptional. The final flaw in service occurred when the waitstaff brought dessert menus while my husband was still eating his dinner, and seemed peeved when I politely pointed out that he was still eating (and even argued with me about it). Every table was taken, and apparently everyone arrived within a short period of time, which stressed the capacity of the restaurant, and I observed that everyone was waiting for at least an hour for service of the entree. I think the restaurant needs to take stock of the actual capability of the kitchen to produce a large variety of meals so that guests aren't sitting idle for so long. read more

Always a great choice. A very busy restaurant for a good reason. The food is fresh, locally sourced and lovingly prepared. The best clam chowder I have ever had. read more