The Mystery of La Fontana

Creak, creak, creak—the door swings open and the delicious and enticing flavour and scent surround your senses like a gentle hug right away. You seem to be getting a taste of Italy, a bit of its rich gastronomic legacy right before you. La Fontana, the restaurant’s name, translates from Italian “the fountain”. This fountain releases love and warmth, so enveloping everyone in the cafe in a sense of having entered a friendly Italian house, full of laughing, happiness, and the reassuring scent of home-cooked food.

As you move further inside, the ambiance envelops you like a cozy blanket. The walls are decorated with vibrant artwork that captures the essence of Italy, and the chatter of content diners fills the air, blending seamlessly with the soft tunes of Italian music playing in the background. Sylvia, the owner of La Fontana came to the restaurat 4 years ago and changed the course of the restaurants future.

“When I arrived at the restaurant before I took over the business, it wasn’t visually appealing, and there was no business; people weren’t coming,” Sylvia recalls, her eyes lighting up with the memory of her journey.

The place struggled to attract customers before she arrived, often empty and hopeless. Her ambition for the café was clear when she started: she wanted it to be “a place where everyone could come and feel at home, a haven for people to unwind
and escape their worries, even if just momentarily,” she said.”A hearth where everyone can come to have a good time,” .

Driven to restore the cafe, she set out to transform and reinvent its reputation. She began by revamping the shop’s inside, adding vibrant colours and welcoming décor to draw more customers, therefore creating much-needed business for the deli. Incorporating aspects of her own culture, she sought to “bring a little Italy” into the room so that the restaurant would really represent her background.

Reflecting her background, Sylvia, the owner of La Fontana, made a conscious decision to create a cuisine that combines Italian culinary traditions with British flavours. This careful mix not only embraces her heritage but also enables customers to taste a wonderful range of cuisine honoring the best of both nations. The La Fontana menu offers a variety of fresh focaccia, ciabattas, many types of pasta, and cheese toasties. For every meal, the focaccia—which is cooked fresh daily, flavoured with aromatic herbs and drizzled with premium olive oil—offers a
warm and enticing starter. With a crust that crumbles with every mouthful, the light, airy ciabattas highlight the classic Italian method of bread-making and are ideal for sandwiches or eating alone.

The pasta dishes are the highlight of the menu. Every dish, from a hearty shepherd’s pie-inspired pasta bake to rich, creamy carbonara that envelops the pasta in a velvety sauce, is designed to transport guests on a culinary journey that indulges the senses. A favourite British comfort meal, the cheese toasties are enhanced with gourmet cheeses and Italian-inspired fillings to create a distinctive mix that is both familiar and interesting, providing a great crunch with every mouthful.

Apart from these tantalising baked products, the pasta dishes are the highlight of the menu with their sauces reflecting both Italian classics and British touches. Every dish, from a hearty shepherd's pie-inspired pasta bake to rich, creamy carbonara that envelops the pasta in a velvety sauce, is designed to transport guests on a culinary journey that indulges the senses. A favourite British comfort meal, the cheese toasties are enhanced with gourmet cheeses and Italian-inspired
fillings to create a distinctive mix that is both familiar and interesting, providing a great crunch with every mouthful and oozing melted cheese and savoury toppings

Along with chilled choices like freshly squeezed orange juice and crisp apple juice that arouse their palates, guests may enjoy home-brewed coffee. The alcohol menu offers a well chosen selection of Italian wines and British ales for those looking for something a little stronger.

“The food drew me, but Sylvia was the reason I continued going.” One customer notes. “Sylvia is La Fontana she is the essence and spirit of the cafe”. La Fontana lives in the hearts of all its customers and the food; it is not only a place; it is a
feeling of warmth and comfort, acceptance, and validation where friendships develop over shared meals and laughter fills the air.

Sylvia’s life is La Fontana; she is quite happy to say it has been “my greatest achievement.” She considers her journey, stating that she has developed with the restaurant, and admits that although it has been a long and stormy road full of both obstacles and victories, she would not trade it for anything.