A large group of friends decided to go out to dinner at one of Philadelphia’s famous bring-your-own (wine, beer, tequila) restaurants.  The 15 friends chose Italian for the theme of the night.  They scoured a list of Philly’s best BYO’s for a week and finally agreed on one.  The group arrived at La Fontana Della Citta with 3 bottles of white wine and 5 red, 20 minutes earlier than their reserved time.  The friends had figured, since their party was large, and it was a Saturday night, getting there early would make things easier. The hostess came out several times to check on the party and after 45 minutes had lapsed, offered to open their bottles of wine so that they could have a drink.

So, the 15 friends stood on the corner of 17^th and Spruce, drank their wine, and waited.  And waited, and waited…and were never seated.  They angrily dubbed the wine glasses complimentary and left, vowing to never come back to [the disorganized] restaurant again.  They had sushi for dinner that night.

That night was my first experience with La Fontana Della Citta.  However, it is now one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia.

How could a person go back after such a horrible experience, you ask?  After that night, I was still so intrigued by La Fontana Della Citta—the outdoor seating, the big pasta bowls, the 16-year-old Italian boys who waited on the tables—I had to go back and try it.  Since then, it’s become my go-to Italian BYO in Philadelphia. I have introduced my friends, family and colleagues to the crowded restaurant.

The staff itself is quite refreshing compared to other Italian places in Philadelphia.  One would think that it shouldn’t be a surprise that real Italians were cooking the authentic Italian dishes, but in Philadelphia  and so many other cities this often isn’t the case. (I urge you to go take a look at the kitchen the next time you are at an Italian restaurant. In Philadelphia, there’s usually a stereotypical high school student reading a recipe and constructing a cookie-cutter dish.) Maybe that shouldn’t matter, however, I swear that one of the reasons the food tastes so good is that real Italians, who speak only in Italian to each other, cook and serve the food.

Having been there many times, my ideal courses go something like: Bruschette Alla Fontana or Eggplant Rollantino for the Antipasta, Arugula Salad for the Insalate, and any of the pasta dishes on the menu.

The Bruschette Alla Fontana is a wonderful dish to share with two or four friends, depending on how hungry you are.  Four pieces of toasted bread come out smothered in tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil and extra-virgin olive oil.  As for the Eggplant Rollantino, don’t expect to share this one with more than one other person.  What makes the egg-battered eggplant baked in a fresh tomato sauce with mozzarella so good is that it’s wrapped in ricotta cheese—and let’s face it, ricotta cheese makes everything better. 

Now my reasoning behind choosing the Arugula Salad is bit more economical.  Each of the three salads on the menu cost the same amount of money.  All three of them, Caesar, House, and Arugula are phenomenal.  However, most people don’t buy arugula on a normal basis in their homes because it’s a bit more expensive.  If they all cost the same at the restaurant, why not opt for the nutty Arugula Salad with sharp provolone cheese?

For the main course, it’s really hard to choose.  Since almost every pasta dish is delicious, it really depends on personal preference.  I find myself ordering the Gnocchi Al Gorgonzola and the Penne Alla Vodka quite frequently.  The sauce is what really brings home the Gnocchi dish.  The potato dumplings are swimming in a creamy and sweet mascarpone cheese sauce that complements the gorgonzola’s tangy flavor.  As for the Penne Alla Vodka, this dish is quite popular among Italian restaurants.  All I can say is, the rose sauce is to die for, and anytime [I see someone order it, the busboy clears an empty plate.]

Of course, your favorite red or white wine that the waiter will open and keep chilled upon your request will complement all the dishes.  Since the “no seating” incident, I have noticed that they do not book large parties anymore at the restaurant.  Whatever made me go back to La Fontana Della Citta remains unknown, but I am so grateful I gave them a second chance.

Sonal Patel is studying communications in her fourth year at Drexel University.

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