La Fontaine Restaurant — Restaurant in Bahrain Island

After reading much about the place on #Timeout and #TripAdvisor, the place being recommended as a romantic place, I booked a table on Friday night as a birthday dinner for my wife. The attendant on the phone was very much friendly and booked accordingly. For the birthday, it was mentioned that a small cake in which birthday wish for my wife will be written and, I thought we are all set to go. As we reached the place, it looked surreal with the lighting and mood. The place wasn’t buzzing that much and there were two tables with approx. 5 each were occupied (If it is that recommended it should be considering it was a weekend). We sat inside as it was a bit hot and was promptly given the menu. From here on the service took a dip as we had to call up the staff to attend for our order. The order was mozzarella sticks, pasta and grilled chicken with mushroom sauce. After few minutes, the waitress came back and mentioned mozzarella stick was not available (surprised they were not aware off). The starter was changed to deep fried prawns. Meanwhile bread was served with butter and there were only 2 bread sticks and 2 bread roll (I mean come one). Starter was served without plates (I think they expected to eat from our hand). I had to call out 2-3 times to get plates. Due to such inattentiveness, I wanted to see the manager and was told that there is no such, and the place is managed by the owner who already left – surprise (it was only 10.00 pm). I felt a disaster and asked about the cake, surprise, no one mentioned anything to the staff though the staff knew about the booking (such unprofessionalism). I had to make them realize that this is a birthday dinner and I won’t let it getting ruin more. It was mentioned that chocolate fondant will be given with birthday written on the plate (I had to settle that). When the main course was served, mushroom sauce was served in a small jug I thought it must have been picked from a kid play set. Prawns were tasty and main course was average. Chocolate fondant with a candle was served as the staff sang the birthday wish. The fondant was of smaller size and over cooked and the chocolate sauce was very less inside. In a restaurant the main thing is service and the food taste which was totally missing from there, ambiance cannot be substitute for good service food. The staff looked over worked and not attentive – management really need to look into this as it is only the hype or ambiance if they are selling, the low turnout shows; Conclusion: Over hyped, overpriced, average food, inattentiveness and overworked staff: Avoid if you want to have a...

Located in the heart of Manama, La Fontaine Center of Contemporary Art is a historical monument dating back over 150 years. The compound is an old Bahraini house that has been completely restored and renovated by French artist Jean Marc Sinan. The unique property captures the grand essence of a European chateau, while retaining the charm of authentic Gulf Islamic architecture.

The vast terrace of their fine dining restaurant can seat up to 250 guests for special events like movie nights and art exhibition dinners and with the central fountain, still manages a peaceful and tranquil experience. The food menu has Mediterranean and Italian influences along with a few Asian dishes.

The current art exhibition is “A Thousand Fragments” by Iris Morata. Iris's latest collection transforms wood's natural imperfections into profound reflections on life's complexities. Each piece (made out of small wood squares) invites you to shift your perspective, uncovering hidden depth and emotion as you walk around each piece.

As with all fine dining, the restaurant service was top notch. The art gallery closes at around dinner time but the staff was kind enough to open the gallery for viewing.

Out of all the food sampled, the Pan-seared Norwegian Salmon, Thai Sizzling Beef, and La Fontaine Chocolate Fondant were the favorites that stole the show!

Overall, great for a celebration with friends or a fancy date night!

Crispy Fried Calamari & Fried Lemon Slices served with Lemon Aioli

Pan-seared Norwegian Salmon with Mashed Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, served with Olive Oil dressing

Pan-seared Duck breast with thinly cut vegetables, basil & mashed potatoes, served with Star Anise sauce

Thai Sizzling Beef: Stir-fried Angus Beef in Oyster Sauce & Vegetables served on a sizzling plate with Jasmin rice

La Fontaine Chocolate Fondant: Baked Chocolate Fondant served with Freshly made Vanilla Ice Cream &...

I had the pleasure of visiting La Fontaine for the first time for a movie night, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From the seamless reservation process to the thoughtfully curated menu, everything was perfect. Although there were some dishes on the menu I didn’t eat, the staff was incredibly accommodating and made adjustments with ease, The service was warm and attentive, creating an atmosphere that felt both personal and inviting.

We were there to celebrate a dear friend's birthday, and the chef’s thoughtful gesture of offering a complimentary cake made the evening feel even more special.

The setting itself was stunning—especially in the summer, with its serene charm—but I can only imagine how magical it must be in the winter, with the cozy, intimate ambiance. La Fontaine isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience that makes you feel truly cared for. I can’t recommend it...