Fontaine Caffe & Creperie — Restaurant in Alexandria

Food and service were wonderful and would have warranted five stars except for the atrocious customer service of the manager/owner who refused to seat me because the second person in my party had not yet arrived. This despite the fact that she had seated an incomplete party immediately ahead of me (only three of their foursome had arrived). After waiting in 90 degrees to be the second party in line when they opened, she asked me to step aside "to give her a minute" and promptly seated all other parties. Even after that when the restaurant was only half full, she refused my continued requests to be seated until my party did arrive five minutes later. Her poor treatment told me how incredibly unimportant my very first experience at this much anticipated restaurant was to her. I would have been better off telling her I was a party of one and taking a table until my friend arrived. Instead she made we wait off to the side while half the tables stood empty. When I told her she was making a customer unhappy and that I would reflect that in my on-line review she said to do what I had to do. Upon revisiting their web site to post my review, I see they have now updated it to say that incomplete parties will not be seated at brunch. Since I had checked their website yesterday and even called to see if I could make reservations, that information could only have been added today and I'm sure as a result of our interaction this morning. It is unfortunate that an otherwise excellent restaurant should be marred by such bad customer service at the...

My favorite 😍 local spot !

Update.. 5 Stars to 2 Stars.. Unfortunately I have to update this review.. I brought my Service Dog, Mingus, in for dinner. I was immediately asked to sit outside. I said, no thank you, it's too hot. The manager, a young Asian male told me someone took a picture in the past and apparently their was and issue. I stated again that Mingus is my Service Dog 🐕‍🦺. He said, No you can not sit in here and asked for proof. I had Mingus's ID and showed him. I let this manager know it is against the law to ask for paperwork. Apparently he is not aware of the questions one can ask, 1. Is this a Service Animal? 2. What services does he/she perform? None of this was asked. My husband asked if we needed to get his vest. He said No after seeing the ID. I came back in the restaurant after we paid and I showed the manager Mingus's vest and I said, I am a Veteran of the US Armed Forces. You are not allowed to do what you did and discriminate. You asked us to sit in the back room. We went back and took a look and decided against this option. I came back to the bar and said it was not an option. I asked again to be seated in front by the Window.. all of which were available. You proceeded to demand proof. This is wrong and it is intimadation. I felt embarrassed and I am very disappointed, we were upset and while we enjoy the food, I'm not sure we will Ever come back after years and years of eating here at Fountaine. We...

My first time back here in about 5yrs. Last time I gave a 5-star review. Unfortunately I can't do that this time. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't close to the previous experience. The food wasn't bad, just not what it was before. Let's start with the crepes. I ordered the Farmer market crepe and added the 2 eggs ($4.95 up charge). Why did the eggs come on the outside? Why not ask if I wanted it inside or out.. if you look at my previous pictures, you will note that my crepes were a lot fuller and I know we paid less...so now I'm paying more for less and the flavor profile was definitely less than...ok now the waffle...one slice of bread for $16??? Since there was no picture or accurate description, I assumed that it would be more than that. And it had more of a bread pudding consistency. Not terrible but very short of expectations. To me, French toast done correctly, you should be able to eat without adding anything to it. It needed the nuts and fruit to offset the gooey nature of it. A few people complained about the 10% fee. I won't because it is clearly on the front of the menu. No I was a bit confused as to whether it applied to all orders or just online or to-go. It that's neither here or there, I came back based on experience. And now, I won't because of the decline in the experience. My wife and I really enjoyed coming here but we will have find...