La Fontana Siciliana

Nestled at the bottom a downtown brick apartment building, La Fontana offers precious intimacy, a handful of well-spaced four person tables accented with single red roses and softly glowing candles or lamps are arranged in each of three cozy, comfortably elegant dining rooms. In two rooms, artwork decorates the brick walls; in the other, a wine rack in handsome dark wood cabinetry is tucked to one side, and a painted mural of arches embraced by trailing grapevines covers another wall.  Chandeliers hang from the intricately patterned white ceiling, casting a gentle glow on antique clocks and a piano (there is live piano music every Friday and Saturday evening), and delicate lace window treatments partially shield diners from the street.  Classical music accompanies the Italian food, which is spectacular.  The fresh black pasta in a smoke salmon cream sauce is rich and delicious, as is the risotto with fresh herbs, olive oil, prawns, garlic, and tomatoes sauce.  On nicer days and evenings, tables are placed in the outside courtyard of the building, where you can enjoy the fountain and the flower boxes in addition to each other’s company.

Three and a Half Kisses of possible Four.