The Fountain Bistro

How I heard of this place: Nearly two weeks prior to dining at The Fountain Coffee & Wine Bistro, I found my high school guidance counselor on Facebook. We struck up a conversation via email and decided to get together to catch up, after 18 years. The Fountain was her recommendation, and I am so pleased to have learned of this delightful spot.
Type of cuisine: Similar to the bistros in France, The Fountain offers a wide variety of sandwiches, quiches, salads and sides (including delectable sweet potato fries, lightly salted). «OUR FOOD: American Bistro-​style fare with fantastic weekend specials! Fresh seafood, steaks, salads and sandwiches, pasta, and our famous fish ‘n’ chips. Also, vegetarian and gluten-​free options. OUR COFFEE: The Fountain features a full espresso bar using local Bellingham Bay Coffee Roasters espresso and brewed coffee, inside and at the drive-​thru. We also have a wide selection of whole-​bean coffee available by the pound and in cans. OUR DRINKS: Classic cocktail menu featuring some delicious combinations. Try our Basil Lemon Drop or Wild Turkey Manhatten. We have a great wine menu and 8 beers on tap, both with several local selections. Also, check out our delicious bar appetizer menu. Or take home any of our wine or beer at retail prices!»
Ambiance:The space is quaint, whimsical and happy. Driving up to the corner of Broadway and Girard in the Fountain District, the parking lot and adjacent street parking easily support the number of patrons. Outdoors, one is immediately welcomed with a covered patio with wood-​latticed walls leading up to a wooden trellis overhead. Underneath can be found a large, eight-​to-​ten-​person rustic, wooden table, finished, but with edges that lack perfect symmetry — the way a tree should be. Black chairs are available for seating at this and other patio tables. Making your way indoors, the open space, the floor-​to-​ceiling windows surrounding at least three of the four outside walls make for a clean and bright establishment. The coffee counter to your right, the kitchen directly behind, friendly staff smiling and greeting patrons, regulars and newbies. A make-​shift wall of dusted glass to the left of the entryway, hangs from the ceiling and is decorated with large circles, creating a spirit of whimsy throughout the establishment. A similar pattern is found on room dividers in the café seating area, as we are escorted to our seat, along the window facing Broadway. Pale yellow walls (where there are no windows) and ceilings, set against the dark, wooden chairs and tables give a sense of a refined coffee shop, where everything from business meeting to a baby shower might be conducted and celebrated.
What I ordered: After some deliberation, and with the help of my dining companion and our server, I selected the Toasted BATC ($ 10.50), smoked bacon, arugula, tomato & melted sharp white cheddar on Breadfarm focaccia. The sandwich is served with herb sea-​salted fries or sweet potato fries (for an additional $ 0.75)…which I was easily swayed into sampling. My dining companion ordered the bacon, four cheese and green onion Quiche in a Crêpe Crust ($ 7.50) with a gorgeous and generous salad on the side.
What I loved: I loved the thick-​cut, perfectly crisped bacon and the melding of flavors with the pepper arugula and sharp, creamy, melted cheddar cheese. The quiche looked absolutely gorgeous in its individually prepared ramekin dish with crêpe crust slightly burnt on the edges, giving the feel of tissue paper surrounding a wrapped gift. The sweet potato fries: the best I have ever had; soft, flavorful, tender and beautifully salted, not to mention, plentiful!
Why I loved it: I love the whimsical, friendly and bright space, combined with delicious, freshly prepared and served foods. The company could not have been better and the location easy and convenient. I look forward to trying The Fountain again… and again.
Cost: Low to average ($ 5-​$ 12 per breakfast/​lunch entrée)

just had a batc sandwich which was mostly ALL BREAD and very thin pre cooked bacon slices or just was it a slice of bacon nothing worse than paying 13 bucks for a bread sandwich.
good points the place is clean the staff seems nice enough
was food bad NO it was ok

Good food and consistently awful service! The management needs to re-​evaluate their game plan because their severs positively suck. I’ve eaten there probably 4 times now over a couple years and have yet to experience even semi-​decent service. No need to really ever eat here again, there are better options.

Pro’s: the setting is nice, both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is not outstanding but fine just the same. The food would rate a solid 4 stars on both visits I’ve made so far.
Con’s: The wait staff virtually ignored us but were were very engaged with a couple of bar patrons. The entire staff was in the bar area loudly talking and laughing although there seemed to be more staff than patrons in the entire restaurant. We were told that the prime rib had just come out of the oven, so why did it take so long to receive our order when there were only three tables of guests? I think the answer is shown above.
I would recommend the food but the wait staff needs to be on the job.

Sorry… We came here hoping to fill our bellies… it was towards the end of the night and we asked if it was too late, they said no… however we felt rushed because they were stacking chairs on tables… then the food felt greasy… and then at the end of the night my husband asked for coffee and they said they couldn’t because the coffee machine was off. They call themselves a bistro, but it felt like a coffee shop that serves dinner. I also think that the hostess put her thumb in my beer to take something out… I prayed for the disinfecting ability of beer. Sorry… not awesome.

We came to enjoy a spontaneous lunch and we had never been here before. We were out on the patio next to the vines. It looks like it would be fun to be here in the evening.
The staff is friendly and the food is good!
We both had the caprese sandwich. This food isn’t pre-​made or cooked in a microwave. This is something you might see Bobby Flay make on the Food Network! I quite enjoyed it.
My few complaints: I didn’t get a refill on my water, and underneath my seat was a can and underneath the can was a pipe. I can understand that they can’t just get rid of it and the can kind of goes with the décor of the outdoor area.
I do plan on coming back and eating more food. Dinner next time?

I used to like this place, been there more than a dozen times. Good concept, cute décor, usually pretty good food. I like the breakfasts.
After tonight’s experience there, I will not go again. We brought a friend there to treat before she moved away across the state. The waitress took our dinner order and brought us out drinks at the bar. So far, so good. The waitress proceeded to take a break, then sat down at the other end of the bar while she sipped a special drink mixed by the bartender. Didn’t think much of it at the time. 20 minutes later I got excited when I saw my steak salad at the kitchen ready to bring out. 10 minutes later, I saw my friend’s burger next to my salad and I knew we’d be satiated soon.
The food didn’t come out. I don’t want to be THAT annoying patron, so I patiently waited, chatted with my friend. 5 more minutes passed… 10 minutes then 15 minutes passed. I looked incredulously at the waitress as she proceeded to sip her cocktail, immersed in her smartphone then I realized she had no intention of fulfilling the rest of her job. A different waiter looked at our food repeatedly.
Finally my friend said something to the staff. I was astounded when the waitress turned to us and said, «Oh, well it was a really long day– argh…», shrugged and went back to her phone. Really… The other waiter just said, «oops, I had the same exact order over there but I was waiting for three kiddie meals too, yup this is yours…», and brought us out a soggy salad and not so fresh burger and fries. No apology, no offer to replace the wilted food or to make the situation better.
The final straw? My friend ordered some sauce with his fries and it never came, so I asked the blond waiter, when he pointed to the waitress who pointed to us and said, «eh, what was that sauce you wanted?»…I had no words… You were lucky that my friend was classy and tipped when you actually earned a negative tip. I’m actually kind of upset!

Love the outdoor patio when the weather is nice, weekend breakfast is delicious (omg those little chocolate muffins are so good) but it is definitely one of my fave spots for lunch/​happy hour. Duck confit can be added to most dishes. Their french fry tornados, crispy fish and chips, and roasted squash/​cranberry tostadas are stellar.

I was particularly excited when a restaurant and wine bar was going to open mere blocks from my office. I had decided weeks before they opened to spend the last hour of the day, at least once a week, sipping wine with my laptop, and getting the last of the day’s work done. When they opened, there was a sign near the door, asking please, no laptops, cell phones etc.
I’ve been in for lunch a few times, and enjoyed dinner and music on the patio, but my weekly visits never materialized.
The food is usually good, and the portions are good for lunch, although I have driven past many times on my way elsewhere.
Really it’s the service and attitude that keeps The Fountain from being near the top of my list. More times than not, I have the feeling that I’m not «part of the club» and treated as such. I understand if the food takes a while to come out, but getting menus and beverages should be relatively quick, in my experiences, it rarely is. Along with that, I have had the feeling that we are inconveniencing the wait staff by being there.
The best experience was a business meeting we had, and were seated at the bar for lunch. The bar tender was nearly always present.
The Fountain does a lot of external marketing, brewer’s dinners, wine dinners, facebook, etc. If they were open to advice, I’d suggest some internal work with the staff and management, working on making the customers feel like their wanted there, and that «everyone» is in the club, not just friends and regulars.

This place has a very unique and gourmet menu. I met a group of people here on a weekday, and there was live music, a great appetizer menu and very attentive service. This could be a good place to take a date since the menu is a conversation-​starter on it’s own.
I wasn’t too impressed with the fish tacos I had, but the food everybody else ordered looked delicious. I was impressed at the variety and creativity of the menu options and I look forward to coming back.

I don’t usually write reviews, but I have had 3 horrible experiences in as many days and I’m fed up! What is wrong with this town?!
There are so many things to love about Fountain Bistro… it’s right in my neighborhood, great outdoor seating, (mostly) good good. But 90% of the time the service is HORRIBLE!
I dined alone on Friday night and sat outside because I had my dog. My waitress came right away, and brought my wine very promptly and that’s where the service ended. A different person took my order and yet another brought my food, which is totally fine because I was taken care of in a timely manner… but I literally NEVER saw my waitress after the wine. No check on how the food was or to ask if I needed anything else, which I did. I had to flag down another waiter to get what I needed, which was after my food had gotten completely cold. I sat for 10 – 15 minutes after I finished with empty glasses and dirty dishes in front of me. No clearing, no offer of another glass of wine or dessert. I finally flagged down same waiter and asked for a bill… and then the waiting began for someone to take my card (and meanwhile it’s turned overcast and cold and I was FREEZING to death!) I had to go inside and find someone to cash me out. I was there at least 30 minutes longer than I should have been because of the lack of attention to service.
In my experience, this has been a continuous problem since they opened (with a few exceptions) and is clearly a lack of training. The owners would be wise to have regular observation of the servers and offer training where needed. I’m not the only one who feels this way… I still patronize because it’s in the neighborhood but I can’t get my friends to go there with me anymore for this very reason. Wise up FB.

The Fountain Bistro is one of the hardest places to rate because the only thing consistent here is inconsistency. Part of that is inherent to the creative menu.
Food & Drink:
As mentioned in the opener, this place takes some risks on the menu – sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. The menus are seasonal and are subject to change. You’ve typically got a lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menu. This review will focus on my experiences with the lunch and dinner menus.
The lunch menu focuses on salads and sandwiches. The salads are quite good, and you can dress them up by adding chicken/​duck/​steak among other things. The veggies are fresh, and the various meats are well done. It’s a smaller portion – so I’d always recommend some additions to it, unless you’re not too hungry. The sandwiches not bad, provided you like cheese on your sandwich. Without it, it’s missing something. On both the sandwiches and the salads you can feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed to death on upcharges ($ 0.75 to add this or that).
From a dinner perspective (appetizer menu), the sliders are a solid choice as was the red pepper artichoke dip. I was not a big fan of the macaroni and cheese truffles, or the different «tornadoes» which are essentially fries with a lot of different sauces. I personally felt the sauces were «too cute» and overrated. Again you’ll find them up charging you for the sauces.
The fish and chips and tacos were passable, but not great here. The best entrée items I’ve had have generally been related to pastas and soups. The gnocchi, in particular has been good here along with some of the bisks and spinach soup. I cannot speak for the New York steak which is a mainstay on the menu (believe it is year round). Generally, you’ll find a nice blend here of salty/​sweet mixtures, and again when it works right (coconut/​tomato or pear/​gorgonzola et.) it’s a winner, when it doesn’t (bacon aioli) it simply doesn’t.
Ambiance & Service:
If I am not mistaken this restaurant is a converted KFC. You would think that would make the ambiance pretty poor, but they’ve actually done a relatively decent job giving it a hipster café type feel, which while not my cup of tea, works in the Bellingham area very well. The wall separators and different doors are a dead giveaway to the past, but the artwork, colors are done well (and to a lesser extent, the décor). The booths are big, nice and comfortable. The tables, not quite as much as they feel a little more rickety. On nice days the patio is open seating.
Service is pretty poor in general. You’re unlikely to be greeted when you come in. You’re unlikely to have a pleasant interaction. Despite the unusual menu, you’re not going to get much of a run-​down or explanation. To be fair, sometimes you’ll get a great server, but it appears to have much less to do with the establishment and much more to do with the individual.
Final Thoughts:
When you take culinary risks you’re going to have highs and lows – that’s a given. For the most part people will accept this given experimental factor of the menu. The thing is, service shouldn’t be about highs and lows, it’s not a matter of creativity or trial and error, but a discipline. The Fountain Bistro is not a place I can recommend because it’s so up and down across the board in areas that are understandable, but also areas that are not.
–AC

Okay but not great
Pros:
Good location and outside seating lovely
Baked goods fantastic
Fries are awesome but not hand cut or made in house — frozen from large distributor
Cons:
Food just okay — not great — a lot of pre-​made or frozen products used — would be better w locally sourced ingredients
Service slow & abrupt — servers can be kind of rude

This has become my new favorite place for morning coffee before heading to the office. Good service. I like the naturally lit room and the booths. I recommend the greek yogurt parfait. I like the Frank Sinatra-​esque music and the nice booths. Easy parking. Free refills of coffee.

I’ve been here a few times, and like most of the reviewers have said — it’s inconsistent, the wait staff are extremely slow and snobby, and the food (although unique, trendy, and full of good ideas) isn’t anything to write home about.
Honestly, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been to the Fountain, every time I go, I think, «Meh… not worth coming back.» However, last night, I found out about one of their local history events that will be happening on Sunday, so I emailed as the website suggested, for a reservation. Fitting the snobby service I’ve received from staff in person, I received an email back, at nearly 5pm today with a lone email address as the text. No «please email this person for reservations,» no CC: to that email address, just one lone email address.
That was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. If I want one-​star service and two-​star food, at a four-​star price, I’ll go to a Seahawks game and hit the concession stand. I’m really bummed to be missing the local history shindig, but I think I’ll have to pass, as I’m not important enough to the staff to warrant even a hastily typed sentence in response to a request for a reservation.
Although this isn’t what prompted my review, I need to share it (hopefully management reads these regularly) — The way the wait staff seem to treat certain people makes it seem like some sly attempt to make the place more «upscale,» almost like instructions would read, «treat the hippies and under-​dressed with less attention and be borderline rude when they ask ANYTHING, and they’ll go away — treat the well-​dressed, ‘refined’ folks with respect and prompt service — they’ll bring their friends with money.»
I really hope things work out at the Fountain — they’ve got a good concept and a pretty decent atmosphere (it can be hard to hear others at your table, and the wait staff seem to seat you next to as many people as possible).

Fantastic food, and amazing atmosphere! Be sure to drop in on one of their beer dinners which feature beers paired to a custom menu. Really good stuff!

We almost didn’t stop by based on reviews… I’m so glad we did!
My husband, daughter and I stopped for dinner here on a Saturday. It was ‘prom night’ and extremely busy… yet our server Carmen managed to provide us and a 4-​top plus a 12-​top of high school students with stellar service. I’m an industry employee myself and was very impressed with how well she served people and kept smiling through it all.
We started our meal with fresh sweet potato and regular fries. I’m rarely tempted by fried food, but the perfectly light and crisp fries with just the right amount of salt continued to tempt me long after we finished our dinner.
My husband had the meatloaf dinner with horseradish mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts and a side salad. I had a caesar salad with chicken, fresh shaved parmesan and extra anchovies. Our daughter a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of carrots. We were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the ingredients and preparation of the food. The meatloaf dinner had a hint of spicy curry to it, the little brussel sprouts hot and crisp, not overcooked or soggy. My caesar salad dressing had just a bite of fresh garlic to it, not too much — the salad was perfectly dressed, not gloppy. The extra anchovies I ordered were the large ones (my favorite) and a generous serving. The roasted chicken tasty, not dry. Even the carrots which accompanied our daughters sandwhich weren’t the awful ‘baby carrots’ you usually find with a kids meal — but long, fresh cut slices from regular carrots.
The manager was watching the room and service, she stopped by our table at least once to ensure that we were enjoying our meal.
Too full for dessert, I opted for a double espresso with a little cream — Bellingham Bay Roasters coffee was served. Another plus and a perfect finish to a great meal.
We will be back!

Okay. I had a less than stellar experience at The Fountain and wrote a review. The owner sent me a gracious apology and offered a gift certificate. That seemed like a nice gesture. I was impressed.
Not any longer. That was July 30. I never did receive anything. So my friends and I took our breakfast business out to The Fork.

Once the site of a Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Fountain Bistro & Drive-​thru shows no trace of the building’s previous tenant, except for a framed painting of Colonel Sanders hanging in the dining room. Thankfully it shows no culinary resemblance, with the Fountain offering a selection of sophisticated bistro-​style dishes like the grilled BATC (bacon, arugula, tomato and white cheddar on Breadfarm focaccia), steak salad and chicken picatta.
Arriving for dinner on a Monday night, my friends and I were seated outside within the walls of the attractive, secluded and partially-​covered patio. The ambiance outside is nice with vegetation surrounding the tables, forcing you to forget about the parking lot just beyond the walls. Quality outdoor dining is rare in this town, so make sure to take advantage of this spot while the weather is nice. If you don’t have time to stop, they have a large to-​go menu and a drive-​up window for your convenience.
Since we sat outside, we didn’t see much of the interior. From what I made out, the small bar at the entrance looked inviting and intimate. We were impressed by the beer list (Ninkasi Total Domination IPA always on tap? Yes please! They also sell bottles at retail price and do growler fill-​ups), but we decided to stick to water and spend more on the food.
Service throughout the meal was friendly and attentive; earning bonus points for the carafe of water that was left at the table, though we wished it was bigger. I started the meal off with the Toasted Four Cheese Truffle Oil Bites. When they arrived, it appeared that she brought us cheese bread from a mainstream pizza joint. To my surprise, the fontina, parmesan, asiago and provolone cheeses, along with the truffle oil on Breadfarm focaccia, created somewhat of a cheesy, oily orgasm in my mouth, leaving me craving more the moment we finished them. You can’t go wrong with truffle oil.
Luckily the side salad that came with my main dish arrived right after we finished the bread, refreshing my tastebuds with the mixed greens, croutons and vinaigrette. For a side salad, it was a generous serving, though I couldn’t quite place what made the dressing stand out so much from other vinaigrettes I’ve had.
For my main dish, I ordered the only vegetarian entrée on the dinner menu: the Chef Ott’s Spring Pasta. I wasn’t necessarily in a pasta mood, but didn’t have any other choices since I don’t eat meat (everything else was centered around chicken, steak or seafood). Fortunately, it was delicious! The alfredo sauce that covered the penne pasta was addictively rich, but not overwhelming, and the generous helpings of vegetables like arugula, broccolini, mushrooms and grilled onions, along with balsamic vinegar, gave this dish a ton of different flavors that complimented one another well.
My friend went with the fish and chips. The fish was cooked to perfection, leaving the meat moist but the crust crispy and not overdone. House-​made tartar sauce accompanied the fish, and the waitress thoughtfully brought vinegar to the table as well (more bonus points). Everyone at the table munched on the crispy, salty fries, and my friend said they might have been his favorite part of the meal. It didn’t hurt that he also ordered a side of Tabasco aioli to give them a kick if he desired it.
Overall, everyone was extremely happy with the food, service and atmosphere of the Fountain. As a few broke 20-​somethings though, we agreed this was probably going to be a place for special occasions, with an exception of the happy hour. Happening daily from 3 – 6 PM, and again at 9 PM close, the happy hour offers sliders with fries, pints of beer, cocktails and glasses of wine, at only $ 3 each. We spent $ 12 for each of the two entrees, and $ 6.50 on the appetizer.
Disclaimer: This review also appeared in July’s issue of What’s Up Magazine.

I have been to The Fountain twice in the last couple of weeks and have decided it might be «one» of the places I will be proud to call my own.
My partner and I took his son to breakfast a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed the laid-​back and comfortable accommodations. The menu had a number of choices, though I will admit, for a breakfast place, there was a distinct shortage of typical American breakfast fair (pancakes, waffles, and «grand slam“ish combos.
I also had lunch there on a Saturday and the same menu (for breakfast) was offered, in addition to one with lunch selections.
The décor and seating are quite nice and comfortable. It took a few minutes to get seated, even though there were plenty of seats available… the drive-​thru (selling mostly coffee and pastries) was keeping the light staff, busy.
I am more a fan of traditional breakfasts, and The Fountain is pretty light on tradition. Pancakes were the special (re: they’re not on the regular menu) but this is no IHOP. I will have to come back to try the other menu items. My Fountain Scramble was ordinary, but the hash browns were excellent. As was the strawberry preserves.
For lunch, I and a friend each enjoyed one of The Fountain’s «French Train Sandwich» (a sandwich made on a French Baguette). We had ham and brie… it was awesome! The warmed brie on toasted bread was excellent, I highly recommend it.
I look forward to many more visits toThe Fountain. Give it a try, I think you’ll enjoy it, too!