1501 Solano Avenue, Albany CA 94707
(510) 559-9006
Parking: street parking
Hours: Daily Afternoon Siesta 5pm - 7pm, Dinner 5 pm -12:30 am, Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm -Close
Weekend brunch 10:00 am - 3 pm
Last Visited: September 25, 2011
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$$
Beth recommended Fonda for a dinner and drinks event that we were having for a large group. The casual, but busy atmosphere made for a comfortable environment for the group to chill and hang out.
After eating our way through the menu that night, I thought it might be fun to take a foodie friend there to try some new dishes. 
Beth loves the duck tacos and I remember enjoying them during my first visit, so I got them again. - Duck Tacos - Served with with guacamole and arbol salsa. I love guacamole. The quantity of guacamole is abundant and the duck is super tender. The dish is quite rich, but I could probably eat four of these and not be full. Good. $7.50
- Seared sea scallops - Served with frisee, orange segments, and saffron-aji amarillo aioli. This is a really refreshing and light dish. The scallops are seared well and flavorful, but it feels like just a bite. I could probably make this at home without too much difficulty. $13.50
- Grilled Rack of Lamb - Churasco style with chimichurri. The lamb was tender and not gamey. The chimichurri is flavor. I liked this dish quite a bit, but pricing is on the high side even for tapas. $15.25
- Sauteed Spinach - with apples, raisins, and pine nuts. The spinach was a little too salty today. The last time I had it was more balanced, but even the sweetness of the raisins and apples weren't enough to offset the quantity of salt. $6
- Grilled calamari - with cherry tomatoes and siquil-p'ak. This was one of the most memorable dishes, and not in the best way. The calamari was tender and the tomatoes were fresh. However, the siquil-p'ak was a mystery to us. Siquil-p'ak is made from pumpkin seeds and roasted tomatoes. It is typically served as a dip. This mixture was kind of fluffy and didn't have a lot of flavor. Despite trying it with the calamari and on its own, I just didn't feel like it fit in - most likely because the texture wasn't appropriate for a dip. Salsa or guacamole would have been a welcome substitute.
After splitting all of this food with my buddy, I was still hungry. So we ordered the fish tacos. 
- Grilled Rack of Lamb - Churasco style with chimichurri. The lamb was tender and not gamey. The chimichurri is flavor. I liked this dish quite a bit, but pricing is on the high side even for tapas. $15.25- Sauteed Spinach - with apples, raisins, and pine nuts. The spinach was a little too salty today. The last time I had it was more balanced, but even the sweetness of the raisins and apples weren't enough to offset the quantity of salt. $6
- Grilled calamari - with cherry tomatoes and siquil-p'ak. This was one of the most memorable dishes, and not in the best way. The calamari was tender and the tomatoes were fresh. However, the siquil-p'ak was a mystery to us. Siquil-p'ak is made from pumpkin seeds and roasted tomatoes. It is typically served as a dip. This mixture was kind of fluffy and didn't have a lot of flavor. Despite trying it with the calamari and on its own, I just didn't feel like it fit in - most likely because the texture wasn't appropriate for a dip. Salsa or guacamole would have been a welcome substitute.
- Fish Tacos - The fish is lightly fried and served with radish slaw, coriander, and aioli. The crema against the crunchy breading of the fish was really good. Both my dining companion and I agreed that we actually liked the fish tacos more than the duck tacos. $7.50
So open up your wallets or come when you're not too hungry. Alternately, there is a late night happy hour when some of these dishes are available at a reduced price.
The noise level increased as the evening wore on, so be aware of that when you go. It might not be the best place if you don't want to be shouting at one another by the end of the meal.
The final word on Fonda - it's good food in a fun atmosphere and is especially ideal for groups, but the prices are a little steep for dinner considering the portions offered.
No comments:
Post a Comment