Fonda

510-559-9006
1501 Solano Ave
Albany, CA 94707
Fonda - Homestead Business Directory

Business Information

Mexican & Latin American Food Products
MasterCard
performance

Message from the Business

Hipster style, cool Pan-Latin tapas and top-shelf margaritas bring big-city buzz to Albany's Solano Avenue.
Fonda is proud to have had Chef Rosales featured in the San Francisco Chronicle's "2003 Rising Stars"--Food Issue, February 2, 2003 For those who have not visited Fonda, maybe I can talk a little bit about what we do. We serve 'antojitos' or little whims. These are tapas-style dishes, which allows you--in one meal--to sample dishes originating in Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru and Mexico. You get hot, spicy, salty, sweet, rich, smooth, clean, cold and crunchy, all in one visit. Sheila is behind the bar, serving up great drinks that complement the food. Try one of her excellent Cubas, mojitos, mulatas or Fondas. How about an iced bucket of mini Coronas or a tall glass of I.P.A.? Our wine list is well matched, with some great bottles from Italy, France, California, Spain and Mexico. Oh, one more thing: Salud! -D.R.
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Customer Reviews (23 reviews)

girlgenius2008

on Citysearch Jun 04, 2008
Finally had a chance to come here. I'm very fond of Sea Salt, Lalime's and T-Rex (same owners). This place is busy!! We had to wait almost an hour for a table but luckily found a spot at the bar for a few pre-dinner... (more)

tacosystem

on Citysearch Oct 28, 2007
This place was amazing. Top quality. I went there to celebrate my birthday with my sister. We started off with the chips, guacamole, and salsa appetizer. We then ordered the duck tacos (very small, but delicious),... (more)

pmadhivanan

on Citysearch Jun 15, 2007
Have been to Fonda many many times before and always left feeling satisfied and fgood about the experience except this time. Four of us went on a Friday night recently and we noticed that some of the items on the menu had... (more)

risachen

on Citysearch Oct 28, 2006
Any restaurant can put food on little dishes- but at Fonda's you'll find some of the tastiest tapas in the east bay. This restaurants lands on the top of my list of places to eat at when I visit the bay area. Some of my... (more)

saramelissa

on Citysearch Oct 15, 2006
They have a great happy hour- drinks for $5 starting at 9pm. The nice ambience and this drink special make it a favorite of mine for having a couple drinks and catching up with friends. Servers are nice and... (more)

hezmodo

on Citysearch Sep 14, 2006
A word to some other reviewers: tapas ARE small. They are not supposed to be a meal. They are supposed to be a compliment to an evening of drinking and socializing. That said: yes, it's a bit pricey, but the food is so good... (more)

airro

on Citysearch Aug 08, 2006
I've been to Fonda twice this month because I wanted to try everything on the menu. I recommend sitting at the bar, it's highly entertaining and I found that if you ask enough questions about the drinks the bartendress... (more)

misangeles

on Citysearch Aug 06, 2006
Went there last night with a couple of ravenous friends. The margaritas and agua frescas were quite tasty, and the food was superb, but the size of the plates definitely left much to be desired. The plates here were... (more)

janisan

on Citysearch May 12, 2006
We like to sit at the bar and watch the food coming out. Love the scallops, duck tacos, tuna on chips, lamb, halibut tacos, and just about everything else. The margaritas are just ok but love the sangria. A bit on the... (more)

kj8108

on Citysearch Apr 16, 2006
Met a few friends at Fonda tonight for drinks and dinner. The wine list was ok, but they don't have any wine by the glass for under $7. The portions are small- like the halibut for example, which costs $13.50, and not... (more)

ebgirl

on Citysearch Nov 13, 2005
I have been anxious to try Fonda as I have heard good things about the food. After trying it last night, I have to say that it's a lot of hype. Yes, the food is good, but the portions are extremely small and overpriced. I can... (more)

gaussmarkov

on Citysearch Oct 28, 2005
My wife and I have been to Fonda several times now and we have always been pleased with the experience. The drinks are great and a good value given the taste/quantity of alcohol. The plates are not large (given that... (more)

skillee

on Citysearch Sep 01, 2005
I took my friend for dinner around 7p on Thrusday. We were greeted/seated as we walked in. The service and attention we received, although the place was busy, was exceptional! Thanks Ivan. The food was experimental... (more)

jendaly

on Citysearch May 08, 2005
This is our neighborhood joint and a favorite...often when we're heading out for the evening, we find it hard to get further than Fonda. The drinks aren't cheap, but they are fresh, tasty and plenty strong. The food is... (more)

mojokat

on Citysearch Mar 14, 2005
I was looking forward to a great meal based on the comments left by others, but I have to say I was really disappointed in the quality of food and the service. Everything was sooooo slow and we had three different wait... (more)

jimmydeanstonecold

on Citysearch Feb 24, 2005
This is the restaurant of my dreams...we had an amazing meal last night. Ordered several dishes and they were all exceptional. Latin American food with complicated ingredients and flavors. Just enough spice. If... (more)

Contributor

on Citysearch Oct 06, 2004
<b>In Short</b><br>A long bar, high ceilings, an open kitchen and bi-level seating all give the spacious restaurant a chic warehouse vibe. Solano Avenue's 20-somethings flock here in droves for the small plates.... (more)

howudoinsf

on Citysearch Aug 06, 2004
This nice spot is tucked away across from a Safeway supermarket on Solano. Decor is hip and colorful with little metal tables, an upstairs loft and patio out front. Small Latin American plates are the draw here, we... (more)

sherrykoyama

on Citysearch Feb 16, 2004
While Fonda delivers tasty tapas, the portions are ridiculously small and the prices very high. Each dish is usually not more than a few bites (a few SMALL bites may I add!). Don't expect to get full here unless you... (more)

tijuanera

on Citysearch Jun 25, 2003
The molotes are delicious as is everything on the menu. Pricey, but well worth it. The shot of tequila with the spicy orange/tomato juice chaser is refreshing. although they recently downsized the size of the chaser... (more)
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