Dining out: La Fontana, Clifton Street, Blackpool

My own include my hen night (in the days before hen parties ran to a week in Ibiza), and also a Valentine's Day meal with my husband Clive in 2009.

I was The Gazette's duty reporter that weekend, and hours after our meal next morning, I was back in a smoke-filled Clifton Street watching in dismay as flames ripped through Yates's Wine Lodge

Today a new Premier Inn is taking shape on the site, due to open this spring, and set to reinvigorate this part of the town centre.

But La Fontana has remained throughout as a constant, offering its hospitality to residents and visitors alike.

We stepped across its welcoming threshold just as Storm Ciara was brewing and took a seat in the bar as we waited for a table.

Despite the horrendous weather, the restaurant was busy with diners, and bookings are only taken for groups.

But it was not long before we were taken to our table and ready to give our order.

The menu boasts the usual selection of pasta and pizza (including vegetarian choices), plus a good selection of chicken dishes, steaks and fish options.

Starters range from garlic mushrooms to deep fried mozzarella and mussels.

I opted for goats cheese on a base of salad and this arrived charmingly arranged on a pretty plate, and with a good strong flavour.

By contrast Clive's pick of minestrone soup was somewhat disappointing.

The portion was the smallest I have ever seen, accompanied by a couple of small pieces of bread, and he had finished it after just a few spoonfuls (thankfully we had also ordered a plate of olives to share).

He described the flavour as bland, and at £6.95 this really was not good value.

So he still had plenty of appetite left for his lamb shank served in a sauce of red wine, rosemary and mint.

Thankfully this dish was much more substantial and was fully polished off.

I chose the pollo Napoli, with Napoli sauce, mozzarella and asparagus.

The chicken was moist and my meal was piping hot which is something I really appreciate in a restaurant.

Both our dishes were served with fresh vegetables and potatoes, and I felt these did live up to the venue's reputation for using local produce.

There is even a list of suppliers on the menu to demonstrate where ingredients come from.

We chose from the a-la-carte but it is also worth checking out the early bird and children's menus which are available.

For those with a sweet tooth there is a delicious dessert offering and I really wished I had had room for profiteroles.

But we did enjoy a cappuccino each, and had also accompanied our meal with a bottle of Frascati and jug of tap water.

Service was attentive and friendly, and the pace of our meal was just right.

The surroundings are relaxed, with stylish decor including a twinkling night sky and rustic rooftops.

We even exercised our little grey cells working out what the Roman numerals engraved in the wall mean (1990 of course).

They just need to be a bit more generous with the soup!

Our meal, with wine, came to £76.