La Fontanella’s owners are retiring and closing the restaurant’s doors for good after decades of serving authentic Italian cuisine on Oakley Street. For 34 years, husband-and-wife team Gianfranco “Franco” and Maria Gamberale served fresh, traditional Italian dishes like chicken Vesuvio, eggplant Parmigiana and lasagna Bolognese.

 From the broths to the sauces and soups, everything was made from scratch, the couple said. Before setting foot inside the restaurant, loyal clientele knew La Fontanella wasn’t a spot for a quick bite — it “was a place where people would stay for about an hour-and-a-half to two hours,” said Franco Gamberale, 79.