Hmmmm. This is a tough one. Visiting the area from Texas, I came here like others based on the 10 score from One Bite. I can only assume Portnoy either has a connection to this spot or he lost a bet. I did the lunch special, half pepperoni pizza and a side salad. For the price, $9.50, it was fine but not worth the drive. I'd rate it 5.1; very thin, almost no sauce and greasy. The salad was fine. The waitress was an older lady, very Boston but friendly. She is what kept this from a 2 star review. Like others mention, parking is tight and the place seems to attract an older crowd. I watched an old man back into a truck while leaving. So be careful where you park. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

I took the trek here with my son to experience the praise. It's was a terrible experience. The pizza was lacking freshness. It's like they reheated the pizza under a heat lamp after licking it dry. My son's grilled cheese was not edible. The waitress said they had been told to take it off the menu, which appears they have now done. The waitress disappeared every time we wanted a re-fill. Maybe an off day for food but with the dirty bathroom and moldy smell, I don't wish this place on my enemy. read more

Before heading to Monte's I met up with my older cousin. Once she heard we were heading to Monte's she informed us that is where all the old people go... Tight parking lot. Seated by the door, prime viewing spot to see all the old people coming in for Saturday dinner. She was right. The menu had a good amount of options and very fair pricing. Large salad with the house Italian- It consists of lettuce, 4 cherry tomatoes and 4 thin sliced cucumbers. Their house Italian is more like a red wine vinegar, very sweet. Salt and pepper helped. I did like that they leave the dressing in a squeeze bottle on your table so use as little or a lot as you prefer. I said their lettuce is soft and i liked that. We opted for a side of rolls. Not served warm. My husband ended up declaring the rolls the best part of his Monte's experience. And please make note- these aren't anything special. 2 pizzas (also when i ordered the pizza well done and laced the waitress immediately declared they aren't south shore, Ok but let's be cordial.) Chicken broccoli alfredo- flavorless, everything chopped into tiny little toppings and the broccoli was super soft, like mush. Salami and bacon- again topping chopped very tiny. Lots of sauce. My husband declared he understands why old people go to Monte's: Everything is soft! I am going to be honest, this place was a total bust. Portnoy is wrong. It's the worst pizza I have had in a long time. Soft mush. read more

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Not the best pizza I've ever had but it is pretty good. The price of the pizza is what makes it even better, very cheap! The restaurant has a nice old school look and vibe. read more

Friendly neighborhood bar with average crispy pizza. I can walk here from my house and will return but would not travel far to dine here.

Visited this place because of a tik tokers recommendation and a 10/10. Overall the pizza was good. It's thin crust, dough was cook well, pizza was flavorful and you tasted all the toppings. Ranch and house made dressing was fire. The sauce was also good. Texture was great. The cons (but not to be overly picky just preferences) there was not enough dripping cheese, salad was ok and mozzarella sticks were ok. Still worth the visit. People were very welcoming and warm. read more

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Who am I to disagree with some one worth billions and has done 5000 pizza reviews? Wicked good. Server/waiter was a Vietnam Vet, drafted into the Army--extra bonus respect! A one napkin pat and a little flop of the crust, but totally acceptable. This was a near perfect pie. Ambiance was nice a pizza parlor upscale vibe. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Cheese Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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I love that although we got three toppings and only half of it with the other two toppings they still gave us a full serving of each topping. So you're getting your money worth. the teriyaki wings were very tasty although I would ask for it with teriyaki sauce because the teriyaki sauce flavor is very strong, but the crispiness of the wings was very yummy. The fries were OK. The place was a local restaurant and worth coming if you're in this city. Our server was very nice and recommended great places to visit. read more

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Not great. The good: Old style hool atmosphere, that is sometjing I like. The price was in line with other similar restaurants. The not so good: the service was slow, we were not regulars so it seemed like we were not given the same attention. The food was severely lacking. Everything was soft, the pizza, the bread, the salad (??). Also no flavor, and pizza toppings were diced so small the were just falling off. Maybe it was just an off day. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

We tried this based off Dave Portnoy's recommendation as the only 10 restaurant. I have to say, it is not the best pizza I've had. The crust was strange. It was a bit too crunchy and less like a normal pizza crust. The buffalo pizza was also a bit weird, like it was mixed with marinara sauce. I get the rating system a bit better and it is not based on the taste. The place was awesome, though. Very comfortable in a small town. The waitress, pricilla was the best waitress we ever had. Super friendly and very personable. The salad and dressing was super tasty too. I would recommend if you are in the area. (Stick to pepperoni or cheese if you try the pizza). read more

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True Score: 3.5 Stars Amazing Value Small local family restaurant featuring some good Italian dishes and great thin crust pizza. Nothing fancy. Just good food, friendly service and reasonable prices. Small bar on one side. Eat-in or take out. Limited parking can be a drawback. Lot is extremely small, but there is usually parking on the street. Get there early. It fills up fast. Tip: 6 Dollar Mix Drinks! Where are you going to get 4 strong mixed drinks and a decent pizza for 35 bucks? Not many places. Love Monte's, would have went 4 stars if the pizza was a little better. Sorry Portnoy, not a 10 pizza. Thanks read more

Monte's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Sat at the bar, bartender was great! Local patrons were inviting and talkative which will lead to future reviews. Overall restaurant is cozy and has a home town feel. Ordered boom boom shrimp and a pie with sausage, onions, mushrooms, and cherry peppers. Shrimp were a 5/5, large with perfect crisp and spicy level. The pie was crispy, but everything except the onions were frozen or canned and detracted from the pizza. Next time getting cheese only to likely take this to a 5. read more

Just a little background about myself, I have over 40 years experience working in restaurants, I've done my own catering business and presently a Front of House Manager in a multi million dollar restaurant. Not sure what David Portnoy is talking about, order a Buffalo Chicken Pizza, it was far from a 10, it was nothing like the pizza they advertised on their website, the sauce was tasteless I can't even compare it to jar sauce because that has some flavoring, the chicken was diced up and had no Buffalo sauce, the bottom of the pizza was inconsistent, it looked as if it was cooked on a wire screen, the cheese was dried out. I'd give it a 3 maybe a 3 1/2!! The Antipasto Salad was chopped, not layered, the peppers and artichokes hearts looked like they were from a can, the presentation looked like someone just threw it in a to go container, the salad dressing tasted like it was watered down Wish Bone. When I got there I saw they had Fried Pickles and asked the waitress to add them to my order, thankfully I did. The remoulade dressing was good and had a little kick!! I'd never trust a David Portnoy review again!! I'm giving it a 3, the fried pickles saved it a point read more

Monte's Restaurant - Chopped Antipasto - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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* DO NOT COME BASED SOLEY ON DAVE PORTNOY'S PERFECT 10 REVIEW. * DO NOT EXPECT PERFECT PIZZA I was recently in Boston for a week and was SUPER EXCITED to try Monte's pizza based on Dave Portnoy's "Perfect 10" score. Reading previous reviews was sending up red flags, but I ignored them as I was with team-Portnoy all the way. The wife and I passed up many good looking Pizza restaurants with real Pizza ovens in Boston, Gloucester, and Salem to save our only pizza meal for the last day of the trip before returning to Texas. Our expectations were WAY TOO HIGH; poor Monte's didn't stand a chance. The pizza was a SOUL CRUSHING average, thin crust pizza.... It was crispy and tasted OK, nothing more. To be fair to Monte's, we ate it all. My immediate reaction was to be mad at Monte's; however, Portnoy is really the one who deserves the blame. Who knows what the relationship is/was betwen Portnoy & Monte's, but the "Perfect 10" review isn't real. Neither are the reviews giving Monte's pizza a 9.x score. If you're in the area and want a decent pizza, sure come to Monte's. Atmosphere is totally low-key and unpretentious with a local neighborhood feel. read more

Monte's Restaurant - better view of crust - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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Visiting from california. Had to try the spot because of Barstool Pizza dude. The pizza was thin crusted - solid 7.5/10. We had high expectations lol The vibes inside the restaurant were amazing. It felt like a family owned place. There were families every where. Very small town like, and we loved all the Boston accents read more

Monte's Restaurant - Pepperoni and mushroom - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

So first pizza we got was super delicious but honestly just the plain cheese was the better half. We were still hungry (2 people) so we got another. Cheese was still the better half! Just the perfect balance of ingredients. The Hawaiian was better than the Monte's in my opinion. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Monte's Special Pizza and Cheese Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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I was encouraged to eat here based on the review from David Portnoy about the pizza. It was good pizza, a little too thin of a crust for me but very flavorful. We shared a salad, fried green beans, and meatball parmigiana dinner. All the food tasted really good with a lot of left overs to take home. The service was excellent and very attentive. It was a busy Saturday night but we got a seat almost right away. Parking is limited but they do have a parking lot and street parking. The Diet Coke did not taste like it was a coke product though I was told they served Coke. Oh and they only take cash here, no credit cards! They do have a ATM machine in the lobby. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Meatball Parmigiana dinner, salad and pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

For a 10/10 for Barstool Sports One Bite I had higher expectations....the pizza was super thin but had good flavor. If I was in the neighborhood I may pop in and do it with double crust, double sauce and double cheese. The antipasto however was awesome! The house dressing was a 10/10 for me! It's casual and cash only and super reasonably priced! If you're in the area - pop in! read more

Monte's Restaurant - Outside - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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Decent pizza but that doofus Portnoy must either be friends with the owners or have been smokin CRACK to give it a 10. Pizza was tasty and fine, service very friendly, and that local small town feel inside. 5 out of 7. read more

Such a cozy local restaurant. My family has been coming here for years. It was my first time trying their bacon pizza .. it was amazing. Got seafood combo a plus ! ... everything is great. Love the staff ! read more

Monte's Restaurant - Bacon pizza - seafood combo - apple martini ! Chefs kiss - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

I'm giving a 2 simply because the bartender was nice while being slammed by a lunch rush. Also the prices are cheap. That said, worst pizza I've ever had in the northeastern United States. Mushrooms look canned . I've had better frozen pizzas. read more

great dine bar and the staff is amazing if you want a local place to visit and feel the warmth of the locals this is the place

St. Louis pizza is characterized by its round, thin, unleavened, cracker-like crust. Monte's in Lynn prescribes to that approach. Wafer thin but sturdy enough to handle multiple toppings, I was far from disappointed. Portnoy gave it a 10, so I had to have it. I was hoping for a traditional style pizza but bar pizza is always on my radar. I tried the plain, half mushroom and half pepperoni, and my favorite, sausage and garlic. I threw in some barbecue tips because the prices were antiquated. Like 1990 prices. The crust crunched and the body held tight. I've never had this style pizza before but it's my new favorite bar styled pizza for sure. Hoey's, The Lynwood, Town Spa, The Alumni , and Poopsie's got nothing on Monte's. It's worth the trip to the city of sin. read more

I absolutely love this pizza. I have been going here since I was a kid! My favorite is the combo of salami and green pepper!

If I'm being realistic, this is more like a 2.5. Who in this day and age brags about serving a frozen pizza?!?! My friend insisted we try this place, since Dave Portnoy gave it such a high rating. I didn't look to closely at this place beforehand, and that was my fault. I felt a wave if regret once I walked out in. It looked like a rundown diner than a cozy restaurant. If this place was at its peak in the 50s and 60s, then it's frozen in time and hasn't changed how they make food or operate either since then. Its annoying that its cash only, but the prices were at least reasonable. The waitresses here are not friendly at all. We walked in and after telling one of the waitresses we wanted dine in, she blurted out "You're gonna have to wait. Go and sit down." When our mozzarella sticks and bread were being brought out, the waitress basically dropped them on the table and darted off. They also seemed overwhelmed by business that evening, even though it wasn't even that busy. The waitresses would say things out loud in exasperation, not keeping their moments of frustration to themselves. The food here is not awful, but it's a joke when the unseasoned mozzerella and the "tombstone" pizza dough sticks taste like they came straight from the frozen food section. The salad was nothing special, and the basket of rolls were semi sliced italian loafs with packaged butter. I'd recommend no one come here, especially when you're only 30 minutes away from Boston proper. If you live nearby and don't feel like cooking a frozen pizza in your oven at home, then I guess this is the place for you! read more

would go back. napkin pat off the grease and experience a great slice. got several toppings on one slice and plain pepperoni for another.

The pizza is 3.5. My definition of a 3 is that it's good local pizza. A 4 would be a destination worth driving to and a 5 is best in class anywhere. It's difficult to get there from 128, it takes 20 minutes driving through all sorts of roads and turns to get deep into Lynn. Once at the restaurant, they have a small parking lot and plenty of space on the street to park. The pie was nothing to get excited about. A thin cracker like crust. The sauce was a little on the sweet side. Good levels of cheese and sausage. I also ordered a small salad with their house Italian dressing. The salad was a bowl of iceberg lettuce with two small cherry tomatoes, two slices of cucumber and a few shreds of carrots. The salad was swimming in the salad dressing. Their special salad dressing is overly sweet vinegarette. It was a good value. The pizza, salad and a beer cost $20. If you happen to be in the area, it's worth a visit, but I wouldn't make a special trip to go there. read more

Been going here for decades. Always a great pizza. I recommend Monte's to try it if you've never been there. I think you'll be pleased.

The pizza was fantastic! The sauce was very flavorful, the crust was crispy. We loved it!

I came here to say because this is Dave Portanoys only 10.0 rating for pizza and was honestly let down. The pizza crust seemed to be frozen, the sauce tasted like frozen pizza as well. Was expecting much more so manage your expectations when you go here because this was one of his first reviews so the perfect score really is not indicative of the actual quality. Staff was really nice which is why I left 3 stars. Probably wouldn't return. read more

Monte's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Great pizza and Italian food. Atmosphere is great with friendly staff who are always helpful. read more

Stars are for the service not the food. Like many others I came here because of the one bite pizza review. Expectations were high so that may be a factor in my disappointment, but honestly what we got was a frozen pizza quality served "fresh". read more

Pizza truly a 10! Bartender was friendly and recommended delicious pizza with salami. Has a good dive feel which was great! read more

Monte's Restaurant - Sign - Pizza Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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The Prez had this at 10/10. Nothing special. Very nice bartender talked me out of double thick crust. Wish I got it.

Best pizza I've had in my life. Nothing I can critique about this pizza. The plan was to eat half and save the rest for later since I had dinner reservations for later that evening, but indulged in the whole thing. No regrets. Very nice staff and relaxed environment. Let me enjoy the hot Funyuns chips I brought with me. Got another to go for dessert. read more

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I came here because of one bites review and I was let down. The pizza is just an average pizza and it does not deserve a 10/10. Now if is a good pizza but if your looking for a good pizza on the east coast and don't want to go into New York then I would skip this place read more

Lynn, Lynn the city of sin, also home to the most sinful pizza I've ever had. I went to Monte's for pickup where you have to pay with cash. They also added extra fees, that's a sin of its own (Hebrews 13:5). After one slice I felt bad for recommending this restaurant. Also, Lynn on its own is a very dirty city what my dad calls it a s***hole. It had a terrible aftertaste that I'm still tasting today and it's been almost two days, and I'm sick. The pizza tasted nothing even sensing a 10 more of a zero. Just terrible, it was so terrible that I apologized to my dad for coming here. So, if you think about coming because of Dave Portnoy's 10/10 pizza review, it's a lie which is a sin. #RerankItPortnoy read more

One of the best and worst parts of Lynn is we have no shortage of characters. And I have to say, after reading these reviews, it's clear many of those characters made their way to this Yelp Review. This place is awesome. Felt like I was transported to the 90's. Cheap beer, good cheap food and nice local folks. Great bar pizza. I'd challenge you to find a better cheese pizza for under $10 these days. Good luck. Wings were tasty. Good size. Great sauce. I prefer them a little crispier, but I inhaled them none the less. "This salad is Divine"- my lady in reference to the Anitpasta Salad w/ House Italian. Great job guys, will be adding Monte's to our monthly rotation. read more

haven't been here in a couple years went today and had the worst experience ever staff are racist wouldn't check on me and my family table took 35 min to get a SODA!!!!!!! Food was absolutely disgusting!!!!!! read more

I went for the first time yesterday, on the recommendation of an Instagram account I follow. I am thrilled to have discovered this restaurant! Sunday afternoon, 2 PM, the place was full. One server, and one bartender were taking care of all the seats and the tables, and the wait for service was negligible. We ordered both chicken and veal Parmesan. The food was plentiful, the pasta had a delicious bite to it, the sauce was non-acidic, and for two entrées and two soft drinks, $32 was the price tag. I would go back again in a heartbeat. read more