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    Monti Aperitivo & Cucina

    4.8 (51 reviews)
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    Monti Aperitivo & Cucina Photos

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    MONTI APERITIVO & CUCINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Monti Aperitivo & Cucina

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    The meal ended with Affogato
    Doug H.

    This was our first visit to Monti. However, we have been coming to this location many times over the years. We believe this new tenant is a KEEPER. We chose Monti to celebrate our 52nd wedding anniversary. We were aware of the extensive street reconstruction at the corner of their location but were pleasantly surprised HOW VERY EASY ACCESS TO THEIR PRIVATE PARKING LOT RIGHT BEHIND THE BUILDING. Our server, Quinn was a true professional at explaining the menu, offering suggestions and discussing cocktail options. We were there on a Friday during the middle of there HAPPY HOUR (4:00 - 6:00. Wide variety of appetizers, cocktails, beer and wine on the Happy Hour menu. Monti opens at 4:00 and the dinner menu begins at 5:00. Cocktails were a tomato gimlet, and old fashion and my wife enjoyed a Negroni and red wine. We enjoyed the arancini and happy hour snacks and shared an orange/fennel salad and the featured tomato ravioli with shrimp. All items were very enjoyable and had new exciting flavors. We ended the evening with an AFFOGATO. That was indeed the most surprising and memorable dessert we have had in a long time. So very simple and light but OMG how delicious. It was simply vanilla gelato with fresh espresso poured over it at the table. You can watch the creamy gelato blend with the rich dark espresso. Next time we will each order one because sharing it became a competition. Monti offers a great dining experience at a reasonable price point. Add Quinn's exceptional and attentive service and it goes beyond five stars.

    Yoko K.

    Loved the decor, service, food and everything! There were many more I wanted to try but couldn't since we were just 2 so I need to come and to try other items on the menu.

    Heydi C.

    I have been wanting to come to Monti for a while and finally I made it! I went for Happy Hour and the vibes were awesome, not busy at all but by the time I left, the restaurant was in full swing. I sat at the bar and the bartender was super friendly! Off the happy hour menu, I order the meatballs, arancini and the focaccia bread. All of it was DELICIOUS!! So good that I ended up ordering another round of meatballs and arancini. To pair with the meal, I ordered a Arancio Sprits which was slightly sweet and a bit floral. Really really good! There is construction happening around the FS area but that shouldn't deter you from heading over. Also they have free parking in the back!! Will definitely return for dinner service to try their full menu :)

    Women's restroom
    Yvette A.

    Excellent service here! The owner, Francesco, is from Southern Italy and is incredibly warm, welcoming, and accommodating. They serve house made Italian food, and I actually appreciate that the menu isn't huge because too many choices can be overwhelming. The menu also changes periodically, which keeps things interesting. Upon arrival, they give you a shot of vermouth to cleanse your palate, I didn't know vermouth was used for that. For my cocktail, I ordered the Monti Sour and really enjoyed it. We originally wanted the meatballs, but our server initially told us they were sold out. Francesco personally stopped by our table, said he would see what he could do, and eventually made it happen for us. That level of hospitality really stood out. We started with the Asado Ligure, a short rib dish that absolutely amazed me with its flavor. We also shared the Cavatelli alla Genovese as one of our entrées. My husband doesn't care for seafood, so this was a great option for him, and we both enjoyed it. The Lamb Scottadito was another standout, those lamb chops were absolutely scrumptious. Francesco also brought us an order of Arancini to try, and I loved that he gave us the opportunity to sample them. They were tasty. The service throughout the evening was truly wonderful. I tried the poached pear for dessert, and I really enjoyed that, I'd never had anything like it before. The restaurant has only been open about three or so months. The interior is beautiful, with unique seating in both the dining room and bar area, plus comfortable lounge spaces. The atmosphere is light, relaxed, and inviting. Even the restrooms were impressive, offering complimentary feminine products, which is always appreciated. This was a fantastic dining experience, and I look forward to returning and trying new items.

    Seating area
    Olivia R.

    Chic interior. Ambient lighting. Service was excellent and attentive. The server, food runner, and a man who presume was a manager/owner all delivered spectacular service. The swordfish and branzino were crisp and flavorful. Generous portions, too. Would love to return soon. I can tell a lot of care had been put into this place and I'm excited to see it succeed.

    Gelato with espresso
    Iva H.

    We decided to find someplace new to celebrate our anniversary. I'm glad we chose Monti. It was a friendly and inviting place from the time we walked in. It was a bit challenging to get to the restaurant with the road closure where Virginia, Shelby, and Prospect meet but a slight detour got us to the parking lot behind Monti. The restaurant is in the location where Pioneer used to be. The decor inside the restaurant is very cozy and we were seated in the side dining room at a nice little table for two. The bar area opens up into both dining areas. There is also a patio dining area. When we got there it was nice to know we were there for happy hour. We started with cocktails and an appetizer plate of pickles, olives and other snacks. We also ordered the appetizer plate of arancini which was just enough for two. The orange fennel salad was delicious and also enough for two. We decided to share the special of the evening which was tomato ravioli and shrimp. Very tasty. Our yummy dessert was gelato covered with a shot of espresso.

    Olive oil cake
    Josie M.

    Monti is a very welcome addition to the Indianapolis dining scene. The space is stunning and clearly thoughtfully designed, with hand-tiled walls, gorgeous furniture, and a double-sided bar. It feels both intimate and lively, and the staff matched the energy perfectly. The fritto misto blew me away. I was not expecting the shrimp to be that juicy and tender, and the aioli and spicy marinara pushed it over the top. I'd definitely recommend ordering one of their pastas. They're made in house and you can taste the difference. The scialatielli alla Norma is a great vegetarian option. The whole branzino might be the best fish dish I have had in Indianapolis. Buttery, flaky, and perfectly simple. Truly unforgettable. Save room for dessert, and do not leave without trying the Notte Rosa cocktail. I already can't wait to go back to work my way through the rest of the menu!!

    Chloe M.

    Phenomenal new place in fountain square. First I just want to say that I love the building that Monti is in now. The vibe is right in there. From the bar seating, to the tile choices, and mood lighting... it feels quite swanky (in the best way). I absolutely LOVE how they serve a sampling of liquor to start the night off as a mini celebration or to make it special. Reminds me of another restaurant in town, and I love that little touch. The herbed focaccia was a nice starter. The spring salad was fresh and delightful. The whole branzino was flaky, perfectly salted, and delicious. The service was on it. They came to our table multiple times throughout the night refilling glasses, removing dirty plates, and asking if we needed anything. A new fav for me in fountain square!

    Dipali P.

    Came here for dinner with a friend and I really wanted to love this place but unfortunately the food was not as spectacular as I had hoped. The minute we walked in we couldn't help but take in the cute atmosphere and we were serviced very quickly which was a plus. After quickly scanning the menu we decided to order the arancini for the table and I decided to order the basil bucatini. The arancini was delicious (hence the extra star on this review) but the bucatini pasta tasted very bitter. Overall a okay experience but I'm not sure if I will be back.

    Vermouth
    Christopher F.

    Run, don't walk! They haven't been open long but they are performing like a well oiled machine. Our server was tremendous. Happy to explain dishes and make suggestions. A complimentary vermouth sets off the experience. We stated with a Fritto Misto. Calamari, artichoke hearts and stump is a slightly spicy light batter. So good. We shared the house salad that includes green beans, broccolini and red onion. Very flavorful. A small pasta with beef ragu that was perfectly prepared and a well seasoned baked branzino. The fish was served with a blistered tomato and garlic clove salad and zucchini. We finished off the meal with olive oil cake! Worth the trip by itself. The dining room was a bit chilly but the surroundings are tasteful and beautiful. Can't wait to return.

    Shishito peppers
    Sigrid W.

    Hate to be the one not leaving a 5 star review, giving 4 stars, but was leaning towards 3 actually. Here is my experience, which was a bit of a roller coaster: The restaurant itself is beautifully redecorated. Nice romantic atmosphere and you have to love the Vespa in the front window. The menu is fairly small but interesting. Loved the complimentary Vermouth and Focaccia with tapenade. Did not appreciate the server trying to pressure us into ordering drinks. I just didn't feel like a cocktail tonight. Water is my go-to. When clearing the bread plate the server dropped a used utensil onto the table. No biggie. Ordered the Shishito peppers for the table. They were nicely seasoned, loved the salt flakes. Could have used a bit more charring, but this was a nice portion and delicious. We didn't eat all of them and were waiting on our mains. However, I finally packed up the remaining peppers (I do carry containers with me) and when the server saw the empty plate she stated that she will now put in for our mains... uhmm, no wonder we had to wait forever for those dishes to arrive. How long would we have had to wait if I had not boxed up those peppers? Meanwhile the server dropped one of the little shot glasses onto our table while clearing the glasses. When we finally got our pasta, we were stunned at the size of the portion. Small does not cover it, miniscule is more like it. No I was not expecting American portions, but this was roughly one cup of pasta. Don't get me wrong, the taste was great. Delicious gnocchi... but gone in a couple of fork full. When we received our checks, stuffed into tall narrow glasses, sort of like champagne glasses, but thicker, the server dropped one of those onto our table and the stem broke off. We were getting a bit tired of having stuff thrown at us. I do believe the server is fairly new to this type of work, but it does startle a person when things get dropped on the table all the time. Also the glasses with the bills could be a cute touch, however trying to get the check out of the glass proved almost impossible as it coils and sticks to the inside of the glass. And the glass is narrow so you can't stick your hand in there to fish it out, two fingers can't get the job done.

    Beverage menu
    Emily H.

    Excellence is the name of the game at Monti! Excellent hospitality, service, mixology, and gastronomy. Francesco does a great job at making everyone feel welcome and the space itself is inviting. Shoutout to our server Matt for excellent recommendations, preparing us for the small plate portions, and pacing of the meal. Highly recommend approaching Monti with a "tapas" mentality - order a bunch of stuff to share amongst your group. My group of 3 tried the focaccia, arancini (3 to an order), caserecce, scialatelli, and eggplant milanese alongside a few cocktails each. Everything was delish, but the standouts for me were the arancini and eggplant milanese. The truffle and saffron flavors in the arancini were so well balanced and the eggplant milanese was thin and crispy. I'd be remiss to not mention the complimentary vermouth of the day to start the meal - explained as a "liquid amuse bouche." This is not your run of the mill vermouth. Monti takes great care in selecting their vermouth of the day and I look forward to trying more varieties on future visits. If you enjoy vermouth du jour, get it in a spritz for a refreshing cocktail. Welcome to FSQ, Monti, we're glad to have you!

    Olive oil cake
    Megan C.

    If you are in or near fountain square, add Monti to your list of must trys. Walking in, the space is beautiful. We were promptly seated and offered drinks. For appetizers, our table split the foccacia, arancini, and root salad. All three items were outstanding. The root salad is something I will be back for. We also shared two pastas, the gnocchi with lamb and lemon bucatini pasta. Everything was light, fresh, and was very spring like. Our table sat in silence just shaking our heads at how good everything was. We ended the meal with a piece of olive oil cake. Again, light, fresh, and a beautiful end to a fantastic meal. The items are small plates so order a few to share. Cheers to the chefs.

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    9 days ago

    Loud and the Cornish game hen was dry as the Sahara. Wont go back. Plus we had to pay $27 bucks for parking.

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    3 months ago

    The atmosphere was lovely with luxurious design! The drink menu had a fair amount of options. The strawberry spritz was delicious.

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    Ask the Community - Monti Aperitivo & Cucina

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