We just had an incredible dinner at Montrio! We are foodies & have dined at many fine restaurants. This was truly one of our best experiences yet! The staff, food & atmosphere were absolutely amazing! We had their short rib and scallops and they were spectacular! read more

They do so many things so well. Super cheery and pleasant staff, wonderful outdoor seating area with heaters, personable waiters, and delicious food. Everything I ordered was flavorful and delicious. The only thing I would nitpick would be that it seemed my steak was a tad overcooked but I didn't want to take off for that considering not only did they offer to take it back and remake it but they also brought me a free dessert since I decided to eat it anyway rather than waste food. They go above and beyond here to give you a wonderful dining experience and I would gladly return if I lived in the area. read more

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My wife organized a dinner for work for 70+people and overall the food is good but they are unwilling g to cater to allergies. My wife has a nut allergy and requested no pine nuts in her burrata salad. It showed up with pine nuts and had to be re done. The next night, the same thing. The salad looked but free but we found nuts at the bottom of the salad and asked to talk to a manager. The manager came to our table, said the right things but we were still charged for the salad. read more

This was an incredibly disappointing meal. I had the duck which was supposed to be cooked medium rare. It was served medium. The second time, the duck was rare. Obviously not a great idea. The manager (I assume) was apologetic. She then asked if we wanted dessert. Considering what had happened, I obviously wasn't going to pay for a dessert. I also noticed that they charged $16.00 for a side of plain mashed potatoes which were supposed to be a substitute. When I mentioned the $16.00 charge for a side of mashed potatoes, the manager seemed shocked at the price. I really don't know what to say other then don't go here. read more

Great food, perfectly executed. Not a miss all night. Not one dish or drink that we didn't love. Everyone who helped us was warm, friendly and fun to talk to. Everything was great but if you stay for dessert: Warm croissant bread pudding with caramel and lilikoi ice cream: Unreal. read more

Food and service was amazing . Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and she loved it . Conchetta was amazing with us and she is a five start host as well ! Love it here and we will be back one day. read more

Everything about this place was wonderful. We made a reservation through open table for 8:00. We ended up arriving rather early, probably around 7:30, and they were able to immediately seat us. We had mentioned when booking that we were celebrating an anniversary and when we were seated they sprinkled cute heart confetti on the table. I thought it was a cute touch. (Plus, it had the effect that every staff member that noticed wished us a happy anniversary. Sweet.) For drinks my husband ordered the Saving Private Ryan and I ordered the El Mariachi (virgin drink). I thought mine was delicious with good flavor but I do wish it was just a touch spicier. The Saving Private Ryan was good. Slightly spirit forward with a buttery, smoky flavor. For appetizers we ordered the Mac and Cheese and the Risotto Fritters. The Mac and Cheese was good, but not my new favorite. The breadcrumbs added a good amount of texture and flavor. The risotto fritters were delicious and the tomato pesto was great. We ordered the NY and the Braised Short Rib for our entrées. The NY was good and we both enjoyed the bone marrow butter on top. The real star was the short rib. So yummy. Tender and flavorful. The sauce had a slight sweetness from the sun-dried tomatoes and peas and the whipped potatoes were the perfect side. I enjoyed them with the coarse salt that was available on the tables (nice touch). For dessert, we were told we were able to pick one of the sweet bites to enjoy on the house. We chose the carrot cake, which turned out to be a wonderful choice. That coconut ice cream was delightful and reminded me of the Hawaiian dish, haupia. The cake itself with the warm "Icing" on top was perfect as well. We also ordered the bread pudding with the passion fruit ice cream. I was originally skeptical of the pairing but it turned out to be perfect. The texture of the bread pudding was crisp on the outside and almost reminded me of flan on the interior. The tartness of the ice cream broke up the creaminess of the texture and sweetness of the bread pudding perfectly. Our server was great. Very pleasant and checked up on us in perfect intervals. On the menu there is an option to show the kitchen staff how much you appreciate them by buying them a 6-pack for $6 that they can enjoy after their shift. We love this. We've both been in the industry for quite a while and the heart of house staff hardly ever gets the credit they're due. Everyone that enjoys their food here should consider adding this to their check. I'm sure the chefs appreciate it. Overall, this has become one of our favorite spots. We will definitely be back again. read more

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Save yourself! We made reservations for a milestone birthday and it sucked. We used to love this place and who knows what happened. Food... if you could call it that...started off with bad bread that fell apart when you buttered it. The chicken came out still clucking raw in the middle. When it came back from the kitchen it was the same chicken breast and we are unsure if the raw juice remained underneath with the gnocchi and carrots. The field greens side salad, that we were told were the same as the small plate was nothing but 5 pieces of fancy lettuce with a side of olive oil. Nothing was discounted from our tab and no dessert for the birthday! WTH! read more

Beautiful place, calming ambiance and excellent filet, and delicious food. Definitely would recommend!

I really wish I could give this place more than 5 stars! We came here on recommendations from the hotel we were staying at and so glad they suggested it! We made reservations day of which I wouldn't usually recommend but it was a Monday so figured we would be alright. We were able to get a reservation at 7:15p which was perfect because we originally wanted 7pm. For a Monday night, this place was packed! The hostess was extremely welcoming and sat us right away. Our server Bradley greeted us at the table right away and was fantastic the entire evening. Big shout out to him! He also got bonus points from us because he was from Indiana as well :) The whole night, he had fantastic recommendations. We started the night with Hell Hath No Fury which was a delicious cocktail if you like vodka and lavender. We also ordered a bottle of wine which ended up not being that great so Bradley brought over the sommelier and he totally helped us out no problem and brought us a new bottle of wine. For the appetizer, we got the 48 Hour Bacon which was covered in bacon-almond butter, pickled apples, local honey. It is the chefs "pride and joy" according to our server and I can totally see why! It was incredible. For our mains, I got the Organic Mushroom-Truffle Ravioli and my friend got the Sustainable King Salmon with Citrus Risotto, Baked Tomato and Nduja Sauce. Both were incredible! I personally think the truffle ravioli was best because it had braised beef rib on it and that was a popular item that was sold out as a main dish. For dessert is where the 5+ star review comes in. 110% order the bread pudding with passionfruit gelato. You will not regret it and you will have dreams about it just wishing you could have it again. It really is one of the best places to eat in Monterey. read more

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A very special night thanks to Don and Snow! A trio of oysters with compressed cucumber and salmon roe was the first stop on an unforgettable food journey! Monterey's finest Salmon on a bed of roasted corn, butternut squash, bacon and early harvest fava beans earned its chef's special status! A trio of raspberry sorbet and vanilla and strawberry gelato sent us off on a sweet note to celebrate our 40th anniversary! We will definitely return! read more

I always recommend Montrio. I have been there three or four times. Delicious and classy. The service is impeccable.

I adore this place. Service is always good and the owner works hard. She makes an effort when she's there to come by to greet the customers. We could try new places when we're visiting Monterey but when you find a couple of really good places to dine where the service and food are in harmony, why get disappointed by experimenting with a new place. We started off by sharing an appetizer of Mac and cheese. It was good but I wouldn't say the best I've ever tasted. The thin, lean and crispy bacon topping was really good. Hubby raved about the duck as it was tender, stating its the best duck he's ever had. The owner told us it's cooked by sous-vide method for hours. The duck was moist but the end piece I tried was chewy. The entree came with broccolini which could've used another 1-2 mins cooking time and a corn meal type side which he enjoyed. I though it tasted like sweet cornbread. I tried the Caesar salad with 3 pieces of white anchovies. The lettuce was nice and crunchy but the dressing didn't taste like traditional Caesar dressing. The anchovies were good. We finished with the white chocolate bread pudding which is my favorite dessert here. A scoop of the delicious passion fruit was perfect with the dish. Lots of locals dine here, and we will also be back. read more

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We really enjoyed our cocktails, and the salad and steaks. The only down side were the desserts. Maybe it was just a bad night.

The food here was outstanding. Our server was very attentive and had great recommendations. The area the ambience was quite nice not over the top, but we both felt quite pampered. I would recommend this place highly. read more

We stopped in at this upscale restaurant for the daily happy hour that runs from 4:30PM to 6:30PM. The bar was packed, but we fortunately found seating at a table for 2. My wife raspberry lemon drop martini and my peach mojito were quite good though it took awhile to be delivered to our table. An order of crispy calamari with a spicy remoulade proved to be spicy, but delicious. We also enjoyed the glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay that followed. Prices at happy hour for cocktails are just $6.50 while house wines will set you back $5. Our order of calamari was a modest $5.50. read more

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Food was so good. Jose was our waiter and he recommended the duck and dessert. The duck was amazing, as well as the bread pudding. The restaurant was intimate and the staff was accommodating on where we wanted to sit. Great vibes and amazing food. read more

Montrio - Sardines and 48 hour bacon - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

We had dinner at Montrio last night. I had the scallops, husband had the duck and we shared the pork belly app, smashed potato side, and the budino dessert. Food was very good. Unfortunately, our dining experience was marred by the aloof service we received. Restaurant was not busy and our server spent a lot of time chatting at the counter with the kitchen staff. He barely spoke to us, never came back even once to see if we were happy with our food. I would have liked some salt for the potatoes. Oh well! The final impression was when he dropped the check at our table without one word. No "thanks", "have a nice evening", "drop dead" ..,nothing. I'm usually surprised when I see a downgraded review rating when the food was enjoyed. Now I understand. We still tipped 20%, but would have been more if we were not treated with such indifference. read more

Stumbled into this gem on our date weekend. Looked cute and inviting so we went in. The place was way bigger than appeared from the outside. Our server Thomas was amAzing. He was very knowledgeable of the the food and drinks and overall a greAt server. We had a little bit of everything. -Irish mules - hot bread with balsamic and oil - Brie covered in oats - the goddess salad - mushrooms - sirloin steak -s'mores - pine nut cake Not one bite or drink was disappointing. Will definitely come back. read more

Montrio - Pine nut cake - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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Food was okay. Not worth the wait. Staff was friendly. They sat us outside. Next to a dumpster. They never brought our drinks and still tried charging us for them. The manager was no where to be found. Never again. read more

Came here with two toddlers. Before coming we're ready to feed kids directly with desserts to let them be quiet as they are really picky about the food. But the kids menu saved us, and actually we all enjoyed the kids menu! The calamari is very crispy outside and soft inside. And the spaghetti and the sauce is also great. 48 hour bacon is best of the night. our entrees are not as impressive as kids menu and bacon. The boneless short rib is a little salty, but tastes good with mashed potatoes. Duck breast is good with sauce. Our waiter Scott is very friendly and helpful. Overall it gave us a wonderful date night with kids:) read more

Montrio - 48 Hour Bacon - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

We recently enjoyed a wonderful dining experience at Montrio Bistro. The food was delicious and the newly remodeled restaurant is so beautiful and comfortable. The service was perfect. Our evening was very enjoyable. We look forward to returning again soon! read more

I was looking for a place that felt less touristy while staying in downtown Monterey and Montrio looked like a comfortable neighborhood place. As soon as I walked in the host greeted me and found me a seat at the bar. I tried the almost Paloma which went down too fast but was just I needed. I ordered the catch of the day for dinner which was Alaskan Halibut with Herb Risotto and was recommended a Chardonnay to accompany it and that was a winning combination. The meal was so good that I needed to try the dessert, another recommendation, this time the caramel budino. It reminded me of the caramel pudding snacks I hoarded as a kid only better and I had that with a cocktail that had some crazy banana infused Jameson which I would not be something I would normally order but somehow it just works. The banana takes the bite out of the whiskey and mellowed the flavor. The whole meal was a 10/10 food and service wise. Oh and when I was leaving I left my card on the bar and the bartender chased me down a block away to return it. read more

My dinner experience was exceptional. I'm impressed! I stayed at the Marriott for a work conference and decided to check this place out b/c it's super close to my hotel. The conference organizer had planned dine-arounds originally and one of the dine around spots was the Montrio. Unfortunately the dine-arounds were canceled. So I came here with a new friend I met at the conference instead. Ambiance was very nice and cozy. Service was super friendly and attentive. I opted to have a non-alcoholic drink b/c I had wine at an earlier reception. My ginger beer was refreshing and tasty. The paper straw they used was environmentally friendly and super cool! My dining companion ordered oysters and Mac n cheese. I got the mussels as a light dinner and was so glad I went with that! Those mussels were among the best I've had. The sauce deff hit the home run. It was a bit creamy but not too heavy. The flavor profile was perfect. It brought out the freshness of the mussels without being too salty and overpowering. It was exactly what I wanted at that moment for dinner! I enjoyed my mussels 1000% and even took the leftover sauce back to my hotel and ate it as a soup b/c it was just too good to be thrown away. The following night I came again and ordered to-go b/c I couldn't stop thinking about the food here. Overall, Montrio Bistro is a MUST if you are in Monterey! Love love this place! read more

Montrio - Ginger beer. Paper straws are so environmentally friendly. - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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Love Montrio from my first visit with friends through visits as a solo traveler. Traveling alone can sometimes be a challenge, the crew here makes it brilliant. Amazing food, excellent cocktails, fab wine. A couple of sides and it's an excellent meal. Yum, definitely returning. read more

An absolutely wonderful experience! Both dinner & service were fantastic! The bartender is a true pro at his craft, as my Manhattan was superb. Their wine list has a large variety of great choices --- and it's fun too! Try the 48 Hour Bacon --- yum! And the Beef Carpaccio was also tasty. The Chateau Sirloin was very good, and dare I say the truffle fries that came with it were even better!?? If you're a fan of Short Ribs, you won't go wrong there either. Next time, we're going to try the Octopus Carpaccio. And probably some other seafood as well. Finally, our server Scott was on top of everything with the food/drink, and was fun to talk with also. He was great. This place just seems to do everything right! read more

4 stars for the tapas meal and very yummy, healthful baby kale salad. Manager Kathy S helped attend to a server who gave us horrid and reprehensible service. No eye contact, an absolute flat affect,& every bit of body language screaming out he was not happy to service us. After an unfortunate vinaigrette spill on my bag by another guy, I spoke with accommodating manager, and let her know of the very unfriendly service we received. We sat in the bar/lounge area. Decor and ambience at this former firehouse are inviting and cozy. Food was good. Overall though the experience was so off-putting, that sad server got a 63 cent tip. He should consider himself lucky I even rounded up!!! read more

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Montrio Bistro was rated one of the top restaurants in Monterey and we opted to dine here for my sister's birthday and see if that was true! Luckily, the food did live up to their reputation. Some food items that stood out: -starter -- popcorn with duck confit - a fun, salty treat and good appetizer to share. - entree -- duck breast with baby broccoli - I am a fan of duck and their dish was well seasoned and cooked medium. - sides-- their purple and fingerling potatoes and veggie that was a cross between brussel sprouts and crispy, baby kale. - dessert -- the almond butter cake with pears - this was the best dessert of the three we ordered. I don't even remember the other ones. This almond cake was so moist and flavorful. Montrio seems to be a very popular spot in the area. I advise making a reservation in advance as it does get crowded (and quite loud). There is also a larger, more open upstairs area. They have a varied and creative cocktail menu and wine list. The Saving Private Ryan drink was strong, but was a complimentary mix of ingredients: brown butter bourbon, walnut liqueur, chicory pecan bitters, house-smoked ice. Def a drink you sip! Our server could have been more friendly, but it was a busy weekend and the tables were packed upstairs. A woman (Kathleen) was very gracious and assisted our server throughout our meal. She was really personable and we enjoyed our bday celebration here due to her pleasant vibes! read more

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Let's start off 2016 with my 500th review. Pretty crazy to even say that! '15 was a big year and I wanted to start the NY right with a special dinner. Since we were taking a mini getaway to Monterey, I did a little bit of research and locked our sites on Montrio to ring in the 1st dinner of the year. From the moment we stepped in, we were impressed with the inviting warm decor. After being promptly seated, we were provided with fantastic service. We journeyed through the evening trying everything from drinks to apps/entrees to dessert. The highlights worth noting are: Drinks: Hell Hath No Fury (Flavorful & Refreshing) App: Mac & Cheese (Comforting with a bit of a gourmet twist) Medium Plate: Short Rib Risotto (Perfectly prepared) Entree: Butternut Squash/Pecan Ravioli (Great wintery pasta) Dessert: Chocolate Malt Cake (The Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream makes this da bomb...so satisfying) Overall, we were totally happy with our dining experience at Montrio from start to finish. Here's to the rest of the year's meals being this tasty & good :) read more

Montrio - Chocolate Malt Cake with Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream..you must get this! - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

I was in the area for a wedding this past weekend and my friends and I came here three days in a row for happy hour. We had a little bit of time on each day to kill so we decided why not come back to a place we knew is good and has good service. We had the same bartender, Carter, and he was awesome!! (5 stars for Carter) He was friendly, funny, on top of service, and most importantly he made darn good drinks! I favored the El mango margarita and that was what I mainly ordered but on the third day I decided to try another mango drink. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name. I did sample my friends' drinks and they were all good as well. I love that they use paper straws versus plastic. Way to be environmentally friendly!!! As for appetizers, we tried different things on different days. We got the bacon wrapped shrimp, white anchovies, and calamari steaks. My favorite of the three was the anchovies because they were really light and not fishy at all. I was not expecting that. The calamari did come with some tasty sauce that you could add spicy sauce drops to. The sauce added a very nice balance to the calamari. The prices for happy hour for drinks was really good, but prices for happy hour food was a little on the pricier side. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

We just had dinner here and our server was Jose. I have a lot of diet restrictions (AIP) and Jose did a fantastic job working with me coming up with a dish I can eat. Not only that but the dish tasted amazing! Definitely check this place out even if you don't find something on the menu you can eat! Thanks Jose for helping me out! Ps my husband had the short ribs and he couldn't stop saying how good the dish was after every bite! read more

So I attended a rehearsal dinner here not knowing I dinner would be occurring here until I was well on my way. Which isn't that big of a deal except I hadn't eaten in several hours and I knew there would be endless pours of wine. Whoops, happens more than I'd like it to. However, as it turns out, they were ready for me. The most thoughtful groom and his mother had called in advance and learned that a vegan entrée was easily doable. And they would also be offering a vegan appetizer. So yes - my portobello entree was fantastic. Not only was it a generous heaping of food that I continued to scarf down way past the point of satiation, it was a beautiful sight to behold as well. The mushroom itself, the purple yam, etc. (refer to photo), I was super enthused and happy about my dinner. I'm pretty sure a few of the omnivores were jealous as I caught a few of them intently eyeing my plate. None for you suckahs! The broccoli hummus on tiny toasts was similarly amazing. I can't say I've ever thought about such a hummus flavor fusion, but it that bite of broccoli complemented the chickpeas and tahini perfectly. Also, I would have to say that this quite a wonderful place to host your rehearsal dinner - as long as you don't have a zillion people to accommodate. We were placed into the upstairs room, replete with its own bar, and the layout was perfect for facilitating a series of silly slide shows. And optimal for encouraging your guests to interact with one another without totally feeling suffocating. Definitely enjoyed my experience here. You probably will too. read more

Montrio - Portobello mushroom entree - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

What a wonderful experience at this restaurant and with the staff. We had a group of 10 and made reservations the day before and they were ready for our arrival. The menu had some great options and no one in our group was disappointed. They also have a vast wine selection and bar area if you want to have a cocktail first. Parking is on the street and we were able to find a space not to far from the location. Make sure you give them a try. read more

I want to start off this review by saying the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Our heater wasn't working and they had 3 different people trying to get it to work and switched it out with one that was working. We got the crispy calamari and duck fat roasted marble potatoes as appetizers. The calamari was delicious and like no calamari we've ever had before, highly recommend. We also ordered drinks, Hell Hath No Fury and Grunge N' Ganja which both were tasty and unique. The scallops and the sirloin were fine, but nothing special. I would definitely come back for their appetizers and fun drinks! read more

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My wife and I found this restaurant on Yelp. We were looking for a dog-friendly place for a romantic dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We sat at a table for two outside (COVID restrictions) near the entrance. The staff was friendly. To start, we shared the Poutine (fries, cheese curds, thick chunks of bacon), which neither of us had ever tried before. It was great! My wife had the Monterey Bay Black Cod, which she enjoyed. She's a big fan of lentils, and the fish came on a bed of Puy lentils. I've long been a fan of short ribs, so I had the Braised Boneless Prime Beef Short Rib, which was excellent. After finishing our entrees, we were both pretty full, but we decided to brave on and split the Meyer Lemon Tart with crème fraîche ice cream. It was delicious. All in all, it was a fantastic meal, and I thought the prices were reasonable for the level of quality offered. read more

So happy for the re-opening!! The food, the service, and ambiance rival with an on the Monterey Peninsula. We started with a couple of craft cocktails, followed up with a local bottle of Pinot. My wife had the Braised short ribs and I devoured the perfectly cooked New York Steak! The the owners, down to the management, through the servers and busser, create such a warm and inviting experience. read more

Montrio - Perfectly cooked Medium Rare New York Steak! - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

4.5 The mussels in the curry sauce is one of the best I've had! The mussels are incredibly fresh holy moly! The 48 hour bacon was also outstanding! Very tender. The other dishes I had were just okay and I probably wouldn't order them again (oatmeal crushed Brie, anchovies, mixed mushrooms, calamari). As for desert, the bread pudding and the chocolate custard crunch were so good, though I think the bread pudding was the better dessert. It was so moist. read more

A quiet dimly lit atmosphere, great for conversation (hearable even when across from the kitchen). The aromas left us excited as our party combed through the binder-filled array of wine selections, resulting in the best champagne I've ever had. The appetizers were loved, including mini tacos (true to their size and name), chilled seafood, and warm-at-the-table lobster bisque was served. The server was attentive and made for amicable small talk, as appetizers and salads were cleared out before the main entree. The duck portion and seasoning were a delightful surprise, while the chicken dish left us wanting something more. For dessert, the chocolate cake had more of a brownie consistency but was enjoyable nevertheless, topped with the best coffee-based cocktail I've had in the area. read more

I wish I could give this place 100 stars! I've been here multiple times and have tried a few dishes between my boyfriend and I and they have all been amazing! However, I can't seem to stay away from the prime chateaux sirloin!! The steak is so delicious, the truffle fries.. AMAZING!! The restaurant itself has nice ambiance to it and the staff is always super friendly and helpful! Drinks are good and you really cannot beat 50% off wine bottles on Sundays. Everything is reasonably priced and the quality of all the food is *chef's kiss* If you ever come to eat here please do yourself a favor and order the bread pudding for dessert. It's honestly the most wonderful dessert on the planet! This is my go-to restaurant in the Monterey area. Love love loveeee this place :) read more

Montrio - steak dishes - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Bartender Daniel is amazing! The food is delicious (but a bit pricey) and presented well. The ambiance is worth a date night excursion for sure! read more