For the third year in a row--and the fifth time in the last ten years--we rang in New Year's Eve at Montrio in Monterey Bay. What a gem. At this point, it's tradition. It's become a running joke in our family that I save up my appetite all year for the bacon-encrusted pork chop with dried apples and sriracha risotto. But jokes aside... it's the truth. This dish is so good that I've been known to pick the bone clean with my teeth, shamelessly. No regrets. The service here is always top-notch--warm, attentive, and genuinely patient with our kids (ages 4 and 6), which is no small feat on New Year's Eve. The food came out quickly, the pacing was spot-on, and the orecchiette pasta for the kids was buttery, cheesy perfection, loaded with parmesan just the way they like it. My wife ordered the smoked beet salad (a bit smokier than she prefers, but still delicious) followed by the mushroom risotto and was completely satisfied. And then there's the ambiance. Montrio feels like it's been pulled straight out of a Humphrey Bogart film--dim lights, piano and jazz floating through the room, hats hanging, time slowing down just enough to remind you why places like this still matter. It's cozy, classic, and effortlessly cool. We skipped dessert only because we always end the night at a local ice cream spot, but we were tempted to linger. We'll absolutely be back again next year. Montrio continues to deliver, year after year. read more

Montrio - Bacon-encrusted pork chop with dried apples and sriracha risotto. Worth building a New Year's Eve tradition around. - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

We wanted to try something special for dinner and my husband and I splurged a little bit with dinner at Montrio. I noticed the Michelin sticker for 2019 and this made me more excited to try the food. Reservation was easy and available even on a days notice. Yay for that! Our server was attentive and made sure we had a great experience. Decor is nice and you can tell it's one of the more fine dining places in the area. We started with crab cakes, move on to the pork chop and short ribs. Both were made to perfection. Dessert was a toss up but glad we had the cake. For all you pop rock lovers out there, the addition of this candy to dessert was unexpected but surprisingly good. Will definitely be back to try the other dishes. read more

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Drum roll, please! I have to say, this is one of my favorite spots in Monterey. While it's not my only favorite place, it certainly ranks high on the list. Located in the downtown area, it feels like you're inside a firehouse--which might seem a bit strange, right? The reason for this unique ambiance is that it was the first firehouse in California! Built in 1910, Monterio opened its doors as a restaurant in 1995. Although there are no firetrucks present, so you'll have to make your own siren noise if things get too heated! ' Seriously, the food and atmosphere are incredible, so don't hesitate to check it out! I've been here three times: twice with clients and once on a personal visit. Each time, the service and food were consistently good. So, make sure to choose this popular spot the next time you're in town. It's the place to be in downtown Monterey! The menu offers a great variety of items to choose from. Here are some of my favorites: For appetizers, the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake was a standout for me. It's served with malt vinegar aioli and a petite pea shoot salad. If you enjoy crab cakes, you simply must try this! As for the main courses, I've had the short ribs, which were very good, and the cioppino, which was okay but a bit pricey. However, I absolutely loved the stroganoff. Make your way over to this old firehouse--you'll be glad you did! read more

Housed in Monterey's first fire house built in 1910 you will be dining in history, it's interesting to identify the era based on design but the redone interior has a 90s fancy aesthetic that hasn't aged well but I still appreciate this time capsule. Service was outstanding with staff that were informative and knowledgeable about the menu without having to run to the kitchen to check. Review is for their summer menu, it changes seasonally. Abalone Mini Tacos: fried so delicately and perfectly, it's like eating an abalone cloud. With salmon roe, cilantro, red cabbage, and radish. Perfectly bite-sized. Scallops: on a bed of creamy risotto garnished with greens, salmon roe, and fennel. I found the fennel a little overpowering and the scallops tasted better with some of them taken off. Wagyu Ribeye: with duck fat fried potatoes, loved the large crunchy bits of salt. Very heavy and I only needed a couple bites, shared the rest with family. Kids grilled cheese: We don't anyone to help watch the kids so they end up coming with us to fine dining if we can find a place that is kid friendly. I'm not sure if they are used to cooking for kids, the grilled cheese had 4-5 layers of cheese which was excessive and one of them had cheese that was not melted. Cocktails: Bee's Knees, Almost Paloma, Brown Butter Old Fashioned. All excellent, the fine cocktails makes me want to try all of their creations. read more

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Montrio is a great dinner spot if you're looking for a nice meal and great service! The restaurant is not too loud despite the high ceilings. The short ribs were excellent as was the lobster bisque. The halibut and scallops were also good. Desserts were great! read more

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Visited Monterey over the weekend to celebrate my birthday, and my partner chose Montrio for my birthday dinner. We experienced an excellent dinner service with great cocktails to pair. Ambiance felt intimate and the staff made us feel special. Tip for those who don't know, they provide complimentary bread upon request, so be sure to ask or they will not tell you about it. The corn creme brûlée was too sweet. The duck prosciutto combined with the creme brûlée tasted delicious, but it felt weird eating that as our appetizer when it tasted like dessert. Our mains were the pork chop and the scallops. The seared scallops were divine! Perfectly cooked and had a nice meaty bite to them. I thought the pork chop was also prepared very nicely. It tasted very similar to chinese siu yuk actually. Both of these large plates came with risotto, and maybe it's personal preference but we found the risotto to be underwhelming. A bit too heavy, and did not hit the mark for us. The risotto with the pork chop had a sweet sauce on top that was a bit too sweet for our tastes. For dessert, we had a very decadent chocolate cake that came with pop rocks sprinkled on top. The pop rocks were fun because I have not had them in years, but too much since the cake itself was already heavy. We received complimentary sorbet for my birthday, and I enjoyed the sorbet over the cake. Thank you for the great service. read more

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Upscale yet casual. Be mindful of parking, and if you have reservations allocated extra time to compensate for the walk. The service was great, our server was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. She went above and beyond and explaining the restaurants style of cooking. I ordered the special salmon which came with mild mushrooms in a miso sauce, it was delicious and tasted very fresh. The salmon was sourced from New Zealand. Additionally we enjoyed the lump crab cakes , which were not full of fillers but primarily actual crab. Finally we closed out the night with crème brûlée which sealed the deal! read more

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Ambiance is chill, beautiful, great jazz. To be honest, the taste of the food is more important than the ambiance for me. Good thing this has both! Jules, my server and bartender, took the time to describe the 2 dishes I was undecided about. I chose the Jidori chicken, the montrio house salad and he recommended the Pinot to go with my chicken. As you can see the pour is a standard volume. The salad was beautiful and the perfect light blend of flavors. Love the caramelized pistachios and dressing. First off, Jules is a Gem. When you come (and you must) ask for him and say hi! The Jidori chicken was succulent and delicious. The jus was perfect with the mashed potatoes. And, the dish wasn't heavy. I was ready for dessert. A second recommended wine with my favorite dessert on the Peninsula. The white chocolate passion fruit pudding. And both the wine and dessert was perfect. Ok, if you are a tourist or local, this is a restaurant at the top of your list! Btw, I came on a Sunday night during prime time hours, there was no wait. This is a hidden Gem (besides Jules)!! read more

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My First Time There Ever since New Owners took over all 3 Restaurants I went for an Early BIRTHDAY DINNER because my server friend was busy the rest of the week. I looked at Menu It was a Toss up from Short Rib, Half Chicken or Pork chop. I decided the Crusted Pork Chop I started with the onion soup then the crusted Pork chop. Very Tender with brussel sprouts and Rizzoto I recommend it highly read more

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Good date spot if you want to take someone out for a fancy dinner. Food is good and service is good as well read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Montrio is chic, fun and amazing!!! I absolutely loved dining at this restaurant, such a fun experience!! Went with a work colleague and we sat at the bar, arrived around 730pm and had no problem finding a seat at the bar. Warm welcomes all around, everyone from the hostess to the bartender welcomed us with a smile. Service was quick and friendly, no time wasted getting our drink and food iorder (highly appreciated) The restaurant itself is very comfortable, small but feels big. It definitely added to the overall dining experience. The food...... perfect..... absolutely perfect. Full disclosure... I don't like duck, not my thing!! I went out on a limb and ordered the Mac and Cheese with duck and it was EPIC to say the least. Pure enjoyment!! Highly recommend based on every aspect of the dining experience (Food, ambiance and service) Please go and enjoy!! read more

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We love to eat at Montrio Bistro when we come to the Monterey area. The food is always fantastic, the drinks are great, and the service is always top notch! We really enjoy small plates and Montrio has some great appetizers we enjoy in Addison to their main courses. We dinned midweek so it was not that busy and the ambiance was excellent. If you dine during the weekend, I would recommend a reservation as they can fill up quickly. We highly recommend Montrio Bistro...you will enjoy it! read more

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We had a truly memorable experience at Montrio in Monterey. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service throughout the night made the dinner feel special. Service Our server, Concheta, was incredibly kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. She made great recommendations and checked in just the right amount--her energy added so much to the evening. We also had the pleasure of a quick meet-and-greet with Chef Kurt, who stopped by our table. It was a thoughtful touch that made the meal feel personal and showed how much care goes into the kitchen. Drinks The cocktails were outstanding--balanced, creative, and crafted with real attention to detail. Definitely worth coming for the drinks alone - please make sure to try the Almost Paloma! Appetizer: Pork Belly The pork belly was exceptional: crispy on the outside, tender and silky inside. The flavors were rich without being heavy, and the accompaniments complemented it perfectly. Special of the Day: Alaska Halibut The Alaska halibut special was beautifully prepared--perfectly cooked, flaky, and full of fresh, clean flavor. The presentation and sides tied everything together seamlessly. We also ordered the side of wild mushroom risotto, and was perfectly balanced, creamy and delicious. Overall, Montrio delivered an experience that felt both elevated and heartfelt. Amazing food, excellent drinks, warm service, and a personal touch from the chef. We'd absolutely return. read more

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The restaurant is a great little hideaway from downtown Monterey. It is usually really busy and reservations are recommended. I snagged a seat at the bar and the bartender had a menu for me shortly thereafter. He recommended a Brown Butter Old Fashion which kind of blew my socks off. Great starter for a nice meal. I ordered up crab cakes for an appetizer, followed by the seared duck breasts (rare). Both were very good and paired up with a Sonoma County Pinot Noir. I recall this restaurant has an upstairs banquet room for small gatherings or larger groups. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

This was a favorite of ours but the menu is limited with expensive plates and rich food. I'm no fan of the food. I am used to high end over the top sauces. Not for me. The people who work here are extremely kind fun and professional. It is a very elegant atmosphere for two for a romantic time. We had Conchetta as our server and she was soooo pleasant and swift to tend to our needs. read more

The gold standard in 5 star cuisine! Professional service with Liza a hospitality diamond! Cool ambiance! Even the hardest working man in the service industry said hello with great vibes & exceptional knowledge we luv ya Charlie!! Keep up the great work! read more

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We dined at Montrio on a Friday evening. It was walking distance from our hotel. From check in to dining, service was consistently great. Here is what we ordered: * Dungeness crab cakes: Meaty and juicy * Duck confit mac n cheese: Decadent and tasty * Crusted kurobuta pork chops: Crunchy outside while bursting with juice * Smoked SRF wagyu ribeye: Smokiness brought another dimension of flavors to the tender meat * White chocolate bread pudding: moist * Butterscotch budino: delicious Montrio is on our list of Monterey restaurants and we will definitely be back! read more

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Food has gone down hill. Used to be great. Not anymore. It was 6:30 pm on Saturday and the place was almost empty. It's unfortunate. Everything tasted like Sysco delivered then heated up. We won't be coming back. read more

Pretty good. I was excited to try this restaurant as the reviews & write-ups were excellent. The food was solid and the setting was good. Service was friendly. read more

A friend recommended we go to Montrio as it is his favorite restaurant in Monterey. Parking is along street or in a small, one level covered garage next door. We were lucky to find a spot in the garage at around 5 pm so be prepared to circle around the area for parking - your best bet will be street parking. Our server was an interesting guy - quite talkative and definitely had strong opinions. Nevertheless, we did have a good meal and while it was nearly forgotten, my Blood Orange Shrub mocktail (house made blood orange sherbet, lime, and soda water) did eventually arrive after our miso glazed pork belly was served. Miso glazed pork belly is a must order here - 6 pieces of pork belly are crisp along the edges but have a slightly sweet, slightly salty flavor. The arugula and onions on the side were great to cut into the fat. The complimentary bread here is quite good - crispy exterior but very soft interior. I wish there was more thyme throughout the butter instead of being the decoration on top. Caesar salad - very garlicky, comes with big pieces of romaine and actual anchovies on top. Not many places do this with Caesar salad so I really liked this one. We opted to go family style for the meal so us 3 dudes split 2 short ribs and a side of Brussel sprouts. Brussels were very good (caramelized, but not burnt and could taste the sweetness), but would've liked at least 2x the portion if we're paying $14 for them. Short rib had good flavor throughout the cut - sometimes these can only have flavor on outside but not permeate inside. The potato puree had enough butter and the sautéed spinach also complemented the dish. This is definitely a splurge restaurant but the food quality was solid! I felt every dish was above average and I could justify spending the money I did here for almost every dish (still looking at you, Brussels...) We were full so we skipped dessert. On a Saturday evening, it was about 60% full. Some ambiance suggestions I would make - while I loved the red booth seats, somehow the air felt slightly cold inside - if they warmed it up inside and added some fire elements, it would be perfect. read more

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Great food. We had the filet and the cioppino. Caesar salad and onion soup with crab cakes. Service was impeccable, Concetta was the sweetest and we enjoyed having her as our server, she's a true gem. So cute inside although a bit small area. Was a special celebration so we had a nice little corner table. Will be back soon. read more

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Really great meal. Very attentive service. Ordered some drinks throughout the meal and loved them all. Highly recommend the old fashioned. Started with fried oyster tacos which had a nice crunch but could have used a little more salt and acid. Lobster bisque was excellent. Very creamy and perfectly cooked lobster. The main course was a sea bass and everything on the plate was sooo good. Fish cooked perfectly. A delicious well balanced sauce with both acid and heat. The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery. Yum! We also ordered a side of the their special potatoes that was like a bacon scalloped potatoes. Those were fine. Bread pudding to end the meal. Also delicious. read more

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Visits to Montrio already always exciting food is consistent and delicious! But this time the downstairs bartende didn't pat attention to my drink order and made it wrong. Then the server upstairs tried to make the drink better with no sugar but had no success. Good old fashioned drinks with good Bourbon are not made with cubed ice... just sayin On the upside, the caesar, scallops entree and flourless chocolate cake were fantastic! Even better the company was superb! read more

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The food was really tasty and we enjoyed everything we tried. The service was very attentive--almost a little too attentive at times. Our waitress would stop by so often that she'd naturally chime in and seamlessly weave herself right into our conversation. She was friendly and well-meaning, but it was a bit too much. The portions felt a bit small for the price, and I was still a little hungry even after finishing both the appetizer and entrée. read more

The restaurant has been remodeled since we were here last in 2019. Very nice still. Waitress was very nice, very helpful. Menu has changed, no Lamb choices, too bad - it was an astonishingly great meal 6 years ago. BUT, I ordered the "famous" pork chops and my wife ordered the scallops. See pictures below Pork Chop was really epic, and the scallops were off the chain. Great restaurant, not cheap, but great food can cost you something. read more

Montrio - Scallops - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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[3.5 stars] My boyfriend and I booked our reservation at Montrio for our anniversary this past week. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant with tables surrounding, which was fine, but we would've preferred a more intimate seating arrangement. The server was very kind, but the service was incredibly slow. We didn't really mind the wait, but it's something to keep in mind. We misheard the server at one point and accidentally ordered bottled water instead of regular and that added quite a fee to the bill. The Caesar salad was delicious and fresh and I appreciated their mocktail options on the menu. I ordered the cioppino which I'm used to having in a soup form, but this was more of a sauce and seafood pasta. I enjoyed it, but wished there was more crab and clams as promised and there wasn't enough sauce (it was too good!). I'm usually not a fan of scallops, but the scallops in this dish were phenomenal - buttery, bouncy, fresh. Both of our entrees were very expensive for the amount of food we got. They brought us two scoops of ice cream, complimentary, for our anniversary which was much appreciated! I had the creme brulee for dessert with strawberries and whipped cream - yummy! My boyfriend had the most delicious butterscotch budino dessert that stole the show! Overall, I wish the portions were bigger, more sauce/seafood, and that we were seated in a better spot. We were expecting a bit more from a nice restaurant, but it was still enjoyable, and we had a great night! read more

Great restaurant with amazing food and cocktails. Service was excellent. Must try the Almost Paloma and the Short Rib Stroganoff. read more

Montrio - Almost Paloma - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

The scallops were perfectly cooked and paired with squash in a way that screamed "Autumn" even though it's... not. Unexpected and very rich, but honestly, delicious. Then came dessert: the chocolate cake arrived with a 90s surprise--pop rocks. Yes, actual pop rocks. On cake. It was bizarre. It was brilliant. I also had an espresso with it... so satisfying! Great coffee. The vibe was luxurious but still very welcoming. The service was super friendly, and the music was vibey and relaxing--jazzy in that Sleepless in Seattle kind of way. read more

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Fantastic atmosphere, decor, and service. The crab cakes were divine. The Sea Scallops melted in my mouth. SO good! The service was impeccable-thank you Bridget! read more

My husband and I came in after an all-day drive and an emotional roller coaster about a friend's health. The staff, especially Bridgette (sp?), was lovely. I was astonished by how many GF options I had! I had the burrata with smoked beets and the Jidori chicken. My husband had the lobster bisque and pork chop. We shared a lovely Pinot noir and the flourless Valrhona chocolate cake. And I could eat everything without modifications! I can't believe I haven't found this charming spot on any of my previous trips to Monterey. Definitely coming back! read more

3.5 stars The loud setting and tight dining area make this the perfect anniversary date night! My Fiancé and I were greeted with a casual, "happy anniversary" which gave us the impression of importance, but our night of celebration stopped there because they made it their duty not to bring it up again. My fiancé ordered the cioppino, which was to die for. It came with the perfect blend of sauce that was licked clean off the plate by yours truly. My wagyu steak was as delicious as any other steak could be; nothing notable there. Make sure to order the butterscotch buddino to spice up your sad life. It was the most notable dish of the whole restaurant, on par with the Caesar salad and cioppino. My thanks to the staff for reminding us about our anniversary towards the end, finally. My fiancé's dessert came with ice cream, but the staff served it separately on a "complimentary" dish for our anniversary, even though it came with her order. Not to mention the couple behind us received the same "complimentary" ice cream for their "anniversary" - way to make us feel special. read more

Great ambiance with friendly, attentive service. The food was excellent! It could be even better with a little kick--adding some watercress would really brighten up the flavors. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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Excellent service. Excellent food. Excellent drinks. The restaurant was clean, high end & comfortable. Their menu has an array of excellent cuisine from salads to delicious mouth watering steaks. Fabian was superb. He went above and beyond for my husband delivering on an amazing cocktail he created himself. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

What a disaster! We were a group on the 2nd floor, probably 21 of us, I had the vegetarian scallops. Never have I had such tiny and poor tasting scollops! Although our meal options were preselected. There was long delays in meal service. Wine service was very poor and MANY found that the white wine did not taste fresh and clean - and management argued with us -we had VERY EXPERIENCED wine experts in the group. Service was so bad I had to virtually beg for coffee which was served in a small cup and I was never offered a refill! My wine glass sat empty. While I expected a private group we were jammed in with another with only room dividers which did not block noises. I have been on annual retreats with this group for 41 years, many times in Monterey and we have never before received such poor food and service. read more

I had another opportunity to dine at the restaurant. This new experience was memorable. The short ribs are absolutely delicious - perfectly cooked, wonderful flavor, excellent portion. The risottos are the best - we ordered 2 additional sides for the table. We also ordered mushrooms and the calamari. The service is first class! I will be back to enjoy another meal! read more

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A very classy and intelligent vibe is fantastic. The onion soup needs Gruyère cheese, imho The wagyu steak was quite succulent Also, the servers Micheal Next door to the Marriott read more

We had a fantastic time here. The food was perfection. Each morsel was better than the last. We had some cocktails to start. The smoke and mirrors is Smokey goodness paired nicely with the mezcal. We enjoyed some appetizers like the French onion soup and the Cesar salad . Then for our main entree we had filet mignon that was accompanied by mushrooms, onions and potato puree. It was all cooked to perfection! The wine list was also remarkable, we had a bottle of cab from the Napa Valley and finished our meal with a cream brûlée. Oh wait we can't forget about the side of herbed risotto that we shared that was so rich and creamy it melted in our mouths. For a culinary delight, Montrio is a must try. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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My wife and I stopped by on a Thursday night right at 4:30 when they're starting their open. The bar is the only spot available for service between 4:30-5 as the rest of the kitchen and restaurant are still getting up and running. Fabio, the bartender, was excellent. He's super knowledgeable about each cocktail and was a wealth of knowledge around all things mixology. The special 1890 cocktail was called Agua de Flores which really reminds me of a riff on an Aperol spritz but the base is a hibiscus syrup which reminds me of Agua de Jamaica which I'm a big fan of. It was just the right balance of tart, tangy, and sweet. A beautifully crafted cocktail and a STEAL at $1.89. Yes, you read that right. Less than 2 bucks! We also tried a Pistachio Horchata cocktail which was also "good" but not amazing in my opinion ($10 during happy hour). A bit too sweet for my liking but still an objectively good cocktail. The 1890 featured appetizer was a Housemade Shrimp Eggroll. The outside shell was super light and crispy, almost TOO crispy, but the shrimp inside was still tender and not over cooked. The orange sauce that is drizzled on it is awesome. Some sort of mayo based aioli. Multiple guests asked for more of the sauce to add to their other appetizers because it was so good. The Braised Short Rib Sliders were EXCELLENT. The brioche bun is fresh, soft, light, and airy, while still having a good chew to it. The meat itself was juicy and tender and the slaw added that needed touch of acidity to balance out the richness. The mussels and frittes (yes, fries), were solid and the broth they were in was decadent. The mussels were tender and melted in your mouth which I really applaud because so many places overcook them and turn them into little balls of rubber. Putting the fries on top of the dish may make for a nice presentation but is an odd choice because they'll inadvertently get soggy from the steam coming up from the mussel broth. They'd be better presented on the side in one of those small serving cups. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding which was on top of a rich butterscotch sauce with shaved white chocolate and served with a scoop of passion fruit ice cream on top. I initially scoffed at a bread pudding being served at a "higher end" restaurant but I'm glad my wife decided to go with this dessert because I was thoroughly impressed. Soft and chewy at the center but those toasted / burnt edges on top added some nice texture contrast. The passion fruit ice cream was a great compliment to how rich the pudding and sauce were and it was also nice on its own. Montrio bistro is truly too notch from service, ambience, and food and I'm excited to come again soon. read more

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Excellent, attentive service from the whole staff especially our server William, who introduced the manager to the person in our party who called ahead about a garlic allergy. Beautiful interior, you can see small remnants of the former firehouse it was, like the red brick wall and gold carved fire extinguisher behind the maitre d stand. Ladies, check out the larger women's bathroom stall for the black and white photo of the former fire house. I'm surprised a former Michelin-rated restaurant offered bread and butter though it was rather unremarkable. A sign of a good restaurant is having mocktails on drink list, good sign. I didn't get a drink but my friends enjoyed their mocktail and drink. DUCK BREAST, coconut rice and charred bok choy. Thank you for accommodating the person allergic to garlic, who loved everything. BRANZINO - 3 pieces of fish, provided me with two meals. The sauce was tart and acidic and needed salt. The stewed tomatoes were the best, and the farro was perfectly chewy. ORECCHIETTE with spicy sausage - large serving for high end pasta, delicious, and al dente For meat lovers they have Wagyu and angus cuts. There's a great patio facing the quiet street. We found street parking a few blocks away. Montrio is pricey but a great choice for a special meal with excellent service. read more

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The place has a relaxing atmosphere, good wine selection, and the food is 5/5. The service is also very attentive, and despite everything, the prices aren't crazy. Even if they were more expensive, I would pay them because it's worth it. read more

Montrio - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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