Book your fine dining experience online or give us a call at (831) 648-8880. As one of the best restaurants in Downtown Monterey we'll always do our best to fit you in. One of the five greenest Monterey Restaurants, Montrio Bistro's ever changing internationally and seasonally-inspired small plates and main courses are energized by the best of European and American cuisines.
With sustainable seafood, local organic produce, prime meats, house-made desserts and homegrown stocks and sauces, our green certified Monterey Restaurant's motto is: feel good about what you eat! Join us for an intimate dinner and relaxed evening in downtown Monterey, CA. We're regularly listed as one of the best restaurants in Monterey and we offer something different for locals and out-of-towners alike.
With sustainable seafood, local organic produce, prime meats, house-made desserts and homegrown stocks and sauces, our green certified Monterey Restaurant's motto is: feel good about what you eat! Join us for an intimate dinner and relaxed evening in downtown Monterey, CA. We're regularly listed as one of the best restaurants in Monterey and we offer something different for locals and out-of-towners alike.
Services
However, we are excited to take this opportunity to work on a makeover as we create a newly refreshed, exciting, and an even more inviting restaurant. It has been about 20 years since any major renovations have been undertaken at the downtown Monterey eatery. We can't wait to welcome you back to the Old Monterey firehouse (built in 1910) - home to our Michelin Rated restaurant since 1995.
Reviews (28)
F. J.
Feb 01, 2022
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Looking forward to the Montrio bistro re-opening on February 17!
I have heard that they will have a new executive chef and that they have further improved the interior space.
I certainly hope the new owners realize The importance of retaining the bistro's wonderful happy hour which had become a favorite among locals from all over the Monterey Peninsula. Great food great bartenders great drinks and a great happy hour that is affordable. Don't take away any piece of the puzzle. It must all go together for success! Keep it all going!
Hats off to the new owners the new chef bartender Scott
I have heard that they will have a new executive chef and that they have further improved the interior space.
I certainly hope the new owners realize The importance of retaining the bistro's wonderful happy hour which had become a favorite among locals from all over the Monterey Peninsula. Great food great bartenders great drinks and a great happy hour that is affordable. Don't take away any piece of the puzzle. It must all go together for success! Keep it all going!
Hats off to the new owners the new chef bartender Scott
Mary T.
Sep 05, 2021
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P. Largo
Apr 01, 2021
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I Luv this place! The immediate vibe is hip and the look is artsy! And the food? Well, the food is Amazing! Sharing one another's food seems to be the norm, as we learned, the food looks and taste to good not too! The asparagus and the cauliflower appetizers were delightful! The Angel hair pasta the lamb the filet Mignon and the steak dinners all taste as good as they look in the pictures below... Now for the warning! While dinning its a sure bet that you will hear the ringing of a bell followed by cheering! It's just the kitchen thanking the person who just let them know they were appreciated
Wayne Kimball Jr
Mar 30, 2021
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Sophia K.
Dec 28, 2020
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Anna L.
Dec 09, 2020
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One of the best dining experiences I have had since returning to Pacific Grove. We were celebrating my mom's birthday so decided to dine at Montrio Bistro! From start to finish everything was just perfect!
We arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, but were seated immediately. The tables are well spaced to ensure proper social distancing and all staff wore masks. Each table had a heater to ensure a comfortable al fresco dining experience. The staff was welcoming and our server ensured all our questions about the menu were answered. He provided recommendations and checked in on us
We arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, but were seated immediately. The tables are well spaced to ensure proper social distancing and all staff wore masks. Each table had a heater to ensure a comfortable al fresco dining experience. The staff was welcoming and our server ensured all our questions about the menu were answered. He provided recommendations and checked in on us
Sun L.
Nov 24, 2020
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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
Debi S.
Nov 14, 2020
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We went to Montrio last week on my birthday and this place is OUTSTANDING. I would give it 10 stars if I could! Tables are well placed outside, heaters are provided and the service was top notch. Our server was so friendly and great at recommending things to order.
They have a very creative cocktail menu. I was not sure what to order so our server recommended Hell hath No Fury as it was bit tropical and not too sweet. Right on point! You see, we were supposed to be in Hawaii last week but the pandemic had other ideas. So I had a little Hawaii in a glass and it was fabulous!
We started
They have a very creative cocktail menu. I was not sure what to order so our server recommended Hell hath No Fury as it was bit tropical and not too sweet. Right on point! You see, we were supposed to be in Hawaii last week but the pandemic had other ideas. So I had a little Hawaii in a glass and it was fabulous!
We started
Andrew A.
Nov 12, 2020
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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
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
Tiffany K.
Nov 11, 2020
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WOW, I'm blown away by how amazing this place is -- the service alone deserves 5 stars. The staff consistently checked-in on us and ensured our waters were filled without asking. The patio area for outdoor dining had heating lamps which was helpful during the cold weather!
The food was also delicious, we ordered:
- Mixed Mushrooms w/ Polenta (so good, we had to get it twice) *10/10
- Ahi Tuna (perfectly seared, could have done without the pickled radish) *8.5/10
- Salmon w/ Pesto Risotto (this was their special of the day) *9.5/10
- Braised Boneless Prime Beef Short Rib *8/10
- Chocolate
The food was also delicious, we ordered:
- Mixed Mushrooms w/ Polenta (so good, we had to get it twice) *10/10
- Ahi Tuna (perfectly seared, could have done without the pickled radish) *8.5/10
- Salmon w/ Pesto Risotto (this was their special of the day) *9.5/10
- Braised Boneless Prime Beef Short Rib *8/10
- Chocolate
Linsey M.
Nov 07, 2020
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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!
Ps my husband had the short ribs and he couldn't stop saying how good the dish was after every bite!
Lexi R.
Oct 30, 2020
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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.
Ashley C.
Oct 14, 2020
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If you're in the area and have the chance to dine at this place, DO IT! You won't regret it. Thank you to Jose and Juan for making our dining experience amazing.
I dined here with my husband for dinner and had the pleasure of having Jose as our server. He gave us several recommendations on drinks and food options, but in a way that wasn't pushy and I definitely appreciated that. Some of the items he recommended and we ordered were the scallops and the 48 hour bacon. We also ordered the beef carpaccio and mushroom ravioli. Jose also recommended the bread pudding for dessert. We
I dined here with my husband for dinner and had the pleasure of having Jose as our server. He gave us several recommendations on drinks and food options, but in a way that wasn't pushy and I definitely appreciated that. Some of the items he recommended and we ordered were the scallops and the 48 hour bacon. We also ordered the beef carpaccio and mushroom ravioli. Jose also recommended the bread pudding for dessert. We
Madeline M.
Sep 25, 2020
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I cannot recommend this spot enough!! The mixologist is hands down a wizard, you cannot convince me otherwise. The chef absolutely knows what he is doing. We got the Hell Hath No Fury and Lipstick & Leather cocktails- amazing.
For our starters, we enjoyed a risotto fritter which was delightful! We also ordered the mac and cheese. Whoever made the cheese sauce probably overcooked the roux a little bit, as the sauce itself was a bit grainy. It took away from the experience we could have had with the mac and cheese BUT could not take away my five star review.
For the mains, we ordered the
For our starters, we enjoyed a risotto fritter which was delightful! We also ordered the mac and cheese. Whoever made the cheese sauce probably overcooked the roux a little bit, as the sauce itself was a bit grainy. It took away from the experience we could have had with the mac and cheese BUT could not take away my five star review.
For the mains, we ordered the
Jill Bolin
Aug 05, 2020
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AMAZING FOOD!!! this will be a regular place when we visit! It a bit pricey but you absolutely get what you pay for. This is a lot of food too. The app was waygu beef with figs and is probably the best thing I've ever eaten. I also ordered the braised short rib that was phenomenal! My boyfriend ordered the ultimate American burger and added an egg. He says that it is the best burger he has ever eaten. Then we shared the creme brulee that was so delicate and delicious. Splurge and go if you can, you wont be disappointed.
Priscila P.
Aug 04, 2020
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I went to this great spot on August 1st and my boyfriend and I loved it!! Appetizer, side, drinks and entrée were all a home run for us!
Mac and cheese: ooey gooey cheesy
48 hr bacon: I've never had bacon so tender and fall apart so beautifully. It was also packed with flavor! I wish this dish was my own instead of sharing it.
Drinks: I got the Luck Be A Lady and Flor de la Casona. It was hard to pick drinks because all the cocktails sounded great. Luck Be A Lady was perfect for me because I like sweet drinks but it didn't taste like juice; I could actually taste the alcohol. And
Mac and cheese: ooey gooey cheesy
48 hr bacon: I've never had bacon so tender and fall apart so beautifully. It was also packed with flavor! I wish this dish was my own instead of sharing it.
Drinks: I got the Luck Be A Lady and Flor de la Casona. It was hard to pick drinks because all the cocktails sounded great. Luck Be A Lady was perfect for me because I like sweet drinks but it didn't taste like juice; I could actually taste the alcohol. And
Jules Y.
Jul 26, 2020
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We are not from the area and I wanted to stay away from the touristy restaurants (and crowds). Found this online (thanks, Yelp) and made a last minute reservation for an outdoor table and were quickly accommodated. Happy to see them thriving, busy and making the most of the situation.
Meal Details:
- Fresh bread: yum! More like ciabatta.
- Oatmeal Crusted Brie: ORDER THIS! It's delicious!!!!! I wish I could have had an entire order too myself but that would be a mildly shameful.
- Mac and Cheese: Also very good but quite indulgent. You can share but if you're feeling naughty, you can
Meal Details:
- Fresh bread: yum! More like ciabatta.
- Oatmeal Crusted Brie: ORDER THIS! It's delicious!!!!! I wish I could have had an entire order too myself but that would be a mildly shameful.
- Mac and Cheese: Also very good but quite indulgent. You can share but if you're feeling naughty, you can
Anthony R.
Jul 21, 2020
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Great dining experience. Friendly and helpful staff. Cozy seating. Food was excellent from our appetizer to our entree. We will visit again. We had a reservation, but on a Monday didn't seem necessary. Guessing that a reservation on the weekend would be a good choice to make. I called before going to ask about dress code, I was informed that there wasn't one. I would recommend maybe business casual to keep with the atmosphere of the restaurant. Great place to take a date.
Natasha M.
Jul 17, 2020
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This place might be a great option for vegetarians as well. They offer lots of variety of delicious dishes, we enjoyed amazing mushroom polenta, quinoa with carrot, fried Brie, yummy kale salad, and finished the dinner with fabulous chocolate desert! Not to mention a great wine list!!!
Even though we ended up being there during outdoor dine-in only (a sad part we didn't enjoy the great interior ), the staff made everything to make us feel welcomed. We were offered blankets and they have heated too!
Even though we ended up being there during outdoor dine-in only (a sad part we didn't enjoy the great interior ), the staff made everything to make us feel welcomed. We were offered blankets and they have heated too!
Shannon N.
Jan 03, 2020
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I've written almost 900 reviews on Yelp, and less than 10% of them are 1 star reviews. You've gotta really let me down for me to give you a 1 star (especially if you're a local-owned business!). However, last night we had a terrible experience at Montrio, so here we go.
- our server didn't like us immediately (after I said she could remove the wine glasses since we wouldn't be ordering wine). She didn't even take our order until 30 minutes after we were seated.
- part of the reason I chose this place was their kids menu, with one healthy option of a grilled chicken
- our server didn't like us immediately (after I said she could remove the wine glasses since we wouldn't be ordering wine). She didn't even take our order until 30 minutes after we were seated.
- part of the reason I chose this place was their kids menu, with one healthy option of a grilled chicken
Christina L.
Dec 17, 2019
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Highly recommend this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the service is phenomenal. Can make modifications for food allergies and the staff is very knowledgeable.
We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp, and the smoked salmon as our small dishes. For our medium dishes, we got the artichoke heart (grilled to be gf), seared scallops, and the 48 hour bacon. Finally, had the short rib for the entree.
We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp, and the smoked salmon as our small dishes. For our medium dishes, we got the artichoke heart (grilled to be gf), seared scallops, and the 48 hour bacon. Finally, had the short rib for the entree.
Nicola B.
Oct 15, 2019
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A gorgeous bistro on a quiet street in Downtown Monterey.
We came as a party of 7 to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday. A couple had been before but it was new to me.
The menus are nice and simple and you can tell great care and attention goes into all the details here. The tables are covered in paper, so the break goes straight onto the table, and the dishes come as small, medium, and entree plates so you can mix and match and share easily.
First up, our drinks were a little slow to come out but the cocktails are expertly made. I had a little taste of a few of them. There's
We came as a party of 7 to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday. A couple had been before but it was new to me.
The menus are nice and simple and you can tell great care and attention goes into all the details here. The tables are covered in paper, so the break goes straight onto the table, and the dishes come as small, medium, and entree plates so you can mix and match and share easily.
First up, our drinks were a little slow to come out but the cocktails are expertly made. I had a little taste of a few of them. There's
Schelly Y.
Aug 04, 2019
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Montrio Bistro is about a 20 minute walk from Cannery Row if you happen to be staying closer to that end. It is a pleasant walk along the waterfront or a short 5 minute Uber ride! We received a warm greeting upon arrival and our waitress was great. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance and is spread over two levels.
We started with the risotto fritters and the 48 hour bacon. The risotto fritters were okay but the bacon was D E L I C I O U S! It was tender, thick cut, sweet, salty, and smoky! A must order if you dine here! We followed that up with the burger and black cod both which were yummy as
We started with the risotto fritters and the 48 hour bacon. The risotto fritters were okay but the bacon was D E L I C I O U S! It was tender, thick cut, sweet, salty, and smoky! A must order if you dine here! We followed that up with the burger and black cod both which were yummy as
Miranda Bunn
Jul 08, 2019
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Honestly this was the best food I have ever tasted. We had a reservation and we immediately seated. The atmosphere is romantic and personal. I got one of their signature cocktail and it was phenomenal. I was a little worried that I would have a pretty limited food selection as I am a vegetarian. However the staff was kind enough to modify a dish for me that blew me away. For dessert we had their housemade ice cream and bread pudding. Everything was delicious and if I am ever back in Monterey I will definitely be returning.
Andrew M.
Jul 01, 2019
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Phenomenal place to eat in Monterey. Extremely friendly service and a pet friendly patio. I made a reservation the day before and the manager immediately recognized me on the night I dined there. The duck was amazing. I know duck is very difficult to cook right, but they did it just right. Wife loved the ravioli too, it was so flavorful and hit the spot. Try the bacon appetizer (in my pics). You can't go wrong.
Great wine selection and they make a great Manhattan as well. I will return on my next visit to Monterey.
Great wine selection and they make a great Manhattan as well. I will return on my next visit to Monterey.
Josh Resnik
Nov 25, 2018
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John Bivins
Aug 09, 2018
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Would give it a sixth star for the deserts and Cocktails and a great selection of fine Wine and Spirits!!! Excellent service, food cooked as ask and delightful atmosphere. This is on mine will dine here again and again list. You will love the unique flair to the deserts. Great place for dinner with your special someone or for a very large corporate group or wedding party! Did I mention they have incredible deserts and Cocktails?
Catherine Choy
Aug 12, 2017
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