Take the influences of the best European and American cuisine, add a delightfully updated, historical Monterey firehouse; combine the two with great service, and you have Esquire's "Restaurant of the Year" for 1995. The magazine cited Montrio's dedication to fresh ingredients, it's use of color, and its insistence that dining should be casual and fun as reasons for the prestigious honor.
Featuring innovative dishes like Dungeness Crab Cakes with spicy remoulade, Oven-Roasted Portabella Mushroom with ragout of vegetables and the taste-tempting Hazelnut Mint Vacherin, this bistro with big-city ambience has quickly become Monterey's favorite restaurant for all occasions.
House-Made Soup...5.85
Montrio's Dungeness Crab Cakes with spicy remoulade...10.60
Duck Confit served over stewed quince with brioche toast and lemon oil...9.40
Fire-Roasted Artichoke with apple-balsamic vinaigrette and a Mediterranean relish...7.85
Baby Artichoke Risotto with apple smoked bacon, spinach and garlic toast...8.70
Chilled Oysters with sherry-cucumber mignonette (three minimum)...1.95ea
Pavè of Pork over parsnip puree with a crispy apple fritter...9.90
Crispy Calamari with oven-dried tomato basil aioli...6.85
Crispy Polenta with tomato pesto...4.50
Crispy corn fritter with cilantro and lime...4.50
Pancetta wrapped chorizo and artichoke...4.50
Grilled Veal Chop with fig and port chutney...4.50
Assorted Mushrooms with griddled polenta...4.50
Smoked bacon and pepper Cheddar risotto cake...4.50
Hot Dungeness Crab and Artichoke bake...4.50
Pancetta wrapped Prawns with pickled slaw...4.50
Yorkshire Pudding, Filet and horseradish...4.50
Crispy oatmeal crusted Jersey Brie...4.50
SALADS
“Bistro Salad” with organic baby spinach, warm bacon and Point Reyes blue cheese...8.95
Arugula salad with orange, Pecorino cheese, candied walnuts and a black pepper vinaigrette...7.25
Shrimp Nicoise with peppers, egg, green beans and olive tapenade toasts...14.95
Organic Field Greens with a tomato-mustard vinaigrette...5.90
Caesar Salad with garlic-Parmesan croutons...6.95
Caesar Salad with Rotisserie Chicken and oven-dried tomatoes...12.25
Braised Veal Cheeks with mustard-whipped potatoes and braised red cabbage...19.65
Lamb T-Bone and spare ribs; served over roasted beets, potatoes and cipollini onions...19.95
Roasted Black Cod over Yukon gold potatoes, bacon, French beans and green pepper corn cream...21.95
Whole Stuffed Quail served with savory French toast, green beans and an apple blackberry reduction...16.75
Niman Ranch Pork Chop with apple-currant compote and cheddar-jalepeño corn cake...18.55
Pan-Roasted Japanese Sea Bream on a Yukon gold potato hash and a smoked pepper coulis...18.70
Prime New York Steak with garlic whipped potatoes, mushrooms and red wine reduction...29.90
Rotisserie Free-Range Chicken with garlic-whipped potatoes, French beans and mushrooms...18.25
Grilled Kauai Shrimp over a lemon-leek risotto with baby spinach and a pomegranate vinaigrette...19.20
Oven-Roasted Portabella Mushroom over crispy polenta with a vegetable ragout...16.85
Cappellini with fresh and oven-dried Roma tomatoes, garlic, basil and Parmesan...14.95
Wood Grilled Bradley Beef Hamberger or Cheeseburger...8.45
“Bistro Burger” with Point Reyes blue cheese, apple smoked bacon and grilled red onions...9.95
Pulled Rotisserie Chicken, Ham, red onions, Jersey brie, tomatoes and olive mayo...9.50
Grilled Portabella Mushroom with roasted peppers, red onions & Goat cheese...8.95
Cheesy Ravioli with Tomato Sauce...5.95
Pizza with Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese...5.95
Hamburger or Cheese burger with French Fries and all the Fixins...5.95
Pasta Tubes with Butter and Cheese (No Green Stuff)...5.95
Crispy Fried Chicken Strips with French Fries...5.95
Grilled Chicken-Cheese Sandwich with French Fries...5.95
Dessert
Vanilla Ice Cream Chocolate Sundae...3.50