Our Story
From a historic Monterey firehouse to one of the Peninsula's most celebrated dining destinations.
Montrio Bistro is a Michelin-rated fine dining restaurant located at 414 Calle Principal in downtown Monterey, California. Housed in a restored 1910 historic firehouse — the first firehouse in California — Montrio has been a cornerstone of the Monterey Peninsula dining scene since 1995. The restaurant is part of the Coastal Roots Hospitality family, alongside Tarpy's Roadhouse and Rio Grill.
Recognized in the MICHELIN Guide 2025 and awarded OpenTable Diners' Choice 2025, Montrio serves inventive, locally sourced Californian cuisine with a commitment to sustainability. The restaurant is a certified Sustainable Seafood Watch Ambassador through the Monterey Bay Aquarium and one of five Green Restaurant certified establishments in Monterey County. Private dining rooms accommodate groups from 20 to 150 guests for weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and milestone celebrations. Open nightly from 5 PM.
Housed on the same site as the first firehouse in California and in Monterey's historic first firehouse, built in 1910, Montrio opened its doors in 1995. Since then, we've earned numerous national and regional accolades from prestigious organizations like Wine Spectator, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast, and the American Culinary Federation. Most notably, Montrio has been voted Best Restaurant in Monterey County for 10 consecutive years and proudly serves as a Sustainable Seafood Watch Ambassador.
Enjoy summer dining and people-watching on our pet-friendly outdoor patio — the perfect spot to relax and savor every moment.
Our team is deeply committed to environmentally responsible practices across every part of the restaurant.
The leadership behind every plate, pour, and warm welcome at Montrio.
Bio coming soon.
Born and raised in Woonsocket R.I., Chef Kurt Boucher began his career in food service at a young age working for a French bistro in the heart of Woonsocket R.I. As his love of food, technique, and business grew into a passion, Kurt began to travel the country to learn about different cuisines directly from the source.
With a B.A in Applied Food Science from Johnson & Wales University, he has worked his way through the ranks — gaining national recognition working with clientele ranging from celebrities to dignitaries around the world, such as Al Gore and Henry Kissinger. Chef Kurt has led the helm as Executive Chef of the famed Pinecreek Cookhouse in Aspen, Colorado, and earned a spot on Iron Chef America cooking against Bobby Flay on The Food Network. He has cooked alongside culinary legends including Neil Perry, Emeril Lagasse, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and has participated in the Aspen Food & Wine Classic for 7 years as well as Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chef Brunch for 5 years.
His cooking style is based on the philosophy of using the freshest ingredients, as local as possible, trained in classical French with Asian influences. His love of California, the ocean, and people brought him here as Executive Chef at Montrio, where he continues to refine his passion for farm-to-fresh scratch cooking and build upon the Michelin-recognized Montrio Restaurant.
Bio coming soon.