If it's your first dinner at Montrio, a great order looks like this: start with the Lobster Bisque poured tableside or the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes, pick a signature entrée like the Seared Sea Scallops, the Cioppino, or a Certified Angus or Snake River Farms Wagyu cut, and add a shareable side. Below, our chef's picks by course.
Our menu and wine list change with the season. The dishes and pairings here are a guide, not a guarantee — please call (831) 648-8880 to confirm what's on tonight.
Start with these
Montrio's appetizers are built for sharing, and a couple of them are showpieces. The Lobster Bisque is poured tableside over Atlantic lobster tail and fennel confit — equal parts flavor and theater. The Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes, with malt vinegar aioli and a petite pea-shoot salad, are a perennial table favorite.
For something with more swagger, the Steak Tartare arrives with egg jam, fried capers, Dijon, and crostini, while the Duck Confit Mac-N-Cheese — sharp white cheddar, parsnip, spinach, and bordelaise — is the indulgent choice on a cool Monterey evening.
- Lobster Bisque — poured tableside; Atlantic lobster tail & fennel confit
- Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes — malt vinegar aioli, petite pea-shoot salad
- Steak Tartare — egg jam, fried capers, Dijon, cornichon, crostini
- Duck Confit Mac-N-Cheese — sharp white cheddar, parsnip, spinach, bordelaise
The signature entrées
If you order one thing, make it the Seared Sea Scallops — diver scallops with a wild-mushroom and Brussels-sprout fricassée, parsnip purée, and a pomegranate reduction. The Cioppino is the table's centerpiece: a San Francisco classic loaded with Jumbo Lump Blue Crab, P.E.I. mussels, little-neck clams, gulf prawns, and scallops in a Pomodoro-harissa broth with grilled bread.
Prefer something off the water? The Roasted Jidori Chicken (smoked mashed potatoes, sun-dried tomato pan jus) and the Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs over pommes purée are the comfort-forward picks, while the Grimaud Farms Duck Confit with wild-mushroom risotto leans rich and elegant.
- Seared Sea Scallops — wild mushrooms, Brussels-sprout fricassée, parsnip, pomegranate reduction
- Cioppino — crab, mussels, clams, prawns, scallops, Pomodoro & harissa
- Roasted Jidori Chicken — smoked mashed potatoes, heirloom carrots, sun-dried tomato pan jus
- Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs — pommes purée, tomato confit, sautéed spinach, pan jus
For the steak lover
Montrio's Certified Angus and Wagyu cuts are the splurge. The Snake River Farms Wagyu Eye of Ribeye is grilled over almond wood with chimichurri and boulangère potatoes. The Certified Black Angus New York Strip comes with duck-fat porcini frites and béarnaise, and the Porcini-Dusted Filet Mignon is finished with a wild-mushroom bourbon sauce. Add the Boulangère Potatoes or Wild Mushroom Risotto to round it out.
Eating vegetarian
Plant-forward diners are well looked after. The Charred Carrot Steak with house chimichurri, roasted cauliflower and broccoli, pistachios, and chili oil is a genuine main — not an afterthought. Pair it with the Smoked Beet & Burrata Salad and the Wild Mushroom Risotto for a satisfying, meat-free table.
A drink to begin
Open with the Almost Paloma (tequila, lime, house grapefruit shrub) or, for a moment of theater, the Smoke & Mirrors — a table-side mezcal pour with Chartreuse and Amaro Nonino. Not drinking tonight? House mocktails like the Montrio Spritz and Blood Orange Shrub are made with the same care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Montrio known for?
Montrio is the only Michelin-rated restaurant in downtown Monterey, known for inventive Californian cuisine — locally sourced organic produce, sustainable seafood like the Cioppino and Seared Sea Scallops, and prime Certified Angus and Snake River Farms Wagyu cuts — served in a historic 1910 firehouse.
What is the best dish at Montrio for a first visit?
First-timers can't go wrong with the Seared Sea Scallops or the Cioppino, started with the tableside Lobster Bisque. Steak lovers should consider the Snake River Farms Wagyu Eye of Ribeye.
Does Montrio have vegetarian options?
Yes. The Charred Carrot Steak is a full vegetarian entrée, and the Smoked Beet & Burrata Salad and Wild Mushroom Risotto make excellent meat-free additions.
Plan Your Visit to Montrio
- Browse the full seasonal Monterey dinner menu
- Explore our Central Coast wine program
- Read the rest of the Chef's Guide
- See what to pour with each dish in our wine & cocktail pairings guide
- Read the sustainable Monterey seafood guide
- Explore Montrio's Monterey steakhouse menu
- Why Montrio is a top Michelin-rated Monterey restaurant