The Best Steak in Monterey: Snake River Farms Wagyu vs. Certified Angus at Montrio

For a steakhouse-caliber dinner in downtown Monterey, Montrio pours its energy into two headline cuts, both grilled over almond wood in a century-old firehouse: an 8oz Snake River Farms American Wagyu eye of ribeye with chimichurri, boulangère potatoes, and braised red cabbage, and an 8oz Certified Angus Beef filet mignon with pommes frites, garlicky spinach, and a pink peppercorn au poivre.

What actually makes a steak worth the drive?

Three things: the grade of the beef, the fire it is cooked over, and what happens to it after it leaves that fire. Montrio holds all three. The beef comes from two of the most respected programs in the country. The heat is almond wood — a cleaner, sweeter smoke than mesquite, and a nod to the wood-fired oven the kitchen was practically built around. And each cut is finished simply, so the meat does the talking. If you are torn between the two marquee options, here is how they split. Our Monterey steakhouse page covers the full program.

What is the Snake River Farms Wagyu eye of ribeye like?

This is the richer, more indulgent road. Snake River Farms raises American Wagyu — Japanese genetics crossed with high-grade domestic cattle — and the eye of the ribeye is among the most marbled muscle on the animal. Grilled over almond wood and finished with bright, herby chimichurri, it eats buttery and deeply beefy at the same time. Order it when you want the steak to be the occasion, and pour a Paso Robles Cabernet next to it.

What is the Certified Angus Beef filet mignon like?

This is the leaner, more classic road. Certified Angus Beef accepts only the top tier of Angus cattle against ten quality standards, and the filet is the most tender cut there is. Montrio dresses it with a pink peppercorn au poivre — peppery crust, a little cream, a little heat — and sets it beside pommes frites and garlicky spinach. Order it when tenderness and a cleaner finish matter more than sheer richness.

What if an 8oz commitment is not the mood?

Two other plates deliver the same deep satisfaction without the full cut. The Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs come over pommes purée with confit tomatoes, sautéed spinach, Nueske's lardons, and pan jus — slow-cooked to the point of a spoon. The Roasted Double-Cut Kurobuta Pork Chop, also from Snake River Farms, arrives bacon-and-breadcrumb crusted with an apple gastrique and sriracha risotto. Both are among the plates the kitchen steers regulars toward on our what to order guide.

Which sides earn their place next to beef?

The ones that pull their weight are the boulangère potatoes (sliced, baked slow in stock and onion), the porcini pommes frites, the creamed corn, and the sautéed garlic spinach. The full menu shows what the kitchen is running right now.

What should you drink with it?

Short version from Montrio's wine pairing guide: a Paso Robles or Napa Cabernet for the Wagyu, a Central Coast Pinot Noir for the filet. If you would rather open with a cocktail, the Browned Butter Old Fashioned — brown-butter-washed bourbon, toasted almond syrup, chicory-pecan bitters — was practically designed for a steak night. More on the wine program.

Frequently asked questions

Is Montrio a steakhouse?

Montrio is a seasonal Californian restaurant with a serious steak program — Snake River Farms American Wagyu and Certified Angus Beef, grilled over almond wood — alongside sustainable seafood and produce-driven plates. It is regularly named among the best restaurants in Monterey.

What is the difference between the Wagyu ribeye and the Angus filet?

The Wagyu eye of ribeye is more marbled, richer, and more intensely beefy. The Certified Angus filet is leaner and more tender, with a pink peppercorn au poivre finish.

Where is Montrio?

414 Calle Principal in downtown Monterey, in a restored 1910 firehouse near the Monterey Conference Center.

Do I need a reservation?

Recommended, especially on weekends. Book on the reservations page or call (831) 648-8880.

Is there a more casual steak option in the family?

Montrio's sister restaurant Tarpy's, just outside downtown, serves a more roadhouse-style steak in a historic stone building.

Book the cut you have been thinking about all week — [reserve at Montrio](/reservations), or call (831) 648-8880.