A Taste of the Season: What's on the Fall Menu at Montrio in Downtown Monterey

What's on Montrio's fall menu in downtown Monterey?

Among restaurants in downtown Monterey, Montrio is the one built entirely around the calendar. It's a Michelin-rated seasonal Californian restaurant set inside a restored 1910 firehouse, the first firehouse in California, and its menu follows whatever the Peninsula's farms and the coast are actually producing that week. For early fall 2026, the plates worth planning a night around are the Savory Corn Crème Brûlée with duck prosciutto, the Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Salad, Seared Sea Scallops over creamed corn, the Grimaud Farms Duck Confit with pickled peaches, and the Grilled Maitake Mushroom. The full lineup lives on the Montrio menu.

Why does Montrio's menu keep changing?

Most kitchens print a menu and defend it for a year. Montrio's kitchen does the opposite. Produce is locally sourced and organic where it can be, seafood is responsibly caught, and the stocks, sauces, and desserts are all made from scratch. What that means for you: a dish you fell for in July may have quietly stepped aside by October (catch up on what we were ordering this summer), and something built for cooler evenings has usually taken its place. If there's a specific plate you're coming in for, a quick call to (831) 648-8880 will confirm it's on tonight.

What should you order at Montrio as summer tips into fall?

• Savory Corn Crème Brûlée: the one that catches first-timers off guard. Sweet corn custard plays against salty duck prosciutto, smoked beets, and a sharp Dijon vinaigrette.
• Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Salad: shaved frozen heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata, good olive oil, and aged balsamic. In the first weeks of September, when the tomatoes are still singing, it's hard to beat.
• Seared Sea Scallops: big U10 divers over creamed corn with sun-dried tomato and wilted arugula. They carry summer sweetness and autumn richness in the same bite.
• Grimaud Farms Duck Confit: when the evenings finally cool, this is the plate to reach for, with a gigante bean salad, baby bok choy, pickled peaches, and cherry glaze.
• Grilled Maitake Mushroom: the vegetarian entrée that meat-eaters order anyway. Grilled maitake, creamed corn, roasted patty pan and mini squash with pistachios and chili oil, chimichurri, and arugula.

What is it like to dine inside Monterey's historic firehouse?

The setting does half the work. Montrio lives in a restored 1910 firehouse, and the building still shows it: exposed brick, the old firehouse bones, and a wood-fired oven glowing at the heart of the kitchen. There's also a pet-friendly patio for the milder nights. It's a short walk from the Monterey Conference Center and the downtown hotels. That makes it an easy call whether you're a visitor on your first Peninsula evening or a regular driving in from Pacific Grove, Carmel, or Pebble Beach.

What wine pairs with Montrio's fall dishes?

The Montrio wine list stays close to home: Monterey County, the Santa Lucia Highlands, and Paso Robles. Every Tuesday through December, select bottles on the promotion list are half price during dinner service (here's how Half-Priced Wine Night works). A Grenache Blanc from Chalone flatters the scallops and the burrata, and a Carmel Valley Pinot Noir carries the duck confit. If you'd rather not commit to a bottle, the team will happily pair any dish by the glass.

Does Montrio's menu really change that often?

Yes. It's seasonal and evolves through the year as local produce and the daily catch change. Call ahead if you want to confirm a specific dish.

Where is Montrio in downtown Monterey?

Montrio is at 414 Calle Principal, Monterey, CA 93940, inside the historic 1910 firehouse near the Monterey Conference Center.

Is Montrio a good choice for visitors as well as locals?

Yes, for both. It's consistently ranked among the best restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula and is the only Michelin-rated restaurant in downtown Monterey.

Does Montrio have outdoor seating?

Yes. There's a pet-friendly patio alongside the historic firehouse dining room.

Ready for a taste of fall?

Make tonight the one you remember. Reserve your table at Montrio online, or call (831) 648-8880.