Montarra - Algonquin

Montarra has always been our go to place for special occasions or just to enjoy a wonderful meal. However, something has happened to end that! Our last great meal at Montarra was July 2019. Since then, on two occasions, both my husband and my dinners (grouper and chilean sea bass) were dry and lacked the wonderful sauces and combination of flavors that were an expected Montarra standard.

I had a wonderful first experience at Montarra. Despite living in the area for many years, I had not had the chance to visit until this past Saturday night. I had made reservations for my wife's birthday and four of our friends, and we were pleasantly surprised by the attentive staff and the fact that our table was ready when we arrived early. The menus even had a special happy birthday message for my wife, which was a nice touch that we hadn't requested. The atmosphere was fantastic and my group appreciated the low noise levels, which made for a great environment for conversation. The food was excellent and all of our guests were happy with their meals. My wife was especially pleased and surprised by the thoughtful gesture from Montarra.

The restaurant offers excellent food quality and service. However, the ambiance is dark and loud. I would consider returning to the bar for drinks and small plates, but the noise level was too high for enjoyable dinner conversation during our visit.

Absolutely delicious food! Totally worth the price tag!

I have been dining at this restaurant for years and have always enjoyed the quality of the food and service. However, during my most recent visit, two out of the four dishes my family ordered were disappointing. The beef tips were extremely chewy and almost inedible, while the sauce on the scallops ruined their taste. The filet that was ordered was also chewy. While I usually do not complain at restaurants, I have decided not to return to this establishment. There are simply too many other dining options available.