Montarra - Algonquin

This was a birthday for our friend and their first time here. Everything was amazing. Cocktail at the bar then at our table. Food was delicious service good, but, disappointed no dessert for my birthday friend. The birthday menu was fun. On the whole we love your restaurant and will return.

The server was very friendly. The salad and soup we order to start were good. They did forget the crispy bread initially, but once we brought it up they brought it. My partner really enjoyed his scallops. My side veggies were delicious. I wish they had more regular vegetarian options on the menu although the chef is more than willing to make special entrees. The chocolate cake was good, the crust was just a little over cooked.

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.