All I can say is, if you enjoy top of the line service along with food that knocks your socks off, EAT HERE!!! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆!!!! I'm in this area 1x a year and already plan on making reservations for next year. Plan ahead and make a reservation. It's obvious it is very popular and our reservation was 4:30pm. Packed. Go! Treat yourself.
We wanted a date night for our anniversary and so began my quest to find the right place for me and the wife. There was no budget for this dinner but the only restraint was that it had with be within a reasonable driving distance. I was looking for some fine dinning options. Immediately 1776 restaurant popped up in my head and we tried to make reservations but they were closed on this particular day, darn. This is the second time now where we tried making reservations at this place and they were closed but not to be deterred because every time we couldn't get there the backup restaurant has always been fantastic and this was no difference.
We arrive at Montarra for our reservation time at 7:30 pm and I'd be lying to you when I tell you that I've driven by this restaurant at least a thousand if not 10,000 times before and it's NEVER caught my eye. I just always assumed it was just chain restaurant even through I've never heard of Montarra before. But I digress. I went on my trusty GOOGLE app to find some more information about Montarra and right away the excellent rating and plating caught my attention. This was the spot we're going to celebrate our anniversary.
Once we get in I tell the hostess that I made reservations and she replied with, "happy anniversary" and my wife was pleasantly surprised already. Was this a sign of things to come as to how outstanding the service is at this place? We will see. We get placed in a dimly lit dinning room, which sets the mood nicely. Right away as we sit down my wife mentions how cold she is. And to her credit, the table they sat us at had a draft but it wasn't too bad for me but for her she kept her jacket on.
We were greeted and I went with a beer and my wife got wine. We started our meal with the bacon wrapped scallops and french onion soup and the soup of the day which was chicken with wild rice.
The service was excellent, like a wise seasoned vet playing in his 15th season. He was a smooth talker and just made the night extremely relaxed and enjoyable. The bacon wrapped scallops arrived and under it was a bed of perfectly cooked Spanish with pecan maple butter. Believe me when I tell you this, the Spanish was the best thing I ate all night. It was again cooked perfectly and paired with the pecan maple butter, I could have just ate a plate of that buy itself. Oh man. I didn't even touch upon the bread rolls and butter that they serve you before the meal. That was delightful in itself but I didn't want to fill up on that!
After that was their world famous french onion soup. And I'm a french onion soup snob. I like it only a certain way and that's with the cheese melted on top of it, just like how Around the Clock does it. But again, the presentation and soup itself is amazing and a must-have if you like FOS. I tried some of my wife's chicken and wild rice soup and that was delicious as well, creamy and deep with flavor.
For dinner I went with the Waygu Bavette Steak over potatoes and green beans which was off their special menu. My wife went with the Lump Crab & Artichoke Stuffed Jumbo Mushrooms and Creamy Truffled Cauliflower.
For me the Waygu steak was OK. I wasn't a fan of the puree they used but to each their own, it was still good. My wife enjoyed her meal as well.
Overall, Montarra is a HIDDEN GEM and I'm mad at myself for not going here sooner or having any of my friends or neighbors tell me about this place. But now I will make it my duty to tell every single friend, neighbor, family member about this special place.
Executive Chef, Joshua Lynn has created a downtown Chicago dining experience right here in the Algonquin area and I thank him for it. The wife and I will be back to try a bunch of other things on the menu and thank you again for making our anniversary special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Duet of Beef Tenderloin Tips & Pecanwood Bacon Wrapped Jumbo Scallops
Donald Beverly
Excellent food, group of four, all had something different; each dish was great!!! We are coming back tonight after just being there on Friday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janell M.
Beef tips & scallops were nothing to rave about. Tips were cooked perfect (med rare) pan seared I'm guessing, just wasn't very flavorful. Sautéed spinach had an odd iron/metal aftertaste. The corn with seafood bisque was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Sharon Bowen
Food, service atmosphere were perfect. Went for our anniversary, loved the personalized menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Caramel Turtle Cheesecake, Steak
Elizabeth F
Went here on a date and was very pleased. Everyone was genuinely friendly, atmosphere was peaceful, smelled great, classy and food/drinks were excellent. I ordered a peach martini and filet minon. Delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dave L
Made reservations for our anniversary. The hostess,coldly, sent us to find our own seats? Once seated we were ignored for a long time. We informed the hostess that we needed some help. A few minutes later another hostess threw one menu on the table and presented another in my face with a “Here”. Terrible customer service. We chose to spend our night somewhere else. We did not feel welcome here.
Mollie Gordon
We loved our food! Decided to make it a "tapas" evening and sampled 4 fabulous small plates in lieu of a full entree. Our server, Amy, was meticulous. Not too over attentive, yet always available if need be. In our past visits, we remember a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, we were seated next to a very loud part of 8. One gentleman in particular needed to recount various tales with high volume and riddled with profanity. Now, I've been known to swear like a sailor, but NOT in a restaurant. It will certainly not prevent us from visiting again.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup
Tom Stabosz
It is a great place with nice serving staff .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vivian L. Sims
There shouldn't be any 1 star reviews for this place because it's incredible. INCREDIBLE. Service, food, atmosphere - all of it. We have been coming for 7+ years and it's always been outstanding. I have food allergies that are taken very seriously as well, which I appreciate (not all places do). It's pricey but it suits the quality you receive. We often have business dinners/entertaining here, too, and all guests have had nothing but positive reviews.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caramel Turtle Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, English Sticky Toffee Pudding, Risotto, Steak, Petite Filet Mignon Crisps, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Classy concept with three rooms and bar seating. Extremity polite, knowledgeable, and professional staff offering an excellent drink menu including moctails. My table absolutely loved every drink that we ordered. The Angles Envy Burbon Old fashioned was flavorful and outrageously good, very recommendable. The Zucchini soup was the best soup I have tasted in a long time. The petite filet mignon were great, as was the chef's special American wagyu beef. I gave Mantarra Five stars out of Five due to the fact that my table had a fantastic experience
Parking: Easy parking
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup, Steak
Nilson Wholesale
I’ve gone 3 times now and every dish has hit the spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Lollipops, Dark Chocolate Flourless Fondue Cake, Steak, Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb
Clara Chn
The place has a cool vibe and the food is good. The lighting from the window is also nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamzin Gonzales
We joined a few folks for a team dinner here. It was elegant and very well done. Service was professional. I tried the lamb pops, filets and stuff mushroom appetizers. Highly recommend the mushrooms and lamb. My dinner was the scallops. They were perfect, and the bed of risotto (I believe) was delish.
By far one of the best hidden gems in the western suburbs. I've been here several times and love coming back.
My first experience was sitting at the bar by myself. I had an appetizer, a whiskey, steak, dessert, and dessert drink. All 5 of these items were stellar and well above what I was expecting. I haven't had anything this good since Hell's Kitchen in Las Vegas. Both the steak and dessert melted in my mouth and the drinks were a fantastic way to begin and end.
Next was the fabulous service! Several of the bar staff went out of their way to talk to me and learn my name and who I was. This ended up being real, genuine interactions because they all recognized when I came in 2 weeks later with my family! Truly made me feel welcomed!
The overall atmosphere is a fine-dining atmosphere, but you can dress nicely or dress down, both of these worked just fine. It's a beautiful space with amazing interior decorations. Despite how it looks, the prices are way lower than what you would expect and for what the quality of the food was.
And one of the best parts was the interactions with other customers at the bar. So many friendly individuals and regulars who are very welcoming and all give the same praises. As a bartender told me, this location competes with the expensive fine-dining in Chicago, but is hidden away in the suburbs and is cheap. I've been to many fine-dining establishments and worked for many as well and I have to say: this is one of the best and cheapest.
I have nothing but positive things to say about the location and recommend stopping in! And definitely try the English Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: English Sticky Toffee Pudding, Steak, Petite Filet Mignon Crisps
All I can say is, if you enjoy top of the line service along with food that knocks your socks off, EAT HERE!!! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆!!!! I'm in this area 1x a year and already plan on making reservations for next year. Plan ahead and make a reservation. It's obvious it is very popular and our reservation was 4:30pm. Packed. Go! Treat yourself.
Dietary restrictions: Delicious gluten free chocolate dessert
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Dark Chocolate Flourless Fondue Cake, Brussels Sprouts, Steak, Tuna
We wanted a date night for our anniversary and so began my quest to find the right place for me and the wife. There was no budget for this dinner but the only restraint was that it had with be within a reasonable driving distance. I was looking for some fine dinning options. Immediately 1776 restaurant popped up in my head and we tried to make reservations but they were closed on this particular day, darn. This is the second time now where we tried making reservations at this place and they were closed but not to be deterred because every time we couldn't get there the backup restaurant has always been fantastic and this was no difference.
We arrive at Montarra for our reservation time at 7:30 pm and I'd be lying to you when I tell you that I've driven by this restaurant at least a thousand if not 10,000 times before and it's NEVER caught my eye. I just always assumed it was just chain restaurant even through I've never heard of Montarra before. But I digress. I went on my trusty GOOGLE app to find some more information about Montarra and right away the excellent rating and plating caught my attention. This was the spot we're going to celebrate our anniversary.
Once we get in I tell the hostess that I made reservations and she replied with, "happy anniversary" and my wife was pleasantly surprised already. Was this a sign of things to come as to how outstanding the service is at this place? We will see. We get placed in a dimly lit dinning room, which sets the mood nicely. Right away as we sit down my wife mentions how cold she is. And to her credit, the table they sat us at had a draft but it wasn't too bad for me but for her she kept her jacket on.
We were greeted and I went with a beer and my wife got wine. We started our meal with the bacon wrapped scallops and french onion soup and the soup of the day which was chicken with wild rice.
The service was excellent, like a wise seasoned vet playing in his 15th season. He was a smooth talker and just made the night extremely relaxed and enjoyable. The bacon wrapped scallops arrived and under it was a bed of perfectly cooked Spanish with pecan maple butter. Believe me when I tell you this, the Spanish was the best thing I ate all night. It was again cooked perfectly and paired with the pecan maple butter, I could have just ate a plate of that buy itself. Oh man. I didn't even touch upon the bread rolls and butter that they serve you before the meal. That was delightful in itself but I didn't want to fill up on that!
After that was their world famous french onion soup. And I'm a french onion soup snob. I like it only a certain way and that's with the cheese melted on top of it, just like how Around the Clock does it. But again, the presentation and soup itself is amazing and a must-have if you like FOS. I tried some of my wife's chicken and wild rice soup and that was delicious as well, creamy and deep with flavor.
For dinner I went with the Waygu Bavette Steak over potatoes and green beans which was off their special menu. My wife went with the Lump Crab & Artichoke Stuffed Jumbo Mushrooms and Creamy Truffled Cauliflower.
For me the Waygu steak was OK. I wasn't a fan of the puree they used but to each their own, it was still good. My wife enjoyed her meal as well.
Overall, Montarra is a HIDDEN GEM and I'm mad at myself for not going here sooner or having any of my friends or neighbors tell me about this place. But now I will make it my duty to tell every single friend, neighbor, family member about this special place.
Executive Chef, Joshua Lynn has created a downtown Chicago dining experience right here in the Algonquin area and I thank him for it. The wife and I will be back to try a bunch of other things on the menu and thank you again for making our anniversary special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Duet of Beef Tenderloin Tips & Pecanwood Bacon Wrapped Jumbo Scallops
Excellent food, group of four, all had something different; each dish was great!!! We are coming back tonight after just being there on Friday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beef tips & scallops were nothing to rave about. Tips were cooked perfect (med rare) pan seared I'm guessing, just wasn't very flavorful. Sautéed spinach had an odd iron/metal aftertaste. The corn with seafood bisque was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Food, service atmosphere were perfect. Went for our anniversary, loved the personalized menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Caramel Turtle Cheesecake, Steak
Went here on a date and was very pleased. Everyone was genuinely friendly, atmosphere was peaceful, smelled great, classy and food/drinks were excellent. I ordered a peach martini and filet minon. Delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Made reservations for our anniversary. The hostess,coldly, sent us to find our own seats? Once seated we were ignored for a long time. We informed the hostess that we needed some help. A few minutes later another hostess threw one menu on the table and presented another in my face with a “Here”.
Terrible customer service. We chose to spend our night somewhere else. We did not feel welcome here.
We loved our food! Decided to make it a "tapas" evening and sampled 4 fabulous small plates in lieu of a full entree. Our server, Amy, was meticulous. Not too over attentive, yet always available if need be.
In our past visits, we remember a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, we were seated next to a very loud part of 8. One gentleman in particular needed to recount various tales with high volume and riddled with profanity.
Now, I've been known to swear like a sailor, but NOT in a restaurant.
It will certainly not prevent us from visiting again.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup
It is a great place with nice serving staff .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There shouldn't be any 1 star reviews for this place because it's incredible. INCREDIBLE. Service, food, atmosphere - all of it. We have been coming for 7+ years and it's always been outstanding. I have food allergies that are taken very seriously as well, which I appreciate (not all places do). It's pricey but it suits the quality you receive. We often have business dinners/entertaining here, too, and all guests have had nothing but positive reviews.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caramel Turtle Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, English Sticky Toffee Pudding, Risotto, Steak, Petite Filet Mignon Crisps, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Restaurantji Recommends
Classy concept with three rooms and bar seating. Extremity polite, knowledgeable, and professional staff offering an excellent drink menu including moctails. My table absolutely loved every drink that we ordered. The Angles Envy Burbon Old fashioned was flavorful and outrageously good, very recommendable. The Zucchini soup was the best soup I have tasted in a long time. The petite filet mignon were great, as was the chef's special American wagyu beef. I gave Mantarra Five stars out of Five due to the fact that my table had a fantastic experience
Parking: Easy parking
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup, Steak
I’ve gone 3 times now and every dish has hit the spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Lollipops, Dark Chocolate Flourless Fondue Cake, Steak, Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb
The place has a cool vibe and the food is good. The lighting from the window is also nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We joined a few folks for a team dinner here. It was elegant and very well done. Service was professional. I tried the lamb pops, filets and stuff mushroom appetizers. Highly recommend the mushrooms and lamb. My dinner was the scallops. They were perfect, and the bed of risotto (I believe) was delish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Lamb Lollipops, Lump Crab & Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
By far one of the best hidden gems in the western suburbs. I've been here several times and love coming back.
My first experience was sitting at the bar by myself. I had an appetizer, a whiskey, steak, dessert, and dessert drink. All 5 of these items were stellar and well above what I was expecting. I haven't had anything this good since Hell's Kitchen in Las Vegas. Both the steak and dessert melted in my mouth and the drinks were a fantastic way to begin and end.
Next was the fabulous service! Several of the bar staff went out of their way to talk to me and learn my name and who I was. This ended up being real, genuine interactions because they all recognized when I came in 2 weeks later with my family! Truly made me feel welcomed!
The overall atmosphere is a fine-dining atmosphere, but you can dress nicely or dress down, both of these worked just fine. It's a beautiful space with amazing interior decorations. Despite how it looks, the prices are way lower than what you would expect and for what the quality of the food was.
And one of the best parts was the interactions with other customers at the bar. So many friendly individuals and regulars who are very welcoming and all give the same praises. As a bartender told me, this location competes with the expensive fine-dining in Chicago, but is hidden away in the suburbs and is cheap. I've been to many fine-dining establishments and worked for many as well and I have to say: this is one of the best and cheapest.
I have nothing but positive things to say about the location and recommend stopping in! And definitely try the English Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: English Sticky Toffee Pudding, Steak, Petite Filet Mignon Crisps
Loading...