Discover the Culinary Gem: Montarra

The Chef is amazing. I never had anything that was t amazing. Highly recommend if you have the opportunity to try this gem.

We went last year Valentine's Day and it was packed with people. First time here and food was good , drinks great, ambiance was terrific...only dish that needed work was the seafood one, but overall good.

We returned to Montarra many years later and we're even more impressed than on our first visit. The service was excellent, the vibes lovely, and the food delicious. I enjoyed the Ciao Bella and Apple Pie Old Fashioned- delicious! We had the stuffed mushroom, bulgogi eggroll, and foie grass appetizers and all 3 we would get again. The bread service was also delicious. For our mains my husband and I had the short rib and really enjoyed it. Finally, we ended with the sticky toffee pudding and the lemon tiramisu. Fantastic Valentine's meal- we'll be back for a special occasion again in the future!

Amazing yet again for a birthday evening. 10/10 recommend the specials. Crab Rangoon salmon is a delicate balance of flavors and textures. Creamy crust is evened out by the salty bite of the pork fried rice. Tortilla soup was rich, creamy and bursting with each bite. Make sure to add in any special occasions, as the staff is so thoughtful and adds in a celebratory note at the top of the menu!

The ambiance of this place is absolutely incredible. The lighting is dim (which I'm always craving!) and the place feels almost like a spa. Serene color palette, curtains from the ceiling to the floor, windows are blacked out to hide outside visual noise, waterfall walls... it truly is incredible. The service is also impeccable. When making the reservation on the website, there was a spot to put in if you're celebrating something special. My husband just got a new job so I selected that option and we were so surprised by the attention that got. Upon checking in, the hostess congratulated him as did our waitress when she came to the table. The menu insert also said "congratulations on your new job" Attention to detail every step of the way. Not something most suburban restaurants are good at. I also made a note in the reservation that a booth next to the waterfall wall would be appreciated. Our reservation was for 7:15 and we showed up closer to 7, prepared to wait a little bit for our table. To our surprise, our table was already ready with the personalized menus waiting for us on the table. We felt very taken care of. We both got french onion soups and both agreed it is one of the best we've ever had. The presentation was also incredible as the soup itself came in an actual onion!!! They also provided a silver gravy boat with additional soup to pour in. The filets were amazing. I ordered medium rare and it was cooked to absolute perfection. We ordered one of their shareable sides as well... the Bacon Braised Brussel sprouts and they were to die for. I highly recommend this place if you're wanting a special dinner you're willing to splurge on. The prices are definitely up there (adding in 3 cocktails, our total came out to $194 pre-tip) but it was absolutely worth it. You definitely get what you pay for. And everything was so luxurious. The service, the ambience, the drinks, and the food...

We came here to celebrate a family birthday and they were excellent for both group outings and a romantic date night! It may be nice to make a reservation as they can get quite busy on the weekends. Service was extremely friendly and accommodating. We recommend the dates appetizer! Everything they brought out was outstanding. We had two vegans in our group and they were very impressed by the chef's vegan option meal. Looking forward to returning!

This is a hidden gem of a restaurant located in the suburbs. The ambiance is amazing. It is beautifully decorated with Chiluly light fixtures and a cool downtown vibe. The food and ingredients are top notch. My favorite salad is the Salted Beet. The combination of flavors is outstanding. Sometimes my husband and I will split the wedge. The portions are ample and the price is very reasonable. My favorite thing on the menu is the Bouillabaisse. It has shrimp, scallops, fish and mussels and the broth is so flavorful that you will definitely want to soak it us with the garlic toast. I have had many of the seafood large plates and they are always prepared to perfection. The small plates are another option and we live the Filet Crisps. You could a mm so make a meal out of the Signature Tacos which are some of the best I have had. My husband enjoys the steak or other meat dishes. For dessert we usually enjoy whatever cheesecake is available. We had the turtle caramel cheesecake and the recipe must have changed beer dud not like that one at all. We still give them 5 stars though because usually everything is anazing and delicious. The food selection is more unique than others and the combination of ingredients and effort put into all the details from the fresh greens, salad dressing, and presentation makes it a special experience.

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 YELP 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.

I have not been to Montarra's in a really long time because it is not close to my house. I met a friend for her birthday. So glad we met at Montarra's! The bar and restaurant is decorated simple yet a cool vibe. I love the dim lighting. It feels more intimate. We sat at the bar. The bartender Ben was very friendly and made suggestions for drinks and appetizers. The dirty martini was so good. Ice cold with blue cheese olives. We had the crispy coconut shrimp with sticky rice. We also had the pork belly with cheddar grits. Both appetizers were delicious. The chef really knows how to combine food, flavors, sauces and textures. I finished with an expresso martini. So yummy! I'll be back for sure.

We were here celebrating my husband's birthday. The food was exquisite, and the service was superb. The ambiance was is pretty and elegant. What we had: Drinks: Glass or red wine and an Old Fashioned. Dinner: I had the Scallops bucatini- the scallops were cooked to perfection and the pasta was a perfect al dente. My husband had the surf and turf with sides of brussel sprouts, mushrooms and a baked potato. Dessert: Espresso martinis with a flourless chocolate cake, it was decadent!! Our server Michelle was amazing!!