I've been wanting to try out this restaurant, because the name is the place I grew up in: Monterey (in California). The interior was stunning, classy, and spacious with fancy lights, white table cloths, cream color scheme with colorful accents, and full bar. My plan was to order the classic dish, Steak Frites, but the Berkshire Pork Shank intrigued me. This was served with cabbage, roasted apple, along with a nice crispy element on top. I think it would have been better with something more substantial, such as roasted potatoes and carrots. The Pork Shank itself was an impressive size with a fair amount of meat, but a lot of it was bone. The Pork was wonderfully succulent and full of bold flavor from the tasty, savory smoked pork sauce. The apples brought a bright, fresh, sweet element to the meal. Cabbage was just okay. I was able to try the Steak Frites, which I really enjoyed. The Steak was slightly charred, tender, and well seasoned. Fries were steak cut, delightfully crispy and hearty. My friend and I shared dessert of Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse with ice cream. I found this to be disappointingly small with barely any peanut butter taste. The chocolate mousse was rich, smooth and yummy though. Service was solid. Our waiter was welcoming, knowledgeable about the menu, and accommodating. Prices are on the expensive side. I would be open to returning, but not for a while.

In the never ending rotation of steakhouses in NYC, Monterey is a rather new entry and one of the best. The two level restaurant with Miami vibes offers excellent food with service to match. Taking a cue from Monkey Bar, Monterey offers more than just steak and does it very well. On our visit we had; Ballon Sesame Lavash - a totally different bread offering from a steakhouse. The lavash was excellent and is served with carrot tahini. Comte & Onion Bread - another excellent bread offering served with crème fraiche. Both breads are worth the cost of admission. Chopped Salad - a light, refreshing salad. Foie Gras Torchon - the foie gras was excellent, as good as you would get at a top level French restaurant. 30 Day Dry Aged Strip - 14oz, cooked a perfect medium rare, and delicious. One of the best strips in the city. Side Of Fries & Brussel Sprouts - very good sides. Cloud Cake - this is a kind of sponge cake with lime and strawberries topped with whipped cream, an excellent desert. Chocolate Soufflé - another excellent dessert and worth having on the table to share. Service was top notch. Monterey deserves some more love as it's truly one of the best steakhouses in the city.

Monterey is a steakhouse but has something for everyone - including vegetarians! The restaurant is clean, classy, and beautiful. To drink, I loved the Bittersweet Citrus Spritz (very similar to an aperol spritz) which is featured on the menu at their sister restaurant, Acadia (also a huge fan). To eat, the Comte Onion Bread is a must. The Truffle Lasagna is a delicious vegetarian option, I would have loved to have had more of that yummy truffle sauce on it however. For dessert, the Chocolate Soufflé should not be missed. The Bananas Foster is also tasty, but I think it's a bit overpriced for what you get. Overall, very tasty!

Tenderloin was seasoned to perfection! I always have to ask for salt (and I hate to because its rude)...but FINALLY not this time! Perfectly portioned, moist, cooked exactly as requested. Had the Brussel Sprouts to accompany the steak. That portion was too big as I was dining alone. They would have done a single portion but the waiter urged that it wasn't family style so I went for the full side. Too much. Atmosphere was wonderful. The place is open and bright and the music was particularly AWESOME I noted. There are some bar service window tables looking right onto 50th street. (Monterey is behind St. Patrick's Cathedral) I was in a hoodie and jeans and I felt under dressed. Button down is more appropriate and many had sport coats on. I wasn't inspired by the dessert menu EXCEPT when I come here next time with a friend...they offer a table-service Bananas Foster-for-two I can't wait to try!

When my manager suggested that we venture up to the Rockefeller Center area for our team holiday lunch, I was shocked that he would want to brave the crowds that we would encounter. Though I tended to avoid that area, particularly in the winter, I quickly offered the suggestion of Monterey, a classy spot a few blocks away from the action. My colleagues agreed that the restaurant looked terrific, so we finalized our plan to dine there. The restaurant had a large downstairs and extremely high ceilings that made it possible to have second floor balcony seating, which was where our large booth was located. The place was completely packed, with every seat taken; it showed in our service, which was on the slower side. We were each debating on our main dishes, but decided to share some appetizers while we decided. The Balloon Sesame Lavash was certainly in the shape of a deflating mylar balloon, and it was covered with sesame seeds. The soft, thin bread was served with a carrot tahini spread that was topped with merguez-spiced almonds. We all adored that jazzed up version of a bread service. We also tried the Crispy Artichokes with a Meyer lemon and pepper aïoli. These were also great, but tasted more like sunchokes than traditional artichokes. The mayo-based dipping sauce really complemented the chokes and improved the overall impact of the item. The Tuna Tartare was pretty standard, but well-balanced and flavorful. For my main dish, I went with the Pan-Roasted Salmon with lentils and brussels sprouts in a red wine sauce. The fish filet was portioned in a very generous fashion, especially for a lunch. However, I ate it all, because it was just that good! Everything was cooked to perfection, and the red wine sauce was a sweet addition. My colleagues enjoyed their Steak Frites and French Dip Sandwich, as well. We were stuffed by the end of the meal, so we skipped dessert. However, my coffee was nice and rich, but my manager asked for a second cup and was charged. So, that was a letdown. Overall, we really enjoyed the sophisticated elegance of the place and all left pleased with our time at Monterey.

I come here very often because it's very close to work and the ambience is great; nice high ceilings, nice decor, low mood lighting, and lots of seating. Usually get just drinks but have also gotten the food which has been very solid. Service takes a bit longer though because it does get quite busy later in the evening, but usually at 5-6pm it's not too busy!

Worthy of my 1000th review, a stunning Deco vibe steakhouse upon entering. First thing you'll notice besides the energy is the lightness of the colors of the place. It's pastel seating makes it warm and vibrant. Great for business meetings, social gatherings or a date. Totally a vibe. First thing I noticed once seated, was the awesome Martini bar cart. The menu showcases a few pre-designed drinks or you can customize your own classic with perhaps a twist or a shake. The idea is to watch the Sommelier at work. Then there's the prime rib entree, also served table side -- wheeled over on a cart! It's quite a presentation...get that camera ready. The dome shaped lid unveils a beautiful prime rib roast, just waiting to be sliced. The server knows just how to plate it, some au jus is drizzled on and then served. The prime rib was perfect. Just the right amount of fat on the edges, prepared medium rare. It was a beauty. (Comes with a side of super creamy mashed potatoes and an even creamier whipped horseradish). That was heavenly as well. Other must try items, for starters, the balloon sesame lavash. It was very hot to the touch (be careful when ready to pull it apart to eat). It was like a thin flatbread but presented in this balloon shape. A hint of olive oil flavor paired with the sesame seeds and the carrot tahini spread - it was divine. Another appetizer I had was the Hokkaido scallop. I could never resist the raw bar if scallops are on the menu. Presented with daikon, chive oil, serrano chili and yuzu. Chef's Kiss. It was a beautifully balanced dish both in texture and flavor. My friend had the barbequed prawns for his appetizer. Goodness, the size of the plate and the prawns! It looked like a full entree. They were served over grits, New Orleans style. I couldn't try it due to my shrimp allergy but I can tell it did not disappoint. My friend thoroughly enjoyed his meal and he normally doesn't order any seafood that he needs to "work" with so minus removing the prawns head, it was worth the work. It was quite the sizeable appetizer and delicious I'm told. Another entree we must mention, the Iberico pork chop. I mean, what's there to say besides the name. It was a must try just because. Served with ginger cabbage and mushrooms, house bacon and a smoke pork sauce. What's not to love? The pork and mushrooms were excellent (I asked to try some). So juicy and so tender. My dining companion was celebrating his birthday so you know we had to order some dessert. Truth be told we were both quite content with our meals and our stomachs were at capacity. Between the food, before dinner cocktails, and wine throughout - I couldn't really eat another bite. In the spirit of his birthday, we chose something we could share. The ricotta beignets were delightful. Very light and airy with lemon curd. Surprisingly (and thankfully) they were not coated with powdered sugar. The cinnamon and vanilla sugar worked better as a topping. To our surprise, our server presented my friend with a complimentary slice of cake as well when she brought our dessert. Candle and all. It was nicely plated too. I believe the cake was the cloud cake (which is a strawberry layer cake). That was such a pleasant surprise - so sweet of the server to do that. She must've seen or heard me present him with the Birthday card and gift. Fun fact, if you order the bananas foster dessert, that is served on a cart as well! It is flambeed tableside too. The overall dining experience Monterey provides makes this place so welcoming. It's so lively and fun. Did I mention great for socializing? Even if you're not looking to dine here, drinks at the bar is reason enough to pay a visit. The bar counter and seating area is a whole scene by itself. There's pop music playing overhead throughout the restaurant , I think it sets the mood for a great night on the town. I highly recommend and look forward to returning.

Called for walk in on a Tuesday at noon, got reservation for 1:15pm Food was excellent overall, would get the scallops, duck & goat ragout, broccolini & chocolate tart again. Wouldnt get the tuna tartare again, it was good but the uni threw me off. I would have preferred without it. Service was also good but similar to other reviews, can be slightly overbearing, bringing it down one notch would be perfect. Had the doors to the outside open, really open and large space overall, hard to find such in nyc. Relaxed & upscale vibe.

4.5 to be exact. We came for their weekend prime rib dinner. The place inside was quite roomy. Caesar salad as appetizer was nice, fresh and big. Prime rib was really the showstopper. They carved at table side. It was melt in mouth and seasoned well. We asked for med rare like we like our steaks. The center was a bit too raw. Could probably do medium next time. Forgot to mention their signature onion bread. It was fluffy, moist and flavorful, but a bit steep for $18. Desserts were the least memorable part of the meal. I would be back for more prime rib lol.

Walked by many times on my way to work and finally had the chance to drop in and enjoy lunch. As soon as you walk in, you can tell this place is trendy and new; the space is beautiful - aesthetically pleasing with accents of gold. Started off our meal with a drink: coffee and a carrot juice (mocktail). Take note, free refills for coffee and alternate milk options are available. The carrot juice mocktail was well concocted - was tart (lemon or lime) and ginger-y. We ordered three things to share: comte & onion bread, chopped salad, and the french dip sandwich. DO NOT SKIP on the comte & onion bread. Although it is pricey ($18), it was the best thing we ordered - warm, pillow-y, garlic-y and onion-y, and cheesy. Paired wonderfully with the creme fraiche (and chives). The french dip was perfect to share. Stacked with enough beef and a generous portion of fries. The paired au jus was not necessary - the sandwich was juicy and moist. However, the au jus did give extra bit of flavor. The chopped salad was nothing special - just some greens to balance out the meal. All in all, beautiful spot with an amazing comte & onion bread. I would come again to order the bread and try out their cocktails & prime rib.