Monte’s

A friend introduced me to this wonderful (and historical) local gem — a fresh breath among all the hipster bars, restaurants and microbreweries mushrooming in the neighborhood. We enjoyed some wonderful appetizers (octopus carpaccio, beet and goat cheese salad, and lamb meatballs). The portions were big enough to fill us, and oh, so delicious! The wine pours were generous, which was much appreciated, of course! The patio in the back is enormous and very cozy (mosquito spray is provided), and the music was kept soft and pleasant, allowing for nice conversation. I am so excited I found this place, and will most definitely come back for the pizzas, which we were told are the signature dishes!

We love Monte’s! My boyfriend and I come here at least a couple of times a month, and we always have great food, and great service. We get the margherita bufalina pizza every time, and it’s delicious. In fact, the first time we ate here was shortly after a trip to Italy, and we agreed that their pizza was just as good, and in some cases even better, than the pizza we had there. In addition to the pizza (we get a small, the large is HUGE), we split an entrée and a side vegetable or salad, and we’ve liked everything we’ve had here. Monte’s also has great atmosphere, nice and romantic in the winter, and in the summer, you can eat outside in their beautiful garden out back or at the few tables out front. Great for date night, or just a night out with friends. The service is always outstanding, everyone is very friendly and helpful with the menu.

Ate here last night. I sat at the bar and was able to watch TV and enjoy a wonderful dinner. I had the Magherita pizza and wonderful glass of red wine. Jillian was the bartender, and was very friendly and attentive. Since I eat alone a lot for work it is always enjoyable to have some one to talk to that’s not on my phone. Great service/​excellent food!

Wonderful fresh food with lots of favor!

The Unilocal deal for 50% off wine is only certain days. Not mentioned anywhere.
Update: manager said it’s by city law that only certain days this deal can be done. Knowing how dumb city laws are I agree with her.
Just like some reviewers here, we had some problems with the service and consistency of dishes.
Our drinks came promptly but our vodka tonic was really vodka ginger ale. When asked for a waiter, he kind of brushed it off saying it’s a colored tonic which was total bs, we pushed for him to taste it and he relented and we got a new drink.
The special Caesar salad had missing ingredients that we had to bring back and it was not worth the price they charged. I would avoid it.
The pasta dish we ordered was good and worth it. I ordered a pizza and it was not bad. More on the droopy side than crusty side. It too wasn’t bad at all.
Update: my vocabulary escapes me. But it has a softer texture and structure than street pizza. Sauce is sweeter than street slices as well.
So if you come here. Parking is plenty. Make sure you stand your ground if your dishes or drinks do not meet your expectations. Other than that, its a wonderful environment to chill

Monte’s is amazing!!! I came on a Thursday night with one other person, and we were seated at a candle lit table in the back. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very warm and sort of romantic, but I can also see a big group being accommodated very well.
Once seated we were given choice of sparkling or flat water and given menus. They have a vast selection of different pizzas, and a full menu. We got the salsaccia pizza and the braised short ribs, which came with a side of mashed potatoes. The pizza is cooked in a wood burning oven, and I really believe that’s what makes it taste as good as it does. The braised short ribs were out of control, probably one of the best entrees I’ve ever had. The meat was so tender and literally fell right off the bone, the sauce it was cooked in was amazing. For dessert we got the Nutella calzone which was delicious, it was the perfect ratio of ricotta and Nutella. I do wish they made the calzone in a smaller size, because by the time dessert came we were already so full, but did want to try it, it was too much between two people.
Im so happy I found this place, the service was great and the food was great, and that means I’ll definitely be returning.

Very good local restaurant off the beaten path in Brooklyn. Was first here in the 1980s and again recently. Did not disappoint. Excellent seafood with pasta.

SERVICE FAILURE. Upon arrival, there was only one other occupied table (Sat night, early, summer). Staff must have been bored because four different guys served us until it settled into one. One who said four times that he was new. Didn’t know best dishes. Didn’t know fish special. He forgot to put into kitchen our appetizer orders. So after waiting 20 – 30 minutes, he swung by to say everything was coming out. When we asked about our appetizers he said, «oops.» Offered drinks from bar to make-​up for mistake, but two of three of us weren’t drinking. No, cannot do rice ball instead; only a drink.
BACK GARDEN: Has a large back garden with so-​so seating b/​c cushions are flat. It is probably nice to sit out there during a cooler evening. Last weekend, it was hot, the breeze ceased, and the mosquitoes dug in. No bug control seemed to be employed.
FOOD: We ordered three mains to be shared: a margarita pizza, the double-​cut pork chop special and the orata fish special. The fish was the best and good. The pork chop was over cooked and dry. The pizza crust was doughy and had too healthy a pouring of olive oil on top making it soggy.
We were lured to Carrol Gardens via Groupon. Thus, at least we didn’t pay too much. The bill for three with only one sangria was $ 140 before coupon. Pretty steep considering one of the three dishes we had was a basic pizza. Will not return.

Awesome! Food is delicious, very cozy, definitely coming back again!

Montes is one of brooklyns oldest Italian restaurants, if not the oldest. They have all kinds of Italian food including delicious and innovative pastas and appetizers. One of my favorite appetizers is the burrata, arugula and prosciutto with olive oil. That’s old school quality Italian right there. Burrata is the freshest and softest form of mozzarella that has to be imported continuously from Italy.
Aside from the great Italian food, salads, appetizers, the old school Brooklyn environment, and the phenomenal service, the most important part of montes is their over the top gargantuan and delicious pizzas. These are cooked fresh in a wood burning oven with the finest Neapolitan style pizza and toppings you can imagine. The crust is perfect, the cheese is fresh and not greasy. Every topping I’ve had has been absolutely delicious, fresh, and tasted authentic and healthy. They have hearty sausage, truffle oil, the freshest veggies and much more. Montes gives you Italian food and particularly pizzas that will blow your mind and in an environment that validates why you moved to nyc in the first place.

One of the best Italian restaurants I have been in. The food was absolutely delicious. I intend to come back and I recommend this restaurant.

IN SHORT: Opened in 1906, Monte’s is Brooklyn’s oldest Italian restaurant, and when you try a slice of their Neopolitan-​style pizza cooked in their wood-​burning oven, you’ll understand why.
THE STORY: I had heard that Monte’s had some great pizza. What I did not hear, and what I was woefully unprepared for, was the sheer size of it. When I say I have never seen a larger pie, I mean no one has ever seen a larger pie. The pizzas offered on the menu come in two sizes, 12″ and «Metro.» When I first see the prices of the 12″ pies ranging from $ 13-​$ 19, I assume this is a pizza fit for one person, and when, understandably, the prices for this ambiguous Metro size range from $ 22-​$ 29, I assume perhaps 2 people could share this pizza nicely.
Have you heard what Oscar Wilde said about assumption? The devlishly clever writer was right, that «when you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.»
These pizzas are gargantuan. A Metro can easily feed 3 men and 4 – 5 women with average appetites, and for someone who prides themselves on their appetite, I’m embarrassed to admit that after an elegant appetizer of gloriously fresh Burrata and Proscuitto with arugula and a drizzle of olive oil, I was only able to finish two slices of the Truffle pizza. But with a puffy, crispy, ever so slightly chewy crust, topped with mozzarella, egg, pancetta, and the lightest addition of earthy, white truffle oil, it was heaven.
Also approaching this perfect pizza state were the Proscuitto and Arugula pizza with mozzarella and shaved parmesan for a creamy and nutty finish, and the Salsiccia pizza with tomato, mozzarella, red onion, and lightly spiced, exceptionally hearty sausage.
Unfortunately where the pizza excels, the pasta falters. The Bucatini Amatriciana with shallots, guanciale, and pecorino suffered from too little salt and too much heavy tomato sauce that didn’t seem to innvoate to the same degree Monte’s pizzas did. The housemade spinach Gnocchi with a walnut-​gorgonzola cheese and tomato sauce was also dreadfully dense, and lacked enough texture to make it bearable for more than a few bites.
Monte’s is truly about being blown away by the scale and authenticity of its pizzas provided by a friendly, yet no-​nonsense staff in a classic, neighborhood space. Even though it wasn’t what I expected (including the surprise that they only accept cash and American Express cards), Monte’s turned out to be exactly what I wanted from a local, warm, extraordinarily filling dinner in Brooklyn.

If you feel like going to a friendly, intimate Italian restaurant, Montes is the place. The food is excellent, there’s a full bar, and you will never be rushed out to make room for the next sitting. They welcome you with open arms and you’re immediately ‘at home’. Try their pizza, a round ‘Metro’ or a long rectangle on a wooden platter. I always take the waitstaff’s recommendation for the daily specials. Fantastico! The owners, Dominick & Tina have once again made their restaurant a ‘go to place’.
And there’s free parking. Mangia tutti.

I am absolutely excited about going back and trying out other things on the menu. I took my wife here on Valentine’s. I started with raw tuna over avocado with house made potato crisp… I need more of that in my life. Delicious. Then I had a delicious seafood stew. Salmon, jumbo shrimp, scallops, mussels in a tasty tomato broth. That plate never stood a chance. I inhaled it. I ended it with a warm chocolate almond cake a la mode. All this delicious food came with excellent service. I’m not kidding. I didn’t need to ask for anything. Someone was always there at the right time.
Oh man, I almost forgot. So we got a complimentary glass of champagne each cause it came with the valentines menu which was nice. I ordered a glass of wine which came out immediately. Then I noticed they had a beer I had in vermont back in September that I’ve been craving ever since (alcoholic much?). Limbo IPA on tap. BOOM!!! If things go as planned I’ll be back there this weekend to try the pizza and more limbo. And for those who complain that it’s pricey… I’d rather pay top dollar for a talented chefs hard work than an overpriced overrated plate of slop that you get at some restaurants. And for the record I think the prices are perfect. Well done guys. See you soon. PEACE!!!

Amazing.
Date ended up at this place for dinner last night. Sat and ate dinner at the bar — the bartender was so sweet. The food was beyond amazing. The bacalao app was so delicious as was the bucatini. the ingredients were all so fresh– the flavors outstanding. the tiramisu was delicious. the portion size was perfect.

The food here is very good, especially the filet mignon when it’s on the menu. The pizza is also delicious. I love the homemade limoncello. The ambiance here is great. It’s nice in the summertime because you have the option of sitting outside.

Love this place! Delicious food in a charming, romantic atmosphere. The $ 1 oysters can’t be beat, and bartender Carla makes the best Martini in town.
Definitely a frequent destination for me!

Came at 8 took an hour an a half to get our food. Food was very good service was horrible. Perhaps just a bad night.

Got a chicken parm type dish and a shrimp dish… Food was pretty good, okay portions. But so pricey for what you’re getting (at least as far as italian delivery goes.)

The «old school» has gone «new school» and it works! Went for dinner last night and it was crowded with big tables.
Wood fired oven in the back is the centerpiece of this updated Brooklyn classic.
Lovely dark, salty, garlicky focaccia w/​olive oil
Ordered:
Polpette w/​polenta– $ 0
Special pizza– escarole, sausage, mozzarella– $ 17
Cabernet
Polpette was under sauce and mozzarella cheese cooked in oven. Lovely sauce, high quality cheese made this a delicious dish. The pizza, round, rustic, escarole nicely aldente, beautifully charred (similar to Zero Otto Nove) was amazin’ Larger pizzas called metros were peeped at the big tables and looked spectacular! Only ate at the old Monte’s once and this part of the nabe has come a long way. New and oldt timers shared food and memories at the «new» Montes.