The reviews I read about Monty's were overall positive--and compared this restaurant to steakhouses that fall within the caliber of Morton's or Ruth's Chris. Â I learned quickly this restaurant had NOTHING in common with them. Upon arrival, I thought we were lost as we were in a dumpy STRIP MALL. Not one review mentioned the location. I hesitantly entered with my companion and wish I hadn't stayed. Â
The decor was in-line with what is expected from a strip mall that shares a parking lot with a Mattress Warehouse. Â In fact, when you walk into the restaurant, it is appropriately decorated with cow stuffed-animals. But anyhow...moving on to the service provided: Our teenager server was slow......very slow......It took about 10 minutes for her to come bring us our drink order. Â Another 10 minutes to come back to take our order. Â We still didn't have our bread. Â After waiting for the girl to return to take our order, I was subject to listening to the drunks next to us (at the only other occupied table) tell wildly inappropriate stories.
Finally the girl came to take our order and proceed to say "Local-cows are the ones slaughtered for our restaurant." REALLY? I didn't need to hear the word "slaughter" when describing my meal. Ignorance is bliss. I decided not to eat at this point but enjoy a glass of wine while my companion had his meal.
And this is where it got pathetic. After another 20 minutes, our server returned to tell my dining partner that the side of mashed-potatoes he wanted was unavailable as the kitchen had ran out. Â We proceeded to cancel his order which led to the manager coming over to inquire about why we were unhappy about our experience as it would only take two minutes to make more. WHAT!? Why didn't the teenager-server tell us that? Anyhow, Â we ended up taking it in a to-go bag home (after we stopped at another restaurant and picked up dinner for myself).
Verdict on the food: Both my companion and myself thought it was AWFUL...definitely nowhere near a nice steakhouse....and definitely OVERPRICED. Â I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. Looks like Mike's is still the only place in Springfield to get an okay meal.
Now don't get me wrong, Mike's is great. I also give Mike's five stars, especially for Springfield fare. Mike's, however, has a different feel. Mike's is where you go for laid back America cuisine. You will see the occasional group of high school girls or fat, loud Walmart shoppers who have saved up enough to eat a meal at a table. This is nothing against Mike's. All I am saying is that Monty's is the more off the beaten bath, upscale, sophisticated place you take your significant other when you want to make an impression, and not be surrounded by possible undesirables. (Yes, I am a snob). The food IS pricey, but worth it. Old reviews about the service are outdated, because when I went last night it was nothing but professional and timely. I recommend making a reservation through open table. I had the rib eye and it was awesome. The place is a little on the small side and easy to miss, but is definitely worth looking for. Again, I love Mike's as well....just not for a private, intimate setting.
Review Source:I like this place. Â I've been here a few times. Â They have a nicely stocked bar with a decent beer and wine selection. Â The menu is diverse and extensive. Â I've yet to try the steak. Â Â So far I've only had a chicken sandwich with fries on one occasion, a bowl of crab soup on another. Â Â The chicken was nicely marinated and grilled. Â The fries were fresh, obviously house cut and fried nice and hot. Â Â The soup was an epic fail not only because it was green but it was cold. Â I should have said something but I didn't. Â My problem I guess and I should have read the menu more because I think it did mention something about artichokes I think...hence the green. Â Â It was late and I was tired. Â They were too probably for letting my bowl of soup get cold before someone finally ran it out. Â Â I like that they offer sandwiches on the dinner menu. Â I need to get back here for brunch soon. Â I can't wait for the patio to open in the spring.
Review Source:My husband and I Â tried Monty's as part of Restaurant Week (February 2012). We're local & I knew several people who had been there and had heard mostly good things. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love Monty's, I came away uninspired. This was probably due, in most part, to the lackluster service provided by the waitress, who didn't tell us about specials, didn't ask about drink orders, and didn't show up between the time she took our order and our entrees were brought out. Truth be told, a woman, who may have been the owner, stopped by to ask how everything was, and she specifically asked about the service and I answered the typical, "fine" rather than telling her how it really was. My bad.
Although we looked at the regular menu, we went with the RW choices due to price. The steaks alone are mostly more expensive than the 3-course RW offering. The food was mixed: the bread basket included yummy rolls and so-so banana bread (and I'm not sure how I feel about banana bread as a starter for dinner); standard salads (we had one Caesar and one house); yummy crab cakes (but not standout over other restaurants) served with tasty green beans but a twice-baked potato that didn't even compare to the frozen ones I get from Omaha Steaks; a tough NY strip which, sadly, was one of the not-so-great things I'd heard about the restaurant ahead of time; and decent desserts (creme brule duo and chocolate lava cake). A few people have mentioned that the desserts are not at the right temperature and it seems that they have fixed that, or at least had over the weekend. I'd also ready one Yelp review that talked about Cool Whip being served and I will agree that it sure tasted like Cool Whip.....
Another issue was the layout of the restaurant and the fact that there was insufficient waiting space for patrons who were waiting to be seated. Since all of the bar seats were taken, the people who were waiting just mingled between the door and the bar, which meant they were standing between tables, including a group of four that was less than a foot behind my husband. Not the most relaxing atmosphere for a diner, as you might imagine.
Prices are on par with DC steakhouses, but high for a neighborhood joint that occupies a former Chicken Out space. For the amount of money we spent, I won't be returning.
I'm so sad to write this review: we're huge supporters of locally owned, non-chain restaurants and Burke / Springfield certainly needs an upscale restaurant. Â Unfortunately, Monty's is not it.
When we were first seated, someone (I didn't hear who) asked if they could take my coat. Immediately though the hostess said "there aren't any more coat hooks in the back. I can't take your coat unless you're willing to double up on a coat hook." She made it clear that coats were not her problem.
We were presented with regular menus but not restaurant week menus. Â The waiter came and told us the specials but not the prices, which is a pet peeve of mine, especially when the specials are close to $50. It puts you in a difficult position when dining with people you don't know. Â
The waiter disappeared for a long period of time and then returned and repeated the specials. Â We asked if the sides on the restaurant week menu were at all flexible (ie: substitute a vegetable for a potato) but were told no. Â We also were told to order the entire meal at once, including dessert. Â Later on we heard the table next to us request and receive a menu substitution and be allowed to order their dessert later. Â
My biggest problem with our service occurred with the wine. Â I had chosen a $32 bottle of pinot noir. I know the waiter heard me because he repeated the name. Â However he brought a $75 bottle of pinot to the table. Â We spent the rest of dinner debating whether it was an honest mistake or an attempt to upsell us; Â neither is acceptable for a restaurant of this caliber.
Our first course arrived: 3 soups and a caeser salad. Â The soups were only lukewarm. The salad came several minutes after the soup sans ANY dressing. Â We told the owner and she said "I'll bring you a little more dressing" which she did several minutes later. Â Her attitude was off putting, sort of implying my husband was a dressing hoarder rather than admit to a kitchen mistake.
At that point, the 8 PM reservations started being seated (we'd had a 7PM) and we noticed for the first time that all the other tables were getting a bread basket we'd never been offered.
The steaks were fine. Honestly my husband makes better steak at home for a fraction of the cost but we find that at most steakhouses. My husband does make a damn fine steak.
When our bill came, I was disappointed to see suggested 18 and 20% printed gratuity amounts on the bottom. I'm sure restaurants think they're doing customers a favor but everyone these days can do 18% on their cell phone if need be. It's just tacky.
I was willing to cut Monty's a little slack as our visit was during restaurant week and I suspect was busier than usual. However we had too many service issues to overlook. Our total bill was over $200 for 4 people, at that price nothing we saw was special enough to give Monty's a second chance.
Those people who are complaining about the price-this place is up-to-par with fine dining in DC when it comes to the quality of the food. Now, if you compare the price to that, it is very reasonable.
We started going to Monty's when they first opened. There were some glitches with service but by now there are no issues. Everyone is friendly and the food is excellent in quality and flavor.
You cannot compae Monty's to Mike's-they are very different. Also, Monty's parking is painless, which is not something I can say about the death trap parking lot of Mike's. I do still like Mike's food though!
If yo read reviews by people who are used to going to steakhouses in DC, you will get a fair review of Monty's, if you read about people who are used to the local places, they will say it's expensive.
The wine is very reasonably priced too by the way!
Try the twice baked potato-AMAZING.
Love this place and love that it is in my neighborhood! You can tell there is a CHEF in the kitchen, not someone trying to mass produce food according to a chain's bland recipes. I've been there for lunch and dinner - never disappointed with selection or quality. I keep bringing friends who keep bringing friends because we all want this place to become an institution. And, the service is terrific, too.
Review Source:My husband and I went to Monty's for his birthday. Â We were excited to try out a new/more upscale restaurant in the W. Springfield area, but were sorely disappointed. Â The wait staff and atmosphere were lovely, but what I want from a steakhouse is a good steak. Â I ordered a bone-in filet-cooked medium. Â There was never any explanation of their meat temperatures, but I would say my meat was undercooked and closer to rare when it came out. Â My husband decided to order a fish dish since there were no Prime cuts of meat on the menu (they're listed as "Choice prime cuts"). Â
His sea bass w/ spinach was very good and looked like a fine dining entree. Â I ordered mashed potato (average) and green beans (undercooked) as sides. Â
We were given a bread basket when we sat down which included rolls and banana bread "made fresh daily". Â The banana bread was moist but the rolls were dry and definitely not "fresh", which was surprising considering we had an early-ish reservation. Â
Also not fresh were the "made in-house" desserts.  Our waitress brought out a dessert tray with a pasty looking creme brûlée (no caramelization on the sample?), some fruit tarts, a lychee pastry, and some others.  We opted for the brownie sandwich.  It was nicely plated, but eating it was a different story.  The 'cream' in the brownie sandwich had been overwhipped so it was like eating a stick of butter.  The chocolate sauce on the side had the consistency of Hershey's syrup and the dollop of whipped cream in the corner of the plate was most definitely Cool Whip.  Cool Whip on a $9 dessert?! Â
With tip we spent $100 for the meal- no alcohol, no appetizer, no salad. Â We could have spent half that amount at Mike's and had a more flavorful steak, salad, fresh bread and a dessert, don't waste your time w/ Monty's.
We tried Monty's Steakhouse for my wife's birthday dinner. Monty's was outstanding! I ordered the Single Cut Filet Mignon (8 oz.) and with it a Baked Potato and Green Beans. Â A Caesar Side Salad to start. I liked that Monty's offers two sides with their main dishes. The steak was just delicious, very tender and cooked to a very nice Medium. My wife ordered a seafood special of Lobster Ravioli and Blackened Scallops in a pesto sauce and the Spinach Side Salad. I sampled the seafood dish. Excellent Lobster Ravioli well filled with lobster. Rich, though!
Servcie was very attentive and our team kept our iced tea and water glasses filled. Monty's is an expensive dinner for suburban Springfield, VA. I would consider it to be a special occasion restaurant, but we will be back on special occcasions.
A good choice for Date Night in Springfield. Â The filet mignon and grilled scallops/shrimp entrees were v. good. Â Cesear salad with sharp, freshly shaved parm and the asparagus were delicious. Â
This is high quality food and you're not going to find this quality meat and seafood in any nearby store or restaurant, or any neighborhood backyard grill and picnic table. Â The wine list offered a good variety of selection and price. Â The Chenin Blanc was perfect with the seafood and salad. Â
Yes, we've all been to Mike's because it's really the only other place to go for a nice meal in Springfield but if you want another option and want to avoid the, "Call ahead and wait anyway for a noisy and bustling restaurant and don't think about relaxing because we'll try to upsell you on everything but in a positive and friendly sort of way because we fire the employees that don't upsell," then try Monty's.
Monty's, Welcome to Springfield!
Weird location..... located in a grocery store shopping plaza; however, the interior of the restaurant is on the same level as any other fancy steakhouses. Â Service was excellent and attentive. Â Pricing was a bit too high given its quality of food. Â Had a company dinner here and everyone agreed that the food didn't worth the price, but the service and the atmosphere did.
Review Source:First time guests at Monty's which is a newer addition to the Springfield market. Â The occasion was a going away celebration on a Sunday afternoon. Â Upscale modern design, space between tables ample and serving staff (Vi in our case) knowledgeable and friendly. Â A brother and sister own the steakhouse and we met the sister who checked on our satisfaction, and added the family history of the venue during our conversation. Â Dress is business casual. Â
Dining selection is beef and seafood, with leanings toward beef. Â One chicken offering on the dinner menu. Â Also, the menu contains a range of lighter fare for lunch or for the budget minded. Â We liked the "Over 65 & Under 10" section of the menu. Â Salad of Wedge Lettuce/blue cheese is a meal in its self with a beautiful presentation. Â For dinner, salmon fillet at 1+ inch thick; char grilled with excellent crunchy veg tables. Â Our guest and I ordered the crab cakes. Â Two cakes served with choice of two delicious sides. Â The crab cakes were 99.44% pure lump crab meat - - the best I've tasted in years. Â
Check the menu at their website. Â Pricing is "downtown DC" scale. Â We felt that we received value for the expenditure at a special occasion. Â Concluding: Monty's is a good choice for locals looking for an upscale meal without travels to Tyson's or DC.
We went this past Saturday with friends as we've been wanting to try this place since before it opened . We had hoped it would be as good as some of the reviews. Â Well maybe, we should have listened to more reviewers.
We were seated (5 of us) right by the front door behind the cashier and we had a reservation. Â Not an ideal spot for 5 people when they had more tables in the back available. Put me and my friend right up against the wall. Â There was no room for our waiter to get to anything in front of us without reaching across the table.
After we were seated they filled our water glasses and they ran out before mine could be filled. The staff said he would be back. He never came back. Â It was filled for the first time, when they came around to refill everybody elses during the meal.
Our friend ordered a Cowboy Rib Eye (Bone in) and when his meal was brought it was a regular Rib Eye. Â They look nothing alike so the server never even checked to verify it was correct. So you could say, that since the person bringing us the food was not our waiter is an easy mistake, but I've eaten at plenty of other Steak Houses (Morton's/Ruth Chris/Capitol Grill/Shula's/Mikes) and never had the wrong steak delivered no matter who was bringing me the food. They took the food back including his side dishes (green beans and augratin potatoes). Â 5 min later they came back with his steak, but now his sides were cold.
I had the Dry Aged 14 oz Porterhouse ordered Med-Rare. Â The steak was thin, seared only on the top side, but the bottom was never seared. Â To top it off, it was lacking in flavor, no salt used, no pepper nothing and it was RARE. On their menu they list a host of sauces and glazes. The waiter never asked if we would like them as if he didn't know they were there.
Honestly for the price, I could have bought the same steak from Giant (it's choice steak not even prime), and grilled it better in my backyard (my wife whispered to me during dinner "yours are better"), and at $40 I would be better off.
Agree with the other reviewer, I had mashed potatoes, they were cold and flavorless. Entirely whipped to much with no butter in them or even offered.
We ordered dessert and I had the Molten Lava Cake. It was brought to me barely warm, no flowing goo of chocolate like I expect from this type of dessert. Â It was obvious it was prepared earlier and left to sit until ordered.
Take my advice (or not) Go to Mike's American Grill.  You'll spend the same amount of money get far better service, food with flavor and  place you'll want to return to over and over again.
We went to Monty's for the first time with our toddler daughter, for an early dinner on a Saturday. I wanted to love it, but have to give it a mixed review. The staff was *really* nice and mostly attentive, and they handled having a toddler at the table very well, so we very much appreciated that. My husband ordered the chilean sea bass, and he loved it. The sides were all delish. But two issues (combined with the price) knock down their rating. First, I got the petite filet, and the beef was like two little grey sliders. What the heck. The sides were great, thank god, but my medium "filets" were just so wrong - and for a steakhouse! I mean, wow. They are billed as two 3 oz filets - maybe they were 3 oz before they cooked them, and maybe it's just too hard to cook these tiny things, but then take them off the menu. Nobody wants to eat these little overcooked monsters. Yuck. I was only able to choke them down because the bearnaise was delicious. The other issue was inattentiveness to requests for drink refills. I probably waited 20 minutes for my wine to be replaced, at which point we were almost ready to leave. It's no fun to chug your wine. At least, it's no fun if you're over 20. Which I am.
I think Monty's has potential, but they seriously need to learn how to cook steak. Or they should change their name to Monty's Restaurant and take the beef off the menu.
We were there for a long business lunch. Â The service was top notch and the food was also. Â I had the crab cakes and my dining friends had the steak salad. Â The lobster bisque and fried onion soup were awesome. Â We all thought the food and service were great. Â It is nice to have a neighborhood restaurant that is just a little nicer than everything else around. Â The place has the neatest decorations too!
Review Source:Our waiter was really nice but the overall service was average (we had to remind the runner to bring extras for a baked potato. I was offered fresh pepper but it never arrived). The menu is too big for a high-end "steakhouse". What we have here is an over-priced and over-fancy family restaurant.
I ordered the porterhouse medium-rare. I don't remember the exact price but it was upwards of $40 with two sides. The cut was thin and there was no char whatsoever. The outside of the meat was grey and wet. The green bean cassoulet was just plain ole green beans and the mashed potatoes were... fine (mine are better).
Maybe this will fly with the West Springfield special occasion crowd but we are too close to D.C. for them to get away with sub-standard steaks at premium prices.
WOW!! Just Wow! We recently relocated to Springfield and are still getting acclimated to the area, however last night we finally felt like we are truly home. We were trying to avoid the local watering hole when we stumbled across Montys on a Friday night. Hidden in a strip mall that does not give the place the justice it deserves. We walked in to peek only to realize we were at a fine dining  establishment and we were probably under dressed and required a reservation. While the hostess told us neither were required we decided we would avoid the stated 45 minute wait, by just going to the bar to eat. We were immediately greeted by Thomas the bartender who made it a point to introduce himself and gave us a warm welcoming. We sat down and were given several different menus that seemed a bit overwhelming with so much paperwork. We were introduced to Christian the other bartender in training who provided us with water as soon as we sat. Thomas recommended a nice crisp Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa that absolutely blew me away after a generous sampling. I don't recall the name but I believe it was the only South African wine they had which I would recommend to anyone on a clear summer night. We were told the background of Montys and were even further excited to know that it was a family owned first by a couple who have lived in Springfield for over 30 years. While the menu is substantial enough we were offered a plethora of various specials that all sounded amazing upon delivery. We started with the tuna tartar and was assured "its the best your gonna find, anywhere". My husband loves his tuna and after first taste of what appeared as an artistic play being performed on the plate gave his seal of approval which admittedly is difficult to obtain. What really amazed us was the level of service the bar staff was able to provide on such a personal level for everyone sat at the bar while they seemed to constantly be moving, making, and shaking drinks for both bar and restaraunt guests. We happily watched them move around adding fresh ingredients such as berrys and mint to drinks I could not even pronounce. This was not the local watering hole but a place of craftsmen who take pride in their work. Everyone at the bar seemed so fixated on the display being performed that one of the guests asked for a bartenders special. Thomas immediately stopped and with a grin and in a flash provided what could only be described as a bacon lovers dream. I would like to explain what I saw but I simply cant, you wouldnt beleive me if I told you so I encourage anyone to go to Montys and ask for the Montini. We did not stay long as we had to pick up kids and begrudgingly left before we wanted to. The fact that we never made it past the bar was perfectly fine by us as we still felt the service and quality of the food was far beyond what you would get at most places and despite not being bar people I think we found our nieghborhood bar. Well done Montys!!!
Review Source:I can't exactly put it into words but something is seriously off
about this place. I have been here a few times and each time I have found myself asking why I came back. I had the same waitress twice I can't remember her name but she was fairly young. Even though she was friendly enough it seemed like something wasn't right with her server capabilities. For one she greeted us and never asked what we wanted to drink and left us alone for the next 15 minutes. When she finally returned to take our appetizer order she still didn't ask about drinks we had to tell her. The service was extremely slow and off the entire time. Every time we have been there the owner is there and comes up to us to see how our meal was which is fine I guess but I find her to come across as a little pretentious and arrogant as if her restaurant is the best around. Each time I have ordered mashed potatoes they are served cold which I don't understand, I guess I should have spoken up and told her when she approached us. Also the guy who came by to refill the water carelessly poured the water into my glass full of soda because he wasnt paying attention. Maybe it's just me but again something seems off about this place and it seems like the staff needs better training . Maybe they are all friends of the family and can get away with it. But they should realize that it has an impact in whether I will return which I probably won't. To me the service is just important as the food quality.
My husband and I took visiting relatives the other night and were pleasantly surprised! The food was outstanding.... my fillet was melt-in-your mouth delicious. The atmosphere was very nice as well. Everyone at our table loved it. It's pricey compared to your avereage local restaurant, but on-target with other upscale steakhouses. Well worth the price though.
Review Source:If you're on a budget, this is not the place to go. If you've got a little spending money or are celebrating a special occasion, Monty's is a good place.
I really enjoyed the tuna tartare appetizer and the banana bread. My side dishes (mashed potatoes and mushrooms) were both very good and my steak was very tender and juicy (although it could have used a little more seasoning).
What set the place apart in my eyes was the service. Our server, Renaldo, was passionate about the food he was serving, offered us recommendations and was always around for a refill or the check when we needed it. I'm happy with my trip to Monty's and will be back for lunch sometime where the prices are a little more palatable.
I was very excited to have a steakhouse opening close to my home, so it came as a disappointment to have average food and awful service (and at Ruth's Chris prices!). We were greeted by what appeared to be high school kids, surprising for a place that is obviously shooting for more of an upscale feel. Despite being the first party in for dinner, we were not approached for a drink order for several minutes. But, our waitress was nice, so I could overlook things up to that point.
I'll start with what I found below average:
I had the spinach appetizer which was not good, simply tasteless. It was the first of many dishes that appeared to have not been seasoned with even a pinch of salt....very  bland. To add to this list of flavorless food was my chicken, my husband's mashed potatoes (which also seemed possibly of the instant variety and arrived cold), and my veggies. Additionally, my twice baked potato tasted old and reheated (and not even reheated properly).
To end, the desserts were proudly presented as being freshly made by their in-house pastry chef...impressive. I will say that the apple pie had an interesting twist of rosemary inside. What infuriated me was that they topped both the apple pie and a chocolate dessert also ordered, with what was obviously store-bought Hershey's syrup and cool whip....I was beyond confused by this. WHY top these hand made desserts with bottom of the barrell toppings? Bad decision. Ruined it for me.
What I found average:
The french onion soup was good, not great, but good. My mother-in-law enjoyed the crab cakes very much, but I did not taste them personally, so cannot attest to it myself. The steak my husband had was also average, but at $30, would expect better.
Overall, it's not worth the price. Maybe we will give them one more shot, perhaps for lunch when we won't spend over $250 on average food.
Chris M's review is an excellent, funny and highly accurate review of Monty's Steakhouse. Â We were lucky enought to have Tatiana as our waitress as well. Â We've been looking for a high quality 5-star restaurant for about 12 years....we had a favorite in Connecticut, and none have measured up, until now. Â Monty's food is top notch, the atmosphere and music are top notch, service is top notch - and as Chris M. points out, there is plenty of parking. Â If you are in DC, this is well worth the drive. Â If you live in Burke/Springfield, Monty's is a GEM! in our neighborhood. Â I can't recommend it enough - give it a try and spread the word!
Review Source:Local Steakhouse with DC prices!
I live in West Springfield and have been complaining for years there are really no great restuarants in the area, so I have been eagerly awaiting Monty's to open.
Yesterday a friend and I went to Monty's we got there early and the staff was very eager to help us. The decor was very elegant and for this neighboorhood looked great!
As soon as we go the menu's without letting us breathe the waiter start into a very lengthy list of specials. As soon as he was done they turned down the lights and for us older guys a little too much as I could not read the menu even with reading glasses.
Looking at the menu there are great selections but I was a little shocked at the prices. I have been to a lot of steakhouses and I know some can be pricey but in a sleepy little bedroom community as Springfield, Va which is known for little to nothing this seemed out of place but I figured if the food was good it would be worth it.
I ordered the 14oz New York strip which I love medium rare and it was plated nicely with a twice baked potato that had little flair for its presentation. The streak looked perfect and seemed nicely cooked with a cool red center. One thing I noticed was that the steak was a bit tough. Normally one would stick the fork in the meat and cut a slice then you would take the fork out to cut a smaller piece but I had a hard time getting the meet off my fork. Not what I would expect at a place like this.
As for the casual dining it is nice as I was in shorts not to be felt out of place but you can take casual too far as one family the father brought a newpaper in and threw it on the floor. Seriously when you are paying the prices here you should not feel like you are in someone elses living room.
Overall it was a nice experience but given the prices and the tough meat, it will be a while before I go back. Hopefully they can work out the issues.
Ok so a few weeks ago I was walking along Arlington Blvd and I passed a lady who had one of those little yappy dogs on a 30' leash that when retracted could lift poochie off the sidewalk and when the dog saw me it started yapping at me except i heard yap! Yap! Yap! Yelp! Yelp! Yelp! And subconsciously I felt an urge to check Yelp...
On the top left hand side someone had reviewed this place called Monty's Steakhouse... so I read the review, it was good and then I checked out their website...it is so well done that all I wanted to do was lick my screen. I had to try this place!
Now this is a strange ...in a good way, Monty's location, this steakhouse of all steakhouses with all the steakhouse trimmings was situated in...wait for it... a strip mall.....Yikes! Holy Crap, run away!..... Wait! keep reading...trust me! Â This is actually the perfect location!
When you go to Smith and Wollenskys or Fogo de chao in the city you have to valet your car. when you go to Rays in Arlington you should just take a cab.....Monty's being in a strip mall had plenty of parking right outside it's front door! It was perfect!
You know what, It's no longer called a strip mall I have now decreed that area to be known as a steakhouse 'with sensible and convenient neighbors'.
Ok on to the food; I started off with bread.....why? beats me, I think it's some foodie rule someplace..."
Rule 1: "Give them bread and water"
What I love is besides the basic rolls, you get a couple slices of warm homemade banana bread...if you brought kids with you, (or grandparents...or fat guys) this will keep them happy...yay!
Started the main meal with a blue cheese wedge salad which I have now decided to rename 'Deconstructed Bleu' Why? Diced tomatoes, onions, eggs, crumbles served separately on the plate like a 6th grade dance (all the cute tomatoes on one side and the crumbly kids on the other. Oh by the way, I expect them to rename that salad a Deconstructed Bleu.
Next up a bone in rib-eye Texas cut (Texas cut is just a fancy schmancy way of saying big honkin' steak ya'all) with a baked potato and broiled tomato filled with Parmesan and basil.
This was a man's steak not a woman steak (unless she runs an auto shop someplace) a man's steak! cooked to perfection! wait, hang on, phone is ringing...
"Hello?"
"Hi this is Ray from Ray's the steak, is it really that good?"
"You bet your sweet bippy it is"
"Damn." click......
The potato was ok, I should have got fries.....and the tomato was outrageously good!
Skipped desert (Why do all steakhouses have to serve so many different types of brulees? ) I mean really now! What I really wanted was a popsicle...wait, Monty's is surrounded by sensible and convenient neighbors! Lucky me.
I also want to make mention how modern looking the place is on the inside and what great service I had! The person who took care of me, Tatiana, was very warm, inviting and very attentive to every detail of my meal.
so in closing all I can say is run don't walk to Monty's....or heck you can just drive, there is plenty of parking!
My daughter and I decided to try out the new steakhouse here in West Springfield. Â I was very impressed. Â It is small, but very charming - I am sure it would be very hard to get a table on a Friday or Saturday night without reservations! Â We had the shrimp-cargo for our appetizer - amazing. Â I had the rock fish and my daughter ordered the petite fillet. Â My rock fish was nice and flaky, but my daughter had ordered her steak medium rare - when she should have ordered medium well since it was very pink - don't be afraid to ask questions regarding your order. The desserts were excellent, but I ordered the souffle and it did take a little time to bake - but it was delicious. Â I will admit to seeing some growing pains - however, I am sure these things will iron themselves out! Â
So nice to have an upscale restaurant only minutes away! Â Can't wait to go back!
I really wanted to give this place a better review... but the service is way below standards. Â When you seat someone you should provide them with the menu instead of letting them sit at a table with no one greeting them for an additional 5-10 minutes. Â I could have at least been looking at what to order. Â You have two greeters. Â Put one on menu duty.
Waiter was friendly but a terrible server. Â Didn't bring bread. Â Appetizers and dinner were spaced way too close with hardly any time between courses. Â Didn't ask us if we wanted additional drinks. Â Didn't check in to see if the order was correct or to liking. Â Brought wrong dessert order. Â A different waiter brought the check and closed us out... where did the first guy go?
The food was good though. Â We liked the spinach/artichoke dip appetizer and the steak (porterhouse for 2) was cooked just right. Â It was a little pricey (just a few $ below Ruth Chris) but very convenient to where we live in Springfield.
I will probably give this place another chance when it is open a little while longer and they get into a routine that delivers customer service that's on par with the food. Â It was nice that the owner stopped by at the end of the meal to just chat for a minute or two.
Went to Monty's tonight for the first time and I will definitely be returning.
Our waiter let us know right off the bat that things were a little crazy as they were short staffed. Â (And had a party of 12 to boot.) Â I would certainly rather know ahead of time that they're scrambling a bit than be left wondering. Â However, you really couldn't tell. Â The co-owners(?) were both out on the floor, taking orders, running drinks, and making it very hard to tell they were missing people.
I ordered the chilean sea bass/salmon couple for an appetizer, and then the single cut filet with the twice baked potato and asparagus for dinner and it was spectacular. Â My brother got the tuna tartare and the double cut filet with the twice baked potato and green beans and said his was just great as well. Â My new rule is: If I want to finish my entree, go back and get the appetizer as a really nice lunch another day! Â My brother's rule is now if he gets an appetizer, go with a single cut filet for dinner. Â I felt a little bad asking for a to-go box, but they didn't blink an eye.
Everything was absolutely great and I can't wait to go back and try something else.
I have lived in this area for 15 years and up to today i had to drive all the way to Arlington or DC Â for a decent steak... not-any-more... I saw the "coming soon" signs earlier this year and I have been keeping and eye for the doors to finally open. Â Today I finally had a chance to go in. Â
The place is really nice and welcoming - the staff very attentive and beautiful. Â The owner's and their family are in the place greeting you and welcoming you and checking on your order... now for the steak... the steak was AMAZING - it melted in my mouth, cooked JUST the way I love it (pink) and the full of flavor!
I have the feeling this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship! I will go back - if i had someone to impress, or just on my own, the food was great, the price was fair and the staff very nice -
***UPDATE*** 6/20/12
Went here the 2nd time last night and what a mistake that was!
My wife and I got there 6:30pm and were told there is a 25 min wait for a table so we decided to sit at the bar. From there, it all went downhill and I'll list the bizarre stuff that happened (or didn't happen):
1) Bartender greets us and places a winelist in front of us (bottles only). A minute later he puts the beer list in front of us and then the wine by the glass list. We didn't want any alcohol so my wife ordered a ginger ale which the bartender said he had. It turned out to be Sprite with a little Pepsi floating on top! We asked about the two layers and that was the explanation - they don't actually have ginger ale and that's a good way to "fake" it. Was he going to tell us?!!
2) We were not offered food menus - at dinner time (huh?)
3) We had to ask for food menus
4) We each ordered the French Dip sandwich and were asked if we wanted fries or veggies with it. We both ordered veggies.
5) The sandwiches came with fries so we had it fixed.
6) We were never offered a basket of bread. Everyone else at the bar had bread baskets (AND nuts - for which we apparently also didn't qualify? ) The owner stood right next to us half the time and never noticed these things!?
7) The French dip sandwiches came with cheese all over them. Weird, the first time we went here, I ordered the same sandwich and it had no cheese. Huh?
This place is not run well. Way too many rough edges and mistakes so we won't be back until they get their act together.
***END OF UPDATE***
Original review:
We had to try this place that opened to too far from where we live. It's a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
We went with our baby daughter (9 months) and apparently, according to the one owner who came to our table to welcome us, she was the first baby to go there and therefore also the first to use their high chair. Everyone was super friendly and our baby was the center of attention like she is everywhere she goes :)
I ordered a beer and the French Dip sandwich. My wife ordered the burger. Both were delicious and I have to say the French Dip sandwich was perfection. It couldn't have been any better. My wife also really liked her burger, although it wasn't cooked all the way to well done (good for food safety reasons) like she specified.
We were sort of interested in dessert but felt the desserts were a little too expensive. They might be super large portions, I don't know, but I felt $9 for key lime pie seems a bit much. Maybe I'll give it a try when we go for a real three-course dinner one day.
The atmosphere is much better (in our opinion) than some of the competition. The music is not overly loud and due to the smaller size of the restaurant, and therefore a smaller crowd, one can actually have a conversation without shouting.
I went there today with 3 of my friends for lunch and what a treat. Â Mind you, this is an upscale restaurant with white tablecloths and a great zen-like vibe that makes you feel soothed and relaxed as soon as you enter. Â We were immediately greeted by a very friendly hostess and the owner (Donna) came to speak to us which made it all the nicer as she wanted to make sure we were being taken care of).
Our food and the service was excellent. Â I had a steak salad (excellent and the portion was HUGE - steak cooked to perfecdtion). Â I also had a cup of corn/crab chowder that was chock full of other vegetables and lots of crab. Â My friends had everything from their Chilean Sea Bass (he said it was very good), my other friend had their petite filet (and said his was excellent) and my other friend had their broiled chicken with asparagus. Â
It was really so nice and relaxing that we hated to leave and know we'll be back soon. Â So nice to have a place such as this to go to in the area as it's what you'd expect to find either closer (or in) DC as alot of attention to detail went in the planning of the menu and the restaurant. Â It was very hard to believe they had only been open a couple days.
FYI: Â They also have sandwiches such as burgers and French Dip if you want something a bit on a lighter side.
Try it out - it's truly a treat.
Monty's is a welcomed addition to dinning in Springfield. Â The service, food and decor are awesome. Â We enjoyed our dinner on opening night. Â Family owned makes Monty's extra special. Â We were welcomed
and felt special from the moment we entered. Â You just have to give it a try. Â You will not be disappointed.
We decided to venture outside of our DC bubble last week to meet some friends that live in Springfield, VA for the opening night of Monty's Steakhouse. Â I have one phrase that describes our experience at Monty's, "CASUAL FINE DINING AT IT'S BEST".
The interior of the restaurant is the best of both worlds...warm and inviting neighborhood feel with chic modern accents. Â Monty's makes you feel like a slice of the city has been placed in the suburbs. Â
The welcome that we received as we walked in the door was unlike anything we have ever experienced before. Â We were greeted by the owner and his family as we entered. Â The bar was was full and lively. Â GREAT music was playing in the background and the dishes that were already on guests tables (I like to spy on other peoples dishes) were making my mouth water as we were escorted to our table.
As soon as we sat down, we were greeted by our server Christopher. Â He welcomed us to Monty's and served us a complimentary glass of Prosecco to sip while we looked over the menu. :) Â Looking at the menu, you realize that there is something for everyone. Â Soups/apps, steaks, seafood, desserts AND a great kids menu, which will go over well in the surrounding area. Â Christopher was very knowledgeable with the menu selections as well as wine AND beer pairings for each dish. Â The apps and entrees that I had the opportunity to try are listed below.
Monty's as a whole, was a well-oiled machine and beautifully managed on their opening night; something you don't see very often during an opening. Â The service staff was beautifully dressed and didn't miss a beat when it came to an almost empty glass, empty plate or just checking in to see if your steak was cooked to your liking. Â The food was perfectly timed and perfectly cooked. Â We had the pleasure of speaking to the owner when he came to our table to thank us for coming that evening. Â You can tell that Monty's is dedicated to living up to their mantra on their website, "A neighborhood steakhouse to call your own". Â
By the way, rumor has it that Monty's will have an outdoor patio soon...
Overall, we had an absolutely wonderful experience at Monty's. Â Do I recommend Monty's? Â YES. Â Will I be back? Â ABSOLUTELY...with or without our Springfield friends :) Â Â
WHAT I ATE:
APPS:
FRENCH ONION SOUP - Sinfully cheesy and delicious. Â Craving it as I write this review.
PERUVIAN CEVICHE - Great balance of acids w/ the fish. Â Looks exactly like the picture on the website. Â Fresh and flavorful.
ENTREES:
NEW YORK STRIP - Asked for MR, served perfectly MR. Â Need I say more?
ASPARAGUS - Delicious.
CHILEAN SEA BASS - Â This dish was a recommendation from Christopher. Â It was incredible. Â I am a Chilean Sea Bass snob (if that's possible, haha) and this dish melted in my mouth!
RICE - Very light and went great with the sea bass (as well as any seafood dish I would imagine). Â I recommend trying it (based upon the recommendation of the owner) with a slice of lime squeezed over it. Â EXCELLENT!
WOW! so glad this place has come to the Burke/Springfield area. Â Got to eat here for dinner and was impressed with every single aspect of this new restaurant. Â
 The owners came by the table and personally thanked us and couldn't have been nicer.  The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Â
 Then I tried the food the ceviche is AMAZING and the Porterhouse I ordered was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Â
 An upscale steakhouse in the suburbs with great food and great prices.  I can not recommend this place enough.
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