Fare: Italian American - with Mediterranean influences.
Price: Moderate - Expensive
Food Quality: 2 Stars
Service: 1 1/2 Stars
Decor: 2 Stars
Overall Rating: 2 Stars
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Well prepared Italian food with a Mediterranean influence
Wait staff while friendly and attentive, could use improvement with a better knowledge of the menu.
Wait staff while friendly and attentive, could use improvement with a better knowledge of the menu.
Value: Excellent. Especially the weekday cash only Prix menu
Noise Level: Moderate - High
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy reasonably southern Italian food in a low key setting.
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer Northern Italian food, in an upscale, trendy setting with bar service.
Recommended dishes: When available, The Black Angus Fresh Cut of the Day Au Poivre; The Gnocchi Monticello: and The Fresh Catch of the Day Putanesca.
Liquor: BYOB
The Monticello, a small BYOB restaurant in Red Bank, serves up good Italian food with French, Asian, Spain, and European influences.
They are owned by brother and sister team Roberto and Katerina Giambalvo with Katerina serving as the Chef.
Chef Katerina received her culinary training at the French Culinary Institute of New York. Her previous experience has been as a chef for Monticello in Middlesex County.
The decor is attractive, with soft earth toned walls adorned with white ceramic masks on one wall, and Italian-themed paintings on the other, with soft, dim lighting to set the mood.
However, the tables are placed very close, especially along a long wall, and the noise level can get very high. Not recommended if you are looking for a cozy, quiet dining experience.
Monticello doesn't have a liquor license, but if you forget to bring your own they'll give you a wine list to order from a nearby wine store. The wines are reasonably priced and will be promptly delivered to your table.
While the food overall is good, they are not one of the best, though their value based pricing puts them on a level above most of the other Red Bank Italian Restaurants.
They offer a Cash only, bargain priced, excellent value, 3 course Prix menu on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday from 4:00 pm until 9:00pm
During the warmer months there is outdoor sidewalk dining.
Monticello is open six days/week for dinner and Sunday brunch.
For dinner: Tuesday - Thursday 3:30 PM - 9 PM, Friday - Saturday: 3:30 PM - 10 PM & Sunday 4:00 M - 9 PM
For Sunday Brunch: 11 AM - 3:30 PM
(updated: October, 2016)
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