Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar
714 Village Court
Santa Rosa
(707) 568-4404
American Cuisine
Entrées (dinner): $12-$28
Lunch and dinner daily; Sunday brunch
Full bar, nice wine list
Being someone who’s lucky enough to live nearby, I’ve visited Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar many times. And whether it’s for a couple drinks and small plates with friends, a sunny outdoor business lunch, during Montgomery Village’s annual music series (bonus people watching on those days) or a multi-course, special-occasion dinner, Monti’s is ideal for all sorts of meals.
Most recently, we visited for dinner on a cool evening and sat by the large indoor fireplace (although many folks were seated outdoors under the heat lamps, some with soft, warm blankets the restaurant provides). And it’s that warm hospitality, great food and drinks that inspired a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year for co-owners Mark (chef) and Terri Stark (winners will be announced in May). It’s likely you recognize their name from Stark’s Steakhouse and Willi’s Wine Bar (also in Santa Rosa) as well as Willi’s Seafood and Raw Bar and (their newest) Bravas Bar de Tapas in Healdsburg.
Two specialty cocktails (a citrus-flavored cinnamon sidecar and a tart, crisp “twist of fate” sparkler) went great with a selection of fresh, raw oysters served with mignonette and cocktail sauces. The beet salad with red beets, tart greens, plenty of feta cheese, chopped almonds and pickled onions was large and full-flavored, while the tender and fresh ahi tuna tartar with avocado and pine nuts atop thin-sliced cucumber came with plenty of bread crisps to enjoy it with.
We switched to an earthy Michel-Schlumberger red blend and a crisp St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc for our next courses. The perfectly cooked, thin-crusted butternut squash and prosciutto pizza with Bellwether Farms Crescenza cheese was both savory and sweet and went great with both beverage choices.
Each night the restaurant offers a special rotisserie entrée, which are always delicious, but this time we went for the pomegranate-glazed Duroc pork chop with jalapeño applesauce, which was generous in both size and taste. The glaze’s sweet edge was contrasted well with the spicy sauce and golden brown potato cakes. The caramelized butterfish was, yep, like buttah, with caramelized parsnips, roasted apples and Swiss chard. A side of baked macaroni and cheese with aged cheddar and bacon was outstanding and rich, and the caramelized Brussels sprouts with apples, andouille and blue cheese were crunchy and delicious (some of the best I’ve tried).
For dessert, we enjoyed French-pressed Bella Rosa organic coffee with a lush dark chocolate pot de crème served with two cookies (for dipping or just eat it alone like a pudding—chocolate lovers, this one’s for you) and an incredibly moist fromage blanc cheesecake (both were served in jars) with “Creamsicle” oranges, candied walnuts and ginger snap cookies—if you’re missing the crust, eat it with those and your needs will be more than satisfied.
