Just before the holidays, I had the opportunity to accompany my dads on a little excursion to Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, California. My fellow gourmet canines, you will be very glad that I did.
I will first tell you about my lunch at Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar, located at 714 Village Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, telephone 1-707-568-4404, www.montisroti.net .
Monti’s is conveniently located in the heart of the Montgomery Shopping Village and offers both inside and alfresco dining. The alfresco section was pleasant even on a sunny, but cool California December day: the overhead heaters helped considerably to keep a canine and his dining companion’s comfortable warm.
On approaching the host stand, I was warmly greeted and petted. My dads asked if I would be able to sit in the alfresco section with them for lunch and were told absolutely. We where shown to a great table that gave me an excellent view of my fellow dinners as well as pole position for all the holiday shoppers to see me. Immediately, our server Alicia came over and welcomed us, offering my dads the lunch menu and wine list. She also asked if we would like to hear about the day’s lunch specials. After going over the tantalizing specials and giving me a very nice ear and head rub, Alicia offered to bring me a bowl of water. Before she left the table, my dads asked Alicia if there was something tasty that the chef could recommend for me to eat. She said she would check to see what the chief had that I might enjoy.
Alicia returned promptly with the bowl of water and asked if my dads had decided on a beverage, Monti’s has an extensive beverage list. Not only does Monti’s have an impressive wine and cocktail selection, they also offer a wonderful array of non-alcoholic refreshing, thirst quenching and taste sensations like, White Jasmine Sparkling Tea or Peach & Passion Fruit Spritzer to name two. Wine by the glass is offered in 6 ounce or 9 ounce pours, if the 9 ounce pour is chosen it comes in a personal single serving carafe.
After returning with the beverages, we were all ready to place our order, Alicia said that the chef recommended that I might enjoy a few slices of roast pork. A licking of the lips was my response to that suggestion. One of my dads ordered the soup of the day, a delicious purée of lentils and vegetables, black forest ham pieces and topped with a swirl of horseradish crème fraiche. Delicious was his reaction to the soup. He followed this with one of the lunch specials of that day, the rock crab salad. This was no ordinary salad, it starts with a Florida Brick Shell (texture like a very light Indian Puppodum), fill it with finely chopped romaine lettuce, nestle a generous heaped portion of rock crab marinated in a dressing so light that it did not over power but enhanced the individual flavors and textures of this light and delicious sweet crab, then garnish with avocado and radish slices for a visual and tasty creation. My other dad ordered the Spit Roasted Pork Loin Sandwich, lightly smoky ‘melt in you mouth’ tender thinly sliced pork loin, piled high on artisan bread and topped with pomegranate glazed onions, served with a side of exquisite pickled vegetables. Paired with a side of Monti’s garlic, rosemary and gorgonzola thin cut French fries and you have you have one very satisfying gastronomic delight.
Now to my lunch, a very large portion of thinly sliced and warm pork was brought for my eating pleasure, there was so much I was able to share a few pieces with my dads and have leftovers for that evening’s dinner. My huge serving of pork cost $3.00.
Monti’s is a sophisticated and relaxing respite, offering a wide selection of tantalizing menu items in a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Menu items range in price from $8 to the low $20’s, add a very attentive, friendly and efficient server and a staff that were pleased and excited to have me as their dining guest also and this gourmet loving canine gives Monti’s a well deserved four paws up.
