"The food was excellent, pasta noodles were homemade and some of the best lasagna we have ever had."
"The food and the hospitality were superb."
"The staff are friendly and attentive, the restaurant is clean and the food is delicious."
"Yes, the food is yummy, but it was the atmosphere and the staff that made it a five star for me!"
"It was the best food, and service, we had the whole trip!"
"One of the best meals of my life."
"The food was delicious."
Cons:
"The food was not good. i first ordered the butter&sage gnocchi and it was sooo mushy and soft."
"The gnocchi was so mushy it almost dissolved in your mouth."
"Service was some of the worst I've had and food was extremely underwhelming."
"The linguini overcooked and watery."
"The baked clams oreganata were mushy and fishy tasting; the chicken parm was rubbery and inedible."
"Bolognese was too spiced and just ground hamburger."
"Very bland and boring food. Poorly done."
Service
Pros:
"The food and service were terrific."
"Meals came out quickly and the service was terrific."
"The service was quick and professional on top of being very friendly."
"Service was great however, especially from the single gentleman walking around noticing when you dropped a knife or needed a new napkin or anything: he was spookily on it! Cordial, fast, efficient."
"The staff at Monte's will guide you through the menu, making suggestions along the way if needed. Very helpful & professional."
"The waiter acted as if he knew my family for years and made sure we were taken care of from start to finish."
"The staff were also good-humored and helpful."
Cons:
"With reservations we had a 30 minute delay."
"Also word to the wise - if you are seated outside get ready for the prevalent scent of sewage and garbage and your table being surrounded by people waiting to get into the comedy club next door."
"Poorly run establishment. We showed up on time for our reservation and weren’t seated until 20 minutes after our reservation."
"The wait for food wasn’t acceptable. Lack of wait staff meant drinks and water were not topped up without asking repeatedly."
"Our poor excuse of a waiter was Dan. For an older guy who looked like a career waiter, he was one of the worst I've had."
"The waiter spilled multiple wine bottles because the table was uneven."
"Our waiter was not friendly and rushed us to make decisions on our meal, and when we were finished he rushed us out."
Atmosphere
Pros:
"Montes has old school charm that is sadly missing from today’s society."
"A small, noisy, and crowded Italian restaurant like it should be."
"This place was incredible. Loved the food. Loved the part of town. Loved the atmosphere."
"The atmosphere was kind, cosy, and vibrant."
"The restaurant itself is quaint and easy on the eyes."
"The atmosphere is the quintessential Italian restaurant."
"The atmosphere is charming."
Cons:
"Sadly disappointing. The vibe is nice inside, but that's about it."
"The space is a little tight, so during a busy dinner rush it can feel a little cramped and frantic."
"Too many tables and too much lighting. Zero intimacy."
"Didn’t set up for our reservation and put us on a small table by the door even though upstairs was free."
"It was a really ordinary dinner with poor service that left me ultimately displeased. They pack you in like sardines."
"The restaurant is really old style italian and warm and cozy. The menu is interesting. Right in SoHo. Too expensive for the quality of food."
"Biggest complaint is that the tables were packed...unlike the pics I saw online."
Value
Pros:
"It is also a great price."
"So good. Classic food made with heart and priced competitively considering the neighborhood."
"Great old school Italian at reasonable prices in the West Village."
"They served homemade style Italian cuisine in reasonable prices."
"The wine list was also much more reasonable than you would see in an Italian restaurant in Midtown."
"Authentic approachable Italian cuisine. A welcome change of pace from the crowds."
"Good service as well. The restaurant is family owned and they really make you feel welcome."
Cons:
"The bread was just OK and not warm."
"The food is just ok, very old style italian, fairly authentic, but the stuffed mushrooms were fridge cold inside."
"Food was bad. School cafeteria bolognese and the most tragic tira misu."
"The portions were meager for exorbitant prices."
"The food was ok. Carbonara was not very rich and didn’t stand out."
"Appetizers of fried zucchini and calamari were cheap-diner quality, at best."
"Do not eat here/do not recommend at all. I have eaten Italian food all over the city and this food was the worst."