"Októ in Montrose is phenomenal. This Mediterranean restaurant is the blended progeny of the folks behind Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Badolina. Dining here feels like sneaking into a trendy tropical plant shop after-hours, one that serves incredible food. On our first visit, we couldn’t stop ourselves from wiping the eggplant carpaccio plate clean. The tuna tartare makes us wish we could take it home in bulk, along with a gallon of the shiro shoyu that's poured on top tableside. And the pistachio-washed-bourbon Flight Of Icarus has us clamoring for permanent residence at the bar. Given every seat—including the patio—was full, everybody else seemed to feel the same way." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas