"Októ in Montrose is phenomenal. This Mediterranean restaurant is from the folks behind Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Badolina. It blends the small plates and refreshing, feta-fueled salads from Hamsa, the chimichurri-rubbed lamb chops and silken sauces from Doris, and dessert that makes us wonder why we aren’t getting pastries from Badolina more often. photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen Dining here feels like sneaking into a trendy tropical plant shop after-hours, one that serves incredible food. Think eggplant carpaccio with a thin layer of myzithra cheese that will tempt you to lick the plate. Every bite of the bluefin tuna (a worthwhile upcharge of $10) tartare makes us wish we could take it home in bulk, along with a gallon of the shiro shoyu poured on top tableside. And cocktails like the pistachio-washed-bourbon Flight Of Icarus have us clamoring for permanent residence at the bar. Given that every seat—including the patio—was full, everybody else seemed to feel the same way. Food Rundown photo credit: Quit Nguyen Frena You can smell this dish before you see it. The thick, soft bread arrives scorching hot, topped with aromatic zaatar, and then is cut to share tableside. We considered ordering 13 more of these for dinner, something we might return to Októ to do at some point because it’s that good. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Greek Salad This is probably the most refreshing salad we’ve ever had. It’s fresh and cold and has enough whipped feta with herbs to coat every surface of the chopped vegetables. Keep it, and ask for another piece of frena. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Eggplant Carpaccio The best way to enjoy this dish is to mix everything together. The eggplant has a light, savory flavor balanced best with the tomato on top. At first, the flavors are subtle, but take a couple more bites and the slightly tangy carpaccio builds until you wish you had another serving. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Tuna Tartare When the server offers the bluefin upgrade for this dish (it's $10), take it. The soft, fatty tuna paired with the floral, sweet shiro shoyu (poured tableside) tastes incredible, a perfect balance of sweet and salty. We want to take a gallon of this home and put the sauce in one of those on-demand beer hats. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Octopus First things first, the bish bash is delicious. Especially when the Moroccan-style fennel salad is served with perfectly tender grilled octopus and spicy romesco. Tiger Shrimp While this only comes with three shrimp, each one is so comically large that you might find yourself cracking corny jokes, like, “Dang, this shrimp’s been doing one shell of a workout,” or, “Wow, these look shrimp-ly irresistible.” It’s inevitable. Embrace it, then enjoy how excellent this dish tastes. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Grilled Sea Bass You might think this is all about the sea bass, but you’d be wrong. The pea risotto shines here—the delicate grilled fish is just an Oscar-worthy supporting character. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Lamb Chops Októ is a nice restaurant with fancy little table lamps. But that shouldn’t stop you from picking up these herb-crusted lamb chops, eating them straight from the bone, and snacking on the caramelized pearl onions afterward. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Pistachio Four Ways Served on an ice-cold plate that looks like a fluffy cloud, this dessert is an ode to pistachio in all of its sweet, nutty, and crunchy glory." - Chelsea Thomas
