Monte's, a beloved Greenwich Village staple since 1918, serves comforting Italian-American classics in a charming, old-school ambiance that feels like home.
"Since 1918, this old-guard Italian restaurant has lingered below street level in the heart of Greenwich Village, and many couples have fallen in love there. Surprisingly, much of the food originates — not in Sicily or Southern Italy — but from Emilia-Romagna, where chef Pietro Mosconi is from. Roasted artichokes, stuffed zucchini, and cannelloni — a rolled and stuffed pasta — are all good choices." - Nadia Chaudhury, Eater Staff
"Founded in 1918, and owned by the same family since 1983, Monte’s is a very old fashioned Italian-American restaurant with a charming ambiance that makes it a favorite date spot. The food from current chef and owner Pedro Mosconi is spot-on, including stuffed clams, beef short ribs with gnocchi, and — in a remarkable version that hails from Emilia-Romagna — the cheese-stuffed pasta known as cannelloni." - Eater Staff
"At Monte’s, a small poster of Jesus hangs in the visible kitchen, a bartender mixes Cosmopolitans, and a host hangs by the door until a group he knows arrives, at which point he loosens his collar, grabs a bottle of wine, and sits down to dinner. The dining room is covered in framed photos of Monte's, which opened in 1918, and the tables fill with tourists, groups who come here often and know every server, and a few people who had no idea this semi-subterranean Italian spot ever existed, but were on a hunt for fried calamari. There’s an excellent tartufo for dessert, but the food is generally unremarkable, and dishes lean pricey. Still, if you need a break from small plate wine bars, you could do worse than coming to this Greenwich Village institution for some cheese ravioli in Chef Boyardee-esque marinara, and some red wine. Or go to Villa Mosconi, run by the same family, down the street. photo credit: Willa Moore" - Willa Moore
"An obvious question often asked by NYU students is “Where do I get my parents to take me and my friends when they’re in town?” Monte’s is a good choice, a legacy Italian restaurant with lush, tomato-sauced food, founded in 1918. The dining room is comfortable and convivial, and puts you in mind of the century-old Italian roots of the neighborhood." - Robert Sietsema
"Open since 1918, this subterranean red sauce restaurant offers value and charm. Start with baked artichokes oreganata and consider pasta made in-house, shrimp scampi, or scungilli. Wines are reasonably priced, from $8 to $12 a glass. The bar is tiny but a great perch for people-watching." - Robert Sietsema
