Monty's Blue Plate Diner

Cool spot with delicious food and very down to earth and friendly staff. Jo was our waitress and she was very kind and fun. We all sampled off each other's meals and they were all very good. I will definitely be back. Vegetarian and vegan options. Small parking lot with more options nearby. No stairs but bathroom was tight. Large booths and a few tables.

EDIT: I need to update my review because the praise is front loaded too much. I am dissatisfied with the soup. Please bring back the previous recipe for Naan’s Chicken Noodle Soup. I did not want a chicken noodle hot dish 🙄. Also if you can make a vegan version of Naan’s, all the better. But please make it like the old version, truly halfway between a soup and a stew, with lots of good broth and lots of good noodles and veggies and protein. I get that good food isn’t cheap, so if you have to raise the price that’s fine, but don’t cut it out entirely! ORIGINAL: I do love Monty’s blue plate diner, and especially do like their vegetarian options when I am able to stay vegetarian. Unfortunately today I am dead sick and I needed some Naan’s chicken noodle soup. Unfortunately what I got was a chicken noodle hot dish. Which isn’t bad, but it’s not what I needed. I sorely needed a whole lot of chicken broth in this. Be aware they did refund me my order, which was amazing of them. I do not fault the staff on this, they’ve gone above and beyond, and the manager explained that this recipe change was not his decision and was updated on the menu (I called in my order) Corporate, please go back to the old recipe, I know sometimes you need to change things up for business purposes, but this is going to diminish my enthusiasm a lot. I’m hoping I can pour hot water on this and make it any better.

As a vegan, I value this place. Diner food has always been one of my favorites and if you're vegan you know how hard it can be to find ANYTHING to eat at a breakfast place. But Monty's Blue Plate Diner has several delicious options (even shakes!). When there is a wait it's clearly communicated and there are indoor and outdoor areas to wait. You are sat in a charming colorful diner and treated to delicious food. I love this place, and if you are ever in Madison it's a must go.

Solid dinner at a diner. I eat gluten free and 2 in my family are vegetarian. We were able to find options. BUT you have to request a book that has food allergies listed in it. The book was not up to date. It was cumbersome, I much prefer the menu being marked. It makes me feel less “called out” because of my dietary needs. In a group it is annoying to be the one who has to ask questions and explain to the server (who doesn’t seem to really understand how important it is — never mind care) constantly about gluten. That being said it’s a true dinner experience that is fun to have. Clean bathrooms!

I am grateful for the vegan options at Monty's Blue Plate Diner and make it a point to eat there when I'm in Madison. The food is terrific and I give it 5 stars for atmosphere because it's a legit diner.

Cute diner serving the best vegetarian and vegan comfort food! They have all your “classic” offerings as well for the meat eaters. Our only problem was having too many options to choose from. ❤️😆 Our server Jo was very friendly and helpful. Vegan milkshakes and the “Sheldon” (a tofu Rueben) are a must, and don’t skip dessert. Cannot wait to go back!!!

Interesting Menu, I chose the Ruben Sandwich. I would not get it again. It was sloppy to eat, and had too much tofu IMO Place was clean, and crowded. If I am ever back in the area, I will try something else on the menu

Monty's never disappoints! Absolutely delicious food and their Bloody Mary is perfect for me. They serve breakfast all day and have an entire page of vegan options. I would eat there every day. Seriously.

Another great meal at Monty's! Had everything to share - breakfast burrito, fat elvis vegan french toast, greek omelet, and chicken and biscuit. I was a big fan of the chicken and biscuit - yummy maple glaze covering the crispy fried chicken and warm buttermilk biscuit. The garlic butter broccoli was refreshing and a creamy mashed potato with it as well. The burrito was hot to the bite with full flavor in each. These potato's never miss! Perfectly spiced and crisped. The fat elvis was drool worthy with melty peanut butter and chocolate chips. Also had a delectable slice of German chocolate cake -- for a $6 slice you are getting the bang for your buck. The cake was literally falling out of the dish, and perfectly textured with the coconut pecan chocolate combo. Portions are all so huge!

Though I live in Milwaukee, I've been to Monty's more times than I can count. Their breakfast has never disappointed. The blueberry pancakes are absolute perfection. I order them nearly every time and I am so glad when they arrive. They're the perfect diner pancake -- not gourmet brunch spot gorgeous, but unassuming and oh-so-delicious. Monty's biscuits and breakfast potatoes are two other must haves. The potatoes are well seasoned with a good crispiness on the outside and a soft and luscious interior. The biscuit is just as delicious as those my southern grandmother could whip up -- flaky yet tender and best eaten with a generous pat of butter. The eggs, in whatever form you order them, will be solid. Nothing to write home about, but yummy and filling nonetheless. For Monty's being such a classic diner, you might be surprised to see their extensive vegan menu. They've got some really great options, and I can personally attest to the banana walnut pancakes. Though blueberry is my go-to, the vegan banana walnut option is really quite tasty. Monty's loses one star for the atrocious parking lot (but good on them for actually having one) and prices that are just a little too high, IMO. Other than that, I'll always recommend Monty's to those looking for a hearty Madison breakfast.

I came for the vegan milkshake (made with oat ice cream), and let me tell you the peanut butter shake did not disappoint. You get a full glass as well as the metal blending cup with any extra. It starts out thick and melts throughout the meal, so be prepared with a spoon or two to start. And the peanut butter is piled in and you get bits of it in every bite. The rest of the food was more of what you'd expect from a traditional diner. I had the reuben and the beef was pretty dry and plain - looked a lot like sliced meat from a gyro. The fries were mediocre and the bad ketchup only made them worse. Service was fantastic. Gently checked in multiple times to be sure we had everything you need without imposing.

I had the honor of dining here again today. Service was top-notch. The vegan Sheldon tasted incredible - I especially loved the bread and thousand island dressing. Can't wait to return and try something else!

Delicious breakfast food. Friendly service. Can get extremely loud, but I fully blame the two tables behind us for that. Definitely recommend breakfast here if you are in the neighborhood.

Really cute restaurant, tiny tiny parking lot so plan accordingly. Also, this place is an INSTITUTION (locals and tourists come all the time), so plan accordingly. Lots of delicious food options, definitely friendly to those who are GF or Veg or vegan. Double check how hungry you are, because that milkshake is so worth it, but you'll probably be taking the rest of your food to go! Service was great and I'll definitely have to check it out again!

I love Monty's for their vegan menu which features all day breakfast and a full lunch/dinner menu. They also offer vegan brownies, milkshakes, and fruit pie. I'm so happy to have a restaurant in Madison that gives vegans a full-blown diner experience. I also appreciate Monty's for the improvements they've made to their vegan offerings. If you wanted a vegan Sheldon 4 or 5 years ago you would've had to forgo the cheese and thousand island, but in recent years they've adapted and added vegan cheese and dressing. If you're coming for weekend breakfast/brunch you can expect a wait. But the service is speedy, there's a good amount of tables/booths, and they turn over quick. The interior is an electric blue with some fun neon mixed in--very much a "diner" feel. The dishes I find myself ordering over and over are the Heathen Vegan Shoplifter's Delight, Sheldon, and Banana Walnut Pancakes. I love this reliable little diner!

We were going to a concert at the Barrymore Theater, across the street. This is a local cafe. Great service. We had about a 10 minute wait. We decided to sis outside, it was a beautiful evening. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie with mashed potatoes and homemade applesauce. It was scrumptious. Lots of chicken. We also ordered a Grilled cheese with tomato soup. It was just as good. They serve breakfast all day. The beer prices were very good. E a restaurant.

I dined in here on a weekday evening. The place was not full, so I got a seat right away. Vegetarian loaf of god was my favorite item. Hethan vegan shoplifters delight was my second entree and it was flavorful as well. Ben's spiced apple shake was good as well. Kid's chicken strips was ok. Prices were reasonable. They had a parking lot and I got parking right away.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Diner! We dropped in to this place - my son is a vegetarian, and this has a good selection of both types of food. When you hit the door, you get the feeling of an old diner. A gas pump with a globe on top is outside, parking on the north side of the restaurant, and Neon on the sign. You walk in, and are faced with a glass case with deserts - and not just SMALL deserts, cakes that are HUGE, but you are quickly escorted to your table. The menu in this case covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was in a lunch mood, as was my wife, while my son wanted breakfast. I had their Turkey Club, which was SLABS of Turkey on a nice club sandwich with avocado, my wife had their well-named Heathen sandwich, which was a huge collection of portabella mushroom and other good stuff on a bun, and my son had their Tofu Scramble. The Heathen and Turkey Club came with good french fries. Coffee was bottomless and good coffee. I on the other hand, went for the strawberry shake (see the photo), not only do you get the old shake glass, you get the container as well to refill it. It was topped nicely with whipped cream, and was very good. Still we wanted to wrap things up with desert (since it was my son's birthday lunch) so he had the French Silk slice of pie, my wife had the Mississippi Mud slice, and I had a slice of their Raspberry Cheesecake. They all went down well. Service was great, lots of Fiestaware on the shelves in the store, lots of eye candy and nostalgia. The mens room was clean and tidy. The food was good, the service was good, and the prices were quite reasonable. If you haven't tried this place, you need to.

Good food with quick service. They've got tons of vegetarian options and they serve breakfast and lunch all day.

Diner has the classic blue and silver 50's diner appeal. We were seated promptly at the bar even with the lunch rush on Valentine's Day. It's been about 2 years since coming here last-- the service and restaurant hasn't changed, it's still great. However, as with most places, they significantly raised the cost of menu items, especially breakfast which seems to be higher than a burger and fries. Pies and cakes still look delicious in the display case when you first walk in.

Vegan must-stop. For everyone else it's alright. I found the chocolate cake to looks whole lot better than it tastes (cake couldn't be described as soft, although the chocolate was liberal) and the corned beef hash was alright. The people I went with were very pleased with their dishes, the meatloaf, fried chicken sandwich, and heathen vegan. 5* Vegan 4* Everyone else

Really great spot delivering on exactly what a diner should. Reliable food served quickly in a friendly environment and just plain delicious. Seemed like a long wait, but managed the line well with a system where they text you when your table is ready. Had a delicious omelette and well cooked bacon and my guest had a fried chicken sandwich which was excellent. Reasonable prices as well. What's not to love?

Second time stopping here, the first time I wasn't too big of a fan but those vegan banana walnut brought me back! A great stop heading back to MN and so glad I did! The pancakes are delicious! A non vegan would enjoy them! And the shake..CHEFS KISS! Made with real frozen strawberries which I love! My sister enjoyed her food and the biscuit looked so fluffy. The decor gives it an oldies feel which I LOVE! A nice restaurant and a great place for breakfast food (even if it's later in the day).

I recently had dinner at Monty's. They serve breakfast all day, but I opted for the chicken, bacon, goat cheese sandwich which was delicious. My husband had the meatloaf which he said was good as well. Great diner vibe with friendly service. Parking lot available which is nice on Atwood. Will be back.

This is your classic diner....I love it. Small place, small parking lot, but big on service and the food! Don't even get me started on the yummy sugar-overloaded desserts in the display counter as you enter. The servers were very friendly, attentive, and prompt. We were willing to sit at the counter, but a table was found for us. The Blue Plate Burger had perfectly grilled onions, juicy burger, melted blue cheese, and the egg on top (my add.) Waffle fries were tasty and crunchy. The Country Breakfast had light & fluffy eggs, chewy biscuit, crunchy bacon. The potatoes were lightly salted and tasty. Crunchy and soft. Overall, we really liked this place. Can't wait to bring the family here for brunch!

Cute and clean place with an old diner feel. Very attentive staff, host got us right in and waitress came over for drinks immediately. Food was okay nothing to write home about. I ordered the Heathen Vegan and it had absolutely no taste, the fries on the side weren't any different. I don't add salt to fries but I did hoping that it would give them some flavor. My husband had the Monty's Crisco which was really just a grilled ham & cheese, not dipped in batter and apple perseveres in the sandwich rather than on the side to dip in wasn't right.

Stopped in for a good ole diner experience and ordered the Fat Elvis shake which was amazing! So yummy! I got the breakfast burrito and I was disappointed to find there was no meat in the burrito (my fault for not reading the description), so I ordered a side of bacon to stuff it in the burrito. However since there's beans in it, it was so soggy that the burrito fell apart immediately and couldn't be held to eat. Our server was ok, she didn't really interact with us and was busy doing her side work. Overall it was a cute place with a nostalgic appeal to it.

Went here later in the evening with a friend and it was quite good. I ordered a Montecristo though, and when I received it, I was quite surprised because it wasn't like any Montecristo. I had had a previously. That isn't to say it wasn't good, it was fine. It just wasn't what I was expecting. Much more savory than sweet otherwise the venue was bustling and busy with friendly service and very much old diner feel.

This establishment has your typical dinner fair with a typical diner look and feel on the inside albeit at a slightly elevated price compared to similar restaurants. Our server was already a bit thin and didn't interact with us much. However I enjoyed the GBLT sandwich which had a respectable amount of bacon and crispy fries. The Fat Elvis milkshake was quite good and a good value

We are new to Wisconsin and went today for the first time. We all loved it. I had the heathen vegan shoplifter delight with waffle fries. It was good. My spouse had the chicken pie and loved it- the pie, the mashed potatoes, even the cranberry apples. Kiddo had mac and cheese and liked it. She didn't eat much of it, but that was due to the chocolate shake in front of her. Shakes were yummy also. I am vegetarian with a meat-eating family. It is really challenging to find restaurants we all like. Anywhere I want to eat is too weird, so I have had a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches since we moved here. Grilled cheese sandwiches are good- but for me, just once in a while. Full disclosure: no one else tried my sandwich, though they did like the fries. Monty's is one of a handful of spots- ever, anywhere- that we all liked and look forward to trying again. We each even have a list for future visits (for me- the Sheldon, veggie loaf of the Gods, and banana walnut pancakes) Service was good also, and the old fashioned diner vibe is fun.

Excellent and very popular. This was a pit stop for us, driving from Oregon home to Chicago we stopped to give a good friend a hug and break bread. Service was fantastic, we sat outside and Rachel was very patient with us while we waited for our friend Happy to say they have grapefruit juice (not many restaurant have it) to have half & half (grapefruit- orange) great combo. I had the sweet potatoes hash with two poached eggs and biscuit. Hash was light, prepared with jalapeños, zucchini's, bell peppers and onions. Eggs were perfectly poached and the biscuit was buttery and flaky. My husband had the meatloaf hash and my friend the eggs Florentine / both were very happy with their meals.

I love this restaurant! The menu is full of variety. The nostalgia of the diner is fun and different. The food is always delicious.

Casual, laid-back diner vibe with great breakfast options and tons of vegetarian and vegan offerings.

Came here for Sunday brunch.. based on other reviews, perhaps I'd give it another star if I were a vegetarian.. The atmosphere is very cute and unique. Our waitress was competent but not very personable. I ordered the Bloody Monty. The bloody itself was pretty tasty. The garnish included a pickle, two green olives, and a cheese curd. The pickle was mushy and disgusting. I was sad that there was no meat in the bloody. It also seemed a bit un-Wisconsin that the High Life chaser was a dollar up-charge. I ordered Nana's chicken soup. The noodles were a bit too soft, and should have been added just before serving. The pieces of chicken were in long strips which was a bit awkward to eat in a soup. Otherwise, I thought the soup was quite tasty and was pleased that it came out piping hot. Portion sizes were perfect. Prices were reasonable. I wish they had a soup and salad combo so that ordering a cup of soup and a salad wouldn't cost $20. If I ever have any vegan friends (unlikely) I suppose this would be my go to!

monty's has a bomb grilled cheese sandwich I normally get the kids on because I hate pickles with a passion so I refuse to gobble them up!! overall your potatoes are very yummy!! and don't even get me started on your ice cream oh my its so yummy in my tummy or the milkshakes oh my so good I'm not sure if you still have the orange milkshakes so yummy.

Wonderful and friendly service. Delicious breakfast burrito. No hassles and was left to enjoy my breakfast

I love this diner. The service is always on point and the food is tasty. My favorite menu item is the burger. I got the bistro burger last time, and it was amazing. I think it's also worth the price. I have also had the sweet potato hash, which is a close second for me. I asked for poached eggs with my hash, and my egg was slightly over cooked, but that's not enough of a con to complain. Overall, convenient location, great service, incredible food.

Monty's is a great place for vegan and vegetarian breakfasts as well as regular options as well. My favorite aspect is they have breakfast all day! My favorite lunch/dinner option is the falafel wrap!

Our food was absolutely delicious - three of us ordered breakfast for lunch. The special of the day exceeded our expectation. The Greek omelette, which is one of our favorites, did not disappoint! The other member of our party ordered the fish and chips which got an A+ rating. The service was excellent. We had our service dog with us and he was acknowledged by staff as being well behaved with a busy environment. We enjoy the atmosphere as there's a bit of hustle and bustle, yet nothing that interferes with diners conversation. We will return again.

I think there might be nothing I love more than neon antique appliance art! Whether it's a neon egg in an ancient skillet or beaming smoke from a classic toaster, this place offers a feast for your eyes and your stomach. This stylistic gem has all the vibes of a classic 50s diner shrouded in a kitschy blue. I got the Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Waffle Fries. The chicken sandwich slapped like all chicken sandwiches do. It wasn't the crazy bestest chicken sammy I've ever had but I really liked the bacon and onion toppings with it. My friend got the Montys Cristo sandwich, which was delishy. Great mix of sweet and savory. My other friend got the Falafel Wrap Sandwich, which was yummy and light. Now this German Chocolate Cake. Omg. So fluffy, so chocolatey, great ratio of coconut flakes and other crunchy niblets to give it some crunch to all that chocolate fluffiness. TLDR: A classic 50s feast for the eyes and yummy. Don't miss out on their desserts!

Solid diner food. I really liked that they made it easy to choose what was gluten sensitive and what was vegan. I got a breakfast - eggs, toast, bacon - so nothing too stellar or foodie - but that said - they were super nice and the food was really good !!! I didn't get it but the pies looked good. Maybe next time. I would definitely come here again !!

This is it. This is the best chicken sandwich. I am something of a chicken sandwich dilettante, and I really think this is the best one I've ever had. I finished it off with a slice of key lime pie which was tart and sweet and delicious. Not only was the food good, but this diner is extremely clean and cute! The staff were friendly and quick. I'll be back again.... And again... and again.

Another visit back after nearly 1 year. Consistent quality & service. Ample, delicious vegan options. Cool vibe. We"ll be back if the road takes us in your direction. Keep up the great work.

Oh man...I still dream about the Blue Plate Burger. There's a wait here but rightfully so! FOOD IS BOMB AND SO WORTH THE WAIT! Numerous friends recommended this place, so we decided to try it out for a late lunch before we headed back to Illinois. Dining inside is a much longer wait, but you can order "takeout" in another line inside and wait for it. While waiting, you can snag a table outside. They announce the orders outside and you can enjoy it in their outdoor tables! People come and go frequently, so it's not too hard to snag a table. I feel like you can always get a good feel of a diner by their signature burgers, so I opted to get their Blue Plate Burger. OHHH MAN! That first bite was absolute heaven. The blue cheese with the bacon combined with buttery bun and hearty patty was DELICIOUS!! I savored every bite. Sadly, the fries were so-so and fell a bit flat to me. Also, the best pair with such a burger in WI is obviously a Spotted Cow! This meal truly hit the spot. Next time you're here, order a blue plate burger with a spotted cow! You won't be disappointed!

We were looking for a place to eat while in Madison and Montes was fantastic. All our meals were prepared to our satisfaction. My tip is to start with the soup and build around it. Easy parking, great food and service. Give this local gem a try!

I would love to say that everything worked out well but I was told I would get reimbursed for a coupon for my meal so I sent them my address and it never happened so watch out people don't say thank you until you waited and I waited long enough

Had Rueben sandwich with Cole Slaw. Corned beef was great, as was the bread, but the Swiss cheese was fake (aren't we in America's Dairyland?), and the coleslaw smelled and tasted rancid with oxidized brown pieces. Tasted it anyway, then we worried about food poisoning, and did not take another bite. We are ok the day after, but caution against ordering it.

This was the cutest place, absolutely delicious food with a fun and retro atmosphere. Food was fabulous, especially the breakfast! Biscuits were big and flaky. Our server was wonderful. Definitely recommend for a brunch stop!

My Reuben was tough. Very little kraut or cheese. The meat never even covered the skimpy piece of bread and it was a slab vs sliced. On the positive side my friends fish was great but still will never go there again.

PARKING: The restaurant has a small parking lot. I mean SMALL. It is very limited so do not expect to get parking unless you come early or at just the right time! There is also street parking available which is what we did. ATMOSPHERE/SPACE: Local, cute, vintage diner vibe. It's quite small, so it's not ideal for big groups. Customer service was decent and the restaurant was well organized for being so busy. FOOD: We got the GBLT and Bistro Burger. I didn't try the GBLT, but my friend said she would rate it a 4/5. I got the Bistro Burger which I would rate a 3/5. I could tell the ingredients were fresh and the textures were nice, but it was nothing spectacular. A pretty basic burger I would say. The Swiss cheese added a nice tang, but I did find myself desiring more flavor/acidity from the meal. It tasted more fatty if anything. The fries were definitely the highlight. They were nicely fried and crispy. OVERALL: At 12pm it was very busy. We couldn't find parking and waited 30 minutes to be seated. Some people had to wait outside (important to know for winter!) We left around 1:30pm and there were still people lined up to wait. Overall, everything was just okay for me. Nothing spectacular but it wasn't bad either. Normally, I am not so indifferent about a restaurant but this one was not particularly good or bad. I didn't get to try any of the dessert (by 12pm, most were gone) or other dishes like the veggie loaf so I would like to try this place again and update my review. It is not a place I would regularly attend, but I would recommend at least trying this location. It is a better quality alternative to Denny's or Perkins.

When we lived in Madison Monty's was one of our favorite restaurants to frequent, and when we came back for a visit it was the first place we had a meal. I love Monty's! The food selection is delicious and there are so many vegetarian options. The BLT, the Sheldon, the shoplifter's delight are all highly recommended. On top of that the service is great. When we lived here I'd have never considered a 4 star review. The ONLY reason I'm doing it now is because when we went yesterday the place was depressingly dirty. Like the floor was covered in debris. Wadded up napkins, used straws, the kind of thing you'd expect in a restaurant that had been busy but hadn't swept all day. There were also dirty tables that needed attention. There might be a reasonable excuse, like being understaffed maybe? But i feel like I can't let them off the hook. I know Monty's can do better and I hope that next time I'm in town it shines with its former glory.

I'm bumping this up to five stars, since it's as great as ever. We love the Veggie Loaf of the Gods and are grateful that the deities have given it great flavor and texture. (Hashtag blessed??) We requested the broccoli side to be cooked longer this time and it was wonderful. They grilled it (or maybe roasted it) and grilling makes everything awesome: the broccoli was no exception. It made the drive home heavenly... or as heavenly as the Illinois Tollway can be.

Great food! Been here several times and always have a great time. The staff is always super friendly. The food is always good. Great vegan options.

Food was about what you'd expect for a diner. Tasted good and came out quick. There were some nice seats outside, but our kids chose to eat inside. All the booths were filthy- like they haven't been wiped between the back and the seat in a LONG time. Floor was also very sticky! Yuck! Service was good- our gal was super sweet and checked on us multiple times.

Great diner service and feel. Sat right away at the bar, given friendly and quick service. Blue theme is apparent throughout the restaurant. Food is made quickly and you will be eating before you know it. I had the two egg breakfast with the veggie sausage (which has become my new favorite)! It tastes just like real sausage but without the normal side effects (for me at least). Food was hot, they have a big vegan menu, lots of good meals to choose from. I will be back next time I'm in Madison and craving breakfast/brunch

The chicken sandwich I got there was excellent. This place feels like a slice out of an old movie. They pull of the old diner aesthetic so well. Antique furniture, friendly servers, and good diner food! A MUST VISIT if you're in Madison and love a nice old diner :)

Scrumptious is the best word for the French Toast with apples, butter, and honey, filled with a delicious cream! That was a shared dish for four. We also enjoyed burgers and waffle fries. Very good. I like the waffle fries second best and the French toast best! Coffee could be stronger, but I know not everyone likes strong, dark roasted coffee, so not a huge deal. We popped in and waited 30 minutes for seating, but it was worth it. It's a fun, casual place, and a great place to have a fun meal.