Montrio Bistro
414 Calle Principal, Monterey
648-8880
The energy feels electric like a neon city, with high brick walls echoing the laughs from crowded tables and the sound of cocktails being shaken at the bar. Between Montrio’s killer happy hour, its heralded desserts, its award-winning bartender and a chef so into bad-ass bacon he’s leveraged his love into a full-fledged side business, they’ve found fame without sacrificing fun or sophistication. Further evidence appears all over the place, from the lobster mac & cheese to the beautiful braised short ribs, the roasted duck to the pesto-rubbed sirloin.