Monte Alto Eatery & Bar, Crows Nest
After first launching as a café back in 2016, Crows Nest’s coffee specialists Monte Alto Roasters have rebranded to Monte Alto Eatery & Bar – a fully functional café-restaurant-bar. The new dining project focuses on Australian fusion dishes as well as perfect whisky and wine pairings.
We recently ventured out to this foodie hotspot in Sydney’s lower north shore to experience the new inventive menu which features classic flavour combinations elevated by gentle twists to excite all taste buds. In what is sure to please existing patrons, Monte Alto will continue to serve a modern Australian breakfast and lunch menu, with coffees by Toby’s Estate and a selection of brunch cocktails available during the day. Diners can expect to find twists on café staples, with firm favourites such as Smashed Avocado & Salsa, a beautifully plated medley of ricotta, mint, tomato salsa, feta cheese and aged balsamic on toasted sourdough.
For a lunchtime treat, you can get your hands around one of the delicious-sounding burgers including the Wagyu Beef & Double Bacon, the Char-grilled Chicken & Avocado, or the scrumptious Soft Shell Crab Burger. Crafted with tempura soft shell crab, Asian slaw, tomatoes, carrot pickle and Thai tamarind sauce served on a toasted milk bun and with a generous serve of tasty fries, this one will surprise even the most experienced burger aficionados.
On our visit in the evening, the venue adopted a more up-market vibe with a creative, modern dinner menu, complete with wines, cocktails and one of the largest collections of whisky in the area. Starter dishes include the delectable Halloumi Fries served with tomato salsa and pesto aioli and the signature Yum Cha Scotch Egg which would go nicely alongside a stiff whisky. But our favourites were the Zucchini Blossoms (lightly battered zucchini flowers filled with five Italian cheeses) and the Sea Grapes & Smoked Salmon (grape seaweed rolled in double smoked salmon served with mayonnaise). The addition of Sea Grapes (also called green caviar) was certainly interesting and gave it that high-end feel – not to mention it’s also full of nutrients.
The mains look just as appetizing and include Eggplant Parmigiana, Creamy Chicken Fettucine, Stuffed Chicken Marsala and Parmesan Chicken Schnitzel which we got our teeth into. Served with slaw, chips, mushroom sauce and ghee clarified butter, it was big and it was cheesy. The other highlight was the Atlantic Salmon. This gluten-free option features a 180g pan-fried Atlantic Salmon with roasted red pepper sauce, avocado mousse and garden salad. With its crisp skin and moist and tender flesh, it was delicious.
For the more adventurous, there’s the 12-hour slow cooked Coffee Rubbed Pork Roast served with garlic mash, poached greens, tomato salsa and a stock reduction sauce or the Smoky Pork Ribs slowly cooked and basted in a homemade spicy BBQ sauce and served with roasted vegetables that will definitely keep you coming back.
Using top quality ingredients to create culinary dishes that are full of flavour and with a good balance of colour and texture, Monte Alto Eatery & Bar is the ideal setting for every occasion. Check it out for a unique dining experience.
Monte Alto Eatery & Bar
3/300 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest
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