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Montesano's Eateria
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
9905 S Eastern AveLas Vegas, NV 89136
Neighborhood: Anthem
(702) 870-3287
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Niki H. said: "I did not expect what we got from this place! Having lived in Reno and Vegas for almost 13 years, I know that locals casinos can have good places, but it's best to keep expectations low and be pleasantly surprised by the great ones.…" read more »
62 reviews for Montesano's Eateria
Review Highlights
"I will be back to try the pasta dishes and of course buy..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...so good, especially the wedding cookies and the florentines."
(in 4 reviews)
"However the best thing on the menu is their Rice Balls."
(in 5 reviews)
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62 reviews in English
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Review from Carolyn M.
Las Vegas, NV
2/3/2012
I came here with a friend for the first time 3 weeks ago and I've been back twice since then. This is easily my favorite Italian restaurant in town. The staff makes you feel like family even when they're busy, which they were tonight. They never rush things and make sure you're enjoying everything.
So far I've tried the spaghetti with meat sauce, white pizza, and baked ravioli(I had this tonight). All three were great. The meat sauce isn't too heavy. Nothing is greasy. The complimentary bread and garlic knots are addictive.
The desserts are also something to check out. The chocolate cannoli is rich and will definitely fulfill your chocolate needs. I tried the tiramisu tonight. I would definitely have either of those again and recommend them. They also have butter cookies, loaves of bread, chocolate dipped cake(!!!), and other desserts available. -
Review from Sharon C.
Henderson, NV
1/22/2012
The only regret I had after eating at Montesano's is "Why haven't I stopped by and give this place a try earlier???!" Oh, and why didn't I called ahead and reserve a table?
Comfortably tucked in a little hole in the wall - Montesano's created an ambiance that definitely does not belong in Vegas (not that there's anything wrong with Vegas' over-the-top extravagance or the lack thereof...) That ambiance also caused us to wait more than half an hour for a table for two...
But it was so worth it! We were seated and placed our order in less than five minutes. We were given a basket of "garlic knots" and homemade bread. The garlic knots were actually leftover pizza dough tied in a knot, deep fried and then sprinkled with garlic salt. It was mediocre to say the least, but the effort was well appreciated. The homemade bread though was quite extraordinary. It is unlike your usual french bread at most restaurants, and it had this substantial texture that made the job of cleaning a plate of red sauce to be quite fulfilling.
We ordered the riceballs and the broccoli rabe as appetizers. I thought the riceballs were really good - topped with tons of red sauce and tons of cheese. It was delicious! My boyfriend liked it the least, but he still cleaned the very last drop of red sauce on that late! As for the broccoli rabe with spicy sausages, I will have to say "holy cow!" It was pretty close to perfection. Must try if you like broccoli rabe.
I had the pasta with braciole, and the boyfriend had the veal parmesan. My braciole was top with a red meat sauce, and it was delicious. The veal parmesan was also very very good.
To cap it all, we had a black and white cookie to go. Oh, the boyfriend ordered a shot (?) of Sambuca after our waiter had given us our check, so she put it on the house. I thought that was very nice of her. My boyfriend and I thought the staff were really nice, so we are not very sure why the other reviews had commented as they did. Maybe it's a give and take thing?
Overall, it was surprising to find such a decent Italian eatery in this neighborhood. Other Italian restaurants close by are good, but it didn't have the same appeal. You must visit to understand!
Bon appétit! -
Review from Cary H.
Woodinville, WA
1/18/2012
I had a spicy sausage hoagie (lunch special). It was very good. Everybody in our party liked what they ordered.
Service was friendly and we didn't wait very long for the food to arrive.
I would recommend Montesano's. -
Review from Rumi N.
Las Vegas, NV
2/9/2012
My bf and I walked into this place cause we heard it was really good. It was!! I had the calzone and I choose my own toppings. The only thing was that I asked for no ricotta cheese and they still put it in there. But as flavor I thought it was good. My bf had the chicken Parmesan and he wasn't that pleased. He didn't like that the sauce was under the chicken so it got soggy really fast. But he said flavor was good. Definitely would return another day
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Review from Anthony D.
Henderson, NV
1/28/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great pizza, good desserts. Even without a delivery option I give this joint 4 stars. I've never actually eaten inside, but when I am there to pickup food it always looks hectic and crowded.
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Review from Ashley J.
Las Vegas, NV
1/6/2012
I think this place has really gone downhill lately. We've been coming here for over a year, and over the course of the year, we have been more and more disappointed by the service and the quality of the food. First, if you come in when they are busy, the employees will actively ignore you. You have to insist upon being put on the list.
Then, when you order, plan on waiting for 40-50 minutes, depending on what you ordered and how busy they are. Usually this was no problem for us, because the food was worth the wait. Recently, however, the food hasn't been great. Last time we were there, we got a caprese salad that was utterly flavorless. Another time, we got a slice of ricotta cheesecake that was inedible.
The prices are okay, and sometimes you get a really nice server. But overall, the food, the service, and the wait are just not worth it. -
Review from Daniel V.
Mesa, AZ
12/8/2011
Come on Man!!!
Are you kidding me 4 and 5 stars, this is at the very best 2-3 stars. I know I have a tough rating system, for me a 5 would be like a Nola's, or Brennans in New Orleans, Table 29 in Napa just too level set.
Now I understand a lot of people mistake a lot of food for good food, as Italian goes this was run of the mill. I also now understand after local friends (maybe no longer my friends) suggested this place for dinner why some of the comments on yelp were made. I do admit when it comes to Italian food I am a snob, that's why I avoid American Italian restaurants when possible, because I usually am disappointed, but because of the good ratings on Yelp I caved this time.
First the reason it takes a while for food, is that it is a small place, and they use boxed pasta which is 12 minutes cooking time. You would assume home made Italian would include fresh pasta, and spices.
I ordered the rice balls that according to the menu were one of their special dishes. All I got was something mushy with gooey tasteless cheese, and tomato sauce? The rice balls I have had are rice stuffed with cheese, deep fried, and some nice marinara sauce on top with some fresh basil.
My friend suggested the meatballs, another mistake. Yes there were 3 large mushy, tasteless balls of something with the same tasteless cheese, and unidentifiable sauce.
We also have the anti-pasta plate which was the highlight of the dinner, how can you mess up salad, cheese, veggies and meat.
For the main course they ordered for us the sausage and peppers, and I can't even remember the last dish for the same reasons as listed above, more boxed pasta with tasteless cheese, and uninspired tomato sauce (a little basil, and oregano would be nice).
Now if you are looking for off the strip Italian, lots of food for a reasonable price this is it.
If you are looking for good Italian off the strip I would suggest Panvino, you will pay a little more, but not regret it the next day.
I try and support small local business when I travel, but I cannot recommend Montesano's. -
Review from Cookie B.
Las Vegas, NV
11/13/2011
First I would like to say that giving a "1" Yelp rating is a first for me. Second, I would like to say that in every past Montesano visit (and there have been many, beginning with the first week they opened this location) this eatery would have earned a four-star or a five-star each and every time because the food is among the best Italian fare I have ever enjoyed in Las Vegas and the place smells amazingly incredible.
(Third, let me throw in that I have done years of Mystery Shopping. Private investigation and JOURNALISM are my current trades, I'm a two-decades public speaker, instructor, and noted as a global expert in those topics I speak/teach about. In other words, I'm no slouch.)
Last night was different and was among the WORST experiences I have ever had in a restaurant ... WORLD OVER. It was the attitude and actions of the staff, right up to the management. Let me explain and then YOU be the judge.
I phoned at 7:06 PM to call in a take out order. The phone was answered on the second ring with a "Montesanos, please hold. .... " and then the wait music interspersed with the usual "Your business is important to us, please remain holding. We'll be right back with you" repeating/repeating/repeating message.
At 7:15 PM, having heard the loop 9 times, and with unexpected house company waiting for dinner, I (phone in hand) drove over there. I walked into a moderately busy restaurant (by general standards) with eight of the 14 tables occupied. Still holding my cell phone in hand, I approached the counter (first in line) yet waiting another two minutes to become what I assume must be non-invisible.and asked to speak to the owner or manager. (As a previously LOYAL customer, I wanted him to see what his employees were doing -- or, better-stated, NOT doing. While I waited, I placed an order for two Lasagna Dinners -- and paid for them -- at 7:22 PM. STILL ON HOLD on my cell phone. The owner came out at 7:34 PM. I SHOWED HIM THE PHONE and told him that I was STILL ON HOLD and listening to THEIR MESSAGE. (At that moment, his employee picked it up, and, yup, there I was on the other end of the call!) His response nearly floored me.
"Oh, when we get busy like this, we leave the phones on hold; we have NO TIME for them..."
At that moment, another potential customer entered the door and said "I have been trying to call for 30 minutes to place an order." I interjected as I held up my time-ticking phone, "Oh, that must be MY FAULT because they've had me on hold (looked at screen) TWENTY EIGHT MINUTES NOW." The other (previously?) loyal customer and I had BOTH taken the time to drive down there to let them know that their phones were obviously non functioning! I consider that a random act of kindness.
I told the owner that saying "Can you please hold? (click)" is an indication that someone will grab the phone as soon as possible -- so -- if they are too busy to come back to the call they should at least be respectful and let the poor schmuck on the other end of the line KNOW that they (Montesanos) have no intention of EVER answering ... and then just leave the damn thing off the hook. (Also irresponsible, albeit far more considerate of their customer's own time restrictions.)
Despite the assurance, when the girl took my order/money at 7:22 PM that she'd get them out "right away," it was 7:57 PM when the two little white bags were handed to me. THIRTY FIVE MORE MINUTES OF MY TIME!!!!!
But, wait, it get's better (WORSE!). Along with the two carry out bags was a small loaf of bread that was included for my "inconvenience." Someone there apparently believed that a full HOUR of my TIME was worth labeling with a price tag of $1.39. A simple but sincere APOLOGY would have done wonders -- stuff happens.
The food was not enjoyable (no sauce) for the first time in an estimated 20 visits to this establishment, the employee attitude was bad, the management attitude was reprehensible and giving such an idiotic "value" to a customer's time added a huge heap of insult to injury. Believe me, I'd rather have had HONESTY throughout the dealing, even the words, "Lady, we think we're so good that you can park your ass here for an entire hour" in a HALF FULL RESTAURANT.
I had a group of 16 (monthly dinner dine out club) going in there on a midweek day in January. Now that will NOT happen. Generally excellent FOOD is not enough when the attitude of management is so entirely cavalier and disrespectful. Sorry guys! I'd rather eat "4-star" food in a responsible business establishment than "5-star" food in a business establishment that shows blatant disrespect for their paying customers. -
Review from Kathy B.
Las Vegas, NV
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were craving pasta for dinner. So we found Montesano's on Yelp, and with all the high ratings we decided to give it a shot. At that time they were also offering I think 10% off your bill if you mentioned Yelp on your first visit, so that was just a bonus. They have such resonable prices anyway, we didn't even care if we had a discount. We did see the menu ahead of time, so that also caught our interest.
On our first visit, it was packed and there was a wait which was a good sign on how good the place is. You can tell that there are regulars that frequent here. We waited for about 15-20 mins. They have an extensive menu so there is something for everyone and you can keep going back and order something different each time. We ordered slices of the White Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza to try out. Their White Pizza was the best ever! Now my hubby and I keep comparing any White Pizza to it. We had Grimaldi's and there's wasn't so bad but not as good. Montesano's just had better flavor and texture for us. I can't remember now what dishes we got but I know we were really pleased with our selections. The service staff were great. It's a family owned restaurant, and as some others have mentioned that they may all be family working there.
Since our first visit we have come back several times, and a few other times have come back for take out, ordering something different almost each time with the exception of White Pizza which we always ordered. On our last visit dining in, we came in on a late afternoon during the week and this time we beat the crowd and missed the dinner rush. Amy was our server and she was very attentive and had my hubby's soda refilled even before he needed it. So far we've been lucky to like everything we've tried. It always feels like a good home cooked meal. You can taste the quality and love in their food. We eat out a lot, so we've tried a lot in comparison. -
Review from Patrick D.
Henderson, NV
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Are you hungry?
If I ate here every day I'd either weigh 400 pounds or be dead from cardiac arrest. The food is fantastic and they serve ridiculously sized portions. An appetizer is well sized and would be considered a meal at the average joint.
Keep in mind that things do take a while to come out of the kitchen because everything is made fresh. If you want it fast, go to Fazzolis. If you want GOOD food, Montesano's is worth the wait.
I usually eat lasagna when I'm in having Italian and this place serves up arguably the best stack of cheese, pasta and meat I've had. To top it off, the amount of lasagna Montesano's serves up probably weighs about a pound or more. One of the owners actually said the lasagna used to be 8 layers instead of the current 6. If I don't eat apps or bread, I can maybe eat 2/3 of it. Maybe.
My other dish of choice here is the calzone. Pizza dough, stuffed with meat and 2 pounds of cheese, then deep fried. What's not to die for? Or from. Ooey, gooey and yummy. For $7 bucks, this will keep you full for days...mostly because you'll likely have enough leftovers to last you that long.
If (thats a BIG if) you either saved space or you actually have room in your tummy for desert, they have something for every sweet tooth. If you can't stomach any more food, make sure you take something to go. From wonderful wedding cookies to cannolis to crazy good florentines, the options and combos are endless.
Not matter what you choose, you will not leave here hungry. -
Review from Sara B.
Las Vegas, NV
11/18/2011
This place is yummy! It's your typical mom and pop italian resturant. The wait time is sometimes annoying but for the most part the service is amazing! There was one time the waiter was snobby but besdies that its a for sure good thing!
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Review from Gemini M.
I walked into Mom's house and the smell of homemade tomato sauce made me salivate. The problem was, it wasn't ready yet. Ugh, now what do I do? I wanted Italian food and I wanted it at that precise moment.
The solution? Montesano's! Never having been here but always saying "I need to run in there sometime," it was time to do just that.
The wait was long. The staff was warm and friendly to everyone, young and old, with a kind word, a cookie, and a laugh, if needed. The place smelled amazing and staring at the pastry case just made us more ravenous.
Did I mention the wait was long?
..... Did I mention yet that it was worth it?
Caesar salad, add anchovies, no croutons - It was good. Not great, but good. The dressing was a bit on the thin side, but the greens were fresh, crisp. I would order it again, absolutely, but I wouldn't come here just for the Caesar. One salad was big enough for us to share.
Sweet Italian sausage appetizer - 3 huge homemade links and a generous portion of fresh, flavorful, fragrant marinara. The meat was done very well; great texture, loved the fennel seed, with a perfect balance of herbs and spices. I would like the casing to be a tad thinner, but maybe that's just me. This "appetizer" was my entree and I took most of it home.
Chicken Marsala - really, really tasty! Earthy and deep and warming, with just the right bite of the marsala wine. The chicken was tender and juicy. Very well done.
The NY cheesecake was fabulous. Thick and dense and perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, a little bit of that cheese bite, and melt-on-your-tongue-but-stick-to-your-ribs kind of texture.
The cannoli. Holy... Montesano's is the reason Rocco was told to "leave the gun, take the cannoli." Seriously, folks, seriously delicious. Not a whipped cream, or a custard, or other variation of wannabe pastry filling... Montesano's does it true with a real cannoli cream like no one else I have patronized (save for Nana, and that's saying a lot).
Service was fantastic. Toni Ann and Angelina took great care of us and we wanted for nothing. Smiles abound, chats, refills, recommendations ("you gotta try this!"). It was like being a part of the family.
FYI: The wine list is half decent, but stay away from the house red. It was really just sweet grape juice. Not their fault, I know what I am getting into with most house wines in a carafe. Just wouldn't want anyone else to get into it. Order off the list and enjoy something more notable.
Also notable: Apparently their tripe is something of importance. No less than 3 phone calls asking if it was in the kitchen that night. A sign on the white board declaring that yes, in fact, they had tripe that night. And, I noticed, it's not on the menu. Yet, people are seeking it out. Next time, so will I so I can see what the fuss and secret handshakes are all about! -
Review from mike g.
Las Vegas, NV
1/9/2012
took a chance on yelp and ordered a pizza for take out from montesano's. while picking it up, i was impressed with the family atmosphere and the friendly service. at home, i was even more impressed with the pizza--tasty! that led to my friends and i visiting montesano's somewhat regularly for lasagna dinners and carafes of wine. our favorite italian place in town.
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Review from Tom K.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CA
1/5/2012
This place is great. We wanted an old school italian restaurant off the strip for lunch and this would be our favorite restaurant no matter what city we were in. The staff was great and the food delicious. We ordered so much that we had the rest for dinner.
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Review from Amy G.
Henderson, NV
12/10/2011
As with reviewer Cookie B, I am also pained to have to rate Montesano's so low. I think that the food here is very good and worth the extra wait it often takes for the kitchen to prepare it. However, the front of house service here has continued to be hit and miss - miss to the point where I don't think it is worth it any more to come here. This experience tonight comes on the heels of one a couple of weeks ago, when I came in to buy baked goods from the case. The restaurant was busier at this point, but there were several people up front. I made eye contact with three employees - all of them looked at me and immediately and deliberately looked away. This was a sign, to me, that they didn't want to deal with their customers. I left that night and thus they lost my business. Tonight, after having deliberately planned to come early for dinner to beat any rush, we had another horrible experience. This time, we waited probably at least 10 minutes for a table in an otherwise slow restaurant. The problem with this was that one server said "we'll be right with you" and instead of busing dirty tables, went to mop out the bathroom. The young man at the front said much the same, but continued to stack cookies on a tray. Customers should always be a first priority, as should busing tables and keeping them clean. After that, the other issue had to do with who we were actually tipping (paying with credit card) - the server who brought drinks, the one who took our order (the same one who went to mop the bathrooms), or the one who brought out our food. At the end of the day, as much as I want to support a small business, this just isn't worth it.
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Review from Channele L.
Henderson, NV
6/6/2011
My friends had a coupon from http://Restaurant.com and we decided to try it out this past Saturday night. Readers' Digest: This ish is amazing and worth the wait.
Walk in the front door: Visually, you are bombarded by amazing Italian sweets. Cannolis (not filled yet so the shells don't get soggy, awesome), cheesecake AND cheesecake cookies, pound cake (with and without chocolate chips), tiramisu, and much more. Then, take in a whiff. I bet there is something savory right around the corner. Oh yeah, this is what I envision Italian.
Service here is phenomenal as it is a family establishment (or at least feels that way), so EVERYONE takes an interest in you - checking on your table, beverages, etc.
I ordered the stuffed spinach pizza and as much as I was trying to avoid cheese this pizza was amazing. Flipping amazing.
For dessert I ordered the homemade pound cake (rec: get it with chocolate chips!) and ice cream a la mode (spumoni!). Was not disappointed.
ONLY downer is how long it can take the food to be served. It IS homemade but if you are coming here for a quickie (i.e., work lunch)(, you should order pick-up. At least if you dine-in they have free (!!!) garlic knots and bread 'n' butter. -
Review from Samantha G.
Washington, DC
Updated - 5/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
After another take out experience from this fabulous place, I just have to upgrade it to 5 stars.
This time around, we tried the 4 cheese white pizza. It was fantabulous! I loved that one of the cheeses was gorgonzola. Such a great flavor combination.
We also decided to try their fries again - and this time around they were prefect. There was no way I could visit here again without ordering the amazing blue cheese dipping sauce - so we needed something to dip in it.
What continues to truly impress me about this establishment is the great service. The staff really care about the food quality. This place reminds of the random little Italian places I would stumble upon in NYC. It's homey, thoughtful, and caring.
Combine all of that with its close proximity to my house and we've got a home run. This is one of the best pizza places I've patronized and definitely one of the best places to dine in my neighborhood. Love it!Listed in: Off-Strip Eats, 5 Star Glory, Out and About in My 'Hood, Wings Around the World, Something Smells Fishy
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/2/2011
Craving pizza and wings, but not wanting to eat out, we opted for take out from this truly great… Read more »
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Review from Dan P.
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to give Monstesano's at least 4 stars! I've had their stuffed meat pizza twice, and both times it was delicious. The larger one was better because there was more crust.. yum! On the second try, they delivered to Khoury's Fine Wine and Spirits (so we could enjoy our beer with the pizza), which was awesome. Good pizza, and good beer... life doesn't get much better!
The crust on the stuffed pizza is nice and soft, just perfect really. The cheese is good quality, along with the meat (ham, sausage, pepperoni). The only thing that might be improved is the marinara, which I think is a simple canned marinara. I had the garlic knots, and the marinara alone wasn't that good with them. The size of the stuffed pizza is huge, and a small one is enough for two people easily. I'd say the small is about an inch and a half thick, and the medium is nearly two inches thick, filled with meat and cheese goodness.
The people who run the place are very friendly. Dining in is a great idea, as well as take out. This is now my favorite choice when having a beer at Khoury's. Perfect combination! -
Review from Mike L.
Las Vegas, NV
11/4/2011
Been hearing a lot about this place so we decided to try it on this cold night. We walked in and were immediately greeted warmly. The took my name and we waited for a coveted table for abut 20-25 minutes. Looking at the other diners with happy faces assured us that this was going to become one of our favorite places to eat .
A small basket of garlic knots and bread was placed on our table and we looked over the extensive menu. Average entree price is about $14. We settled on a 16" cheese pizza( $12.99) for our sons, my wife had their board special of lobster ravioli with vodka sauce ($16.99) and I had the seafood combo with marinara sauce over linguine ($19.99).
I'm not sure about their lunch time pace, but be prepared to wait (it's worth it!) at dinner. They do warn you on their menu that everything is made by scratch and soups are made as ordered. We waited about 30 minutes after placing our orders.
Good sized portions and the food was really tasty. Their marinara sauce was very good, balanced and not acidic.
Our server was Amy and I believe her assistant was Anita. Both were very professional and helpful!
We walked away fully sated and knowing that we will return to this restaurant many more times as a regular choice for us. -
Review from Samantha D.
Las Vegas, NV
10/22/2011
Being from the east coast it is hard to find authentic pizza and pasta places around here. Montesano's does it! Their bruschetta is amazing. It isn't traditional hard, break your teeth, baguette bread. Instead it is served on their garlic bread, topped with huge chunks of fresh tomato, onion and basil. I could eat it every single day. Their portions are HUGE!
The only thing I don't recommend is their shrimp cocktail. The shrimp looked and tasted like they had just been thawed from the freezer.
Beware: You have to wait quite a while for your food. They warn you of this in their booths, however even when it is slow the wait can get a little frustrating. It is SO worth it though! -
Review from Megan M.
6/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My parents suggested Montesano's Eateria awhile ago. My husband and I tried to eat here on Memorial Day weekend but they were closed . However, we finally had the absolute pleasure of eating there last night!
The wait staff is very friendly. I'm about 100% positive our waitress was from the East Coast and gave the restaurant more of a neighborhood feeling. When you're here you know your food is going to be really tasty, homemade Italian food.
We started off with the stuffed knots. The knots come with meat or marina sauce. We tried the meat sauce and really liked it. The knots come stuffed with cheese, ham and pepperoni. Pretty tasty! My favorite part of the meal was when she brought out fresh mini garlic knots and bread. Their mini garlic knots are addicting! They are the perfect size to just pop them right in your mouth! I'm sure I ate 4 before I realized how many I ate...but then I couldn't stop so I stopped counting! LOL! My husband and I split the Pesto Cream Sauce over cheese raviolis and added chicken. They were very nice and split the dish on 2 separate plates for us. Neither of us could finish our half of the half! It was so good and we took it for leftovers.
I'm definitely going back...and when I do I have to try some of the deserts in their display counter. When you walk in the door, you see all of these wonderful pastries and deserts. It's so pretty! We were too full to try anything but now we know what to save room for next time! -
Review from April F.
They say you can't trust a skinny cook. If so, there are no trust issues here at Monte's.
The menu here is extensive and I've only had the opportunity to try a small chunk of their options. So far, it's all been pretty good.
The standouts so far:
-lasagna explosions - how can you say no to bites of lasagna that are breaded and deep fried??
-chicken parm - always a favorite and done well here
-chocolate cannoli - homemade and the shell is dipped in chocolate.
You can take out as easily as dinning in and they have recently extended their space to include a bar area. -
Review from Chris C.
Henderson, NV
9/29/2011
I tried Montesanos with a coworker last night for the first time. We enjoyed a couple Peroni's and a House Pizza...pretty good. The waitress gave a sample of the cannoli filling upon our inquiring about it. I will be back to try other dishes and the cannoli...it turned my review from OK to a fan.
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Review from Shannon A.
Las Vegas, NV
8/5/2011
I had a http://restuarant.com coupon, reviews were great so I thought Id check this place out.
Pros
Service was Excellent
Smelled great
Food was pretty quick for pizza and nice and hot
Cannolis were amazing! Best cannolis ever! I had the chocolate dipped ones, I will definitely be back for more.
Cons
One of the pizzas we ordered was the Pizza Puttanesca which was a heart attach waiting to happen. Soooo salty and greasy- fried artichokes which I asked if they could not fry them, the waitress said she would check and let me know either way but didnt, I received them fried. Bad choice on my part.
The other pizza we ordered custom and it was great, not my favorite pizza place ( I love Sammys Wood Fired Pizza) but it was good.
I will definitely be back for cannolis, like tomorrow! Haha. I might try a spinach stuffed pizza but not any others. -
Review from Terri K.
Henderson, NV
Updated - 2/27/2011
I'm updating my review for Montesano's because I switched it up this time around by dining in, and I still found this place to be delicious! My mom and I decided to try their pasta dishes for dinner, and we were very impressed. But first, let me just say that the garlic knots are so addicting. It should be a crime to serve them before the main dishes because once you eat one, it's hard to stop. The fresh from the oven garlic knots are crispy and buttery on the outside and soft on this inside, with just the right amount of garlic, butter & parmesan cheese (I'm guessing) sprinkled on top. I couldn't get enough of them, but I knew that if I didn't stop, I wouldn't be able to enjoy what was to come.
My mom ordered the Shrimp Diavolo over linguini pasta- Jumbo shrimp sauteed with garlic onions and hot chillies, and finished with Montesano's homemade marinara hot sauce.
I was eyeing the Broccoli & Sun Dried Tomato pasta dish- Broccoli, sun dried tomatoes, fresh garlic sautéed in olive oil and tossed with ziti & Romano cheese- but I was in the mood for marinara sauce too. I couldn't decide what to get until our friendly server came to the rescue and said that the chef would prepare a custom pasta dish for me combining the Broccoli & Sun Dried Tomato pasta dish w/ marinara sauce. I was happy.
Prepare to wait a little for your food as Montesano's food is made-to-order. But I wouldn't have it any other way. The wait is worth it because the food is so tasty. The Shrimp Diavolo is a winner- a little bit spicy w/ a nice helping of shrimp and pasta. My custom creation was good, but not as good as the Shrimp Diavolo. The sauce was a little too salty for me and I wanted more broccoli & tomatoes, but I did appreciate how perfectly al dente the ziti was. I found myself going back to the Shrimp Diavolo, soaking up the amazing sauce with the garlic knots. My mom raved about her dish as well, saying it was much better than some of the other Italian restaurants in town. My mom and I were both stuffed even though we both only ate half of our food. No worries though because we took the leftovers to go.
As we were about to leave, the display of Italian cookies caught our eyes, so I had to buy a box for dessert. The cookies are so good, especially the wedding cookies and the florentines. Reasonably priced too; however, some words of advice, buy the cookies to go as they charge way more if you order cookies at the table.
Delicious food and servers that treat you like family = a wonderful dining experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2011
Quality ingredients make for delicious food, and the food at Montesano's is no exception. I've eaten… Read more »
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Review from Cody-Ann I.
Las Vegas, NV
2/19/2011
I live right around the corner form this restaurant and drive by this mom & pop's looking restaurant every day... So I finally Yelp this place and WHOA, I'm glad I did!
First positive indication: It's Friday night and the place is PACKED... Go up to the guy at the register and put your name on the waiting list if there's people standing around that area... We made the mistake of standing around and a party of 4 cut us (RUDE JERKS) and we had to wait an additional 10 minutes [in addition to the 20 we had already waited] to be seated.
While we were waiting we saw a sign that said something about being patient while waiting for your food because everything is made fresh to order. Another positive indication!!! ..excitement builds!!
So my BF was salty balls that we had waited so long, I didn't care I was EXCITED for the food!! Another positive indication: the employees [to me] seemed like they were all family? Might have been my blurred vision because I was SO hungry? Very friendly, nice, patient with my questions and had great recommendations.
We had to wait a while for the house garlic bread knots- because they were baking them!! YUMmMMmM piping hot, fresh out of the oven!!!
We started off with the Rice Balls that Yelpers have RAVED about... One word describes it all: PHENOMENAL!! It's a little weird to feel rice in your mouth mixed with cheese, but who wouldda thought?? The Marinara sauce tasted so FRESH! Can't wait to go back and try the pasta!
I got the Margarita Pizza (personal pan size) and the BF got the 14' pepperoni- deeeeeLISH!!
We mentioned Yelp at the beginning of our meal and our server told us we'd get a discount, but it never appeared on the bill. We payed regular price- we'd come back with or without the discount anyway! We'd rather support local restaurants than the Corporate big boxes! -
Review from Michael K.
Henderson, NV
5/18/2011
OK.....just had gotten a haircut next door, when I thought to myself, "why not a little hole in the wall Italian place for lunch". Little did I realize it would be a big mistake.
I was sat by a fairly friendly lady. She immediately took my drink order. I had asked her about lunch specials and she sounded those off. I decided on the simplest and quickest lunch possible. An order of garlic
bread and 2 slices of pizza.
After about 5 minutes, they brought me out some fried garlic knot creation that I knew wasnt mine, but tried it anyways. IT WAS HORRIFIC. All you can taste was fried dough, and not all that tasty fried dough like you would have for dessert. The server noticed I didnt get the right order and brought my correct order of garlic bread, after about another 7 minutes. I told her that she could bring the pizza out as well as I wasnt trying to "course" it out. She said she would bring it as soon as its "ready"?!?!?! How does it take more than 12 minutes to heat up two slices of pizza???
Finally got the pizza about 5 minutes later and it was seriously burnt and sitting in a bed of grease. I talked myself into at least trying it and giving it the benefit of the doubt. Bad choice again. It was god awful tasting and so greasy I knew it was going to give me troubles if I ate any more.
I asked for a cookie to go and the bill. She didnt even notice I ate ONE bite of the pizza and mentioned I saved $1.25 by ordering the special. I just laughed as she walked away.
Please, for the love of god, STAY AWAY FROM THE PIZZA AND GARLIC BREAD!! -
Review from Ursula U.
1/5/2011 14 photos
Lemon Cream and Cream Cheese Cookies - I'm Sold!!!!!
Right when you walk in this place you're immediately having a stare down with cookies,fresh bread,cannolis, hell-all kinds of italian desserts...It's a war out there- So I always think- make love not war- So i fell in love-
Italian Goodies and Ursula sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G ....You know the rest...
Anyhow, the cheese pizza is good, bottom of the crust is dusted with cornmeal-lovely!!!!
The stuffed garlic knots are killer-Big garlic knots stuffed with cheese & ham and then accompanied by their yummy tomato sauce-delicious!!!
We also tried some italian cupcake looking thing that was baked with custard in the middle...Yum!!!
The Lemon and Cream Cheese cookies consist of buttery soft cookies topped with the respective creams- One is not enough, I'm telling you!!!
I will be back to try the pasta dishes and of course buy more cookies....Listed in: SWEETS 4 EVER
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Review from Anhdao D.
12/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Initially, Montesano's charms me from the principle of the business, local neighborhood Italian restaurant that is also a deli and family-run, but a closer look reveals a deeper attraction to delicious food, friendly service, and family-style portions.
When you first walk in, there is a glass display filled with all sorts of Italian sweets, from tiramisu to homemade cheesecake and Italian wedding cookies. At this point, I no longer care that the rest of the interior design is not much more than a few booths and framed Italian advertisements. It's a neighborhood deli anyways.
When you sit down at the table, they waste no time before bringing over the house garlic knots which are yummy. There is a small quirk that they serve bread with butter instead of olive oil & balsamic vinegar. But neighborhood delis, like your Italian cousin who won't hesitate to tell you "that dress makes you look fat", should all have lovable quirks.
I've never had Italian rice balls before and those two words don't particularly sound yummy. But if you read the description (rice combined with ricotta, parmesan, breaded and deep-fried, served parmigiana-style), then you'll order it and get to enjoy a tasty discovery.
I love the crab meat fra diavolo over angel hair, fresh blue crab in a homemade spicy red sauce and al dente pasta, absolutely YUM! The pork and eggplant pizza was a favorite as well, considering the superb crust and quality cheeses that it came with.
The only complaint I have is that everything is a little salty, but a little water retention is worth this dining experience.
On your way out, pick up some homemade spumoni - Italian ice cream made of the following flavors: strawberry rum, pistachio, and chocolate hazelnut - need I say more?Listed in: Southeast the Feast
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Review from Mamie P.
12/4/2010
Montesano's is charming, busy, and low-key. The wait staff are friendly and the pastries look amazing. But, dang it, the food didn't meet my expectations.
My husband and I traveled a little out of our way to find Montesano's. I had bookmarked this restaurant a while ago after reading Yelp reviews. We ordered the seafood pasta plate, caprese salad and pizza. At Montesanos, about ten pieces of calamari and conch meat (Scungilli) were set on top of a disproportionately large plate of pasta; the thin white sauce had pooled at the bottom. I was underwhelmed because a few weeks prior where I enjoyed a wonderful plate of spicy seafood fettucine.
We ordered a thin crust with ham and mushrooms but I'm afraid Settebellos does it better for less. I understand that they're different styles of pizzas, but still.
We had a nice time. Just wish I liked the food more. -
Review from John M.
Henderson, NV
10/2/2011
Very authentic Italian food. Quick service. The pasta dishes are great. Everything appears to be "home made" including the desserts.
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Review from Ching T.
Whittier, CA
I've been eager to try this place ever since fellow Yelper Baback recommended this place a few weeks ago. I wasn't driving so I'm very glad my girlfriends agreed to try this place out on our way into Vegas this past weekend.
We were starving and seeing the place packed with (geriatric) locals, I personally had high expectations for this supposed "best Italian evah" joint.
It can be a bit hard to find since the plaza mall is cluttered with all sorts of stores & restaurants. So let me make it easy for you. Just head towards the large building with the silvery-blue moonglow neon lights that say "Asia Buffet" because Montesano's is located right next to it. There's plenty of parking.
THE ORDER:
- Garlic Knots (Free) 1 out of 5 stars
- Bruschetta w/ Fresh Tomato & Basil ($6.99) 3.5 out of 5 stars
- Caprese ($8.99) 1 out of 5 stars
- Lasagna ($12.99) 4 out of 5 stars
- Shrimp Scampi ($16.99) 2.5 out of 5 stars
- Crab Meat White Sauce Pasta ($16.99) 4 out of 5 stars
- Brownie Overload ($4.50) 2.5 out of 5 stars
THE YUMMY:
GARLIC KNOTS were just ok. The ones at Caioti Pizza in Studio City are much better ESPECIALLY if you get the just baked fresh out of the oven. These at Montesano's were just doughy tough and not at all flavorful.
CAPRESE is one of the simplest things to make so I don't understand how anyone could mess this up. Why would they serve this with olive oil only when they specifically gave me a choice to have it made with balsamic? The balsamic, when I finally got it, definitely wasn't the real rich stuff as I was constantly dousing my tomatoes and cheese with it so that it looked like I was drowning my food. The mozzarella portions were generous and tasted very fresh. But the tomatoes were the larger cheaper kind with very little natural flavors and the basil leaves lacked any aroma or flavor. This was just a lack luster dish. First time I've seen anyone or any establishment fugg up caprese.
BRUSCHETTA with Fresh Tomato & Basil was served on homemade pizzadella Italian bread that's seasoned, toasted and then drizzled with olive oil. This dish was very nicely done because the Italian bread was thick and toasty crunchy. I would have preferred for the tomatoes to have been more seasoned since I like my bruschetta to taste zesty.
BAKED LASAGNA was my entrée and OMG this sucker was HUGE!! You could feed a small family of four with this thing!! I'd say it was easily 6 inches by 6 inches and close to 4-5 inches tall! Lots of meat , zesty sauce and tons of mozzerella. I HAD to take the majority of it home. I'm weird in that I really love cold leftovers, and when I ate it later, dayum there was no denying the prevalent use of MSG in it which would be my only complaint. Definitely one of the better lasagnas I've had in my life.
SHRIMP SCAMPI over pasta was just alright according to my girlfriend. This supposedly was in a butter white wine sauce. Whenever I have my pasta in butter sauce, I prefer to see how slinky slippery my pasta are. This just truly looked dry and tasteless especially once the garlic sautéed shrimp were eaten and gone.
CRAB MEAT in WHITE SAUCE PASTA was absolutely divine! The blue crab meat was very generous and it was the flavor of the crab that really made the dish. Again, like the shrimp scampi, it was a bit too dry fro my preference, but I was in heaven with the crab meat. I had to actually stop myself from sampling my girlfriend's entrée. We both agreed, we both liked this dish better than my lasagna. Hmm, ok, I'll admit that I have no shame. I finished my girlfriend's crab meat pasta left overs at the hotel when she offered them to me. So damn good! This is the dish I'd order if I ever return to Montesano's.
BROWNIE OVERLOAD along with upteen desserts were ordered but I only remembered this brownie overload due to the generously smooth & creamy peanut butter hidden underneath that cool dark exterior. The chocolate covering was a bit stale, as in it tasted like it had been sitting there for days rather than hours. But at 5-6am after a night of drinking and clubbing, this baby was delicious!!
THE OVERALL:
Sadly, Montesano's wasn't as life changing as I had anticipated. Service was practically nonexistent for everyone. The general frustration and anger was absolutely palpable. I really hope it was an off night for them because the food is pretty decent, with it's fair share of hits and misses. They have an extensive menu so I can't begrudge them for misses. I'm eager to return for that crab meat in white wine sauce pasta though. Yummy!!
All in all, it was a much better option than fast food or Vegas buffets on the strip.Listed in: Mangia Bene!!, Vegas Baby!
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Review from Ramze S.
Henderson, NV
2/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love eating anywhere where the family looks like they eat way too much of their own food! Great Italian dishes and even better desserts. Try the cream cheese cookies!
Also, they are currently on http://Restaurant.com so it is a bargain to go and have a great meal! -
Review from Tina M.
Las Vegas, NV
12/17/2010
I have a friend who is very particular about her Italian food, because she comes from a good Italian family. So when we went to Montesano's, it wasn't enough to taste the food. She had to meet the family running the restaurant and quiz them about their background.
Steve Montesano came out and told us they come from Naples, by way of New York. He says his family is still very much involved in the day-to-day running of the business. So you'll likely find a Montesano in the kitchen or in the dining room. And if not, you can catch up on their family tree by checking out the old family photos on the back wall of the restaurant.
Although the service was quite friendly, it was also very slow. I was with friends so I didn't mind having a lunch stretch over two hours. But if I had been really hungry, I probably would have been irritated. So I do want to warn people about that.
I thought the food was delicious, and the portions good for the price. I had the homemade ravioli, and tried the baked pasta with sausage. We also had some of the garlic knots and for dessert, a plate of the zeppole.
If I lived closer, I would definitely go back. I do feel like a return trip would be worth it to check out the pizza. -
Review from Aziz B.
Henderson, NV
11/27/2010 10 Check-ins Here
I've patroned Montessano's for at least half a year now, and they're starting to be my favorite little place to grab a slice of pizza or some pasta. At first it was all about the rice balls. We had just walked next door to Montessano's and ordered a couple of these fried cheese and rice balls. The results were heavenly. I kept stopping by the restaurant more and more for the balls, but finally we decided to go past the counter and sit down to try out the rest of the restaurant's offerings.
For the first sit down visti I tasted the Chicken Marsala over pasta. Along with the complementary garlic knotts, the chicken and marsala sauce were great. Full of flavor and the mushrooms sucked up most of the juices creating a delicious result.
Upon our second sit down we had to try the pizza. I made my own with a combination of chicken, gorgonzola cheese, garlic, fresh basil, and mushrooms. Not only did it impress the waiting staff, but the results were some of the best pizza i've had in a while. It's great to have a place close to my house to grab a slice or a pie, and the wait was definitely worth it.
The thing I enjoy about Montessano's is I can stop by for some rice balls, or a full meal and I leave satisfied every time. Combined with a great staff that remember you after only a couple visits, and it's safe to say this is the neighborhood restaurant this commuter town is looking for. Check it out. -
Review from Jadey W.
Henderson, NV
11/8/2010
I wanted to review this place the first time we ate here a few months ago, but I honestly thought it was too good to be true. Had we found the Holy Grail of Pizza in Las Vegas? Hubby and I had to try it again to be sure, and I promised myself I would Yelp it after our second go'round... so here goes.
Hallelujah!!!! Montesano's is officially our FAVORITE pizza joint in all of the Las Vegas valley. Their simple traditional Italian menu, paired with outstanding quality of ingredients, makes the yummiest pizza you can possibly imagine! They bake their bread fresh EVERYDAY! (and you can smell it when you open the door), they make their own sausage, they don't skimp on toppings - but they don't overload them either, and the pizza sauce is so basic it's hard to believe it can be that good... but it is, oh it so is!!!
We ordered the House Special Pizza, and the Garlic Knots. The overall harmony of the fabulous sauce, sweet sausage, meatballs, pepperoni, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and the perfectly cooked soft and chewy, yet crisp crust on this pie was unparalleled. The Garlic Knots were absolutely 100% like a previous Yelper said "crack-like in their addictive properties." We could not stop eating them, and both made a note to self to double order them next time!
We have yet to try the pasta dishes, but from the looks of things, I doubt they will disappoint. This place is surprisingly under-reviewed for how delicious it is, and if we could, we would have given it a 7 out of 5. Montesano's for liFE!!! -
Review from Dan B.
Las Vegas, NV
9/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place...super close to my house and blows away any over priced Italian place on the strip...and believe me (I'm a snobby strip waiter) this place lives up to everyone else hype too...but enough with that, come here and try it for yourself...if you like fresh made in house tiramisu, cheese, and sausages, with (I hate to say it cause u will probably bring your screaming bratty kids and disturb everyone trying to eat) a solid small family friendly dining room with an atmosphere of your Italian family's home....this is the place for you...if not there is always the olive garden...
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Review from Matt C.
Henderson, NV
Montesano's, mi amore. I pen this ode to share your wonderfulness with the world, happily giving away my secret knowledge to all, whether they be worthy or not.
Montesano's used to have two locations, at points vast distances away from their current address. This was quite a bummer, being that I, too, had an address far from the old space. Despite the casualness of the atmosphere, the lack of exotic recipes or high prices, Montesano's was always my favorite restaurant, and quite the treat on the rare occasions we would make the hike across town. But now! For the past few years Montesano's has been serving the food I've come to love over the past decade IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I can wax poetic about the virtues of Montesano's for hous, so excuse me if I perhaps over-abbreviate my review. To sum things up: the food is awesome. They're mostly classic italian recipes, along with pizzeria type stuff - pizza, heros, etc. Nothing too fancy. but every plate is delicious. The veal parmigiana ousted veal I've happily paid twice for elsewhere. The garlic knots are amazingly simple but crack-like in their addictive properties. The stuffed pizza is good enough to satiate cravings for the ones we used to order in NY. And it's a family-owned and operated. They're no pretense. No pandering. No attempted hip'ness. Just good food at a fair price. Go, and try it. Or don't. I'm happy to give them business, but I'd be just as happy to not see them get too popular.
MY ONE REQUEST: Outdoor seating! Give me a place to sit outside and smoke a cigar with my meal, so that I can truly sit and enjoy the food the right way.
PRO-TIP: They catered my confirmation! -
Review from Crystal K.
Las Vegas, NV
7/1/2011
We stumbled upon this place completely by accident, and I must say that I am glad that we did! We've been struggling to find a good, family owned Italian restaurant in Vegas and Montesano's was all that and more.
The minute you walk into the doors, you are treated to delectable smells of homemade Italian deliciousness. Then your eyes immediately head to the dessert case, where you will find everything from homemade cannoli (unfilled to keep the shells crispy) to cheescakes and cookies.
The service is absolutely amazing and I felt like we had been old friends with our waitress who took excellent care of us.
And then there's the food- my God the food! The garlic knots are so deliciously addicting, I think I ate my weight in those alone! The sauce is so amazing, it reminds me of my Grandpa's homemade spaghetti sauce when I was a kid. I had the baked ravioli, and ate way more than I should have, but it was so yummy I couldn't stop.
As a bonus- The waitress gave my daughter a free cookie for eating a good dinner! :)
We went back to Montesano's a few weeks later, and our waitress (the same one from our first visit) remembered us and gave us the same outstanding service.
If you haven't eaten here yet, you definitely need to! Your belly will thank you... -
Review from William M.
Henderson, NV
7/5/2011
Always have really great pizza and service when we come here. They have some great rice balls for appetizer and one of the servers during the day is always great and personable and always remembers us. Try some of their desserts they have showcased which are great as well.
