By Tracy Dietlin
Often we talk about “hidden gems” when reviewing a restaurant and this week I want to share one of those with you. Located inside of Neil’s Lounge is Montes Grill. Owned and operated by Eric Montes, this small kitchen can provide you with some of the best comfort food around. Montes isn’t the only cook in the kitchen there, he also has Reggie Martinez adding his personal flare.
I want to start with their chicken wings, which I feel are the best in the desert; so good in fact that I always order mine naked. Of course they are also delicious with the different degrees of sauce they come with. I’m also a big fan of their chicken bacon ranch sandwich, which is served on a large brioche bun with Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion, and includes a side of French fries, cold slaw or potato salad, all 3 of which are amazing. My favorite is the home made potato salad that is always so fresh like it was just prepared.
Now let’s move on to the beef! While I’m more of a fish and fowl girl, if I’m in the mood for ribs or tri-tip, this is where I want to go. The ribs are slow cooked for hours and by the time they arrive on your plate they are ready to fall off the bone. Perfectly seasoned these are to die for. They also have one of the best hot dogs in town.
The tri-tip sandwich is another one of my favorites; tender and juicy and I like that I can get both the creamy horseradish AND the real raw horseradish there. They also offer many typical bar appetizers but the taste and quality is a cut above most bar food. A few suggestions are the stuffed jalapeno peppers, nachos, pulled pork fries, and a sampler platter where you can enjoy a little bit of everything.
Montes Grill always provides the freshest ingredients and yet the prices are very affordable. The food there isn’t what you would expect for a neighborhood bar/watering hole. And the service is always top notch like you are a personal guest of Eric’s. So next time you feel like having some great comfort food check out Montes Grill inside Neil’s Lounge. And don’t forget Neil’s has some of the best drink prices and heaviest pours in town and nightly karaoke.
