Peachy Picks Montebello Our Coverage Sponsored by Cosmopolitan Dental, Official Dentist of Whom You Know

Joe Bozic

The Best Dentist in Manhattan 
&
 Official Dentist of Whom You Know:

http://cosmopolitandental.com/
30 E. 40th Suite 1001
212 683 1960
Dr. Garo Nazarian is a Mover and Shaker:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/01/movers-and-shakers-dr-garo-nazarian-of.html

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It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know, and we are pleased to now know Joe Bozic, owner of Montebello, winner of the Star Diamond Award in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and this year too if we were voting.  In 1969 Joe came to the USA from Trieste in Northern Italy.  Everything we experienced at Montebello was of the utmost quality, the service was great and look-even the walls are peachy.

Montebello was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2012/03/tasty-tidbits-montebello.html

And we are pleased to announce it has graduated to Peachy's Picks!

The traditional Italian cuisine in a comfortable setting will win you over and you'll feel like you are at home, but better.  They are open six days a week (not Sunday).

The wine is outstanding and Peachy sipped Barolo by the glass.  The wine list by the bottle is quite extensive and we can't imagine there is anything you might want that you wouldn't find on that.  We were greeted with some lovely bruschetta.

A little closer:

The cheese on top made it even more spectacular.  The menu had so many tempting choices it was harder than usual for Peachy to decide.  Capesante was a winner: pan seared jumbo sea scallops in a brandy, saffron and herb sauce will ignite your appetite and make you feel like your tastebuds  are peaking at the right time since Montebello does mean beautiful mountain in Italian.  They really do their sauces well at Montebello.

The presentation was stellar as well and the use of color alone was the ultimate in creative.

The seafood theme continued with Peachy's entree, which Joe was with in the top picture.  

Two times a year the menu changes at Montebello, and if you see the Branzino roasted with rosemary and shallots in a garlic sauce, it is absolutely what you should order.  Peachy is still dreaming about that sauce, which we have not experienced anywhere else.

It arrives whole.  It is most moist and flavorful when it is cooked on the bone of course.  

Then it is filleted:

Branzino is one popular dish at fine dining establishments and this stacks up to the best of them.  Fresh, tender and moist, the Mediterranean Sea Bass was savored from bite to bite.  Firm and lean, the Branzino at Montebello truly stood apart because of the garlic sauce.

The garlic sauce heightens the taste and flavor of each bite and was truly priceless:

Next, dessert was upon us.  Literally!

The dessert cart is amazing and you won't be able to resist.

We love the idea of a dessert cart and you don't often see it anymore.

Berries and cream paired with a cappuccino capped off the night perfectly and left us impressed with Montebello!

Our esteemed panelist adds:

Tucked away on East 56th Street is a true gem of the NYC dining world. Montebello Restaurant, a Midtown East staple, has won all kinds of recognition, including a 5-star rating from the American Academy of Hospitality and an Elite Dining Award for excellence in dining, and after experiencing it first-hand last week, I can certainly see why! Owner Joseph Bozic takes immense pride in his establishment, and is an integral part of the daily operations there. He greeted us warmly upon our arrival and was a pleasure to talk to throughout the course of the evening, offering us his advice on the menu and sharing stories about his life at the restaurant. As we were perusing the menu, we nibbled on delicious bruschetta and cubes of Parmesan cheese, and I sipped on a robust Chianti. The menu was full of delectable-sounding options, but I ultimately decided to begin with the Prosciutto San Daniele, which is imported prosciutto, served with seasonal melons (in this case, honeydew).

 

 I was thrilled with my selection - the expertly sliced prosciutto was the perfect, savory start to my meal, and it was complemented beautifully by the soft, sweet melon. I could have ended my evening right there and been perfectly satisfied, but happily for me, there was a lot more in store! For my main course, at the suggestion of Joseph, I tried the Pollo Montebello, which is (as one might guess from its name!) one of the restaurant's signature dishes. 

 

 Encrusted in Parmesan and served in a white wine lemon sauce, this chicken breast is one of the best things I've tasted in recent memory. Perfectly tender and simply bursting with flavor, it's easy to see why this is one of the most popular items on the menu. I thought I was full at this point in the evening, but after seeing the dessert trolley, I magically found some more room to try the Italian cheesecake, which was made with a blend of ricotta and marscapone cheeses. 

 

 Light and airy, this was the epitome of what an Italian cheesecake should be. It was complemented perfectly by an espresso...and a few biscotti! From start to finish, the Montebello experience was absolutely first-rate. Kudos to Joseph and his entire staff (especially our charming and knowledgeable waiter, Michael) for providing such a welcome respite from the hustle-bustle of NYC life. 

Peachy Picks Montebello!

http://www.montebellonyc.com/