Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Monte Rio

Delightful lunch on Jan 2. Hostess helpful in suggesting we eat on the well-heated patio where it was quieter than inside. All food was prepared to order. The paella special was mostly seafood with a bit of chorizo and was delicious. Suggest ordering it first thing when you arrive since it takes 30-45 minutes to prepare. Lettuce on the salad was fresh and crisp, dressed perfectly and had a generous amount of blue cheese plus sliced apples and the Spanish almonds. Our other tapas choice was bacon wrapped dates--delectable and sweet--and could actually serve as a dessert. The generous glass of white sangria was tangy, satisfying and beautifully served with slices of orange and grapefruit. Would definitely go again.

Very refreshing and interesting ingredients. We really enjoy the food and the restaurant. Will come back next time.

We celebrated our anniversary at Mustards Grill and were greeted with a lovely welcome glass of champagne, which set the tone for a wonderful evening. The food was absolutely incredible—starting with the most delicious onion rings, followed by a perfectly cooked crab cake and an ahi sandwich that exceeded all expectations. Our waitress went above and beyond, thoughtfully splitting all of our dishes for us, making it so much easier to enjoy everything. Despite being the 1st of the year, the restaurant was packed, which speaks to its popularity. Initially, we were hesitant to go, but after so many recommendations from winery staff, we decided to try it—and we’re so glad we did. Mustards Grill truly lives up to its reputation, and we can’t wait to return!

Starting with the room itself, all the way through dessert, five stars are warranted. I enjoyed their boulevardier riff called Lost in the Orchard very much. The chocolate bitters and cedar smoke mage for a perfect balance. Our choices were a three course tasting menu or their 6 course tasting experience. We opted for 3. It's a great value at 75pp. Don't miss the salmon appetizer. It's inventive and delicious, perfect starter. I ate every bite of the persimmon and burrata salad and tasted my partners little gems. Both were great. Chicken roulade with crisp polenta could have maybe been a tiny bit crispier but definitely enjoyed it. The filet with pave potatoes was also perfectly prepared. And those desserts! You'll have trouble choosing. I went for the simple poached pear without regret. The service was attentive and not overbearing. The room is spacious and absolutely gorgeous. We will for certain be back.

Christmas Eve dinner. Party of three. High satisfaction level, as usual! Stark’s Seafood and Steak is our holiday meal go to. I make the same thing every holiday…. reservations at Stark’s. Festive decorations, a welcoming holiday atmosphere. Our server was warm, affable, professional without hovering. Just right. We all ordered appetizers, and the mussels were the unanimous winner. Little ones in a sauce worthy of sopping up with a second order of bread. My daughter ordered her favorite butter fish with sticky rice and it met her expectations again. The other two of us had the lobster, so perfectly prepared. Again. Generous portions left us too full for dessert, and memories of a lovely holiday meal . Thank you.