Monte's Fine Foods — Restaurant in Portland

Monte's Fine Foods Pizza in Portland, Maine

My recent visit to Monte's Fine Foods in Portland, Maine, was a journey of unexpected twists and delightful surprises. Initially, I was taken aback by the pricing – two 14-inch pizzas costing just over $40 seemed steep. Furthermore, when I called to place my order at noon, being informed that it would be ready only by 1:30 p.m. raised my eyebrows a bit.

Arriving about 15 minutes early, I found myself in a brief waiting period until the promised 1:30 p.m. However, this wait turned into an unexpected adventure as I explored the store. Monte's is not just about pizza; it's a treasure trove of culinary delights. From local beers and an impressive selection of wines to fresh pastas, desserts, specialty cooking items, and fresh produce, the store is a haven for food enthusiasts. The aromas wafting through the store were simply heavenly, enhancing the anticipation for the meal ahead.

At 1:33 p.m., my name was called, and I received my pizzas, which were emitting an inviting steam, signaling their freshness. My initial impression upon opening the boxes was one of skepticism – the pizzas appeared messy and overly sauced, leading me to brace for a soggy disappointment. Yet, what followed was a delightful culinary turnaround.

To my astonishment, the crust was perfectly crispy, and the flavors were vibrant and fresh. The Roman-style pizza, new to my palate, was an instant favorite, ranking highly among my pizza experiences. The balance of ingredients, the cooking precision, and the freshness of each component made for an exceptional meal.

Despite the initial sticker shock and the wait time, the experience at Monte's Fine Foods turned out to be more than just a meal – it was a culinary adventure that left a lasting impression. The pizza, contrary to my first visual judgment, was a testament to the quality and care put into their food. I am already looking forward to my next visit and diving into more of what Monte's has to offer.

Rating: 4.5/5 – Pricey, but the quality and the shop's ambiance make it a...

OMG. I don't have the words to form to say how impressed I was with this place. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm not used to this level of dining/atmosphere and food, but I am extremely impressed.

The food was the best food I've ever had in my entire life, honestly. I actually almost cried when I finished the sandwich I got from there. I got the Chicken Club Sandwich with no substitutions. The best sandwich ever. I also got the 3-pack of cannolis. I wasn't a big fan, but I am not a big fan of cannolis in general. I only got them since I wanted something sweet and the deserts are somewhat limited. I got Pistachio, Vanilla and Chocolate Chip since I wanted to try all three. Each one was a marvel in it's own right. The shells were soft and crafted so well while the cream inside was so thick but at the same time creamy and didn't taste fake. Nothing tasted fake here, like processed.

The atmosphere was BREATHTAKING. The building is GORGEOUS and well kept. Everything from the lighting to the shelving, the flooring and the kitchen is SO authentic and well put together I was so amazed I had to call my mother in (we were in Portland for an appointment), who was also taken aback.

I did place my order around 3 - 4pm so I was near dinner time and the place was packed. It has a beautiful outside sitting area and the parking space was so full my mom couldn't find a spot haha.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this place. So breathtaking and truly a fine dining experience. This isn't the place you go for casual takeout, especially since the prices are a little hefty, but a place you go when you want to really appreciate the art of making food.

When you think of 5 stars, you think of this place. The three best things they did was have an amazing and beautiful atmosphere that made you feel like you didn't belong but at the same time they treated you like you did, the food was absolutely to die for and most importantly everything tasted and felt REAL. Nothing felt processed or recycled.

Thank you for this wonderful...

We were regulars here for over a year. Regular, good customers. Ever since the online by this one bite pizza guy (what exactly makes him an expert on pizza or any food is beyond me) they are having a surge in orders apparently and have been very busy. This would be fine and good for them EXCEPT the guy that answers the phone to take orders has suddenly become extremely rude and has a terrible attitude. Wait times for food are now very long. He is obnoxious l, disrespectful, and dismissive. He literally said, “if you want to go somewhere else that’s fine with us,” and hung up on us just because we wanted to be sure we heard him correctly that it would be a two hour wait for a pizza. I don’t know what his position is or whether the management is aware of how he is behaving but I don’t care how popular you have suddenly become yoi don’t treat any customer - let alone a regular customer that was a regular before any internet clown posted any video about you. This sudden surge in pooularity is likely to die down in time and a small business should treat its customers well regardless how busy they are. Since he told us to go elsewhere for no reason at all, we did. I want to recommend a wonderful place in Portland that has amazing pizza with delicious crust; sauce, cheese and all the really good fresh stuff. They are respectful and treat customers right. In my opinion their pizza is better and more like the real thing. I grew up Italian on both sides and living in the New York New Jersey area and I can tell you Lazzari is the real deal. There is no need to put up with cocky attitudes and dismissiveness from a place that has suddenly gotten too big for its britches. Give Lazzari a try and...