Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
Monroeville, PA 15146
Phone: (412) 374-8530
09/18/2006 Posted by memberelle
I had a lovely dining experience with my fiance. The only negative is the bar. We arrived at 8:00 for 9:00 reservations so we could sit and have a cocktail or two and the bar was open but there were no barstools. There were big open gaps in the bar but a total of 6 barstools-the male bartender did not want to be at work that day. He made jokes w/ the servers about pawning the guests off to the cocktail waitresses b/c he did not want to deal with them. I found that rude--and it seemed like he purposely said it loud enough so everyone at the bar could overhear....But the woman bartender was very nice. Everything else was wonderful. I have NEVER been to a place that times courses so great. It flowed very well-- we did not feel rushed yet there is no lull. Server was perfect. Competent and polite. Food was excellent. Selection was good, portions were generous and prices were reasonable. Best salad dressings in Pittsburgh. Only complaint was that my medium rare filet was not cooked in the middle--it was one piece of fat right in the middle. It could have been cooked a couple extra minutes so the fat marble-ized into the meat but 8 of the 10 ounces was out of this world-as was by fiance's strawberry salmon and our ichiban, shrimp & crabcake app. Manager on duty checked with all the customers-nice. Only other complaint is that I do not understand why nice restaurants insist on those diner type set-ups of tables-the bench against the wall with the tables right next to each other--there is no privacy and it looks bad. Would go back in a heartbeat.
Pros: Seafood Selection and Taste, Whole Meal Experience
Cons: Male Bartender!!! Bar in general!
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