Charlotte’s top dining destinations: Cafe Monte
The Chefs: Partner Justin Mendenhall & Executive Chef Jon Ernst
Culinary Partner Justin Mendenhall and Executive Chef Jon Ernst both love making people happy through their food. Mendenhall has been in the industry a little over 15 years and completed his culinary training at CPCC, followed by years of cooking in New York City restaurants such as Artisanal, Oceana, Picholine, and Ouest. Ernst has been in the kitchen since age 15 and completed his culinary education at Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte. His local restaurant positions include Fish Market Grill and Local Dish. Together, Justin and Jon have created a menu to include a combination of seasonal features and longstanding guest favorites. In addition to Bistro favorites like Trout Amandine, Seared Salmon, Duck Confit, and the signature Beef Bourguignon, Café Monte is dedicated to serving French provincial classics with a varied menu of salads, sandwiches, quiches, and crepes. Justin, Jon, and Patrick, the general manager, enjoy making the time spent at Café Monte special, by focusing on the details of quality and traditional style in cuisine that delivers to the guests a dining experience that continues to satisfy.
The Look: Parisian Elegance
Café Monte was designed to have the authentic look and feel of a classic Parisian café through the use of classic colors, furniture, fixtures, and music. The artwork is reminiscent of Paris in 1900. At the time, the World’s Fair held in Paris introduced many modern marvels to the public, including the Eiffel Tower. As guests enter, they are meant to feel a sense of comfort and escape, complementing the restaurant’s tag line, “your escape from the everyday.” During breakfast and lunch, the setting is bright and cheerful featuring golden walls, vibrant artwork, and energy for the perfect brunch spot. At night, the bistro service is a slower pace, with attention to more subtle effects such as candles, low lighting, and a relaxed and comfortable dining setting. On weekends, Café Monte offers live jazz in the bar.
The Dish: Beef Bourguignon
The Beef Bourguignon is a classic French dish, however, at Café Monte, Culinary Partner Justin Mendenhall and Chef Jon Ernst created two different presentations to make it their own unique dish, with a lunch and dinner presentation. The Beef Bourguignon consists of beef short rib braised in red wine with carrots, celery, onion, and herbs. During lunch, the restaurant shaves the short rib, sautés it with onions and places it in a baguette with the Café’s own special aioli, arugula, and cheese. The dinner presentation is served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, baby carrots, pearl onions, wild mushrooms, and a short rib demi-glace. The bistro’s signature dish was introduced on the menu by Chef Mendenhall back in 2008 and the Baguette Sandwich was added last year by Chef Jon Ernst and Eduardo Rios. While both versions of the dish melt in the mouth, offering complete satisfaction, it is a dish you have to try to fully understand what makes it unique.
Cafe Monte: 6700 Fairview Road, Charlotte.
This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 11:28 PM.