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Monti's

Monday Munchies: Monti’s La Casa Vieja- Tempe, AZ

December 3, 2012

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the first and third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

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Monti's_Exterior

I love when I travel and I get to go to some great local places to experience some fantastic regional favorites. Just as much, I love to tell people my favorite places when they are visiting Boston or New England. But getting to discover new places always is the best. And thankfully, Price’s Dad, Tom, was so eager to show us around to his favorite places when we were visiting him in AZ for Thanksgiving. So after several hours strolling around the World Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium, we went to Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe.

Monti's_Decor_03 Monti's_Decor_04

Monti’s La Casa Vieja has been around for over 120 years and is connected to a really pasts since it was first built in 1871. Charles Trumbull Hayden built the original adobe hacienda as a home when he settled in the area to establish a flourmill and a ferry service for crossing the Salt River. Over time that home transformed and grew into a hotel, blacksmith shop, post office, general store, and then a restaurant. After the Hayden family moved to a new home in the 1890s, they began referring to hacienda as La Casa Vieja – Spanish for “The Old House.” Originally, the community became known as Hayden’s Ferry, but in the late 1880s, the name changed to the Vale of Tempe, and few years later, the town’s name was officially changed to Tempe.

Since the 1890’s, a restaurant of some sort has been operated at La Casa Vieja as it was convenient to  e to those who had traveled a great distance to use the flourmill or ferry service. It was run by the Hayden daughters until the 1930s.  The details about the restaurants at La Casa Vieja are sketchy from the Great Depression through 1954 as it was run by several owners.

In 1954, La Casa Vieja was purchased by Leonard F. Monti, who had been operating a 13-stool diner in Chandler since 1946. Monti opened his new restaurant, “Monti’s La Casa Vieja”, for business in April 1956, after waiting for tenant’s lease to expire. Since then it has been run by members of the Monti family. Today, Monti’s La Casa Vieja serves approximately 500,000 customers annually.

monti's_cocktail

Our server was pulling double duty be being out waiter as well as the bartender on the quiet afternoon. We didn’t get there until 3.30 from the zoo so it was during the afternoon lull so it worked out well that we got great seats by the window and fast service. The waiter was so nice and it didn’t hurt that it made a really great banana strawberry daiquiri.

monti's_bread_01 monti's_bread_02

It was so hard not to fill up on the bread that was brought out to us. It was similar to a focaccia bread but was less oily and was a slight bit denser. The bread was topped off with fresh rosemary and the the scent was perfuming the table as it was served warm. I could have eaten the whole basket, but thankfully I saved room for the real deal!

Monti's_Lunch Filet

The reason why Tom brought us to Monti’s was for their filet mignons. He was raving about their filet lunch deal and how you get a great steak for a fantastic price. And it was not just about the price as they didn’t skimp on quality.

I had Monti’s Classic Lunch Filet for $12 which was a 5oz filet served with cheesy garlic bread, a side, and cheesy garlic toast. Price and Tom had the regular Arizona Raised 7 oz Filet Mignon for $22. Their dishes came with 2 sides, which they had a side salad and loaded baked potato. Either entrees could have been wrapped with applewood smoked bacon for an additional $2. I think that with a great cut of meat you don’t’ need to add a lot to it so I skipped the bacon.

Monti's_Lunch Filet with Mushrooms and Onions

The three of us split a side of onions and mushrooms. These went perfectly with the steak. Each bite was loaded with flavor from the juicy steak, caramelized onions, and the meaty mushrooms. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare with a nice char on the outside and a tender, juicy interior. 

Monti's_Decor_01 Monti's_Decor_02

I highly recommend going to Monti’s for their filet’s. It was a great deal and, best of all, it was a fantastic meal.

Monti’s

100 South Mill Avenue

Tempe, AZ 85281

Filed Under: Dining Out, Exploring Tagged With: AZ, filet mignon, Hayden's Ferry, La Casa Vieja, Monti's, Monti's La Casa Vieja, Phoenix, steak, Steak lunch, Tempe, Tempe AZ, Vale of Tempe

11.20-25: Thanksgiving Long Weekend Recap

November 26, 2012

{Tuesday Night} finished punch listing early| get bourbon | drive home | Price cleans the rabbits cage /& I talk to Rosa re: going away | laundry | eggs with guac & toast for dinner | clean out the fridge| grocery store for SRC prep| shower | finish packing | Price went to bed at 11| photo editing | bed at 11.45

{Wednesday} alarm at 3am | dress and feed the rabbits | call cab | at airport at 4.15am | mcdonalds | 6am flight | Phoenix | get bags | starbucks | Tom picks us up | Walmart for pie & see Tom’s school | house |nap |Jack in the Box & Walgreens | star gazing | hot tub | bed

{Thursday- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!} Wake up early | lounge around | watch the news | call family | breakfast | Today Show | Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade |Price and Tom carve the turkey| lunch | football | pie | phone calls| more football and mystery shows|pickles and wine | hot tub | bed

{Friday} wake up for Black Friday online sales | shower and get ready | drive around and head to the zoo | nap in the car | World Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium |another nap in the car | lunch at Monti’s |back to Tom’s | feet in the pool and catch up on twitter | lounge around | caulk the tub | blog drafts | In & Out for dinner | Walgreen’s | lounge around watching the end of the dog show and reading Food Network Magazine | go to bed

{Saturday} stupid dog woke us up | coffee | blog drafts | get Powerball tickets |McDonald’s for more coffee | drive around the neighborhood | back to Tom’s | Men Who Built America marathon | shower & get ready | lunch at Filibertos | drive  around the neighborhood  | sit by the pool | more Men Who Built America marathon | writing blog drafts | leftovers | hot tub | showers | bed

{Sunday} Price and Tom got coffees & breakfast | eat breakfast outside | packing up | leave for the airport at 10.30 | have drinks and lunch | 1.30 flight | home at 8.45 | bunny love | relaxing and then bed

price misses jet blue

fire pit_01 fire pit_02

dummy heads shot in the head dummy

jack in the box curly fries

price made breakfast

thanksgiving thanksgiving turkey

in and out burger_01in and out burger_02

playing powerball filiberto's_AZ

heidi braids

chopped salad burger

us- flight home

Filed Under: Family and Friends, Living Tagged With: Arizonia, family, Filibertos, Monti's, thanksgiving, World Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium

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