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All 271 Fort Collins Restaurants »

El Monte Grill & Lounge

1611 S. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525
9703721869
Ranked #3 of 271 restaurants in Fort Collins
4.0 of 5 stars 53 Reviews
Price range: $9 - $18
Cuisines: Mexican
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Good for: Romance, Bar scene, Large groups, Doing business, Local cuisine, Special occasions, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Reservations, Late Night
Dining style: Casual Dining
Cross street: College and Prospect
Transit: Future development will have the Mason Street corridor at our back door. RTD bus stop with-in 3 blocks.
Description: Flavors of the Southwest, Mexico and Central America are expertly combined with only the best Steak, Chicken and Seafood. All cocktails are prepared with classic techniques, fine spirits and fresh juices. Try the Esteban- an El Monte exclusive of lime juice, mint and gin, served at a chilly 28 degrees. Try our made to order guacamole and choose from 15 ingredients to give it a taste all its own. Always wanted to try guacamole with Strawberries, goat cheese and chives? We got you covered. Happy Hour 7 days/week with cocktail, beer, wine and food specials. We have a banquet room that holds 15-60 guests. Great for all events from business presentations to rehearsal dinners.
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53 reviews from our community

94% Recommend
    32
    16
    2
    2
    1
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
coloradosunshine
Fort Collins, Colorado
Senior Contributor
27 reviews
2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 20, 2012 NEW

I love this place and now so does my husband. Okay, so I have always liked this place since it opened, however my husband was not big on it due to his first and only experience when they very first opened. His chile relleno was under-cooked and tough but do read on... I had been there with some girlsfriends several... More

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Jessicannon
Fort Collins, Colorado
Reviewer
4 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 6, 2012

So the exoitic guac may seem like it is to out there but it is my favorite thing on the menu. It's also a good starting point for girls night out More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
February 8, 2012

Our exotic guac is hard to beat! Avocado, strawberries, mango, goat cheese, and a dash of our homemade habenero salsa make for a guacamole that is a local favorite. If you have never been in for Ladies Night on the first Thursday of every month, you need to check it out! We offer free manicures and chair massages, plus half-priced... More

Byron C
Fort Collins, Colorado
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 6, 2012

Nice ambiance, great appetizers and drinks. Very good mojitos. More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
February 8, 2012

One of the many appeals to El Monte is that we are just a little off the beaten path. Our location allows for easy access on the southwest corner of College and Prospect, but we are far enough away from the busy streets to allow for a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Whether you are dining with us or just enjoying a... More

Gail3207
Fort Collins, CO
Top Contributor
79 reviews
12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 3, 2012

More up=scale and creastive. Not your bean burrito. Great drinks. Nice dinning room and bar. Try it. it is a cool place with good food. More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
February 8, 2012

Nope, you won't find burritos on our menu! Our menu consists of many wonderful traditional dishes from interior Mexico, such as the cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork wrapped in a banana leaf) and huaraches (flatbreads loaded with delicious toppings). We also offer a great selection of familiar favorites such as tacos and enchiladas. Thanks so much for the review, and we'll... More

Sylvanusman
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 25, 2012

The Flank Steak & Enchilada w/grilled veggies is superb and the drinks are way uptown. Very, very nice. More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 26, 2012

Thanks! It's no coincidence that El Monte and The Rio have two of the best scenes in Fort Collins -- we are owned by the same people. I have to agree that the steak & enchilada is a terrific dish, and it is great with a top-shelf margarita! Thank you for the review, and we'll see you next time. More

Annie350
Bridgeport, Connecticut
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 23, 2012

My friend's brother runs this place and told me to visit when I was in Fort Collins for work. You never know when family is invoved... but I took a chance and took my work friends there. They live near by and had not tried it yet. They are now huge fans and I am still dreaming of the Chili... More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 25, 2012

There's no end to the list of excuses to come to El Monte! Whether you are visiting us for a family meal, a date night, or a business dinner, we pride ourselves on providing you with a great dining experience. We're so glad that you decided to take a chance on your friend's advice, and we will see you soon! More

BarComber
Northern Colorado
Contributor
11 reviews
2 of 5 stars Reviewed January 19, 2012

After reading so many positive reviews about this place, we couldn't wait to go in and check it out. Being the sister restaurant of the Rio Grande, we figured it couldn't be half bad. We hit up the El Monte Grill during happy hour with a strong desire to try some specialty drinks and margaritas. Atmosphere: The outside of the... More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 25, 2012

I would like to offer a sincere apology that your experience at El Monte was not a good one. We set a high standard of service for our staff to adhere to, and it sounds as though we fell quite short of both yours and our expectations. We feel that our happy hour is one of the best deals around... More

DoctorRob1223
Fort Collins, Colorado
Contributor
14 reviews
3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 19, 2012

One of the new guys in town, El Monte is located in one of the older, definitely not upscale, strip malls on South College. The interior is very pleasant and you always get a pleasant welcome. Food I have had is good, but not great. Known for fresh, homemade guacamole and a variety of tequillas. More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 25, 2012

We are so glad that you chose to dine with us at El Monte. We are located in mid-town Fort Collins, and we like to think of ourselves as the alternative to Old Town. Our convenient location provides our customers with plenty of parking and an intimate setting, which we find is a nice change from the crowded establishments in... More

Zotemail
Dallas
Contributor
15 reviews
17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 17, 2012

Live in Dallas, so I have been spoiled with good Tex-Mex and more authentic Mexican food. After several trips to Fort Collins, I have found only one restaurant that offers Tex-Mex fare (appropirately called Rio Grande Grill), and most local restaurants lean toward New Mexico style cooking. So I was thrilled to stumble on El Monte Grill which offers fantastic... More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 25, 2012

We like to think that we bring a unique cuisine to Fort Collins. Our owners have spent a great deal of time in Mexico, including a trip to attend cooking school with Rick Bayless in Oaxaca, so our menu includes many authentic dishes from interior Mexico. You won't find chile rellenos like our anywhere else in town. Thank you for... More

Cassyt
Fort Collins, Colorado
Top Contributor
51 reviews
4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 5, 2012

Holy guacamole this place is yummy! Homemade,customizeable guac is a favorite, seafood tastes like seafood. Everything is fresh and tastes like food, not typical Mexican-American cheese goo. Tons of high-end tequila. Service can be mixed, but the food is worth it. More

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Sarah Joswick, General Manager at El Monte Grill & Lounge, responded to this review
January 25, 2012

Thank you! We are awfully proud of our guacamole. We are firm believers in using fresh, local produce and organic groceries whenever possible. Making our guacamole to order is just one example of the extra steps we take to ensure a remarkable dining experience. We are glad that we are in your top 5, and we look forward to seeing... More

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