Monty’s Joint
Step Into the Past
Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Adrian Lysenko
In a city brimming with modern eateries, Monty’s Joint stands out as a unique gem that transports its patrons back into the Prohibition era. Owner Tony Di Paolo became intrigued by the Prohibition era look and feel during COVID restrictions, as he imagined a similar atmosphere. “During Prohibition, establishments were called gin joints,” Di Paolo says. “‘Joint’ also implies a private or side room.” There’s no actual owner named Monty, however. “This fun fact often disappoints patrons,” Di Paolo chuckles. “That and the fact we are not a cannabis store.”
The gastropub’s menu is centred around the fictitious Monty and his preference for mildly spicy cuisine. And what a menu. Using local products is a priority, with a concentrated effort on creating every dish in-house. One of the regulars speaks highly of the “cigars,” which are a crispy filled snack with a blend of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, and jalapeños, served with a homemade dipping sauce.
The Mac Daddy is a hamburger topped with mac and cheese, and its counterpart, the Mac Mommy, is a buttermilk-brined fried chicken breast sandwich. These mammoth burgers will delight, with overflowing smoked gouda macaroni and onion jam. Extra napkins will be required.
Di Paolo’s favourite, shrimp fritto, is a delight. Shrimp, peppers, jalapeños, onions, and artichokes, all lightly dusted in a crunchy coating and served with a pepperoncini aioli, makes for a mouthwatering savoury snack.
Gnocchi fans might want to know that there is a weekly featured gnocchi, and the one on tap when we visited was the pesto chicken. The dumplings were light and tender, the pesto was exquisitely herbaceous, and the sliced chicken was tender. The textural showstopper for me was the tasty crumble on top, which foodies may know as gremolata—a flavourful mix of breadcrumbs, lemon zest, and parsley. Every bite was devoured.
Fridays seem to be the day to pop in at Monty’s. With the live music and the flatbread pizza special, it will end your week on the right note. Longtime bartender Freddie brags that they have “the coldest draft beer in town” (incidentally, this was fact-checked just for you, dear reader).
Monty’s Joint shares a space with Armani’s, and they are teaming up for an evening called Home by 11. “From 4 to 9 pm, Monty’s will be serving half-price appetizers, and Armani’s will be open early for dancing from 6 to 10 pm, so you can easily switch between the two places and enjoy a fantastic night out,” says Di Paolo. “With this early evening, you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep and be ready to hit the ground running the next day.” Stay tuned to @montysjoint on Instagram for details.
Monty’s Joint
513 Victoria Avenue East
807-473-9294