Monterey Court: A Dining Review
Ms. Karen and I, along with friends and neighbors Ron and Elaine, visited Monterey Court on Miracle Mile near Oracle on the first day of May, 2022. We went there for brunch. We of course knew about this place for many years but never seemed to get there. Ron and Elaine invited us to go, so we went. Actually, I had had lunch there a long time ago when they first opened the restaurant. The concept was new, art studios around a restaurant. The budget for this adventure was low. I was not impressed at that time. But they were really new. Later, I did a pictorial about Tucson’s neon signs and featured Monterey Court’s outdoor sign which you can see by clicking our story of Neon Signs in Tucson HERE.
Arriving just after 9 am on a Sunday, the place was nearly vacant, although as we sat down, people began to come through the doorway and sat in the open-air dining area in front of the bandstand where a couple of locals were warming up their guitar and drums.
Our drink orders were quickly taken and drinks served. Everyone at our table had ordered coffee, except me. I ordered Ice Tea.
Our server then took our brunch orders. Ron and Elaine both ordered Eggs Benedict with the difference that Elaine ordered hers with ham and Ron ordered his with salmon. These were two soft poached eggs on an English muffin with spinach with hollandaise sauce with Southwest potatoes or fruit ($13).
Ms. Karen was slow to order, but eventually settled on a quesadilla ($12). I on the other hand went big and ordered a Monte Christo, described on the menu as, “An Old Favorite Done Our Way” ($13). As it turned out this was two poached eggs on French toast with a side of Hollandaise sauce and maple syrup. I thought the Hollandaise sauce and maple syrup was a bit of a strange combination, but what the heck.
I let Ms. Karen tell you her experience.
I have wanted to go to Monterey Court for a while but Covid got in the way.
We finally went at the invitation of friends Ron and Elaine. Being an outdoor eating place and early in the morning, I did not feel compelled to wear a mask as there was no one else there at 9am except the music venue warming up. We were pleased that we got there early for Sunday Brunch as it was quiet. Even though we enjoy music, we prefer to be able to talk over it. Ok.. we are older. The days of mind-numbing music is over for us.
There were plenty of tables in the courtyard, social distancing is apparently no longer an issue. Maximizing space appears to be more important as the courtyard and the shade it provides is relatively small for an old Motor Court from the 1930’s. Or not, I was not around then. Monterey is very popular, and I understand that there are changes coming soon, in the form of new owners.
The Menu was Brunch. Everyone else has one of the specialties of the house. I was looking for just plain old bacon, eggs and potatoes. I did not see it. It turns out is in the side orders, as, Side Orders, Build your own. I am not sure who would want a side of bacon or potatoes with their Eggs Benedict and potatoes, but Okay.
In any case, quesadillas were what I finally came up with, as everyone else had ordered and I wasn’t into sauces that morning. What does one say about a quesadilla? I brought some home for later. I don’t eat much breakfast as a rule, and reluctantly passed up the Bloody Mary as I had things to do later.
The feel of the place was like a Tucson Festival, only with plenty of shade and good food. The service was good and the people friendly, more like neighbors than servers.
Now I’ll let Elaine tell you about hers and Ron’s experience.
On May 1, my husband Ron and I joined Jim and Ms. Karen for Sunday Brunch at the Monterey Court. It was our first time going here. The courtyard is nicely shaded, with a hardcover over the front half and mesquite trees shading the rest. We sat near the front, where the musicians were setting up for the morning’s live music. (The next time we go, we’ll ask to be seated further back, as we couldn’t talk to each other once the music started.)
Ron and I both ordered Eggs Benedict. Ron’s was made with smoked salmon while I had ham. Ron reported that his breakfast was quite good. Mine had a generous slice of ham, which was a nice departure from the usual Canadian Bacon at other restaurants. Other than the hollandaise being on the cool side and starting to break, the dish was very nice and the Southwestern potatoes that accompanied it were very good. Our coffee was also good but getting refills required flagging down our server.
All in all, the food was quite good and the prices were very reasonable. Still, with the somewhat unattentive server and the temperature of the hollandaise sauce, I think it only rated 3.5 saguaros. We’ll be sure to try this place again, though.
My Monte Christo was very good. I actually enjoyed the combination of Hollandaise sauce and maple syrup. But I would have preferred that my poached eggs were not at runny as they were. Like Elaine, we rate Monterey Court at three and a half Saguaros. Will be back to try their burgers and other menu items soon.
Monterey Court and the Miracle Mile have a shared history. It is on the Historical Register. Perhaps time for another story about the heyday of the Miracle Mile.
Monterey Court
505 W Miracle Mile, Tucson, AZ
Tues.-Wed. 4-9 Thur. -Saturday 11-10
Sunday 9-9
520 207 2429