A Look Inside The Soon-To-Open "Monte's" In Gowanus

When Monte's Venetian Room, the legendary Italian eatery, closed its doors in 2008, it seemed like the end of an era in the neighborhood. First opened in 1906 by the Montemarano Family, the restaurant had became part of Brooklyn history. It was once the playground of Sammy Davis Jr. and other members of the Rat Pack, as well as the go-to place for lawyers, judges and blue collar workers. Sadly, Monte's had lost much of its luster in the last few decades. Sure, the red banquets and huge mural of Venice were still the same, but the interior, along with the staff and the food, had grown tired over the years.

Luckily, this is not the end for Monte's . After much speculation and anticipation, the famed Gowanus eatery at 451 Carroll Street, will re-open its doors in early June. The place has undergone an extensive renovation, but it retains much of its famed tradition.

New owners Dominick Castelvetre and his wife Tina Esposito were respectful of the restaurant's history when they re-designed the space. After all, Castelvetre had grown up on the same block on Carroll Street and used to park cars for the patrons of Monte's Venetian room and obviously has a fondness and appreciation for the place. However, by the time he took over, many of the fixtures, including the much-loved murals depicting canal scenes in Venice, had been removed. Castelvetre and Esposito have tried to retain as much of the old decor as they could. (Ninety percent of the tables are original and have been refinished.)

The 'new' Monte's is a tasteful, bright place with, at it's central focus, a beautiful wood -fired pizza oven made by Stefano Ferrara in Naples, Italy. The owners have hired a young chef from Milan, who has designed a more "creative Italian" menu, which, in addition to pizza and home-made pasta, will include seasonal dishes, as well as rabbit and wild boar.

Castelvetre and Esposito hope that Monte's will once again become the go-to place in Gowanus. I have no doubt that it will be a success.

Thanks, Tina and Dominick, for taking the time to show me around.

Related Reading:

Is Legendary Monte's Venetian Room Getting A Make-Over?

The Sad End Of Monte's Venetian Room: Marshal Seizes Famous Gowanus Eatery

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Is Legendary Monte's Venetian Room Getting A Make-Over?

Monte's Venetian Room, the Gowanus restaurant steeped in legend and lore, quietly closed its doors in 2008, after a hundred years in business at 451 Carroll Street between Third Avenue and Nevins Street. It was rumored that the place was going to be renovated, but nothing of the kind ever happened. Dust slowly accumulated on the bar, banquettes and tables. Instead, in May 2010, Marshal's Legal Possession notice was posted on the premise's window. It was an order to vacate the ground floor commercial space as well as the parking lot next door.

For the last few weeks, however, there have been signs of life at the once famous eatery. As a reader informed me, there has been work going on at the location. There is a big dumpster in the parking lot and paper has been taped over the restaurant's windows.

If indeed, the once famous eatery will reopen its doors in the near future, that would be great news. After all, the place is legendary. First opened in 1906 by the Montemarano Family, the restaurant has been part of Brooklyn history ever since. Once the playground of Sammy Davis Jr. and other members of the Rat Pack, the place had lost much of its luster in the last few decades. Sure, the red banquets and huge mural of Venice were still the same, but the interior, along with the staff and the food, had grown tired over the years.

Last owned by Toni Monti, the eatery turned out Chef Luis Chuia's rather unimpressive veal saltimbocca or marsala and chicken parmesan. His Italian cheesecake continued to be famous outside of the neighborhood, though.

In my twenty-five years in the neighborhood, I ate at Monte's only once, about six years ago. By then, it was clear that its hey days were long over. If I remember right, my friends and I were the only ones in the place on a Saturday evening. Choosing a dish from the extensive menu was frustrating since the kitchen seemed to be out of almost everything. After the rather sorry meal, the elderly waiter with the lovely South Brooklyn accent handed us the dessert menu, but prefaced by saying that the only thing available was the cheesecake.
"It's the best Italian cheesecake in Brooklyn" he told us.

Here is a brief history of Monte's Venetian Room by Lyn Stallworth and Rod Kennedy, Jr. from their wonderful 1991 The Brooklyn Cookbook:

Nick Montemarano's father and mother, Angelo and Filomena, opened their no-frills, home-style Angelo's Tavern in 1906. Nick was born in 1916, in the family apartment upstairs. Nick and his brothers, Rocco, Vincent, Michael, Peter, Angelo, and Joseph, worked in the tavern as they were growing up.
When the boys came back from the service after the war, Angelo's Tavern got a massive facelift and became Monte's Venetian Room, the landmark of South Brooklyn. Despite the name, most of the cooking is solidly Neapolitan.

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The Sad End Of Monte's Venetian Room: Marshal Seizes Famous Gowanus Eatery

Long before some envisioned gondolas gliding on the fetid waters of the Gowanus Canal, there was Monte's Venetian Room. First opened in 1906 by the Montemarano Family, the restaurant has been steeped in local lore ever since. Once the playground of Sammy Davis Jr. and other members of the Rat Pack, the place had lost much of its luster in the last few decades. Sure, the red banquets and huge mural of Venice were still the same, but the interior, along with the staff and the food, had grown tired over the years.

Last owned by Toni Monti, the eatery at 451 Carroll Street between Third Avenue and Nevins Street, turned out Chef Luis Chuia's rather unimpressive veal saltimbocca or marsala and chicken parmesan. His Italian cheesecake continued to be famous outside of the neighborhood, though.

And then, just like that, one day the Venetian Room's doors closed in 2008 and never reopened after more than 100 years in business at that location.
It was rumored that the place was going to be renovated, but nothing of the kind ever happened. Dust slowly accumulated on the bar, banquettes and tables.

It now seems that there is one last twist in the restaurant's long and troubled history. A Marshal's Legal Possession notice was posted on the premise's window on May 19th. It is an order to vacate the ground floor commercial space as well as the parking lot next door.

It is indeed a sad end to this Gowanus eatery. I am glad that I ate there at least once about six years ago, though by then, it was clear that its hey days were long over. If I remember right, my friends and I were the only ones in the place on a Saturday evening. Choosing a dish from the extensive menu was frustrating since the kitchen seemed to be out of almost everything. After the rather sorry meal, the elderly waiter with the lovely South Brooklyn accent handed us the dessert menu, but prefaced by saying that the only thing available was the cheesecake.
"It's the best Italian cheesecake in Brooklyn" he told us.
Though it seemed like a waste of money back then, I don't regret having had the chance to soak up the Venetian Rooms 'atmosphere' before it faded away. And I can now honestly say, I will miss the place. Somehow, the neighborhood is a bit poorer without it.

Here is a brief history of Monte's Venetian Room by Lyn Stallworth and Rod Kennedy, Jr. from their wonderful 1991 The Brooklyn Cookbook:

Nick Montemarano's father and mother, Angelo and Filomena, opened their no-frills, home-style Angelo's Tavern in 1906. Nick was born in 1916, in the family apartment upstairs. Nick and his brothers, Rocco, Vincent, Michael, Peter, Angelo, and Joseph, worked in the tavern as they were growing up.
When the boys came back from the service after the war, Angelo's Tavern got a massive facelift and became Monte's Venetian Room, the landmark of South Brooklyn. Despite the name, most of the cooking is solidly Neapoliatan.

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