Cuisine: French, Italian and Asian
Visit: July 2012
Part of the Monaco Restaurant Group, this is my favorite place to eat. It has a vibrant atmosphere and a wide selection of food so if I do not feel like French tonight I choose one of the excellent Japanese or Italian dishes featuring on the menu. I have been there a number of times and it was (so far) always great to excellent.
Price: high (appetizers between €10-20, main meat and seafood courses between €25-50 depending on the ingredient).
Chef: Thierry Paludetto
Atmosphere: Cool, vibrant and modern. In the summer you can sit outside at a spacious terrace. The restaurant’s proximity to the sea is exploited for the benefit of the fresh breeze loving guests. You can feel it even inside and the lamps dangling from side to side are proof that the wind is real. Usually the music is very good and creates good energy and pace. Many diners dress like to a night club with ladies in mini dresses and men in cool shirts. There are three different set-ups in the restaurant each catering to a different kind of guest:
- the outside terrace for alfresco dining.
- the entry open room right by the bar creating vibrant and social atmosphere.
- at the back there is a more secluded room adding to a private feel.
Food: It is about fun, international exploration and impressive presentation. From the the japanese starters I highly recommend the Seaweed salad which can appeal even to some of the detractors of this raw vegetal dish. The slightly crunchy and balanced seaweed is a very light starter or a great companion to other japanese dishes such as maki rolls and new style sashimi. To share or as a light main course the Salmon tartare with yuzu kosho is a fun meal involving a small live performance from one of the waiters as he mixes its ingredients up right in front of you. The same serving approach as at the LAs famous Boa steak house with their excellent steak tartare.
From the main Italian meals, the off-the menu Veal Milanaise is as good as at any ristorante or tratoria in Milano. They don’t have it every day, just ask the waiter when you come. It is soft, delicate and the breadcrumb is not oily nor too dry. A great flank of meat!
Also off-the menu are Grilled giant prawns, but these were quite disappointing the last time I had them there. The raw seafood is much better. The quality of the seafood is high so it is safe to eat there anything your palate desires – from oysters to lobster.
Still, Avenue 31 is located in Monaco with its French majority requesting its familiar food, so typical French dishes are popular feature of the menu. The Beef steak is not the restaurant’s strength, yet the Beef tartare is outstanding! Perhaps the best I have ever had. Again the original take on the ingredients is the winning formula. There are more capers than usual and the meat is melting like a beef gelato rather than a chewy beef gum. The portion is huge so have it as your main course.
From the sides the Corn fries became the Avenue’s hit. We keep ordering them with everything, sometimes even instead of desserts! The perfectly crunchy potato wedges are flawless. You will not taste any oil, but only the intensity of the great potatoes. The only think I miss with them is a tartar sauce, so I end up dipping them into mustard or ketchup. I know, it rings a bit American, ketchup with everything.
If I am not in my crazy potato mood, then I steer towards the desert menu. The selection is not wide, but the Dessert of the day is usually very interesting. From delicious strawberry panacotta to chocolate variations you will find a little surprise every day. From the regulars the Tiramisu as well as the ice cream are very good as well as go well with your final cup of coffee after the dinner.
Drinks: The wine list is mainly French eyed, but there are some other wines as well. We always end up ordering either French Burgundy, Bordeaux or Rhone depending on the food we choose. With fish and seafood, the white and some lighter red Burgundy such as Beaune are great fit. With steak a full-bodied Bordeaux or spicier Syrah-based Rhone are our selections. You do not need to spend a fortune for wines here as the list features some around €30 per bottle whites, reds and rosés. The cocktails are also pretty good since the Avenue 31 is a cool and young feeling place. The coffee and tea selection is sufficient, but not overwhelmingly sophisticated. You will find basics such as espresso, cappuccino and green, chamomile and verbena teas.
Contact: Tel. + 377 97 70 31 31
Address: 31 Avenue Princesse Grace, 98000 Monte-Carlo, Monaco