ROUZERVILLE – Monterey Pass Steakhouse, which used to be known as the Monterey Pass Pub & Eatery, has opened its doors to a weekend dining experience that all visitors are sure to remember. The eatery is named after the famous Battle of Monterey Pass, which occurred right after the battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War (1862-1865), when the South was in retreat only to meet up with a battalion of Northern forces.
The steakhouse is owned Bob Backer, who also owns the Blondie’s Tavern, situated right next door. Blondie’s has been in operation in since 1983. The Monterey Pass Steakhouse re-opened its doors three weeks ago on Aug. 1, and judging by the steady flow of patrons I saw come in during my hour-long visit, I would say that word is getting out.
As soon as you open the entrance door, you are met with a wave of history and with several portraits of the men who fought in both sides of the war, historical facts about the Battle of Monterey Pass, and even a diorama of the Battle of Gettysburg. That was a sight to see.
The dining room is also adorned with historical artwork and rustic down-home theme that was very inviting and looks to seat about 50 guests with additional seating at the small bar. And while I do love history, I was there to try the cuisine.
The menu offered a variety of flavors to suit just about anyone’s taste. There were burgers and fries, fried shrimp, crab cakes and baked salmon for those with a taste for seafood, a variety of flavored wings, but I couldn’t wait to try their steaks. There were three steak options, prime rib and porterhouse, but I chose the NY strip for my entrée. But before the main dish would come, I started with a cup of their cream of crab soup, which came highly recommended from my charming server, and a fresh house salad. I would also highly recommend the soup.
For my main dish, I had the steak, a baked potato with butter and sour cream, and a slice of their delicious cornbread. One thing that stood out to me that I really appreciated was that once my steak was brought to me, my server asked me to cut into it and make sure that it was to my requested likeness. This was the first time I have had a server take the time to make sure I was happy with my selection.
Another thing that stood out to me was my drink. I ordered a lemonade, and it was served to me in a mason jar. This was not the first time I have a had a drink served to me in a jar, but it is a fun and unique way to get a beverage. Finally, for dessert I had a slice of Snickers cheesecake, which I was amazed I had room for after all the other amazing food I had.
The great historic theme and delicious food, however, was not what stood out to me most from my dining experience at the Monterey Pass Steakhouse. It was the friendly and amazing staff. From the delightfully friendly hostess to the great servers, I had a wonderful, welcoming experience. They kept my drinks full and checked in on me regularly and not just with the usual, “everything ok?” They really took the time to talk to me and make me feel like I was important, and I saw them do that with every guest from my little corner table that oversaw the entire dining floor.
The Monterey Pass Steakhouse is located at 11723 Old Route 16 St. in Waynesboro and is open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
