Montero's: Where Everybody Doesn't Yet Know Your Name

The scenery on a walk down western Atlantic Avenue to is almost as interesting as the bar itself. As the terrain gradually slopes toward the water, approaching visitors are treated to the bustle (or lack of bustle) of traffic on the BQE above and the entrance to Buttermilk Chanel slighty farther in the distance. On late summer afternoons when the sun sinks to the water, the views can be breathtaking.

Located on one of the last blocks of the well-travelled five and one-half mile thoroughfare that is Atlantic Avenue, Montero’s has been serving drinks to Brooklynites since 1947.

Although the initial clientele mainly consisted of stevedores and other dock workers, today’s customer base is a little more diverse.

Despite the shift, the seaside history of both bar and neighborhood are treated with a great deal of reverence, shown in the fading photographs of longshoremen that pepper the bar’s walls.

And stories of the past are easy to obtain first hand, also. Both friendly bartenders and long-time regulars can be coaxed into telling a story or two about the old days relatively easily.

Although the relatively short distance from the steady hum of Smith Street can afford new Montero’s patrons a slight sense of anonymity, speaking to someone at the bar for a few minutes can also give them a greater sense of connection to the borough of Brooklyn itself.

Who knows what compels us to pay to hear our favorite songs on demand at a bar when we likely have the songs on our iPods of iPhones? But if that is your thing, Montero’s has a surprisingly upscale jukebox with almost anything you’d like to hear in a bar, from jazz to country, which can be a blessing and a curse. The great selection combined with a sad patron could turn a planned party into a bawl session.

There is a solution, though.

While it may seem a little mean spirited, you can pay extra to give your desired song head of the line privileges. Use it sparingly, especially if you’re a first-timer.

Overall?

Montero’s is a great neighborhood dive bar with history, cheap drinks, generous pours, a loaded jukebox and great company.