Forest Hills just scored a new spot for frozen margaritas and outdoor hangs. Montoya’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar quietly swung open its doors on May 5, timing its debut with Cinco de Mayo and bringing a full bar, frozen drinks and a garden for al fresco dining to Metropolitan Avenue. Inside, the focus is on handmade salsas and tortillas, tacos and enchiladas, plus shareable starters in a sit-down setting, with a clear lean toward tequila-forward cocktails.
Owners and opening
Owner Robbie Salameh and partner-chef Jaime Montoya launched the restaurant in time for the May 5 opening, according to Queens Gazette. The Gazette notes that the kitchen is making salsas, tortillas and desserts from scratch, and that the menu features vegetarian roasted-mushroom tacos alongside a family-recipe chicken enchilada plate. It also reports that Montoya’s has advertised daily hours from noon to midnight and is steering customers to follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram.
What's on the menu
Montoya’s online ordering page lists a Montoya Margarita for $16, queso fundido for $14, al pastor tacos at $6 each and potato taquitos for $14, among other appetizers and entrées, according to Toast. Toast also shows a bar lineup that includes Mexican beers, a wide tequila selection and signature cocktails such as the “Forest Hills Heat.” The kitchen is advertising brunch specials and a bottomless-brunch option on weekends, signaling that Montoya’s is aiming to operate both as an evening bar spot and a weekend brunch destination.
Licensing and community review
Montoya’s has notified Community Board 6 that it is applying for a new liquor license at 102-15 Metropolitan Avenue, according to the board’s May meeting agenda. The agenda lists Montoya’s among the new-license applicants and indicates that the restaurant will go through the standard community-review process before the State Liquor Authority issues a final decision. Neighbors who want more detail or who plan to comment can review CB6 materials and watch meeting recordings on the board’s website.
Neighbors weigh in
Early diners and local posters have already started weighing in on the Forest Hills subreddit, where they have shared soft-opening impressions, menu photos and mixed feedback on service and pricing. One thread collected first reactions and snapshots from patrons seated at the Metro Avenue storefront. The arrival of Montoya’s adds to a long run of recent openings on both Austin and Metropolitan avenues, a trend that local coverage has highlighted in tracking the neighborhood’s evolving dining scene.
Looking ahead
Montoya’s menu and ordering options remain available through its online ordering page, and local reporting notes that the restaurant is using Facebook and Instagram for updates. With a liquor-license review in motion and a full bar already in place, Montoya’s is positioned to play a growing role in evening dining along this stretch of Metropolitan Avenue.
