Brittany and I decided to try The Montmartre restaurant this evening. The Montmartre is located on the eighth floor of the Hotel Morgan, a historic/fancy restaurant in downtown Morgantown. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and we used just about every bit of that time.

We knew this was a higher-end restaurant, and we were prepared. In fact, we were celebrating, so an expensive restaurant bill was in order. The Hotel Morgan is gorgeous in a classic elegant way. The menu was on display as soon as you walk in the hotel doors, and elevator is just a few feet past that. When the doors open on the eighth floor, it was pristine. We walked up to the waiting area, and we were seated in a room that already had three other tables full of people -- not what I was expecting.

The tables were set-up beautifully, with triangle-folded napkins and a warm fireplace adjacent to us. Our glasses were filled to the brim with ice water. Everything on the menu looked delicious. We were served a salad -- I opted for a house salad with Italian dressing, which was excellent. The greens were crisp and the dressing was tangy. A homemade roll was also served ... this bread was moist and warm. It seemed like it just came out of the oven. This homestyle loaf rivals Puglioni's butter-soaked bread. We knew this was good, and we went all out: appetizer, entree and dessert.


We chose the bruschetta for our appetizer on our waitress' recommendation, and we weren't disappointed. The tomatoes, basil, garlic, parsley and olive oil blended together, making my mouth water at the explosion of flavors. The slight sweetness of the tomatoes was offset by the robust garlic and parsley. Gorgonzola cheese was on the side (strong and smooth), and it all went atop a crunchy piece of Italian bread. It was simply exquisite. It's the best bruschetta I've ever had, hands down.

For my entree, I chose "Winter Gnocchi with Duck." I had duck in Paris, and I loved it. So, this stood out on the menu for me, although quite a few other options looked great, as well. The presentation was a little intimidating, as it was all dark, minus the parsley sprinkled around the plate's edge. The duck was so tender, it fell apart in my mouth. There was roasted butternut squash pieces that added just a bit of sweetness to complement the bold duck. The juslie sauce added a roasted taste to the dish. Under the duck was asiago stuffed gnocchi, which blew my mind. The creamy cheese, the tender duck and the sweet squash couldn't have amounted to a better combination.

As if that wasn't good enough, there was dessert. Cheesecake with caramel. Creamy, smooth and sweet. Enough said.

Surprisingly, my bill came out under $40, too. I call that a good deal. The views of the city only add to the ambiance. This gem of a restaurant is hidden in one of Morgantown's most popular landmarks, but don't let that stop you. This is the best fine dining I've come across in Morgantown.

Grade: A