This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally-owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com.
Danny Monaco’s legacy lives on through his family, his restaurants and in every bite of a specialty steak dinner.
The well-known Oakmont businessman and his executive chef, Brian Leri, concocted the “Blackenzola” two decades ago for Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco along Allegheny Avenue.
It is a center-cut 8-ounce filet of premium Angus beef, lightly seasoned, pan-seared and then topped with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese before being cooked to order in an oven. The steak is topped generously with a balsamic vinegar reduction.
A petite version, with three 2-ounce filet mignon medallions, is also served during lunch and dinner.
“There was always an ongoing debate, who created the dish,” Leri said. “We always battled. Unfortunately, we lost Danny this year. So, from this time on, I’m going to relinquish the dish to him. We all miss him greatly. I think about him every day. He was such a great presence at the restaurant. We’re going to keep everything going in his honor.”
Monaco and his brother, Tom, started the business in 1971 with their grandmother’s Italian recipes. It went under major renovations in 1990. The family also owns and operates Chelsea Grille, just a few doors down.
Monaco died from covid complications in January after battling the virus for about three weeks. He was 75.
“He wanted to make sure everything was perfect all the time,” said Leri, 47, of Tarentum. The pair worked together for about 26 years.
The Blackenzola is available daily and comes with two sides. They can be salad, soup, vegetables, rosemary mashed potatoes or another starch. It is also served with bread and butter or a rosemary sun-dried tomato dipping oil.
Leri said the dinner ($38.99) is sold about 40 times a week, and the petite serving ($21.99) is on about 200 plates weekly.
“The quality of the products is No. 1,” the chef said. “That’s a super simple dish. It’s steak, some seasoning, cheese and then the sauce. The sauce is sweet. It goes with the sharpness of the cheese, a little bit of the spiciness with the steak. All around, it wraps together and it’s good.
“You can make the fanciest dish in the world, but if you don’t have good quality ingredients, it isn’t going to be very good.”
Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco (hoffstots.com) is at 533 Allegheny Ave. in Oakmont. Open daily, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday. 412-828-8555.
