Meet Michael

Michael Monti is a true product of Tempe. Born in 1967 (at what is now Tempe St. Luke's hospital) into a great tradition of the Arizona restaurant industry, Michael Monti was raised in and around the walls of his father's restaurant, the legendary Monti's La Casa Vieja. He attended Tempe's Curry Elementary School and McKemy Junior High, and earned his BA degree in Spanish from Arizona State University. Monti went on to graduate with a law degree from the University of San Diego.

Just as he was graduating law school in 1993, he was called upon by his elderly father, Leonard Monti, to take over the family business. Michael Monti agreed and returned to Tempe and to his roots.

In 1997, he purchased the family restaurant from his father and is proudly celebrating his 17th year of ownership and the continuous operation of Monti's La Casa Vieja. The main building structure dates back to 1871. The business has been known as Monti's la Casa Vieja since 1956.

A firm believer in the responsibility of business owners to build social capital, Michael Monti has served on many industry and community boards and commissions including the Arizona Restaurant Association, Tempe Diablos Charities, Arizona Tourism Alliance, Tempe Rotary Club, and the Tempe Community Impact Foundation. Michael is also a Tempe Sister Cities Life Member, Arizona State University Alumni Life Member. He has served as the President of the Tempe Rotary, and is a Co-Founder of Local First! Arizona.

In 2008, Michael Monti became the youngest member ever inducted into the Arizona Restaurant Association's Hall of Fame, a recognition from his industry peers that he deeply prizes.

Monti considers himself an amateur Arizona historian. Through his newsletter and tours of the restaurant, Monti provides commentary and shares quirky episodes of family and restaurant lore told alongside Tempe's rich history. He speaks four languages, including English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Michael and his wife reside in Tempe and together are raising their blended family of six children ranging in age from 13 years old down to just 20 months.