First let's start with the freebie. I'm a big fan of bread anyway but when you give it away with cheese you've really got me hooked in. The warm fresh bread comes with a few slices of Havarti and they do a butter type of deal made with havarti, blue, provolone, garlic, onion, and salt. Gah! It was so good! I ordered Escargot as my appetizer. They were perfectly cooked. Soft chew. Amazing garlic butter. The server even brought (per her suggestion) more bread to sop up that amazing garlic butter salty goodness. You're a fool if you don't say yes to the bread! My husband ordered the Potato leek soup. He had barely put the spoon to his mouth before he exclaimed how good it was. Roll your eyes back into your head amazing. My only thing (very small and only because I'm weird) is the chunky vegetables in the soup. I'm partial to a creamy potato leek so that was my only issue. And I don't like chunky vegetable soup. I ordered a German beer. Brown, malty, slightly sweet. Not hoppy. It was called Aventinus. For dinner I ordered the Stuffed cabbage. It was moist and so easy to cut through. The tomato sauce was sweet which I thought was strange but realized it really balanced the stuffed cabbage. The rolls were a little on the small side .. But my eyes are bigger than stomach. So it was actually perfect. My husband ordered the Apple strudel with vanilla sauce. Lightly flavored. Not overly sweet. He loved it. I ordered the Blueberry dumpling. It's a fresh blueberry filled dumpling that is boiled in water and then topped with cottage cheese and powdered sugar. Excellent balance of sweet, salty, tangy ... Umami, if you will. It sounds like a weird combination but I recommend just diving in and giving it a try. My husband tried my dumpling and liked it more than his strudel and he really enjoyed the strudel. I can't believe I've only just found Monestary. I am always on a hunt for stuffed cabbage and now that I've finally found it, I'll have to go back. Our server was very pleasant and super helpful. All of them seemed to be pretty great. This wasn't a cheap meal but it wasn't that expensive either. We've eaten less food for about the same price. I recommend checking them out if you're in the mood for some Central/Eastern European food. I'll definitely be back. read more

Service was very polite and friendly. Our waitress was knowledgeable and knew the menu well which was reassuring because I'm not familiar with schnitzel, apparently it's veal. We also tried the salmon which was fresh, and tried the shrimp pasta was light but had good flavors. Also, they were very generous with their home made breads with cheese. Delicious. I tried to stop myself from eating too much to save room for the main course, but failed. read more

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I came here with high hopes, and left making a new Yelp account (as I had forgotten my old login) just for the intent of writing this review. Unfortunately, I don't mean this a good way. The decor is very nice. I don't need to go on about the historical European design because this point has been detailed extensively already by others. The service was good-- a little slow, but nothing to legitimately complain about. The reason I can only give two stars comes down mostly to health concerns. Upon entry, there was a smell of cigarette smoke inside. When asked if the restaurant was non-smoking, the waitress said it was. When inquired about the matter further, she explained the smell by stating that it used to be a smoking area twenty-five years ago. And then came the loud, violent hacking sounds from the kitchen. It sounded like someone suffering from tuberculosis, and wasn't a one-off thing: the coughing was consistent the entire time we were there. After leaving, I read some reviews on here, with more than one mentioning the smell and further detailing that the owners openly smoke in the kitchen and inside the dining area itself, confirming my suspicions. It's only non-smoking for the patrons. Either way, it was incredibly off-putting to me. As for the food itself, it wasn't bad by means, but not impressive either. The roast duckling was a very generous portion, but completely flavourless. The black forest cake was a bit better, and wasn't cloyingly sweet as it's often made to be in America. Had it not been for the awful smoke smell and constant violent coughing, I'd be more inclined to come back a second time and try another dish I may find I prefer. Honestly, I'd like to-- this place has a wonderful assortment of Central/Eastern European food that you rarely see served anywhere else, let alone in the area. Unfortunately, though, that lack of competition is probably a large part of the reason they're able to stay in business. As wonderful as the Serbian goulash sounds, I won't be back to try it. Tl;dr: If heavy smoke doesn't bother you, you may find you enjoy the food, depending on what you order. read more

While I enjoyed my meal here, I don't feel particularly compelled to return, which is why I'm only giving 3 stars. We went during restaurant week to get the 3-course meal for $30. I had potato & leek soup to start, venison goulash for my entree and the black forest cake for dessert. My boyfriend had the lentil soup to start, szekely goulash for the entree and an apricot crepe for dessert. The bread is rustic and seems homemade, and is served with a couple types of cheese and an apple. The cheese and bread were really good, and I had to stop myself from eating all of it. My potato & leek soup was flavorful and delicious, as was the lentil soup, though the lentil soup was super hot and we had to let it cool awhile before eating it. Both the goulashes were tasty but not mind-blowing. I didn't really know what constituted an Eastern European dumpling-- turns out it is a spongy white bread to soak up the rest of the goulash sauce. Neither of the desserts were noteworthy, but perhaps we should have tried the fruit dumpling described in previous reviews. Our waitress was very friendly. She left us for a little while when we needed a minute to figure out our order, but we were kind of hidden in the back. As for dress code-- we didn't have super dressy clothes with us, so I wore dark jeans and a nice sweater, and my boyfriend wore corduroys and a button-down shirt. We probably would have dressed a bit nicer if we'd had other clothes with us, but I think dress pants and a nice sweater/polo shirt in the summer for guys would suffice. read more

The atmosphere and ambience was great but the food was pricy, small portion and was not that good. I had a small glass of sangria that cost $10. I ordered the seasonal montebeliaro for $16.95 and the portion was quite small. Even though the food was not great, the waitresses and waiters were very nice and attentive. read more

My girlfriend and I visited here the day before valentines day. They had plenty of seating at 6:30 so my reservations made no difference. The decor was beautiful once you get past the ugly two sets of skinny doors at the entrance. The place is small and if busy you will almost be touching the table behind you. The menu range was very wide, so many things I considered trying. I went for the Roasted Duck with sauerkraut, my girlfriend the filet mingon. Our first choice of wine was unavailable. I feel sorry for the people that wanted it on V-Day. Having never tried duck myself before I was suprised at the resemblance in taste to the fried chicken I had at farm fresh hours earlier... She ordered her filet medium and it looked perfectly cooked with the ever so slight amount of pink. Unfortunately it was dry and rather tough for a $30 filet. I did not mention the meal status to our waitress and instead attempted to do out best to enjoy the evening. The waitress was quite pleasant however the uniform seemed a bit off. It is apparent that the require their servers to wear black pants and white shirts, however the style/cut of our servers shirt looked like she was swimming in it. I noticed not a single person seemed to be matching in the shirts which was a bit off putting to me, but hardly that important. Overall, it's something I'm glad I tried but wont be there again. The prices demanded for a mediocre meal and mediocre service just aren't for me. read more

One of my favorite restaurants of all time.....it's like getting a seat at the table of your long list family here. The food is spectacular- you can't go wrong. This is real cooking. I can't wait to go back! read more

Excellent restaurant! Highly recommend! We ate dinner there tonight, and it was absolutely a wonderful dining experience. Nice music, awesome server, and even got to meet the wonderful owners who cook the delicious food. The food was incredible, and so was the dessert! Definitely going back soon! read more

A Cozy European Renaissance affair! The Monastery takes you back into the classical days of delightful meals in an intimate setting, where the food is served hot and fresh with wine to match. You wouldn't know this place existed with their small entranceway. Right away you'll feel as if you had stepped back in time to a different world. The Monastery is meant to feel just that, a dimly lit restaurant that mimics an old chapel. Outstanding service and Extraordinary Dishes made completely from scratch! This place is definitely worth a try. The two occasions that I've had dinning in this fabulous place, the crowd was seemingly low but their first dining hall was already filled. They do not have very many seating, so reservations are a must. We sat in the second hall next to the drink bar. This hall was smaller and darker in comparison to the main hall so let's just say it's cozier. The service was prompt and quick. He even suggested which main dish and dessert he favored the most. The refills on our drinks came quickly and he made sure that things were up to par every so often. Their lentil soup was delish! I had the pasta Florentine for my entrée and it was fresh, tasty, flavorful and creamy but not heavy. Everything they served was great. No complaints! I would try to come back here with the exception of the fact that they don't really cater to vegetarians. So meat eaters would love this place! Last thing to note is the price. It is a little on the pricey side, but the portions are large and worth every penny. read more

We were visiting Norfolk for Labor Day weekend, hunting for top of the line restaurants. Monastery exceeded our high expectations. We started with the escargot which is prepared with butter, garlic, and shallots. these were perhaps the best tasting escargots that we have ever had with a nice blend of flavors and not too heavy on the garlic. Then my wife had the duck which prepared superbly. I had the wiener schnitzel with the optional mushroom gravy, the meat and the accompanying potatoes were also among the best that I have ever had. Of course, apple strudel had to follow the whole show. The wait staff was very attentive and were quick with conversation about the food. They could not have been more friendly. They were also quick to see that our glasses were refilled. I would definitely go back and I would definitely recommend Monastery Restaurant. They are the real deal. read more

My boyfriend and I had Valentine's Day reservations here. Our service was great and very attentive! The food was amazing as well, I had the filet (rare). Meat was cooked exactly the temperature it was meant to be . The restaurant is smaller when you walk in, but is meant to create an intimate feeling. Menu has many traditional European dishes and they are cooked just the way they were meant to be. I will definitely be visiting again . read more

Pure chance coming across this restaurant and so worth the dining experience. Very clean and cozy environment. The restaurant has been open 38 years and the owners are the chefs and take pride in what they deliver to your table coming out to personally introduce themselves and check on your experience. Our server made great recommendations. I've never tried roasted goose and it was a treat absolutely delicious! I'm not from the area but next time I'm here for business I look forward to visiting again. If your a local definitely will be a welcome favorite. read more

Highly recommended. Food was fresh and delicious. The goulash was great. Ambience and service were excellent

Decided to stop in here before checking out KRS-One at the Norva. I'm still shell shocked from about a year ago when Rakim almost killed the Fresh Fest show at the Portsmouth Pavilion. The R was baked!! Anyway, Doug E Fresh reviewed the show and it's all good but wish I knew about the Monastery earlier. The food was great, especially if you like Eastern European cooking. Washed it all down with some schnapps and I was good to go. read more

Great atmosphere, friendly service, & excellent food!! Very generous portion sizes. Will definitely be back.

This my favorite slice of Central Europe outside of Prague. I love it. Be yourself, try the duck, the filet, the cassoulet. You really can't go wrong. The owners will come out and share some honest opinions with you just like in the old days. You might not be old enough to remember, but there was a time when real people made good food just to make us all happy, and everybody could speak their mind and get along anyway. This is that place. No pretensions here, it's a rare honest gem. Beware the dumplings, they expand. read more

I came here because I had a $16 off coupon. It's right off Granby across from 4-5-6 Fish. I've walked by it numerous times going to the bars on Granby, but never noticed it. I'm glad I found this coupon, though, because I really enjoyed it.... You walk in through a weird double hinged door and are presented with a really classy feeling dining area that I can only imagine feels very much like a monastery (need someone who has been to a monastery to confirm this for me). The service was quick, they got us seated very fast. Our server was very good at explaining to us what was on the menu (it's not your typical Ruby Tuesday's food selection). I opted for their roast pork special (side note: if anyone is going through my reviews you'll see a tenancy to order pork dishes lately. I have no explanation for why this is, but I'm glad I have no religious objections to it). My girlfriend ordered their rock fish special. The bread and cheese came out with an apple. Yes, I said an apple. It's a little odd, but slide it up real thin and try it on your bread and cheese--you might like it. The cheese spread here is really good. The food came out pretty quickly. My pork was very flavorful and came with a good portion of sauerkraut. I'm not normally a sauerkraut fan, but this shit was awesome. My girlfriend's fish was cooked well. They went a little lite on her side veggies, I think she would have preferred less fish and more veggies. Overall, I really like this restaurant. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to come here, but if I wanted to treat someone special to something a little different, I'd be inclined to bring them here. read more

I live literally 5 doors down from this place but it took me 2 months to finally get around to going. And boy, was I missing out! First of all the place is cozy, warm and in an old monastery. It's really cool inside (though it would look better with wood floors not carpet) but the waiters are in bow ties and black vests and extremely polite. The food is INCREDIBLE. I had the steak tartare, my husband had the duck and we both split escargot. All of them were sensational. Very nice quiet atmosphere and the chef came out to greet everyone and check on their meals. Really wonderful place. read more

Monastery Restaurant - Escargot - Modern European Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Dinner Jul 17 This is a solid 4.5 STARS! High expectations and they were met! Very, quaint and, very small restaurant, perfect for a romantic dinner. Food was outstanding and service was spot on! You are greeted at your table with fresh baked bread and 2 types of cheeses. Sliced Havarti and a specially made "brie" type cheese that was more like a spread. They make it their as they can't find it anywhere to order. It's a Czech cheese called BRINZG. Googled it and couldn't find it anywhere, but they have it and boy is it GOOD! Hungarian Goulash was authentic and very tasty. Got a side order of Stuffed Cabbage (some call them Cabbage Rolls). Regular order is 2, ask for appetizer portion and you get 1. The cabbage was cooked perfectly, the meat and stuffing inside was tremendous. The tomato sauce was flavored with cinnamon, which I am not a big fan of, but it was very good here! Call out - if you get the Stuffed Cabbage as for a side of Sauerkraut, it really helps add to the entrée! The Breaded Pork Cutlet was huge. Pan fried with a light breading. I got it with a side of sauerkraut and it paired nicely. Only negative was the side salad, it was small and not worth the price. But other than that, I have nothing bad to say about this outstanding restaurant. I would certainly go back when in Norfolk, if you live there and haven't gone, make a reservation and enjoy! read more

Monastery Restaurant - Breaded Pork Cutlet with Sauerkraut - Modern European Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Quick Review! The Good: Lot's of great stuff to be had on this menu. There are not a lot of places in the area to get this kind of European fare. A good variety of French, German, and other continental style dishes. Also, the interior is really cool, with a unique ambiance. The staff is normally nice and attentive as well. The Bad: Woo boy! This place is expensive! The portions are small too. Do you get your money's worth? I'm not quite sure honestly. The Bottom Line: The Monastery is cool with some great food, but too expensive to go to on a regular basis for me personally. Definitely check for a Groupon. You can find a lot of the things on this menu at the Bier Garden for cheaper (and more generously portioned). Still, they have some stuff here that you can't really get anywhere else, so it's worth the expense from time to time. read more

Monastery Restaurant surpassed our expectations for date night - the food was amazing and the waiter even made my husband a special mixed drink (authentic from Eastern Europe). We had dinner, drinks and dessert. The atmosphere was also amazing - the lighting is perfect and the music isn't too loud. This place is well worth visiting again and the food is comparable to some of my other top German Restaurants I've been to. read more

I loved loved loved it and will definitely go back again! Our server Carmen was the best waitress ever. She was knowledgeable of the menu, pleasant and enthusiastic, and not afraid to give a recommendation. I was super impressed! The menu is all European with items you won't find any where else. The goulash was delicious! I highly recommend it. I had the venison and cranberry with dumplings. The meal was good but the portions are kind of small. Fruit dumpling for dessert was very tasty. I can't wait to go back. P.s. One thing that bothered me is I could see in the kitchen and the owner was sitting on the prep table. That's gross so I hope you read this and refrain from doing that again. read more

Their filet mignon kabob is awesome. Garlic cheese and bread was great, too. But the price is quite high, I think. read more

Monastery Restaurant - Modern European Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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A wonderful choice for a romantic evening! Took my wife here for our anniversary and enjoyed the ambiance, service, and cuisine. The salmon is exquisite with a butter, garlic, lemon sauce and my wife thoroughly enjoyed her soup and veal cordon bleu. The appetizer was several delicious cheese samples and fresh bread with a fresh apple. Our waiter was exemplary and courteous. We topped of the evening with crepe flambé! read more

What a disappointment for such an anticipated nice dinner! My son, husband and I didn't get what the restaurant portrays. I had their seasonal special, goose, highly recommended by our server...I should have asked how long it had been cooked already. It tasted like leftover turkey after 3-4 days of having been cooked and sitting in the fridge. My husband had the veal schnitzel and it was better than my $65.00 goose/turkey. I would have spoken up about the overcooked-dry 1/4 goose had I known I was paying for the whole goose. My son had salmon and he gave me a piece to try, the fishy taste was so overpowering as if it was spoiled, he struggled to eat it. We tried this place based on their menu and reviews ...maybe it was an off night. I would have preferred to really enjoy my dinner for the amount it cost us to eat there! Should have gone elsewhere to spend that kind of money, truly a disappointment. read more

We had a lovely meal. I ordered the duck and was so pleased to enjoy a crisp half duck in sweetened sauerkraut. The complimentary cheese and apple with homemade bread was delicious. My sweetheart ordered the Serbian goulash and loved it. We're enjoying an espresso and waiting for our apricot crepes now. We're definitely coming back! read more

We stopped at this very low-key, old school looking restaurant in the heart of downtown Norfolk the other night. Greeted at the door by one of the best waiters I've ever had named Andy, we were seated and immediately serve warm bread with some cheese spread comprised of at least three different kinds of cheese plus butter. The owner Adolf came over and introduced himself as well. And certainly after the meal we got to meet the adults wife named Anna. I love having that kind of attention at an amazing restaurant anywhere. I had the chicken paprikash my partner had a fillet and everything was amazing. We give the service five stars the atmosphere five stars the owners five stars and the waiter six stars. read more

Amazing as always,service and food are a dream, good home like atmosphere, staff is personable and good communicators, food is always magnificent read more

Our new favorite spot! The food here is excellent, and the staff is very friendly and attentive. Our waiter Ian was very knowledgeable, and even let us sample some of the sauerkraut, which was much different than expected and very delicious! While the entrees took a little while to make it to us, the time was well spent with good beer, wine, and complimentary bread apple and cheese basket which was kept full for the duration of our visit. The entrees themselves were very good, and worth the wait. I look forward to my next visit here. read more

Monastery Restaurant - Stuffed cabbage, the sauce makes the dish! - Modern European Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Really a wonderful surprise. We found the Monastery by happenstance and were pleasantly surprised. I have not had steak tartare in decades. They had it and it was perfect. So was everything else our party ordered. The service, by Ian, was impeccable. Quite an enjoyable evening. The decor is a bit on the theatrical side but the food and service let's you forget that. Go there! read more

The food was great! Some entrees on the menu is hard to read, but the waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and explained well. The only thing I didn't like was the old house smell when you just walked into it. I might come back for the food! read more

Had the best time ever. Thank you Ana , her husband, and bartender Antonio for a wonderful evening. Full of indulgence and family time. Thank you so much for having an authentic piece of Eastern Europe here on Granby street. Love this place. Escargot is delicious. The specials are on point. And the dumpling of fruit for desert is the best. Thank you thank you family!! read more

One of the best dinner experiences I've ever had! The owners are wonderful people with passion for what they do.

I was looking forward to this restaurant. First strike though is that even though the restaurant was 1/2 empty they sat us in a brightly lit empty room where one more couple sat . Insist on the main dining room. The bread was delicious and the cheese. The cucumber salad is slimy , don't do it! My goulash was very tasty. It had seven pieces of beef and two small round pieces of bread. My husbands veal cordon blue was much hardier. Needless to say when we left at 7:30 the place had emptied out. I will never return. read more

Being on the waterfront in Norfolk we were looking for an interesting restaurant with a high rating. We were intrigued by the description on Yelp as well. We were not disappointed. My customized manhattan was perfect, our veal dishes outstanding, the goulash was different and tasty and the pork and sweet sauerkraut was unique. Service was very good and the decor took us back several centuries. All in all it was a pleasant experience on a stormy evening. read more

I've been here multiple times and would like to start by just saying that this is one of the nicest restaurant atmospheres I've ever experienced. Great place for a quiet romantic evening. The owners are from Eastern Europe so this is authentic as it gets for European cuisine. When your order your meal they bring complementary bread, cheese, and an apple to your table. The bread and cheese is made in house. I ordered the goulash that has sauerkraut in it. Very hardy, comfort food, beef broth stew, with beef pieces as tender as beef brisket. This comes with house made dumplings that are phenomenal...they will bring out more dumplings if you'd like. My wife got the bratwurst with roasted potatoes. The potatoes are very unique and fresh tasting. For desert this place also makes a great Black Forest cake...not too sweet. With a creme cherry filling. Overall I'm surprised more people haven't found this great hole in the wall. read more

Monastery Restaurant - Modern European Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Highly authentic Eastern/Central European restaurant. Not just the food, but the decor and feel of the place, you could be in Prague. I had the venison Ragu and my wife the lamb, very good. One suggested improvement would be to put the good beer (Pilsner Urquell, Aventinus) on tap. Another would be to explain the differences in Goulash on the menu. Serbian, Bratislava, Hungarian options. What exactly is goulash anyways? Lots of questions for the standard American person and the waiter was new so didn't have all answers. The slightly confused and uninformed feeling makes it even more authentically Central European! read more

They are back open and as good as ever. If you crave some authentic, feels like home cooked, eastern European food this is the place. Best in the area, with a great staff. The owners love to come and talk with you and tell their story. A must if you are downtown Norfolk near Granby. read more

Reading through the reviews for this place, I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone, where in some alternate universe, this is a great place to go for a dinner. My hubby bought a groupon for the place ($17 for $30- so basically $13 off) and we thought we would try it out for our anniversary. So we walked through the front door and immediately I felt like I was transported to 1985. The decor is very dark but in a late 1970's/early to mid 80's kind of way. Smokey mirrors in trapezoidal shapes and little lampshades on the little lamps. I really had a flashback of being a kid and going to what passed as a nice restaurant with my parents. Again circa 1985-86. It really reminded me of The Regal Beagle from Three's Company or somewhere Blanche Devereaux would rendez-vous with a gentleman caller. The waiter was very prompt and friendly. Reading some of the other reviews, I see that there is a basic script that the waitstaff read from, telling the same thing to diners over and over and over again, year after year. The bread. The apple. The cheese. The bread for the escargot. I feel like that girl who finds out that neighborhood lothario has been using the same lines on her that he's used on all the other girls. This is a place that is on autopilot and has been for quite some time. SO on to the food. Honestly, the food is ok. The escargot was nice. The bowl of goulash soup was better than Dinty Moore beef stew but not that much better. We got two entrees that basically looked like the same thing except one had too much cheese and the other did not. All served with two broccoli florets and the same potatoes that are in all these photos. And the black forrest cake was more Sarah Lee than Schwarzwald. The portion sizes were fine because we left full. But the food itself was really not extraordinary and will definitely set you back a pretty penny. Now for the weird(er) parts of the night. The place was pretty dead. There were a couple of other tables so the female owner decided to come out, plop down and start calling what seemed like every person she knew and talking very loud in "Czechlish" like she was in a scene from a low budget David Lynch film or something. The whole time this was going on, there was this random smell of cigarette smoke wafting in and out of the dining area. It was strong enough to feel like, again, the old days when you would sit too near to the smoking section. And from previous reviews, I now see that the kitchen staff smoke and cook. Such a classy combo. After she was done having her gab session, she meandered into the dining area to fawn all over an overly tanned couple in their early 60's. After schmoozing them up for a few minutes, she ambled back to her perch and snatched the phone up for more socializing. Sadly, we missed out on being part of the spectacle. read more

If you like visiting with and getting to know the owners, chefs and waitstaff at a restaurant you visit, Monastery's for you. If you favor a small, cosy, warm and comfortable decor --- albeit maybe a little bit dated --- you'll love Monastery. And if you get excited about wonderful regional dishes, authentically prepared by first-generation Americans who immigrated from that region in search of the American dream, you're gonna fall hard for Anna and Adolf Jerabek, and Monastery restaurant. We thought for years that Monastery was just another German restaurant, even though it's always advertised itself as offering " ...delicious European cuisine." The truth is that it's probably the only, and certainly the most unique, really authentic East European restaurant in Tidewater, owned and operated for over 30 years by Anna and Adolf Jerabek, who immigrated to the US from then-communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. Settling first on the West Side of Manhattan, where they opened and ran the first Monastery for over a decade, the Jerabeks arrived in Tidewater in the early 1980s and quickly set about to duplicate their NYC restaurant on Norfolk's then-Granby Mall. And that's where the two of them have been, and what they've been doing, for all those years. Now in their 70's, their culinary skills, energy, passion and absolute dedication to wonderful food, and to making as many of their customers their friends as possible, is undiminished. And, if you'll accept this "becoming part of the family" approach to visiting a restaurant, you'll not find a more enjoyable and satisfying restaurant experience anywhere in Tidewater. Monastery's kitchen --- presided over almost equally by Adolf and Anna, with maybe a little more of the entree preparations being done by Adolf --- produces a wonderful variety of dishes that might be found in a visit to eastern European cities like Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest --- and not in places like Cologne, Frankfurt or Munich. You'll find lots of veal on the menu, including a very good breaded Wiener Schnitzel, but their best veal dishes are prepared with thinly-sliced unbreaded veal and any number of potato, dumpling, vegetable and light sauce options. (The Schnitzel a la Holstein is a favorite with me.) Anna wears an apron proclaiming her "The Goulash Lady," and Monastery's goulash offerings --- all made with beef, not pork --- are wonderful, and not overly seasoned or made too rich with overdone flour or butter in the sauces. Maybe their signature entree is the Roast Duckling, served with a slightly sweet, creamy Czech sauerkraut that would be unrecognizable to a fan of the German version. And, for Steak Tartare fans, this wonderful dish is usually also available, and is served with onions and capers, in the way of American palates. When it's time for dessert, the kitchen makes amazing fruit dumplings that I guarantee you'll not find anywhere else in Tidewater, as well as some wonderful crepes and apple strudel that will quickly remind you of your last visit to Vienna. So I can say that the only small disappointment you might have during a visit to Monastery is with the wine list --- but there will always be a few good Riesling selections available, so remember where you are, and just go with it. And, after your first escargot, or your sample of the day's goulash presented in a small plate by Anna, or after your first bite of the freshly baked bread and cheese selection available in lieu of the standard rolls and butter, or after your first hug and greeting from Anna as she steps out of the kitchen on one of her frequent visits to the dining area to greet her customers/friends --- after all that, and maybe somewhere into the first bite of your wonderful entree, you'll ask yourself " ... where the heck have I been for the last thirty years?!!?" Why hasn't it been here, for dinner, every night of the week? But don't worry about offending Anna and Adolf as a result of your absence during all those years. I guarantee you'll be immediately forgiven, and welcomed into their restaurant family, just the same as if you had been one of their first customers, over thirty years ago. read more