The absolute best dining part of our time in the city. No joke! Reservations become open at 9 am on Resy 21 days prior to your desired date. The dinner times WILL FLASH before your eyes. I am not kidding. We chose lunch. Easier to snag a table. It isn't cheap. You get what you pay for so it is WORTH IT!!! Cocktails are divine. Truffle bread as an app is a must. Wedge salad chopped with steak medium. Smash burger with truffle fries. Jill, our server, treated us to a in-home made carrot cake which was life changing. I'd go back to NYC just for the Monkey Bar. So much fun and what an absolutely incredible experience! We will be back. read more

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As reservations go, this was hard but not as hard as Polo Bar or Carbone! One of my friends opened her TikTok and was trying to try their Monkey Bread so as a good friend, I booked it! Reservations open 2 weeks in advance around 10am and they go super fest so I recommend you try for the day you need as for me I could only have gotten brunch on a Sunday. Those people spam the crap out of their buttons for the dinner spots and when I went I can see why. The place is brimming with old school New York charm and it's completely overwhelmingly beautiful and has an old jazzy vibe to it. It's large and spacious and they sat us in the middle of the entire restaurant. (I had a group of 6) The vibe was so good you don't really want to leave and they also don't really kick you out. I think we were the last ones to exit for brunch but they were so nice they didn't kick us out. Their espresso martinis are ok. It wasn't as amazing as a regular cocktail bar but it is just ok. We started off with a shrimp cocktail, smoked whitefish Caesar salad and the two plates of truffle monkey bread which was soooo good. I really enjoyed this as it's the main reason we came here. It's almost like a honey dinner roll with truffle. We got everything next which some people got their own and some shared. Some people got their own American breakfast platter which was some overdone eggs and a meat with gigantic toast and if you only order scrambled eggs it comes in a bowl but I would much rather order their classics like steak sandwich and the spicy shrimp was pretty good! Fries are top tier! I can see why people just come here for dinner. I would give it mostly 5 stars for the overall ambiance and environment and a few classics. I think their old fashioned is better than their espresso martinis though even though it looks so good in this type of setting! It's hard to get a reservation though so next time I'll need to try some new things if I score another! read more

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Go for lunch, easier to get a res! Wowed by the truffle bread and mushrooms Ambiance is super moody, the restaurant is darkly lit, it's automatically night when you walk in. Menu - we got steak, truffle bread, chicken parm, fries, and a pasta - solid portions, always tasty, they're reliably delicious read more

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Excellent cocktails and food! The caesar with whitefish was delectable with savory and crispy bits of croutons and chips. The black miso cod was amazing! The broth was so light and refined and the fish cooked to flakey perfection. Cocktails were well-balanced - the yuzu cosmo was tart and wonderful. Nigori sake was perfect with the cod. read more

Monkey Bar - Bar area - American Near Me - New York, New York

Monkey Bar is the ultimate dining experience in New York City. While it is not easy to get a reservation, I highly recommend eating here at least one time. At least for the truffle monkey bread alone. The martinis and drinks were great and the service was even better. And what made the experience the best? Our neighboring tables. Everyone was so nice and fun. When we could not decide between the steak frites and the truffle pasta, the waiter brought us over a complimentary half portion of the pasta. SO kind! And the restaurant so kindly celebrated me and my brothers birthday. The whole experience and night could not have been better. The restaurant is elegant and dark, romantic yet lively, and truly a delicious, hearty, heartwarming restaurant! read more

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I had such a hard time getting a reservation here! I think they have more availability during lunch, but the dinner reservations are so hard to grab. I went on a Thursday night, and the place was absolutely packed. The front feels more like a bar/casual area, while the dining room is tucked toward the back. My reservation was at 10:15 PM, so I actually had a light dinner beforehand and ordered a little lighter than I normally would. I got: - Truffle Monkey Bread ($34.99) - Prime Rib French Dip ($39.99) - Pommes Frites ($13.99) - Banana Split Sundae ($24.99) I thought the prices were definitely on the higher end when I first sat down, but the Truffle Monkey Bread is divine! Honestly, it's probably in my top 3 bread experiences of my life. If you love truffle, butter, cheese, and basically everything good in life, please get this. It comes out slightly warm and is just incredible. I will probably dream about this bread. The French Dip was good, although it was a little too salty for me. If I get the chance to come back, I'd probably try one of their actual steaks instead. The pommes frites were super crispy, basically McDonald's fries but elevated. The Banana Split Sundae was so pretty. I loved how they placed all the little treats around the crevices/imprints of the dish (not sure how else to describe it ). It's huge, though, so definitely don't expect to finish it yourself. I'd recommend sharing it with 3+ people. I was also celebrating an anniversary, and they brought out a strawberry scoop for us. It tasted homemade and really fresh. I could actually see pieces of strawberry in it, which I loved. The restaurant is definitely on the pricier side, and getting a dinner reservation can be a struggle, but I'd absolutely go again if I got the chance. The decor is cozy and upscale, the food was excellent, and the whole place has a really nice atmosphere. My only real complaint was that our waitress kept pushing us to order more, which got a little annoying, especially since we had already ordered quite a bit. Overall: expensive + difficult reservation, but absolutely worth trying. And please get the truffle monkey bread. read more

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My friend got a reservation here and we had a great experience. One thing to note is they have an answering system and my group was starting to call to add one more to the reservation and ended up realizing we needed to leave a message. I was called back and the person who called me was very nice and was happy to make this change for us. Overall, the vibes of the restaurant were great I can totally see why it's hard to get a resy here! Service was excellent. First of all we were a bit late due to traffic and weather but the staff was really understanding! Next, our waiter accidentally put in 2 pastas instead of a burger we ordered but had that fixed immediately and took it off our tab which was a super nice surprise. We got a couple things to share and everything was delicious! The monkey bread was totally worth the hype! Steak was cooked perfectly and the pasta was delicious. Also got a couple drinks! Would totally come back here again. read more

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We finally managed to get a Reservation on my birthday August 16.. we were treated very kindly by the whole team (our waiter disappeared after we received our mains But the runners & a very sweet young lady still were so attentive) The space is a gorg vibe !! it was obviously filled, but you didn't feel like the tables next to you, were on top of you, which was great.. We basically ordered everything on the Menu .. & wow It was everything & more !! Bone In Ribeye was so flavorful & decadent The mushrooms were the star.. literally bites of heaven The Monkey Bread is a must The Cesar Salad & The creamed Spinach were the perfect iterations of the two dishes The Mac & Cheese .. so good The prime dip was good But def not the main event w everything else that touched the table The fries were the only item that lacked luster The carrot Cake was my fav I've ever had & the strawberry ice cream was so fresh & delicious Can't wait to b back read more

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Finally got to try Monkey Bar and I definitely understand why reservations here can be hard to get. The whole restaurant has such a fun old-school NYC feel and it was packed when we went. We were running a little late getting there because of traffic, but they were really nice about it which I appreciated. We ordered a bunch of things for the table so we could try a little bit of everything. The monkey bread was probably my favorite and definitely worth ordering. We also got the steak which was cooked perfectly, along with pasta and a burger. There was a small mix-up with our order and they accidentally brought out an extra pasta, but our server fixed it right away and took care of it without us even having to ask. Service throughout dinner was honestly great. We also tried a couple drinks and ended up staying for a while because we liked the atmosphere so much. It's definitely more of a special dinner spot than somewhere I'd casually stop into, but between the food, service and overall vibe I'd happily come back. Such a good dinner in NYC! read more

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The food was AMAZING. We had a reservation so we didn't have to wait but the service is very attentive and the food came out in a timely matter. The ambiance of the place is so nice and cozy, definitely recommend! Our favorite dish was the roasted chicken! The portions are super generous as well and two people can easily share! Would totally come again read more

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The Truffle Monkey Bread (9/10) was easily the best thing we ordered. It had a crispy honey-glazed crust, plenty of truffle, and an amazing truffle butter on the side. The Thick Cut Bacon (8.5/10) was sweet, crunchy, and cooked perfectly. The Wagyu Cheeseburger (7.5/10) tasted good, but the bun was too dry, dense, and oversized for the burger. The King Crab Rangoon (8/10) was packed with crab, almost too much for my taste, but the sweet chili and hot mustard sauces balanced it out nicely. The Espresso Martini (6/10) was a pretty standard espresso martini. The Long Island Cold Brew (3/10) tasted like cold brew mixed with vodka, which just wasn't for me. Service was fine overall (7/10). The highlight was the complimentary sorbet they brought out for my friend's birthday. The vibes were classic Hogsalt with dim lighting, old-school jazz, and a cozy atmosphere (7/10). read more

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One of the best parts of exploring New York is following local recommendations, so after chatting with the bartender at 53, my husband and I decided to stop into Monkey Bar for a drink and a bite. It wasn't at all what I was expecting--in the best way. The space has a classic old New York feel with a dark, timeless atmosphere that immediately transports you to another era. It felt like the kind of place that's been quietly doing things well for decades. The service was exceptional from the moment we walked in. Everyone was warm, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome. Since Monkey Bar is known for its martinis, ordering one was an easy decision, and it didn't disappoint. We also shared the monkey bread, which absolutely hit the spot after a long day of walking around the city. It ended up being the perfect pit stop before heading to our next destination. Sometimes the places you stumble into on a recommendation end up being the ones you remember most, and Monkey Bar was definitely one of those for us. read more

Monkey Bar - American Near Me - New York, New York

We arrived late on a Sunday night w/o a reservation and the waitlist was closed so we stood behind 2 people at the bar and just held out until they were done. The bar is pretty small so I wouldn't recommend this unless you get there early. We had the monkey bread (worth every penny) and split a french dip. Espresso martinis are perfect. We found out at the end of our meal that MB is owned by Hogsalt who also owns our favorite Chicago restaurant Bavette's so no surprise how popular it is! read more

Monkey Bar - Monkey Bread with truffle butter - American Near Me - New York, New York

Woke up at 5:55 AM PST in order to make this reservation... but overall glad I was able to. The pull apart truffle monkey bread was our initial reason for coming, and although the price point was quite steep, I would say it's worth the try. The bread was fluffy and not dry, which I had seen previous reviews say before. Paired with the creamy truffle butter, it had a luxurious mouthfeel. My favorite was the pork chop (cognac, sweet prunes, bacon, rosemary) -- the sweet and soft texture of the prune was melted in my mouth like fat, and the pork was tender, with the rosemary also coming through. The vodka rigatoni was a skip, somewhat bland and one-note, we ended up putting some of the truffle butter and garlic aioli from the fries to make it more flavorful. This was especially in contrast with the spicy shrimp pasta which was much tastier. Also got the strawberry vacherin (strawberry ice cream, meringue, vanilla whipped cream), it was my first time having this dessert. The tartness of the strawberry was great with the fluffy meringue and the sweet ice cream. Service was extremely attentive, and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with moody lighting. Although the space was packed, it didn't feel too loud or crowded. We spent about two hours and didn't feel rushed. read more

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We'd been planning to visit Monkey Bar (60 E 54 St) for many years and finally got there to celebrate my wife's birthday. The atmosphere here is so old-school New York, very charming and much bigger than you think from the outside. Wonderful, muted lighting and a lot of buzz from the crowd (it's always crowded - reservations are highly recommended!) Once seated, our server Eleni - a bubbling bundle of positive energy - welcomed us and guided us through the menu. We started with their French martini and Hugo Spritz - very well-crafted and delicious. The baked crab cakes appetizer were brimming with blue crab meat and came with a remoulade that was a nice, tangy accompaniment. We ordered ribeye steak frites and honey peppered King salmon. The steak came pre-sliced and was cooked perfectly medium rare and came with some of the best frites I've had in a long time - hot & lightly crispy. The salmon was cooked in brown butter and was super flavorful. For dessert, we ordered the Strawberry Vacherin (strawberry ice cream, meringue, vanilla whipped cream) which was as beautiful as it was a decadent & delicious. Eleni masterfully timed our courses throughout the meal and made us feel special despite having so many tables to take care of. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and look forward to exploring more of their menu next time! Many who come for lunch rave about their double cheeseburger so I have check that out! read more

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Getting a reservation here is very hard. One just popped up in my Resy app for lunch though, so I went for it. It was my first time here although, it has been around for ages. The front part where you first walk in is the bar area with some tables. This restaurant is on the darker side and brings you back in time. Once you walk in further that is where the main dinning room is. This is also on the darker side as you can maybe tell by my photos. The wall paper and art around the restaurant is cool and there are some monkey statues around the restaurant. I was seated in a corner table in a booth area that seemed to be for at least 2-3 people. I thought for sure they would seat me at the bar area. I had a wonderful waitress whose name I think was Taylor but I could be wrong. I ordered the Monkey bread to start off with. It's a very buttery bread with truffle and parm cheese on top. I have alot of allergies and I was searching online if I could even have truffles as I have a nut allergy. So, I asked the waitress and she said she had never heard this. But, she came back to me and told me that White truffle grows near or like over where Almonds grow from but that, they don't use white truffle so I was all good. Well, this was super nice of her to check for me. I had no idea she was going to do this. She said the restaurant has strict protocols when it comes to food allergies. I then got for my main dish the double cheese burger with onions and pickles. To drink I had the cucumber martini. WOW everything was pretty darn good!! I passed on dessert. If you get a chance or a reservation pops up in your resy to go, even if it is for lunch..I highly say go for it. read more

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Everything was delicious, good service. Went right after checking into our hotel, we were lucky to snag a reservation read more

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Monkey Bar absolutely lives up to the hype. The old school New York ambiance is timeless, the staff was incredibly welcoming, and my server's recommendations were spot on. The French dip was easily the best I've ever had, and the carrot cake was out of this world with the perfect texture and balance of flavors. Best meal I've had all year. If you can get a reservation, don't think twice. read more

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Made a plan to reserve a table 21 days previous to when we would be in the city - and was able to spike one. There is currently construction and scaffolding in front of the place, but you'll see signage where to go at the opening of the scaffolding. We walked in, past the bar and checked in. We were seated within 5 minutes. I ordered a bourbon old-fashioned and we ordered crab rangoon as a starter. There were a lot of them and the sweet chili sauce was great. For my entree, I ordered the vodka rigatoni and a side of buttered broccoli. The vodka rigatoni was really good - liked the flavor and a decent size of pasta. The broccoli was really good for some reason to me. Also tried the truffle mac and cheese which was incredibly rich and tasted great. As a dessert, we had the chocolate pie which was dense, rich, and topped with a huge dollop of whipped topping. I really liked the atmosphere of the place, loud roaring 20s style with jazz playing. Plus I kept finding myself checking out the mural on the wall. Try it for yourself - but worth the fight to get a table. read more

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I'm here to answer your question: is Monkey Bar worth the hype? 1000000% YES. Forget trying to make a reservation - I arrived around 4 pm on a Friday to get my name on the list and we were seated around 5:30. The Cucumber Martini is one of the best martinis I've ever had - it's not too strong and has just the perfect amount of sweet and citrus. The food is equally as incredible: the Truffle Monkey Bread is an absolute must and truly blew me away. The Rigatoni Vodka is solid, and we had to pair it with some sides. The Button Mushrooms are tasty, the Creamed Spinach was unlike any spinach I've had before and is a must if you're a blue cheese lover, and the Truffle Mac - one of the best Mac & Cheeses I've had in the city. The Chocolate Cream Pie and Strawberry Meringue desserts are tasty - I do wish they had the Sticky Toffee Pudding like they do at their Chicago sister restaurant, Trivoli Tavern. Service was fantastic as well. Get in that line and get your table at Monkey Bar - you will NOT be disappointed! read more

Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 Time: 2pm Party of: 5 Meal: Boozy Lunch Reservation Made Thru: Resy about two weeks prior *Rothaus Pilsner ($14) *Affogato ($8) *Dirty Blue ($24) *Grey Goose Martini ($26) *Clase Azul Margarita ($36.95) *Espresso Martini ($24.95) *Cosmopolitan ($24.95) *Vesper ($23.95) *Paloma ($24) *Highland Park 12 year Double ($33) *Coke ($8) *Chutoro ($39.99) *Smoked Whitefish Caesar ($27.99) *Tuna & Avocado Nicoise Salad ($36.99) *Baked Crab Cake ($34.99) *Miso Glazed Black Cod ($44.99) *Ribeye Steak Fries ($55.99) *Truffle Monkey Bread ($34.99) *Broiled Asparagus ($16.99) *Sales Tax ($47.99) A friend had sent a list of hard to get reservations and Monkey Bar was on it. When I randomly checked Resy, I found a lunch opening so decided to grab it. They do charge a fee to book a table with them, so for five people, it was $11.45 +$1.02 tax = $12.47. This is not applied towards your bill and I assume just a fee for using Resy. The vibe is very, dare I say Mad Men? Dark dim lighting, big booths, white tablecloths. We read the monkey bread was a must order so of course we had to try it. I adored the decadent fluffy truffle, cheese, bread combo, but I wasn't a huge fan of the sweetness. It was nice to try tho. I was pescatarian at the time, so didn't try the steak. But everyone seemed to enjoy it. Cocktails are a must. Our party enjoyed a nice variety. They are definitely pricey, but we were on vacation so it was go big or go home. Lol! Our server was great. Friendly and attentive. A fun spot for a boozy lunch. I just wish they didn't charge a fee for rezzies. Seems kinda nickel and dimey. REVIEW #4011 read more

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One of my favorite restaurants, been here countless times and they always deliver. Sandwiches, porterhouse, pasta, all hit the mark. Service is always phenomenal and their ambiance is perfect for any occasion. read more

Overall, loved the ambiance inside and the service was decent. I thought the food was honestly a little underwhelming. The burger & prime rib sandwich were standard for Hogsalt restaurants, though the burger was a little more dry than their other spots. The monkey bread was decent, but I didn't think it was that amazing to warrant the price. Plus, I had just eaten a much better scallion milk bread dish at Mister Jiu's in SF. read more

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This was an all around 5 star experience,. It is so chic and moody inside. Our server was super sweet and helpful. I asked for a mocktail similar to a regular martini on their menu and the bartender came through with a delicious drink! We started with the famous truffle bread, which definitely lived up to the hype, as well as the wedge salad, which might have been the best bite of the meal. The thick cut bacon and dill added a delicious twist to this classic. Then we shared the meatballs and the truffle Mac and cheese. The meatballs were great and I will be dreaming about the Mac and cheese. read more

Monkey Bar - Truffle Monkey Bread and Wedge Salad Cucumber mocktail and dirty martini - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Monkey Bar became one of my favorite Midtown restaurants because its modern history ran almost perfectly alongside my years in New York. I arrived in 2008 with very little, and when Graydon Carter revived the restaurant in 2009, I was beginning a rise of my own, first at a large global bank and then, to my astonishment, at one of the city's most powerful investment firms. The suits were daily, the walls were gold, and the pressure was so consuming that even success could feel like a form of attrition. After a few years, I moved to a smaller firm with Southern roots, where the culture was more humane, the work gave me greater autonomy, and I produced some of the strongest results of my career, even within an industry still governed by fear, greed, and status. Inside, the red booths, low lighting, generous spacing, and hand-painted monkey murals made lunch feel ceremonial without becoming stiff. The room was timeless and handsome, with polished service, quality food, and the subtle assurance of a place where you could be proud to bring someone important. I especially remember sitting in one of those booths with two mentors, each only a few years older than I was and therefore close enough in vintage to feel relatable, trustworthy, and genuinely within reach. One had entered my life after I left the larger firm and helped me understand an earlier chapter that had also ended abruptly and, at the time, felt deeply unfair; the other had guided me through the smaller firm where I finally found a more sustainable way to work. Over that long lunch, I introduced them, we discussed several promising ideas, and for a moment my career seemed to have reached the point where relationships, experience, and opportunity were finally converging. One of those ideas consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and energy, and I believed it might become the foundation of my next chapter. Instead, the arrangement eventually turned on me, the role I thought I had earned never materialized, and the business itself sputtered. My professional life, financial footing, and pride all collapsed just as COVID was beginning. Then Monkey Bar closed in 2020, which made the ending feel almost unnervingly complete: the restaurant, the city, and the version of myself built around New York finance all went dark at once. For years, I experienced that ending as devastating and unfair; now I can see it as wisdom delivered through an unnecessarily rough process. The restaurant's later revival by a Chicago hospitality group feels fitting because it still honors tradition and ceremony while allowing the old forms to evolve into something healthier, looser, and more current. I have not been back since that lunch, but a return now would feel like visiting the museum of my past, not reclaiming a life that asked too much, gave too little, and finally lost its hold on me. Even now, I remember Monkey Bar as a great Midtown lunch in a memorable room, surrounded by the residue of old ambitions and the gratitude of having survived them. The cocktails were sharp, the service was impeccable, and the dining room carried that glamorous old New York energy without feeling trapped by it. I remain deeply fond of the place, partly for what it was and partly for what it witnessed. Some restaurants become attached to a chapter of your life, and Monkey Bar holds mine with unusual grace. read more

From the moment we sat down, the service set the tone for the entire experience. Our server was incredibly warm, upbeat, and full of energy--one of those people who genuinely elevates a meal. I only wish I could remember her name because she deserves the recognition. We started with drinks, and mine ended up being a surprise standout. I ordered the coconut margarita, slightly hesitant since I'm not usually a margarita fan--but it completely won me over. It struck a perfect balance and leaned just enough into the coconut to make it feel unique without being overpowering. My sister-in-law, who's pregnant, had a non-alcoholic Ritual margarita and loved it, noting how convincingly it mimicked the real thing. Since we were sharing, we got to try a good mix of the menu. The monkey bread came first--definitely a splurge at $34, but it's one of those fun, indulgent starters that's worth ordering at least once. While I wouldn't call it the best bread I've ever had, I also wouldn't change anything about it. The crab rangoon was another highlight. Having it made with real crab made a noticeable difference, and the dipping sauces complemented it really well. It felt like a more elevated take on something familiar. For mains, the French dip was a hit. The meat was incredibly tender, the bread had that ideal crusty exterior, and the au jus was packed with flavor--I was very glad I ordered extra. It pulled the whole dish together. We also tried the smoked whitefish Caesar, which was the only dish that didn't quite land for me. It was a well-made, fresh salad, but the smoked fish flavor was a bit overpowering and took over the balance of the dish. Even though we were too full for dessert, the restaurant surprised us with a scoop of strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce to celebrate my sister-in-law's babymoon. It ended up being one of the most memorable bites of the meal--we're still talking about how good that ice cream was. We arrived right at 11:45, and by the time we left, the place was absolutely buzzing. It's clearly a popular spot, and for good reason. Between the lively atmosphere, strong service, and well-executed food, I'd highly recommend making a reservation if you can. read more

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Totally worth the hype for the truffle bread alone. The vibes are so NYC and we just had the best time. They do a dirty martini right. Although the reservations are hard to get this spot is totally worth it! read more

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I have had the pleasure of dining here twice now. I understand why people flock here. The food is very, very good, staff is very very kind, and the interior design is very aesthetically pleasing. The downside is that it is tough to get reservations but if you aren't in a rush, you can put your name down, get a drink while waiting and stalk the bar. This method has worked out both times. So far I have tried the following dishes which I love equally and honestly cannot bring myself to rank in an order: - truffle monkey bread - shrimp pasta - lobster pasta - lemon meringue - chocolate cake (not pictured, demolished before I got a chance) I look forward to many more visits here, especially to try the burger and the martinis! read more

Came here for a business lunch. The monkey bread with truffle infused butter was delicious. I got the wagyu burger and the smash burger texture was divine! Atmosphere is so unique in there - It's so dark and dreamy inside. Our waiters were very attentive and gave us incredible recommendations. read more

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Great find in the hustle and bustle of the city which you would have no idea it was here unless you were searching for it. Maybe that's the point given how exclusive it felt as soon as we walked in. Not mad about it. We stopped in for lunch without a reservation right as they opened at 11:45am, brave I know. Which is why I highly suggest having a reservation for certainty. The bar and high tops are up for grabs without one but peace of mind is better than not. Ambiance is dark giving off members only vibes. The service is top notch. Very attentive and very on top of their game. Almost at all times. Food was also spot on. Started with the tuna belly tartare which was light and fresh and the toast was buttery with the perfect amount of crisp. Accompanied each other beautifully. The cheeseburger was juicy. Very juicy. And flavorful. Come to find out these are the same owners behind Au Cheval in Chicago who is known for their burgers so this checks out. I would come back for the Caesar salad and a couple other standouts. Overall, wonderful visit. Can't say enough about the service. They reassured we were completely finished with our appetizer before bringing our entrées out. Worth the splurge. read more

Interesting place, good good, great location and experience... coming back for sure when in in the area

Walking into Monkey Bar had me feeling like I was pulling up to the Great Gatsby's crib. I felt like Owen Wilson traveling through time in Midnight in Paris, as I stood at the top of the staircase over-looking the Art Deco themed dining room. It just felt like somewhere I was not supposed to be. I had to lock in though, as I was really just here to review the burger. I can't let the pretty murals and quintessential 1920s ambiance throw me off. The double cheeseburger ran $38.99 if you add the recommended bacon, and weighed in at 12.5 oz which puts it in the 60th percentile of burger weight. I hate to be the guy complaining about price all the time, but $13.99 for 8.6 oz of fries is just so crazy to me. The Ribeye Steak Frites was only $3 more than a burger and fries. While my hopes were high, the burger was a miss for me. Maybe it was just an off day, but the patties tasted plain and they lacked that punchy, beef forward flavor that is standard for the greats. 6.5/10 for me. Michael Beasely comes to mind. All the tools to be great, but just could never really put it together. However, the rest of the food, the ambiance, and the service were PHENOMENAL. I've never shook off a miss better. Anytime my water thought about being below halfway empty, they filled it. Crumbs were brushed between courses, and our server, Nelson, had me feeling like a lifelong friend by the end of the meal. He even recommended a burger spot in Virginia Beach that he said could top Red Hook. Carrot cake went CRAZY too. I couldn't wrap this review up without shouting out that carrot cake. At this point, if I was visiting New York for a weekend and could only do one nice dinner, it would be Monkey Bar. I'd just get the steak frites. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo read more

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Katie Laura Monkey Bar is an experience. A challenging, wannabe exclusive experience. The hostess, Laura, is insensitive and can use more training in regard to being a host. When I arrived, I asked to be placed on the wait list (knowing it would be 2 hours... even for one person). She was cold and didn't even look at me when talking. We I arrived back for my walk in reservation, I went to check in and instead of speaking with me she ignored me to help the person behind me. I've already left a review with the restaurant and the team reached out with apologies. I hope she will be trained better. My waitress Katie, however, was an absolute gem. Friendly, engaging, and helpful. Food wise I had the truffle monkey bread - overrated. It's just sweet bread without the truffle butter. Now that butter is the star! The regular cheeseburger is to die for and the truffle mac is explosive! Skip the bread. The cosmo was delicious. This place knows what it's doing with food. Walk ins are seated at the front bar area it seems. The actual restaurant is pretty.. if you get a chance to see it at all. read more

Monkey Bar - Double Cheeseburger and Truffle Mac & Cheese - American Near Me - New York, New York

Wow. How is it I've not been here before? Other than getting lucky with snagging a lunch time reservation, it is otherwise quite challenging getting a reservation. The place is sort of hidden on 54th St, especially with the scaffolding. Once you are in - you are in for a treat. The place is huge with great settings We were nicely seated in a booth and got ordering straight away as I had a time crunch. Started with the monkey bread which was 5* - 100% worth ordering. We then individually ordered our own mains - I went with the regular cheeseburger whist others ordered the French dip. Really good food with great service. Everyone had an amazing time. My only complaint is it's so hard to get a reservation! read more

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One of the hardest reservations to get in the city for good reason. Incredible martinis and such a stunning vibe from the painted walls to the zebra carpets. Definitely try to go if you have the opportunity! read more

Monkey Bar - American Near Me - New York, New York

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What a fun environment. It's super dark as you walk inside, there are lamps on the tables with orange/red shades. The lighting is very dim and there are sconces on the walls that highlight a few murals of, wait for it... monkeys! It was so crowded on a Friday around 3pm, that we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. I ordered a burger, super juicy and well flavored, but the meat was cooked rare. Darn! I didn't think to make a meat temp request. The fries were very good and they had plenty of bartenders working to minimize the wait time. I think I'll come back and try their Monkey bread as I heard it was the thing to order. read more

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Great service from waitstaff all around! We arrived 15 minutes late to our reservation and they were kind enough to extend our 2 hour seating to reflect the arrival time. We were frequently checked up on with smiling faces and food came out with perfect timing to accommodate conversation and flow for our allotted time. The monkey bread is an absolute must get. It is sweet, savory and indulgent with its freshly grated truffle. Even though my husband and I were stuffed from their family style portions, we did not leave a single bread crumb behind. We also ordered the 16 oz dry aged new York strip and found it to be a perfect medium rare. The steak was juicy and bearnais sauce oddly reminded us of pho which we loved since it was our first time having it. We had to order the wagyu cheeseburger since we knew they were under the same hospitality group as 4 Charles & au cheval and it didn't disappoint. I haven't tried 4 Charles yet but so far the rankings are monkey bar is +1 over au cheval. The butter lettuce salad fell short for its steep price tag and would not order again. Our chu toro starter was nice and refreshing to a rather heavy meal. If you're able to come with a big group, would definitely recommend doing so though rezzies are so hard to come by! read more

Monkey Bar - Truffle Monkey Bread - American Near Me - New York, New York

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The place is super cute. Def a date night place that is romantic in my opinion. I think I panic ordered - I was letting other past and future reservations play into what I wanted to order here so I got salmon. Which I love, dont get me wrong. But, that mac and cheese couldve done me over by itsself. As well as the crab rangoon. The chocolate pie was good to share as well. I would like to comeback and try something else another time. Looked like they had a good amount of variety here - between steak, italian etc. I only hated how when I was seated, I had to scoot in the small opening and then plop down on a couch. Shoulvde just moved the table myself - its always a gamble doing this. I popped some guys menu with my backside as I was scooting in. read more

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Monkey Bar absolutely lived up to the hype. The drinks were STRONG in the best way possible, the kind where you actually taste the liquor without losing the flavor. The truffle monkey bread was to die for..the truffle flavor was rich and noticeable without being overpowering. But the real star of the night was the ribeye steak frites. I genuinely don't think I've ever had a steak melt in my mouth the way this one did. The second it touched my tongue, it basically turned to water. Perfectly cooked, insanely tender, and worth every bite. Definitely one of my favorite meals in NYC. read more

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Monkey Bar is another one of those hot reservations that's difficult to get, and luckily my husband got one. He described it as, whenever you see an opening, you just get so panicked, and just book it right away without thinking. There are 2 different areas of the restaurant you can book - the Bar, or the Dining Room. He had gotten the Dining Room for one reservation, then cancelled it, then booked another one for the Bar, which we ate at today. The Bar is obviously more casual, but still cute. The Dining room looked quite nice, I wish we had a chance to eat there, since it was more brightly lit, and had more of the cute 1940s vibe. But I really loved my experience overall at Monkey Bar! They open at 11:45am for lunch, and the line started forming at 11:15am or so. However, they great thing was that they actually opened their doors and started seating people around 11:35 am or so! So if you are walking in (they do take walk ins at the bar), definitely show up at 11:15 or so. All those people (there weren't many, maybe like 8 people total) were seated right away. FYI you won't get to sit in the cute, comfortable booth without a reservation. So try to get a reso. This was our last meal in NYC before hopping on a flight, so we definitely did our research in what we wanted to order prior to coming. Smoked Fish Cesar Salad - this was great. Nice smoky/saltiness to the fish, great slight lemon citrus flavor, romaine greens were well dressed, and the crouton crunch was potato chips. I feel like the potato chips were a little too 2-dimensional for my taste, would have preferred crouton cubes, if that makes sense. But overall, a good salad. Double Cheeseburger - So this is the same restaurant group as Au Cheval in Chicago, which we did eat at a few years ago. I was worried that the cheeseburger would taste the same as the Au Cheval one - but NO! They tasted different!!! (in a good way, because I thought the Au Cheval one was too rich). The beef in the Monkey Bar Double Cheseburger was nice, salty and flavorful. The cheese served as a good rich layer, but really understanding its boundary in the richness. This was a French style (i.e. a burger that doesn't come with the fixings like lettuce or tomato - but did include the grilled onions, and the pickle). This was fantastic!!! I am glad that my husband and I shared it though, as it's just fun to try different dishes. We also ordered the 22 oz Dry Aged Bone-in Ribeye steak - this was also really great. You could taste the flavor of the beef with the dry-age. I personally would have preferred slices that were thinner, but overall the meat was fantastic and I'm glad we ordered it. Fatty and flavorful. For sides, we got the Pomme Frites, and the Broiled asparagus to get some greens in. The fries were good, not the best I ever had, but definitely really good for the occasion. Broiled asparagus also good, not my favorite, but mostly ordered to be "healthy." We also we ordered the Crab Cakes. They were huge, they were delicious, they were nice and sweet. We couldn't finish it. But we were so glad we tried it!! Looking back, if we could change our order, we would have added the crab cake to the Cesar Salad as an add on (which is an option). That way we could've tried more items without stuffing ourselves. Lastly dessert...we got the chocolate pie with the whipped cream. This dish, described by our watier, is an iconic dessert that is the only item sold at all of their restaurants. Interesting. It was FANTASTIC. Very decadent, not too rich, silky, dense, luxurious. Chocolatey, but not overboard. Just perfect. Of course, our waiter just had to top us off with a complimentary ice cream dessert, the Ameretto ice cream scoop with chocolate fudge on the side. This was also decent, not my fav, but also sweet of the waiter Sergio to give us an on-the-house treat. Service was great. The wine did take a little bit of time to come - we had received our salad already, and it hadn't arrived yet. We asked about it, and Sergio came a few mins later with the wine, and also an extra pour - huge glass. It was very nice of him to do that! In general, Sergio was a really nice waiter, seemed to love his job, and treat customers well. He said people try to slip him extra cash all the time to skip the wait at Monkey Bar, but he refuses, says people wait in line for sometimes up to 4 hours. He's got good integrity, and I appreciate servers like that. My husband and I had a wonderful time at Monkey Bar. It's hard to compare to Au Cheval, Peter Luger, or other steakhouses, but I will say we thoroughly enjoyed our experience here, and that's all that really matters! read more

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