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

The truffle monkey bread while a total carb and calorie bomb was delicious and left a lasting impression. It featured a crispy, sugar-glazed exterior and a soft, chewy interior, topped with truffle cheese and served with a truffle butter dip; the pairing was superb, and it tasted great both on its own and with the dip. For the main course, I ordered the miso-glazed black cod. The flavor was flawless, and while the portion was small (which was acceptable), the pool of broth accompanying it was completely unnecessary; it was inedibly salty, so what was the point of serving it? After finishing the fish, I was left with a plate full of broth, rendering the plate unusable. Plus, it was overpriced; for this dish, you're better off going to Strip House Strip House remains the undisputed king of this dish in New York. A friend ordered the chicken parmesan. It was just average. Another friend ordered the short rib stroganoff. The flavor was decent, but it was far too rich and heavy. As someone whose palate is split 50/50 between Western and Chinese cuisine, I could manage only five bites at most. If you have a palate that prefers 100% Chinese food, proceed with caution on this dish. Friends ordered sides of mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. These are dishes originally meant for low-income Americans to fill up on cheaply; there's no limit to how good they can be, but also no floor to how bad they can get. Both were on par with the average quality found in upscale restaurants. Honestly, these are two dishes I would never order myself. To sum up: the atmosphere was great. It's also hard to get a reservation; the place was packed when we had lunch at 2 PM. Aside from that monkey bread, I didn't feel like anything else justified the price or offered something you couldn't find elsewhere. I don't quite get the hype. Perhaps I just didn't order the right dishes; maybe next time I'll try the burger and the steak. 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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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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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

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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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

Monkey bar is such a fun spot from the aesthetic and vibes inside to the food. It's an overall 10/10 experience we had to get the truffle monkey bread, which was insane. It was so soft and filled with truffle cheese and just melted in your mouth. We also tried the shrimp pasta and both of the burgers. Everything was delicious. I definitely would recommend the spot to anyone read more

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

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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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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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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Had Memorial Day lunch for my brother in laws birthday. Great place food was really good. The monkey bread is to die for. I had the short rib stroganoff it was so good! Recommend the meatballs too. I had the Oaxacan Old Fashioned very good choice. Food came out quickly and very good service. Place was not loud great atmosphere. This place is definitely worth the hype. 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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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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After wanting to try Monkey Bar for YEARS, we were disappointed. Everything we ate was good, but not mind-blowing. That would be fine if it wasn't for the price. Further, the service was seriously lacking. Our water cups were often left empty for long periods, and when packing our leftovers, the staff did not include the truffle butter with our monkey bread starter, which was $35, nor did they include the horseradish cream or the au jus with our French dips, which are crucial components of that meal. After paying $350 for 2 people, this felt incredibly lazy and stingy and left a bad taste in our mouth. We expected to love Monkey Bar, but we were left disappointed by the experience. 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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Amazing vibes and food! We got a lunch reservation and I was surprised at how busy the restaurant still was. Service was a bit slow but not an issue. The waiter was really nice. I ordered the non-alcoholic ginger drink, spicy rigatoni pasta and the truffles pasta and Monkey Bread. Everything was so light and fluffy. None of the food felt heavy or greasy. Would definitely come here again! read more

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Monkey Bar is now one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city. The vibes? Immaculate. The service? Great. The food? Must go back. I went for an anniversary and wow it was such a great experience. read more

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Went to Monkey Bar at 2pm on a Saturday, where they were serving their brunch menu. They still had the dinner options, so it was a great option to try and get a slightly easier reservation. The restaurant is massive and beautiful, and all the staff were extremely friendly. We ordered the French dip, Caesar salad, and monkey bread. Everything I had was sooo exceptionally well done. The French dip was incredible, but would recommend sharing because it's huge. The Caesar salad has whitefish and potato chips, we requested the whitefish on the side and it was really well done. Lastly, the famous monkey bread was so delicious, really do not skip it. The place is pricey but they do everything beautifully. They also brought out a little dessert for my birthday. read more

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Came here last Friday night for dinner to celebrate my friend's birthday. I've been wanting to go here for a while but reservations are hard to come by. Luckily, I was able to book a last minute reservation. Sophisticated restaurant known for its classic American cuisine and upscale ambiance. This place was dimly lit, offers an old school vibe, love the iconic decor featuring monkey murals and art deco design. For cocktails, I had my usual drink, moscow mule and my friend had a French 75. We shared everything and the food was literally to die for. We had the baked crab cakes, wedge salad, ribeye steak frites, double cheeseburger, chocolate cream pie, and complimentary ice cream for her birthday. This place is timeless and is a top recommendation for those seeking a high-end dining experience in New York City. Definitely worth the hype and I look forward to coming back to try the truffle monkey bread, king crab rangoon, prime rib french dip, vodka rigatoni, and prime rib. Worth every cent! read more

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This meal was absolutely amazing and definitely lives up to the hype. The fight for the reservation was a nightmare but I'm so glad we persevered. The ambiance is sexy: dimly lit, well decorated, just a vibe. It's not too loud although you are seated pretty close to the people next to you. We started with the monkey bread. Oh. My. God. I will be dreaming of this bread for the rest of my life. I didn't think it could get better but then we dipped it in the accompanying dip. 1000/10. We got the tuna tartare and it was excellent. Light and tasty. We also got a Caesar salad. That was the weakest item. To be honest it wasn't even average it was just bad - something tasted completely off with it? For our entree we split the wagyu burger and got the truffle Mac and cheese and the mushrooms. Every single thing was amazing. I'm not even a huge fan of Mac and cheese but I'd have eaten a whole vat of this. Truly an amazing experience and I will fight my way for a reservation just to go back. read more

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Iconic place with just great food to match. You must and I repeat must get the monkey bread. The savory take on this bread will blow your mind. I often think about that whitefish salad and would go back for that alone. The burger was good, I am happy I tried it but I would try something different when I go back. The vibes of this place are unmatched. It feels like you are transported back in time in the best way. Service was top notch. I have only great things to say. read more

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Its best to get a reservation here, since walking can take a while. We couldnt get a reservation when they dropped, so did walk in for the bar area. The bar itself is FCFS, but the tables are reservations. We waited just over an hour for a table (party of 3) and got something else to eat, so it was just drinks and dessert here! Banana split is a great dessert choice! read more

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

Went around 2pm for a quick bite during lunch- heard so much rave about the bread how to try it out myself. With a $35 price tag I truly didn't think it'd live up to the hype but OMG IT DID. Best bread we've ever had tbh. Parm, and truffle with a truffle butter you'd think it'd be savory heaven but it actually was a culinary experience. Sweetness, crunchiness from the outside cheese, umami from the truffles, paired with the sweet truffle butter. WOW just WOW. We got the ribeye frites, as well as the clam linguine and honestly our ribeye was way over cooked, and the pasta sauce was very very tangy almost vinegar like. I told my co worker after eating the bread that I truly didn't think anything could top that off the first bite and sure enough..... Hostess was super nice and friendly, server was nice but honestly service wasn't the best. She came to our table twice, and didn't ask how the food was. Which is ok, she seemed busy and we're not SUPER PARTICULAR. Took a while for the check, but overall will definitely be back. Next time we'll order drinks and the bread- call it a day! read more

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Was able to snag lunch reservations at 12:15p the night before! Walked in and was seated right away. Our waiter (Lanny) was very attentive and efficient! Love the vibes overall- dimly lit with Great Wall art. Ordered the Truffle Monkey Bread which was absolutely divine! Also shared shrimp cocktail, shrimp scampi and the slow roasted wagyu meatballs. Everything fresh and delicious! Highly recommend! read more

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Definitely need a reservation here. Recommend getting coat check since the space could be a little crammed. Tuna nicoise salad: tasty and refreshing, although not a must-do Crab rangoon: not bad but wouldn't get this again Monkey bread: the must-get here - I didn't think the amount of butter that came with it was necessary but worth a slight swipe or 2. Wagyu cheeseburger: this was good but perhaps I'm on burger overload and didn't stand out so much to me Truffle fries: comes with actual truffles rather than truffle oil. Companions enjoyed it but not to my liking. Chocolate cake: More of a mousse cake since there aren't any layers of bread but the ore crust gives it the textural balance it needs. The dark chocolate flavor is great without being too sweet. They also provided ice cream for a birthday celebration, which was a nice gesture! read more

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The monkey truffle bread is the best thing I've ever had!!! The service is amazing they are attentive and super nice even if you walk in. It was Monday so we got lucky but it was an amazing time the place is low lit and cozy. 100% recommend read more

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

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Getting a table isn't easy.... on resy refreshing as the clock hit top of the hour and within seconds all the reservations were gone. Dont hesitate because it'll be gone. But, the charm of the restaurant feels magical like the Rat Pack will walk in at any moment. And, the food held up to the hype. We love steak but wanted to try some other staples. For apps, crab rangoon had a good amount. I think they were good but honestly underwhelming especially the cost for them. But, we ordered the wedge and it was awesome. We shared it and had a great dressing. For dinner, we go the French dip and wagyu cheeseburger. Both were soooo tender, juicy and flavor full. For sides, mash and Mac. The mash was good but we didnt need it. We were so full after the two sandwiches and aweeeesome Mac. read more

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This is another TikTok find. We planned for this visit for months and knew what we wanted before even boarding our flight. We came for the Monkey Bread which while expensive is probably the best truffle item I have ever had. Overall my wife and I enjoyed the potato pancakes and the avocado toast. Bot of these items were very good. I do feel though that the hash browns would actually make an even better potato pancake. Overall the food was very good. My daughter didn't care for her breakfast eggs or the toast too much but the rest of us really liked our food. The eggs were supposed to be soft scrambled eggs but these eggs were very wet. So you might want to ask if they can cook them more. Our server was one of the friendliest we have encountered in NY and the ambiance is very nice. There is some construction in front of the place so you could miss it if you are not careful! read more

The ambiance at the monkey bar was unparalleled. You walk in and are immediately immersed in the mid century vibe. Service was excellent; attentive, helpful, and the kitchen timed our courses perfectly. Cocktails were delicious. The favorite amongst our group was the coconut margarita. And of course... When dining at the Monkey Bar you must order the Monkey Bread. It was fluffy, delicious, and addictive. I couldn't get enough! Next time I might order two for myself as a meal. read more

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