Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Blue Monkey

    3.5 (118 reviews)
    ModerateBars, New American
    Open 10:30 am - 11:00 pm

    The Blue Monkey Photos

    Business Info

    THE BLUE MONKEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Blue Monkey

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Seafood chowder

    Delicious food and friendly service. Best seafood bisque ever!! I need the recipe since I'm from the west coast.

    IPA beer.
    Ryan J.

    Didn't have any food, but had drinks. Definitely try the Zippin Pippin and Siren. Sat outside, great environment. Staff and manager were very friendly.

    Local brew-Wiseacre - Gotta get Up To Get Down

    See all

    Photo of Kelly W.
    18
    30
    127

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kesha D.
    206
    30
    59

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J B.
    13
    294
    35

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Taurin H.
    335
    23
    45

    11 years ago

    Great drinks at a good price. Friendly staff and above average bar food. Great place!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken R.
    22
    58
    110

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Really cool place. Didn't eat so no food review. They do allow smoking if that's an issue for you.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of DEBE S.
    37
    122
    4

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Great beer selection! The spicy Bloody Mary was excellent! Just had the hot wing rolls as a appetizer and they were very tasty.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L E.
    1
    18
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Monkey chips are incredible! Blue cheese lovers rejoice!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason P.
    193
    31
    30

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark M.
    0
    58
    29

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Decent southern food. Solid po'boys. The buffalo chicken eggrolls were good. The service was very pleasant and quick to refill drinks.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M F.
    0
    3
    0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Blue Monkey

    You might also consider

    McEwen's Memphis - new signage

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4(658 reviews)
    0.9 miDowntown
    $$

    Service was excellent, food was fantastic. I had a cup of loaded potato soup, and I could not…read moreshovel it into my mouth fast enough. Also had the Tuna and jungle of greens, friend had the Salmon, and both were great. It is placed in a cool older building, with a nice selection at the bar.

    This place was very interesting to me. The look and vibe of it was very nice. It is a more upscale…read morerestaurant which is always nice for a special evening out. The food however was honestly meh (in my opinion). I got a creole dish and to be fair my dish looked beautiful. The plating was 10/10 but the taste for me left something to be desired. After eating this dish I questioned if I even like creole sauce because it really just wasn't that good. If this is a preference issue, I honestly don't know. I also thought the charcuterie appetizer had a weird mix of items on it from club crackers, to meat and cheese, and random veggies. Not bad but just kind of a weird mix. My husband ordered the salmon and he said it was good, not the best he's had but it was good. Other friends of ours got the white fish among the many other dishes. I did have a salad with these apples on it which was incredibly yummy. I will say though my dish looked amazing some of the other dishes were not plated well. Not to nitpick but to want to be considered a more upscale restaurant which means charging guest more money than say a local Applebee's then knowing how to appropriately garnish or drizzle sauce to elevate at plate is important (see my picture of the chicken dish). All and all not my favorite restaurant but definitely not the worst!!

    Photos
    McEwen's Memphis
    McEwen's Memphis - Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!

    Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!

    McEwen's Memphis - Complimentary biscuit

    See all

    Complimentary biscuit

    Magnolia & May - Shrimp & Grits  @phidingthefam

    Magnolia & May

    4.1(125 reviews)
    9.5 miEastgate

    Our girls group of 8 went here for our monthly lunch. I have learned a hard way pleasing eight…read morewomen at different lunch place. Every time is a quest and I scored on all counts with Magnolia and May! Typically, we eat at a different place every month to "test the market." But it was unanimous that we come back here next month. We all want to try something different as everyone thought their entrée was the best. Everyone was a bit concerned about the location and parking, but it was easy to locate and easy to park. Service with impeccable and food was fabulous. There were many varied choices for lunch so we all got something different with no complaints!! That's a win for the home team The entrees were savory, cooked to perfection and spot on. The decor was very comfortable, the lighting was perfect as were the fixtures . And now that I'm writing this, my mouth is actually watering so to treat this I'm going tonight with my husband for wine and dinner. It's a win-win!

    I have been to Monkeygrass Mayhem coffee truck twice and have loved the coffee! The first visit was…read moreat the old truck near Sea Isle Park. I went in December. My coffee was yumminess with white chocolate and espresso. I ordered it half sweet and it was well balanced. My second visit was at The Poplar Plaza shopping center. Another awesome latte! Colin and Sammy were the baristas for both visits. They were super kind and helpful. Loved the new truck decked out in pink. Will find them again in the city since their lattes are balanced between the espresso and variety of offered flavors. Great new coffee truck to return to each week!

    Photos
    Magnolia & May - Inside

    Inside

    Magnolia & May - Burger and fries-Tuesday happy hour special

    Burger and fries-Tuesday happy hour special

    Magnolia & May - Tomato and ricotta salad

    See all

    Tomato and ricotta salad

    SOB Downtown - Steak and Eggs

    SOB Downtown

    4.0(700 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
    $$

    Everything about this business is exceptional, and it's clear that great employees are the reason…read morewhy. Olivia was our server, and she went above and beyond to make our experience outstanding. From recommending food and drinks to answering our questions about Memphis, she made us feel genuinely taken care of.

    My friend made reservations for 3 of us for Sunday brunch at 11:30. Well reservations weren't…read moreneeded because we were the only people seated at a table; there was one man at the bar. We ordered 3 cocktails: Espresso Martini, Bloody Mary, and a Poinsettia. The cranberry juice wasn't available for the poinsettia and they didn't have seltzers, so my friend settled on a Prosecco. I was advised that the Bloody Mary would come with bacon. In the interim, we enjoyed munching on their signature popcorn. However, when it arrived (20 minutes later), it did not have it. I asked the server about it and the bartender quickly rectified the situation and added 3 green olives. My friend that ordered the prosecco thought it was fine. However, the friend that ordered the espresso martini was shocked by the presentation. First it was creamy white in color and the flavor was not quite right. It had an odd twang and not at all reminiscent of a typical espresso martini. My friends ordered the breakfast Mexican pizza and were pleased overall. I ordered the huevos rancheros breakfast hash and it was perfectly portioned and seasoned. Not too spicy and just the right amount of flair. Overall, the food was good, atmosphere was good, service was good, but the drinks were a bit tricky. ***I saved this over my review from over 5 years ago and it looks like we had a tricky time then too

    Photos
    SOB Downtown
    SOB Downtown - Chicken Enchilada Bowl (chicken wasn't good. Can pulled chicken perhaps)

    Chicken Enchilada Bowl (chicken wasn't good. Can pulled chicken perhaps)

    SOB Downtown - Bar area with Mimosa Bottle Service

    See all

    Bar area with Mimosa Bottle Service

    Beauty Shop Restaurant - Sesame Pecan Chicken & Waffle

    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    4.0(759 reviews)
    4.1 miCooper-Young
    $$

    5 out of 5 every time! We've been many times (however I've still not had brunch). We love it. The…read moremushroom app is so good. Everything. Can't go wrong! And the history and environment is excellent.

    Posted: 17Apr26 I've had several really enjoyable dining…read moreexperiences at The Beauty Shop over the years, which is why it was especially disappointing to have one evening in January 8, 2025 fall short--particularly with a large party of 12 celebrating together. Let me start by saying this: I truly enjoy this restaurant. The atmosphere is unique, the concept is fun, and historically the food and service have been reliable. That's exactly why this experience stood out so much. For a party of our size, we would have preferred seating toward the back of the restaurant where it was noticeably warmer and more comfortable. Instead, we were seated in an area that felt a bit chilly, which set the tone for the evening. The bigger issue, however, was with the food and service execution. Four dishes out of our party of twelve were essentially untouched. Two scallop entrées and the Steak Frites were overcooked, tough, and unfortunately inedible. The special ribeye of the night--the most expensive entrée--was also not finished. What concerned me most was that no one from the service team paused to read the table or ask why multiple plates remained full. Only one dish was removed, and there was no follow-up conversation about the others. We spent over $800 that evening, including drinks, appetizers, sides, and desserts, so expectations for attentiveness and quality were understandably higher. When a table leaves several entrées uneaten, that's usually a signal worth acknowledging. After the visit, on January 9, 2025, I took the time to provide feedback privately through OpenTable in the hope that management would review it and respond. Unfortunately, I never received any acknowledgment. Even a brief reply would have gone a long way. Silence, in this case, was disappointing and felt like a missed opportunity to demonstrate care and accountability. I'm sharing this feedback because I believe in the restaurant and want to see it succeed. I work in a customer-facing industry myself, and I know firsthand how small service touches--checking in, asking questions, and following up--can make the difference between a good experience and one that keeps guests coming back. I genuinely hope this was just an off night. I would still consider returning, but I do hope the level of attentiveness and follow-through improves.

    Photos
    Beauty Shop Restaurant
    Beauty Shop Restaurant - Steak & Eggs

    Steak & Eggs

    Beauty Shop Restaurant - Chilequiles with Carnitas

    See all

    Chilequiles with Carnitas

    Kooky Canuck - Provincial Pear Salad

    Kooky Canuck

    4.0(850 reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown
    $$
    Sports on TV
    Large group friendly

    Awesome food and service! Came for a quick lunch while on break from a meeting at the Peabody. Got…read morePoutine and the Chop Salad wanting to be sure to get my fill. My concerns of not having enough food were definitely misplaced. Either item would have been enough on its own. Portions are extremely generous. Bar service was quick and attentive as well. I requested the Cardinals game on the TV while I ate and the bartender was quick to attempt to put it on. Unfortunately, bar Kooky Canuck (as of 4/22/26) does not have the Cardinals mlb add on subscription for MLB.tv. In every other way, my experience was awesome! Just bummed I couldn't catch the day game during lunch.

    Awesome. Simply awesome. I have nothing but the best things to say about Kooky Canuck! First, the…read moreambiance of the restaurant is great- akin to the inside a cozy lodge. The food is extremely tasty (and high quality) and the staff are so friendly and helpful. The owner, Shawn, is nothing short of a gem. He's friendly, has intelligence, wit, and integrity. I really messed up by not taking pictures on this one. I've had the burgers (phenomenal, regular and smash burger style) before. This time I tried the brunch menu and had, to name a few: *Poutine *French Canadian Toast *Maple Sunrise Sandwhich *Boozy Fried Bread Pudding *Eggs Benedict All of these were delicious. Small detail, but the crispy breakfast potatoes are perfect- soft on the inside and with this immaculate crisp on the outside. Next time I will certainly be getting the Waffle Monte Cristo. I love waffles.. I love Monte Cristo sandwiches.. seems like an ideal combo. A few friends and I have been in a few times now and this past trip he took us around the city. Again, I cannot say enough incredible things about he and his restaurant. Kooky even has food challenges: a 7 lb burger, a two-person 15 lb burger, and a four-person massive 25 lb burger! I've done the 25 lber and they were able to cook that burger so perfectly! Most places would undoubtedly have had the middle undercooked. Side note: Shawn has also won the "Tennessee Restaurateur of the Year" award. Yeah, he's legit. Go here. Do it. Do not deprive yourself from greatness.

    Photos
    Kooky Canuck - Prime Rib on Weck - fresh roasted prime rib on a brioche kimmelweck roll with french fries, horseradish and au jus

    Prime Rib on Weck - fresh roasted prime rib on a brioche kimmelweck roll with french fries, horseradish and au jus

    Kooky Canuck - Butcher's Choice with blue cheese mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables.

    Butcher's Choice with blue cheese mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables.

    Kooky Canuck - Big Beautiful Que - pulled pork, kielbasa, coleslaw, bbq sauce and rub on French bread and served with French fries.

    See all

    Big Beautiful Que - pulled pork, kielbasa, coleslaw, bbq sauce and rub on French bread and served with French fries.

    Moondance Grill - Nice desert.

    Moondance Grill

    4.1(448 reviews)
    14.7 mi
    $$$

    Had a chance to have a cocktail at the bar before the members in our party arrived for our…read morereservation time. Great, friendly service and very quick. I had a perfect dirty martini and my husband had an excellent old fashioned ( chose not to do the smoked version. ) We were seated at the time of our reservation with courteous and prompt attention from our waiter. He informed us of all the specials and gave us the right amount of time to relax before ordering. The food was excellent and beautifully presented. I like the atmosphere, not too large of a dining area, I like the separate room of tables, with a fireplace, along with the area of booths for a more intimate setting. The bar itself is large and has seating on the outskirts of it as well.

    I've been here a handful of times. Most of them have been quite lovely. Out of the times I have…read moredined here, almost all have been with people from work. I do believe C and I have only been here once as a couple. It did not go well at all, so we have not been back together, as she is holding a bit of a grudge. It's a long story but it all ties back to service. That night we had the worst table in the building and service was spotty at best. Food was still pretty good, just whole ass annoyed by the entirety of the rest of the experience. I am lucky enough to be able to be taken to/host dinner with clients and manufacturers a good bit. They like places like this so I get by ever so often. Gotta love expensed meals!!! Tehehe I like the open kitchen concept they have and the bar is really cool. The metal shelves at the bar that store the booze are bad ass. It's warm and cozy and has a great vibe overall. The last time we sat on the enclosed patio. I had not sat out there before. I think the larger tables all go out there. We had seven and there was another group of about twenty in the same room with us. Food ranges from fairly good to fucking great. I've never had anything bad here, but a few sighs have been had, mostly by misunderstood expectations of what I was getting I would say. So, quite possibly I am the problem. As with most of my problems, actually... The oysters Rockefeller are very different from the norm. Fried oysters on a side of spinach. That's what it seems like. I ate it up, don't get me wrong. I did just switch to only fried oysters after the first one. No need wasting stomach space on spinach. Charbroiled oysters is always a good move and the preparation remains traditional on that one. I do find the oysters to be quite massive and hard to chew the whole thing at once. Cutting them just seems silly though. Steaks are prepared very well and to your liking each time. I have never had a bad one. Good flavor too. I am going to spring on the Hawaiian Ribeye the next time I go on my dime. It's a classic that I remember from Steak and Ale as well as Houston's. Both now gone from Memphis. I like the she crab soup an awful lot, and just about every entree I have had here is killer. You really cannot go wrong with the food. Just order something you normally like and boom. I will also say this. The short ribs I had last time were some of the best I have ever had. Bravo on that! Additionally, I had two giant pieces for like $40! I could only eat one of them after all of the appetizers. Oh.... Yea. They have a hot lobster roll that is good! You don't see that in Memphis very often!! Get you some. Wait.... Lamb Lollipops. They have evolved some of the years but they have really good lamb chops. They used to be the exact same dish as their sister concepts of Itta Bena, BB Kings, and Lafayette's. I am not sure if the whole family still has the old version or not. Here it has changed a good bit. As I write this, I crave it.... Ugh. Damn your foods and your seductive prowess food skills! Lastly, Tommy Peters did great things for this city's food scene. I am sad that he is gone but I know he was proud of this one! Ok. That's enough, Adam.... No one reads this crap anyway. '26 - 48

    Photos
    Moondance Grill - Old fashioned

    Old fashioned

    Moondance Grill - Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.

    Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.

    Moondance Grill - The Empress of Germantown

    See all

    The Empress of Germantown

    The Blue Monkey - bars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...