Found out why the monk is grumpy: the staff seated his family in the middle of a college baseball team!
My family was looking for somewhere to eat and when I saw Grumpy Monk's menu, I knew that was it. The food looked reasonably priced for the quality that was presented and it had plenty of vegetarian options for my vegetarian parents so we went there.
There was of course a wait, but only for about ten minutes, before we were seated. We were brought to the back corner of the restaurant. We noticed two long rows of tables out together and realized "oh, this must be a party." Annoying but I suppose we can manage since they're isolated over there. However, we found out in only moments that no, it wasn't isolated: we were one of two tables back there that wasn't a part of their group but they didn't seemed to mind as they would get up, walk around, and shout across the room at each other like they'd rented out a private party room. The most annoying part was the pow-wow that seemed to occur next to me every five minutes (thanks but I'd rather enjoy my food without some college kid's dad's sweaty and smelly butt in my face). It's a very uncomfortable situation when everyone around you is acting like drunk frat dudes and their parents are trying to act 40 years younger than they are while vicariously living through their sons (no, Ashley, you don't need to yell at your baseball mom friend Ellen from across the room - you can text or get up and have a conversation one on one like adults).
I understand the restaurant cannot control the behavior of its patrons, however they can control where they seat patrons so it would've been nice to wait until all tables in the area they were going to sit the team were empty (as I am guessing that is why our table was an island in the middle of a party). This is the only reason they lost stars.
Otherwise, the service was phenomenal despite the party. I honestly felt so bad for the waitstaff because they had to bob and weave around the parents, players, and coaches [who apparently don't know how to behave in public]. I felt really bad when our waitress was carrying a huge tray of our food and said "excuse me" a few different times when one of those pow-wows was happening next to our table before they finally moved.
The food was delicious and my whole family enjoyed everything they ordered. The only feedback I have is to have an option for one or two sides for their entrees. I ordered the crab-stuffed flounder which was amazing but it came with two sides which was too much food for me (and I am a big guy and the type of person who goes to buffet restaurants and makes multiple trips to the buffet with a mountain of food on my plate each time). I couldn't finish either side so although I don't want to say only 1 across the board (because we all know someone always wants more), I believe they should make 1 or 2 and option.
Great service, great food, bad patrons - the restaurant did their best. I recommend visiting Grumpy Monks when there isn't a college baseball team partying there. I really do want to put a four star review down for their service and food but I just can't because of the experience of being seated with the baseball team.
Also, to the Westminster College Baseball Team, would you mind sending me that group picture you took? It was a nice picture of my family off to the side and would make for great vacation memories! (And I mean the Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania since apparently there are at least 8 Westminster Colleges in the continental US). read more