We have been long time customers of Monkey Cat and last night my husband and I were enjoying a great dinner and then we received our bill. On the bill was a credit card surcharge. We paid with a debit card and know it is illegal to charge a surcharge for a debit card. Not only is it illegal to charge surcharge for a debit card it is illegal to charge a surcharge for a credit card in the sate of California. When I politely brought this to the attention of the waitress, she was not very happy and looked at us and said ok. I said ok, please remove it. She removed it, came back and slammed the new bill on the table. I offered to show her the law and she loudly said, I don't care, I don't want to know!! We have to be our own enforcers with this law, so be aware and be your own advocate. They don't care! 4 star food, 1 star customer service, so I give them a two star. So sad this is happening in our home town. Go read more

My friends and ourselves were on a double date in downtown auburn and decided to stop and try this restaurant because the food seemed appetizing. The water guy was amazing as every few minutes he kept coming back and filling up our waters. The food was very good. The calamari was honestly the best cooked that we have had in a long time. Salads had fresh ingredients, the seafood to pasta ratio in the seafood pasta was very generous. Food came out about as fast as you would expect for a packed Saturday night. The look of the restaurant was cute and fun. This place was clearly very popular. The olive oil was light and fresh and the vinegar was not too pungent. The bread was sourdough and was fresh enough but not right out of the oven. I marked down 2 stars for three main reasons, the restrooms were always occupied and were clearly not adequate to the amount of guests. The second reason was the price we paid vs the relatively small portions we got with things like the crab cakes. Bonus reason, we arrived a few minutes before they opened and they easily could of let us sit but turned us away for the few minutes left before opening. The third reason, is that our waitress gave my friend the look of death when he asked her not to throw away salad even if it didn't come out right. They asked for their salad with dressing on the side and it came out with dressing in it, and being that they didn't want to waste food they asked if the salad was going to be tossed and if it was just to leave it. The waitress very quickly grabbed the salad and gave my friend the look of death and said "no! We are going to throw it away" it really just ruined the mood of the evening. It made us feel like we were trash just because we didn't want food in the trash. Keep in mind it was their kitchen that messed it up. It was clear that our waitress had too much to handle that night because she was giving stern talkings to the other staff from what we could tell. So atmosphere wise this place seemed kind of hostile and we aren't sure if we ever want to be out through that again even if the food is good and the location is cute. read more

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The food was delicious and service was amazing definitely would recommend and they even put cheese on the fries

Absolutely NOT worth the price. Ive been here twice now, thought I might have gone on an off night the first time but my same issues were present the second time around. I found the service to be really nice and attentive so thats not the issue, its really just the food. It lacks seasoning majorly, ive never in my life ever added salt at a restaurant but I had to last night. I got the bucatini with black pepper sauce which was extremely bland. While the pasta was cooked decently, the sauce tasted like nothing really. So basically it was boxed pasta with flavorless cream sauce for $22, absolutely not worth it. The first time I went here I got the scallop risotto which again tasted really like nothing, and the rice was regular short grain rice, not even risotto rice! The best thing about this place is the appetizers and the bread. Every appetizer ive gotten here has been fantastic, we got the baked brie (which had cinnamon and persimmon on top) last night and in the past we got the strawberry flatbread, both were 10/10. I'm not sure what happens with the entrees but the appetizers are the only reason this place gets 3 stars for me. read more

The Monkey cat has always been our go to. We love the atmosphere, we love the staff and we love the food. Last night was above and beyond. We usually sit at the bar have an appetizer and a drink but last night we sat at a table. Erica was awesome as always. She recommended the pork belly bites. I wasn't too sure, but they,m were amazing. The red plums in that dish are to die for. I ordered the fillet, most people turn up their noses when Ordered medium well. And it was cooked to perfection, the best fillet I've had in years. we snuck away to the bar after dinner for dessert and a port and the new hostess Josie was so sweet with explaining the desserts we ended up ordering 2 and 2 glasses of port! Perfect date night!! Highly recommend The Monkey Cat read more

Ambiance was a 4 Service was a 4.5 Food was okay...not quite what shows in the online menu be prepared to substitute! Lunch stops after 3pm you will choose from the happy hour menu if you are late. Over all 3.5 my husband agrees. read more

This restaurant was highly recommended to celebrate a 70th birthday. There were 7 of us for 7:00 on Tuesday. our waitress was professional, attentive and apologetic. We were immediately told no French fries, calamari, or chicken cordon blu. No problem. However, our food was not what we expected. The French onion soup in a bowl had to be reheated, the crab cake appetizers tasted like it came from Trader Joe's, the scalop risotto was salty, the pesto bucatini barely/tasted any pesto, and worse... served FOLGERS COFFEE... no milk/cream available! the only good dishes were the pork chops and filet mignon. this place must be GOING OUT of business!! read more

I really loved my first visit to monkey cat. We decided to try a few of the whiskey cocktails and loved them! The rosemary bourbon special was amazing, suuuuuuper easy to drink! We opted for pretty much all the appetizers instead of a full meal. All of them were tasty but the most amazing part was the delicious brie bruschetta. I'm serious, the best bite. Crispy, sweet, creamy, salty, a little heat..... totally balanced and amazing on the palette! 10/10 I'll always order that when I return. We chose patio seating and enjoyed the little side patio, not too much traffic noise, and there was a lovely fountain and some green. We stayed way too long, I can tell because, after an hour or so, the server stopped refilling our water glasses.... I guess that meant it was time to leave. I think that's a missed opportunity. My friends and I love to indulge in a looooong slooooow meal. This means drinks and appetizers, maybe some more drinks, then coffee and dessert as the afternoon winds down. The restaurant wasn't busy, and I promise we weren't occupying a table for a waiting party. As we return to normal, eating out, and spending time enjoying food should be a joy. I look forward to my next visit and will make sure to let the server know that we intend to indulge slowly over the course of the afternoon to set the expectation. But I will absolutely return! read more

My sincere apologies but I was so excited to try this restaurant & was extremely disappointed by the food. Our bill was $150, meat was chewy & came with fries. I love fries but asked for ranch, with the dollar amount the plates cost I expected homemade dressing & it taste like less quality than hidden valley ranch. We sat at the bar due to it being busy. Bar service & drinks were phenomenal. read more

The Monkey Cat - New American Near Me - Auburn, California

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I love the name and the sign, plus this restaurant was recommended by a local. It's slightly upscale with nice ambiance and indoor and outdoor seating. Medium size menu with a variety of options. I enjoyed my burger, although the house sauce is kind of spicy. The servers were excellent, friendly, and professional. It's popular, so you may want to consider getting a reservation. read more

The service the food everything was great! Wife and I have been coming here for years

Really loved this place. The drinks, the food, the service, everything was amazing. We had the crab cakes, wedge salad & chicken cordon bleu. All fabulous. I'll be dreaming of that lemon meringue cocktail for days. read more

The Monkey Cat - Lemon Meringue - New American Near Me - Auburn, California

My husband and I decided on Tuesday that it was a beautiful day for a Harley ride to Auburn. We went online and looked up a few places to eat and settled on The Monkey Cat. Super cute inside and nice garden patio. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside. The service was wonderful. The server was very attentive and sweet. The food was delicious. My husband had the burger and I had the Turkey BLAT. So good!! A cute little lunch spot with great food, service and atmosphere! We'll be back for sure. read more

First time here, wouldn't waste your time. This a poor restaurant. The food was okay. Not much seasoning. I think it's very over hyped. Quality of food was over priced too. The entire place was very judge mental. I wasn't Dressed badly. Just jeans and a shirt same with the rest of my family. You could tell they were all looking down at us. It's mostly older rich people. You don't feel very comfortable, like your edge, toxic. Got 2 stir fries and 1 sandwich wrap $60. The one server also was also all over the place, she was obviously giving very fake reactions too. read more

The Monkey Cat - Outside. - New American Near Me - Auburn, California

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I've always loved the food here the decor etc. The waitress walked away in the middle of our order didn't even get to order drinks or the rest of our appetizers, I asked for honey in my tea she said they had none and didn't offer sugar, I literally had to walk in back looking for some. I'm still sitting here while she's chatting with her co workers. Worst eyebrows I've ever seen but I'm trying to be polite..... read more

Wanting to eat at a nicer restaurant in Auburn, my boyfriend and I tried Monkey Cat. The dinner menu seemed kind of boring, so I wasn't expecting much, but the food turned out to be amazing! I ordered the stir fry bowl with chicken and my boyfriend ordered the short rib. Both of our meals were delicious. The short ribs were sooo tender, and the stir fry bowl was very flavorful and even a little spicy. The desserts were amazing too. We had the crème brûlée, which was flawlessly done, and the caramel cheesecake, which was heavenly. Nice atmosphere too. Will definitely be going back read more

Food was good but it took 45 min for our food to arrive to our table. We had a party of 10 but I've been in a group setting before it this was longer than usual. read more

We went there on Saturday, party of 5. Two had the steak and 1 had a hamburger........the worst we have ever had! Steak was dry and not seasoned, same with the burger! The salmon was good and so were the scallops, however; the prices are so high now! Who want french fries with a steak? No vegis, had to pay for bread! This place has really gone down hill. No more from us! :( read more

Monkey Cat is one of our favorites! All of the cocktails are delightful especially the white linen, their old fashioned, or J's something - I can't remember the name. They cook their proteins flawlessly and offer great and classic options. You won't be disappointed. And it's a great location to host a private event! read more

We love the food and drinks and dine here when we want something special! We always have great service! read more

Excellent lunch. Got the burger. Get the homemade chips. Great and friendly service. Reasonably priced. Check this place out. read more

The Monkey Cat - New American Near Me - Auburn, California

Very friendly staff! Great food! They also are very dog friendly, brought our pup treats and a pup cup!

Had dinner here last night. I ordered the filet, it was delicious, the sauce served with it was completely bland, so I didn't eat it. Mashed potatoes were bland and not flavorful, the roasted carrots were good. My husband ordered the risotto, totally not risotto. It was rice and some corn and other things with seared scallops. Friends weren't impressed with their food either Service was excellent, just not good food. Probably won't go back. read more

Went there today with the family and it was great. The food and service was amazing. I even had a two year old with me and had no problems. read more

food was good but it is loud that it is hard to have a conversation. Service was ok. The owner needs to do something about the sound before we go back. read more

Monkey Cat is my absolute favorite restaurant. Whether it's a romantic anniversary dinner or a casual night out, Monkey Cat is the place we always want to go to. The staff is amazing. Jennifer and Erica always take amazing care of us and the food is always delicious! read more

I ate lunch there yesterday and can't stop thinking about how delicious it was. Had the steak wrap AND the apple/brie crostini. I know that's a lot for lunch but I couldn't stop eating. I've also eaten dinner there and thoroughly enjoyed the house salad (OMG to die for with the sun dried cherries, chèvre and hazelnuts) and the scallop risotto. I am so bummed I live in the Pocket area of Sacramento because I would be there once a week were it not for that. I haven't even mentioned the great drinks and dessert. OMG, I love this restaurant so much. Maybe downtown Sacramento for a second spot??? Service and ambience also outstanding. read more

YUM! Just moved to the area and our first time eating in Auburn and glad we picked this spot. We were able to get a table on a busy Saturday night and eat inside!! Swordfish was great as was the lamb says my husband. Erika the sever was great. I like my food super hot so maybe just a little warmer next time :) read more

The Monkey Cat - Sword fish x lamb - New American Near Me - Auburn, California

Locals hyped this place up so we thought we were going to a good restaurant. We live in San Francisco so we have plenty of A+ restaurants to pick from. We went in thinking Auburn had a decent place. But...Not worth the price. New owners. New menu. The menu online didn't match when we went to the restaurant. Since It was our first visit we looked at the menu online hoping to order some of the items when we arrived but they had none of them in the restaurant anymore and haven't for at least 3 months according to our waitress. The seafood pasta was ok but the seafood was definitely over cooked. My husband was disappointed with his filet mignon that frankly we could have cooked better at home. No crust on the outside with little juice inside. It was worth a shot but not again. Still crossing my fingers for Dingus Mcgees to return. read more

Had the taco trio today. The pork was like trying to chew shoe leather. Chicken was also dry. Told the waitress and she told the kitchen. They said it's deep fried...they are trying to figure out how to keep it tender. At least they charged me full price! Almost $50 for that and a salad for my wife +2 cokes. Second time I have had poor food here! Not going to keep wasting my time and $$. read more

Stumbled upon this place while visiting the area from out of town. Celebrating our first anniversary tomorrow What a wonderful find this is! Fantastic food, great service, and we particularly appreciated their attention to cleanliness and social distancing in the COVID-19 era. All servers were wearing masks, and all patrons were appropriately distance from one another. As two adults with compromised immune systems, it's one of the safest outings we feel we've had since this whole thing began. We appreciate the business' attention to this detail, and we will return, not only for the food, but for the respect they show their patrons. We had the crabcakes, the MC mac & cheese, the Asian chopped salad, the mixed green salad with goat cheese, the pork tenderloin, and the lamb chops. Every dish was singularly wonderful! Someone in the kitchen absolutely knows what they're doing. Keep it up! read more

Had lunch at The Monkey Kat the other day. The food was good, but we did not appreciate the surprise credit card fee on the bill. Astoundedly, the charge was on the bill before the server knew if we were going to pay by credit card or cash. ... Yes, we could have paid cash and insisted that she give us a corrected bill, but we didn't have that much cash with us. Or, we could have subtracted the fee from the tip, but that didn't seem right either. ... Credit cards are a convenience for the buyer AND the seller. There is no justification for such a charge. We won't be back. read more

I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this place before. The food quality is consistently good: burgers , steak and frites, scallop risotto are all excellent. Service is outstanding with a good wine list and local beers on tap. Locally owned and run, they are well run and worth dining at. read more

Celebrated a quiet anniversary (our 53rd) and had a great meal. Really don't understand why there weren't more people as the options in Auburn aren't really that deep for "higher end" dining. Anyway, I had the salmon and it was delicious. Wife had her usual "stacked burger" which she really enjoyed. The waitress was very energetic and attentive. We especially enjoyed the Baked Brie and toast appetizer along with the other "bookend" of a chocolate mousse cake. read more

Excellent food and service!!! The salmon was delicious and cooked perfectly and the tomato soup with blue cheese was so good. We will be back soon! read more

What is going on w this restaurant? My mother and I came in w a reservation which wasn't needed. When seated we had some sliced bread (okay) no butter, olive oil and vinegar on the table I assume for the bread. Soon after we ordered our drinks and main course. Cocktails were okay. For our main courses my mom ordered swordfish which was the special and I ordered the filet mignon. The swordfish okay, unappealing, my mom thought it was good. As far as my plate I was asked how I wanted my filet and I asked for medium, I received a very rare filet, cooked on the outside, not even close to medium, super red and soft. I let the waitress know it was too under and asked for a new filet, a couple min later she came back and persuaded me out of having a new filet cooked due to the time involved. I told her no worries and to just take it off the bill but I was pretty bummed, filet doesn't really take that long, is the main chef out or?? Seemed like everyone was more concerned about closing up and going home, our res was at 715. Overall would not recommend, dined here in the past, this experience was pretty bad though and the waitress didn't help out w the situation at all, I wanted a filet I was hungry! read more

My husband and I stopped here for dinner on the way to a house hunting weekend in Grass Valley/Nevada City. Monkey Cat has a fun vibe to it and we enjoyed the creative décor. I ordered the ribeye (which I heard about on Yelp) and it was delicious, but undercooked (I ordered med, but it was very "med-rare", boarding on the dark pink/red side in the middle. Of course I could have sent it back, but it was easier to eat around the yummy edges and take it home for a sandwich later! My husband ordered the seared duck breast, which he loved. Our waiter was Erica and she did an excellent job. Her enthusiastic description of the nightly desserts (to the table next to us!), caused me to save some room for dessert later, which we did! We ordered the Salted Caramel Cheesecake - delicious, but the topping was a bit overly salty for us (regardless, we still managed to eat the whole thing! We will definitely be back. read more

Came to visit my daughter here in Auburn and she had been wanting to try this restaurant. Looked at their menu online and it all looked impressive. We made dinner reservations and it is a nice looking restaurant. Waitress gave us menus. 1st disappointment the menu was scaled way down from what is online. We ordered our entrees. Filet mignon with lobster tail. I ordered my filet which was supposed to be 4 oz medium rare. It was more like 2 oz and well done. The lobster tail was extremely tiny with less than 2 fork fulls of meat in it. $50 is what they charged for basically nothing! Wine list is over priced as well. read more

Cute old Western eclectic interior in downtown Auburn just a few minutes off I-80. The service was prompt and friendly. The size is on the intimate side with about 15 tables or so. The wine list is nice, with a strong local selection including wines by the glass. When we visited they had two daily specials-- pan seared halibut and a seafood linguine. The wedge salad was good, the caprese fine, the macaroni and cheese starter superb. For the mains, the chicken cordon bleu was very good, the salmon was good, and halibut special was excellent if a bit salty. The flourless chocolate torte was excellent. read more

This used to be a great spot , the menu has changed as well as the chef . Took over an hour to get our meal and once we got it , it was cold. I only ate the scallops on top , the salmon was not prepared the way it is described on the menu , nobody checked on us and once the waitress did , all she said was "sorry " then had someone else bring the check . I asked her if she was in charge and she said no , but what was the problem, I told her and she said she would bring it to someone's attention , the waitress came back and said ..we will take 4 dollars off the bill , is that ok ?? I said I guess I don't have a choice . I am usually pretty tolerant about these types of situations , but this was ridiculous, the table next to us said , good for you that you said something, our food was cold too . I would never go back here again. Terrible food and no customer service ! read more