Monkey Bar

Beautiful atmosphere, great service. I was not sure what to expect from the food because of so many mixed reviews, here is my honest breakdown: 1. Whitefish Caesar salad 10/10. A must try, I can eat a pound of this it was so delicious. 2. Short rib pasta is slept on. It is one of the best pasta dishes with thr softest short rib I’ve ever tired 3. The burger is very good. Better than Au Cheval, but not mind blowing. It is just very good, but not a “must” get 4. Crab Wontons were a fun app, the sauce is delicious, I would get these again 5. Carrot cake was incredible. 10/10

Loved it!! Had no reservation, so showed up just before opening time and got a great table in bar area. Really friendly staff and wonderful food. The monkey bread still has me dreaming about it!! Great cocktails too. Atmosphere was fantastic and we were not rushed out. Will definitely be back next time we’re in NYC!

We had an excellent experience at monkey bar. I’ve been wanting to go for years and finally got my shot to go on my girlfriend’s birthday. When you walk in, it’s not clear where to go in the front area. There should be someone for first timers making sure you know to walk in towards the hostess, which is not visible from the front when it’s busy (which is all the time). I stood there like an idiot for 30 seconds. We waited 15 minutes for our reservation that we showed up on time for. No one told us we could order a cocktail as we watched others (smarter than us) do that. Chris was one of the best waiters I’ve ever had in New York. The ambience is spectacular. The reason for docking a star is because when you have a reputation and pricing like monkey bar, I expect perfection and the food was great but not perfect. The monkey bread was insane, best thing on the menu. I don’t think bread can get much better than that. The Caesar salad was a little disappointing. I had to remind my girlfriend there was potato chips in it because they had gotten soggy sitting and dressing. Chu Toro tuna was great but the crisp bread it came with it was underwhelming. Crab Rangoon’s were good but not great. Important note is that Chris threw in the monkey bread and crab Rangoon’s and dessert on the house, which is so generous! Shoutout Chris. Truffle mac & cheese was one of my favorite things. The crispy top is awesome. The steak frites was good. Steak was great, but the Bernaise sauce and fries were very average. Fries particularly confusing. The most disappointing thing on the menu was the famous French dip. I feel like a jerk saying this, but it tasted like something I would get at the bodega. I would enjoy it from the bodega, but that’s not where I’m at. Chocolate pie was fantastic. Would definitely come back, but the food was a bit below what I expected for such an impossible reservation. 4.3/5

Worth the hype, ambiance is 10/10 we got seated a corner booth nice a private and roomy. Excellently crafted menu and the food was great our server was absolutely amazing. Honestly the best service I’ve ever had in a restaurant. The wagyu burger was melt in your mouth and the dry aged strip had the perfect crust. The mashed potatoes are a must, Some of the best I’ve ever had I can live without the creamed spinach and rangoons next time. But the truffle bread is definitely worth it, fluffy sweet savory and earthy. Truffle Mac is also excellent. Definitely going back to try even more of the menu. Honorable mention is the carrot cake. Super moist and spiced and very decently sized to share.

A gorgeous, old-school Upper East Side New York classic. Service: Solid but unremarkable. The waiter was a bit hard to hear, though service overall was fine. Food: The menu is excellent with something for everyone, from lighter options to indulgent classics. • Crab cakes: Outstanding! crisp, golden exterior with a tender, incredibly meaty center. • White fish Caesar salad: The name gave me pause, but it worked beautifully. Light, fresh, and well-balanced. Enough to share for two, maybe three. • Burger: Heavenly. Juicy, perfectly cooked, and simply done. • French fries: The only letdown; lacked the crispness and salt. Martinis: Top-notch—cold, clean, and expertly made.

I stopped by Monkey Bar around 10 p.m. on a cold December Wednesday and lucked into a rare open seat at the front bar. Being solo definitely helped. From the moment you step inside, the lighting and décor set an incredible mood. It’s a beautiful room with music playing at just the right volume and impressively attentive service, even though the place was packed wall to wall. I enjoyed a couple of beers before heading back to my hotel, already knowing I’d be back. Sure enough, I returned the next day with my wife after snagging a late lunch reservation in the bar room. (Reservations tend to book up almost instantly two weeks out, but pro tip: keep checking - cancellations often pop up in the last day or two.) We each ordered the Double Cheeseburger along with the Pomme Frites, and everything was outstanding. Our server, Nelson, was prompt, friendly, and thoroughly professional, which only added to the experience. My wife isn’t much of a “bar person,” but she was genuinely impressed by the ambiance and décor—and even suggested we make Monkey Bar a regular stop. We absolutely will.

We finally got a reservation on Sunday at 2pm for brunch. When i entered the restaurant it was quite chaotic. It was almost zero degree and couldn’t seem to get someone to do the coat check (so I gave up). Also chaotic when checking in the reservation, but was at least seated pretty quickly. And things were a lot better after we got our table. Our server was so nice and friendly and kind. Love her! Truffle monkey bread was delicious and definitely not enough for 4 people to share cuz we all wanted a whole bread! Yummy! Highly recommend the crispy potato pancakes! I think it’s the best dish of the day. We also love the truffle mafaldine and the dry aged New York Strip steak.

It’s not easy to get in here but fortunately we were finally able to get a reservation. We arrived a little early & had cocktails in the bar area up front, we got the Tokyo Old Fashioned & the espresso martini both of which are excellent. We loved the atmosphere of the dining room: red leather booths with white tablecloths, curtains that lent a feeling of focus without isolating you, lighting that successfully struck the balance between relaxed/classy yet still being able to see fine. The service was great, our waiter had strong recommendations and was very attentive without at all becoming intrusive. We had the oysters, chu toro crudo, steak tartare, ribeye steak frites, and vanilla gelato (with hot fudge). Everything was wonderful, I’d say the steak tartare and vanilla gelato were our favorites. We’re so glad we were finally able to get in! Highlights: Tokyo Old Fashioned, coconut Cadillac margarita, steak tartare, vanilla gelato Date visited: 1/2/26