Monkey Bar

Doesn't Recommend

DatMel

Joined 2 years ago

Rude and Bizarre. I made a reservation here for my wife's birthday. They just called me up to say that it was cancelled because they decided to close the restaurant to have a private party. No effort to offer us a different reservation or in any way to make this better despite the obvious inconvenience. Can you imagine Danny Meyer or any other serious restaurateur doing this?

Reservations don't seem to mean anything here so may as well not bother making them. I'm only giving one star because that's the least I can give.

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sophia LES

Joined 3 years ago

Great food and service Decor stunning NY at its best. This is a great room where you feel like you are really out to dinner in an "Old NY way" food is straight forward and very good someone had the fried chicken and I had the Halibut special with was just perfectly cooked and very spring like. cocktails were ok and desserts were average, but would definitely return.

Pricey but worth it.

Doesn't Recommend

crustambekova

Joined 3 years ago

worst restaurant experience. The worst restaurant experience in my life. I took my dear friends for their respective birthdays. we were greeted by suave and creepy host Peter. Our waiter had no clue about the menu and kept confusing our wine choices. They kept interrupting our conversation rushing the service. Our entrees were delivered and shoved at us before we even got a chance to finish eating our appetizers. After desserts, I ordered smth to go for my boyfriend when the horribly rude Manager Chad came over and asked us to wait for our food at the bar. It was particularly rude provided that the bill was well over $500 with gratuity already included. The atmosphere at the bar was horrible. Working girls with guys over sixty. Pretentious, rude, disgusting. Food was OK but nothing to write home about. Stay away.

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Amy Abate

Joined 5 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. Graydon Carter--Vanity Fair editor extraordinaire and owner of the uber-exclusive Waverly Inn--has revamped this old-time New York lounge, nestled inside the Hotel Elysee. A dark mahogany bar, red leather booths, dark lighting and hand-painted murals (depicting elephant-riding monkeys shaking up daiquiris) set the scene for the upper-echelons of society to toss back martinis and Manhattans and swap business cards. The vibe is at times more pretentious than sophisticated, and unlike regulars at the Waverly, Monkey Bar is packed with wealthy midtown suits and the women that hope to date them--but if you fall roughly into either of those categories, you won’t be disappointed.

Doesn't Recommend

iliketo_eat

Joined 11 years ago

wow. this is terrible.. This place looks great especially since it's guests are skinny celebs and their hanger-ons. But as far as a restaurant goes.....It is not on the same level as some mediocre New York restaurants. Food is sub-par, cocktail list is boring and uninspired, and the wine list...well lets say they should just get rid of it. If your in the hood go to PJ Clarks, Bobby Vans, or Houston's.

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MrDukes

Joined 5 years ago

Best upscale Asian cuisine since the original Nobu. I went into Monkey Bar just to have a drink before heading to another restaurant for dinner, the bartender suggested a small appetizer with our drinks, being one to try anything I went for it, we got the foie gras buns, they were quite simply one of the most decadent rich appetizers I have ever had the pleasure of eating. My guest and I decided to stay and have dinner in the dining room, I had been there before, when they served steak, the remodel was impressive, one of the best looking dining rooms I've ever been in, very open it's great for a date, I've since returned with my girlfriend, she loved it to. On to the food, for starters we had a few pieces of dim sum the springrolls with the white truffle foam were excellent, we also had the glazed ribs, sweet, spicey, melted off the bone. For our entrees we chose the black cod, and the chicken with cashews, the cod was amazing with the bbq glaze you could really tell the fish was fresh, and that the chef really cares about his food, the chicken came two ways one grilled breast which was juicy and tender, not dry at all, and in a mooshu wrap filled with braised dark meat, there was a sweet and sour sauce on top of the chicken that added a great taste to the dish, and crushed cashews adds that decadence that occurs in all the food I had that night, we also had the rice trio, which makes it nice and easy for me because I love rice, garlic ginger rice, jasmin, and cocnut sticky rice, all great good size portions for two people to share. All in all we had a great experience from the food to the wine to the attentive service, all the people I came in contact with at Monkey Bar genuinely seemed to love what they do. Give a excellent experience.

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FoodKing1

Joined 5 years ago

Incredible Rebirth. I have been to the Monkey Bar many times over the years since even before it was a Steakhouse but it was never this good. The bar which had been run down looks great and the dining room is to die for. It looks like a slick downtown lounge. The host sat us in the corner banquet which was great so we could take in the room. We started we some specialty cocktails. I had the Tea Infused Bourbon Julep which was spicy and sweet. To start we had Bao Buns with Foie Gras and the Apple Salad. The Bao Buns were so decadent and delicious. The salad had a ginger dressing which was a nice complement to the apples. Next we got the Black Cod, Pork, and Wok Veggies. Hands down the cod was the best. It was like butter. The pork was also great with ginger and pineapple on top. Although I wanted to have dessert it was not going to happen this time around. I happy that they finally got it right. Looking forward to next time...

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shanghailil

Joined 5 years ago

Absolutely Fabulous. I heard there was a new chef at this bar favorite of mine and being a lover of upscale Asian food, I went to check it out. We got there early to have a drink at the fabulous bar and started with great appetizers. Then we sat down for dinner and had a great time. The food was great, some interesting twists on a few traditional dishes with some really wonderful flavor combinations. My one wish was for an equally delicious and interesting dessert, but maybe next time!

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changmino200

Joined 6 years ago

Classic Bar with Updated Food. Okay, it must have been 10 years since I had been to Monkey Bar back in the days when I worked in midtown. When a friend said meet me at the bar in my hotel, I was ready to say no until he said The Monkey Bar. Curious to see what it's now like, I had flashbacks of many happy happy hours and was totally surprised by the crowd and the food which were very fancy asian appetizers that were incentive to stay for one/two more drinks. Apparently, they got a new chef and I say bravo to great drinks with great food! This is definitely worth a trip back for a dignified drink with upscale food masquerading as bar food.