Tasty beer, cozy atmosphere, attentive staff and amazing food! The cod waffle sandwich is heaven! Their prices are actually on the low side, especially considering the quality and amount of food you get.
(5)
Kathy B.
I came with my husband to try their Restaurant week menu. Why, you say? Cuz they freaking had foie gras burger! As a recent transplant from San Francisco and the ban and all, which by the way was lifted right when we left, I had to get my hands on some foie. The weird thing is that it is attached to Bastone and we were a little confused that even though they were attached to Bastone they had their own menu for Restaurant week. Other than that it is a cozy atmosphere and our server was nice and welcoming. No other waiter got me to order the extras or expensive seasonal suff on tap like he did. Get there at the right time and you can snag a spot easily. Go there 15 minutes later than the optimal time and it's packed. Despite it being busy we still got enough attention from our wait staff. Ok now on to the important stuff: food quality Unfortunately some things were hit or miss. We ordered the beer and cheese soup and house pate for apps. Foie gras burger and donner kabob for mains. Lastly, banana fritters and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The beer and cheese soup had a great taste! I loved the nutmeg they added. The only thing is that it lacked salt. For my house pate plate it had food elemengts of taste. Enough salt in the pate, sweet from the jam of some sort on top of the pate and some tartness from the dressing they put over the tomatoes and onions that accomanied the pate. Although it was a mundane presentation, it still tasted good. The foie gras burger. A disappointment. The burger itself was cooked well and a good portion but that foie was a tiny tiny piece. It was so small because it was cooked within an inch of its life. It had the taste of foie but had all the fat rendered out of it during the cooking process. The duck fries that I had with my burger was pretty awesome and beat tghe seasonal fries by a ton. The donner kabob that my husband got was delicious! I was jealous of what he had. It was a heaping portion that could barely be contained in that pita and the flavor of the slaw went really well with the lamb. The only very very small thing would be proportion of slaw to lamb, but you can easily fix that by taking some slaw out before shoving it into your mouth. Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite dessert of all time. So when I get it I'm a stickler for the taste. And it passed with flying colors. It wasn't as dense as other sticky toffee puddings but that only made it so I wanted more because it was so much lighter. The addition of the pecans (I think) were also a bonus for added texture. Banana fritters was another miss. There was a little too much fritter to banana and either the banana was under ripe or they used sweet plantains because it was starchy. Other than texture and ratio. Taste was pretty good because I think that sauce on top saved it. Overall, the atmosphere, the good food we did had, and good beer selection will keep us coming back again and again. Don't get me wrong the mishaps just made certain dishes ok instead of good. I have high hopes that they will be able to fix their small food mishaps. I'll be back!
(4)
Benjamin B.
I don't know what everyone is raving about with this place...if you want to pay for obscenely priced beer then come here. Waste of a good night...
(1)
Sarah C.
Good find on my friend's part. She was coming to visit and I wanted her to check out Royal Oak. She looked through Yelp and found this gem. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm. Easy. Got a spot by the door surrounded by three televisions for the Duke vs. Michigan State game. Ordered a salad with no protein. It wasn't half bad. The spot light our meal was the mussels! I am coming back for the mussels. They give you so much! It can be an entire person's meal or even two! Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream 9 and White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter 9. Both comes with two baguettes to dip in their amazing sauce. My favorite was the wild mushrooms. YUM! Service is quite good. They offer a lot of beers but two of the ones my friend wanted was out. Nice restrooms. One hand-dryer but two stalls
(4)
Jennifer E.
First, the cons: Monk's is a teeny, tiny, drafty annex to Bastone's. It's a squeeze and a little claustrophobic. There are no quiet corners and it is loud and a bit drafty due to an exterior door in a bad spot. But: duck frites! These are pretty much the holy grail of french fries, and put even Jolly Pumpkin's truffle fries to shame. I've eaten french fries once this year, and these were it. To die for. Everything else was a little up/down. My older son and my husband shared an elk burger and my son is now looking for elk in the grocery store. (sorry, kid.) I had a bacon/edam burger and it was perfectly edible but nothing to write home about. I will probably try the waffle sandwiches next time instead. My veggie teens tried the veggie burger (pronounced bland) and the Abbey mac (very mushroomy, tasty, but not quite comparable with infamous macs like Union's) You can drink Bastone's beer or Vinotecca's wine; there are no cocktails. Keep in mind also the beer prices are steep, ranging from $8-$22 a glass.
(4)
Alvin A.
A hidden gem inside Bastone. I usually start off with the Chorizo Mussels or the Wild Mushroom Mussels, delish! They serve the mussels with bread that I dip in the sauce after all the mussel are gone, yum! I've had their Burger with the spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado that is different, juicy, delicious goodness as well as their regular Burger with the fried egg and grilled tasso. I order my burger with light lettuce as they tend to put too much iceberg on there. I like my burgers with a side of dill pickle and they serve their dill pickles cut diagonally in half horizontally; different than your standard pickle spear. Their duck fat pomme frites are to die for, do not pass them up! Their beer selection is all Belgian style and average in price; you could order Bastone's beer but I don't care for it. I can't wait to come back here.
(4)
Mila H.
I have been wanting to try out Monk Beer Abbey for a while and boy am I glad I did! The hubby and I stopped in on Memorial Day since we were starving and happen to be in the Royal Oak area. The food and beer was some of the best I have had since moving from New York to Detroit. We ordered the ahi tuna burger which was topped with kimchi and a spicy mayo sauce, soooo yummy! Our waiter was awesome he suggested upgrading to the duck fat fries - he wasn't pushy about it, since he said some people didn't notice the difference- to what I say HOW?!?! My husband got the regular fries with his doner kabob ( which was amazing - we are from a Turkish region so we know doner) my fries were 1000 times better and I don't even really like fries. We also got the mussels which were in a mushroom cream sauce - hands down the best mussels I have ever had! All of that food plus 2 beers cost us $40 which is a GREAT deal! Definitely 2 thumbs up for Monk Beer Abbey!
(5)
madalyne c.
The beer was ok. Good drafts in the Abby, tried the brew from the front and it missed the mark. Excellent burger. The place is in the back of the restaurant up front, while hard to find was nice because it was quieter.
(4)
Gene G.
Great beer, nice atmosphere, the food is tasty but can be very heavy. Especially liked the goose fat fries (excellent and heavy ), and salmon (or was it tuna ?) patty burger.
(4)
Sarah H.
Monk is definitely cozy, but we lucked out for a party of six and got great seats. The drinks were great, the guys loved the beer selections and the mixed drinks were good. Our food had a bit of a wait, but was tasty and hot. I'm looking forward to going there again soon.
(4)
Samantha L.
Came here on a Friday evening and sat outside on the patio. We enjoy dining "Al fresco" when it's nice out.... I had the black bean burger and it was very good. It has quinoa, soy beans, and great seasoning. I was stuffed eating it. The portions are generous and filling. My husband got the cheese board and it was HUGE. He was very pleased with the variety of cheese, meats and even fruit. The best part about the board was the bread servings. He usually always runs out of bread, crackers, toast, etc. But, he had more than enough, plus some. The beer selection is extensive and they are under the same ownership as Jolly Pumpkin. If you're into that selection of beers, you'll be happy! The server we had was new and overly attentive, which was nice. But, it started getting busy and it was hard to find him when we wanted to cash out. But, that would not detour me from coming back. Sadly, we did not get to enjoy the full experience since it started pouring and we cashed out and left.. I would like to go back again to eat the black bean burger and dine outside when it's not raining..
(4)
Thomas J.
This place is incredible any day of the week if you're in the mood for food, or just want some fantastic beer. The staff has really improved since they've opened and the current employees are excellent. Top items: Burgers Fries - it's ridiculous that fries are notable but they are. Beer - easily the best Belgian styles in royal oak. They brew 5 or 6 beers on site; their dubbel and tripel are the best usually and I've had a hard time finding a triple I like better.
(5)
Amy L.
My BF and I checked this place out last night. Beer selection was amazing! You should go just for that. Our server Chris was friendly and knowledgable. My BF had the burger with fried egg and duck fat fries. So messy but super delish. I tried the pulled pork waffle sandwich but found it just wasn't to my liking. I could see how some might like it but I wasn't feeling the sauce, which is a pretty key part of a pulled pork sandwich. But Chris was very understanding and recommended that I try the Monk salad with ahi tuna instead and it was INCREDIBLE. I really appreciated the extra effort he put forth to make sure I had a great dining experience. After all this, we still found room for dessert! We ordered the apple pie with honey cinnamon ice cream. So good! Overall, definitely give this place a try. We will be back!
(4)
Melody S.
Food was fantastic - happy hour offers half off dinner entrees. We tried a mussel sampler and all flavors were delicious and had depth in flavor. I had the chorizo mac and cheese and it was fantastic - I'm from Texas and chorizo speaks to my soul. The dish has a great kick to it, but not too spicy. My partner had the salad with seared ahi tuna, which was also pretty good. A little light on the actual salad part. The tuna was cooked perfectly and had good seasonings on it. Dressing was nice and light. Next time, excited to try the waffle sandwiches. I may not be qualified to write this review since we didn't try the beer :) The cocktails...fantastic flavor/combinations, but not very alcoholic at all. Was a little disappointing to have two drinks apiece and zero buzz. And strangely, no happy hour specials on the cocktails (not on the beer, either, I don't think). Happy hour only applied to food. The weak cocktails are the reason for 4 stars and not 5. Service was great, ambience/atmosphere was great...will definitely return. We also happened to be there during Geeks Who Drink trivia, which was a lot of fun (Tuesdays at 7 pm).
(4)
Jay V.
Great place to have some good Monk beer!! Shares the place with Bastone. Must try their Trappist ales.
(4)
Nicole P.
Went here last night to meet a friend. Great spot, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. Chris was our bartender and he is very knowledgable about the different beers they serve. I had a Silly Sour and it was fantastic! The mussels were spectacular! I will be back, especially Sunday - Thursday to take advantage of the happy hour specials from 4 -7 PM!! You will not be disappointed.
(4)
AndrewSumi G.
This is our favorite place to go for mussels in Michigan. All their mussels are soo good! They have about six different flavors with amazingly flavorful broth. All the broth has extra tidbits like bacon or pancetta or mushroom s in them making the broth even heartier and more tasty. The different burgers are also pretty incredible, especially the elk burger. The pomme frites are always crispy and cook to perfection. Their beer selection is huge and the staff always have a recommendation for you if you ask. This is a great place togo for a drink with friends. One of our regular places to hit up in royal oak.
(5)
Claire V.
My favorite restaurant in all of royal oak! Get yourself a nice craft beer - most of the sours are fantastic (but make sure to ask about the price as some beers are over 10 bucks on draft). Get the sampler mussels and choose any 3. My favorites are the mushroom, chorizo and garlic butter. Get the sampler of sliders - can't go wrong with every single one of them. Pair them with the duck fat fries and some mayo dip... Welcome to heaven!
(5)
Kasia C.
Best food in Royal Oak.
(5)
Andrew W.
Very good food, the duck fat fries were mouthwatering and sliders were original and delicious. Not to mention it's the only place around that offers a great selection of Flemish sour beers - which I didn't even know I liked until the very knowledgable bartender/server told us all about them and walked us through which ones to order. Go here. Try sours. Be hungry.
(5)
J D.
I Love this place! Food for the soul. Ask the servers to pick out a beer you are guaranteed to love.
(5)
Bill W.
Moderate beer selection with a focus on Belgians. Not big, and spartan in decor. Helpful waitstaff. Food was ok. Had the donor kebab which was light on meat, heavy on pita. Fries are top notch. Mussels were good with a variety to choose from. A good place, and if I lived in RO, I might visit again but as a visitor, there are so many places to visit.....
(3)
John H.
Wow....that was fantastic!. Everyone writes about the beer selections, which are excellent so I won't repeat those. But the food is what exceeded my expectations. I had the Donner Kebab with Duck Frites (which you can see everyone raves about). Even the pickled side dish was tasty. Service was also excellent. My waitress was really enthused about the place and the food...and it showed. She was knowledable and provided great details about the menu. This is the type of place you remember....and I will.
(5)
Clara Y.
I came here for a light dinner. The beer selections was very extensive, plus they have the beer that is brewed at Bastone. I came on a Sunday so it was not very crowded. My server was friendly and very attentive. I ordered the Donor Kabab and it had a delicious and spicy dressing with pickled vegetables. We sampled the mussels ( several different combinations ) they were all very good,. It was nice to see ahi tuna on the menu and more traditional items too like burgers. My friend ordered the beer cheese soup and he did NOT like it at all . We all tried it and it tasted more like dijon mustard or a strange chili. Fortunately, our waitress agreed to take it off the menu, and apologized. I think it was merely a taste profile and preference, thus I would not criticize this place for one item. I would highly recommend this establishment, I imagine since its a cozy place that it is very busy on weekend nights .
(5)
Ali A.
A gem in royal oak. We are abbey club members and we love this place. Good thing its slightly hidden and not on the radar for every one. Never have a problem with reservations and the food items here would rival anything new york or vancouver have to offer.
(5)
Matthew T.
Every time I've come here the food and service has been amazing. They have a unique set of Belgian beers that come on draft all the time. If you get Chris as your bartender or server, you're in luck because he will take great care of you. Push the limits and try the elk burger or the ox tail.
My recent visit was the result of my fellow Yelpers who liked this place & while my visit was a pleasant experience it had a number of short comings which would make me hesitate before visiting again. Loved - out door seating; didn't love the waitstaff had a hard time remembering we were outside. Loved - the 6 beer sampler option; didn't love that the waitstaff had to be told twice to bring me a pint of the IPA I selected. Loved - the Mac-N-Chz which was hot, flavorful, and well presented; didn't love the fried pickles ... in fact, couldn't eat them. A giant pickle, quartered, battered & fried that was way overwhelming in pickle flavor & difficult to eat. Lastly, didn't love that after I settled with the waitstaff because her shift was done, the next server could seem to find us sitting in the same seats. Hmmm, as I review my experience, I don't think I'll make it back for quite a while.
(3)
Alexis S.
I went there last night for dinner, and had a great time. It reminded me of Belgium-the atmosphere was spot on. First we ordered the beer cheese soup which was the only thing I would not recommend. It had way too much curry in it. Well, beer cheese soup shouldn't have curry in it at all ha. Next we had the mussels. The menu allowed us to try three different kids, and all 3 were good! We also ordered a hamburger to split with duck fries. I had a Silly Sour beer from Belgium YUM. The waitress was attentive and nice. I liked the hole in the wall atmosphere, and will be back to have the mussels, fries, and beer again!
(5)
Bryan W.
Amazing beer selection. The food is pretty good, but the portions are massive. My burger had so much going on I could barely finish half of it. The mussels were excellent. The curry sauce was one of the best I've had. If you like Belgian ber, this is a must
(4)
Jill H.
It was a gorgeous day in Royal Oak - the patio on the Bastone (Main St.) side was packed so the host kindly offered us a table on the Monk side. Sure, why not? You have the choice of either menus plus it's quieter than Main anyway! Now, I used to share the same sentiment as many on the Bastone beer, but the IPA I tried this visit was good. It had the not too grapefruity hops and didn't cause me to make the IPA face so I was pleased. Perhaps it's a brew for the non-traditional IPA lovers? I went for the small serving of the monastery mac n cheese. Man! Although quite little, this crock was packed full of richness & savory flavors, you really didn't need much more. I didn't even finish it because I wanted to have some leftovers. Oh and sorry, this isn't for vegetarians! The pork and mushrooms truly completed this dish. My friend got the roasted veggie pizza. I tried a bite and found it to be quite good from flavor to dough density/consistency. Our server was super nice, offered advice on choosing a beer and attentive. What more could you ask for? Well... maybe a readily available place setting for 2 people from the time we were sat down. All in all I would definitely come back to Bastone/Monk on the Abbey based on this recent experience. I've been here for drinks only before and probably would've turned my nose up based solely on that but get a dish, grab a bottled beer or non alcoholic beverage and enjoy yourself.
(4)
Aaron K.
The food was amazing. I was thoroughly impressed. It's a small area, but I think this place has the best food in all of Royal Oak. We had the Kabob and Tuna Burger with the Mac and Cheese. We are locals and try a new place almost every other night. We will definitely be coming back over and over. The other bad news is that they aren't open until 4:00 on Sundays. If you're trying to catch a game and bring some folks down to watch it then you sometimes have a problem, but the actual food is amazing.
(5)
Jason C.
Had amazing dinner their last night! Do the trio of mussels...they were all so amazing it's not fair to try one! My burger was amazing with braised beef cheek on it! Exceptional beers, exceptional good and service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kimberly M.
This place sucks! Ok, good now we can have this place to ourselves. Third visit here and we consistently have had great service, great food and very comfortable atmosphere. As a beer snob I'm happy here and you cannot beat the happy hour.
(5)
Nao Saudade S.
Incredible!! The mussels here are just beyond amazing! I always get the trio, where I get to choose 3 different styles, however, the mushroom one will always be my favorite. Please try this place, you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Andrea H.
This place is awesome. We had great food, great beer (a little pricey) and great service! It's pretty small so it wouldn't be good for a big group. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Julie R.
An absolute MUST try!!!! Beer selection is not only good, but the waiters know their stuff so well, that they were able to help a non-beer drinker and a "snob" beer drinker find the perfect drink. The mussels....... oh my the mussels. WOW! They have 5 kinds, and I tried the pick three option... I tried -Chorizo, corn, fresh tomato, chipotle cream -White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter -Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream. These were all so different and equally as food. I had to resist myself from drinking the sauce that was left over. For dinner I split the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef, spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado.. The waiter tried to talk us into some "Duck Fat Fries".. This did NOT sound good to me.. but boy was I wrong.. I was fighting to get the last remaining fry on the plate! YUM.. Go here.. It isn't fancy inside but it has a nice charm and in the summer there is outdoor seating.
(5)
Esther G.
Probably my new favorite in Royal Oak. It's attached to Bastone -- in fact, you can go from Bastone to Monk although I wouldn't really recommend it. I just had to because I didn't realize that Monk isn't actually on Main but the side street. Lesson learned. A group of us had great service, amazing food and solid drinks. I like that it's smaller, offering a more intimate atmosphere. The menu is divided into mussels, waffle sandwiches, burgers and sides. They could've brought out anything, and I think I would've loved it. Another great thing is that with the burgers, you can try a slider portion of three, and with the mussels, sample three as well. A handful of us ordered food, and the portion sizes are enormous! I went with the pulled chicken waffle sandwich. Super messy, but stuffed with apple, pecans, red grapes, onion and aioli. I liked the nutty flavor of the pecans with the slight tart of the apples. I subbed the regular frites for the ones fried in duck fat for $2 more. Do it. I did not take part in any spirits this particular night, but I'm pretty sure my friends were highly satisfied with the offerings of beer.
(5)
Carly F.
The mussels with the garlic butter sauce and the duck fries were the best I've had in royal oak! So good.
(5)
Bill L.
The staff here is the best. They are always happy and cheerful. They really want you to enjoy the experience. They are extremely knowledgeable about their food and drink selections. And the food. Holy mackerel! The food is amazing! Everything is great. Muscles are always delicious. The sausage trio is beyond description. Mustard is sweet with a bite and pairs great with the sausage. The cook is a magician! Chris is my favorite waiter, but they are all great
(5)
Katie M.
Delicious food, great beer AND great happy hour prices! I would definitely recommend and am planning on going back again soon!
(5)
Tara L.
The sun was out, the breeze was up, and hair being blown in the wind; perfect day for some Belgian beer and waffles! The concept of Monk sounded interesting. They open at 4pm everyday, and we arrived a little beforehand on a Saturday afternoon. Even though we had arrived just 5 minutes before opening, the bartender wasn't exactly the most friendly when I popped my head in and asked, "Are you guys open already?" I mean, the door was open all the way (not ajar) so it was a little misleading, and since 5 minutes isn't a ton of time, we thought maybe it would have been okay just to be offered to sit at the bar while we waited. Well, that didn't happen, so we took a stroll around the block. After about 15 minutes, we came back, and waited to be seated. There wasn't anybody to greet us immediately, so we waited about 2-3 minutes before our server came out and told us that we could sit anywhere. We elected to sit in a booth further back into the space. The space itself is quite dark, and the dark fabric curtains certainly don't help. I suppose that they are trying to capture a more elusive bar feel, but the booths are black, and the table tops are dark cherry brown with black table tops, so it seemed a little bit TOO dark. It wasn't a huge deal; just something we observed. As first timers, we got a detailed explanation about the menu, and were excited to try a little bit of everything. We ordered - 1. White wine, garlic, fresh herbs, salted butter moules ($9): Mussels were on the bigger side, so not as sweet. Fresh, perfectly steamed, and had great flavor with the chopped garlic, parsley, and white wine. I was a little afraid that the salted butter would be the prominent flavor profile, but it was really light and understated. The white wine really showed clearly, so it was tasty. Good balance, and good amount. Loved the cast iron pot that it was served in. It really matches the concept of the beer bar. The baguette had great flavor, and was perfectly grilled, but more like a breadstick than a true baguette. Yum though! 2. Burger with housemade bacon and Edam cheese ($10): Nicely seasoned and flavorful patty. The meat was moist, and had enough fat without being greasy (I'm guessing a 80/20 blend). I ordered mine medium, and it came out just as we both like it. I gave half to Husband, and he agreed that it was tasty. There were two thin slices of bacon, and a nice slice of Edam cheese that melted on top of the beef patty. Other accoutrements included fresh green lettuce, heirloom tomatoes. I particularly liked the heirloom tomatoes, but wish there were onions as well. 3. Lobster, arugula, hazelnut vinaigrette, Havarti dill cheese wrapped in a fennel herb waffle ($13): It was a lot smaller than I expected. The flavors were okay, but we weren't huge fans. It was a bit sloppy, and the waffle was too soft and sweet when you bit into it. Lobster amounts were decent, but way too much arugula for the amount of meat. I didn't really taste much of the Havarti dill cheese, and the vinaigrette. Overall, it just tasted too sweet. 4. Frites with curry ketchup and bearnaise sauces ($5): They were a great texture, and not over fried. Loved the curry ketchup, but the bearnaise was mediocre. The amount was good for the price, but nothing wow. We also ordered a 6-beer sampler ($7), and I'm not much of a beer drinker due to allergies, but the little sampling I had was good. My favorites were the Monumental Blonde, Dubbel Vision, and Nectar des Dieux Triple. Coincidentally, most of them had fruit undertones; probably the reason why I liked them. :D The Royal IPA was our least favorite of the group. Final bill came out to be about $44 before tip. I think it's a fun place to come with friends and your partner, but foodwise, it was overall just average. The mussels and beer are worth getting here, but the others, I'd probably pass on.
(3)
Alyssa R.
I was excited when this place opened. I thought, "good! Bastones is finally utilizing their space and are opening an awesome microbrew place!" So, I scheduled a time after work one day to go check it out on their happy hour down time. I honestly was first caught by their clean website and nicely done logo (graphics nerd alert), but disliked that they still have their cafehabana.com domain. Come on guys, go buy the domain and then redirect. Ok. non-food rant over. They have a wide variety of belgian beers to choose from, which I can't have since they aren't gluten-free, but beer lovers will enjoy new beers that aren't at the other local watering holes. From the descriptions of their food one would think this is a goto place every week. Mussels, burgers, mac and cheeses, waffle sandwiches!@#@(! With descriptions like, "Pork belly, house made tasso ham, bacon pancetta, spiced bbq sauce..." who has time to think about going anywhere else. This obviously is the right choice to go to... THEN you go there. You order. You taste and you feel a little sadness in your heart. The wonderful descriptions that made your mouth water suddenly left you with deep deep food regrets. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were off that day (They only had two customers - me being one of them). Maybe they were still fixing the kinks and they weren't quite ready for customers. I mean Rock City Eatery was kind of like that. But I knew that Rock City Eatery was going to be great if they fixed their sh*t. But I'm not so sure about Beer Monk. I think that they will always be an OK place. The ahi tuna burger was overcooked (super dry) and the flavors didn't quite mesh well together. The hummus and kimchi didn't really work. Maybe try something pickled and keep the siracha mayo? Then there were the sliders. You can pick any three from the main burgers and have a mini version of them (Char-grilled elk, maytag bleu cheese and pancetta with French fried onions, hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef, barbecued pork belly, cheddar, apple slaw and Hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef with housemade bacon, edam). The best one of the burgers was the regular belgian blue beef with bacon. All the other burgers were overcooked and again their flavors didn't mesh well. I think the items were made to go together, but something went wrong in the execution. The pork should be tender and moist. It doesn't really need the cheddar hiding the BBQ and the apple slaw. That is, if it's good. The grilled elk was really dry so I can't make an accurate assessment of what it would taste like because I stopped eating it. The fries were fine. They come from bastones and they are made on the regular. It's really hard to mess up fries unless they are drenched in grease, ridiculously over salted and cold. So that went well. I haven't been back to BMA. Maybe I will someday, but it's not looking good in the near future.
(2)
Carrie B.
I've been on a hunt for a good burger, great mussels & awesome beer. This place has all three. Since I'm new in town I was confused that it was connected to another restaurant & we walked to Bastone but I asked the hostess if they had mussels & she said Monk has better mussels. The mussels with ham & spicy tomato were amazing! My fav place in Chicago had the best mussels & Monk Beer Abbey is right there with them. I saved the broth to dip my fries in. That's how good they are. I got the burger with beef cheek & it was cooked to perfection. My mom got one of the waffle sandwiches & loved it. Onto the most important thing, the beer. I love Belgian beers & they have a great selection. The waiter was kind enough to let us try samples of their draft before deciding. This was exactly what I needed & I will be back.
(5)
Jess P.
Steve (I'm pretty sure that's his name) is amazing. He was very friendly, informative, and you could tell he thought that the beer and food was quality. He was right! Me and my boyfriend went here during happy hour. They have GREAT deals and an amazing menu. One of my favorite things was their beer list. It's so informative because they list where the beer is from and what style it is. I was able to have a fun time trying things I don't normally get to. The beer is amazing. It's a superb selection. I ordered a salad and it was perfect. Their fries are addictive. We tried many dishes. The selection was amazing and nothing disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in Royal Oak. (Steve is the shit.) :)
(5)
F T.
I do not know where everyone else went, but this place is 1-star only because Yelp requires a minimum. Last night was the worst dining experience I have had in a long time. From the server admitting that their seasonal beer, a Belgian pale, wasn't very good - and being right! - to waiting over an hour for food, this place disappointed in all aspects. Our server was absent most of the time and the lengthy wait for anything and everything was completely unacceptable. The whole place only has 7 tables, yet the 2 servers couldn't figure out how to wait effectively on the 4 that were there. After the Belgian pale was found to be as bad as the server warned, my simple request for a beer menu took over 15 minutes. Then the beer I ordered was not even available - something I learned about 10 minutes later. The burgers were crumbly and bland. Moreover, for some reason, they waste a quarter head of iceberg lettuce on every sandwich! If you've been, you know what I mean, if you haven't then there is no credible way to explain it. In the end, the beer was as bad as it has ever been. I don't know why Bastone & Co. insist on serving their homemade beer when it is inconsistent at best and quite undrinkable at its worst. Habana at least had good food to mask the poor drink options (at a brewery!). While the food and drink were quite terrible, the service just continued to worsen. Our server disappeared, the manager was rude, and every time we needed something, we had to get up to track someone down to ask for it. If anything had been redeeming about this visit, we may consider a return because of our past loyalty to Bastone and Habana, but last night will be our last. When the manager had an opportunity to remedy the situation, his comment was "The good news is that it's happy hour so your food is already 50% off!". I didn't want a discount, I wanted management to exhibit some concern about their patrons' experience. Instead his rude reply, will go unanswered, because if this is the attitude of management, then there is very little the customer can do.
(1)
Peter H.
Definitely a different concept than its sister restaurant next door, and a very welcome one. The menu reads a little more in the realm of "modern gastropub" (with a very belgian twist, naturally), with more interesting ingredients and a bit more creativity. And it's more focused on small bites, sandwiches and burgers. In terms of specifics, the fries are great (as are the dipping sauces, which really do remind me of eating frites in France/Belgium), and the mussels are well done (with some great bread for sauce-sopping). The wild mushroom/garlic/herbs/cream rendition was the best we ordered - it's reminiscent of an awesome mushroom marsala pasta sauce, with mussels underneath. The gaufres (waffle sandwiches) we ordered were both good, but the chicken had probably the better savory combination of flavors - with a little sweetness from the grapes. My pork belly sandwich was great for the first half dozen bites, but the rich sweetness got to be a touch too much by the end. Decor: they actually didn't do all that much to change much from the space's previous incarnation as Cafe Habana. The walls themselves are the same, but there's a pretty slick (but perhaps a little unfinished-looking) wood paneling placed over the top. There are also some new light fixtures, and the bar has changed shape to close off the old connection with Bastone (the new doorway will be at the back of Monk). The intention is clearly to create a "beer bar" atmosphere, where patrons line up next to each other, all quaffing different brews. Beer really is the centerpiece there. They have all of Bastone's in-house offerings, plus American-made belgian style bottles, and a whole heaping ton of imported belgian bottles. The only negative is that there didn't seem to be many belgian bottles less than like 8 bucks. I didn't pay much attention to the sizes, though, so perhaps they're all huge. In any case, it's definitely a worthy neighborhood gastropub spot. Supremely friendly staff, btw.
(4)
Mike R.
Tried Monk Abbey and really liked it. Although the menu is limited, everything we had was great, including the beer and our server too. Prices are reasonable. Negatives: The hostess at the door (of Bastogne, which is attached) must have had a bad day because she was really rude in the phone and later in person. One other warning: this place has literally 1 tiny bathroom for all three restaurants (monk, Bastogne, and the downstairs club). It's ridiculous. Had to downgrade from 5 stars to no more than 4 because of this. And frankly, we probably won't visit very often just because of this.
(4)
My L.
Good mussels, soggy waffles and soggy bread on burgers. The chunk of iceberg lettuce ruined the burger
(3)
Chanell S.
We really enjoyed Monk. We started with a beer sampler and felt we got a good deal on a fun time. Next, the fries cooked in duck fat were tasty but maybe not worth the price (so many scraggly bits instead of hearty fries makes a difference). My lobster waffle more than made up for the fries though. It was just great, I recommend you try it. My partner had a burger. He said the taste was perfect but it was too messy; and I agree, he looked goofy trying to sop up the egg after it immediately ran off the burger. The tray it was served on didn't help either. Poor food ergonomics or something. Don't get me wrong, this visit was a success. We'll be back!
(4)
Mary B.
I love this place!!! I just discovered it on Sunday. It has a great atmosphere and is connected to Bastone. I went when they were having half off the whole menu so the food was super affordable. They are running this special right now Sunday-Wednesday 4-7pm. Great deal! I tried a salad and the veggie burger with fries. Holy smokes it was all great. The portion sizes are huge. Go try it!
(5)
Katherine A.
This place has DELICIOUS burgers. Try to sit at the bar and get Chris; he's super nice, remembers recurring customers, and gives great recommendations depending on what you like (I'm a super picky water) and he's made it into a game. I suggest #1 and add avocado :)
(5)
Nick B.
It's bitter sweet that I review this place. I loved Cafe Havana and was really sad to see it go. The replacement is a decent restaurant but is not a suitable replacement. The food seems very similar to Bastone and I would like to see more variety. There has to be more to Belgium food than this. What is great, is the beer selection. I'm so pleased that they didn't limit themselves to what was brewed on site by Bastone. Not that what they have isn't good. but there are so many tasty Belgium beers out there. I would say go for the beer but not the food.
(3)
Nicole K.
Great place! The mussels and beer are the highlights. The Monk salad with or without protein is also very good. I don't recommend the trio of burgers as sliders. The burgers were dry. Just order a single burger. Will be back for the mussels!
(5)
Cristina T.
Service was good, beer was great, food was the best. Love this place! FRIES ARE AMAZING!!!!
(4)
Amy H.
Visited Monk today for the first time. I've been so excited to try this place, and I'm extremely happy with my experience there. Our server (Tim?) was great. He explained the beer menu/food menu to us in great detail and was very attentive. We ordered 3 different types of moules, the pancetta, the white wine/garlic, and the lobster/tomato. They were savory and packed with flavor. My favorite part was dipping the bread in the broth afterward. Definitely the best mussels I've ever had. We stuck with the Witface beer (Bastone beer), but I would love to go back and try some of the belgian ales they serve. We will definitely be back. We have made it our person goal to try everything on the menu. Good job, Monk!
(5)
Alex P.
Came here to meet a friend for dinner/drinks. Was lucky to have found a parking space in the lot behind Monk. Big pet peeve is a bar that doesn't have a foot rail to rest your feet on when sitting and drinking (- 1 star). Had the Belgian waffle sandwich with the lobster. DAMN good. Also, fires are a must if you eat here. Waitress was super attentive and friendly. The beer selection is huge (obviously).
(4)
Chris A.
This place is awesome. I was looking for something with a unique menu and this place fits the bill. I had the three different mussels for the app menu then I had the waffle with pork belly and fries made in duck fat. DELICIOUS!!! Oh yea and they have some GREAT beer on tap. This place is a must if you want seething different.
(5)
Chris G.
I've visited Monk twice now and loved the food both times. I would highly recommend the mussels with a side of french fries that were fried in duck fat. My only complaint is the menu is fairly limited.
(4)
Kathy V.
I came a cross a listing for Monk, I read over the menu and it sounded different so my husband and I gave it a try. Very cool little place with a nice casual and cozy atmosphere. We arrived at around 7pm on a Saturday, already starting to get busy. the wait staff were all very friendly and attentive making sure everyone was getting seated in order and they were just very pleasant people. we each ordered our drinks, we each ordered ? our own bottle. Restaurant week was going on and I mistakenly ordered.off the restaurant week menu instead of their regular menu. I ordered their wings appetizer, a braised steak served on potatoes with side of veggies and banana and white chocolate bread pudding. While all of it was delicious (especially the bread pudding.) I regretted my order once they brought my husbands food- which he got off their regular menu. He ordered one of their Belgian Blue Beef burgers with braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and grey poupon served on a ciabata bun. along with a side of pomme frittes. cooked in duck fat served with different kinds of mayo/ sauces. My braised steak/stew served in a little crock pot along some flavorful lightly sauteed veggies was scrumptious. it was the perfect comfort food and perfect size and tasted wonderful. when I tasted my husbands burger it blew it away! It was the best hamburger I have ever tasted in my life, cooked perfectly. it was a very messy burger but didn't care at all. ., finger licking good! The fries cooked in duck fat sounded odd- I hate duck - the fat gave the fries such a more rich and sAvory flavor. Awesome! This is definitely our new go to, date night place! Can't wait to try their Beer Cheese Soup next time! Definately STOP by for just a burger and fries and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. only con I would have would be that there's a little bit of a long wait, but not being in a hurry and enjoying the atmosphere, so it didn't really bother us.
(5)
Tracey L.
The beer that Bastone makes is awful. Maybe I'm being a beer snob but that's just my opinion!! The food is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I each had a burger and they were better than any burger I've ever had. The duck frites were so yummy and I loved that it also came with a huge pickle. Our server was very attentive to us and explained to us that they had just changed the menu so it may take longer. Our fried pickles came out after our actual meal so he had them taken off the bill. He was very nice. I don't know his name but he is extremely tall. I will definitely be back! I will just make sure to order one of their bottles beers and not one bastone makes.
(4)
Holly S.
Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you're having a beer. Everything is awesome when eat at monk beer abbey.
(4)
Todd S.
I really wanted to like this place and was anticipating coming here....This place is a dressed up small diner that serves Bastone beer on tap and some really good Belgian beers in bottle only. Here the "bartender" and waitress converse with each other and the cook who is behind the kitchen counter. I'm serious, this place looks like a kicked up Mel's diner. You sit at the bar/counter and the restaurant is small and narrow. Instead of a waitress behind the counter refilling pop, the "bartender" refills the beer. NOW, I'm sure the food is great just like the other two restaurants. Please dont let my review discourage you, I was just looking for much more atmosphere.
(2)
Eowyn K.
I was excited to try Monk, both from the reviews and from my curiosity about what had replaced the Cuban cafe. (Cafe Havana was originally in this spot. At one point it was my favorite Royal Oak restaurant. Then changes were made, I heard it was bought out, and the quality went significantly downhill.) I had heard that the owners (the same as the neighboring Bastone) wanted something that was more aligned with Bastone and the brewery. I found the new decor to be a bit heavy for the narrow space and it felt more closed in than during previous visits to the same space. While my friend was very happy with the beer list and the beer, I was disappointed by the food. Not that everything was bad, because while there was some bad there was also some good stuff happening, but that it was not as amazing as the original Cuban. I love beer cheese soup, so of course had to order this. The soup was thick and came with what I would call salad croutons on top. These are meant for salad, not soup, as they turned to mush due to contact with the soup. I had to pick them out. Soup croutons need to be hard and dense (a plea to the owners to please fix this!). The soup was a bit too thick and had more of a herb taste then I expected. It did have a good flavor though and was filling. My friend and I shared two gaufres: the pulled chicken and the pork belly. The chicken was very good as was the garlic aloi, though the mix of other ingredients reminded me of a chicken salad with a waffles as the bread. The pork belly was not very good. The meat was thickly sliced and incredibly fatty. We are talking hunks of fat, equal amount to the meat. The sauce was too sweet and made the waffle too soggy. This was really too bad as I think pork does well with fruit sauces, cherry in this case. I did not bother to finish it. The sandwiches also came with a hunk of giant pickle. It was fairly good but very difficult to eat. We also had the pomme frites (french fries in the US) with duck fat. They came with ketchup curry and Bearnaise sauce for dipping. They were the best part of the meal. Fried perfectly with a sort of larger salt, just the right amount. My friend really enjoyed the curry ketchup. We had random complaint during our visit. My friend ordered a pale ale that was carbonated and as a result was foaming as poured. While the waiter recognized this and did not fill the glass, he poured it straight in without tipping it which makes it worse. At a regular bar, okay fine, but this is called a beer abbey, the staff should know how to pour beer. Other than that the service was fine. The food was bought quickly and he checked back in with us. Overall, I really liked the concept and think it has potential if the owners make some improvements. The other reviews seem to enjoy the moules so I would come back to try these.
(3)
Lauren H.
Tried Monk for the first time last night and really enjoyed it! The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, and some select entrees. I couldn't decide which burger I wanted so I order the slider sampler which came with 3 small versions of the many delicious burgers. We also had the beer cheese soup which was really rich and filled us up. My date had the waffle ahi tuna sandwich, which was kind of odd to me. A waffle instead of bread... I can't handle it. The waffle got a little soggy and was pretty difficult to eat as it was falling apart. I enjoyed the burgers, they were on a Ciabatta bread and I would have cleared my plate if I wasn't so full! They came with a generous offering of fries. They also have duck fries which is basically normal fries baked with duck fat.. Weird and not healthy but delicious.
(4)
Lori D.
Monk Beer Abbey is an adorable little cozy, old world looking restaurant right next to Bastone. The menu is varied with mussels, prepared six different ways. There are fabulous burgers and the waffle sammies, well, the one I had with pecans and grapes just made me swoon! The very best fries I have had in my life are the duck fries! They come piled high with your sandwich or waffle and honestly, I couldn't stop eating them! They have that extra umph! Our server, Joe S. was AMAZING! He made great recommendations and was so pleasant and helpful! They have these cute little desserts like 2 dark chocolate covered strawberries and a shot glass full of scrumptious mousse that hit the spot. The beers were great too. My husband loved the IPA. (Don't listen to the complainers in other reviews. Seriously, the portions are large and everything is really tasty! I feel the prices are right in line.) Make a trip to Monk Beer Abbey! You won't regret it!
(5)
Patrick R.
The fried pickles were tasty and interesting. Almost a corn dog like batter. I had a trio of sliders with the Duck Fat Frites. The salmon slider, and one of the beef ones was awesome. One of the sliders was only mehhh because of the fatty pork belly on it. It just tasted like not awesome fat in my mouth. Honestly... I couldn't taste the difference between my frites and the wifey's who supposedly got just the normal ones. They were good, but tasted the same. Maybe they gave us the same kind? Also, they give you a ton. The wife had a waffle sandwich with chicken. Interesting.... This place still kinda has that awkward feel the Cuban place did (I do miss my cubanos!), as in you walk in and there's no real host stand or anyone telling you what's up... let alone much of a space to wait in. Eventually, a server or someone behind the counter will greet you. The menu didn't really make sense the way it was laid out. Stuff seemed to be listed in the wrong spots. We'll try it again... hopefully they can tighten up these few loose ends and make this place awesome.
(4)
Julia T.
They have solid food and amazing service. They were able to accomodate a group of ten around 5:30 on a Saturday. Everyone was happy with the food and the beer. I tried the beer tasting (6) and the trio of mussles. I also tried the fried pickles and duck fries that were for the table. They were all delicious. My husband LOVED his waffle and pork sandwich. The portions here are huge so I don't really understand any of the complaints from other reviewers about this place being expensive. For the 10 of us, the tab was $250, not including tip.
(4)
Chuck H.
Went with friends on Friday. Sat outside on the sidewalk seating. I got the Wild Mushroom Garlic Mussels and the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef with house made bacon, edam, iceburg and heirloom tomatoes with the Duck Frites (Pomme frites fried in duck fat). Everything was amazing. Best burger I've ever had.
(5)
Vic N.
Monk Beer Abbey is a beautiful little restaurant situated in the heart of Royal Oak, right next to Bastone Brewery. The restaurant itself looks like an old restaurant in Amsterdam, with large wooden trusses adorning the ceiling. It gives the restaurant an old world appeal! It almost feels like you are stepping back in time a few centuries ago. Unfortunately, I can't compare this restaurant to restaurants in Belgium because I have not been there, thus, I must use Amsterdam, Holland, as my point of reference. If you have never had Belgian food, you must eat the mussels! The best part about them are the presentation-they come in an idividual cast iron pot. I had the mussels with lobster broth and they were very good. I loved dipping my bread in the broth afterwards. I'm giving this place three stars because they did not give enough bread with the mussels (one small piece), and the service was mediocre. However, I have high hopes for this place!
(3)
Samir N.
The good: They have Bastone's beer selection Great Belgian beer bottle selection (which Bastone did not have) DUCK FAT FRIES (graisse de canard pomme frites) waffle sandwiches, ya'll The bad-ish: not sure what to make of their bar/counter - what is the point of the bar if drinks are not made there and there are no taps? This is a very weird/incoherent set up. I would vote to combine this with Bastone - why do these need to be distinct places? I would go further and just combine the whole corner - including Vinotecca and Commune. Knock down the walls and have a common menu - and VOILA! You have a spacious bar that has something for everyone.
(3)
April S.
Loved this quaint beer alley. Finally royal oak has a place that isn't a typical restaurant and caters to a non21 year old only crowd. Draft beers are good and huge Belgium beer selection. Our waiter was amazing. Very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Ray B.
If you never have gone before, check out the menu first as it is limited/ focused. We enjoyed it (again), but.... First, it is understaffed at peak times and the wait for your beverage of choice can take too long. Second, it is cold and drafty. You are looking at our food, ready for the next bite, then bam! Someone opened the door and the cold air hits you like a right hook. That said, the three of us dropped $80 without venturing into the specialty beers.
(3)
Brandon V.
This is a cool small bar in the back of another restaurant located on Main Street. It only seats about 50 people and serves an enormous selection of craft beer. They serve muscles which you can choose from five different broths. You can order a tasting set which comes with muscles in three small pots, so it's a cool way to try 3 different broths at one time. Great place to stop in Royal Oak for a beer or two and an appetizer.
(4)
Jennifer S.
On a cold winter night, Monk Beer Abbey was the perfect final stop for a late dinner. The restaurant is connected to Bastone and Vinotecca - but it's in the back. There's a door that gives direct access from the parking lot, but the waiter explained that they're keeping it closed to keep the draft out. It's a tiny bit inconvenient, but it would be even MORE inconvenient to have a cold wind blowing by while eating, so it's worth walking around to the front of the building and entering through Bastone. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. The benches and chairs are comfy. The lighting is dim. The menu is short, but everything looks delicious. A friend and I split the pork belly waffle sandwich and the duck fat fries. We held on to our menu so that we could order something more if the portions were small. We didn't need to keep the menu! The portion was huge. We were fairly hungry and we weren't able to finish everything. I'm sure to guys would wan their own portions - but it's generous. Everything was tasty, creative and piping hot. The prices seemed a little high, at first. But given the portion size, it's very reasonable. I'm sure I'll be back. We didn't do any drinking - we were wrapping up the evening. But I saw a few cocktails that others were drinking and they looked good :-)
(5)
Tewds R.
fantastic. Ahi tuna waffle is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Their happy hour is unbeatable.
(5)
Ace A.
I had the donner and was a little disappointed. The natural flavor of the donner was masked with a blend of sauces that completely masked the flavor of the meat and purpose. Also the sandwich was soaking wet from the coleslaw juice. Frites had the taste and texture of fries that we're sitting around all day. Overall it was a below-average customer experience. However, I have to say the concept and ambience was nice - for many people that is enough to overlook good eats.
(2)
Mary D.
Great staff, food, and beer. Best happy hour in town as well! Half-off entire menu from 4-6.
(5)
levramosis H.
Best burger in Royal Oak. Wish they were open at lunch. I'm not a fan of Belgian beer because I don't like the taste of Belgian yeast. Through no fault of their own, there were no beers here I liked. There is the option of cocktails from Bastone's bar. My SO had the bacon and Edam burger. I was juicy, perfectly cooked, juicy and fantastically delicious. The giant pickle was delicious if a bit daunting. And the toppings fresh and crisp. I chose the waffle sandwich. It was interesting but not a complete success. The lobster and Havarti were great. There was too much arugula. Some bites of the sandwich were great, some were not tasty. It was impossible to pick up to eat. We chose to share the duck fat fries, which I typically love. These were good not great. The bearnaise had an off almost stale taste. The mammoet was interesting and tasty. Will probably order plain fries and try the curry ketchup next time. Service was good and the restaurant was cleaned up and modernized just enough from it's life as Cafe Habana.
(4)
F T.
I do not know where everyone else went, but this place is 1-star only because Yelp requires a minimum. Last night was the worst dining experience I have had in a long time. From the server admitting that their seasonal beer, a Belgian pale, wasn't very good - and being right! - to waiting over an hour for food, this place disappointed in all aspects. Our server was absent most of the time and the lengthy wait for anything and everything was completely unacceptable. The whole place only has 7 tables, yet the 2 servers couldn't figure out how to wait effectively on the 4 that were there. After the Belgian pale was found to be as bad as the server warned, my simple request for a beer menu took over 15 minutes. Then the beer I ordered was not even available - something I learned about 10 minutes later. The burgers were crumbly and bland. Moreover, for some reason, they waste a quarter head of iceberg lettuce on every sandwich! If you've been, you know what I mean, if you haven't then there is no credible way to explain it. In the end, the beer was as bad as it has ever been. I don't know why Bastone & Co. insist on serving their homemade beer when it is inconsistent at best and quite undrinkable at its worst. Habana at least had good food to mask the poor drink options (at a brewery!). While the food and drink were quite terrible, the service just continued to worsen. Our server disappeared, the manager was rude, and every time we needed something, we had to get up to track someone down to ask for it. If anything had been redeeming about this visit, we may consider a return because of our past loyalty to Bastone and Habana, but last night will be our last. When the manager had an opportunity to remedy the situation, his comment was "The good news is that it's happy hour so your food is already 50% off!". I didn't want a discount, I wanted management to exhibit some concern about their patrons' experience. Instead his rude reply, will go unanswered, because if this is the attitude of management, then there is very little the customer can do.
(1)
Nicole K.
Great place! The mussels and beer are the highlights. The Monk salad with or without protein is also very good. I don't recommend the trio of burgers as sliders. The burgers were dry. Just order a single burger. Will be back for the mussels!
(5)
Cristina T.
Service was good, beer was great, food was the best. Love this place! FRIES ARE AMAZING!!!!
(4)
Amy H.
Visited Monk today for the first time. I've been so excited to try this place, and I'm extremely happy with my experience there. Our server (Tim?) was great. He explained the beer menu/food menu to us in great detail and was very attentive. We ordered 3 different types of moules, the pancetta, the white wine/garlic, and the lobster/tomato. They were savory and packed with flavor. My favorite part was dipping the bread in the broth afterward. Definitely the best mussels I've ever had. We stuck with the Witface beer (Bastone beer), but I would love to go back and try some of the belgian ales they serve. We will definitely be back. We have made it our person goal to try everything on the menu. Good job, Monk!
(5)
Katherine A.
This place has DELICIOUS burgers. Try to sit at the bar and get Chris; he's super nice, remembers recurring customers, and gives great recommendations depending on what you like (I'm a super picky water) and he's made it into a game. I suggest #1 and add avocado :)
(5)
Peter H.
Definitely a different concept than its sister restaurant next door, and a very welcome one. The menu reads a little more in the realm of "modern gastropub" (with a very belgian twist, naturally), with more interesting ingredients and a bit more creativity. And it's more focused on small bites, sandwiches and burgers. In terms of specifics, the fries are great (as are the dipping sauces, which really do remind me of eating frites in France/Belgium), and the mussels are well done (with some great bread for sauce-sopping). The wild mushroom/garlic/herbs/cream rendition was the best we ordered - it's reminiscent of an awesome mushroom marsala pasta sauce, with mussels underneath. The gaufres (waffle sandwiches) we ordered were both good, but the chicken had probably the better savory combination of flavors - with a little sweetness from the grapes. My pork belly sandwich was great for the first half dozen bites, but the rich sweetness got to be a touch too much by the end. Decor: they actually didn't do all that much to change much from the space's previous incarnation as Cafe Habana. The walls themselves are the same, but there's a pretty slick (but perhaps a little unfinished-looking) wood paneling placed over the top. There are also some new light fixtures, and the bar has changed shape to close off the old connection with Bastone (the new doorway will be at the back of Monk). The intention is clearly to create a "beer bar" atmosphere, where patrons line up next to each other, all quaffing different brews. Beer really is the centerpiece there. They have all of Bastone's in-house offerings, plus American-made belgian style bottles, and a whole heaping ton of imported belgian bottles. The only negative is that there didn't seem to be many belgian bottles less than like 8 bucks. I didn't pay much attention to the sizes, though, so perhaps they're all huge. In any case, it's definitely a worthy neighborhood gastropub spot. Supremely friendly staff, btw.
(4)
Mike R.
Tried Monk Abbey and really liked it. Although the menu is limited, everything we had was great, including the beer and our server too. Prices are reasonable. Negatives: The hostess at the door (of Bastogne, which is attached) must have had a bad day because she was really rude in the phone and later in person. One other warning: this place has literally 1 tiny bathroom for all three restaurants (monk, Bastogne, and the downstairs club). It's ridiculous. Had to downgrade from 5 stars to no more than 4 because of this. And frankly, we probably won't visit very often just because of this.
(4)
Chanell S.
We really enjoyed Monk. We started with a beer sampler and felt we got a good deal on a fun time. Next, the fries cooked in duck fat were tasty but maybe not worth the price (so many scraggly bits instead of hearty fries makes a difference). My lobster waffle more than made up for the fries though. It was just great, I recommend you try it. My partner had a burger. He said the taste was perfect but it was too messy; and I agree, he looked goofy trying to sop up the egg after it immediately ran off the burger. The tray it was served on didn't help either. Poor food ergonomics or something. Don't get me wrong, this visit was a success. We'll be back!
(4)
Nao Saudade S.
Incredible!! The mussels here are just beyond amazing! I always get the trio, where I get to choose 3 different styles, however, the mushroom one will always be my favorite. Please try this place, you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Samantha L.
Came here on a Friday evening and sat outside on the patio. We enjoy dining "Al fresco" when it's nice out.... I had the black bean burger and it was very good. It has quinoa, soy beans, and great seasoning. I was stuffed eating it. The portions are generous and filling. My husband got the cheese board and it was HUGE. He was very pleased with the variety of cheese, meats and even fruit. The best part about the board was the bread servings. He usually always runs out of bread, crackers, toast, etc. But, he had more than enough, plus some. The beer selection is extensive and they are under the same ownership as Jolly Pumpkin. If you're into that selection of beers, you'll be happy! The server we had was new and overly attentive, which was nice. But, it started getting busy and it was hard to find him when we wanted to cash out. But, that would not detour me from coming back. Sadly, we did not get to enjoy the full experience since it started pouring and we cashed out and left.. I would like to go back again to eat the black bean burger and dine outside when it's not raining..
(4)
Sarah C.
Good find on my friend's part. She was coming to visit and I wanted her to check out Royal Oak. She looked through Yelp and found this gem. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm. Easy. Got a spot by the door surrounded by three televisions for the Duke vs. Michigan State game. Ordered a salad with no protein. It wasn't half bad. The spot light our meal was the mussels! I am coming back for the mussels. They give you so much! It can be an entire person's meal or even two! Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream 9 and White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter 9. Both comes with two baguettes to dip in their amazing sauce. My favorite was the wild mushrooms. YUM! Service is quite good. They offer a lot of beers but two of the ones my friend wanted was out. Nice restrooms. One hand-dryer but two stalls
(4)
Benjamin B.
I don't know what everyone is raving about with this place...if you want to pay for obscenely priced beer then come here. Waste of a good night...
(1)
Sarah H.
Monk is definitely cozy, but we lucked out for a party of six and got great seats. The drinks were great, the guys loved the beer selections and the mixed drinks were good. Our food had a bit of a wait, but was tasty and hot. I'm looking forward to going there again soon.
(4)
Jennifer E.
First, the cons: Monk's is a teeny, tiny, drafty annex to Bastone's. It's a squeeze and a little claustrophobic. There are no quiet corners and it is loud and a bit drafty due to an exterior door in a bad spot. But: duck frites! These are pretty much the holy grail of french fries, and put even Jolly Pumpkin's truffle fries to shame. I've eaten french fries once this year, and these were it. To die for. Everything else was a little up/down. My older son and my husband shared an elk burger and my son is now looking for elk in the grocery store. (sorry, kid.) I had a bacon/edam burger and it was perfectly edible but nothing to write home about. I will probably try the waffle sandwiches next time instead. My veggie teens tried the veggie burger (pronounced bland) and the Abbey mac (very mushroomy, tasty, but not quite comparable with infamous macs like Union's) You can drink Bastone's beer or Vinotecca's wine; there are no cocktails. Keep in mind also the beer prices are steep, ranging from $8-$22 a glass.
(4)
Claire V.
My favorite restaurant in all of royal oak! Get yourself a nice craft beer - most of the sours are fantastic (but make sure to ask about the price as some beers are over 10 bucks on draft). Get the sampler mussels and choose any 3. My favorites are the mushroom, chorizo and garlic butter. Get the sampler of sliders - can't go wrong with every single one of them. Pair them with the duck fat fries and some mayo dip... Welcome to heaven!
(5)
J D.
I Love this place! Food for the soul. Ask the servers to pick out a beer you are guaranteed to love.
(5)
Bill W.
Moderate beer selection with a focus on Belgians. Not big, and spartan in decor. Helpful waitstaff. Food was ok. Had the donor kebab which was light on meat, heavy on pita. Fries are top notch. Mussels were good with a variety to choose from. A good place, and if I lived in RO, I might visit again but as a visitor, there are so many places to visit.....
(3)
Thomas J.
This place is incredible any day of the week if you're in the mood for food, or just want some fantastic beer. The staff has really improved since they've opened and the current employees are excellent. Top items: Burgers Fries - it's ridiculous that fries are notable but they are. Beer - easily the best Belgian styles in royal oak. They brew 5 or 6 beers on site; their dubbel and tripel are the best usually and I've had a hard time finding a triple I like better.
(5)
Amy L.
My BF and I checked this place out last night. Beer selection was amazing! You should go just for that. Our server Chris was friendly and knowledgable. My BF had the burger with fried egg and duck fat fries. So messy but super delish. I tried the pulled pork waffle sandwich but found it just wasn't to my liking. I could see how some might like it but I wasn't feeling the sauce, which is a pretty key part of a pulled pork sandwich. But Chris was very understanding and recommended that I try the Monk salad with ahi tuna instead and it was INCREDIBLE. I really appreciated the extra effort he put forth to make sure I had a great dining experience. After all this, we still found room for dessert! We ordered the apple pie with honey cinnamon ice cream. So good! Overall, definitely give this place a try. We will be back!
(4)
Melody S.
Food was fantastic - happy hour offers half off dinner entrees. We tried a mussel sampler and all flavors were delicious and had depth in flavor. I had the chorizo mac and cheese and it was fantastic - I'm from Texas and chorizo speaks to my soul. The dish has a great kick to it, but not too spicy. My partner had the salad with seared ahi tuna, which was also pretty good. A little light on the actual salad part. The tuna was cooked perfectly and had good seasonings on it. Dressing was nice and light. Next time, excited to try the waffle sandwiches. I may not be qualified to write this review since we didn't try the beer :) The cocktails...fantastic flavor/combinations, but not very alcoholic at all. Was a little disappointing to have two drinks apiece and zero buzz. And strangely, no happy hour specials on the cocktails (not on the beer, either, I don't think). Happy hour only applied to food. The weak cocktails are the reason for 4 stars and not 5. Service was great, ambience/atmosphere was great...will definitely return. We also happened to be there during Geeks Who Drink trivia, which was a lot of fun (Tuesdays at 7 pm).
(4)
Jay V.
Great place to have some good Monk beer!! Shares the place with Bastone. Must try their Trappist ales.
(4)
Nicole P.
Went here last night to meet a friend. Great spot, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. Chris was our bartender and he is very knowledgable about the different beers they serve. I had a Silly Sour and it was fantastic! The mussels were spectacular! I will be back, especially Sunday - Thursday to take advantage of the happy hour specials from 4 -7 PM!! You will not be disappointed.
(4)
AndrewSumi G.
This is our favorite place to go for mussels in Michigan. All their mussels are soo good! They have about six different flavors with amazingly flavorful broth. All the broth has extra tidbits like bacon or pancetta or mushroom s in them making the broth even heartier and more tasty. The different burgers are also pretty incredible, especially the elk burger. The pomme frites are always crispy and cook to perfection. Their beer selection is huge and the staff always have a recommendation for you if you ask. This is a great place togo for a drink with friends. One of our regular places to hit up in royal oak.
(5)
John H.
Wow....that was fantastic!. Everyone writes about the beer selections, which are excellent so I won't repeat those. But the food is what exceeded my expectations. I had the Donner Kebab with Duck Frites (which you can see everyone raves about). Even the pickled side dish was tasty. Service was also excellent. My waitress was really enthused about the place and the food...and it showed. She was knowledable and provided great details about the menu. This is the type of place you remember....and I will.
(5)
Kathy B.
I came with my husband to try their Restaurant week menu. Why, you say? Cuz they freaking had foie gras burger! As a recent transplant from San Francisco and the ban and all, which by the way was lifted right when we left, I had to get my hands on some foie. The weird thing is that it is attached to Bastone and we were a little confused that even though they were attached to Bastone they had their own menu for Restaurant week. Other than that it is a cozy atmosphere and our server was nice and welcoming. No other waiter got me to order the extras or expensive seasonal suff on tap like he did. Get there at the right time and you can snag a spot easily. Go there 15 minutes later than the optimal time and it's packed. Despite it being busy we still got enough attention from our wait staff. Ok now on to the important stuff: food quality Unfortunately some things were hit or miss. We ordered the beer and cheese soup and house pate for apps. Foie gras burger and donner kabob for mains. Lastly, banana fritters and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The beer and cheese soup had a great taste! I loved the nutmeg they added. The only thing is that it lacked salt. For my house pate plate it had food elemengts of taste. Enough salt in the pate, sweet from the jam of some sort on top of the pate and some tartness from the dressing they put over the tomatoes and onions that accomanied the pate. Although it was a mundane presentation, it still tasted good. The foie gras burger. A disappointment. The burger itself was cooked well and a good portion but that foie was a tiny tiny piece. It was so small because it was cooked within an inch of its life. It had the taste of foie but had all the fat rendered out of it during the cooking process. The duck fries that I had with my burger was pretty awesome and beat tghe seasonal fries by a ton. The donner kabob that my husband got was delicious! I was jealous of what he had. It was a heaping portion that could barely be contained in that pita and the flavor of the slaw went really well with the lamb. The only very very small thing would be proportion of slaw to lamb, but you can easily fix that by taking some slaw out before shoving it into your mouth. Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite dessert of all time. So when I get it I'm a stickler for the taste. And it passed with flying colors. It wasn't as dense as other sticky toffee puddings but that only made it so I wanted more because it was so much lighter. The addition of the pecans (I think) were also a bonus for added texture. Banana fritters was another miss. There was a little too much fritter to banana and either the banana was under ripe or they used sweet plantains because it was starchy. Other than texture and ratio. Taste was pretty good because I think that sauce on top saved it. Overall, the atmosphere, the good food we did had, and good beer selection will keep us coming back again and again. Don't get me wrong the mishaps just made certain dishes ok instead of good. I have high hopes that they will be able to fix their small food mishaps. I'll be back!
(4)
Laura W.
Tasty beer, cozy atmosphere, attentive staff and amazing food! The cod waffle sandwich is heaven! Their prices are actually on the low side, especially considering the quality and amount of food you get.
(5)
Alvin A.
A hidden gem inside Bastone. I usually start off with the Chorizo Mussels or the Wild Mushroom Mussels, delish! They serve the mussels with bread that I dip in the sauce after all the mussel are gone, yum! I've had their Burger with the spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado that is different, juicy, delicious goodness as well as their regular Burger with the fried egg and grilled tasso. I order my burger with light lettuce as they tend to put too much iceberg on there. I like my burgers with a side of dill pickle and they serve their dill pickles cut diagonally in half horizontally; different than your standard pickle spear. Their duck fat pomme frites are to die for, do not pass them up! Their beer selection is all Belgian style and average in price; you could order Bastone's beer but I don't care for it. I can't wait to come back here.
(4)
Mila H.
I have been wanting to try out Monk Beer Abbey for a while and boy am I glad I did! The hubby and I stopped in on Memorial Day since we were starving and happen to be in the Royal Oak area. The food and beer was some of the best I have had since moving from New York to Detroit. We ordered the ahi tuna burger which was topped with kimchi and a spicy mayo sauce, soooo yummy! Our waiter was awesome he suggested upgrading to the duck fat fries - he wasn't pushy about it, since he said some people didn't notice the difference- to what I say HOW?!?! My husband got the regular fries with his doner kabob ( which was amazing - we are from a Turkish region so we know doner) my fries were 1000 times better and I don't even really like fries. We also got the mussels which were in a mushroom cream sauce - hands down the best mussels I have ever had! All of that food plus 2 beers cost us $40 which is a GREAT deal! Definitely 2 thumbs up for Monk Beer Abbey!
(5)
madalyne c.
The beer was ok. Good drafts in the Abby, tried the brew from the front and it missed the mark. Excellent burger. The place is in the back of the restaurant up front, while hard to find was nice because it was quieter.
(4)
Gene G.
Great beer, nice atmosphere, the food is tasty but can be very heavy. Especially liked the goose fat fries (excellent and heavy ), and salmon (or was it tuna ?) patty burger.
(4)
Alexis S.
I went there last night for dinner, and had a great time. It reminded me of Belgium-the atmosphere was spot on. First we ordered the beer cheese soup which was the only thing I would not recommend. It had way too much curry in it. Well, beer cheese soup shouldn't have curry in it at all ha. Next we had the mussels. The menu allowed us to try three different kids, and all 3 were good! We also ordered a hamburger to split with duck fries. I had a Silly Sour beer from Belgium YUM. The waitress was attentive and nice. I liked the hole in the wall atmosphere, and will be back to have the mussels, fries, and beer again!
(5)
Andrew W.
Very good food, the duck fat fries were mouthwatering and sliders were original and delicious. Not to mention it's the only place around that offers a great selection of Flemish sour beers - which I didn't even know I liked until the very knowledgable bartender/server told us all about them and walked us through which ones to order. Go here. Try sours. Be hungry.
(5)
Clara Y.
I came here for a light dinner. The beer selections was very extensive, plus they have the beer that is brewed at Bastone. I came on a Sunday so it was not very crowded. My server was friendly and very attentive. I ordered the Donor Kabab and it had a delicious and spicy dressing with pickled vegetables. We sampled the mussels ( several different combinations ) they were all very good,. It was nice to see ahi tuna on the menu and more traditional items too like burgers. My friend ordered the beer cheese soup and he did NOT like it at all . We all tried it and it tasted more like dijon mustard or a strange chili. Fortunately, our waitress agreed to take it off the menu, and apologized. I think it was merely a taste profile and preference, thus I would not criticize this place for one item. I would highly recommend this establishment, I imagine since its a cozy place that it is very busy on weekend nights .
(5)
Ali A.
A gem in royal oak. We are abbey club members and we love this place. Good thing its slightly hidden and not on the radar for every one. Never have a problem with reservations and the food items here would rival anything new york or vancouver have to offer.
(5)
Matthew T.
Every time I've come here the food and service has been amazing. They have a unique set of Belgian beers that come on draft all the time. If you get Chris as your bartender or server, you're in luck because he will take great care of you. Push the limits and try the elk burger or the ox tail.
(5)
Bryan W.
Amazing beer selection. The food is pretty good, but the portions are massive. My burger had so much going on I could barely finish half of it. The mussels were excellent. The curry sauce was one of the best I've had. If you like Belgian ber, this is a must
(4)
Jill H.
It was a gorgeous day in Royal Oak - the patio on the Bastone (Main St.) side was packed so the host kindly offered us a table on the Monk side. Sure, why not? You have the choice of either menus plus it's quieter than Main anyway! Now, I used to share the same sentiment as many on the Bastone beer, but the IPA I tried this visit was good. It had the not too grapefruity hops and didn't cause me to make the IPA face so I was pleased. Perhaps it's a brew for the non-traditional IPA lovers? I went for the small serving of the monastery mac n cheese. Man! Although quite little, this crock was packed full of richness & savory flavors, you really didn't need much more. I didn't even finish it because I wanted to have some leftovers. Oh and sorry, this isn't for vegetarians! The pork and mushrooms truly completed this dish. My friend got the roasted veggie pizza. I tried a bite and found it to be quite good from flavor to dough density/consistency. Our server was super nice, offered advice on choosing a beer and attentive. What more could you ask for? Well... maybe a readily available place setting for 2 people from the time we were sat down. All in all I would definitely come back to Bastone/Monk on the Abbey based on this recent experience. I've been here for drinks only before and probably would've turned my nose up based solely on that but get a dish, grab a bottled beer or non alcoholic beverage and enjoy yourself.
(4)
Aaron K.
The food was amazing. I was thoroughly impressed. It's a small area, but I think this place has the best food in all of Royal Oak. We had the Kabob and Tuna Burger with the Mac and Cheese. We are locals and try a new place almost every other night. We will definitely be coming back over and over. The other bad news is that they aren't open until 4:00 on Sundays. If you're trying to catch a game and bring some folks down to watch it then you sometimes have a problem, but the actual food is amazing.
(5)
Jason C.
Had amazing dinner their last night! Do the trio of mussels...they were all so amazing it's not fair to try one! My burger was amazing with braised beef cheek on it! Exceptional beers, exceptional good and service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kimberly M.
This place sucks! Ok, good now we can have this place to ourselves. Third visit here and we consistently have had great service, great food and very comfortable atmosphere. As a beer snob I'm happy here and you cannot beat the happy hour.
(5)
Julie R.
An absolute MUST try!!!! Beer selection is not only good, but the waiters know their stuff so well, that they were able to help a non-beer drinker and a "snob" beer drinker find the perfect drink. The mussels....... oh my the mussels. WOW! They have 5 kinds, and I tried the pick three option... I tried -Chorizo, corn, fresh tomato, chipotle cream -White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter -Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream. These were all so different and equally as food. I had to resist myself from drinking the sauce that was left over. For dinner I split the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef, spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado.. The waiter tried to talk us into some "Duck Fat Fries".. This did NOT sound good to me.. but boy was I wrong.. I was fighting to get the last remaining fry on the plate! YUM.. Go here.. It isn't fancy inside but it has a nice charm and in the summer there is outdoor seating.
(5)
Esther G.
Probably my new favorite in Royal Oak. It's attached to Bastone -- in fact, you can go from Bastone to Monk although I wouldn't really recommend it. I just had to because I didn't realize that Monk isn't actually on Main but the side street. Lesson learned. A group of us had great service, amazing food and solid drinks. I like that it's smaller, offering a more intimate atmosphere. The menu is divided into mussels, waffle sandwiches, burgers and sides. They could've brought out anything, and I think I would've loved it. Another great thing is that with the burgers, you can try a slider portion of three, and with the mussels, sample three as well. A handful of us ordered food, and the portion sizes are enormous! I went with the pulled chicken waffle sandwich. Super messy, but stuffed with apple, pecans, red grapes, onion and aioli. I liked the nutty flavor of the pecans with the slight tart of the apples. I subbed the regular frites for the ones fried in duck fat for $2 more. Do it. I did not take part in any spirits this particular night, but I'm pretty sure my friends were highly satisfied with the offerings of beer.
(5)
Carly F.
The mussels with the garlic butter sauce and the duck fries were the best I've had in royal oak! So good.
(5)
Bill L.
The staff here is the best. They are always happy and cheerful. They really want you to enjoy the experience. They are extremely knowledgeable about their food and drink selections. And the food. Holy mackerel! The food is amazing! Everything is great. Muscles are always delicious. The sausage trio is beyond description. Mustard is sweet with a bite and pairs great with the sausage. The cook is a magician! Chris is my favorite waiter, but they are all great
(5)
Katie M.
Delicious food, great beer AND great happy hour prices! I would definitely recommend and am planning on going back again soon!
(5)
Jess P.
Steve (I'm pretty sure that's his name) is amazing. He was very friendly, informative, and you could tell he thought that the beer and food was quality. He was right! Me and my boyfriend went here during happy hour. They have GREAT deals and an amazing menu. One of my favorite things was their beer list. It's so informative because they list where the beer is from and what style it is. I was able to have a fun time trying things I don't normally get to. The beer is amazing. It's a superb selection. I ordered a salad and it was perfect. Their fries are addictive. We tried many dishes. The selection was amazing and nothing disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in Royal Oak. (Steve is the shit.) :)
(5)
Tara L.
The sun was out, the breeze was up, and hair being blown in the wind; perfect day for some Belgian beer and waffles! The concept of Monk sounded interesting. They open at 4pm everyday, and we arrived a little beforehand on a Saturday afternoon. Even though we had arrived just 5 minutes before opening, the bartender wasn't exactly the most friendly when I popped my head in and asked, "Are you guys open already?" I mean, the door was open all the way (not ajar) so it was a little misleading, and since 5 minutes isn't a ton of time, we thought maybe it would have been okay just to be offered to sit at the bar while we waited. Well, that didn't happen, so we took a stroll around the block. After about 15 minutes, we came back, and waited to be seated. There wasn't anybody to greet us immediately, so we waited about 2-3 minutes before our server came out and told us that we could sit anywhere. We elected to sit in a booth further back into the space. The space itself is quite dark, and the dark fabric curtains certainly don't help. I suppose that they are trying to capture a more elusive bar feel, but the booths are black, and the table tops are dark cherry brown with black table tops, so it seemed a little bit TOO dark. It wasn't a huge deal; just something we observed. As first timers, we got a detailed explanation about the menu, and were excited to try a little bit of everything. We ordered - 1. White wine, garlic, fresh herbs, salted butter moules ($9): Mussels were on the bigger side, so not as sweet. Fresh, perfectly steamed, and had great flavor with the chopped garlic, parsley, and white wine. I was a little afraid that the salted butter would be the prominent flavor profile, but it was really light and understated. The white wine really showed clearly, so it was tasty. Good balance, and good amount. Loved the cast iron pot that it was served in. It really matches the concept of the beer bar. The baguette had great flavor, and was perfectly grilled, but more like a breadstick than a true baguette. Yum though! 2. Burger with housemade bacon and Edam cheese ($10): Nicely seasoned and flavorful patty. The meat was moist, and had enough fat without being greasy (I'm guessing a 80/20 blend). I ordered mine medium, and it came out just as we both like it. I gave half to Husband, and he agreed that it was tasty. There were two thin slices of bacon, and a nice slice of Edam cheese that melted on top of the beef patty. Other accoutrements included fresh green lettuce, heirloom tomatoes. I particularly liked the heirloom tomatoes, but wish there were onions as well. 3. Lobster, arugula, hazelnut vinaigrette, Havarti dill cheese wrapped in a fennel herb waffle ($13): It was a lot smaller than I expected. The flavors were okay, but we weren't huge fans. It was a bit sloppy, and the waffle was too soft and sweet when you bit into it. Lobster amounts were decent, but way too much arugula for the amount of meat. I didn't really taste much of the Havarti dill cheese, and the vinaigrette. Overall, it just tasted too sweet. 4. Frites with curry ketchup and bearnaise sauces ($5): They were a great texture, and not over fried. Loved the curry ketchup, but the bearnaise was mediocre. The amount was good for the price, but nothing wow. We also ordered a 6-beer sampler ($7), and I'm not much of a beer drinker due to allergies, but the little sampling I had was good. My favorites were the Monumental Blonde, Dubbel Vision, and Nectar des Dieux Triple. Coincidentally, most of them had fruit undertones; probably the reason why I liked them. :D The Royal IPA was our least favorite of the group. Final bill came out to be about $44 before tip. I think it's a fun place to come with friends and your partner, but foodwise, it was overall just average. The mussels and beer are worth getting here, but the others, I'd probably pass on.
(3)
Alyssa R.
I was excited when this place opened. I thought, "good! Bastones is finally utilizing their space and are opening an awesome microbrew place!" So, I scheduled a time after work one day to go check it out on their happy hour down time. I honestly was first caught by their clean website and nicely done logo (graphics nerd alert), but disliked that they still have their cafehabana.com domain. Come on guys, go buy the domain and then redirect. Ok. non-food rant over. They have a wide variety of belgian beers to choose from, which I can't have since they aren't gluten-free, but beer lovers will enjoy new beers that aren't at the other local watering holes. From the descriptions of their food one would think this is a goto place every week. Mussels, burgers, mac and cheeses, waffle sandwiches!@#@(! With descriptions like, "Pork belly, house made tasso ham, bacon pancetta, spiced bbq sauce..." who has time to think about going anywhere else. This obviously is the right choice to go to... THEN you go there. You order. You taste and you feel a little sadness in your heart. The wonderful descriptions that made your mouth water suddenly left you with deep deep food regrets. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were off that day (They only had two customers - me being one of them). Maybe they were still fixing the kinks and they weren't quite ready for customers. I mean Rock City Eatery was kind of like that. But I knew that Rock City Eatery was going to be great if they fixed their sh*t. But I'm not so sure about Beer Monk. I think that they will always be an OK place. The ahi tuna burger was overcooked (super dry) and the flavors didn't quite mesh well together. The hummus and kimchi didn't really work. Maybe try something pickled and keep the siracha mayo? Then there were the sliders. You can pick any three from the main burgers and have a mini version of them (Char-grilled elk, maytag bleu cheese and pancetta with French fried onions, hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef, barbecued pork belly, cheddar, apple slaw and Hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef with housemade bacon, edam). The best one of the burgers was the regular belgian blue beef with bacon. All the other burgers were overcooked and again their flavors didn't mesh well. I think the items were made to go together, but something went wrong in the execution. The pork should be tender and moist. It doesn't really need the cheddar hiding the BBQ and the apple slaw. That is, if it's good. The grilled elk was really dry so I can't make an accurate assessment of what it would taste like because I stopped eating it. The fries were fine. They come from bastones and they are made on the regular. It's really hard to mess up fries unless they are drenched in grease, ridiculously over salted and cold. So that went well. I haven't been back to BMA. Maybe I will someday, but it's not looking good in the near future.
(2)
Carrie B.
I've been on a hunt for a good burger, great mussels & awesome beer. This place has all three. Since I'm new in town I was confused that it was connected to another restaurant & we walked to Bastone but I asked the hostess if they had mussels & she said Monk has better mussels. The mussels with ham & spicy tomato were amazing! My fav place in Chicago had the best mussels & Monk Beer Abbey is right there with them. I saved the broth to dip my fries in. That's how good they are. I got the burger with beef cheek & it was cooked to perfection. My mom got one of the waffle sandwiches & loved it. Onto the most important thing, the beer. I love Belgian beers & they have a great selection. The waiter was kind enough to let us try samples of their draft before deciding. This was exactly what I needed & I will be back.
My recent visit was the result of my fellow Yelpers who liked this place & while my visit was a pleasant experience it had a number of short comings which would make me hesitate before visiting again. Loved - out door seating; didn't love the waitstaff had a hard time remembering we were outside. Loved - the 6 beer sampler option; didn't love that the waitstaff had to be told twice to bring me a pint of the IPA I selected. Loved - the Mac-N-Chz which was hot, flavorful, and well presented; didn't love the fried pickles ... in fact, couldn't eat them. A giant pickle, quartered, battered & fried that was way overwhelming in pickle flavor & difficult to eat. Lastly, didn't love that after I settled with the waitstaff because her shift was done, the next server could seem to find us sitting in the same seats. Hmmm, as I review my experience, I don't think I'll make it back for quite a while.
(3)
Mary B.
I love this place!!! I just discovered it on Sunday. It has a great atmosphere and is connected to Bastone. I went when they were having half off the whole menu so the food was super affordable. They are running this special right now Sunday-Wednesday 4-7pm. Great deal! I tried a salad and the veggie burger with fries. Holy smokes it was all great. The portion sizes are huge. Go try it!
(5)
Nick B.
It's bitter sweet that I review this place. I loved Cafe Havana and was really sad to see it go. The replacement is a decent restaurant but is not a suitable replacement. The food seems very similar to Bastone and I would like to see more variety. There has to be more to Belgium food than this. What is great, is the beer selection. I'm so pleased that they didn't limit themselves to what was brewed on site by Bastone. Not that what they have isn't good. but there are so many tasty Belgium beers out there. I would say go for the beer but not the food.
(3)
Alex P.
Came here to meet a friend for dinner/drinks. Was lucky to have found a parking space in the lot behind Monk. Big pet peeve is a bar that doesn't have a foot rail to rest your feet on when sitting and drinking (- 1 star). Had the Belgian waffle sandwich with the lobster. DAMN good. Also, fires are a must if you eat here. Waitress was super attentive and friendly. The beer selection is huge (obviously).
(4)
Holly S.
Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you're having a beer. Everything is awesome when eat at monk beer abbey.
(4)
Lori D.
Monk Beer Abbey is an adorable little cozy, old world looking restaurant right next to Bastone. The menu is varied with mussels, prepared six different ways. There are fabulous burgers and the waffle sammies, well, the one I had with pecans and grapes just made me swoon! The very best fries I have had in my life are the duck fries! They come piled high with your sandwich or waffle and honestly, I couldn't stop eating them! They have that extra umph! Our server, Joe S. was AMAZING! He made great recommendations and was so pleasant and helpful! They have these cute little desserts like 2 dark chocolate covered strawberries and a shot glass full of scrumptious mousse that hit the spot. The beers were great too. My husband loved the IPA. (Don't listen to the complainers in other reviews. Seriously, the portions are large and everything is really tasty! I feel the prices are right in line.) Make a trip to Monk Beer Abbey! You won't regret it!
(5)
Kathy V.
I came a cross a listing for Monk, I read over the menu and it sounded different so my husband and I gave it a try. Very cool little place with a nice casual and cozy atmosphere. We arrived at around 7pm on a Saturday, already starting to get busy. the wait staff were all very friendly and attentive making sure everyone was getting seated in order and they were just very pleasant people. we each ordered our drinks, we each ordered ? our own bottle. Restaurant week was going on and I mistakenly ordered.off the restaurant week menu instead of their regular menu. I ordered their wings appetizer, a braised steak served on potatoes with side of veggies and banana and white chocolate bread pudding. While all of it was delicious (especially the bread pudding.) I regretted my order once they brought my husbands food- which he got off their regular menu. He ordered one of their Belgian Blue Beef burgers with braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and grey poupon served on a ciabata bun. along with a side of pomme frittes. cooked in duck fat served with different kinds of mayo/ sauces. My braised steak/stew served in a little crock pot along some flavorful lightly sauteed veggies was scrumptious. it was the perfect comfort food and perfect size and tasted wonderful. when I tasted my husbands burger it blew it away! It was the best hamburger I have ever tasted in my life, cooked perfectly. it was a very messy burger but didn't care at all. ., finger licking good! The fries cooked in duck fat sounded odd- I hate duck - the fat gave the fries such a more rich and sAvory flavor. Awesome! This is definitely our new go to, date night place! Can't wait to try their Beer Cheese Soup next time! Definately STOP by for just a burger and fries and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. only con I would have would be that there's a little bit of a long wait, but not being in a hurry and enjoying the atmosphere, so it didn't really bother us.
(5)
Tracey L.
The beer that Bastone makes is awful. Maybe I'm being a beer snob but that's just my opinion!! The food is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I each had a burger and they were better than any burger I've ever had. The duck frites were so yummy and I loved that it also came with a huge pickle. Our server was very attentive to us and explained to us that they had just changed the menu so it may take longer. Our fried pickles came out after our actual meal so he had them taken off the bill. He was very nice. I don't know his name but he is extremely tall. I will definitely be back! I will just make sure to order one of their bottles beers and not one bastone makes.
(4)
Eowyn K.
I was excited to try Monk, both from the reviews and from my curiosity about what had replaced the Cuban cafe. (Cafe Havana was originally in this spot. At one point it was my favorite Royal Oak restaurant. Then changes were made, I heard it was bought out, and the quality went significantly downhill.) I had heard that the owners (the same as the neighboring Bastone) wanted something that was more aligned with Bastone and the brewery. I found the new decor to be a bit heavy for the narrow space and it felt more closed in than during previous visits to the same space. While my friend was very happy with the beer list and the beer, I was disappointed by the food. Not that everything was bad, because while there was some bad there was also some good stuff happening, but that it was not as amazing as the original Cuban. I love beer cheese soup, so of course had to order this. The soup was thick and came with what I would call salad croutons on top. These are meant for salad, not soup, as they turned to mush due to contact with the soup. I had to pick them out. Soup croutons need to be hard and dense (a plea to the owners to please fix this!). The soup was a bit too thick and had more of a herb taste then I expected. It did have a good flavor though and was filling. My friend and I shared two gaufres: the pulled chicken and the pork belly. The chicken was very good as was the garlic aloi, though the mix of other ingredients reminded me of a chicken salad with a waffles as the bread. The pork belly was not very good. The meat was thickly sliced and incredibly fatty. We are talking hunks of fat, equal amount to the meat. The sauce was too sweet and made the waffle too soggy. This was really too bad as I think pork does well with fruit sauces, cherry in this case. I did not bother to finish it. The sandwiches also came with a hunk of giant pickle. It was fairly good but very difficult to eat. We also had the pomme frites (french fries in the US) with duck fat. They came with ketchup curry and Bearnaise sauce for dipping. They were the best part of the meal. Fried perfectly with a sort of larger salt, just the right amount. My friend really enjoyed the curry ketchup. We had random complaint during our visit. My friend ordered a pale ale that was carbonated and as a result was foaming as poured. While the waiter recognized this and did not fill the glass, he poured it straight in without tipping it which makes it worse. At a regular bar, okay fine, but this is called a beer abbey, the staff should know how to pour beer. Other than that the service was fine. The food was bought quickly and he checked back in with us. Overall, I really liked the concept and think it has potential if the owners make some improvements. The other reviews seem to enjoy the moules so I would come back to try these.
(3)
Lauren H.
Tried Monk for the first time last night and really enjoyed it! The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, and some select entrees. I couldn't decide which burger I wanted so I order the slider sampler which came with 3 small versions of the many delicious burgers. We also had the beer cheese soup which was really rich and filled us up. My date had the waffle ahi tuna sandwich, which was kind of odd to me. A waffle instead of bread... I can't handle it. The waffle got a little soggy and was pretty difficult to eat as it was falling apart. I enjoyed the burgers, they were on a Ciabatta bread and I would have cleared my plate if I wasn't so full! They came with a generous offering of fries. They also have duck fries which is basically normal fries baked with duck fat.. Weird and not healthy but delicious.
(4)
Brandon V.
This is a cool small bar in the back of another restaurant located on Main Street. It only seats about 50 people and serves an enormous selection of craft beer. They serve muscles which you can choose from five different broths. You can order a tasting set which comes with muscles in three small pots, so it's a cool way to try 3 different broths at one time. Great place to stop in Royal Oak for a beer or two and an appetizer.
(4)
Jennifer S.
On a cold winter night, Monk Beer Abbey was the perfect final stop for a late dinner. The restaurant is connected to Bastone and Vinotecca - but it's in the back. There's a door that gives direct access from the parking lot, but the waiter explained that they're keeping it closed to keep the draft out. It's a tiny bit inconvenient, but it would be even MORE inconvenient to have a cold wind blowing by while eating, so it's worth walking around to the front of the building and entering through Bastone. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. The benches and chairs are comfy. The lighting is dim. The menu is short, but everything looks delicious. A friend and I split the pork belly waffle sandwich and the duck fat fries. We held on to our menu so that we could order something more if the portions were small. We didn't need to keep the menu! The portion was huge. We were fairly hungry and we weren't able to finish everything. I'm sure to guys would wan their own portions - but it's generous. Everything was tasty, creative and piping hot. The prices seemed a little high, at first. But given the portion size, it's very reasonable. I'm sure I'll be back. We didn't do any drinking - we were wrapping up the evening. But I saw a few cocktails that others were drinking and they looked good :-)
(5)
Tewds R.
fantastic. Ahi tuna waffle is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Their happy hour is unbeatable.
(5)
Ace A.
I had the donner and was a little disappointed. The natural flavor of the donner was masked with a blend of sauces that completely masked the flavor of the meat and purpose. Also the sandwich was soaking wet from the coleslaw juice. Frites had the taste and texture of fries that we're sitting around all day. Overall it was a below-average customer experience. However, I have to say the concept and ambience was nice - for many people that is enough to overlook good eats.
(2)
Mary D.
Great staff, food, and beer. Best happy hour in town as well! Half-off entire menu from 4-6.
(5)
Vic N.
Monk Beer Abbey is a beautiful little restaurant situated in the heart of Royal Oak, right next to Bastone Brewery. The restaurant itself looks like an old restaurant in Amsterdam, with large wooden trusses adorning the ceiling. It gives the restaurant an old world appeal! It almost feels like you are stepping back in time a few centuries ago. Unfortunately, I can't compare this restaurant to restaurants in Belgium because I have not been there, thus, I must use Amsterdam, Holland, as my point of reference. If you have never had Belgian food, you must eat the mussels! The best part about them are the presentation-they come in an idividual cast iron pot. I had the mussels with lobster broth and they were very good. I loved dipping my bread in the broth afterwards. I'm giving this place three stars because they did not give enough bread with the mussels (one small piece), and the service was mediocre. However, I have high hopes for this place!
(3)
levramosis H.
Best burger in Royal Oak. Wish they were open at lunch. I'm not a fan of Belgian beer because I don't like the taste of Belgian yeast. Through no fault of their own, there were no beers here I liked. There is the option of cocktails from Bastone's bar. My SO had the bacon and Edam burger. I was juicy, perfectly cooked, juicy and fantastically delicious. The giant pickle was delicious if a bit daunting. And the toppings fresh and crisp. I chose the waffle sandwich. It was interesting but not a complete success. The lobster and Havarti were great. There was too much arugula. Some bites of the sandwich were great, some were not tasty. It was impossible to pick up to eat. We chose to share the duck fat fries, which I typically love. These were good not great. The bearnaise had an off almost stale taste. The mammoet was interesting and tasty. Will probably order plain fries and try the curry ketchup next time. Service was good and the restaurant was cleaned up and modernized just enough from it's life as Cafe Habana.
(4)
Samir N.
The good: They have Bastone's beer selection Great Belgian beer bottle selection (which Bastone did not have) DUCK FAT FRIES (graisse de canard pomme frites) waffle sandwiches, ya'll The bad-ish: not sure what to make of their bar/counter - what is the point of the bar if drinks are not made there and there are no taps? This is a very weird/incoherent set up. I would vote to combine this with Bastone - why do these need to be distinct places? I would go further and just combine the whole corner - including Vinotecca and Commune. Knock down the walls and have a common menu - and VOILA! You have a spacious bar that has something for everyone.
(3)
April S.
Loved this quaint beer alley. Finally royal oak has a place that isn't a typical restaurant and caters to a non21 year old only crowd. Draft beers are good and huge Belgium beer selection. Our waiter was amazing. Very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Ray B.
If you never have gone before, check out the menu first as it is limited/ focused. We enjoyed it (again), but.... First, it is understaffed at peak times and the wait for your beverage of choice can take too long. Second, it is cold and drafty. You are looking at our food, ready for the next bite, then bam! Someone opened the door and the cold air hits you like a right hook. That said, the three of us dropped $80 without venturing into the specialty beers.
(3)
Andrea H.
This place is awesome. We had great food, great beer (a little pricey) and great service! It's pretty small so it wouldn't be good for a big group. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Chris A.
This place is awesome. I was looking for something with a unique menu and this place fits the bill. I had the three different mussels for the app menu then I had the waffle with pork belly and fries made in duck fat. DELICIOUS!!! Oh yea and they have some GREAT beer on tap. This place is a must if you want seething different.
(5)
Chris G.
I've visited Monk twice now and loved the food both times. I would highly recommend the mussels with a side of french fries that were fried in duck fat. My only complaint is the menu is fairly limited.
(4)
Julia T.
They have solid food and amazing service. They were able to accomodate a group of ten around 5:30 on a Saturday. Everyone was happy with the food and the beer. I tried the beer tasting (6) and the trio of mussles. I also tried the fried pickles and duck fries that were for the table. They were all delicious. My husband LOVED his waffle and pork sandwich. The portions here are huge so I don't really understand any of the complaints from other reviewers about this place being expensive. For the 10 of us, the tab was $250, not including tip.
(4)
Kasia C.
Best food in Royal Oak.
(5)
Patrick R.
The fried pickles were tasty and interesting. Almost a corn dog like batter. I had a trio of sliders with the Duck Fat Frites. The salmon slider, and one of the beef ones was awesome. One of the sliders was only mehhh because of the fatty pork belly on it. It just tasted like not awesome fat in my mouth. Honestly... I couldn't taste the difference between my frites and the wifey's who supposedly got just the normal ones. They were good, but tasted the same. Maybe they gave us the same kind? Also, they give you a ton. The wife had a waffle sandwich with chicken. Interesting.... This place still kinda has that awkward feel the Cuban place did (I do miss my cubanos!), as in you walk in and there's no real host stand or anyone telling you what's up... let alone much of a space to wait in. Eventually, a server or someone behind the counter will greet you. The menu didn't really make sense the way it was laid out. Stuff seemed to be listed in the wrong spots. We'll try it again... hopefully they can tighten up these few loose ends and make this place awesome.
(4)
Chuck H.
Went with friends on Friday. Sat outside on the sidewalk seating. I got the Wild Mushroom Garlic Mussels and the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef with house made bacon, edam, iceburg and heirloom tomatoes with the Duck Frites (Pomme frites fried in duck fat). Everything was amazing. Best burger I've ever had.
(5)
Todd S.
I really wanted to like this place and was anticipating coming here....This place is a dressed up small diner that serves Bastone beer on tap and some really good Belgian beers in bottle only. Here the "bartender" and waitress converse with each other and the cook who is behind the kitchen counter. I'm serious, this place looks like a kicked up Mel's diner. You sit at the bar/counter and the restaurant is small and narrow. Instead of a waitress behind the counter refilling pop, the "bartender" refills the beer. NOW, I'm sure the food is great just like the other two restaurants. Please dont let my review discourage you, I was just looking for much more atmosphere.
(2)
My L.
Good mussels, soggy waffles and soggy bread on burgers. The chunk of iceberg lettuce ruined the burger
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Laura W.
Tasty beer, cozy atmosphere, attentive staff and amazing food! The cod waffle sandwich is heaven! Their prices are actually on the low side, especially considering the quality and amount of food you get.
(5)Kathy B.
I came with my husband to try their Restaurant week menu. Why, you say? Cuz they freaking had foie gras burger! As a recent transplant from San Francisco and the ban and all, which by the way was lifted right when we left, I had to get my hands on some foie. The weird thing is that it is attached to Bastone and we were a little confused that even though they were attached to Bastone they had their own menu for Restaurant week. Other than that it is a cozy atmosphere and our server was nice and welcoming. No other waiter got me to order the extras or expensive seasonal suff on tap like he did. Get there at the right time and you can snag a spot easily. Go there 15 minutes later than the optimal time and it's packed. Despite it being busy we still got enough attention from our wait staff. Ok now on to the important stuff: food quality Unfortunately some things were hit or miss. We ordered the beer and cheese soup and house pate for apps. Foie gras burger and donner kabob for mains. Lastly, banana fritters and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The beer and cheese soup had a great taste! I loved the nutmeg they added. The only thing is that it lacked salt. For my house pate plate it had food elemengts of taste. Enough salt in the pate, sweet from the jam of some sort on top of the pate and some tartness from the dressing they put over the tomatoes and onions that accomanied the pate. Although it was a mundane presentation, it still tasted good. The foie gras burger. A disappointment. The burger itself was cooked well and a good portion but that foie was a tiny tiny piece. It was so small because it was cooked within an inch of its life. It had the taste of foie but had all the fat rendered out of it during the cooking process. The duck fries that I had with my burger was pretty awesome and beat tghe seasonal fries by a ton. The donner kabob that my husband got was delicious! I was jealous of what he had. It was a heaping portion that could barely be contained in that pita and the flavor of the slaw went really well with the lamb. The only very very small thing would be proportion of slaw to lamb, but you can easily fix that by taking some slaw out before shoving it into your mouth. Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite dessert of all time. So when I get it I'm a stickler for the taste. And it passed with flying colors. It wasn't as dense as other sticky toffee puddings but that only made it so I wanted more because it was so much lighter. The addition of the pecans (I think) were also a bonus for added texture. Banana fritters was another miss. There was a little too much fritter to banana and either the banana was under ripe or they used sweet plantains because it was starchy. Other than texture and ratio. Taste was pretty good because I think that sauce on top saved it. Overall, the atmosphere, the good food we did had, and good beer selection will keep us coming back again and again. Don't get me wrong the mishaps just made certain dishes ok instead of good. I have high hopes that they will be able to fix their small food mishaps. I'll be back!
(4)Benjamin B.
I don't know what everyone is raving about with this place...if you want to pay for obscenely priced beer then come here. Waste of a good night...
(1)Sarah C.
Good find on my friend's part. She was coming to visit and I wanted her to check out Royal Oak. She looked through Yelp and found this gem. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm. Easy. Got a spot by the door surrounded by three televisions for the Duke vs. Michigan State game. Ordered a salad with no protein. It wasn't half bad. The spot light our meal was the mussels! I am coming back for the mussels. They give you so much! It can be an entire person's meal or even two! Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream 9 and White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter 9. Both comes with two baguettes to dip in their amazing sauce. My favorite was the wild mushrooms. YUM! Service is quite good. They offer a lot of beers but two of the ones my friend wanted was out. Nice restrooms. One hand-dryer but two stalls
(4)Jennifer E.
First, the cons: Monk's is a teeny, tiny, drafty annex to Bastone's. It's a squeeze and a little claustrophobic. There are no quiet corners and it is loud and a bit drafty due to an exterior door in a bad spot. But: duck frites! These are pretty much the holy grail of french fries, and put even Jolly Pumpkin's truffle fries to shame. I've eaten french fries once this year, and these were it. To die for. Everything else was a little up/down. My older son and my husband shared an elk burger and my son is now looking for elk in the grocery store. (sorry, kid.) I had a bacon/edam burger and it was perfectly edible but nothing to write home about. I will probably try the waffle sandwiches next time instead. My veggie teens tried the veggie burger (pronounced bland) and the Abbey mac (very mushroomy, tasty, but not quite comparable with infamous macs like Union's) You can drink Bastone's beer or Vinotecca's wine; there are no cocktails. Keep in mind also the beer prices are steep, ranging from $8-$22 a glass.
(4)Alvin A.
A hidden gem inside Bastone. I usually start off with the Chorizo Mussels or the Wild Mushroom Mussels, delish! They serve the mussels with bread that I dip in the sauce after all the mussel are gone, yum! I've had their Burger with the spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado that is different, juicy, delicious goodness as well as their regular Burger with the fried egg and grilled tasso. I order my burger with light lettuce as they tend to put too much iceberg on there. I like my burgers with a side of dill pickle and they serve their dill pickles cut diagonally in half horizontally; different than your standard pickle spear. Their duck fat pomme frites are to die for, do not pass them up! Their beer selection is all Belgian style and average in price; you could order Bastone's beer but I don't care for it. I can't wait to come back here.
(4)Mila H.
I have been wanting to try out Monk Beer Abbey for a while and boy am I glad I did! The hubby and I stopped in on Memorial Day since we were starving and happen to be in the Royal Oak area. The food and beer was some of the best I have had since moving from New York to Detroit. We ordered the ahi tuna burger which was topped with kimchi and a spicy mayo sauce, soooo yummy! Our waiter was awesome he suggested upgrading to the duck fat fries - he wasn't pushy about it, since he said some people didn't notice the difference- to what I say HOW?!?! My husband got the regular fries with his doner kabob ( which was amazing - we are from a Turkish region so we know doner) my fries were 1000 times better and I don't even really like fries. We also got the mussels which were in a mushroom cream sauce - hands down the best mussels I have ever had! All of that food plus 2 beers cost us $40 which is a GREAT deal! Definitely 2 thumbs up for Monk Beer Abbey!
(5)madalyne c.
The beer was ok. Good drafts in the Abby, tried the brew from the front and it missed the mark. Excellent burger. The place is in the back of the restaurant up front, while hard to find was nice because it was quieter.
(4)Gene G.
Great beer, nice atmosphere, the food is tasty but can be very heavy. Especially liked the goose fat fries (excellent and heavy ), and salmon (or was it tuna ?) patty burger.
(4)Sarah H.
Monk is definitely cozy, but we lucked out for a party of six and got great seats. The drinks were great, the guys loved the beer selections and the mixed drinks were good. Our food had a bit of a wait, but was tasty and hot. I'm looking forward to going there again soon.
(4)Samantha L.
Came here on a Friday evening and sat outside on the patio. We enjoy dining "Al fresco" when it's nice out.... I had the black bean burger and it was very good. It has quinoa, soy beans, and great seasoning. I was stuffed eating it. The portions are generous and filling. My husband got the cheese board and it was HUGE. He was very pleased with the variety of cheese, meats and even fruit. The best part about the board was the bread servings. He usually always runs out of bread, crackers, toast, etc. But, he had more than enough, plus some. The beer selection is extensive and they are under the same ownership as Jolly Pumpkin. If you're into that selection of beers, you'll be happy! The server we had was new and overly attentive, which was nice. But, it started getting busy and it was hard to find him when we wanted to cash out. But, that would not detour me from coming back. Sadly, we did not get to enjoy the full experience since it started pouring and we cashed out and left.. I would like to go back again to eat the black bean burger and dine outside when it's not raining..
(4)Thomas J.
This place is incredible any day of the week if you're in the mood for food, or just want some fantastic beer. The staff has really improved since they've opened and the current employees are excellent. Top items: Burgers Fries - it's ridiculous that fries are notable but they are. Beer - easily the best Belgian styles in royal oak. They brew 5 or 6 beers on site; their dubbel and tripel are the best usually and I've had a hard time finding a triple I like better.
(5)Amy L.
My BF and I checked this place out last night. Beer selection was amazing! You should go just for that. Our server Chris was friendly and knowledgable. My BF had the burger with fried egg and duck fat fries. So messy but super delish. I tried the pulled pork waffle sandwich but found it just wasn't to my liking. I could see how some might like it but I wasn't feeling the sauce, which is a pretty key part of a pulled pork sandwich. But Chris was very understanding and recommended that I try the Monk salad with ahi tuna instead and it was INCREDIBLE. I really appreciated the extra effort he put forth to make sure I had a great dining experience. After all this, we still found room for dessert! We ordered the apple pie with honey cinnamon ice cream. So good! Overall, definitely give this place a try. We will be back!
(4)Melody S.
Food was fantastic - happy hour offers half off dinner entrees. We tried a mussel sampler and all flavors were delicious and had depth in flavor. I had the chorizo mac and cheese and it was fantastic - I'm from Texas and chorizo speaks to my soul. The dish has a great kick to it, but not too spicy. My partner had the salad with seared ahi tuna, which was also pretty good. A little light on the actual salad part. The tuna was cooked perfectly and had good seasonings on it. Dressing was nice and light. Next time, excited to try the waffle sandwiches. I may not be qualified to write this review since we didn't try the beer :) The cocktails...fantastic flavor/combinations, but not very alcoholic at all. Was a little disappointing to have two drinks apiece and zero buzz. And strangely, no happy hour specials on the cocktails (not on the beer, either, I don't think). Happy hour only applied to food. The weak cocktails are the reason for 4 stars and not 5. Service was great, ambience/atmosphere was great...will definitely return. We also happened to be there during Geeks Who Drink trivia, which was a lot of fun (Tuesdays at 7 pm).
(4)Jay V.
Great place to have some good Monk beer!! Shares the place with Bastone. Must try their Trappist ales.
(4)Nicole P.
Went here last night to meet a friend. Great spot, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. Chris was our bartender and he is very knowledgable about the different beers they serve. I had a Silly Sour and it was fantastic! The mussels were spectacular! I will be back, especially Sunday - Thursday to take advantage of the happy hour specials from 4 -7 PM!! You will not be disappointed.
(4)AndrewSumi G.
This is our favorite place to go for mussels in Michigan. All their mussels are soo good! They have about six different flavors with amazingly flavorful broth. All the broth has extra tidbits like bacon or pancetta or mushroom s in them making the broth even heartier and more tasty. The different burgers are also pretty incredible, especially the elk burger. The pomme frites are always crispy and cook to perfection. Their beer selection is huge and the staff always have a recommendation for you if you ask. This is a great place togo for a drink with friends. One of our regular places to hit up in royal oak.
(5)Claire V.
My favorite restaurant in all of royal oak! Get yourself a nice craft beer - most of the sours are fantastic (but make sure to ask about the price as some beers are over 10 bucks on draft). Get the sampler mussels and choose any 3. My favorites are the mushroom, chorizo and garlic butter. Get the sampler of sliders - can't go wrong with every single one of them. Pair them with the duck fat fries and some mayo dip... Welcome to heaven!
(5)Kasia C.
Best food in Royal Oak.
(5)Andrew W.
Very good food, the duck fat fries were mouthwatering and sliders were original and delicious. Not to mention it's the only place around that offers a great selection of Flemish sour beers - which I didn't even know I liked until the very knowledgable bartender/server told us all about them and walked us through which ones to order. Go here. Try sours. Be hungry.
(5)J D.
I Love this place! Food for the soul. Ask the servers to pick out a beer you are guaranteed to love.
(5)Bill W.
Moderate beer selection with a focus on Belgians. Not big, and spartan in decor. Helpful waitstaff. Food was ok. Had the donor kebab which was light on meat, heavy on pita. Fries are top notch. Mussels were good with a variety to choose from. A good place, and if I lived in RO, I might visit again but as a visitor, there are so many places to visit.....
(3)John H.
Wow....that was fantastic!. Everyone writes about the beer selections, which are excellent so I won't repeat those. But the food is what exceeded my expectations. I had the Donner Kebab with Duck Frites (which you can see everyone raves about). Even the pickled side dish was tasty. Service was also excellent. My waitress was really enthused about the place and the food...and it showed. She was knowledable and provided great details about the menu. This is the type of place you remember....and I will.
(5)Clara Y.
I came here for a light dinner. The beer selections was very extensive, plus they have the beer that is brewed at Bastone. I came on a Sunday so it was not very crowded. My server was friendly and very attentive. I ordered the Donor Kabab and it had a delicious and spicy dressing with pickled vegetables. We sampled the mussels ( several different combinations ) they were all very good,. It was nice to see ahi tuna on the menu and more traditional items too like burgers. My friend ordered the beer cheese soup and he did NOT like it at all . We all tried it and it tasted more like dijon mustard or a strange chili. Fortunately, our waitress agreed to take it off the menu, and apologized. I think it was merely a taste profile and preference, thus I would not criticize this place for one item. I would highly recommend this establishment, I imagine since its a cozy place that it is very busy on weekend nights .
(5)Ali A.
A gem in royal oak. We are abbey club members and we love this place. Good thing its slightly hidden and not on the radar for every one. Never have a problem with reservations and the food items here would rival anything new york or vancouver have to offer.
(5)Matthew T.
Every time I've come here the food and service has been amazing. They have a unique set of Belgian beers that come on draft all the time. If you get Chris as your bartender or server, you're in luck because he will take great care of you. Push the limits and try the elk burger or the ox tail.
(5)Joe B.
WOW and WOW! 4.5 stars easily... I remember how displaced Café Habana seemed at this site so it's nice to see that Bastone streamlined their direction and made this space into a cozy little Belgian gastro pub. The menu isn't huge but if you ate here on a weekly basis You would be! Keeping that in mind, the food is simply comfort food taken up a notch...it'll put a smile on your face because it's good for the soul. You have your basic choices of mussels done 5 ways with the sixth option as a sampler of 3 of them. Then you have 4 different waffle sandwiches to choose from all of which sounded decadent and scrumptious, and lastly you have your choice of burgers. There are 5 in queue with a sixth option of a sampler slider tray. Fries come with both the burgers and the waffle sandwiches...duck fat fries will run you an extra $2 if you upgrade. I ordered the burger #5 stacked with a hand pattied burger, BBQ pork belly, an apple slaw, heirloom tomato, lettuce and cheddar...and when I say stacked I mean it was towering with a skewer down the middle to hold it upright. It was pretty amazing albeit very very messy. My girl had the Pulled Chicken Waffle sandwich which had a savory waffle that was very good and much more manageable to get your face around. She went with fries while I tried the duck fat fries. Hers were crispier and tasted more like a potato type fry whereas mine were delicious but less crispy and they left me a little too euphoric from the duck fat flavor. We didn't get into any of the sides or appetizers and quite honestly I couldn't have eaten another thing but they sounded fantastic. Chimay braised chicken, a rotating snack board full of delights I'm sure, Monastery Mac n' Cheese and Beer Cheese soup....all I can think of is "The Sound of Music" because these are some of my favorite things. The space, again, was cozy and charming like a warm hearth inviting you in but with a modern twist to appeal to a trendier crowd. Ambiance was dim with warm colors and shadows cast by candlelight and service was top notch. I think our servers name was Joe and he was quippy and fun and made the experience that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for something really tasty and a little out of the ordinary this is a place you need to check out. I know I'll be back to try the rest of everything off their menu.
(4)Mark W.
My recent visit was the result of my fellow Yelpers who liked this place & while my visit was a pleasant experience it had a number of short comings which would make me hesitate before visiting again. Loved - out door seating; didn't love the waitstaff had a hard time remembering we were outside. Loved - the 6 beer sampler option; didn't love that the waitstaff had to be told twice to bring me a pint of the IPA I selected. Loved - the Mac-N-Chz which was hot, flavorful, and well presented; didn't love the fried pickles ... in fact, couldn't eat them. A giant pickle, quartered, battered & fried that was way overwhelming in pickle flavor & difficult to eat. Lastly, didn't love that after I settled with the waitstaff because her shift was done, the next server could seem to find us sitting in the same seats. Hmmm, as I review my experience, I don't think I'll make it back for quite a while.
(3)Alexis S.
I went there last night for dinner, and had a great time. It reminded me of Belgium-the atmosphere was spot on. First we ordered the beer cheese soup which was the only thing I would not recommend. It had way too much curry in it. Well, beer cheese soup shouldn't have curry in it at all ha. Next we had the mussels. The menu allowed us to try three different kids, and all 3 were good! We also ordered a hamburger to split with duck fries. I had a Silly Sour beer from Belgium YUM. The waitress was attentive and nice. I liked the hole in the wall atmosphere, and will be back to have the mussels, fries, and beer again!
(5)Bryan W.
Amazing beer selection. The food is pretty good, but the portions are massive. My burger had so much going on I could barely finish half of it. The mussels were excellent. The curry sauce was one of the best I've had. If you like Belgian ber, this is a must
(4)Jill H.
It was a gorgeous day in Royal Oak - the patio on the Bastone (Main St.) side was packed so the host kindly offered us a table on the Monk side. Sure, why not? You have the choice of either menus plus it's quieter than Main anyway! Now, I used to share the same sentiment as many on the Bastone beer, but the IPA I tried this visit was good. It had the not too grapefruity hops and didn't cause me to make the IPA face so I was pleased. Perhaps it's a brew for the non-traditional IPA lovers? I went for the small serving of the monastery mac n cheese. Man! Although quite little, this crock was packed full of richness & savory flavors, you really didn't need much more. I didn't even finish it because I wanted to have some leftovers. Oh and sorry, this isn't for vegetarians! The pork and mushrooms truly completed this dish. My friend got the roasted veggie pizza. I tried a bite and found it to be quite good from flavor to dough density/consistency. Our server was super nice, offered advice on choosing a beer and attentive. What more could you ask for? Well... maybe a readily available place setting for 2 people from the time we were sat down. All in all I would definitely come back to Bastone/Monk on the Abbey based on this recent experience. I've been here for drinks only before and probably would've turned my nose up based solely on that but get a dish, grab a bottled beer or non alcoholic beverage and enjoy yourself.
(4)Aaron K.
The food was amazing. I was thoroughly impressed. It's a small area, but I think this place has the best food in all of Royal Oak. We had the Kabob and Tuna Burger with the Mac and Cheese. We are locals and try a new place almost every other night. We will definitely be coming back over and over. The other bad news is that they aren't open until 4:00 on Sundays. If you're trying to catch a game and bring some folks down to watch it then you sometimes have a problem, but the actual food is amazing.
(5)Jason C.
Had amazing dinner their last night! Do the trio of mussels...they were all so amazing it's not fair to try one! My burger was amazing with braised beef cheek on it! Exceptional beers, exceptional good and service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kimberly M.
This place sucks! Ok, good now we can have this place to ourselves. Third visit here and we consistently have had great service, great food and very comfortable atmosphere. As a beer snob I'm happy here and you cannot beat the happy hour.
(5)Nao Saudade S.
Incredible!! The mussels here are just beyond amazing! I always get the trio, where I get to choose 3 different styles, however, the mushroom one will always be my favorite. Please try this place, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Andrea H.
This place is awesome. We had great food, great beer (a little pricey) and great service! It's pretty small so it wouldn't be good for a big group. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Julie R.
An absolute MUST try!!!! Beer selection is not only good, but the waiters know their stuff so well, that they were able to help a non-beer drinker and a "snob" beer drinker find the perfect drink. The mussels....... oh my the mussels. WOW! They have 5 kinds, and I tried the pick three option... I tried -Chorizo, corn, fresh tomato, chipotle cream -White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter -Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream. These were all so different and equally as food. I had to resist myself from drinking the sauce that was left over. For dinner I split the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef, spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado.. The waiter tried to talk us into some "Duck Fat Fries".. This did NOT sound good to me.. but boy was I wrong.. I was fighting to get the last remaining fry on the plate! YUM.. Go here.. It isn't fancy inside but it has a nice charm and in the summer there is outdoor seating.
(5)Esther G.
Probably my new favorite in Royal Oak. It's attached to Bastone -- in fact, you can go from Bastone to Monk although I wouldn't really recommend it. I just had to because I didn't realize that Monk isn't actually on Main but the side street. Lesson learned. A group of us had great service, amazing food and solid drinks. I like that it's smaller, offering a more intimate atmosphere. The menu is divided into mussels, waffle sandwiches, burgers and sides. They could've brought out anything, and I think I would've loved it. Another great thing is that with the burgers, you can try a slider portion of three, and with the mussels, sample three as well. A handful of us ordered food, and the portion sizes are enormous! I went with the pulled chicken waffle sandwich. Super messy, but stuffed with apple, pecans, red grapes, onion and aioli. I liked the nutty flavor of the pecans with the slight tart of the apples. I subbed the regular frites for the ones fried in duck fat for $2 more. Do it. I did not take part in any spirits this particular night, but I'm pretty sure my friends were highly satisfied with the offerings of beer.
(5)Carly F.
The mussels with the garlic butter sauce and the duck fries were the best I've had in royal oak! So good.
(5)Bill L.
The staff here is the best. They are always happy and cheerful. They really want you to enjoy the experience. They are extremely knowledgeable about their food and drink selections. And the food. Holy mackerel! The food is amazing! Everything is great. Muscles are always delicious. The sausage trio is beyond description. Mustard is sweet with a bite and pairs great with the sausage. The cook is a magician! Chris is my favorite waiter, but they are all great
(5)Katie M.
Delicious food, great beer AND great happy hour prices! I would definitely recommend and am planning on going back again soon!
(5)Tara L.
The sun was out, the breeze was up, and hair being blown in the wind; perfect day for some Belgian beer and waffles! The concept of Monk sounded interesting. They open at 4pm everyday, and we arrived a little beforehand on a Saturday afternoon. Even though we had arrived just 5 minutes before opening, the bartender wasn't exactly the most friendly when I popped my head in and asked, "Are you guys open already?" I mean, the door was open all the way (not ajar) so it was a little misleading, and since 5 minutes isn't a ton of time, we thought maybe it would have been okay just to be offered to sit at the bar while we waited. Well, that didn't happen, so we took a stroll around the block. After about 15 minutes, we came back, and waited to be seated. There wasn't anybody to greet us immediately, so we waited about 2-3 minutes before our server came out and told us that we could sit anywhere. We elected to sit in a booth further back into the space. The space itself is quite dark, and the dark fabric curtains certainly don't help. I suppose that they are trying to capture a more elusive bar feel, but the booths are black, and the table tops are dark cherry brown with black table tops, so it seemed a little bit TOO dark. It wasn't a huge deal; just something we observed. As first timers, we got a detailed explanation about the menu, and were excited to try a little bit of everything. We ordered - 1. White wine, garlic, fresh herbs, salted butter moules ($9): Mussels were on the bigger side, so not as sweet. Fresh, perfectly steamed, and had great flavor with the chopped garlic, parsley, and white wine. I was a little afraid that the salted butter would be the prominent flavor profile, but it was really light and understated. The white wine really showed clearly, so it was tasty. Good balance, and good amount. Loved the cast iron pot that it was served in. It really matches the concept of the beer bar. The baguette had great flavor, and was perfectly grilled, but more like a breadstick than a true baguette. Yum though! 2. Burger with housemade bacon and Edam cheese ($10): Nicely seasoned and flavorful patty. The meat was moist, and had enough fat without being greasy (I'm guessing a 80/20 blend). I ordered mine medium, and it came out just as we both like it. I gave half to Husband, and he agreed that it was tasty. There were two thin slices of bacon, and a nice slice of Edam cheese that melted on top of the beef patty. Other accoutrements included fresh green lettuce, heirloom tomatoes. I particularly liked the heirloom tomatoes, but wish there were onions as well. 3. Lobster, arugula, hazelnut vinaigrette, Havarti dill cheese wrapped in a fennel herb waffle ($13): It was a lot smaller than I expected. The flavors were okay, but we weren't huge fans. It was a bit sloppy, and the waffle was too soft and sweet when you bit into it. Lobster amounts were decent, but way too much arugula for the amount of meat. I didn't really taste much of the Havarti dill cheese, and the vinaigrette. Overall, it just tasted too sweet. 4. Frites with curry ketchup and bearnaise sauces ($5): They were a great texture, and not over fried. Loved the curry ketchup, but the bearnaise was mediocre. The amount was good for the price, but nothing wow. We also ordered a 6-beer sampler ($7), and I'm not much of a beer drinker due to allergies, but the little sampling I had was good. My favorites were the Monumental Blonde, Dubbel Vision, and Nectar des Dieux Triple. Coincidentally, most of them had fruit undertones; probably the reason why I liked them. :D The Royal IPA was our least favorite of the group. Final bill came out to be about $44 before tip. I think it's a fun place to come with friends and your partner, but foodwise, it was overall just average. The mussels and beer are worth getting here, but the others, I'd probably pass on.
(3)Alyssa R.
I was excited when this place opened. I thought, "good! Bastones is finally utilizing their space and are opening an awesome microbrew place!" So, I scheduled a time after work one day to go check it out on their happy hour down time. I honestly was first caught by their clean website and nicely done logo (graphics nerd alert), but disliked that they still have their cafehabana.com domain. Come on guys, go buy the domain and then redirect. Ok. non-food rant over. They have a wide variety of belgian beers to choose from, which I can't have since they aren't gluten-free, but beer lovers will enjoy new beers that aren't at the other local watering holes. From the descriptions of their food one would think this is a goto place every week. Mussels, burgers, mac and cheeses, waffle sandwiches!@#@(! With descriptions like, "Pork belly, house made tasso ham, bacon pancetta, spiced bbq sauce..." who has time to think about going anywhere else. This obviously is the right choice to go to... THEN you go there. You order. You taste and you feel a little sadness in your heart. The wonderful descriptions that made your mouth water suddenly left you with deep deep food regrets. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were off that day (They only had two customers - me being one of them). Maybe they were still fixing the kinks and they weren't quite ready for customers. I mean Rock City Eatery was kind of like that. But I knew that Rock City Eatery was going to be great if they fixed their sh*t. But I'm not so sure about Beer Monk. I think that they will always be an OK place. The ahi tuna burger was overcooked (super dry) and the flavors didn't quite mesh well together. The hummus and kimchi didn't really work. Maybe try something pickled and keep the siracha mayo? Then there were the sliders. You can pick any three from the main burgers and have a mini version of them (Char-grilled elk, maytag bleu cheese and pancetta with French fried onions, hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef, barbecued pork belly, cheddar, apple slaw and Hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef with housemade bacon, edam). The best one of the burgers was the regular belgian blue beef with bacon. All the other burgers were overcooked and again their flavors didn't mesh well. I think the items were made to go together, but something went wrong in the execution. The pork should be tender and moist. It doesn't really need the cheddar hiding the BBQ and the apple slaw. That is, if it's good. The grilled elk was really dry so I can't make an accurate assessment of what it would taste like because I stopped eating it. The fries were fine. They come from bastones and they are made on the regular. It's really hard to mess up fries unless they are drenched in grease, ridiculously over salted and cold. So that went well. I haven't been back to BMA. Maybe I will someday, but it's not looking good in the near future.
(2)Carrie B.
I've been on a hunt for a good burger, great mussels & awesome beer. This place has all three. Since I'm new in town I was confused that it was connected to another restaurant & we walked to Bastone but I asked the hostess if they had mussels & she said Monk has better mussels. The mussels with ham & spicy tomato were amazing! My fav place in Chicago had the best mussels & Monk Beer Abbey is right there with them. I saved the broth to dip my fries in. That's how good they are. I got the burger with beef cheek & it was cooked to perfection. My mom got one of the waffle sandwiches & loved it. Onto the most important thing, the beer. I love Belgian beers & they have a great selection. The waiter was kind enough to let us try samples of their draft before deciding. This was exactly what I needed & I will be back.
(5)Jess P.
Steve (I'm pretty sure that's his name) is amazing. He was very friendly, informative, and you could tell he thought that the beer and food was quality. He was right! Me and my boyfriend went here during happy hour. They have GREAT deals and an amazing menu. One of my favorite things was their beer list. It's so informative because they list where the beer is from and what style it is. I was able to have a fun time trying things I don't normally get to. The beer is amazing. It's a superb selection. I ordered a salad and it was perfect. Their fries are addictive. We tried many dishes. The selection was amazing and nothing disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in Royal Oak. (Steve is the shit.) :)
(5)F T.
I do not know where everyone else went, but this place is 1-star only because Yelp requires a minimum. Last night was the worst dining experience I have had in a long time. From the server admitting that their seasonal beer, a Belgian pale, wasn't very good - and being right! - to waiting over an hour for food, this place disappointed in all aspects. Our server was absent most of the time and the lengthy wait for anything and everything was completely unacceptable. The whole place only has 7 tables, yet the 2 servers couldn't figure out how to wait effectively on the 4 that were there. After the Belgian pale was found to be as bad as the server warned, my simple request for a beer menu took over 15 minutes. Then the beer I ordered was not even available - something I learned about 10 minutes later. The burgers were crumbly and bland. Moreover, for some reason, they waste a quarter head of iceberg lettuce on every sandwich! If you've been, you know what I mean, if you haven't then there is no credible way to explain it. In the end, the beer was as bad as it has ever been. I don't know why Bastone & Co. insist on serving their homemade beer when it is inconsistent at best and quite undrinkable at its worst. Habana at least had good food to mask the poor drink options (at a brewery!). While the food and drink were quite terrible, the service just continued to worsen. Our server disappeared, the manager was rude, and every time we needed something, we had to get up to track someone down to ask for it. If anything had been redeeming about this visit, we may consider a return because of our past loyalty to Bastone and Habana, but last night will be our last. When the manager had an opportunity to remedy the situation, his comment was "The good news is that it's happy hour so your food is already 50% off!". I didn't want a discount, I wanted management to exhibit some concern about their patrons' experience. Instead his rude reply, will go unanswered, because if this is the attitude of management, then there is very little the customer can do.
(1)Peter H.
Definitely a different concept than its sister restaurant next door, and a very welcome one. The menu reads a little more in the realm of "modern gastropub" (with a very belgian twist, naturally), with more interesting ingredients and a bit more creativity. And it's more focused on small bites, sandwiches and burgers. In terms of specifics, the fries are great (as are the dipping sauces, which really do remind me of eating frites in France/Belgium), and the mussels are well done (with some great bread for sauce-sopping). The wild mushroom/garlic/herbs/cream rendition was the best we ordered - it's reminiscent of an awesome mushroom marsala pasta sauce, with mussels underneath. The gaufres (waffle sandwiches) we ordered were both good, but the chicken had probably the better savory combination of flavors - with a little sweetness from the grapes. My pork belly sandwich was great for the first half dozen bites, but the rich sweetness got to be a touch too much by the end. Decor: they actually didn't do all that much to change much from the space's previous incarnation as Cafe Habana. The walls themselves are the same, but there's a pretty slick (but perhaps a little unfinished-looking) wood paneling placed over the top. There are also some new light fixtures, and the bar has changed shape to close off the old connection with Bastone (the new doorway will be at the back of Monk). The intention is clearly to create a "beer bar" atmosphere, where patrons line up next to each other, all quaffing different brews. Beer really is the centerpiece there. They have all of Bastone's in-house offerings, plus American-made belgian style bottles, and a whole heaping ton of imported belgian bottles. The only negative is that there didn't seem to be many belgian bottles less than like 8 bucks. I didn't pay much attention to the sizes, though, so perhaps they're all huge. In any case, it's definitely a worthy neighborhood gastropub spot. Supremely friendly staff, btw.
(4)Mike R.
Tried Monk Abbey and really liked it. Although the menu is limited, everything we had was great, including the beer and our server too. Prices are reasonable. Negatives: The hostess at the door (of Bastogne, which is attached) must have had a bad day because she was really rude in the phone and later in person. One other warning: this place has literally 1 tiny bathroom for all three restaurants (monk, Bastogne, and the downstairs club). It's ridiculous. Had to downgrade from 5 stars to no more than 4 because of this. And frankly, we probably won't visit very often just because of this.
(4)My L.
Good mussels, soggy waffles and soggy bread on burgers. The chunk of iceberg lettuce ruined the burger
(3)Chanell S.
We really enjoyed Monk. We started with a beer sampler and felt we got a good deal on a fun time. Next, the fries cooked in duck fat were tasty but maybe not worth the price (so many scraggly bits instead of hearty fries makes a difference). My lobster waffle more than made up for the fries though. It was just great, I recommend you try it. My partner had a burger. He said the taste was perfect but it was too messy; and I agree, he looked goofy trying to sop up the egg after it immediately ran off the burger. The tray it was served on didn't help either. Poor food ergonomics or something. Don't get me wrong, this visit was a success. We'll be back!
(4)Mary B.
I love this place!!! I just discovered it on Sunday. It has a great atmosphere and is connected to Bastone. I went when they were having half off the whole menu so the food was super affordable. They are running this special right now Sunday-Wednesday 4-7pm. Great deal! I tried a salad and the veggie burger with fries. Holy smokes it was all great. The portion sizes are huge. Go try it!
(5)Katherine A.
This place has DELICIOUS burgers. Try to sit at the bar and get Chris; he's super nice, remembers recurring customers, and gives great recommendations depending on what you like (I'm a super picky water) and he's made it into a game. I suggest #1 and add avocado :)
(5)Nick B.
It's bitter sweet that I review this place. I loved Cafe Havana and was really sad to see it go. The replacement is a decent restaurant but is not a suitable replacement. The food seems very similar to Bastone and I would like to see more variety. There has to be more to Belgium food than this. What is great, is the beer selection. I'm so pleased that they didn't limit themselves to what was brewed on site by Bastone. Not that what they have isn't good. but there are so many tasty Belgium beers out there. I would say go for the beer but not the food.
(3)Nicole K.
Great place! The mussels and beer are the highlights. The Monk salad with or without protein is also very good. I don't recommend the trio of burgers as sliders. The burgers were dry. Just order a single burger. Will be back for the mussels!
(5)Cristina T.
Service was good, beer was great, food was the best. Love this place! FRIES ARE AMAZING!!!!
(4)Amy H.
Visited Monk today for the first time. I've been so excited to try this place, and I'm extremely happy with my experience there. Our server (Tim?) was great. He explained the beer menu/food menu to us in great detail and was very attentive. We ordered 3 different types of moules, the pancetta, the white wine/garlic, and the lobster/tomato. They were savory and packed with flavor. My favorite part was dipping the bread in the broth afterward. Definitely the best mussels I've ever had. We stuck with the Witface beer (Bastone beer), but I would love to go back and try some of the belgian ales they serve. We will definitely be back. We have made it our person goal to try everything on the menu. Good job, Monk!
(5)Alex P.
Came here to meet a friend for dinner/drinks. Was lucky to have found a parking space in the lot behind Monk. Big pet peeve is a bar that doesn't have a foot rail to rest your feet on when sitting and drinking (- 1 star). Had the Belgian waffle sandwich with the lobster. DAMN good. Also, fires are a must if you eat here. Waitress was super attentive and friendly. The beer selection is huge (obviously).
(4)Chris A.
This place is awesome. I was looking for something with a unique menu and this place fits the bill. I had the three different mussels for the app menu then I had the waffle with pork belly and fries made in duck fat. DELICIOUS!!! Oh yea and they have some GREAT beer on tap. This place is a must if you want seething different.
(5)Chris G.
I've visited Monk twice now and loved the food both times. I would highly recommend the mussels with a side of french fries that were fried in duck fat. My only complaint is the menu is fairly limited.
(4)Kathy V.
I came a cross a listing for Monk, I read over the menu and it sounded different so my husband and I gave it a try. Very cool little place with a nice casual and cozy atmosphere. We arrived at around 7pm on a Saturday, already starting to get busy. the wait staff were all very friendly and attentive making sure everyone was getting seated in order and they were just very pleasant people. we each ordered our drinks, we each ordered ? our own bottle. Restaurant week was going on and I mistakenly ordered.off the restaurant week menu instead of their regular menu. I ordered their wings appetizer, a braised steak served on potatoes with side of veggies and banana and white chocolate bread pudding. While all of it was delicious (especially the bread pudding.) I regretted my order once they brought my husbands food- which he got off their regular menu. He ordered one of their Belgian Blue Beef burgers with braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and grey poupon served on a ciabata bun. along with a side of pomme frittes. cooked in duck fat served with different kinds of mayo/ sauces. My braised steak/stew served in a little crock pot along some flavorful lightly sauteed veggies was scrumptious. it was the perfect comfort food and perfect size and tasted wonderful. when I tasted my husbands burger it blew it away! It was the best hamburger I have ever tasted in my life, cooked perfectly. it was a very messy burger but didn't care at all. ., finger licking good! The fries cooked in duck fat sounded odd- I hate duck - the fat gave the fries such a more rich and sAvory flavor. Awesome! This is definitely our new go to, date night place! Can't wait to try their Beer Cheese Soup next time! Definately STOP by for just a burger and fries and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. only con I would have would be that there's a little bit of a long wait, but not being in a hurry and enjoying the atmosphere, so it didn't really bother us.
(5)Tracey L.
The beer that Bastone makes is awful. Maybe I'm being a beer snob but that's just my opinion!! The food is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I each had a burger and they were better than any burger I've ever had. The duck frites were so yummy and I loved that it also came with a huge pickle. Our server was very attentive to us and explained to us that they had just changed the menu so it may take longer. Our fried pickles came out after our actual meal so he had them taken off the bill. He was very nice. I don't know his name but he is extremely tall. I will definitely be back! I will just make sure to order one of their bottles beers and not one bastone makes.
(4)Holly S.
Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you're having a beer. Everything is awesome when eat at monk beer abbey.
(4)Todd S.
I really wanted to like this place and was anticipating coming here....This place is a dressed up small diner that serves Bastone beer on tap and some really good Belgian beers in bottle only. Here the "bartender" and waitress converse with each other and the cook who is behind the kitchen counter. I'm serious, this place looks like a kicked up Mel's diner. You sit at the bar/counter and the restaurant is small and narrow. Instead of a waitress behind the counter refilling pop, the "bartender" refills the beer. NOW, I'm sure the food is great just like the other two restaurants. Please dont let my review discourage you, I was just looking for much more atmosphere.
(2)Eowyn K.
I was excited to try Monk, both from the reviews and from my curiosity about what had replaced the Cuban cafe. (Cafe Havana was originally in this spot. At one point it was my favorite Royal Oak restaurant. Then changes were made, I heard it was bought out, and the quality went significantly downhill.) I had heard that the owners (the same as the neighboring Bastone) wanted something that was more aligned with Bastone and the brewery. I found the new decor to be a bit heavy for the narrow space and it felt more closed in than during previous visits to the same space. While my friend was very happy with the beer list and the beer, I was disappointed by the food. Not that everything was bad, because while there was some bad there was also some good stuff happening, but that it was not as amazing as the original Cuban. I love beer cheese soup, so of course had to order this. The soup was thick and came with what I would call salad croutons on top. These are meant for salad, not soup, as they turned to mush due to contact with the soup. I had to pick them out. Soup croutons need to be hard and dense (a plea to the owners to please fix this!). The soup was a bit too thick and had more of a herb taste then I expected. It did have a good flavor though and was filling. My friend and I shared two gaufres: the pulled chicken and the pork belly. The chicken was very good as was the garlic aloi, though the mix of other ingredients reminded me of a chicken salad with a waffles as the bread. The pork belly was not very good. The meat was thickly sliced and incredibly fatty. We are talking hunks of fat, equal amount to the meat. The sauce was too sweet and made the waffle too soggy. This was really too bad as I think pork does well with fruit sauces, cherry in this case. I did not bother to finish it. The sandwiches also came with a hunk of giant pickle. It was fairly good but very difficult to eat. We also had the pomme frites (french fries in the US) with duck fat. They came with ketchup curry and Bearnaise sauce for dipping. They were the best part of the meal. Fried perfectly with a sort of larger salt, just the right amount. My friend really enjoyed the curry ketchup. We had random complaint during our visit. My friend ordered a pale ale that was carbonated and as a result was foaming as poured. While the waiter recognized this and did not fill the glass, he poured it straight in without tipping it which makes it worse. At a regular bar, okay fine, but this is called a beer abbey, the staff should know how to pour beer. Other than that the service was fine. The food was bought quickly and he checked back in with us. Overall, I really liked the concept and think it has potential if the owners make some improvements. The other reviews seem to enjoy the moules so I would come back to try these.
(3)Lauren H.
Tried Monk for the first time last night and really enjoyed it! The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, and some select entrees. I couldn't decide which burger I wanted so I order the slider sampler which came with 3 small versions of the many delicious burgers. We also had the beer cheese soup which was really rich and filled us up. My date had the waffle ahi tuna sandwich, which was kind of odd to me. A waffle instead of bread... I can't handle it. The waffle got a little soggy and was pretty difficult to eat as it was falling apart. I enjoyed the burgers, they were on a Ciabatta bread and I would have cleared my plate if I wasn't so full! They came with a generous offering of fries. They also have duck fries which is basically normal fries baked with duck fat.. Weird and not healthy but delicious.
(4)Lori D.
Monk Beer Abbey is an adorable little cozy, old world looking restaurant right next to Bastone. The menu is varied with mussels, prepared six different ways. There are fabulous burgers and the waffle sammies, well, the one I had with pecans and grapes just made me swoon! The very best fries I have had in my life are the duck fries! They come piled high with your sandwich or waffle and honestly, I couldn't stop eating them! They have that extra umph! Our server, Joe S. was AMAZING! He made great recommendations and was so pleasant and helpful! They have these cute little desserts like 2 dark chocolate covered strawberries and a shot glass full of scrumptious mousse that hit the spot. The beers were great too. My husband loved the IPA. (Don't listen to the complainers in other reviews. Seriously, the portions are large and everything is really tasty! I feel the prices are right in line.) Make a trip to Monk Beer Abbey! You won't regret it!
(5)Patrick R.
The fried pickles were tasty and interesting. Almost a corn dog like batter. I had a trio of sliders with the Duck Fat Frites. The salmon slider, and one of the beef ones was awesome. One of the sliders was only mehhh because of the fatty pork belly on it. It just tasted like not awesome fat in my mouth. Honestly... I couldn't taste the difference between my frites and the wifey's who supposedly got just the normal ones. They were good, but tasted the same. Maybe they gave us the same kind? Also, they give you a ton. The wife had a waffle sandwich with chicken. Interesting.... This place still kinda has that awkward feel the Cuban place did (I do miss my cubanos!), as in you walk in and there's no real host stand or anyone telling you what's up... let alone much of a space to wait in. Eventually, a server or someone behind the counter will greet you. The menu didn't really make sense the way it was laid out. Stuff seemed to be listed in the wrong spots. We'll try it again... hopefully they can tighten up these few loose ends and make this place awesome.
(4)Julia T.
They have solid food and amazing service. They were able to accomodate a group of ten around 5:30 on a Saturday. Everyone was happy with the food and the beer. I tried the beer tasting (6) and the trio of mussles. I also tried the fried pickles and duck fries that were for the table. They were all delicious. My husband LOVED his waffle and pork sandwich. The portions here are huge so I don't really understand any of the complaints from other reviewers about this place being expensive. For the 10 of us, the tab was $250, not including tip.
(4)Chuck H.
Went with friends on Friday. Sat outside on the sidewalk seating. I got the Wild Mushroom Garlic Mussels and the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef with house made bacon, edam, iceburg and heirloom tomatoes with the Duck Frites (Pomme frites fried in duck fat). Everything was amazing. Best burger I've ever had.
(5)Vic N.
Monk Beer Abbey is a beautiful little restaurant situated in the heart of Royal Oak, right next to Bastone Brewery. The restaurant itself looks like an old restaurant in Amsterdam, with large wooden trusses adorning the ceiling. It gives the restaurant an old world appeal! It almost feels like you are stepping back in time a few centuries ago. Unfortunately, I can't compare this restaurant to restaurants in Belgium because I have not been there, thus, I must use Amsterdam, Holland, as my point of reference. If you have never had Belgian food, you must eat the mussels! The best part about them are the presentation-they come in an idividual cast iron pot. I had the mussels with lobster broth and they were very good. I loved dipping my bread in the broth afterwards. I'm giving this place three stars because they did not give enough bread with the mussels (one small piece), and the service was mediocre. However, I have high hopes for this place!
(3)Samir N.
The good: They have Bastone's beer selection Great Belgian beer bottle selection (which Bastone did not have) DUCK FAT FRIES (graisse de canard pomme frites) waffle sandwiches, ya'll The bad-ish: not sure what to make of their bar/counter - what is the point of the bar if drinks are not made there and there are no taps? This is a very weird/incoherent set up. I would vote to combine this with Bastone - why do these need to be distinct places? I would go further and just combine the whole corner - including Vinotecca and Commune. Knock down the walls and have a common menu - and VOILA! You have a spacious bar that has something for everyone.
(3)April S.
Loved this quaint beer alley. Finally royal oak has a place that isn't a typical restaurant and caters to a non21 year old only crowd. Draft beers are good and huge Belgium beer selection. Our waiter was amazing. Very friendly and attentive.
(4)Ray B.
If you never have gone before, check out the menu first as it is limited/ focused. We enjoyed it (again), but.... First, it is understaffed at peak times and the wait for your beverage of choice can take too long. Second, it is cold and drafty. You are looking at our food, ready for the next bite, then bam! Someone opened the door and the cold air hits you like a right hook. That said, the three of us dropped $80 without venturing into the specialty beers.
(3)Brandon V.
This is a cool small bar in the back of another restaurant located on Main Street. It only seats about 50 people and serves an enormous selection of craft beer. They serve muscles which you can choose from five different broths. You can order a tasting set which comes with muscles in three small pots, so it's a cool way to try 3 different broths at one time. Great place to stop in Royal Oak for a beer or two and an appetizer.
(4)Jennifer S.
On a cold winter night, Monk Beer Abbey was the perfect final stop for a late dinner. The restaurant is connected to Bastone and Vinotecca - but it's in the back. There's a door that gives direct access from the parking lot, but the waiter explained that they're keeping it closed to keep the draft out. It's a tiny bit inconvenient, but it would be even MORE inconvenient to have a cold wind blowing by while eating, so it's worth walking around to the front of the building and entering through Bastone. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. The benches and chairs are comfy. The lighting is dim. The menu is short, but everything looks delicious. A friend and I split the pork belly waffle sandwich and the duck fat fries. We held on to our menu so that we could order something more if the portions were small. We didn't need to keep the menu! The portion was huge. We were fairly hungry and we weren't able to finish everything. I'm sure to guys would wan their own portions - but it's generous. Everything was tasty, creative and piping hot. The prices seemed a little high, at first. But given the portion size, it's very reasonable. I'm sure I'll be back. We didn't do any drinking - we were wrapping up the evening. But I saw a few cocktails that others were drinking and they looked good :-)
(5)Tewds R.
fantastic. Ahi tuna waffle is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Their happy hour is unbeatable.
(5)Ace A.
I had the donner and was a little disappointed. The natural flavor of the donner was masked with a blend of sauces that completely masked the flavor of the meat and purpose. Also the sandwich was soaking wet from the coleslaw juice. Frites had the taste and texture of fries that we're sitting around all day. Overall it was a below-average customer experience. However, I have to say the concept and ambience was nice - for many people that is enough to overlook good eats.
(2)Mary D.
Great staff, food, and beer. Best happy hour in town as well! Half-off entire menu from 4-6.
(5)levramosis H.
Best burger in Royal Oak. Wish they were open at lunch. I'm not a fan of Belgian beer because I don't like the taste of Belgian yeast. Through no fault of their own, there were no beers here I liked. There is the option of cocktails from Bastone's bar. My SO had the bacon and Edam burger. I was juicy, perfectly cooked, juicy and fantastically delicious. The giant pickle was delicious if a bit daunting. And the toppings fresh and crisp. I chose the waffle sandwich. It was interesting but not a complete success. The lobster and Havarti were great. There was too much arugula. Some bites of the sandwich were great, some were not tasty. It was impossible to pick up to eat. We chose to share the duck fat fries, which I typically love. These were good not great. The bearnaise had an off almost stale taste. The mammoet was interesting and tasty. Will probably order plain fries and try the curry ketchup next time. Service was good and the restaurant was cleaned up and modernized just enough from it's life as Cafe Habana.
(4)F T.
I do not know where everyone else went, but this place is 1-star only because Yelp requires a minimum. Last night was the worst dining experience I have had in a long time. From the server admitting that their seasonal beer, a Belgian pale, wasn't very good - and being right! - to waiting over an hour for food, this place disappointed in all aspects. Our server was absent most of the time and the lengthy wait for anything and everything was completely unacceptable. The whole place only has 7 tables, yet the 2 servers couldn't figure out how to wait effectively on the 4 that were there. After the Belgian pale was found to be as bad as the server warned, my simple request for a beer menu took over 15 minutes. Then the beer I ordered was not even available - something I learned about 10 minutes later. The burgers were crumbly and bland. Moreover, for some reason, they waste a quarter head of iceberg lettuce on every sandwich! If you've been, you know what I mean, if you haven't then there is no credible way to explain it. In the end, the beer was as bad as it has ever been. I don't know why Bastone & Co. insist on serving their homemade beer when it is inconsistent at best and quite undrinkable at its worst. Habana at least had good food to mask the poor drink options (at a brewery!). While the food and drink were quite terrible, the service just continued to worsen. Our server disappeared, the manager was rude, and every time we needed something, we had to get up to track someone down to ask for it. If anything had been redeeming about this visit, we may consider a return because of our past loyalty to Bastone and Habana, but last night will be our last. When the manager had an opportunity to remedy the situation, his comment was "The good news is that it's happy hour so your food is already 50% off!". I didn't want a discount, I wanted management to exhibit some concern about their patrons' experience. Instead his rude reply, will go unanswered, because if this is the attitude of management, then there is very little the customer can do.
(1)Nicole K.
Great place! The mussels and beer are the highlights. The Monk salad with or without protein is also very good. I don't recommend the trio of burgers as sliders. The burgers were dry. Just order a single burger. Will be back for the mussels!
(5)Cristina T.
Service was good, beer was great, food was the best. Love this place! FRIES ARE AMAZING!!!!
(4)Amy H.
Visited Monk today for the first time. I've been so excited to try this place, and I'm extremely happy with my experience there. Our server (Tim?) was great. He explained the beer menu/food menu to us in great detail and was very attentive. We ordered 3 different types of moules, the pancetta, the white wine/garlic, and the lobster/tomato. They were savory and packed with flavor. My favorite part was dipping the bread in the broth afterward. Definitely the best mussels I've ever had. We stuck with the Witface beer (Bastone beer), but I would love to go back and try some of the belgian ales they serve. We will definitely be back. We have made it our person goal to try everything on the menu. Good job, Monk!
(5)Katherine A.
This place has DELICIOUS burgers. Try to sit at the bar and get Chris; he's super nice, remembers recurring customers, and gives great recommendations depending on what you like (I'm a super picky water) and he's made it into a game. I suggest #1 and add avocado :)
(5)Peter H.
Definitely a different concept than its sister restaurant next door, and a very welcome one. The menu reads a little more in the realm of "modern gastropub" (with a very belgian twist, naturally), with more interesting ingredients and a bit more creativity. And it's more focused on small bites, sandwiches and burgers. In terms of specifics, the fries are great (as are the dipping sauces, which really do remind me of eating frites in France/Belgium), and the mussels are well done (with some great bread for sauce-sopping). The wild mushroom/garlic/herbs/cream rendition was the best we ordered - it's reminiscent of an awesome mushroom marsala pasta sauce, with mussels underneath. The gaufres (waffle sandwiches) we ordered were both good, but the chicken had probably the better savory combination of flavors - with a little sweetness from the grapes. My pork belly sandwich was great for the first half dozen bites, but the rich sweetness got to be a touch too much by the end. Decor: they actually didn't do all that much to change much from the space's previous incarnation as Cafe Habana. The walls themselves are the same, but there's a pretty slick (but perhaps a little unfinished-looking) wood paneling placed over the top. There are also some new light fixtures, and the bar has changed shape to close off the old connection with Bastone (the new doorway will be at the back of Monk). The intention is clearly to create a "beer bar" atmosphere, where patrons line up next to each other, all quaffing different brews. Beer really is the centerpiece there. They have all of Bastone's in-house offerings, plus American-made belgian style bottles, and a whole heaping ton of imported belgian bottles. The only negative is that there didn't seem to be many belgian bottles less than like 8 bucks. I didn't pay much attention to the sizes, though, so perhaps they're all huge. In any case, it's definitely a worthy neighborhood gastropub spot. Supremely friendly staff, btw.
(4)Mike R.
Tried Monk Abbey and really liked it. Although the menu is limited, everything we had was great, including the beer and our server too. Prices are reasonable. Negatives: The hostess at the door (of Bastogne, which is attached) must have had a bad day because she was really rude in the phone and later in person. One other warning: this place has literally 1 tiny bathroom for all three restaurants (monk, Bastogne, and the downstairs club). It's ridiculous. Had to downgrade from 5 stars to no more than 4 because of this. And frankly, we probably won't visit very often just because of this.
(4)Chanell S.
We really enjoyed Monk. We started with a beer sampler and felt we got a good deal on a fun time. Next, the fries cooked in duck fat were tasty but maybe not worth the price (so many scraggly bits instead of hearty fries makes a difference). My lobster waffle more than made up for the fries though. It was just great, I recommend you try it. My partner had a burger. He said the taste was perfect but it was too messy; and I agree, he looked goofy trying to sop up the egg after it immediately ran off the burger. The tray it was served on didn't help either. Poor food ergonomics or something. Don't get me wrong, this visit was a success. We'll be back!
(4)Nao Saudade S.
Incredible!! The mussels here are just beyond amazing! I always get the trio, where I get to choose 3 different styles, however, the mushroom one will always be my favorite. Please try this place, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Samantha L.
Came here on a Friday evening and sat outside on the patio. We enjoy dining "Al fresco" when it's nice out.... I had the black bean burger and it was very good. It has quinoa, soy beans, and great seasoning. I was stuffed eating it. The portions are generous and filling. My husband got the cheese board and it was HUGE. He was very pleased with the variety of cheese, meats and even fruit. The best part about the board was the bread servings. He usually always runs out of bread, crackers, toast, etc. But, he had more than enough, plus some. The beer selection is extensive and they are under the same ownership as Jolly Pumpkin. If you're into that selection of beers, you'll be happy! The server we had was new and overly attentive, which was nice. But, it started getting busy and it was hard to find him when we wanted to cash out. But, that would not detour me from coming back. Sadly, we did not get to enjoy the full experience since it started pouring and we cashed out and left.. I would like to go back again to eat the black bean burger and dine outside when it's not raining..
(4)Sarah C.
Good find on my friend's part. She was coming to visit and I wanted her to check out Royal Oak. She looked through Yelp and found this gem. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm. Easy. Got a spot by the door surrounded by three televisions for the Duke vs. Michigan State game. Ordered a salad with no protein. It wasn't half bad. The spot light our meal was the mussels! I am coming back for the mussels. They give you so much! It can be an entire person's meal or even two! Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream 9 and White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter 9. Both comes with two baguettes to dip in their amazing sauce. My favorite was the wild mushrooms. YUM! Service is quite good. They offer a lot of beers but two of the ones my friend wanted was out. Nice restrooms. One hand-dryer but two stalls
(4)Benjamin B.
I don't know what everyone is raving about with this place...if you want to pay for obscenely priced beer then come here. Waste of a good night...
(1)Sarah H.
Monk is definitely cozy, but we lucked out for a party of six and got great seats. The drinks were great, the guys loved the beer selections and the mixed drinks were good. Our food had a bit of a wait, but was tasty and hot. I'm looking forward to going there again soon.
(4)Jennifer E.
First, the cons: Monk's is a teeny, tiny, drafty annex to Bastone's. It's a squeeze and a little claustrophobic. There are no quiet corners and it is loud and a bit drafty due to an exterior door in a bad spot. But: duck frites! These are pretty much the holy grail of french fries, and put even Jolly Pumpkin's truffle fries to shame. I've eaten french fries once this year, and these were it. To die for. Everything else was a little up/down. My older son and my husband shared an elk burger and my son is now looking for elk in the grocery store. (sorry, kid.) I had a bacon/edam burger and it was perfectly edible but nothing to write home about. I will probably try the waffle sandwiches next time instead. My veggie teens tried the veggie burger (pronounced bland) and the Abbey mac (very mushroomy, tasty, but not quite comparable with infamous macs like Union's) You can drink Bastone's beer or Vinotecca's wine; there are no cocktails. Keep in mind also the beer prices are steep, ranging from $8-$22 a glass.
(4)Claire V.
My favorite restaurant in all of royal oak! Get yourself a nice craft beer - most of the sours are fantastic (but make sure to ask about the price as some beers are over 10 bucks on draft). Get the sampler mussels and choose any 3. My favorites are the mushroom, chorizo and garlic butter. Get the sampler of sliders - can't go wrong with every single one of them. Pair them with the duck fat fries and some mayo dip... Welcome to heaven!
(5)J D.
I Love this place! Food for the soul. Ask the servers to pick out a beer you are guaranteed to love.
(5)Bill W.
Moderate beer selection with a focus on Belgians. Not big, and spartan in decor. Helpful waitstaff. Food was ok. Had the donor kebab which was light on meat, heavy on pita. Fries are top notch. Mussels were good with a variety to choose from. A good place, and if I lived in RO, I might visit again but as a visitor, there are so many places to visit.....
(3)Thomas J.
This place is incredible any day of the week if you're in the mood for food, or just want some fantastic beer. The staff has really improved since they've opened and the current employees are excellent. Top items: Burgers Fries - it's ridiculous that fries are notable but they are. Beer - easily the best Belgian styles in royal oak. They brew 5 or 6 beers on site; their dubbel and tripel are the best usually and I've had a hard time finding a triple I like better.
(5)Amy L.
My BF and I checked this place out last night. Beer selection was amazing! You should go just for that. Our server Chris was friendly and knowledgable. My BF had the burger with fried egg and duck fat fries. So messy but super delish. I tried the pulled pork waffle sandwich but found it just wasn't to my liking. I could see how some might like it but I wasn't feeling the sauce, which is a pretty key part of a pulled pork sandwich. But Chris was very understanding and recommended that I try the Monk salad with ahi tuna instead and it was INCREDIBLE. I really appreciated the extra effort he put forth to make sure I had a great dining experience. After all this, we still found room for dessert! We ordered the apple pie with honey cinnamon ice cream. So good! Overall, definitely give this place a try. We will be back!
(4)Melody S.
Food was fantastic - happy hour offers half off dinner entrees. We tried a mussel sampler and all flavors were delicious and had depth in flavor. I had the chorizo mac and cheese and it was fantastic - I'm from Texas and chorizo speaks to my soul. The dish has a great kick to it, but not too spicy. My partner had the salad with seared ahi tuna, which was also pretty good. A little light on the actual salad part. The tuna was cooked perfectly and had good seasonings on it. Dressing was nice and light. Next time, excited to try the waffle sandwiches. I may not be qualified to write this review since we didn't try the beer :) The cocktails...fantastic flavor/combinations, but not very alcoholic at all. Was a little disappointing to have two drinks apiece and zero buzz. And strangely, no happy hour specials on the cocktails (not on the beer, either, I don't think). Happy hour only applied to food. The weak cocktails are the reason for 4 stars and not 5. Service was great, ambience/atmosphere was great...will definitely return. We also happened to be there during Geeks Who Drink trivia, which was a lot of fun (Tuesdays at 7 pm).
(4)Jay V.
Great place to have some good Monk beer!! Shares the place with Bastone. Must try their Trappist ales.
(4)Nicole P.
Went here last night to meet a friend. Great spot, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. Chris was our bartender and he is very knowledgable about the different beers they serve. I had a Silly Sour and it was fantastic! The mussels were spectacular! I will be back, especially Sunday - Thursday to take advantage of the happy hour specials from 4 -7 PM!! You will not be disappointed.
(4)AndrewSumi G.
This is our favorite place to go for mussels in Michigan. All their mussels are soo good! They have about six different flavors with amazingly flavorful broth. All the broth has extra tidbits like bacon or pancetta or mushroom s in them making the broth even heartier and more tasty. The different burgers are also pretty incredible, especially the elk burger. The pomme frites are always crispy and cook to perfection. Their beer selection is huge and the staff always have a recommendation for you if you ask. This is a great place togo for a drink with friends. One of our regular places to hit up in royal oak.
(5)John H.
Wow....that was fantastic!. Everyone writes about the beer selections, which are excellent so I won't repeat those. But the food is what exceeded my expectations. I had the Donner Kebab with Duck Frites (which you can see everyone raves about). Even the pickled side dish was tasty. Service was also excellent. My waitress was really enthused about the place and the food...and it showed. She was knowledable and provided great details about the menu. This is the type of place you remember....and I will.
(5)Kathy B.
I came with my husband to try their Restaurant week menu. Why, you say? Cuz they freaking had foie gras burger! As a recent transplant from San Francisco and the ban and all, which by the way was lifted right when we left, I had to get my hands on some foie. The weird thing is that it is attached to Bastone and we were a little confused that even though they were attached to Bastone they had their own menu for Restaurant week. Other than that it is a cozy atmosphere and our server was nice and welcoming. No other waiter got me to order the extras or expensive seasonal suff on tap like he did. Get there at the right time and you can snag a spot easily. Go there 15 minutes later than the optimal time and it's packed. Despite it being busy we still got enough attention from our wait staff. Ok now on to the important stuff: food quality Unfortunately some things were hit or miss. We ordered the beer and cheese soup and house pate for apps. Foie gras burger and donner kabob for mains. Lastly, banana fritters and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The beer and cheese soup had a great taste! I loved the nutmeg they added. The only thing is that it lacked salt. For my house pate plate it had food elemengts of taste. Enough salt in the pate, sweet from the jam of some sort on top of the pate and some tartness from the dressing they put over the tomatoes and onions that accomanied the pate. Although it was a mundane presentation, it still tasted good. The foie gras burger. A disappointment. The burger itself was cooked well and a good portion but that foie was a tiny tiny piece. It was so small because it was cooked within an inch of its life. It had the taste of foie but had all the fat rendered out of it during the cooking process. The duck fries that I had with my burger was pretty awesome and beat tghe seasonal fries by a ton. The donner kabob that my husband got was delicious! I was jealous of what he had. It was a heaping portion that could barely be contained in that pita and the flavor of the slaw went really well with the lamb. The only very very small thing would be proportion of slaw to lamb, but you can easily fix that by taking some slaw out before shoving it into your mouth. Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite dessert of all time. So when I get it I'm a stickler for the taste. And it passed with flying colors. It wasn't as dense as other sticky toffee puddings but that only made it so I wanted more because it was so much lighter. The addition of the pecans (I think) were also a bonus for added texture. Banana fritters was another miss. There was a little too much fritter to banana and either the banana was under ripe or they used sweet plantains because it was starchy. Other than texture and ratio. Taste was pretty good because I think that sauce on top saved it. Overall, the atmosphere, the good food we did had, and good beer selection will keep us coming back again and again. Don't get me wrong the mishaps just made certain dishes ok instead of good. I have high hopes that they will be able to fix their small food mishaps. I'll be back!
(4)Laura W.
Tasty beer, cozy atmosphere, attentive staff and amazing food! The cod waffle sandwich is heaven! Their prices are actually on the low side, especially considering the quality and amount of food you get.
(5)Alvin A.
A hidden gem inside Bastone. I usually start off with the Chorizo Mussels or the Wild Mushroom Mussels, delish! They serve the mussels with bread that I dip in the sauce after all the mussel are gone, yum! I've had their Burger with the spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado that is different, juicy, delicious goodness as well as their regular Burger with the fried egg and grilled tasso. I order my burger with light lettuce as they tend to put too much iceberg on there. I like my burgers with a side of dill pickle and they serve their dill pickles cut diagonally in half horizontally; different than your standard pickle spear. Their duck fat pomme frites are to die for, do not pass them up! Their beer selection is all Belgian style and average in price; you could order Bastone's beer but I don't care for it. I can't wait to come back here.
(4)Mila H.
I have been wanting to try out Monk Beer Abbey for a while and boy am I glad I did! The hubby and I stopped in on Memorial Day since we were starving and happen to be in the Royal Oak area. The food and beer was some of the best I have had since moving from New York to Detroit. We ordered the ahi tuna burger which was topped with kimchi and a spicy mayo sauce, soooo yummy! Our waiter was awesome he suggested upgrading to the duck fat fries - he wasn't pushy about it, since he said some people didn't notice the difference- to what I say HOW?!?! My husband got the regular fries with his doner kabob ( which was amazing - we are from a Turkish region so we know doner) my fries were 1000 times better and I don't even really like fries. We also got the mussels which were in a mushroom cream sauce - hands down the best mussels I have ever had! All of that food plus 2 beers cost us $40 which is a GREAT deal! Definitely 2 thumbs up for Monk Beer Abbey!
(5)madalyne c.
The beer was ok. Good drafts in the Abby, tried the brew from the front and it missed the mark. Excellent burger. The place is in the back of the restaurant up front, while hard to find was nice because it was quieter.
(4)Gene G.
Great beer, nice atmosphere, the food is tasty but can be very heavy. Especially liked the goose fat fries (excellent and heavy ), and salmon (or was it tuna ?) patty burger.
(4)Alexis S.
I went there last night for dinner, and had a great time. It reminded me of Belgium-the atmosphere was spot on. First we ordered the beer cheese soup which was the only thing I would not recommend. It had way too much curry in it. Well, beer cheese soup shouldn't have curry in it at all ha. Next we had the mussels. The menu allowed us to try three different kids, and all 3 were good! We also ordered a hamburger to split with duck fries. I had a Silly Sour beer from Belgium YUM. The waitress was attentive and nice. I liked the hole in the wall atmosphere, and will be back to have the mussels, fries, and beer again!
(5)Andrew W.
Very good food, the duck fat fries were mouthwatering and sliders were original and delicious. Not to mention it's the only place around that offers a great selection of Flemish sour beers - which I didn't even know I liked until the very knowledgable bartender/server told us all about them and walked us through which ones to order. Go here. Try sours. Be hungry.
(5)Clara Y.
I came here for a light dinner. The beer selections was very extensive, plus they have the beer that is brewed at Bastone. I came on a Sunday so it was not very crowded. My server was friendly and very attentive. I ordered the Donor Kabab and it had a delicious and spicy dressing with pickled vegetables. We sampled the mussels ( several different combinations ) they were all very good,. It was nice to see ahi tuna on the menu and more traditional items too like burgers. My friend ordered the beer cheese soup and he did NOT like it at all . We all tried it and it tasted more like dijon mustard or a strange chili. Fortunately, our waitress agreed to take it off the menu, and apologized. I think it was merely a taste profile and preference, thus I would not criticize this place for one item. I would highly recommend this establishment, I imagine since its a cozy place that it is very busy on weekend nights .
(5)Ali A.
A gem in royal oak. We are abbey club members and we love this place. Good thing its slightly hidden and not on the radar for every one. Never have a problem with reservations and the food items here would rival anything new york or vancouver have to offer.
(5)Matthew T.
Every time I've come here the food and service has been amazing. They have a unique set of Belgian beers that come on draft all the time. If you get Chris as your bartender or server, you're in luck because he will take great care of you. Push the limits and try the elk burger or the ox tail.
(5)Bryan W.
Amazing beer selection. The food is pretty good, but the portions are massive. My burger had so much going on I could barely finish half of it. The mussels were excellent. The curry sauce was one of the best I've had. If you like Belgian ber, this is a must
(4)Jill H.
It was a gorgeous day in Royal Oak - the patio on the Bastone (Main St.) side was packed so the host kindly offered us a table on the Monk side. Sure, why not? You have the choice of either menus plus it's quieter than Main anyway! Now, I used to share the same sentiment as many on the Bastone beer, but the IPA I tried this visit was good. It had the not too grapefruity hops and didn't cause me to make the IPA face so I was pleased. Perhaps it's a brew for the non-traditional IPA lovers? I went for the small serving of the monastery mac n cheese. Man! Although quite little, this crock was packed full of richness & savory flavors, you really didn't need much more. I didn't even finish it because I wanted to have some leftovers. Oh and sorry, this isn't for vegetarians! The pork and mushrooms truly completed this dish. My friend got the roasted veggie pizza. I tried a bite and found it to be quite good from flavor to dough density/consistency. Our server was super nice, offered advice on choosing a beer and attentive. What more could you ask for? Well... maybe a readily available place setting for 2 people from the time we were sat down. All in all I would definitely come back to Bastone/Monk on the Abbey based on this recent experience. I've been here for drinks only before and probably would've turned my nose up based solely on that but get a dish, grab a bottled beer or non alcoholic beverage and enjoy yourself.
(4)Aaron K.
The food was amazing. I was thoroughly impressed. It's a small area, but I think this place has the best food in all of Royal Oak. We had the Kabob and Tuna Burger with the Mac and Cheese. We are locals and try a new place almost every other night. We will definitely be coming back over and over. The other bad news is that they aren't open until 4:00 on Sundays. If you're trying to catch a game and bring some folks down to watch it then you sometimes have a problem, but the actual food is amazing.
(5)Jason C.
Had amazing dinner their last night! Do the trio of mussels...they were all so amazing it's not fair to try one! My burger was amazing with braised beef cheek on it! Exceptional beers, exceptional good and service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kimberly M.
This place sucks! Ok, good now we can have this place to ourselves. Third visit here and we consistently have had great service, great food and very comfortable atmosphere. As a beer snob I'm happy here and you cannot beat the happy hour.
(5)Julie R.
An absolute MUST try!!!! Beer selection is not only good, but the waiters know their stuff so well, that they were able to help a non-beer drinker and a "snob" beer drinker find the perfect drink. The mussels....... oh my the mussels. WOW! They have 5 kinds, and I tried the pick three option... I tried -Chorizo, corn, fresh tomato, chipotle cream -White wine, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salted butter -Wild mushrooms, garlic, herbs, cream. These were all so different and equally as food. I had to resist myself from drinking the sauce that was left over. For dinner I split the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef, spiced braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado.. The waiter tried to talk us into some "Duck Fat Fries".. This did NOT sound good to me.. but boy was I wrong.. I was fighting to get the last remaining fry on the plate! YUM.. Go here.. It isn't fancy inside but it has a nice charm and in the summer there is outdoor seating.
(5)Esther G.
Probably my new favorite in Royal Oak. It's attached to Bastone -- in fact, you can go from Bastone to Monk although I wouldn't really recommend it. I just had to because I didn't realize that Monk isn't actually on Main but the side street. Lesson learned. A group of us had great service, amazing food and solid drinks. I like that it's smaller, offering a more intimate atmosphere. The menu is divided into mussels, waffle sandwiches, burgers and sides. They could've brought out anything, and I think I would've loved it. Another great thing is that with the burgers, you can try a slider portion of three, and with the mussels, sample three as well. A handful of us ordered food, and the portion sizes are enormous! I went with the pulled chicken waffle sandwich. Super messy, but stuffed with apple, pecans, red grapes, onion and aioli. I liked the nutty flavor of the pecans with the slight tart of the apples. I subbed the regular frites for the ones fried in duck fat for $2 more. Do it. I did not take part in any spirits this particular night, but I'm pretty sure my friends were highly satisfied with the offerings of beer.
(5)Carly F.
The mussels with the garlic butter sauce and the duck fries were the best I've had in royal oak! So good.
(5)Bill L.
The staff here is the best. They are always happy and cheerful. They really want you to enjoy the experience. They are extremely knowledgeable about their food and drink selections. And the food. Holy mackerel! The food is amazing! Everything is great. Muscles are always delicious. The sausage trio is beyond description. Mustard is sweet with a bite and pairs great with the sausage. The cook is a magician! Chris is my favorite waiter, but they are all great
(5)Katie M.
Delicious food, great beer AND great happy hour prices! I would definitely recommend and am planning on going back again soon!
(5)Jess P.
Steve (I'm pretty sure that's his name) is amazing. He was very friendly, informative, and you could tell he thought that the beer and food was quality. He was right! Me and my boyfriend went here during happy hour. They have GREAT deals and an amazing menu. One of my favorite things was their beer list. It's so informative because they list where the beer is from and what style it is. I was able to have a fun time trying things I don't normally get to. The beer is amazing. It's a superb selection. I ordered a salad and it was perfect. Their fries are addictive. We tried many dishes. The selection was amazing and nothing disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in Royal Oak. (Steve is the shit.) :)
(5)Tara L.
The sun was out, the breeze was up, and hair being blown in the wind; perfect day for some Belgian beer and waffles! The concept of Monk sounded interesting. They open at 4pm everyday, and we arrived a little beforehand on a Saturday afternoon. Even though we had arrived just 5 minutes before opening, the bartender wasn't exactly the most friendly when I popped my head in and asked, "Are you guys open already?" I mean, the door was open all the way (not ajar) so it was a little misleading, and since 5 minutes isn't a ton of time, we thought maybe it would have been okay just to be offered to sit at the bar while we waited. Well, that didn't happen, so we took a stroll around the block. After about 15 minutes, we came back, and waited to be seated. There wasn't anybody to greet us immediately, so we waited about 2-3 minutes before our server came out and told us that we could sit anywhere. We elected to sit in a booth further back into the space. The space itself is quite dark, and the dark fabric curtains certainly don't help. I suppose that they are trying to capture a more elusive bar feel, but the booths are black, and the table tops are dark cherry brown with black table tops, so it seemed a little bit TOO dark. It wasn't a huge deal; just something we observed. As first timers, we got a detailed explanation about the menu, and were excited to try a little bit of everything. We ordered - 1. White wine, garlic, fresh herbs, salted butter moules ($9): Mussels were on the bigger side, so not as sweet. Fresh, perfectly steamed, and had great flavor with the chopped garlic, parsley, and white wine. I was a little afraid that the salted butter would be the prominent flavor profile, but it was really light and understated. The white wine really showed clearly, so it was tasty. Good balance, and good amount. Loved the cast iron pot that it was served in. It really matches the concept of the beer bar. The baguette had great flavor, and was perfectly grilled, but more like a breadstick than a true baguette. Yum though! 2. Burger with housemade bacon and Edam cheese ($10): Nicely seasoned and flavorful patty. The meat was moist, and had enough fat without being greasy (I'm guessing a 80/20 blend). I ordered mine medium, and it came out just as we both like it. I gave half to Husband, and he agreed that it was tasty. There were two thin slices of bacon, and a nice slice of Edam cheese that melted on top of the beef patty. Other accoutrements included fresh green lettuce, heirloom tomatoes. I particularly liked the heirloom tomatoes, but wish there were onions as well. 3. Lobster, arugula, hazelnut vinaigrette, Havarti dill cheese wrapped in a fennel herb waffle ($13): It was a lot smaller than I expected. The flavors were okay, but we weren't huge fans. It was a bit sloppy, and the waffle was too soft and sweet when you bit into it. Lobster amounts were decent, but way too much arugula for the amount of meat. I didn't really taste much of the Havarti dill cheese, and the vinaigrette. Overall, it just tasted too sweet. 4. Frites with curry ketchup and bearnaise sauces ($5): They were a great texture, and not over fried. Loved the curry ketchup, but the bearnaise was mediocre. The amount was good for the price, but nothing wow. We also ordered a 6-beer sampler ($7), and I'm not much of a beer drinker due to allergies, but the little sampling I had was good. My favorites were the Monumental Blonde, Dubbel Vision, and Nectar des Dieux Triple. Coincidentally, most of them had fruit undertones; probably the reason why I liked them. :D The Royal IPA was our least favorite of the group. Final bill came out to be about $44 before tip. I think it's a fun place to come with friends and your partner, but foodwise, it was overall just average. The mussels and beer are worth getting here, but the others, I'd probably pass on.
(3)Alyssa R.
I was excited when this place opened. I thought, "good! Bastones is finally utilizing their space and are opening an awesome microbrew place!" So, I scheduled a time after work one day to go check it out on their happy hour down time. I honestly was first caught by their clean website and nicely done logo (graphics nerd alert), but disliked that they still have their cafehabana.com domain. Come on guys, go buy the domain and then redirect. Ok. non-food rant over. They have a wide variety of belgian beers to choose from, which I can't have since they aren't gluten-free, but beer lovers will enjoy new beers that aren't at the other local watering holes. From the descriptions of their food one would think this is a goto place every week. Mussels, burgers, mac and cheeses, waffle sandwiches!@#@(! With descriptions like, "Pork belly, house made tasso ham, bacon pancetta, spiced bbq sauce..." who has time to think about going anywhere else. This obviously is the right choice to go to... THEN you go there. You order. You taste and you feel a little sadness in your heart. The wonderful descriptions that made your mouth water suddenly left you with deep deep food regrets. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were off that day (They only had two customers - me being one of them). Maybe they were still fixing the kinks and they weren't quite ready for customers. I mean Rock City Eatery was kind of like that. But I knew that Rock City Eatery was going to be great if they fixed their sh*t. But I'm not so sure about Beer Monk. I think that they will always be an OK place. The ahi tuna burger was overcooked (super dry) and the flavors didn't quite mesh well together. The hummus and kimchi didn't really work. Maybe try something pickled and keep the siracha mayo? Then there were the sliders. You can pick any three from the main burgers and have a mini version of them (Char-grilled elk, maytag bleu cheese and pancetta with French fried onions, hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef, barbecued pork belly, cheddar, apple slaw and Hand-pattied Belgian Blue beef with housemade bacon, edam). The best one of the burgers was the regular belgian blue beef with bacon. All the other burgers were overcooked and again their flavors didn't mesh well. I think the items were made to go together, but something went wrong in the execution. The pork should be tender and moist. It doesn't really need the cheddar hiding the BBQ and the apple slaw. That is, if it's good. The grilled elk was really dry so I can't make an accurate assessment of what it would taste like because I stopped eating it. The fries were fine. They come from bastones and they are made on the regular. It's really hard to mess up fries unless they are drenched in grease, ridiculously over salted and cold. So that went well. I haven't been back to BMA. Maybe I will someday, but it's not looking good in the near future.
(2)Carrie B.
I've been on a hunt for a good burger, great mussels & awesome beer. This place has all three. Since I'm new in town I was confused that it was connected to another restaurant & we walked to Bastone but I asked the hostess if they had mussels & she said Monk has better mussels. The mussels with ham & spicy tomato were amazing! My fav place in Chicago had the best mussels & Monk Beer Abbey is right there with them. I saved the broth to dip my fries in. That's how good they are. I got the burger with beef cheek & it was cooked to perfection. My mom got one of the waffle sandwiches & loved it. Onto the most important thing, the beer. I love Belgian beers & they have a great selection. The waiter was kind enough to let us try samples of their draft before deciding. This was exactly what I needed & I will be back.
(5)Joe B.
WOW and WOW! 4.5 stars easily... I remember how displaced Café Habana seemed at this site so it's nice to see that Bastone streamlined their direction and made this space into a cozy little Belgian gastro pub. The menu isn't huge but if you ate here on a weekly basis You would be! Keeping that in mind, the food is simply comfort food taken up a notch...it'll put a smile on your face because it's good for the soul. You have your basic choices of mussels done 5 ways with the sixth option as a sampler of 3 of them. Then you have 4 different waffle sandwiches to choose from all of which sounded decadent and scrumptious, and lastly you have your choice of burgers. There are 5 in queue with a sixth option of a sampler slider tray. Fries come with both the burgers and the waffle sandwiches...duck fat fries will run you an extra $2 if you upgrade. I ordered the burger #5 stacked with a hand pattied burger, BBQ pork belly, an apple slaw, heirloom tomato, lettuce and cheddar...and when I say stacked I mean it was towering with a skewer down the middle to hold it upright. It was pretty amazing albeit very very messy. My girl had the Pulled Chicken Waffle sandwich which had a savory waffle that was very good and much more manageable to get your face around. She went with fries while I tried the duck fat fries. Hers were crispier and tasted more like a potato type fry whereas mine were delicious but less crispy and they left me a little too euphoric from the duck fat flavor. We didn't get into any of the sides or appetizers and quite honestly I couldn't have eaten another thing but they sounded fantastic. Chimay braised chicken, a rotating snack board full of delights I'm sure, Monastery Mac n' Cheese and Beer Cheese soup....all I can think of is "The Sound of Music" because these are some of my favorite things. The space, again, was cozy and charming like a warm hearth inviting you in but with a modern twist to appeal to a trendier crowd. Ambiance was dim with warm colors and shadows cast by candlelight and service was top notch. I think our servers name was Joe and he was quippy and fun and made the experience that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for something really tasty and a little out of the ordinary this is a place you need to check out. I know I'll be back to try the rest of everything off their menu.
(4)Mark W.
My recent visit was the result of my fellow Yelpers who liked this place & while my visit was a pleasant experience it had a number of short comings which would make me hesitate before visiting again. Loved - out door seating; didn't love the waitstaff had a hard time remembering we were outside. Loved - the 6 beer sampler option; didn't love that the waitstaff had to be told twice to bring me a pint of the IPA I selected. Loved - the Mac-N-Chz which was hot, flavorful, and well presented; didn't love the fried pickles ... in fact, couldn't eat them. A giant pickle, quartered, battered & fried that was way overwhelming in pickle flavor & difficult to eat. Lastly, didn't love that after I settled with the waitstaff because her shift was done, the next server could seem to find us sitting in the same seats. Hmmm, as I review my experience, I don't think I'll make it back for quite a while.
(3)Mary B.
I love this place!!! I just discovered it on Sunday. It has a great atmosphere and is connected to Bastone. I went when they were having half off the whole menu so the food was super affordable. They are running this special right now Sunday-Wednesday 4-7pm. Great deal! I tried a salad and the veggie burger with fries. Holy smokes it was all great. The portion sizes are huge. Go try it!
(5)Nick B.
It's bitter sweet that I review this place. I loved Cafe Havana and was really sad to see it go. The replacement is a decent restaurant but is not a suitable replacement. The food seems very similar to Bastone and I would like to see more variety. There has to be more to Belgium food than this. What is great, is the beer selection. I'm so pleased that they didn't limit themselves to what was brewed on site by Bastone. Not that what they have isn't good. but there are so many tasty Belgium beers out there. I would say go for the beer but not the food.
(3)Alex P.
Came here to meet a friend for dinner/drinks. Was lucky to have found a parking space in the lot behind Monk. Big pet peeve is a bar that doesn't have a foot rail to rest your feet on when sitting and drinking (- 1 star). Had the Belgian waffle sandwich with the lobster. DAMN good. Also, fires are a must if you eat here. Waitress was super attentive and friendly. The beer selection is huge (obviously).
(4)Holly S.
Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you're having a beer. Everything is awesome when eat at monk beer abbey.
(4)Lori D.
Monk Beer Abbey is an adorable little cozy, old world looking restaurant right next to Bastone. The menu is varied with mussels, prepared six different ways. There are fabulous burgers and the waffle sammies, well, the one I had with pecans and grapes just made me swoon! The very best fries I have had in my life are the duck fries! They come piled high with your sandwich or waffle and honestly, I couldn't stop eating them! They have that extra umph! Our server, Joe S. was AMAZING! He made great recommendations and was so pleasant and helpful! They have these cute little desserts like 2 dark chocolate covered strawberries and a shot glass full of scrumptious mousse that hit the spot. The beers were great too. My husband loved the IPA. (Don't listen to the complainers in other reviews. Seriously, the portions are large and everything is really tasty! I feel the prices are right in line.) Make a trip to Monk Beer Abbey! You won't regret it!
(5)Kathy V.
I came a cross a listing for Monk, I read over the menu and it sounded different so my husband and I gave it a try. Very cool little place with a nice casual and cozy atmosphere. We arrived at around 7pm on a Saturday, already starting to get busy. the wait staff were all very friendly and attentive making sure everyone was getting seated in order and they were just very pleasant people. we each ordered our drinks, we each ordered ? our own bottle. Restaurant week was going on and I mistakenly ordered.off the restaurant week menu instead of their regular menu. I ordered their wings appetizer, a braised steak served on potatoes with side of veggies and banana and white chocolate bread pudding. While all of it was delicious (especially the bread pudding.) I regretted my order once they brought my husbands food- which he got off their regular menu. He ordered one of their Belgian Blue Beef burgers with braised beef cheek, smoked gouda, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and grey poupon served on a ciabata bun. along with a side of pomme frittes. cooked in duck fat served with different kinds of mayo/ sauces. My braised steak/stew served in a little crock pot along some flavorful lightly sauteed veggies was scrumptious. it was the perfect comfort food and perfect size and tasted wonderful. when I tasted my husbands burger it blew it away! It was the best hamburger I have ever tasted in my life, cooked perfectly. it was a very messy burger but didn't care at all. ., finger licking good! The fries cooked in duck fat sounded odd- I hate duck - the fat gave the fries such a more rich and sAvory flavor. Awesome! This is definitely our new go to, date night place! Can't wait to try their Beer Cheese Soup next time! Definately STOP by for just a burger and fries and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. only con I would have would be that there's a little bit of a long wait, but not being in a hurry and enjoying the atmosphere, so it didn't really bother us.
(5)Tracey L.
The beer that Bastone makes is awful. Maybe I'm being a beer snob but that's just my opinion!! The food is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I each had a burger and they were better than any burger I've ever had. The duck frites were so yummy and I loved that it also came with a huge pickle. Our server was very attentive to us and explained to us that they had just changed the menu so it may take longer. Our fried pickles came out after our actual meal so he had them taken off the bill. He was very nice. I don't know his name but he is extremely tall. I will definitely be back! I will just make sure to order one of their bottles beers and not one bastone makes.
(4)Eowyn K.
I was excited to try Monk, both from the reviews and from my curiosity about what had replaced the Cuban cafe. (Cafe Havana was originally in this spot. At one point it was my favorite Royal Oak restaurant. Then changes were made, I heard it was bought out, and the quality went significantly downhill.) I had heard that the owners (the same as the neighboring Bastone) wanted something that was more aligned with Bastone and the brewery. I found the new decor to be a bit heavy for the narrow space and it felt more closed in than during previous visits to the same space. While my friend was very happy with the beer list and the beer, I was disappointed by the food. Not that everything was bad, because while there was some bad there was also some good stuff happening, but that it was not as amazing as the original Cuban. I love beer cheese soup, so of course had to order this. The soup was thick and came with what I would call salad croutons on top. These are meant for salad, not soup, as they turned to mush due to contact with the soup. I had to pick them out. Soup croutons need to be hard and dense (a plea to the owners to please fix this!). The soup was a bit too thick and had more of a herb taste then I expected. It did have a good flavor though and was filling. My friend and I shared two gaufres: the pulled chicken and the pork belly. The chicken was very good as was the garlic aloi, though the mix of other ingredients reminded me of a chicken salad with a waffles as the bread. The pork belly was not very good. The meat was thickly sliced and incredibly fatty. We are talking hunks of fat, equal amount to the meat. The sauce was too sweet and made the waffle too soggy. This was really too bad as I think pork does well with fruit sauces, cherry in this case. I did not bother to finish it. The sandwiches also came with a hunk of giant pickle. It was fairly good but very difficult to eat. We also had the pomme frites (french fries in the US) with duck fat. They came with ketchup curry and Bearnaise sauce for dipping. They were the best part of the meal. Fried perfectly with a sort of larger salt, just the right amount. My friend really enjoyed the curry ketchup. We had random complaint during our visit. My friend ordered a pale ale that was carbonated and as a result was foaming as poured. While the waiter recognized this and did not fill the glass, he poured it straight in without tipping it which makes it worse. At a regular bar, okay fine, but this is called a beer abbey, the staff should know how to pour beer. Other than that the service was fine. The food was bought quickly and he checked back in with us. Overall, I really liked the concept and think it has potential if the owners make some improvements. The other reviews seem to enjoy the moules so I would come back to try these.
(3)Lauren H.
Tried Monk for the first time last night and really enjoyed it! The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, and some select entrees. I couldn't decide which burger I wanted so I order the slider sampler which came with 3 small versions of the many delicious burgers. We also had the beer cheese soup which was really rich and filled us up. My date had the waffle ahi tuna sandwich, which was kind of odd to me. A waffle instead of bread... I can't handle it. The waffle got a little soggy and was pretty difficult to eat as it was falling apart. I enjoyed the burgers, they were on a Ciabatta bread and I would have cleared my plate if I wasn't so full! They came with a generous offering of fries. They also have duck fries which is basically normal fries baked with duck fat.. Weird and not healthy but delicious.
(4)Brandon V.
This is a cool small bar in the back of another restaurant located on Main Street. It only seats about 50 people and serves an enormous selection of craft beer. They serve muscles which you can choose from five different broths. You can order a tasting set which comes with muscles in three small pots, so it's a cool way to try 3 different broths at one time. Great place to stop in Royal Oak for a beer or two and an appetizer.
(4)Jennifer S.
On a cold winter night, Monk Beer Abbey was the perfect final stop for a late dinner. The restaurant is connected to Bastone and Vinotecca - but it's in the back. There's a door that gives direct access from the parking lot, but the waiter explained that they're keeping it closed to keep the draft out. It's a tiny bit inconvenient, but it would be even MORE inconvenient to have a cold wind blowing by while eating, so it's worth walking around to the front of the building and entering through Bastone. The atmosphere is cozy and casual. The benches and chairs are comfy. The lighting is dim. The menu is short, but everything looks delicious. A friend and I split the pork belly waffle sandwich and the duck fat fries. We held on to our menu so that we could order something more if the portions were small. We didn't need to keep the menu! The portion was huge. We were fairly hungry and we weren't able to finish everything. I'm sure to guys would wan their own portions - but it's generous. Everything was tasty, creative and piping hot. The prices seemed a little high, at first. But given the portion size, it's very reasonable. I'm sure I'll be back. We didn't do any drinking - we were wrapping up the evening. But I saw a few cocktails that others were drinking and they looked good :-)
(5)Tewds R.
fantastic. Ahi tuna waffle is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Their happy hour is unbeatable.
(5)Ace A.
I had the donner and was a little disappointed. The natural flavor of the donner was masked with a blend of sauces that completely masked the flavor of the meat and purpose. Also the sandwich was soaking wet from the coleslaw juice. Frites had the taste and texture of fries that we're sitting around all day. Overall it was a below-average customer experience. However, I have to say the concept and ambience was nice - for many people that is enough to overlook good eats.
(2)Mary D.
Great staff, food, and beer. Best happy hour in town as well! Half-off entire menu from 4-6.
(5)Vic N.
Monk Beer Abbey is a beautiful little restaurant situated in the heart of Royal Oak, right next to Bastone Brewery. The restaurant itself looks like an old restaurant in Amsterdam, with large wooden trusses adorning the ceiling. It gives the restaurant an old world appeal! It almost feels like you are stepping back in time a few centuries ago. Unfortunately, I can't compare this restaurant to restaurants in Belgium because I have not been there, thus, I must use Amsterdam, Holland, as my point of reference. If you have never had Belgian food, you must eat the mussels! The best part about them are the presentation-they come in an idividual cast iron pot. I had the mussels with lobster broth and they were very good. I loved dipping my bread in the broth afterwards. I'm giving this place three stars because they did not give enough bread with the mussels (one small piece), and the service was mediocre. However, I have high hopes for this place!
(3)levramosis H.
Best burger in Royal Oak. Wish they were open at lunch. I'm not a fan of Belgian beer because I don't like the taste of Belgian yeast. Through no fault of their own, there were no beers here I liked. There is the option of cocktails from Bastone's bar. My SO had the bacon and Edam burger. I was juicy, perfectly cooked, juicy and fantastically delicious. The giant pickle was delicious if a bit daunting. And the toppings fresh and crisp. I chose the waffle sandwich. It was interesting but not a complete success. The lobster and Havarti were great. There was too much arugula. Some bites of the sandwich were great, some were not tasty. It was impossible to pick up to eat. We chose to share the duck fat fries, which I typically love. These were good not great. The bearnaise had an off almost stale taste. The mammoet was interesting and tasty. Will probably order plain fries and try the curry ketchup next time. Service was good and the restaurant was cleaned up and modernized just enough from it's life as Cafe Habana.
(4)Samir N.
The good: They have Bastone's beer selection Great Belgian beer bottle selection (which Bastone did not have) DUCK FAT FRIES (graisse de canard pomme frites) waffle sandwiches, ya'll The bad-ish: not sure what to make of their bar/counter - what is the point of the bar if drinks are not made there and there are no taps? This is a very weird/incoherent set up. I would vote to combine this with Bastone - why do these need to be distinct places? I would go further and just combine the whole corner - including Vinotecca and Commune. Knock down the walls and have a common menu - and VOILA! You have a spacious bar that has something for everyone.
(3)April S.
Loved this quaint beer alley. Finally royal oak has a place that isn't a typical restaurant and caters to a non21 year old only crowd. Draft beers are good and huge Belgium beer selection. Our waiter was amazing. Very friendly and attentive.
(4)Ray B.
If you never have gone before, check out the menu first as it is limited/ focused. We enjoyed it (again), but.... First, it is understaffed at peak times and the wait for your beverage of choice can take too long. Second, it is cold and drafty. You are looking at our food, ready for the next bite, then bam! Someone opened the door and the cold air hits you like a right hook. That said, the three of us dropped $80 without venturing into the specialty beers.
(3)Andrea H.
This place is awesome. We had great food, great beer (a little pricey) and great service! It's pretty small so it wouldn't be good for a big group. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Chris A.
This place is awesome. I was looking for something with a unique menu and this place fits the bill. I had the three different mussels for the app menu then I had the waffle with pork belly and fries made in duck fat. DELICIOUS!!! Oh yea and they have some GREAT beer on tap. This place is a must if you want seething different.
(5)Chris G.
I've visited Monk twice now and loved the food both times. I would highly recommend the mussels with a side of french fries that were fried in duck fat. My only complaint is the menu is fairly limited.
(4)Julia T.
They have solid food and amazing service. They were able to accomodate a group of ten around 5:30 on a Saturday. Everyone was happy with the food and the beer. I tried the beer tasting (6) and the trio of mussles. I also tried the fried pickles and duck fries that were for the table. They were all delicious. My husband LOVED his waffle and pork sandwich. The portions here are huge so I don't really understand any of the complaints from other reviewers about this place being expensive. For the 10 of us, the tab was $250, not including tip.
(4)Kasia C.
Best food in Royal Oak.
(5)Patrick R.
The fried pickles were tasty and interesting. Almost a corn dog like batter. I had a trio of sliders with the Duck Fat Frites. The salmon slider, and one of the beef ones was awesome. One of the sliders was only mehhh because of the fatty pork belly on it. It just tasted like not awesome fat in my mouth. Honestly... I couldn't taste the difference between my frites and the wifey's who supposedly got just the normal ones. They were good, but tasted the same. Maybe they gave us the same kind? Also, they give you a ton. The wife had a waffle sandwich with chicken. Interesting.... This place still kinda has that awkward feel the Cuban place did (I do miss my cubanos!), as in you walk in and there's no real host stand or anyone telling you what's up... let alone much of a space to wait in. Eventually, a server or someone behind the counter will greet you. The menu didn't really make sense the way it was laid out. Stuff seemed to be listed in the wrong spots. We'll try it again... hopefully they can tighten up these few loose ends and make this place awesome.
(4)Chuck H.
Went with friends on Friday. Sat outside on the sidewalk seating. I got the Wild Mushroom Garlic Mussels and the Hand pattied Belgian Blue beef with house made bacon, edam, iceburg and heirloom tomatoes with the Duck Frites (Pomme frites fried in duck fat). Everything was amazing. Best burger I've ever had.
(5)Todd S.
I really wanted to like this place and was anticipating coming here....This place is a dressed up small diner that serves Bastone beer on tap and some really good Belgian beers in bottle only. Here the "bartender" and waitress converse with each other and the cook who is behind the kitchen counter. I'm serious, this place looks like a kicked up Mel's diner. You sit at the bar/counter and the restaurant is small and narrow. Instead of a waitress behind the counter refilling pop, the "bartender" refills the beer. NOW, I'm sure the food is great just like the other two restaurants. Please dont let my review discourage you, I was just looking for much more atmosphere.
(2)My L.
Good mussels, soggy waffles and soggy bread on burgers. The chunk of iceberg lettuce ruined the burger
(3)