Tucked away on James St, right across from the Torresdale Train Station, Three Monkeys Cafe is a true Northeast Philadelphia gem. I've eaten at Three Monkey's twice in the past month, both times for dinner on a Sunday night. Unfortunately, both times we had an awkward experience while we were waiting to be seated. The second time we were there was particularly awkward because there was no one outside to greet us and take us to our table. In fact, we waited outside of the restaurant (we ate outside both times) for a couple of minutes before the hostess came up to us. However, that is the only negative thing I have to say. The outdoor patio, better known as Monkey Court, has this awesome, unique Florida-style feel to it that certainly won't be found at any other restaurant in the area. Now, on to the food. Both times I had the Irish Style Roast beef, and both times I left extremely satisfied with my decision. The Irish Roast Beef is served with roast beef, of course, piled atop of a layer of french fries, horseradish mayo and an onion roll. The sandwich is also served with their homemade chips. The sandwich is simply delicious. The horseradish mayo's kick is the perfect compliment to the otherwise savory components. It really is one of the best roast beef sandwiches I've had. I've also tried the chicken fingers and the Mahi Tacos - both were also tasty. I'm not sure what kind of experience the indoor dining room has to offer, but I definitely recommend grabbing a meal on the outside patio while the weather still permits.
(4)
Jeanne P.
I pretty much came here because Yelp has been suggesting it to me for weeks. After reading reviews and lots of internal debating, I went. I went and I was not impressed. I'm actually kind of mad that the food costed as much as it did. I'm also not too pleased with the service there. I don't expect to be greeted with red carpets and cheerleaders, so I don't mind if a hostess isn't elated to see me (though your job is to greet people with a friendly personality). We were seated promptly as it wasn't too busy. I was excited looking at the menu, there were so many interesting things to choose from. I decided to get an entree, the "Dare to Be Rare," which consisted of seared rare Ahi tuna over cold wasabi-ginger cous cous. Sounded right up my alley. Beforehand, I decided to split the lobster mac and cheese bites with the person I was with. I waited anxiously. Much like the Dog and Bull, I was SURROUNDED by flies. It's hard for me to keep my language PG, but I really hate flies...especially in large amounts. I find myself holding my drink in my hand because I was tired of swatting them away from my straw. I finished my soda rather quickly and out came the appetizer. It was a bus boy who brought it to us. My other half asked if we could have refills on our soda. Mind you, we were sitting literally two feet away from where the soda comes from. It's the only reason why we asked him... he told us that he "doesn't do that," and would, "try to find the server." Cool man. Thanks. Moving on to the appetizer, it wasn't bad...but it wasn't great. The mac and cheese didn't really taste like anything, and I was convinced there wasn't lobster in them at all. Definitely not worth 12 dollars, but we ate them anyway. The entrees came out quickly after. The presentation was nice. I definitely give them that. The person I was with ordered "The Sticken," which was chicken and regular steak with hot sauce, gorgonzola cheese, and those french's crispy onions. It came with a side of homemade chips. His was actually really good. I felt 13 bucks was a little steep, but it wasn't bad. Again, I'm left jealous and regretful. I didn't really like my dish at all...but I ate it. I don't send food back unless there's something SERIOUSLY wrong. The "cold" cous cous salad was room temperature, which was really off-putting. It also just tasted like honey mustard. The tuna was rough and tasteless. I was almost nervous about eating it, thinking about how likely it would be that I may get sick from it. Meh. The whole bill came out to $54.00 even. Definitely not worth it. We still left the server a decent tip even though we didn't see much of him. I used to work in food service, so I really avoid giving servers a hard time or shitty tips at all. I won't be back, but there are plenty of other people who seem to enjoy this place a lot more than I did! I'd stay away from entrees and order basic sandwiches.
(2)
Reader H.
first time for three of us within a party of 7. quirky cool interior, a plus. long long long wait for food on a moderately busy wed ( last night!) night. and decent food yes, some very pretty in presentation , some not so , but pricey for quality and proportion. we as a group are always looking for a welcome spot for food / drinks / atmosphere but not so much here.the server nice enough kid but key word " kid". unfriendly staff of young kids. no thanks
(2)
Valentino G.
I came here with my girlfriend and another couple and it was good, a little bit pricey they other places that I have been, but all in all I really enjoyed the food. They have a nice selection for those who enjoy beer, and also an extensive wine and martini list. We all started off with the Crab-Ocado dip which was awesome and the Garlic Bread pretzels were the icing on the cake! My girlfriend had the Chef Beth's Signature Lobster Mac & Cheese, she really enjoyed it and even offered me a bite, very creamy and rich, highly recommended if your a mac and cheese fan. I ordered the Sunny in Philadelphia burger which was great! Nice patty, cheese, bacon, and a sunny side up egg! Great burger! I will definitely come back and try some more food and get dessert next time, I really want to try there monkey bread!
(4)
Crystal T.
Nice quaint pub, the atmosphere is cool we sat outside. So, they have a nice small selection of imported beers I had the Framboise Raspberry Beer Yum!! I ordered the signature wings with the teriyaki sauce I didn't care to much for the sauce or the wings they were rubbery not grilled long enough. My salad was nice & fresh. The crab fondue was really good. Our server was cool!! I'll try once again to see how the other foods taste.
(4)
Patty T.
Bad experience all around . Mediocre food - that took forever - along with terrible service with an attitude. Not worth a return visit.
(1)
Andrea M.
I always enjoy my time at Three Monkeys. Any day of the week any time of the day. Their food is always incredible and the environment is warm and comfortable. I came in to wait for a ride from the train and as I walked in the door I immediately heard their acoustic entertainment. This made me feel very happy that I had some time to spare to enjoy the music.
(5)
Stephen B.
After reading most of the reviews on hear, I should have figured. I was hear this morning for breakfast!! Just one other person in there, Got seated, waitress ask me what I wanted to drink. Told her reg cup of coffee. So that was a good start. Then after that, everything went down hill from there. I really thought highly about this place when I seen the inside and outside. After seeing the prices and seeing how expensive the breakfast is and what they give you, I knew this would probably be the last. I got the 3 eggs, with toast, and home fries, When the food came out. I could only think Wow that looks good. But the home fries and eggs we're cold, the only thing that was hot was the coffee!! Very disappointed!! So then there is a $3 off coupon on hear for breakfast for weekday. I show the waitress, she says to me, I never seen that before. She goes and checks and comes back and says to me she will tell her manager about it, never took $3 off my check. Never even ask anyone esle that works there about it. Then I realized after few min that it's when you spend $10 or more but that dont tell you till you get there and check in. So like they say there always a catch to something. This place does not care about their customers, I should have known that as soon as I walked in!! I won't see myself going hear anymore. It's a shame because if this place was ran the right way it could very well be one of the best places to get a drink or a bight to eat.
(3)
Frank P.
Come here whenever visiting Northeast Philly. It's pretty much the only decent place in this area to get a somewhat "clean meal". Usually our trip consists of their great beer selection and some hummus. Decided to order a wrap and veggie burger tonight. $15 for a wrap and $14 for a veggie burger?? Are you guys fing nuts? I have been half away across this country dining at every type of establishment from high end restaurants to some of the best brew pubs and cafes. Never in my life have I paid $15 for a wrap and $14 for a veggie burger. Hey more power to you. Seem to be plenty of people there drinking the Kool Aid.
(3)
Vincent J.
Great place to come and have lunch and a beer. Food is excellent and a very good beer list
(4)
Lauren C.
In NE Philly, this place is pretty much the best of the best! For starters the decor- its very comfy. Kinda pub-style, but with a more modern twist. You can sit outside if you want, or settle into one of the many rooms. The service is up next- these guys are attentive, and really really nice! Lots of great recommendations coming from the staffers who obviously enjoy this place a lot. When the staff eats the food a lot, that is a great sign. The beer list is vast and diverse; a united nations of beer if you will. Stouts, ales, wheat beers, ciders, IPA's, lagers, lambics and saisons. Domestic and imported, light and extra extra boozy are all available for consumption. I challenge you to NOT find something that you like. It'd be a challenge. Finally, the food. So long as you stay away from the dreaded 'wrap' category, you'll be fine. The food again has a range. Healthy to fatty, classy to low-brow and everything in-between. Being the classy lady I am, I started off with jack bites which was a square take on mozzarella sticks- which i split with a friend. They were FABULOUS! It's hard NOT to rave about fried cheese... but it surpassed the average. The cheese remained firmly within the confines of the crust. The temperature was steady- not scald your mouth on-fire. Upon taking a bite, the cheese stayed put. It was stringy, but not excessive. Really- perfection. For my entree, I had a veggie burger prepared in a style called 'the monkey mob' which included sharp provolone, long hots, and roasted red peppers. It came with a chunk of a deli-style pickle, and fresh chips that were as good if not better than french fries. There was no down-side to this dish except stomach space. I stopped eating the bun because i needed to reserve space for chips and the veggie burger (which seemed home made- with fresh veggies in it rather than faux-meat squished together). The toppings were awesome, and i was pleased to see that the long hots got some heat going! All in all- this place was slightly pricier than what I'm used to in NePhi, but it was so worth it. I'd come back here over most of the places up that way anytime. It was such a treat to have such an enjoyable meal!
(5)
Allison B.
I actually liked this place more before I got seated. It's a really cute atmosphere and I was expecting something spectacular, but it fell short of a four-star rating. The atmosphere is super cute -- I was there for brunch with the bridesmaids from my sister's bridal party and we were excited for a good breakfast. We were seated outside in their courtyard -- if you're going for brunch, it seems like the place to be. I walked into the building at one point and it was very much what you'd expect out of a pub -- clean, but dark and with that ever-present spilled beer smell. Totally fine (and I could actually see it being a super cozy place to brunch in the winter), but not as nice a feel as the outside area. They even had a little low-key jazz band playing during the brunch/lunch hour. They were great and it was a really nice addition to the day. I would say our biggest gripes were the service and the menu. Our waitress was hard to get in touch with and while she showed us the cocktail menu, it didn't include any of the traditional brunch drinks (Blood Mary, mimosa) and I felt as if she should have verbally offered them as an option given the time of day. One of the ladies at our table ordered a Miller Lite draft and the server immediately said, "We have bottles, but that's NEVER on draft." Okay, excuse us! It was needlessly attitudinal. I did end up ordering a Bloody Mary, but it was weak and plain as all get out. It also didn't end up at our table for quite a long time after we ordered our drinks. We also waited a long time for our food, for our check, and for the server to take our cash away once we were ready to leave. The service was just all-around unimpressive on this visit. Several of us had checked out the menu online ahead of time and it seemed extensive. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the options were limited. Probably only about a dozen breakfast-type items alongside another dozen lunch items. I really enjoyed my eggs Benedict with a crab cake, but my sister was less than thrilled with the chicken wrap she ordered -- it was very plain tasting chicken with very little seasoning, so the toppings just didn't add the flavor needed to make it great. With that said, I think most of the other girls at our table were satisfied with their entrees. Overall, it wasn't a spectacular first experience, but this place had so much going for it charm-wise that I really want to go back again. I'm hoping our service experience was an anomaly and I think it's worth a try overall.
I have been here a couple times with friends and have never once been disappointed. The service is great the servers are friendly and the food is delicious!
(5)
Allison V.
Second time here, food was good! Got a black and blue burger, was cooked to my liking. Decent beer selection, beer was cold! (Always a plus) Service was better this time than before (last time wait was ridiculous). Overall pleasant experience.
(4)
Andi S.
Their fries are excellent as they do not peel them and they are perfectly seasoned. I also ordered their calamari, which was too sweet for my taste. They have an excellent selection of beer such as the watermelon one and the father's rooter, but I found their cocktails to be too sweet for me. It was still an excellent experience all around as the ambience at Three Monkey's Cafe is very nice, the staff is friendly and professional and I also love the fact that they are such interesting art all over the place, including Salvador Dali prints.
(5)
Stephanie Aniela B.
Update-- I've been back twice since my first post. Came for football in January, sat at the outside bar. Smells like spilled beer but not like awful or something you don't expect from a patio bar... I guess. Had the chicken fingers - DELICIOUS. Homemade, so you're getting big chicken tenders and breading i like cornflakes, oh my god, I love them. Came here again for brunch and was under quoted by 45 minutes (our quote was 45 minutes so that's an hour and a half wait) sat down completely starving. Burger was decent, bacon egg roll were good. But under impressed with the service and wait. Probably wont be back for brunch.
(3)
Liz G.
I've been coming here for years and have slowly watched the service and food decline. Today was the icing on the cake. Went to go eat around 3pm (not a crowded time for this restaurant), we ordered appetizers and watched as the other tables received their food. We asked our waitress what was going on and she said she would check with the kitchen. At least 15 minutes later our entrees arrive, without any mention of our missing appetizers. The waitress was extremely apologetic (I'm not blaming her at all), this was blatantly the kitchen's fault. As I ate my wimpy flavorless salad, I saw another table receive their appetizer and literally 2 minutes later their entrees came out - so definitely a kitchen problem. I'm glad I've finally used up all of my gift cards, because I won't be back.
(1)
Alyssa S.
This place is close to my house and it is really hard to find a good restaurant (that isn't a chain) in the Northeast! Service is usually great, the food is always good, and so are the drinks. I usually order the crab dip, wedge salad, or fish tacos. If you go early for brunch they have great Bloody Marys too! Seating inside is a bit dim but if you're looking for something brighter the outdoor area is beautiful!
(4)
Andrea S.
Hands down BEST lobster/mac and cheese EVER! Menu continues to change and get more creative and amazing with each visit!!!!!!
(5)
Nicole B.
Over an hour wait for our food. For burgers. Must have had to go out and butcher the cow. Had to stand up like we were leaving to get our server's attention to PAY THE BILL. Will never go here again.
(1)
Kenya A.
Service was Meh. Wings were Meh. I have experienced better.
(2)
Batya W.
I always love coming here. The crowd is always nice and the food is always good. When I was here today it just seemed like they were having an off day. I asked for an ipa and I was brought a pale ale. The pot stickers were stone cold and it seemed like they were allowing people to drink a little too much at 4pm. I will give them another try because I don't usually experience this here. I just hope it's better next time
(4)
Tammy D.
We wanted to try a new place with some friends and this place turned out to be great for a night out with friends. Their menu itself made it difficult to choose what we wanted. It took us longer than usual to figure out what we wanted. Ordered pork dumplings, Parmesan pretzel, honey truffle ribs, lobster mac and cheese, two different Kobe burgers. The food was great came out at the right temperatures. I wanted to lick the cheese off the skillet when I was done my lobster mac and cheese. Everyone finished their plates and water was refilled ever so often. We also got the first scoop of the new dessert coming out this week. Cheesecake with salted caramel ice cream. That really hit the spot after the rich meal we had. The only complaint was we did sit at our table for awhile after paying the check and the server never came back to ask us if we wanted more water or more drinks cause some of us had beer and sangria. Can't make that extra tip money if you don't ask, honey. If she did I would give the place 5 stars. We definitely are coming back to sit outside one of these nights.
(4)
Elaine M.
Went to Three Monkey's Cafe with some friends for brunch/lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I ended up getting the Italian Chicken Wrap. It was good but nothing to write home about. A few of my friends got brunch items with crab, they were very pleased with their orders. I think the best thing about Three Monkey's is the micro-brew draft selections and the specials. It was too early for us to try any of the specials but they sounded much better than the standard menu. Nice atmosphere and parking was easy for a Saturday afternoon. I have been there on a weekend night when parking was a little bit more rough.
(3)
Becky G.
The food and atmosphere are awesome. I had the pork Mac and cheese which was so delicious, my husband had the mighty Joe young burger, mom had the lobster mac and cheese and dad had the salmon. We also had cheesesteak spring rolls and fries to start. Everything came out timely and hot. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because they have no changing table in their bathroom. We called ahead to make sure that they had a highchair, and we just assumed that the two would go hand in hand. Other than that this place is great. I definitely want to try their brunch.
(4)
Jason C.
This place almost got 3 stars, but got 4 for having Southern Tier Pumpkin on tap, as well as Camel tacos. That's right - camel. It's like a cross between lamb and venison. If you don't like game meat, stay away. I can cross Camel off of the list of critters I've consumed. Otherwise, great bar. Not much variety on tap, but plenty of bottles. Good for the beer snobs and the Pabst crowd.
(4)
Christopher J.
Had a phenomenal time at Three monkeys yesterday afternoon Monica was awesome. Great ambience outdoor seating. Not too crowded very patient and understanding. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Desiree K.
I am consistently disappointed with everything about this place. Ever since they changed chefs it has been nothing short of a nightmare. The service is always terrible. Every time I go someone's order is wrong. The women that work there have an attitude problem. They wear their hair down and they talk to you like your standing on a street corner. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food!! I hate that it's such a popular neighborhood spot because it's never a good dining experience. The only time I will return is to see Jimmy Burke bartend!! Other than that this place has officially lost my business!!
(3)
Danielle B.
I was so happy to stumble upon this conveniently located cafe. Located near the train station this restaurant serves as a great place to meet friends and catch up. Serving American cuisine and craft beers you really can't go wrong. Offering both outside and inside seating makes this a diverse location. Remember to save room for the monkey bread!! Served warm this cinnamon pull apart is the cherry on top!
(4)
KF M.
My wife and I stopped in for dessert and a couple of Mexican coffees after a show in town. The waitress never heard of a Mexican coffee. Apparently the bartender hadn't either. We had to ask if the coffees had liquor in them. $15 for two small coffees with no liquor is a bit steep. The dessert was better. It was mediocre.
(1)
Marina S.
Love this place. Great food (cheesesteak rolls are to die for), awesome drinks, plenty of outside seating. Perfect.
(5)
Lauren M.
I really enjoy my overall experience at this restaurant. The outside eating area is so charming on nice nights with its bathtub planter and outdoor bar. The menu is full of little gems like the chicken mac & cheese along with good old-fashioned items like burgers. When it gets really busy there can be a bit of a wait and parking can be difficult on a Friday or Saturday night but, in my opinion, the wait is worth it.
(4)
jimnris M.
Ok place to hang outside at the bar for drinks but not eat inside. I got a pan seared pork over spaghetti which was ok and my husband got the turkey burger sliders on a biscuit which was horrible tasting which he returned. Both were on the special that night so I'm not sure wether it's a safer bet there just to order off the basic menu. Our waitress was very nice though and the manager did want to know what was wrong and we said taste it you'll see. They did take it off the bill. Oh and I ordered a miller lite draft it was served in an unfrosted mug and was completely flat.
(2)
Lindsey B.
I must say six months ago I thought very highly of this place. My bf was crazy about their burgers but my last two trips have been with friends and besides the service being terrible, the numerous apps we ordered the were cold and tasted like they came from the freezer. It will be a great deal of time before I can even think about trying again.
Great food and lovely outside seating in the spring and summer. Really chill place to go for any meal.
(5)
Christina M.
Best place to go in Northeast Philly. Mahi mahi burger was delicious. Service was good & drinks were even better!
(5)
Tara G.
Three Monkeys is so hit or miss for me. I've come here several times for lunch and had an awesome experience. The food was perfect and service was excellent. The last few times, not so much. I've noticed that service at the bar is about 100 times better than service at the tables. The last few times I sat at a table I felt very ignored by our server, waiting far too long for silly things like extra napkins or ketchup. Even the food is inconsistent. For example, usually 3M has really excellent burgers that are usually cooked perfectly, but the last time I was here my husband's burger was way overcooked and very sloppily put together. Also, the roast pork sandwich that I've had on several occasions has been very dry and underseasoned the last few times I've had it. I can say that the grilled cedar plank wings are consistently awesome. I always get an order of those when I go. The rest of the food, however, seems to have gone downhill over the last year or two. Hopefully they can reconnect with the quality of food they used to put out and get back to the Three Monkeys I know and love.
(3)
Inga R.
Love this place, their patio is awesome. I try to come atleast once a week (usually for drinks). When we come for food I really like the crab-o-cado dip and the ahi tuna tacos. Most if the time they have really good blackboard specials so we pick something from there too.
(5)
Melanie K.
Their brunch menu is amazing. Their service is great. Great atmosphere. I've never had a bad meal there. Try the Might Joe young Burger or the smothered breakfast burrito. Great place!
(5)
Joanne S.
Love the outdoor bar and seating area and the crab fondue is the best I've ever had. Amazing ambiance!
(5)
Tanya M.
I had a bison burger and it was delicious. The presentation was good and the beer choices were plenty. The wait staff was not great but the food made up for it
(5)
Ketchup Love R.
The only reason to come here is for the food and outdoor space. But don't sit too long, the manager will make the waitress drop the check and force you to get up (with full drinks). This really happened to me on a Wednesday night. Went for dinner and drinks with a few friends. They had an okay crowd, not packed, but good for a weeknight. We sat outside, ordered apps and drinks. About an hour later we ordered our third round of drinks and we see the manager come outside and say to our waitress "start dropping checks, they've been here too long (motions to us) and they've been here for too long (a table of 4 girls seated in the corner). The waitress promptly comes over and drops the check. Doesn't apologize (she knows we heard him) doesn't ask if we need anything else, just says "I'll take this whenever you're ready". Next, someone else comes over and starts clearing the table AS we were finishing our full drinks we had just ordered. Again, this was a Wednesday night, it wasn't packed, and we were seated for ONE hour. Oh, and after we were forced up, our table wasn't seated again for about a half hour. So no one was waiting. I used to be a regular and I won't go back. This place has gotten way too cocky. They started out as one of the only bars in the Northeast area with outdoor space and craft beer. Now there are more places than I can count, with better drinks, better prices, and actually appreciate paying customers.
(2)
Bryna O.
I've been here many times and have always enjoyed it! Three Monkeys is my go to place in the northeast because I know I can get good food, local beer and also bring the kiddos! All super important in my book.
(5)
Danielle B.
Ambiance of the outside seating is awesome. Pork spring rolls with horseradish sauce was also excellent. Pretty good beer selection. Wish they had more on tap.
(4)
Matthew T.
Great french onion soup and hummus plate.
(5)
Rachel H.
This place is great! My boyfriend and I always enjoy ourselves there. I've never had a bad dish, the new crab avocado dish is delicious. My boyfriend loves the Horny Monkey beer on tap. The patio is always a nice place to sit on a beautiful summer evening. We will be back!
(5)
Ryan C.
Ordered the veggie burger the other day and it was very good. Abundance of flavors, moist, and very well cooked. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Diane B.
The atmosphere is great just like key west! Lobster Mac and cheese is wonderful and plenty of beer on draft. Enjoy !!!
(1)
Elaine L.
I love this place, we come here often. The best quality they have is their ambiance, the outdoor seating is the best in the northeast. Full outdoor bar with TVs, and table seating under the twinkle lights and trees. The menu is great and ever changing. A decent selection of craft beers. Last night I came with some friends for some drinks, had a great time, Jackie was our bartender. I would Definitely recommend. We even came here for our wedding rehearsal dinner.
(4)
Seth F.
Since my wife & I are huge fans of the Dog & Bull we decided to give 3 Monkeys a try. We heard that they were the same people that had both places. I can't believe that 6 or 7 miles and the same owner that they would be so drastically different. The decor is pretty neat and their outside patio is pretty damn cool too. (Other than the bright blue paint on everything lol) I am a father Judge guy and I grew up not too far from here. I recognized some people and had a great time talking with a few of my fellow classmates. But, it's amazing how bad the service is here!! it seemed like if you weren't a regular or if you didn't know the secret hand shake you would be hard pressed to get a cocktail. After waiting almost 40 minutes to get a table it took another 20 before our server came to the table. The food prices were really high for the area too. The food wasn't bad but, since the service was so god awful I'm probably not being fair to the back of the house. No thank you 3 monkeys, it is hard to believe that you and the Dog & Bull are related!! My wife and I will not be back!
(1)
John M.
Went here because it came highly recommended by a co-worker. We liked the vibe and decor - fun place to visit. Food was also good. However, service really left something to be desired. We looked at the drink/dessert menu that was on the table (photo posted) and decided to order the monkey bread a la mode. The dessert was good, but the price on the menu clearly states $5.99 ($7.99 with ice cream). Instead, the bill reflected $9 for the dessert, and $2 for the addition of the half scoop of ice cream, for $11 total. I showed the menu and bill to the waitress, and she replied "hmmm, nobody has pointed that out to me before" and took my credit card and walked away and charged me the uncorrected amount. No explanation was given when she returned other than "the price changed."
(2)
Chauncey S.
Me & My Boyfriend went for a late lunch around 4ish. It's a Monday, so most ppl who work in the restaurant business know many places are gonna be dead. & I was right. We walked right in and got seated outside immediately. I gotta say, this place is adorable. The patio decor really makes it fun and enjoyable to sit outside. We browsed through the menu and we had such a hard time deciding ! We wanted everything ! But once we decided on our appetizers we were ready to order drinks & get our lunch started. My boyfriend noticed there were a few servers standing by the outside bar talking and that no one had come over to greet us yet .. That was pretty disappointing but I tend to sympathize because I'm a server myself. After about 5 more minutes, we were still sitting waiting to be greeted. Once our server realized she got sat she came over. NOW WE ARE ROLLING ! I must say, I know it's a Monday & every server hates Mondays but our server was just miserable. She was literally just an order taker, Never really checked on us & would walk away as we are talking to her still. We even had to ask another server to refill our waters! But despite the poor service, THE FOOD was GREAT ! We started with the Fried Potstickers and NE Philly Eggrolls followed by the Kobe BBQ burger and the Grilled Teriyaki Wings and of course we couldn't leave with out the Infamous Monkey Bread ! *drools* It was our first time here and we will be back because of the food mainly. Hopefully there will be much better service next time ..
(4)
Brian B.
I went to Three Monkeys with my family for a quick dinner. I was not disappointed. We all went simple with burgers. I got the Sunny in Philly and was very happy with it. Drinks could have been a bit stronger, but were still good. Only thing I didn't care for was the noise. We were seated in the dining area, but it still seemed that we had to yell to be heard over the crowd.
(4)
Linda B.
What happened to this place? Was here a year ago and loved it so I suggested my friends and I meet here for dinner. OMG! What a disappointment. The menu didn't offer much of a selection, not like I remembered from last year. The food was marginal at best and was RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. $26 for two tiny (2") crab cakes. There is no salad or bread offered with dinner. We asked our server for some bread and were quite surprised to see a $2.00 charge for bread. The beer selection has also diminished. They use to have a fairly decent selection of craft beers. Yuengling was about as top shelf as it gets now. I have to cross this off my list of recommended places. I miss the old Three Monkeys.
(1)
Elsid S.
I think of this place as a good neighborhood bar. Usually come here on a day when I don't feel like driving in the city. It's a proper bar with a good crowd almost all the time. Only thing I would change is the outside/covered area, not the bars fault but some serious BO.
(4)
Gina G.
I came here one night with my boyfriend because a friend recommended it to me. Being from South Philly, driving to the Northeast for dinner isn't something I do often, but wow am I glad I did! Even though we couldn't sit outside because it was pouring, our waitress Taylor made our dinner great. She was attentive and really knew the menu. My boyfriend is kind of a beer snob and she really the beer, which is a bonus with him. Overall, for not being able to sit outside, the food was great but our service was even better. I will definitely be taking the trip here again soon!
(5)
Chrissy V.
I love Three Monkeys brunch! It's the perfect start to some day drinking or a great ending for your weekend. Recently they changed their brunch menu and they no longer have the 'blackboard specials' which is pretty disappointing because those were always my favorites. Now it is just a regular brunch menu with a smaller selection of items. On my last visit I had the Chocolate Chipper - one pancake and slice of french toast topped with chocolate chips and bacon syrup. My boyfriend had a burrito with corned beef. We both loved our entrees. The Bloody Mary is great (perfect amount of spice) and they have a nice selection of beers.
(5)
Patience P.
Everything I've ever had has been delicious. The atmospher is great inside as well as out. Love the patio area in the spring and summer. The beer selection is good too.
(5)
Gail G.
A wonderful place with great food. Excellent location for meeting friends especially if half are from South Jersey and the other half are from Bucks County. The food is consistently good and the service is always wonderful. The noise level can get a little high but it is a bar/cafe. On my latest visit to Three Monkeys, Kelly M. was our server and she was more than happy to bring us a taste of the chili which we all ended up ordering as it was delicious. She was extremely friendly and very attentive. Always a good meal and a great experience.
(4)
Veronica K.
First with the pros: The decor is awesome. You feel like you've wound up in late 19th century Paris, complete with gold trimming and monkey paintings on the walls. They also have a really cute outside bar that's tropical themed, and though different still fits the primate motif. Their food is decent, if over priced at times, but of everythigng I tried I only disliked one thing. (That was the peanut butter pie, in which the chocolate tasted a little off). I should also point out they have a delcious drink there called a Monkey Cola which is banana and chocolate liquor in coke. After the people in my group tried mine they all had to get their own. Now the cons: For such a pricey place, the wait staff is a little rude. Sometimes I felt as if we were being intentionally avoided. We had to wander around to get our own silverware. I got this passive agressive vibe from just about all of their staff as well. Also, their selection of beer is not too wide, with only a few craft brew selections. i was a little disappointed in that regard. Overall, I'd probably try them again, though only if I'm willing to drop some big bucks for a large dinner. It's a little expensive for a weekly treat.
(3)
Eleanor L.
4th time here . I live in jersey and like to bring my mom here . Tonight I ordered an $11 roast beef sandwich . It was very good , however I asked for more horseradish and the server came back to tell me it would cost me 50 cents . I laughed and told him to bring it anyway , I told him this was a first for me . Like how much to use the ketchup ?? Do you ration the mustard ?? Anyway , 2 roast beef sandwiches $19 for a pasta meal, and 4 drinks , bill was $71 , and you really asked for 50 cents . I won't be back . Unfortunate because the server was a great guy. Use your head Mr manager .
(1)
Tom R.
Took my aunt and uncle for lunch during the week. wanted someplace that would be more of "an experience" and this sounded great. The menu was really good and a lot to choose from. Had the Kobe burger - done perfectly. Aunt and Uncle had Chicken salad sliders. Perfect size for lunch. Service was great and the waitress on point. Only thing that IS bad, if you go during the week - the parking is all Torresdale train commuters and there is ZERO parking close to the restaurant. All lots were full and what street parking there was was taken. Plan on parking a couple of blocks away
(4)
Joan M.
Great place great food and great service will defiantly b back the outside looks so cute it's probably great in the summer. I
(5)
Joe K.
Stopped by here last Saturday at noon after a funeral. They still had a breakfast/brunch menu and we scored big!!!! My breakfast Enchilada's were so big, cheesy, and filled with egg, cheese, bacon sausage scrapple(i think)!!!!! delish!!! My wife was looney over her French Toast with a Creme layer and topping!!!! This was a five star experience, but gave them a four, due to other visits being only average.
(4)
MB F.
New Chef who rates at least 4.5 stars, But waitstaff shared that he is doing away with salads??? Not a good business plan given half the patrons are female and salad is always the go to dish of those single NE ladies who still think their Mr. Right can be found in a bar with dim lighting to limit the visible crows-feet. Shrimp Pesto was delicious! Drinks ok. Bar staff seemed low on the learning curve.
(3)
Mallory D.
I've always wanted to hang out here...it looks like everyone is always having a grand old time whenever I drive by. Well last night was finally the night, and it was a good time! There's nothing this girl loves more than drinking outside, and Three Monkeys has an adorable space to do just that. Unfortunately the skies opened up and downpoured on us while we were mid-brew, but the five minutes I spent out there I very much enjoyed. I found the food to be really delicious, and the menu varied from bar food to actual entrees. Husband & I split wings which were great, and both ordered a burger which was delicious as well. My only complaints...that draft list needs some work. Maybe I'm just a beer snob (I'm definitely a beer snob) but their list isn't cutting it for me. Thankfully they had Dogfish 60 which appeased me, but more craft beer is needed. Also, our particular waitress is in the wrong line of work. I asked three times for a glass of water that never came...not exactly an outlandish request. I did notice some other much nicer, more capable waitresses around so for that reason, and the great food, I will certainly be back.
(4)
Michael F.
A great local bar with above average food. The Mighty Joe Young (MJY) burger will fill even the greatest hunger, but don't worry you can get it with a salad instead of fries if you want to stay healthy. There is also a great variety of other food options and daily specials worth checking out. The outdoor seating is great for spring and fall days. If you're like me, every now and then you need to take your lunch break outside - Three Monkeys Cafe fits the bill perfectly! Parking can be a bit annoying, but there always is the SEPTA lot across the street ($1/day).
(4)
Joann J.
Lunch experience....was told there was a new menu and chef. Service was terrible. Our soups arrived luke warm....chicken fingers overcooked and fish undercooked. Not happy at all with "new chef" and new menu. Food was medicore at best
(2)
Jonathan F.
This place is great but the service is frustrating. The waitress walked away before I could finish ordering my drink and then was pissed when she got it wrong. I wish the service was in line with everything else about this place.
(3)
Tina S.
We are frequent customers and love the food and ambiance. But, I feel that I had to comment about our Service tonight. This is also my first time posting a review that is how upset I was. I think that almost every time we come to your restaurant we get the same waitress. She is not very friendly and I find myself trying to be extra nice to her thinking, maybe she has a bad day, life etc. and we always are great tippers ( I was a waitress myself) . Tonight we ordered the Mahi Taco's which we have had before and love them. My daughter and I shared the platter. We each took a bite and something did not taste right. We told our waitress and she promptly removed our platter. No sorry just took the platter and walked away. She returned and stated that the fish was a new batch, and it was not the fish, but again no apology. Ok..so maybe it was something else in the dish. But how can you treat a customer like this. Extremely poor service. We will return but will request another server. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I rated the restaurant 4 stars because we will come again and as I said before its a nice place.
(4)
Lindsey T.
I had been by Three Monkeys for dinner twice before and wasn't impressed, but decided to give them a shot for brunch today anyway. They have a really great patio that's hard to say no to on a beautiful day. I'm glad I gave them another chance because our meal was really excellent - we shared the Monte Cristo & Lumberjack Omelet (stuffed with tons of veggies & creamed chipped beef omg) and I would not change a thing about either. Good coffee and swift service too. We left very full and very happy. I will definitely be back for breakfast in the courtyard as long as the weather holds out.
(4)
Caroline H.
I'd been trying to get here for a while now since it's always so crowded. Finally went on a Sunday afternoon and well I was disappointed. Food - waaaay overpriced for mediocre food! $15 for a chicken Caesar salad? Really!?!? I didn't even have a whole chicken breast on it. Not to mention $4 for a miller lite bottle...wow. And the service...we pretty much had a non-existent waitress. And we got the good ol' dirty silverware which we couldn't get replaced because she wasn't anywhere to be found. The place is way over- rated in my opinion.
(2)
Michael L.
Save your money. Risotto should not be crunchy and dry. Louisiana chicken should not be bland, overcooked, and be of Dollar Store quality. House chips should not be burnt and ultra salty. Miller High Life should not be 4$. Waitress' should not be smothering and pushy. That is minus five stars. The cheese plate for 11$ was expensive, but the best part of the night. So, that is the one star this place barely deserves. P.S. Warm up your vocal cords. This place is so loud I had to yell all night.
(1)
Timothy M.
I always seem to end up coming here when I'm craving beer and i don't know why. The beer list is OK but there's nothing special to it. Food is always good and consistent but i just don't seem to enjoy the vibe as much. I really have nothing bad to say about this place but i really don't have anything great to say about this place either. Prices are good, food is consistent, but the menu does not seem to change much. I'm sure i will be back here again and again but it would be nice to see some more happen.
(3)
Joe G.
Went here to meet friends as it is relatively close to all of us and, it being here for a while, I've never been there, so it was nice to check it out. Boy did I make a mistake. We had a rather large party for a Friday night, 8 people, but a server said she could seat us. She sat us at a 6 top, with 6 chairs and told us we could grab other chairs if we saw them, so we did just that. We ordered drinks, which our server (not trying to be mean, but she was THAT BAD) took in waves, because apparently taking 8 drink orders at once was too lage a feat. We received our drinks about 20 minutes later, our beers were cold and cocktails properly mixed, so there's a plus. The beer list was better than an Applebee's, not quite underwhelming, and not overwhelming. They had a few choice beers on tap and by bottle. The food was okay. Tasty basic bar food but somewhat bland and unoriginal. It seems they attempt to make something good but to keep prices down they use cheap ingredients, resulting in a shoddy product. I could tell my fries were once in a freezer, accompanied by our french fries, tortilla wrap, and crab cake. The prices were on the mark for what the establishment was trying to be, no complaints here. After eating my friends and I decide to venture out to their patio/tent as we were getting tired of the service and wanted to stand. The patio smelled like vomit. We ordered drinks waitiing for it to pass. The bartender was a guy who seemed to have been a big shot in his high school days and thought being a bartender at a mediocre establishment would restore some of that feeling. He seemed like he was doing me a favor by me paying him for services rendered. After a tasty Dogfish Head I noticed they had Summer Ale on tap, which I always enjoy but upon tasting it noticed it tasted like Sam Adams Summer Ale and some other beer; they don't clean their lines properly, or else a beer that's just rolling out now is already turning. I give this place 2 stars instead of one because the decor was entertaining, the place seemed clean (besides that smell), and it's in a decent location, though I won't be returning any time soon.
(2)
Anna A.
The food wasn't very good (french onion soup and roast beef sandwich)- not sure how you can mess that up, and at a very expensive price. The only thing worth coming here for is the monkey bread.
(2)
Emmaleigh A.
The reason I keep going back to the Three Monkeys is the outdoor bar area -- it is absolutely adorable and has a great atmosphere! It's a perfect place to enjoy a nice summer night with friends and have some drinks. Once when I went for lunch, half of the tables were reserved for a fundraiser. It's great for an event like that too. 5 stars for the outdoor bar :) As much as I like this place, the food is just average. I've been here a bunch of times for lunch and dinner and have had probably every wrap and sandwich on the menu. They've all been just ok -- edible but nothing spectacular. I do like their crab dip and hummus appetizers. The dining room and indoor bar are nothing special and it's a little dark in there. I would choose to sit outside every time. They do have a pretty good beer selection and the cocktails are good (and only $3 on Mondays!)
(3)
Michael G.
This is a fun and hip NE Philadelphia bar with above average food, and below average mixed drinks; hence the 3 instead of 4 stars. I've been here several times over the past years, and can't remember ever not having a weak mixed drink. Stick with the beers on draft or bottles and you'll be good to go! Great place for groups. When the weather is nice, the outdoor section is the place to be.
(3)
E M.
I love this place! Probably my favorite place to eat in the Northeast. I love sitting at the outside bar or tables when it's nice out. My best friend and I crave for the hummus. It's definitely one of those places each time you go you want to try something new. Keep it up guys!
(5)
Amanda B.
Overpriced menu and food there sucks. I guess if u are drunk u dont care but if u are there not for drinks - don't even bother. Waste of money. The only nice thing is convenient location.
(1)
Maureen M.
I have been here several times and it is consistently...inconsistent. Service is often slow. Last night our server couldn't have been nicer but the entree was awful and not served as advertised. It was supposed to be hot sausage in a pesto alfredo sauce with pasta. it was a very thick white alfredo sauce with no sign of pesto and the sausage wasn't hot. After complaining (which I hate to do) it was returned to me with a little pesto and crushed red pepper mixed in. Next time, I will stick with a sandwich and some snacks. The cedar plank wings and cheesesteak were very good. Although soggy, the fries were tasty. Nice vibe and nice waitress but stick with the bar food please.
(3)
Tiffany B.
Stopped by this place for a great little brunch. Great service and great food!
(4)
Craig N.
Not impressed at all. I remember coming here two years back and enjoyed it, but the menu looked totally different now. I came here for lunch w/ my wife. Service was good, food not so much. She had a veal parm sandwich, it tasted like an Encore frozen dinner veal parm patty. I had tequila shrimp. It was like $16 and I got like 6-7 shrimp w/ a side of soggy, bland vegetables. Why the hype??
(2)
Alicia O.
You might miss it, but it's right across the street from Torresdale train station in a small block. It's a really great place to go for lunch, especially during the spring and summer. The outdoor seating area is adorable. They have a good lunch menu--salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They make their own potato chips, which are really good and huge. I haven't been here at night, but I heard the bar is great as well.
(4)
Joseph M.
not bad not great. its always nice to change it up once in awhile. i do like the outdoor bar tho.
(2)
Michael L.
First, let me say the good things I have to say about Three Monkeys. It's cute, with a nice bar, imaginative eclectic decor and a nice outdoor patio. The waitstaff is generally pretty nice, if less than what you'd expect at a more sophisticated place. The beer selection is good, and they seem to keep it cold and their tap lines clean. But the food...strictly so-so. For the life of me I can't figure out what the attraction is. I've had burgers there, and they're good, but beyond that? No so much. Empanada appetizers tasted strictly commercial foodservice. Seafood risotto had nice shrimp and scallops, but the risotto also tasted somehow fast foody. Crabcakes were mediocre. The tequila shrimp was a small serving of seemingly plain old scampi accompanied by soggy overcooked veggies. I know there's not much in the way of alternatives for dining out in this particular neighborhood, but people really seem to like this place. As for me, I don't get it. The food on multiple visits has been consistently mediocre, certainly nothing to write home about. The monkey bread is tasty though, so I'd recommend that. If you're in the neighborhood and are just looking for an edible meal, you can find it here, but if you're a foodie, you're not going to be wowed.
(2)
Michael H.
I had the most amazing pan seared filet mignon.. topped with shrimp/crab and prosciutto in Gorgonzola cream sauce.. crisp greens and a sliced up potato. It was made to perfection.
(4)
Jessica E.
This place is awful and I cannot believe that people rated it so highly. The house made beer is an ale which is fair tasting at best. Besides that, the closest thing you can get to a good beer is Blue Moon. I only gave Three Monkeys two stars instead of one because the filet mignon cheesesteak is somewhere between fair and good. The nachos are a bowl of tostitos scoops with skank cheese whiz on top. If you do feel like venturing here, make sure to not go on a game night, because that's when the townies are partying. Scary.
(2)
Dasha B.
Love love love this place! The outside reminds me of Margaritaville mixed with a beach bar, and the inside reminds you of a classic train dinning car. The would was awesome. The homemade hummus with roasted red pepper, feta, and pita was excellent. Since the hummus was so good, I had the fallafel, and my boyfriend had the fish tacos - both were sooo good. We had no room for dessert, but next time we will get the monkey bread.
(5)
Dorian K.
wow, if the food wasn't as good as it was I'd give a 1 star. they had no menu at all for they're drinks and i had to find the waitress to get my check. She then sent someone else to give us the check. Also, it says a lot when your trash can in the bathroom is overflowing. really nice place, terrible services.
(2)
Charles H.
WORST service at the bar. I've been here 3 times over the past year, all 3 times the bar wasn't busy but I still had to wait for service. They stand around and talk to each other and get to you when their conversation is done, OR if you're a friend of theirs. I gave it 3 tries since it's a nice place with good food and good wait staff but the bartenders MUST GO!
(2)
The S.
Three Monkey's is a small-ish pub somewhat off the beaten path, but also in the middle of everything. My first impressions were very positive - the pub and its patron's were quite cheery, even withstanding the snowy mush outside. I looked around a bit, being nosy as I generally am, and enjoyed the heavy use of wood in the interior architecture, as well as the heavy use of impressionist paintings (ok, posters). I fancied myself drinking a pint with Dali and the Beatles. I saw the bartender attentively tracking me as he waited on his full bar. By the time I found a comfortable, well-positioned stool (not that there were many options), he had arrived at the same spot - a sot-seeking missile who cheerfully asked me if I wanted a drink. (Later, I saw the same bartender have "Jerry's" beer ready before Jerry sat down or ordered a thing - I'm going to go out on the limb and say Jerry is a regular!) The affirmation in my response to the bartender's question was inevitable, but there were several choices to mull over. I tried a new beer, Stoudt's Horny Monkey Ale, which I subsequently discovered was sold elsewhere as Scarlet Lady Ale, and found it well-balanced with a rich dark amber reddish color and a smooth malty finish. I poured over the menu and found favorites as well as unique options: wasabi crab cakes, chicken cordon bleu balls, baked mac'n cheese, pot stickers, tapas, burgers, wraps, salads, and sammiches. A good entree selection included a (slightly overpriced) raw bar, plus steak, veal, chicken, seafood, and pasta. I opted for one of the specials, the rigatoni with beef tips in a "tomato garlic shellot (sic) parmesan cream sauce" ("shellot"? Isn't that a computer virus? - hey, I had to pick on them about something), and it was surprisingly delicious! The Tree bar and Monkey Court were closed (night, snow, ice, cold - you get it), but I really wish I have the opportunity to return and visit there during warmer times. I am looking forward to that! Eat, Drink, and Be Monkey!!!
(4)
James M.
Avoid at all costs. Save your money and have a much better night somewhere else! Very poor atmosphere. Very bland and under-cooked "bar" food. I went for the bar, which is so small that you have to take a seat in the eating section if you decide to venture there with friends and want to end up anywhere near one another. The crowd is irrationally mixed, fights happen often, and the parking situation is abysmal. You basically have to park one mile away because there are "NO PARKING" signs surrounding the entire area due to the train station's municipal parking lot right across the street.
(1)
Fran S.
We will be relocating to the northeast in a few months - long story. Anyway being a foodie I have been searching for a good breakfast place in my soon to be new neighborhood - this is not the place. Went for breakfast Saturday morning. My omelet was overcooked and the filling tasteless. My husband had the roast pork sandwich - also tasteless. It also came on a sesame roll, and that might be good to note on the menu as some people have food allergies. Our waitress seemed to want to be there less than we did and disappeared for prolong periods. They have a wonderful outside dining area, but unfortunately they have no dining to accompany it. Maybe a good place for some wings and a beer and being as that is not our thing doubt we will be back. Think we will definitely be making at least monthly trips to the old hood for breakfast, etc
(2)
Andrew J.
Three Monkeys Cafe is a spot around the corner from me that I've been meaning to visit but never actually got around to checking out until my cousin asked me to join him there. I joined him for drink in the outdoor area. The outdoor area had plenty of seating and there was a nice tile mosaic on the wall by the bar. With a few craft beers to go along with the usual beer it was a very nice place to drink on that summer night. A few weeks later I came back to have lunch with a girlfriend. The inside is nicely decorated with pictures of monkey and other animals. The bar inside looked great but we took a seat at one of the fine wooden tables. The menu was a nice combination of bar food and entrees along with a wine selection and a couple of house mixed drinks. We ordered burgers and they were absolutely delicious and the fries that came with them were thin and seasoned, not the generic square cut crap. There were some problems with the waitress not understanding what ordered and the price of the burgers was a little high. Both of my experiences at Three Monkeys left a good impression on me. Not many places in the area are as nice. The place draws a good crowd despite being tucked away in between some houses and right across the street from a train station. The place is a little small though. Definitely the best place to drink outside on a hot night.
(4)
Christin S.
Three stars may b a little generous...food is hit or miss but the place has a cool atmosphere
(3)
Reid F.
What a cute little place, with great decorations and an outdoor patio. We went for brunch, and the food was excellent. At first, we experienced a service mixup, but the owner came over andhandled it beautifully. We shall return.
(5)
Michael K.
Food was good service a little slow wasn't that busy either.
(2)
Zanna H.
This is a nice little local bar. And who doesn't like staring at random monkey themed decor while eating? The food is not your typical bar food of fried greasy things. I enjoyed their humus appetizer and their French Dip roast beef was pretty good but putting it on a croissant just made it a soggy mess. I wasn't impressed with their homemade chips, they were almost burnt and mostly tasted of grease. On the plus side the portions are generous so you can soak up all that Horny Monkey Ale. I hate the taste of beer but could not resist trying a sip because of the name. I would have to honestly say it was not that bad. The monkeytinis & appletinis were strong & tasty. I want to go back once the weather is nicer and they have their outdoor seating open.
(3)
Kristoffer L.
Took my clients there for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. They loved their entrees and I have to say the Summer Salad with Scallops I had was flat out orgasmic. Scallops were perfectly cooked(hard feat to accomplish most places I've been) and the mix of nuts and dressing and fruits just made everything pop. Now, this was my only experience, but it was a very positive one.
(4)
Adora B.
Pros - So unique with the decorations/small pub feel/Dali paintings all over. Awesome food - love their Buffalo Chicken Wrap. LOVE the food and my boyfriend said their burger was amazing. Very popular place - always crowded when I went. There's an outdoor bar and patio for in the summer when they have live music. Right next to Torresdale Train Station so its good to stop in and have a brew while waiting for the train. Good prices for food. The monkey bread is basically a glorified cinnabun. Cons- The Horny Monkey Ale or whatever they call their local brew is a dark beer so YECH. Did not care for it. Pricey for drinks. The staff isnt the friendliest although the service isnt bad. The chips dont have any flavor but its still awesome that they are made fresh. Will go here again!
(5)
Aman S.
This is an above average sports bar/pub. They have a decent ambience and outdoor seating as well. The chili was good. Extensive menu. Service was good as well. Prices very reasonable. I would go back again.
(3)
Leanne M.
I used to adore this place. Until they served my best friend's sister MEAT in her Mac-n-cheese. She TOLD the server she was a vegetarian and was still served BACON! She got VERY ill. We spent over $500 there because I brought a large group there for my birthday (I'm a sucker for the outside area...but we weren't able to sit out there). As a restaurant manager myself, how could the management do nothing about this when it was brought up? NEVER AGAIN! I'm still waiting for my apology...I won't hold my breath.
(1)
Gena N.
Horrible, horrible place. Never had such bad service in my life! Came here with friends for Sunday brunch. Took 10 mins to be asked what to drink, 20 mins to order our food. 40 mins total for our food to come out which wasn't anything to brag about. Our waitress never checked on us or asked if we needed anything. We had to ask other servers for condiments, refills and our bill. Unexceptional. Our table just didnt matter. I looked around and noticed everyone else was being served at a normal rate, being checked on etc. After leaving our waitress said thank you, but never any apologies for the slow horrible service. My husband said as he looked back he heard her say "stupid chinks". Well if that's the case this place will never see my business again and that just explains why we were waited on so poorly. Poor food poor service, do not come. Customer service doesnt matter here obviously and the managers do not care. Oh and parking sucks!
(1)
Ali K.
Love Three Monkeys Cafe. LOVE IT. Food is good, service is very good, even when they are busy. The first time I went, it was just before St. Patty's day, and the place was packed. Our waitress was fantastic, she really took care of us and let us in on her favorites on the menu, since we'd never been there before. The steamed clams in basil & garlic butter is my favorite. Definitely different than other restaurants. The fried "Calamonkey" and the Monkey Surf n Turf are both very good as well. There are many drink options, lots of beers on tap, and they have Frambois Raspberry Lambic--YUM. All in all, this is a great place to go to relax. Very comfortable atmosphere and a true gem in the NE. Will definitely be returning--and soon!!
(4)
Gus J.
I have a real love hate relationship with this place. On one hand, I really enjoy going to Three Monkeys because it is much nicer, and has a better crowd than the other bars in the area. I also get along well with the staff, and have never had a problem with the service in all my years of going there. The main issues that I have with this bar are price, and poor quality food. When I first started going to Three Monkeys I was told about how good the food was. One one of my initial visits I ordered the Mighty Joe Young burger, and it was pretty good, not great, just good. I have had burgers of better quality at The Red Robin, and Five Guys. Having enjoyed my first food experience there, I decided to order something a little more than a burger the next time that I went there. I ordered fettuccine alfredo. It was a Sunday, and the place was completely empty except for our party of three people, and 2 other guests at the bar. Our food came out in a timely manner, but I have to say that I have never had such an awful pasta dish in my entire life. The pasta was cooked properly, but the sauce was..... not really a sauce at all. It was as if someone put the cooked pasta into a bowl with hot milk. There was no substance to it whatsoever. It had zero flavor, and barely tasted of cheese. At least they threw some dried parsley flakes on there for color? I didn't send the dish back because I am paranoid about people doing stuff to food that gets returned, so I just chalked it up as a loss. It was about 3 years until I ordered food from there again. After chit chatting to the staff, one of them told me that they had actually just hired a new chef who was supposed to be much better than the last person (who one of the staff told me 'just didn't care'). I looked at some of the things on the menu and they seemed kind of exciting. The next time I went in I ordered the lobster mac and cheese. It was terrible. The lobster was overcooked, and like rubber to chew. I thought there may be a creamy cheese sauce, and maybe some herbs, and a crust on the top, no. The lobster mac and cheese was in a sauce that was eerily similar to Velveeta (with about a 1/3 of a cup of water added to it). Whoever drained the pasta didn't do a very good job, because there was a lot of water in the sauce, and it diluted what little flavor there was. The water also prevented the sauce from properly adhering to the elbow macaroni. Besides being over-priced, the dish was poorly executed, and haphazardly tossed in a dish. I am never ordering food from here again. I get what these people are trying to do. They want to be a hip gastro-pub, with upscale food. They put 'fancy' items like risotto on the menu, but fail miserably at executing them, and on top of that, they have the audacity to charge you as if you were at a fine dining restaurant in the city. If I had a word of advice for the owners of this establishment it would be this. Either put items on your menu that your chef is capable of cooking properly, or scale the food down to a level that he can be successful with. It is better to do an amazing burger, cheese steak, pannini or fried chicken, than it is to do a piss poor lobster thermador. I would rather have simple food cooked properly, that extravagant food, and extravagant costs poorly prepared, seasoned, and presented. Now that I am done talking about the food, I will move on to the drinks. Maybe they are trying to keep the riff raff out of the bar by charging more than any other bar in the area for drinks, but $4 for a bottle of Yuengling, or a bottle of Miller is a bit much. That would be bad enough on its own, but they also never have any drink specials. I am sure they are making a lot of money just based on the fact that Three Monkeys is a 'safe' bar, with pretty decorations that you can bring a female to, and that is great! But at the same time, they really shouldn't be alienating the people in the neighborhood that their business is in. Great staff, good drinks, nice decor, clean, awesome patio area. That place could be really special if they just fixed those 2 things.
(3)
Kelly S.
Three Monkeys Cafe is a bright spot in a neighborhood devoid of cool places to hang out. It's located on James Street, just off of State Road (near the City Line in the far Northeast) and directly across the street from the SEPTA R7 Torresdale station. I ventured into this place last winter, when it was cold and snowy, and I was waiting for someone to pick me up from the train station. I didn't notice anything special, and the cloud of cigarette smoke coming from a group of grouchy old men at the bar soon drove me from the building. Luckily, however, I recently stopped into Three Monkeys again with my mother for lunch, and I discovered, to my delight, that the place had expanded and improved. The interior of the bar/restaurant reminds me of a cozy English pub, complete with hardwood floors, wooden walls and booths, and old-style ceiling fans and bar decor. Since last winter, the cafe has also added a charming, shady outdoor garden complete with a monkey-shaped fountain, so patrons can eat or drink outside when the weather is nice. Also, the cloud of smoke is gone, thanks to the Philadelphia City Council. I was also pleasantly surprised by the menu this time around. I didn't remember there being anything special on the menu the first time I visited, but this time, I found that they serve delicious American food with a twist, such as Asian wings, panko-fried chicken fingers, salmon BLT's, mussels, and drunken shrimp. I ordered the veggie burger, which I usually never eat, and it was delicious. My mother got the salmon BLT sandwich, which was a little undercooked at first, but the waitress was so pleasant when my mother asked to have the fish cooked a bit more, and her sandwich arrived back at our table fully cooked so quickly that it really was not an inconvenience at all. And the food was delicious. Check out their menu online at 3monkeyscafe.com . They also have your usual assortment of beer on tap, mixed drinks, and the like. I didn't have any alcohol at lunch, but I can't wait to go back and have some mussels and "Horny Monkey Ale" while sitting outside in their garden. Every Monday is 3M Monday, when patrons can enjoy $3 Mojitos, Martinis, and Margaritas all day. This place really is a hidden gem in the far Northeast. UPDATE: I've had the "Horny Monkey Ale" and it's pretty good. And I really like their filet mignon cheeseteak with provolone. Yum.
(5)
Megan K.
sooooooo adorable. its so not NE philly when you step in there, but it fits perfectly. Its about time someone classed it up. i love the bar outside the most. it feels like youre in key west sitting there. i met the owner and he was the sweetest guy ever. as much as i hate to venture from south philly to the NE, i love love love this spot.
(5)
Jacob N.
So so so so so over this place!! I came here twice this year. The first time was alright although literally every beer I ordered from the menu was either not available anymore or the keg was kicked. Seriously this happen three times, so much that I got one on the house which was nice. I left that day feeling semi-ok about this place. Then fast forward to four months later: I had never been happy with the service here but this bitch really got under my skin. She was overweight, with dark hair and bright red lipstick and THE WORST attitude. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had somewhere better to be and that the fact that we haven't yet decided on drinks and appetizers is ruining your day. Seriously, this girl needed to get over herself. Now I should also mention that the food is BORING! Nothing going on with it. Nothing that really interests me or gets me excited to eat. It's unbearably standard. It's fine if you want nothing more than a Coors Light and a subpar burger. But not for me. Anyway, when we were ready for our check the waitress took 20 minutes to bring it over. And...my god...this place...the way their checks are laid out...I could die. For drinks especially, it forces the customer to remember the price listed on the menu for ANY beer because the bill will simply say "BEER - $4." So when we finally deciphered how much we actually drank, we discovered that we were charged for three beers that nobody ordered. If this mistake were corrected in a proper manner I probably wouldn't even be writing this review. But the waitress from hell instructed us that we were to figure it out amongst ourselves because printing a new bill, apparently, would be too difficult for her. This, again, would have been sorta ok except for the fact that we'd still be paying tax on things we didn't order. So we figured it out as quickly as possible and left at about the same pace. She may have ended up with 10% tip. She and Three Monkeys can shove it.
(1)
Fran T.
I've lived in NE Philly all my life and the bar options are fairly blah. But The Three Monkeys Cafe was great! Sort of reminds me of Eulogy down in Old City. I had the French Dip and my fiance had the Mighty Joe Young (Taylor Pork Roll slice on top of burger). As the other reviews said, the French Dip was on a croissant and it was soggy--but I ate every bite with a knife and fork. The beef was darn good. My fiance couldn't finish her burger. The Fries Appetizer were really good also - think McDonalds thin but a little darker and crunchy - definitely in the Pomme Frites style, served with mayo. My only complaint was that the tables were small and on top of one another (no booths too)! With the communal Fries and our two dinner plates, there was no more room on the table for anything else. Add to that, the back of my chair was touching the back of someone else's chair - annoying! It also didn't help that the table behind us was obviously a "girls night out" and we could barely hear our own conversation over their cackling! Chickie's and Pete's is tight too, but at least their tables are huge. If I go back again to 3 Monkeys, it will probably be in warmer weather so we can experience the outdoor seating and watch the R7 & Amtrak trains go by. PS....thumbs up on the Horney Monkey Ale!!
(4)
Wai Y.
I learned that they fixed the wireless internet access through one of the servers there. Which means I can have my pints / food and log on to work with my laptop (if necessary). There are some beers on tap that are a "fixture" and are usually the same for the most part, but occasionally they may be replaced by a "seasonal" beer. The menu has also changed, some items (cuban sandwich, mussels) are no longer available and cost increase to some items (most appear to remain the same). The mussels (in black bean sauce?) is occasionally offered as a special. I have had the steamed clams and french dip recently. The steamed clams (in fresh basil & garlic butter sauce) is one of my favorite appetizers here. The beef on the french dip was good, but serving it on a croissant made a soggy mess (as Zanna pointed out). If an item comes with homemade chips, I usually substitute with fries. Overall, the food is good. The wasabi crabcakes (from my previous review) remains my favorite. My friend ordered a caesar salad with shrimp, but the kitchen "forgot" the shrimp. The server did enter the order in correctly. The salad was taken off the check. The service here is very good. The staff is friendly as always even when the establishment is very busy. On the nights that I am too tired and don't want to cook, I may pick up dinner from Three Monkeys after getting off the SEPTA R7. The "patio" is opened during the summer months, usually very popular if the weather is nice. A minimal of 8 is required if you want to make reservations for outside seating at the "patio".
(4)
Mirna D.
The burger tasted as if it was from a frozen patty. The kid's menu chicken tenders and fries platter was terrible. The chicken was the size of a finger and both the chicken and fries were over cooked. The french fries were also very thin and dried out from over cooking.
(2)
Jessica H.
Had a wonderful time here with friends out on the patio for dinner. We started off with drinks while waiting for a table and they had a great selection of beers and martinis. We ended up having to wait about 45 minutes for a patio table on a Sunday night (but it was a beautiful night) which struck me as a bit long for a NE Philly restaurant, but I guess it's popular. Foods started with chicken nachos which were ok - too many olives and nobody at our table really liked olives... I got the BBQ Cheddar burger (would have gotten the crab ravioli but they said I only for 5-6 medium sized ravioli and I was Hungry!) Everyone else loved what they got (tuna steak, burgers). We ended the meal with monkey bread which was ok (our homemade was better). What I did really like were their drinks/martinis. I would definitely come back for a nice summer night's dinner.
(3)
Ronald m R.
As first time visitors to this local bar and hearing nothing but good things about the food and drinks wifie and I finally decided to take the ride(a beautiful day) to check out what everybody was raving about. We weren't disappointed but I will say that they are a bit pricey for a local bar/pub. Example:A special was a 1/4 head of romaine with tomatoes, bacon, and bleu cheese dressing for $11.99. And all of their regular menu items were up there in the price category. Now let me say that the server Stephanie was great and so was the food. Wifey had the soup special which was a hearty seafood corn chowder and chose the crab quesidilla a generous portion with crab,spinach, and cheese. I chose the steakhouse burger a 10 ounce monster with the portabello mushrooms and swiss cheese. The burger comes with lettuce and tomato, home made chips and a pickle. I treated myself to a Corona and wifey had a diet soda. Everybody was very kind and the option of sitting outside in the patio area was great. My view of the large flat screen TV to watch the Phillies game which happened to be on made it even better. I have no complaints except that by the time we got our check, with a proper tip the total was $48.00. Again a bit pricey for a local bar/pub.
(3)
Lauren B.
I used to love this place. It was a great place to go have some dinks and dinner, but prices are sky high. Tonight I purcased the mediterain salad with grilled shrimp and was very disappointed. The shrimp were not grilled but boiled. The salad had red peppers and black olives from a can. For a salad costing $16.99 I expect to get fresh peppers and better olives. The atmosphere is great but the food is starting to go down hill.
(1)
Jon W.
I don't know what happened to this place but it used to be a lot better. For one, the drinks are expensive. I used to be a regular here but I couldn't take it anymore. It might be nice to have one drink but you're paying Center City Philadelphia prices in the Northeast. Most of the staff is very rude and I don't know why. Most of the female waitresses are very nice so I would never group them with the rest. Most of the male bartenders are so rude that I would try to sit at a table so I didn't have to deal with them. The reason for 2 stars instead of 1 is that the food is decent. I've been here 30 or more times because I live in the neighborhood but I'm kinda fed up now. The place has the potential to be great but I don't see it happening anytime soon unless they make some changes.
(2)
Eileen K.
Overpriced food and drinks, at night some goon was a bouncer, lol, not many young people to bounce out. Parking not good. Food again not that great and overpriced. Overrated.
(1)
Brian P.
how can you screw up fried food???? they know how, i give every place the beneifit of the doubt at least 3 times, they failed all 3 times ,,,, i love the ambiance , BUT i come to eat not to look around ,
(1)
Danielle L.
I recently went Three Monkeys with a bunch of friends for another friend's birthday. The inside was very loud until most of the bigger tables cleared out. It was also very dim and in extreme need of space. The tables and the seats were so close together, one had to walk sideways to get through. I was a bit disappointed later in the evening when we found out that the outside area had different specials a food. Nobody explained anything to us. The service left something to be desired. The waitress didn't really listen when people spoke to her, she never really checked on the table to make sure we had everything we needed either. In fact, she even forgot to bring out all of the water glasses for the table. She also did not clearly explain some of the entrees with salads. All but two of us had ordered sandwich entrees with salads on the side instead of fries. When two salads came out from someone who was not out waitress we all assumed that the salads would come out first. Turns out, these two salads were for other en tress and not the sandwich entree. It wasn't a huge deal but clear explanations would help to not confuse the restaurants goers and would help to not waste anybody's time. Another thing that bothered me with the waitress was that she didn't really help clean up a spill. Someones water spilled and the person next to them was helping wipe it up with napkins and clearing the ice cubes. The waitress came over and didn't clear anymore ice or help wipe the table. The food was pretty good. Not very expensive but also not cheap. The monkey is highly disappointing. It is nowhere near as big as one of the photos I've seen. It's approximately 4 to 5 inches across and about 1-2 inches high. It is also not made like traditional monkey bread. This version is basically just balls of bread baked very plain then a dusting of cinnamon and a bit of caramel drizzled over top. The drinks inside were a hit or miss and mostly miss in my opinion. MY friend had one drink that tasted like floor cleaning solution. The outside bar was a bit more spacious. It was a little difficult to enjoy because it was very humid and rainy outside. The actual bar had a roof but the tables didn't. Also, when my friend had called to inquire about seating at the outside bar she was told there was plenty of room for all of us after we finished dinner. Unfortunately, the tables are for people eating dinner and you have to be seated by a hostess. Overall, I might be inclined to go again but I would like to sit outside. Hopefully, the service is better. The food looked better and the drinks definitely were.
(2)
Bar F.
So much potential, but so disappointing. The atmosphere is quaint...almost makes you feel like eating in an early 1900's train station. The place is very expensive, especially for Northeast Phildadelphia prices; they are charging 4 dollars for a domestic beer. You won't find domestic beer that expensive in many Center City bars. The food is average, nothing special and way overpiced. But what really drives this place down on the star scale is the service. The bartenders tend to be slow and unfriendly. The wait staff is very unattentive and seem more interested in getting you out of there than they do your needs. Parking leaves a lot to be desired as well. Too bad really, because the oustide area has a lot to offer as well as the inside....but with average food, terrible service and high prices, it's all for not.
(2)
Rick A.
Excellent. Try the monkey bread
(5)
Scott B.
After all the nice reviews I've had about this place from friends we decided to drive the 30 minutes and check it out for they're Sunday "Brunch." well, we arrived around 11:50, and having read that brunch goes until 3pm, didn't think much of it. We were seated and then waited over 10 minutes to have a waitress come over and tell us she'd be just a few minutes. So, around 12:10 she asks us what we'd like to drink, and we ask about the brunch menu. She points at the wall and says that its, which consisted of they're regular menu plus 6 items on a chalk board, one of which was pancakes, the only breakfast item to be found. We were then informed that breakfast stops at 12pm?!? isn't that what Brunch is? Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch. how can it be brunch if 99% of the items are lunch items. So anyway, we order some coffee and I settle on a Mighty Joe Young burger (clearly copyright infringement) which is a burger with pork roll and bacon on it for $13. Medium rare. Coffee comes out and the entire top of my cup is covered in lipstick, so we ask for a new one. The waitress gave us attitude, took the cup away and came back 7 minutes later with the same cup filled higher. Food came out, my M-R burger was a hockey puck well done with a cold piece of cheese on top and a piece of almost raw pork roll on top half the size of the burger. Item Description "Thick sliced Taylor pork roll invades our Angus burger. An addictive combination smothered in cheese." I think not. anyway, last time we go to this place. Decor was nice, everything else was not.
(2)
Dave W.
I was here for lunch during the week day, so I can't speak to the atmosphere when the bar is in full swing, but the food is mediocre. I had the french onion soup and a portabella mushroom sandwich. Nothing that I couldn't have gotten at a run of the milll chain like a bennigans or houlihans.. the beers on draft were weak, but they did have some good bottles for the winter season (troeggs mad elf, rogue yellow snow, etc). Bottom line: this was a one and done place.
(2)
Larry T.
THE THREE MONKEYS Accross from the Torresdale Train Station The bistro was smaller than I imagined it, but there was enough room between the tables, and the service was excellent. I had the Cheese-Steak soup; it was exactly that- little pieces of Filet Mignon in a cheese-whiz soup. very nice The warden had the Baked French Onion soup and it also was well done, except perhaps it was left under the broiler a moment or two too long for the cheese; was a little too crispy around the edge. We shared a helping of the fried Calamari ("Calamonkey") and it was done perfectly. Most places over-cook their deep-fried seafood; these were a light golden brown and not like the rubbery stuff you usually get 'round here. I had the Wasabi Crab cakes- they were excellent ! Mostly CRAB for a change, not breading. and the side of fries could have fed four adults ! Big fat tender / crisp steak fries, with two different dippers; a ketchup-y sauce and a cheesy one. The Warden tried the seafood Risotto- This was very tasty, but was light on the "Seafood"....just three scallops and two large shrimp, although it was obvious there were small bits of both in the sauce. The iced tea was obviously fresh-brewed and reminded me of the "Sweet Tea" of my youth. The salads were HUGE; made with field greens rather than the more common "American Blend". We skipped dessert, as you may imagine. Tab (for 4 adults) was under $50 before the tip . In warm months, there is an outdoor dining area.....
(4)
Dave B.
I finally found the Three Monkeys Cafe and I'm glad I did. Walked through the venue and found a table outside. A very friendly waitress came over with menus and drink requests. Two thumbs up for the Horny Monkey Ale. I had the Teriyaki Chicken Fajita Wrap with salad, my friend had the Fiesta Chicken Wrap with homemade chips. My wrap was decent sized and the chicken was moist and tasty. Our waitress came by ofter to see if everything was alright and If we needed anything else. My friend had a cannoli with coffee & Bailey's for desert, I opted for another Horny Monkey Ale. I'm sure I'll be returning to this establishment in the future. Oh, did I mention that the homemade chips rocked, well they did! Think I'll get chips and a salad next time.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Good food that's not the typical old bar crap, attentive service, nice beer selection, and the decor is warm and trendy. Not to mention they have an adorable outside area that I'm sure will be a lot of fun in the summer! I always go there when I want to have an intimate time with a few friends or to do the couples thing. Don't bother going there if you're single or looking for a crazzzy time b/c you might be dissapointed. Nevertheless, it's a truly chill spot.
(4)
Lenny D.
outdoor seating is cool.
(3)
Joe E.
Having never heard of this, friends of ours wanted to meet up for a drink and suggested this. Not expecting much from a bar in the Northeast, I was pleasantly surprised but Three Monkey's Cafe. Everything is reasonably priced so a night out won't break the bank. Beer selection is good, bar tenders are friendly, and the outside seating if the weather is right is great! So far we've only had some appetizers but definitely looking forward to going back and trying more of the menu.
(4)
Jaycee H.
Great outdoor space but that's about it. Mediocre food and lousy service. Decent prices. Kids menu was a nice option, but my kid like most is picky and the chicken fingers were overly seasoned with thyme or oregano that he wouldn't eat them.
(2)
William J.
First thing first chef Beth was awesome. Food is well prepared, sevice was great. Went on a Thursday around 5pm and it wasnt very crowded. Every plate we ordered was outstanding. Will be returning.
(5)
Joanne M.
Been coming to the Monkey since it opened..the atmosphere is fun, a relaxing meeting spot to catch up with friends..food is great, menu has great variety and the outside bar is gorgeous ..it's always a first thought meeting place for our friends and we always have a blast sitting outside with the lighted tables, the fun island type atmosphere..appetizers are awesome..love the crab dip, the pot stickers and the pretzels..burgers are huge..and delicious!! Does not disappoint...
(5)
Nikki H.
Love this place! The outdoor seating is great. Food can get a little pricey, but the ambiance and the drink selection are well worth it. Parking can be a little difficult but there's a municipal lot up the street that is $2 all day, which is a great deal!
(5)
Jim A.
Yelp find! This is a nice place, and hopping with fun people. A eclectic dinner menu with lots to choose from. The Pretzel appetizer was a great start, perfect for sitting at the bar with brews watching the game. The dinner was very tasty with great portions. Presented with pride. Service was excellent. Look forward to a future visit.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Robert S.
Tucked away on James St, right across from the Torresdale Train Station, Three Monkeys Cafe is a true Northeast Philadelphia gem. I've eaten at Three Monkey's twice in the past month, both times for dinner on a Sunday night. Unfortunately, both times we had an awkward experience while we were waiting to be seated. The second time we were there was particularly awkward because there was no one outside to greet us and take us to our table. In fact, we waited outside of the restaurant (we ate outside both times) for a couple of minutes before the hostess came up to us. However, that is the only negative thing I have to say. The outdoor patio, better known as Monkey Court, has this awesome, unique Florida-style feel to it that certainly won't be found at any other restaurant in the area. Now, on to the food. Both times I had the Irish Style Roast beef, and both times I left extremely satisfied with my decision. The Irish Roast Beef is served with roast beef, of course, piled atop of a layer of french fries, horseradish mayo and an onion roll. The sandwich is also served with their homemade chips. The sandwich is simply delicious. The horseradish mayo's kick is the perfect compliment to the otherwise savory components. It really is one of the best roast beef sandwiches I've had. I've also tried the chicken fingers and the Mahi Tacos - both were also tasty. I'm not sure what kind of experience the indoor dining room has to offer, but I definitely recommend grabbing a meal on the outside patio while the weather still permits.
(4)Jeanne P.
I pretty much came here because Yelp has been suggesting it to me for weeks. After reading reviews and lots of internal debating, I went. I went and I was not impressed. I'm actually kind of mad that the food costed as much as it did. I'm also not too pleased with the service there. I don't expect to be greeted with red carpets and cheerleaders, so I don't mind if a hostess isn't elated to see me (though your job is to greet people with a friendly personality). We were seated promptly as it wasn't too busy. I was excited looking at the menu, there were so many interesting things to choose from. I decided to get an entree, the "Dare to Be Rare," which consisted of seared rare Ahi tuna over cold wasabi-ginger cous cous. Sounded right up my alley. Beforehand, I decided to split the lobster mac and cheese bites with the person I was with. I waited anxiously. Much like the Dog and Bull, I was SURROUNDED by flies. It's hard for me to keep my language PG, but I really hate flies...especially in large amounts. I find myself holding my drink in my hand because I was tired of swatting them away from my straw. I finished my soda rather quickly and out came the appetizer. It was a bus boy who brought it to us. My other half asked if we could have refills on our soda. Mind you, we were sitting literally two feet away from where the soda comes from. It's the only reason why we asked him... he told us that he "doesn't do that," and would, "try to find the server." Cool man. Thanks. Moving on to the appetizer, it wasn't bad...but it wasn't great. The mac and cheese didn't really taste like anything, and I was convinced there wasn't lobster in them at all. Definitely not worth 12 dollars, but we ate them anyway. The entrees came out quickly after. The presentation was nice. I definitely give them that. The person I was with ordered "The Sticken," which was chicken and regular steak with hot sauce, gorgonzola cheese, and those french's crispy onions. It came with a side of homemade chips. His was actually really good. I felt 13 bucks was a little steep, but it wasn't bad. Again, I'm left jealous and regretful. I didn't really like my dish at all...but I ate it. I don't send food back unless there's something SERIOUSLY wrong. The "cold" cous cous salad was room temperature, which was really off-putting. It also just tasted like honey mustard. The tuna was rough and tasteless. I was almost nervous about eating it, thinking about how likely it would be that I may get sick from it. Meh. The whole bill came out to $54.00 even. Definitely not worth it. We still left the server a decent tip even though we didn't see much of him. I used to work in food service, so I really avoid giving servers a hard time or shitty tips at all. I won't be back, but there are plenty of other people who seem to enjoy this place a lot more than I did! I'd stay away from entrees and order basic sandwiches.
(2)Reader H.
first time for three of us within a party of 7. quirky cool interior, a plus. long long long wait for food on a moderately busy wed ( last night!) night. and decent food yes, some very pretty in presentation , some not so , but pricey for quality and proportion. we as a group are always looking for a welcome spot for food / drinks / atmosphere but not so much here.the server nice enough kid but key word " kid". unfriendly staff of young kids. no thanks
(2)Valentino G.
I came here with my girlfriend and another couple and it was good, a little bit pricey they other places that I have been, but all in all I really enjoyed the food. They have a nice selection for those who enjoy beer, and also an extensive wine and martini list. We all started off with the Crab-Ocado dip which was awesome and the Garlic Bread pretzels were the icing on the cake! My girlfriend had the Chef Beth's Signature Lobster Mac & Cheese, she really enjoyed it and even offered me a bite, very creamy and rich, highly recommended if your a mac and cheese fan. I ordered the Sunny in Philadelphia burger which was great! Nice patty, cheese, bacon, and a sunny side up egg! Great burger! I will definitely come back and try some more food and get dessert next time, I really want to try there monkey bread!
(4)Crystal T.
Nice quaint pub, the atmosphere is cool we sat outside. So, they have a nice small selection of imported beers I had the Framboise Raspberry Beer Yum!! I ordered the signature wings with the teriyaki sauce I didn't care to much for the sauce or the wings they were rubbery not grilled long enough. My salad was nice & fresh. The crab fondue was really good. Our server was cool!! I'll try once again to see how the other foods taste.
(4)Patty T.
Bad experience all around . Mediocre food - that took forever - along with terrible service with an attitude. Not worth a return visit.
(1)Andrea M.
I always enjoy my time at Three Monkeys. Any day of the week any time of the day. Their food is always incredible and the environment is warm and comfortable. I came in to wait for a ride from the train and as I walked in the door I immediately heard their acoustic entertainment. This made me feel very happy that I had some time to spare to enjoy the music.
(5)Stephen B.
After reading most of the reviews on hear, I should have figured. I was hear this morning for breakfast!! Just one other person in there, Got seated, waitress ask me what I wanted to drink. Told her reg cup of coffee. So that was a good start. Then after that, everything went down hill from there. I really thought highly about this place when I seen the inside and outside. After seeing the prices and seeing how expensive the breakfast is and what they give you, I knew this would probably be the last. I got the 3 eggs, with toast, and home fries, When the food came out. I could only think Wow that looks good. But the home fries and eggs we're cold, the only thing that was hot was the coffee!! Very disappointed!! So then there is a $3 off coupon on hear for breakfast for weekday. I show the waitress, she says to me, I never seen that before. She goes and checks and comes back and says to me she will tell her manager about it, never took $3 off my check. Never even ask anyone esle that works there about it. Then I realized after few min that it's when you spend $10 or more but that dont tell you till you get there and check in. So like they say there always a catch to something. This place does not care about their customers, I should have known that as soon as I walked in!! I won't see myself going hear anymore. It's a shame because if this place was ran the right way it could very well be one of the best places to get a drink or a bight to eat.
(3)Frank P.
Come here whenever visiting Northeast Philly. It's pretty much the only decent place in this area to get a somewhat "clean meal". Usually our trip consists of their great beer selection and some hummus. Decided to order a wrap and veggie burger tonight. $15 for a wrap and $14 for a veggie burger?? Are you guys fing nuts? I have been half away across this country dining at every type of establishment from high end restaurants to some of the best brew pubs and cafes. Never in my life have I paid $15 for a wrap and $14 for a veggie burger. Hey more power to you. Seem to be plenty of people there drinking the Kool Aid.
(3)Vincent J.
Great place to come and have lunch and a beer. Food is excellent and a very good beer list
(4)Lauren C.
In NE Philly, this place is pretty much the best of the best! For starters the decor- its very comfy. Kinda pub-style, but with a more modern twist. You can sit outside if you want, or settle into one of the many rooms. The service is up next- these guys are attentive, and really really nice! Lots of great recommendations coming from the staffers who obviously enjoy this place a lot. When the staff eats the food a lot, that is a great sign. The beer list is vast and diverse; a united nations of beer if you will. Stouts, ales, wheat beers, ciders, IPA's, lagers, lambics and saisons. Domestic and imported, light and extra extra boozy are all available for consumption. I challenge you to NOT find something that you like. It'd be a challenge. Finally, the food. So long as you stay away from the dreaded 'wrap' category, you'll be fine. The food again has a range. Healthy to fatty, classy to low-brow and everything in-between. Being the classy lady I am, I started off with jack bites which was a square take on mozzarella sticks- which i split with a friend. They were FABULOUS! It's hard NOT to rave about fried cheese... but it surpassed the average. The cheese remained firmly within the confines of the crust. The temperature was steady- not scald your mouth on-fire. Upon taking a bite, the cheese stayed put. It was stringy, but not excessive. Really- perfection. For my entree, I had a veggie burger prepared in a style called 'the monkey mob' which included sharp provolone, long hots, and roasted red peppers. It came with a chunk of a deli-style pickle, and fresh chips that were as good if not better than french fries. There was no down-side to this dish except stomach space. I stopped eating the bun because i needed to reserve space for chips and the veggie burger (which seemed home made- with fresh veggies in it rather than faux-meat squished together). The toppings were awesome, and i was pleased to see that the long hots got some heat going! All in all- this place was slightly pricier than what I'm used to in NePhi, but it was so worth it. I'd come back here over most of the places up that way anytime. It was such a treat to have such an enjoyable meal!
(5)Allison B.
I actually liked this place more before I got seated. It's a really cute atmosphere and I was expecting something spectacular, but it fell short of a four-star rating. The atmosphere is super cute -- I was there for brunch with the bridesmaids from my sister's bridal party and we were excited for a good breakfast. We were seated outside in their courtyard -- if you're going for brunch, it seems like the place to be. I walked into the building at one point and it was very much what you'd expect out of a pub -- clean, but dark and with that ever-present spilled beer smell. Totally fine (and I could actually see it being a super cozy place to brunch in the winter), but not as nice a feel as the outside area. They even had a little low-key jazz band playing during the brunch/lunch hour. They were great and it was a really nice addition to the day. I would say our biggest gripes were the service and the menu. Our waitress was hard to get in touch with and while she showed us the cocktail menu, it didn't include any of the traditional brunch drinks (Blood Mary, mimosa) and I felt as if she should have verbally offered them as an option given the time of day. One of the ladies at our table ordered a Miller Lite draft and the server immediately said, "We have bottles, but that's NEVER on draft." Okay, excuse us! It was needlessly attitudinal. I did end up ordering a Bloody Mary, but it was weak and plain as all get out. It also didn't end up at our table for quite a long time after we ordered our drinks. We also waited a long time for our food, for our check, and for the server to take our cash away once we were ready to leave. The service was just all-around unimpressive on this visit. Several of us had checked out the menu online ahead of time and it seemed extensive. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the options were limited. Probably only about a dozen breakfast-type items alongside another dozen lunch items. I really enjoyed my eggs Benedict with a crab cake, but my sister was less than thrilled with the chicken wrap she ordered -- it was very plain tasting chicken with very little seasoning, so the toppings just didn't add the flavor needed to make it great. With that said, I think most of the other girls at our table were satisfied with their entrees. Overall, it wasn't a spectacular first experience, but this place had so much going for it charm-wise that I really want to go back again. I'm hoping our service experience was an anomaly and I think it's worth a try overall.
(3)Joanna Z.
Always amazing food. Love the black and blue burger and Buffalo potato chimps ;). They have obviously been working on the service because it has gotten much better. Apps came out quickly and entrées were timely. One of the best experiences here so far. Thanks for your continued improvement.
(4)Lauren A.
I have been here a couple times with friends and have never once been disappointed. The service is great the servers are friendly and the food is delicious!
(5)Allison V.
Second time here, food was good! Got a black and blue burger, was cooked to my liking. Decent beer selection, beer was cold! (Always a plus) Service was better this time than before (last time wait was ridiculous). Overall pleasant experience.
(4)Andi S.
Their fries are excellent as they do not peel them and they are perfectly seasoned. I also ordered their calamari, which was too sweet for my taste. They have an excellent selection of beer such as the watermelon one and the father's rooter, but I found their cocktails to be too sweet for me. It was still an excellent experience all around as the ambience at Three Monkey's Cafe is very nice, the staff is friendly and professional and I also love the fact that they are such interesting art all over the place, including Salvador Dali prints.
(5)Stephanie Aniela B.
Update-- I've been back twice since my first post. Came for football in January, sat at the outside bar. Smells like spilled beer but not like awful or something you don't expect from a patio bar... I guess. Had the chicken fingers - DELICIOUS. Homemade, so you're getting big chicken tenders and breading i like cornflakes, oh my god, I love them. Came here again for brunch and was under quoted by 45 minutes (our quote was 45 minutes so that's an hour and a half wait) sat down completely starving. Burger was decent, bacon egg roll were good. But under impressed with the service and wait. Probably wont be back for brunch.
(3)Liz G.
I've been coming here for years and have slowly watched the service and food decline. Today was the icing on the cake. Went to go eat around 3pm (not a crowded time for this restaurant), we ordered appetizers and watched as the other tables received their food. We asked our waitress what was going on and she said she would check with the kitchen. At least 15 minutes later our entrees arrive, without any mention of our missing appetizers. The waitress was extremely apologetic (I'm not blaming her at all), this was blatantly the kitchen's fault. As I ate my wimpy flavorless salad, I saw another table receive their appetizer and literally 2 minutes later their entrees came out - so definitely a kitchen problem. I'm glad I've finally used up all of my gift cards, because I won't be back.
(1)Alyssa S.
This place is close to my house and it is really hard to find a good restaurant (that isn't a chain) in the Northeast! Service is usually great, the food is always good, and so are the drinks. I usually order the crab dip, wedge salad, or fish tacos. If you go early for brunch they have great Bloody Marys too! Seating inside is a bit dim but if you're looking for something brighter the outdoor area is beautiful!
(4)Andrea S.
Hands down BEST lobster/mac and cheese EVER! Menu continues to change and get more creative and amazing with each visit!!!!!!
(5)Nicole B.
Over an hour wait for our food. For burgers. Must have had to go out and butcher the cow. Had to stand up like we were leaving to get our server's attention to PAY THE BILL. Will never go here again.
(1)Kenya A.
Service was Meh. Wings were Meh. I have experienced better.
(2)Batya W.
I always love coming here. The crowd is always nice and the food is always good. When I was here today it just seemed like they were having an off day. I asked for an ipa and I was brought a pale ale. The pot stickers were stone cold and it seemed like they were allowing people to drink a little too much at 4pm. I will give them another try because I don't usually experience this here. I just hope it's better next time
(4)Tammy D.
We wanted to try a new place with some friends and this place turned out to be great for a night out with friends. Their menu itself made it difficult to choose what we wanted. It took us longer than usual to figure out what we wanted. Ordered pork dumplings, Parmesan pretzel, honey truffle ribs, lobster mac and cheese, two different Kobe burgers. The food was great came out at the right temperatures. I wanted to lick the cheese off the skillet when I was done my lobster mac and cheese. Everyone finished their plates and water was refilled ever so often. We also got the first scoop of the new dessert coming out this week. Cheesecake with salted caramel ice cream. That really hit the spot after the rich meal we had. The only complaint was we did sit at our table for awhile after paying the check and the server never came back to ask us if we wanted more water or more drinks cause some of us had beer and sangria. Can't make that extra tip money if you don't ask, honey. If she did I would give the place 5 stars. We definitely are coming back to sit outside one of these nights.
(4)Elaine M.
Went to Three Monkey's Cafe with some friends for brunch/lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I ended up getting the Italian Chicken Wrap. It was good but nothing to write home about. A few of my friends got brunch items with crab, they were very pleased with their orders. I think the best thing about Three Monkey's is the micro-brew draft selections and the specials. It was too early for us to try any of the specials but they sounded much better than the standard menu. Nice atmosphere and parking was easy for a Saturday afternoon. I have been there on a weekend night when parking was a little bit more rough.
(3)Becky G.
The food and atmosphere are awesome. I had the pork Mac and cheese which was so delicious, my husband had the mighty Joe young burger, mom had the lobster mac and cheese and dad had the salmon. We also had cheesesteak spring rolls and fries to start. Everything came out timely and hot. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because they have no changing table in their bathroom. We called ahead to make sure that they had a highchair, and we just assumed that the two would go hand in hand. Other than that this place is great. I definitely want to try their brunch.
(4)Jason C.
This place almost got 3 stars, but got 4 for having Southern Tier Pumpkin on tap, as well as Camel tacos. That's right - camel. It's like a cross between lamb and venison. If you don't like game meat, stay away. I can cross Camel off of the list of critters I've consumed. Otherwise, great bar. Not much variety on tap, but plenty of bottles. Good for the beer snobs and the Pabst crowd.
(4)Christopher J.
Had a phenomenal time at Three monkeys yesterday afternoon Monica was awesome. Great ambience outdoor seating. Not too crowded very patient and understanding. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Desiree K.
I am consistently disappointed with everything about this place. Ever since they changed chefs it has been nothing short of a nightmare. The service is always terrible. Every time I go someone's order is wrong. The women that work there have an attitude problem. They wear their hair down and they talk to you like your standing on a street corner. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food!! I hate that it's such a popular neighborhood spot because it's never a good dining experience. The only time I will return is to see Jimmy Burke bartend!! Other than that this place has officially lost my business!!
(3)Danielle B.
I was so happy to stumble upon this conveniently located cafe. Located near the train station this restaurant serves as a great place to meet friends and catch up. Serving American cuisine and craft beers you really can't go wrong. Offering both outside and inside seating makes this a diverse location. Remember to save room for the monkey bread!! Served warm this cinnamon pull apart is the cherry on top!
(4)KF M.
My wife and I stopped in for dessert and a couple of Mexican coffees after a show in town. The waitress never heard of a Mexican coffee. Apparently the bartender hadn't either. We had to ask if the coffees had liquor in them. $15 for two small coffees with no liquor is a bit steep. The dessert was better. It was mediocre.
(1)Marina S.
Love this place. Great food (cheesesteak rolls are to die for), awesome drinks, plenty of outside seating. Perfect.
(5)Lauren M.
I really enjoy my overall experience at this restaurant. The outside eating area is so charming on nice nights with its bathtub planter and outdoor bar. The menu is full of little gems like the chicken mac & cheese along with good old-fashioned items like burgers. When it gets really busy there can be a bit of a wait and parking can be difficult on a Friday or Saturday night but, in my opinion, the wait is worth it.
(4)jimnris M.
Ok place to hang outside at the bar for drinks but not eat inside. I got a pan seared pork over spaghetti which was ok and my husband got the turkey burger sliders on a biscuit which was horrible tasting which he returned. Both were on the special that night so I'm not sure wether it's a safer bet there just to order off the basic menu. Our waitress was very nice though and the manager did want to know what was wrong and we said taste it you'll see. They did take it off the bill. Oh and I ordered a miller lite draft it was served in an unfrosted mug and was completely flat.
(2)Lindsey B.
I must say six months ago I thought very highly of this place. My bf was crazy about their burgers but my last two trips have been with friends and besides the service being terrible, the numerous apps we ordered the were cold and tasted like they came from the freezer. It will be a great deal of time before I can even think about trying again.
(2)Marty D.
Count me in....... First visit with 3 buddies. Busy Friday night but only waited 30 min for a table inside. Décor B+ Noise Level C Cleanliness B+ Beer Selection B- Service A+ The food was well prepared and presented in a clean manner. Our server was super attentive. If they added craft beers to the menu I'd upgrade them to 5 stars in a second. Very good value for what we paid.
(4)Bridget T.
Great food and lovely outside seating in the spring and summer. Really chill place to go for any meal.
(5)Christina M.
Best place to go in Northeast Philly. Mahi mahi burger was delicious. Service was good & drinks were even better!
(5)Tara G.
Three Monkeys is so hit or miss for me. I've come here several times for lunch and had an awesome experience. The food was perfect and service was excellent. The last few times, not so much. I've noticed that service at the bar is about 100 times better than service at the tables. The last few times I sat at a table I felt very ignored by our server, waiting far too long for silly things like extra napkins or ketchup. Even the food is inconsistent. For example, usually 3M has really excellent burgers that are usually cooked perfectly, but the last time I was here my husband's burger was way overcooked and very sloppily put together. Also, the roast pork sandwich that I've had on several occasions has been very dry and underseasoned the last few times I've had it. I can say that the grilled cedar plank wings are consistently awesome. I always get an order of those when I go. The rest of the food, however, seems to have gone downhill over the last year or two. Hopefully they can reconnect with the quality of food they used to put out and get back to the Three Monkeys I know and love.
(3)Inga R.
Love this place, their patio is awesome. I try to come atleast once a week (usually for drinks). When we come for food I really like the crab-o-cado dip and the ahi tuna tacos. Most if the time they have really good blackboard specials so we pick something from there too.
(5)Melanie K.
Their brunch menu is amazing. Their service is great. Great atmosphere. I've never had a bad meal there. Try the Might Joe young Burger or the smothered breakfast burrito. Great place!
(5)Joanne S.
Love the outdoor bar and seating area and the crab fondue is the best I've ever had. Amazing ambiance!
(5)Tanya M.
I had a bison burger and it was delicious. The presentation was good and the beer choices were plenty. The wait staff was not great but the food made up for it
(5)Ketchup Love R.
The only reason to come here is for the food and outdoor space. But don't sit too long, the manager will make the waitress drop the check and force you to get up (with full drinks). This really happened to me on a Wednesday night. Went for dinner and drinks with a few friends. They had an okay crowd, not packed, but good for a weeknight. We sat outside, ordered apps and drinks. About an hour later we ordered our third round of drinks and we see the manager come outside and say to our waitress "start dropping checks, they've been here too long (motions to us) and they've been here for too long (a table of 4 girls seated in the corner). The waitress promptly comes over and drops the check. Doesn't apologize (she knows we heard him) doesn't ask if we need anything else, just says "I'll take this whenever you're ready". Next, someone else comes over and starts clearing the table AS we were finishing our full drinks we had just ordered. Again, this was a Wednesday night, it wasn't packed, and we were seated for ONE hour. Oh, and after we were forced up, our table wasn't seated again for about a half hour. So no one was waiting. I used to be a regular and I won't go back. This place has gotten way too cocky. They started out as one of the only bars in the Northeast area with outdoor space and craft beer. Now there are more places than I can count, with better drinks, better prices, and actually appreciate paying customers.
(2)Bryna O.
I've been here many times and have always enjoyed it! Three Monkeys is my go to place in the northeast because I know I can get good food, local beer and also bring the kiddos! All super important in my book.
(5)Danielle B.
Ambiance of the outside seating is awesome. Pork spring rolls with horseradish sauce was also excellent. Pretty good beer selection. Wish they had more on tap.
(4)Matthew T.
Great french onion soup and hummus plate.
(5)Rachel H.
This place is great! My boyfriend and I always enjoy ourselves there. I've never had a bad dish, the new crab avocado dish is delicious. My boyfriend loves the Horny Monkey beer on tap. The patio is always a nice place to sit on a beautiful summer evening. We will be back!
(5)Ryan C.
Ordered the veggie burger the other day and it was very good. Abundance of flavors, moist, and very well cooked. I will definitely be back!
(5)Diane B.
The atmosphere is great just like key west! Lobster Mac and cheese is wonderful and plenty of beer on draft. Enjoy !!!
(1)Elaine L.
I love this place, we come here often. The best quality they have is their ambiance, the outdoor seating is the best in the northeast. Full outdoor bar with TVs, and table seating under the twinkle lights and trees. The menu is great and ever changing. A decent selection of craft beers. Last night I came with some friends for some drinks, had a great time, Jackie was our bartender. I would Definitely recommend. We even came here for our wedding rehearsal dinner.
(4)Seth F.
Since my wife & I are huge fans of the Dog & Bull we decided to give 3 Monkeys a try. We heard that they were the same people that had both places. I can't believe that 6 or 7 miles and the same owner that they would be so drastically different. The decor is pretty neat and their outside patio is pretty damn cool too. (Other than the bright blue paint on everything lol) I am a father Judge guy and I grew up not too far from here. I recognized some people and had a great time talking with a few of my fellow classmates. But, it's amazing how bad the service is here!! it seemed like if you weren't a regular or if you didn't know the secret hand shake you would be hard pressed to get a cocktail. After waiting almost 40 minutes to get a table it took another 20 before our server came to the table. The food prices were really high for the area too. The food wasn't bad but, since the service was so god awful I'm probably not being fair to the back of the house. No thank you 3 monkeys, it is hard to believe that you and the Dog & Bull are related!! My wife and I will not be back!
(1)John M.
Went here because it came highly recommended by a co-worker. We liked the vibe and decor - fun place to visit. Food was also good. However, service really left something to be desired. We looked at the drink/dessert menu that was on the table (photo posted) and decided to order the monkey bread a la mode. The dessert was good, but the price on the menu clearly states $5.99 ($7.99 with ice cream). Instead, the bill reflected $9 for the dessert, and $2 for the addition of the half scoop of ice cream, for $11 total. I showed the menu and bill to the waitress, and she replied "hmmm, nobody has pointed that out to me before" and took my credit card and walked away and charged me the uncorrected amount. No explanation was given when she returned other than "the price changed."
(2)Chauncey S.
Me & My Boyfriend went for a late lunch around 4ish. It's a Monday, so most ppl who work in the restaurant business know many places are gonna be dead. & I was right. We walked right in and got seated outside immediately. I gotta say, this place is adorable. The patio decor really makes it fun and enjoyable to sit outside. We browsed through the menu and we had such a hard time deciding ! We wanted everything ! But once we decided on our appetizers we were ready to order drinks & get our lunch started. My boyfriend noticed there were a few servers standing by the outside bar talking and that no one had come over to greet us yet .. That was pretty disappointing but I tend to sympathize because I'm a server myself. After about 5 more minutes, we were still sitting waiting to be greeted. Once our server realized she got sat she came over. NOW WE ARE ROLLING ! I must say, I know it's a Monday & every server hates Mondays but our server was just miserable. She was literally just an order taker, Never really checked on us & would walk away as we are talking to her still. We even had to ask another server to refill our waters! But despite the poor service, THE FOOD was GREAT ! We started with the Fried Potstickers and NE Philly Eggrolls followed by the Kobe BBQ burger and the Grilled Teriyaki Wings and of course we couldn't leave with out the Infamous Monkey Bread ! *drools* It was our first time here and we will be back because of the food mainly. Hopefully there will be much better service next time ..
(4)Brian B.
I went to Three Monkeys with my family for a quick dinner. I was not disappointed. We all went simple with burgers. I got the Sunny in Philly and was very happy with it. Drinks could have been a bit stronger, but were still good. Only thing I didn't care for was the noise. We were seated in the dining area, but it still seemed that we had to yell to be heard over the crowd.
(4)Linda B.
What happened to this place? Was here a year ago and loved it so I suggested my friends and I meet here for dinner. OMG! What a disappointment. The menu didn't offer much of a selection, not like I remembered from last year. The food was marginal at best and was RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. $26 for two tiny (2") crab cakes. There is no salad or bread offered with dinner. We asked our server for some bread and were quite surprised to see a $2.00 charge for bread. The beer selection has also diminished. They use to have a fairly decent selection of craft beers. Yuengling was about as top shelf as it gets now. I have to cross this off my list of recommended places. I miss the old Three Monkeys.
(1)Elsid S.
I think of this place as a good neighborhood bar. Usually come here on a day when I don't feel like driving in the city. It's a proper bar with a good crowd almost all the time. Only thing I would change is the outside/covered area, not the bars fault but some serious BO.
(4)Gina G.
I came here one night with my boyfriend because a friend recommended it to me. Being from South Philly, driving to the Northeast for dinner isn't something I do often, but wow am I glad I did! Even though we couldn't sit outside because it was pouring, our waitress Taylor made our dinner great. She was attentive and really knew the menu. My boyfriend is kind of a beer snob and she really the beer, which is a bonus with him. Overall, for not being able to sit outside, the food was great but our service was even better. I will definitely be taking the trip here again soon!
(5)Chrissy V.
I love Three Monkeys brunch! It's the perfect start to some day drinking or a great ending for your weekend. Recently they changed their brunch menu and they no longer have the 'blackboard specials' which is pretty disappointing because those were always my favorites. Now it is just a regular brunch menu with a smaller selection of items. On my last visit I had the Chocolate Chipper - one pancake and slice of french toast topped with chocolate chips and bacon syrup. My boyfriend had a burrito with corned beef. We both loved our entrees. The Bloody Mary is great (perfect amount of spice) and they have a nice selection of beers.
(5)Patience P.
Everything I've ever had has been delicious. The atmospher is great inside as well as out. Love the patio area in the spring and summer. The beer selection is good too.
(5)Gail G.
A wonderful place with great food. Excellent location for meeting friends especially if half are from South Jersey and the other half are from Bucks County. The food is consistently good and the service is always wonderful. The noise level can get a little high but it is a bar/cafe. On my latest visit to Three Monkeys, Kelly M. was our server and she was more than happy to bring us a taste of the chili which we all ended up ordering as it was delicious. She was extremely friendly and very attentive. Always a good meal and a great experience.
(4)Veronica K.
First with the pros: The decor is awesome. You feel like you've wound up in late 19th century Paris, complete with gold trimming and monkey paintings on the walls. They also have a really cute outside bar that's tropical themed, and though different still fits the primate motif. Their food is decent, if over priced at times, but of everythigng I tried I only disliked one thing. (That was the peanut butter pie, in which the chocolate tasted a little off). I should also point out they have a delcious drink there called a Monkey Cola which is banana and chocolate liquor in coke. After the people in my group tried mine they all had to get their own. Now the cons: For such a pricey place, the wait staff is a little rude. Sometimes I felt as if we were being intentionally avoided. We had to wander around to get our own silverware. I got this passive agressive vibe from just about all of their staff as well. Also, their selection of beer is not too wide, with only a few craft brew selections. i was a little disappointed in that regard. Overall, I'd probably try them again, though only if I'm willing to drop some big bucks for a large dinner. It's a little expensive for a weekly treat.
(3)Eleanor L.
4th time here . I live in jersey and like to bring my mom here . Tonight I ordered an $11 roast beef sandwich . It was very good , however I asked for more horseradish and the server came back to tell me it would cost me 50 cents . I laughed and told him to bring it anyway , I told him this was a first for me . Like how much to use the ketchup ?? Do you ration the mustard ?? Anyway , 2 roast beef sandwiches $19 for a pasta meal, and 4 drinks , bill was $71 , and you really asked for 50 cents . I won't be back . Unfortunate because the server was a great guy. Use your head Mr manager .
(1)Tom R.
Took my aunt and uncle for lunch during the week. wanted someplace that would be more of "an experience" and this sounded great. The menu was really good and a lot to choose from. Had the Kobe burger - done perfectly. Aunt and Uncle had Chicken salad sliders. Perfect size for lunch. Service was great and the waitress on point. Only thing that IS bad, if you go during the week - the parking is all Torresdale train commuters and there is ZERO parking close to the restaurant. All lots were full and what street parking there was was taken. Plan on parking a couple of blocks away
(4)Joan M.
Great place great food and great service will defiantly b back the outside looks so cute it's probably great in the summer. I
(5)Joe K.
Stopped by here last Saturday at noon after a funeral. They still had a breakfast/brunch menu and we scored big!!!! My breakfast Enchilada's were so big, cheesy, and filled with egg, cheese, bacon sausage scrapple(i think)!!!!! delish!!! My wife was looney over her French Toast with a Creme layer and topping!!!! This was a five star experience, but gave them a four, due to other visits being only average.
(4)MB F.
New Chef who rates at least 4.5 stars, But waitstaff shared that he is doing away with salads??? Not a good business plan given half the patrons are female and salad is always the go to dish of those single NE ladies who still think their Mr. Right can be found in a bar with dim lighting to limit the visible crows-feet. Shrimp Pesto was delicious! Drinks ok. Bar staff seemed low on the learning curve.
(3)Mallory D.
I've always wanted to hang out here...it looks like everyone is always having a grand old time whenever I drive by. Well last night was finally the night, and it was a good time! There's nothing this girl loves more than drinking outside, and Three Monkeys has an adorable space to do just that. Unfortunately the skies opened up and downpoured on us while we were mid-brew, but the five minutes I spent out there I very much enjoyed. I found the food to be really delicious, and the menu varied from bar food to actual entrees. Husband & I split wings which were great, and both ordered a burger which was delicious as well. My only complaints...that draft list needs some work. Maybe I'm just a beer snob (I'm definitely a beer snob) but their list isn't cutting it for me. Thankfully they had Dogfish 60 which appeased me, but more craft beer is needed. Also, our particular waitress is in the wrong line of work. I asked three times for a glass of water that never came...not exactly an outlandish request. I did notice some other much nicer, more capable waitresses around so for that reason, and the great food, I will certainly be back.
(4)Michael F.
A great local bar with above average food. The Mighty Joe Young (MJY) burger will fill even the greatest hunger, but don't worry you can get it with a salad instead of fries if you want to stay healthy. There is also a great variety of other food options and daily specials worth checking out. The outdoor seating is great for spring and fall days. If you're like me, every now and then you need to take your lunch break outside - Three Monkeys Cafe fits the bill perfectly! Parking can be a bit annoying, but there always is the SEPTA lot across the street ($1/day).
(4)Joann J.
Lunch experience....was told there was a new menu and chef. Service was terrible. Our soups arrived luke warm....chicken fingers overcooked and fish undercooked. Not happy at all with "new chef" and new menu. Food was medicore at best
(2)Jonathan F.
This place is great but the service is frustrating. The waitress walked away before I could finish ordering my drink and then was pissed when she got it wrong. I wish the service was in line with everything else about this place.
(3)Tina S.
We are frequent customers and love the food and ambiance. But, I feel that I had to comment about our Service tonight. This is also my first time posting a review that is how upset I was. I think that almost every time we come to your restaurant we get the same waitress. She is not very friendly and I find myself trying to be extra nice to her thinking, maybe she has a bad day, life etc. and we always are great tippers ( I was a waitress myself) . Tonight we ordered the Mahi Taco's which we have had before and love them. My daughter and I shared the platter. We each took a bite and something did not taste right. We told our waitress and she promptly removed our platter. No sorry just took the platter and walked away. She returned and stated that the fish was a new batch, and it was not the fish, but again no apology. Ok..so maybe it was something else in the dish. But how can you treat a customer like this. Extremely poor service. We will return but will request another server. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I rated the restaurant 4 stars because we will come again and as I said before its a nice place.
(4)Lindsey T.
I had been by Three Monkeys for dinner twice before and wasn't impressed, but decided to give them a shot for brunch today anyway. They have a really great patio that's hard to say no to on a beautiful day. I'm glad I gave them another chance because our meal was really excellent - we shared the Monte Cristo & Lumberjack Omelet (stuffed with tons of veggies & creamed chipped beef omg) and I would not change a thing about either. Good coffee and swift service too. We left very full and very happy. I will definitely be back for breakfast in the courtyard as long as the weather holds out.
(4)Caroline H.
I'd been trying to get here for a while now since it's always so crowded. Finally went on a Sunday afternoon and well I was disappointed. Food - waaaay overpriced for mediocre food! $15 for a chicken Caesar salad? Really!?!? I didn't even have a whole chicken breast on it. Not to mention $4 for a miller lite bottle...wow. And the service...we pretty much had a non-existent waitress. And we got the good ol' dirty silverware which we couldn't get replaced because she wasn't anywhere to be found. The place is way over- rated in my opinion.
(2)Michael L.
Save your money. Risotto should not be crunchy and dry. Louisiana chicken should not be bland, overcooked, and be of Dollar Store quality. House chips should not be burnt and ultra salty. Miller High Life should not be 4$. Waitress' should not be smothering and pushy. That is minus five stars. The cheese plate for 11$ was expensive, but the best part of the night. So, that is the one star this place barely deserves. P.S. Warm up your vocal cords. This place is so loud I had to yell all night.
(1)Timothy M.
I always seem to end up coming here when I'm craving beer and i don't know why. The beer list is OK but there's nothing special to it. Food is always good and consistent but i just don't seem to enjoy the vibe as much. I really have nothing bad to say about this place but i really don't have anything great to say about this place either. Prices are good, food is consistent, but the menu does not seem to change much. I'm sure i will be back here again and again but it would be nice to see some more happen.
(3)Joe G.
Went here to meet friends as it is relatively close to all of us and, it being here for a while, I've never been there, so it was nice to check it out. Boy did I make a mistake. We had a rather large party for a Friday night, 8 people, but a server said she could seat us. She sat us at a 6 top, with 6 chairs and told us we could grab other chairs if we saw them, so we did just that. We ordered drinks, which our server (not trying to be mean, but she was THAT BAD) took in waves, because apparently taking 8 drink orders at once was too lage a feat. We received our drinks about 20 minutes later, our beers were cold and cocktails properly mixed, so there's a plus. The beer list was better than an Applebee's, not quite underwhelming, and not overwhelming. They had a few choice beers on tap and by bottle. The food was okay. Tasty basic bar food but somewhat bland and unoriginal. It seems they attempt to make something good but to keep prices down they use cheap ingredients, resulting in a shoddy product. I could tell my fries were once in a freezer, accompanied by our french fries, tortilla wrap, and crab cake. The prices were on the mark for what the establishment was trying to be, no complaints here. After eating my friends and I decide to venture out to their patio/tent as we were getting tired of the service and wanted to stand. The patio smelled like vomit. We ordered drinks waitiing for it to pass. The bartender was a guy who seemed to have been a big shot in his high school days and thought being a bartender at a mediocre establishment would restore some of that feeling. He seemed like he was doing me a favor by me paying him for services rendered. After a tasty Dogfish Head I noticed they had Summer Ale on tap, which I always enjoy but upon tasting it noticed it tasted like Sam Adams Summer Ale and some other beer; they don't clean their lines properly, or else a beer that's just rolling out now is already turning. I give this place 2 stars instead of one because the decor was entertaining, the place seemed clean (besides that smell), and it's in a decent location, though I won't be returning any time soon.
(2)Anna A.
The food wasn't very good (french onion soup and roast beef sandwich)- not sure how you can mess that up, and at a very expensive price. The only thing worth coming here for is the monkey bread.
(2)Emmaleigh A.
The reason I keep going back to the Three Monkeys is the outdoor bar area -- it is absolutely adorable and has a great atmosphere! It's a perfect place to enjoy a nice summer night with friends and have some drinks. Once when I went for lunch, half of the tables were reserved for a fundraiser. It's great for an event like that too. 5 stars for the outdoor bar :) As much as I like this place, the food is just average. I've been here a bunch of times for lunch and dinner and have had probably every wrap and sandwich on the menu. They've all been just ok -- edible but nothing spectacular. I do like their crab dip and hummus appetizers. The dining room and indoor bar are nothing special and it's a little dark in there. I would choose to sit outside every time. They do have a pretty good beer selection and the cocktails are good (and only $3 on Mondays!)
(3)Michael G.
This is a fun and hip NE Philadelphia bar with above average food, and below average mixed drinks; hence the 3 instead of 4 stars. I've been here several times over the past years, and can't remember ever not having a weak mixed drink. Stick with the beers on draft or bottles and you'll be good to go! Great place for groups. When the weather is nice, the outdoor section is the place to be.
(3)E M.
I love this place! Probably my favorite place to eat in the Northeast. I love sitting at the outside bar or tables when it's nice out. My best friend and I crave for the hummus. It's definitely one of those places each time you go you want to try something new. Keep it up guys!
(5)Amanda B.
Overpriced menu and food there sucks. I guess if u are drunk u dont care but if u are there not for drinks - don't even bother. Waste of money. The only nice thing is convenient location.
(1)Maureen M.
I have been here several times and it is consistently...inconsistent. Service is often slow. Last night our server couldn't have been nicer but the entree was awful and not served as advertised. It was supposed to be hot sausage in a pesto alfredo sauce with pasta. it was a very thick white alfredo sauce with no sign of pesto and the sausage wasn't hot. After complaining (which I hate to do) it was returned to me with a little pesto and crushed red pepper mixed in. Next time, I will stick with a sandwich and some snacks. The cedar plank wings and cheesesteak were very good. Although soggy, the fries were tasty. Nice vibe and nice waitress but stick with the bar food please.
(3)Tiffany B.
Stopped by this place for a great little brunch. Great service and great food!
(4)Craig N.
Not impressed at all. I remember coming here two years back and enjoyed it, but the menu looked totally different now. I came here for lunch w/ my wife. Service was good, food not so much. She had a veal parm sandwich, it tasted like an Encore frozen dinner veal parm patty. I had tequila shrimp. It was like $16 and I got like 6-7 shrimp w/ a side of soggy, bland vegetables. Why the hype??
(2)Alicia O.
You might miss it, but it's right across the street from Torresdale train station in a small block. It's a really great place to go for lunch, especially during the spring and summer. The outdoor seating area is adorable. They have a good lunch menu--salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They make their own potato chips, which are really good and huge. I haven't been here at night, but I heard the bar is great as well.
(4)Joseph M.
not bad not great. its always nice to change it up once in awhile. i do like the outdoor bar tho.
(2)Michael L.
First, let me say the good things I have to say about Three Monkeys. It's cute, with a nice bar, imaginative eclectic decor and a nice outdoor patio. The waitstaff is generally pretty nice, if less than what you'd expect at a more sophisticated place. The beer selection is good, and they seem to keep it cold and their tap lines clean. But the food...strictly so-so. For the life of me I can't figure out what the attraction is. I've had burgers there, and they're good, but beyond that? No so much. Empanada appetizers tasted strictly commercial foodservice. Seafood risotto had nice shrimp and scallops, but the risotto also tasted somehow fast foody. Crabcakes were mediocre. The tequila shrimp was a small serving of seemingly plain old scampi accompanied by soggy overcooked veggies. I know there's not much in the way of alternatives for dining out in this particular neighborhood, but people really seem to like this place. As for me, I don't get it. The food on multiple visits has been consistently mediocre, certainly nothing to write home about. The monkey bread is tasty though, so I'd recommend that. If you're in the neighborhood and are just looking for an edible meal, you can find it here, but if you're a foodie, you're not going to be wowed.
(2)Michael H.
I had the most amazing pan seared filet mignon.. topped with shrimp/crab and prosciutto in Gorgonzola cream sauce.. crisp greens and a sliced up potato. It was made to perfection.
(4)Jessica E.
This place is awful and I cannot believe that people rated it so highly. The house made beer is an ale which is fair tasting at best. Besides that, the closest thing you can get to a good beer is Blue Moon. I only gave Three Monkeys two stars instead of one because the filet mignon cheesesteak is somewhere between fair and good. The nachos are a bowl of tostitos scoops with skank cheese whiz on top. If you do feel like venturing here, make sure to not go on a game night, because that's when the townies are partying. Scary.
(2)Dasha B.
Love love love this place! The outside reminds me of Margaritaville mixed with a beach bar, and the inside reminds you of a classic train dinning car. The would was awesome. The homemade hummus with roasted red pepper, feta, and pita was excellent. Since the hummus was so good, I had the fallafel, and my boyfriend had the fish tacos - both were sooo good. We had no room for dessert, but next time we will get the monkey bread.
(5)Dorian K.
wow, if the food wasn't as good as it was I'd give a 1 star. they had no menu at all for they're drinks and i had to find the waitress to get my check. She then sent someone else to give us the check. Also, it says a lot when your trash can in the bathroom is overflowing. really nice place, terrible services.
(2)Charles H.
WORST service at the bar. I've been here 3 times over the past year, all 3 times the bar wasn't busy but I still had to wait for service. They stand around and talk to each other and get to you when their conversation is done, OR if you're a friend of theirs. I gave it 3 tries since it's a nice place with good food and good wait staff but the bartenders MUST GO!
(2)The S.
Three Monkey's is a small-ish pub somewhat off the beaten path, but also in the middle of everything. My first impressions were very positive - the pub and its patron's were quite cheery, even withstanding the snowy mush outside. I looked around a bit, being nosy as I generally am, and enjoyed the heavy use of wood in the interior architecture, as well as the heavy use of impressionist paintings (ok, posters). I fancied myself drinking a pint with Dali and the Beatles. I saw the bartender attentively tracking me as he waited on his full bar. By the time I found a comfortable, well-positioned stool (not that there were many options), he had arrived at the same spot - a sot-seeking missile who cheerfully asked me if I wanted a drink. (Later, I saw the same bartender have "Jerry's" beer ready before Jerry sat down or ordered a thing - I'm going to go out on the limb and say Jerry is a regular!) The affirmation in my response to the bartender's question was inevitable, but there were several choices to mull over. I tried a new beer, Stoudt's Horny Monkey Ale, which I subsequently discovered was sold elsewhere as Scarlet Lady Ale, and found it well-balanced with a rich dark amber reddish color and a smooth malty finish. I poured over the menu and found favorites as well as unique options: wasabi crab cakes, chicken cordon bleu balls, baked mac'n cheese, pot stickers, tapas, burgers, wraps, salads, and sammiches. A good entree selection included a (slightly overpriced) raw bar, plus steak, veal, chicken, seafood, and pasta. I opted for one of the specials, the rigatoni with beef tips in a "tomato garlic shellot (sic) parmesan cream sauce" ("shellot"? Isn't that a computer virus? - hey, I had to pick on them about something), and it was surprisingly delicious! The Tree bar and Monkey Court were closed (night, snow, ice, cold - you get it), but I really wish I have the opportunity to return and visit there during warmer times. I am looking forward to that! Eat, Drink, and Be Monkey!!!
(4)James M.
Avoid at all costs. Save your money and have a much better night somewhere else! Very poor atmosphere. Very bland and under-cooked "bar" food. I went for the bar, which is so small that you have to take a seat in the eating section if you decide to venture there with friends and want to end up anywhere near one another. The crowd is irrationally mixed, fights happen often, and the parking situation is abysmal. You basically have to park one mile away because there are "NO PARKING" signs surrounding the entire area due to the train station's municipal parking lot right across the street.
(1)Fran S.
We will be relocating to the northeast in a few months - long story. Anyway being a foodie I have been searching for a good breakfast place in my soon to be new neighborhood - this is not the place. Went for breakfast Saturday morning. My omelet was overcooked and the filling tasteless. My husband had the roast pork sandwich - also tasteless. It also came on a sesame roll, and that might be good to note on the menu as some people have food allergies. Our waitress seemed to want to be there less than we did and disappeared for prolong periods. They have a wonderful outside dining area, but unfortunately they have no dining to accompany it. Maybe a good place for some wings and a beer and being as that is not our thing doubt we will be back. Think we will definitely be making at least monthly trips to the old hood for breakfast, etc
(2)Andrew J.
Three Monkeys Cafe is a spot around the corner from me that I've been meaning to visit but never actually got around to checking out until my cousin asked me to join him there. I joined him for drink in the outdoor area. The outdoor area had plenty of seating and there was a nice tile mosaic on the wall by the bar. With a few craft beers to go along with the usual beer it was a very nice place to drink on that summer night. A few weeks later I came back to have lunch with a girlfriend. The inside is nicely decorated with pictures of monkey and other animals. The bar inside looked great but we took a seat at one of the fine wooden tables. The menu was a nice combination of bar food and entrees along with a wine selection and a couple of house mixed drinks. We ordered burgers and they were absolutely delicious and the fries that came with them were thin and seasoned, not the generic square cut crap. There were some problems with the waitress not understanding what ordered and the price of the burgers was a little high. Both of my experiences at Three Monkeys left a good impression on me. Not many places in the area are as nice. The place draws a good crowd despite being tucked away in between some houses and right across the street from a train station. The place is a little small though. Definitely the best place to drink outside on a hot night.
(4)Christin S.
Three stars may b a little generous...food is hit or miss but the place has a cool atmosphere
(3)Reid F.
What a cute little place, with great decorations and an outdoor patio. We went for brunch, and the food was excellent. At first, we experienced a service mixup, but the owner came over andhandled it beautifully. We shall return.
(5)Michael K.
Food was good service a little slow wasn't that busy either.
(2)Zanna H.
This is a nice little local bar. And who doesn't like staring at random monkey themed decor while eating? The food is not your typical bar food of fried greasy things. I enjoyed their humus appetizer and their French Dip roast beef was pretty good but putting it on a croissant just made it a soggy mess. I wasn't impressed with their homemade chips, they were almost burnt and mostly tasted of grease. On the plus side the portions are generous so you can soak up all that Horny Monkey Ale. I hate the taste of beer but could not resist trying a sip because of the name. I would have to honestly say it was not that bad. The monkeytinis & appletinis were strong & tasty. I want to go back once the weather is nicer and they have their outdoor seating open.
(3)Kristoffer L.
Took my clients there for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. They loved their entrees and I have to say the Summer Salad with Scallops I had was flat out orgasmic. Scallops were perfectly cooked(hard feat to accomplish most places I've been) and the mix of nuts and dressing and fruits just made everything pop. Now, this was my only experience, but it was a very positive one.
(4)Adora B.
Pros - So unique with the decorations/small pub feel/Dali paintings all over. Awesome food - love their Buffalo Chicken Wrap. LOVE the food and my boyfriend said their burger was amazing. Very popular place - always crowded when I went. There's an outdoor bar and patio for in the summer when they have live music. Right next to Torresdale Train Station so its good to stop in and have a brew while waiting for the train. Good prices for food. The monkey bread is basically a glorified cinnabun. Cons- The Horny Monkey Ale or whatever they call their local brew is a dark beer so YECH. Did not care for it. Pricey for drinks. The staff isnt the friendliest although the service isnt bad. The chips dont have any flavor but its still awesome that they are made fresh. Will go here again!
(5)Aman S.
This is an above average sports bar/pub. They have a decent ambience and outdoor seating as well. The chili was good. Extensive menu. Service was good as well. Prices very reasonable. I would go back again.
(3)Leanne M.
I used to adore this place. Until they served my best friend's sister MEAT in her Mac-n-cheese. She TOLD the server she was a vegetarian and was still served BACON! She got VERY ill. We spent over $500 there because I brought a large group there for my birthday (I'm a sucker for the outside area...but we weren't able to sit out there). As a restaurant manager myself, how could the management do nothing about this when it was brought up? NEVER AGAIN! I'm still waiting for my apology...I won't hold my breath.
(1)Gena N.
Horrible, horrible place. Never had such bad service in my life! Came here with friends for Sunday brunch. Took 10 mins to be asked what to drink, 20 mins to order our food. 40 mins total for our food to come out which wasn't anything to brag about. Our waitress never checked on us or asked if we needed anything. We had to ask other servers for condiments, refills and our bill. Unexceptional. Our table just didnt matter. I looked around and noticed everyone else was being served at a normal rate, being checked on etc. After leaving our waitress said thank you, but never any apologies for the slow horrible service. My husband said as he looked back he heard her say "stupid chinks". Well if that's the case this place will never see my business again and that just explains why we were waited on so poorly. Poor food poor service, do not come. Customer service doesnt matter here obviously and the managers do not care. Oh and parking sucks!
(1)Ali K.
Love Three Monkeys Cafe. LOVE IT. Food is good, service is very good, even when they are busy. The first time I went, it was just before St. Patty's day, and the place was packed. Our waitress was fantastic, she really took care of us and let us in on her favorites on the menu, since we'd never been there before. The steamed clams in basil & garlic butter is my favorite. Definitely different than other restaurants. The fried "Calamonkey" and the Monkey Surf n Turf are both very good as well. There are many drink options, lots of beers on tap, and they have Frambois Raspberry Lambic--YUM. All in all, this is a great place to go to relax. Very comfortable atmosphere and a true gem in the NE. Will definitely be returning--and soon!!
(4)Gus J.
I have a real love hate relationship with this place. On one hand, I really enjoy going to Three Monkeys because it is much nicer, and has a better crowd than the other bars in the area. I also get along well with the staff, and have never had a problem with the service in all my years of going there. The main issues that I have with this bar are price, and poor quality food. When I first started going to Three Monkeys I was told about how good the food was. One one of my initial visits I ordered the Mighty Joe Young burger, and it was pretty good, not great, just good. I have had burgers of better quality at The Red Robin, and Five Guys. Having enjoyed my first food experience there, I decided to order something a little more than a burger the next time that I went there. I ordered fettuccine alfredo. It was a Sunday, and the place was completely empty except for our party of three people, and 2 other guests at the bar. Our food came out in a timely manner, but I have to say that I have never had such an awful pasta dish in my entire life. The pasta was cooked properly, but the sauce was..... not really a sauce at all. It was as if someone put the cooked pasta into a bowl with hot milk. There was no substance to it whatsoever. It had zero flavor, and barely tasted of cheese. At least they threw some dried parsley flakes on there for color? I didn't send the dish back because I am paranoid about people doing stuff to food that gets returned, so I just chalked it up as a loss. It was about 3 years until I ordered food from there again. After chit chatting to the staff, one of them told me that they had actually just hired a new chef who was supposed to be much better than the last person (who one of the staff told me 'just didn't care'). I looked at some of the things on the menu and they seemed kind of exciting. The next time I went in I ordered the lobster mac and cheese. It was terrible. The lobster was overcooked, and like rubber to chew. I thought there may be a creamy cheese sauce, and maybe some herbs, and a crust on the top, no. The lobster mac and cheese was in a sauce that was eerily similar to Velveeta (with about a 1/3 of a cup of water added to it). Whoever drained the pasta didn't do a very good job, because there was a lot of water in the sauce, and it diluted what little flavor there was. The water also prevented the sauce from properly adhering to the elbow macaroni. Besides being over-priced, the dish was poorly executed, and haphazardly tossed in a dish. I am never ordering food from here again. I get what these people are trying to do. They want to be a hip gastro-pub, with upscale food. They put 'fancy' items like risotto on the menu, but fail miserably at executing them, and on top of that, they have the audacity to charge you as if you were at a fine dining restaurant in the city. If I had a word of advice for the owners of this establishment it would be this. Either put items on your menu that your chef is capable of cooking properly, or scale the food down to a level that he can be successful with. It is better to do an amazing burger, cheese steak, pannini or fried chicken, than it is to do a piss poor lobster thermador. I would rather have simple food cooked properly, that extravagant food, and extravagant costs poorly prepared, seasoned, and presented. Now that I am done talking about the food, I will move on to the drinks. Maybe they are trying to keep the riff raff out of the bar by charging more than any other bar in the area for drinks, but $4 for a bottle of Yuengling, or a bottle of Miller is a bit much. That would be bad enough on its own, but they also never have any drink specials. I am sure they are making a lot of money just based on the fact that Three Monkeys is a 'safe' bar, with pretty decorations that you can bring a female to, and that is great! But at the same time, they really shouldn't be alienating the people in the neighborhood that their business is in. Great staff, good drinks, nice decor, clean, awesome patio area. That place could be really special if they just fixed those 2 things.
(3)Kelly S.
Three Monkeys Cafe is a bright spot in a neighborhood devoid of cool places to hang out. It's located on James Street, just off of State Road (near the City Line in the far Northeast) and directly across the street from the SEPTA R7 Torresdale station. I ventured into this place last winter, when it was cold and snowy, and I was waiting for someone to pick me up from the train station. I didn't notice anything special, and the cloud of cigarette smoke coming from a group of grouchy old men at the bar soon drove me from the building. Luckily, however, I recently stopped into Three Monkeys again with my mother for lunch, and I discovered, to my delight, that the place had expanded and improved. The interior of the bar/restaurant reminds me of a cozy English pub, complete with hardwood floors, wooden walls and booths, and old-style ceiling fans and bar decor. Since last winter, the cafe has also added a charming, shady outdoor garden complete with a monkey-shaped fountain, so patrons can eat or drink outside when the weather is nice. Also, the cloud of smoke is gone, thanks to the Philadelphia City Council. I was also pleasantly surprised by the menu this time around. I didn't remember there being anything special on the menu the first time I visited, but this time, I found that they serve delicious American food with a twist, such as Asian wings, panko-fried chicken fingers, salmon BLT's, mussels, and drunken shrimp. I ordered the veggie burger, which I usually never eat, and it was delicious. My mother got the salmon BLT sandwich, which was a little undercooked at first, but the waitress was so pleasant when my mother asked to have the fish cooked a bit more, and her sandwich arrived back at our table fully cooked so quickly that it really was not an inconvenience at all. And the food was delicious. Check out their menu online at 3monkeyscafe.com . They also have your usual assortment of beer on tap, mixed drinks, and the like. I didn't have any alcohol at lunch, but I can't wait to go back and have some mussels and "Horny Monkey Ale" while sitting outside in their garden. Every Monday is 3M Monday, when patrons can enjoy $3 Mojitos, Martinis, and Margaritas all day. This place really is a hidden gem in the far Northeast. UPDATE: I've had the "Horny Monkey Ale" and it's pretty good. And I really like their filet mignon cheeseteak with provolone. Yum.
(5)Megan K.
sooooooo adorable. its so not NE philly when you step in there, but it fits perfectly. Its about time someone classed it up. i love the bar outside the most. it feels like youre in key west sitting there. i met the owner and he was the sweetest guy ever. as much as i hate to venture from south philly to the NE, i love love love this spot.
(5)Jacob N.
So so so so so over this place!! I came here twice this year. The first time was alright although literally every beer I ordered from the menu was either not available anymore or the keg was kicked. Seriously this happen three times, so much that I got one on the house which was nice. I left that day feeling semi-ok about this place. Then fast forward to four months later: I had never been happy with the service here but this bitch really got under my skin. She was overweight, with dark hair and bright red lipstick and THE WORST attitude. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had somewhere better to be and that the fact that we haven't yet decided on drinks and appetizers is ruining your day. Seriously, this girl needed to get over herself. Now I should also mention that the food is BORING! Nothing going on with it. Nothing that really interests me or gets me excited to eat. It's unbearably standard. It's fine if you want nothing more than a Coors Light and a subpar burger. But not for me. Anyway, when we were ready for our check the waitress took 20 minutes to bring it over. And...my god...this place...the way their checks are laid out...I could die. For drinks especially, it forces the customer to remember the price listed on the menu for ANY beer because the bill will simply say "BEER - $4." So when we finally deciphered how much we actually drank, we discovered that we were charged for three beers that nobody ordered. If this mistake were corrected in a proper manner I probably wouldn't even be writing this review. But the waitress from hell instructed us that we were to figure it out amongst ourselves because printing a new bill, apparently, would be too difficult for her. This, again, would have been sorta ok except for the fact that we'd still be paying tax on things we didn't order. So we figured it out as quickly as possible and left at about the same pace. She may have ended up with 10% tip. She and Three Monkeys can shove it.
(1)Fran T.
I've lived in NE Philly all my life and the bar options are fairly blah. But The Three Monkeys Cafe was great! Sort of reminds me of Eulogy down in Old City. I had the French Dip and my fiance had the Mighty Joe Young (Taylor Pork Roll slice on top of burger). As the other reviews said, the French Dip was on a croissant and it was soggy--but I ate every bite with a knife and fork. The beef was darn good. My fiance couldn't finish her burger. The Fries Appetizer were really good also - think McDonalds thin but a little darker and crunchy - definitely in the Pomme Frites style, served with mayo. My only complaint was that the tables were small and on top of one another (no booths too)! With the communal Fries and our two dinner plates, there was no more room on the table for anything else. Add to that, the back of my chair was touching the back of someone else's chair - annoying! It also didn't help that the table behind us was obviously a "girls night out" and we could barely hear our own conversation over their cackling! Chickie's and Pete's is tight too, but at least their tables are huge. If I go back again to 3 Monkeys, it will probably be in warmer weather so we can experience the outdoor seating and watch the R7 & Amtrak trains go by. PS....thumbs up on the Horney Monkey Ale!!
(4)Wai Y.
I learned that they fixed the wireless internet access through one of the servers there. Which means I can have my pints / food and log on to work with my laptop (if necessary). There are some beers on tap that are a "fixture" and are usually the same for the most part, but occasionally they may be replaced by a "seasonal" beer. The menu has also changed, some items (cuban sandwich, mussels) are no longer available and cost increase to some items (most appear to remain the same). The mussels (in black bean sauce?) is occasionally offered as a special. I have had the steamed clams and french dip recently. The steamed clams (in fresh basil & garlic butter sauce) is one of my favorite appetizers here. The beef on the french dip was good, but serving it on a croissant made a soggy mess (as Zanna pointed out). If an item comes with homemade chips, I usually substitute with fries. Overall, the food is good. The wasabi crabcakes (from my previous review) remains my favorite. My friend ordered a caesar salad with shrimp, but the kitchen "forgot" the shrimp. The server did enter the order in correctly. The salad was taken off the check. The service here is very good. The staff is friendly as always even when the establishment is very busy. On the nights that I am too tired and don't want to cook, I may pick up dinner from Three Monkeys after getting off the SEPTA R7. The "patio" is opened during the summer months, usually very popular if the weather is nice. A minimal of 8 is required if you want to make reservations for outside seating at the "patio".
(4)Mirna D.
The burger tasted as if it was from a frozen patty. The kid's menu chicken tenders and fries platter was terrible. The chicken was the size of a finger and both the chicken and fries were over cooked. The french fries were also very thin and dried out from over cooking.
(2)Jessica H.
Had a wonderful time here with friends out on the patio for dinner. We started off with drinks while waiting for a table and they had a great selection of beers and martinis. We ended up having to wait about 45 minutes for a patio table on a Sunday night (but it was a beautiful night) which struck me as a bit long for a NE Philly restaurant, but I guess it's popular. Foods started with chicken nachos which were ok - too many olives and nobody at our table really liked olives... I got the BBQ Cheddar burger (would have gotten the crab ravioli but they said I only for 5-6 medium sized ravioli and I was Hungry!) Everyone else loved what they got (tuna steak, burgers). We ended the meal with monkey bread which was ok (our homemade was better). What I did really like were their drinks/martinis. I would definitely come back for a nice summer night's dinner.
(3)Ronald m R.
As first time visitors to this local bar and hearing nothing but good things about the food and drinks wifie and I finally decided to take the ride(a beautiful day) to check out what everybody was raving about. We weren't disappointed but I will say that they are a bit pricey for a local bar/pub. Example:A special was a 1/4 head of romaine with tomatoes, bacon, and bleu cheese dressing for $11.99. And all of their regular menu items were up there in the price category. Now let me say that the server Stephanie was great and so was the food. Wifey had the soup special which was a hearty seafood corn chowder and chose the crab quesidilla a generous portion with crab,spinach, and cheese. I chose the steakhouse burger a 10 ounce monster with the portabello mushrooms and swiss cheese. The burger comes with lettuce and tomato, home made chips and a pickle. I treated myself to a Corona and wifey had a diet soda. Everybody was very kind and the option of sitting outside in the patio area was great. My view of the large flat screen TV to watch the Phillies game which happened to be on made it even better. I have no complaints except that by the time we got our check, with a proper tip the total was $48.00. Again a bit pricey for a local bar/pub.
(3)Lauren B.
I used to love this place. It was a great place to go have some dinks and dinner, but prices are sky high. Tonight I purcased the mediterain salad with grilled shrimp and was very disappointed. The shrimp were not grilled but boiled. The salad had red peppers and black olives from a can. For a salad costing $16.99 I expect to get fresh peppers and better olives. The atmosphere is great but the food is starting to go down hill.
(1)Jon W.
I don't know what happened to this place but it used to be a lot better. For one, the drinks are expensive. I used to be a regular here but I couldn't take it anymore. It might be nice to have one drink but you're paying Center City Philadelphia prices in the Northeast. Most of the staff is very rude and I don't know why. Most of the female waitresses are very nice so I would never group them with the rest. Most of the male bartenders are so rude that I would try to sit at a table so I didn't have to deal with them. The reason for 2 stars instead of 1 is that the food is decent. I've been here 30 or more times because I live in the neighborhood but I'm kinda fed up now. The place has the potential to be great but I don't see it happening anytime soon unless they make some changes.
(2)Eileen K.
Overpriced food and drinks, at night some goon was a bouncer, lol, not many young people to bounce out. Parking not good. Food again not that great and overpriced. Overrated.
(1)Brian P.
how can you screw up fried food???? they know how, i give every place the beneifit of the doubt at least 3 times, they failed all 3 times ,,,, i love the ambiance , BUT i come to eat not to look around ,
(1)Danielle L.
I recently went Three Monkeys with a bunch of friends for another friend's birthday. The inside was very loud until most of the bigger tables cleared out. It was also very dim and in extreme need of space. The tables and the seats were so close together, one had to walk sideways to get through. I was a bit disappointed later in the evening when we found out that the outside area had different specials a food. Nobody explained anything to us. The service left something to be desired. The waitress didn't really listen when people spoke to her, she never really checked on the table to make sure we had everything we needed either. In fact, she even forgot to bring out all of the water glasses for the table. She also did not clearly explain some of the entrees with salads. All but two of us had ordered sandwich entrees with salads on the side instead of fries. When two salads came out from someone who was not out waitress we all assumed that the salads would come out first. Turns out, these two salads were for other en tress and not the sandwich entree. It wasn't a huge deal but clear explanations would help to not confuse the restaurants goers and would help to not waste anybody's time. Another thing that bothered me with the waitress was that she didn't really help clean up a spill. Someones water spilled and the person next to them was helping wipe it up with napkins and clearing the ice cubes. The waitress came over and didn't clear anymore ice or help wipe the table. The food was pretty good. Not very expensive but also not cheap. The monkey is highly disappointing. It is nowhere near as big as one of the photos I've seen. It's approximately 4 to 5 inches across and about 1-2 inches high. It is also not made like traditional monkey bread. This version is basically just balls of bread baked very plain then a dusting of cinnamon and a bit of caramel drizzled over top. The drinks inside were a hit or miss and mostly miss in my opinion. MY friend had one drink that tasted like floor cleaning solution. The outside bar was a bit more spacious. It was a little difficult to enjoy because it was very humid and rainy outside. The actual bar had a roof but the tables didn't. Also, when my friend had called to inquire about seating at the outside bar she was told there was plenty of room for all of us after we finished dinner. Unfortunately, the tables are for people eating dinner and you have to be seated by a hostess. Overall, I might be inclined to go again but I would like to sit outside. Hopefully, the service is better. The food looked better and the drinks definitely were.
(2)Bar F.
So much potential, but so disappointing. The atmosphere is quaint...almost makes you feel like eating in an early 1900's train station. The place is very expensive, especially for Northeast Phildadelphia prices; they are charging 4 dollars for a domestic beer. You won't find domestic beer that expensive in many Center City bars. The food is average, nothing special and way overpiced. But what really drives this place down on the star scale is the service. The bartenders tend to be slow and unfriendly. The wait staff is very unattentive and seem more interested in getting you out of there than they do your needs. Parking leaves a lot to be desired as well. Too bad really, because the oustide area has a lot to offer as well as the inside....but with average food, terrible service and high prices, it's all for not.
(2)Rick A.
Excellent. Try the monkey bread
(5)Scott B.
After all the nice reviews I've had about this place from friends we decided to drive the 30 minutes and check it out for they're Sunday "Brunch." well, we arrived around 11:50, and having read that brunch goes until 3pm, didn't think much of it. We were seated and then waited over 10 minutes to have a waitress come over and tell us she'd be just a few minutes. So, around 12:10 she asks us what we'd like to drink, and we ask about the brunch menu. She points at the wall and says that its, which consisted of they're regular menu plus 6 items on a chalk board, one of which was pancakes, the only breakfast item to be found. We were then informed that breakfast stops at 12pm?!? isn't that what Brunch is? Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch. how can it be brunch if 99% of the items are lunch items. So anyway, we order some coffee and I settle on a Mighty Joe Young burger (clearly copyright infringement) which is a burger with pork roll and bacon on it for $13. Medium rare. Coffee comes out and the entire top of my cup is covered in lipstick, so we ask for a new one. The waitress gave us attitude, took the cup away and came back 7 minutes later with the same cup filled higher. Food came out, my M-R burger was a hockey puck well done with a cold piece of cheese on top and a piece of almost raw pork roll on top half the size of the burger. Item Description "Thick sliced Taylor pork roll invades our Angus burger. An addictive combination smothered in cheese." I think not. anyway, last time we go to this place. Decor was nice, everything else was not.
(2)Dave W.
I was here for lunch during the week day, so I can't speak to the atmosphere when the bar is in full swing, but the food is mediocre. I had the french onion soup and a portabella mushroom sandwich. Nothing that I couldn't have gotten at a run of the milll chain like a bennigans or houlihans.. the beers on draft were weak, but they did have some good bottles for the winter season (troeggs mad elf, rogue yellow snow, etc). Bottom line: this was a one and done place.
(2)Larry T.
THE THREE MONKEYS Accross from the Torresdale Train Station The bistro was smaller than I imagined it, but there was enough room between the tables, and the service was excellent. I had the Cheese-Steak soup; it was exactly that- little pieces of Filet Mignon in a cheese-whiz soup. very nice The warden had the Baked French Onion soup and it also was well done, except perhaps it was left under the broiler a moment or two too long for the cheese; was a little too crispy around the edge. We shared a helping of the fried Calamari ("Calamonkey") and it was done perfectly. Most places over-cook their deep-fried seafood; these were a light golden brown and not like the rubbery stuff you usually get 'round here. I had the Wasabi Crab cakes- they were excellent ! Mostly CRAB for a change, not breading. and the side of fries could have fed four adults ! Big fat tender / crisp steak fries, with two different dippers; a ketchup-y sauce and a cheesy one. The Warden tried the seafood Risotto- This was very tasty, but was light on the "Seafood"....just three scallops and two large shrimp, although it was obvious there were small bits of both in the sauce. The iced tea was obviously fresh-brewed and reminded me of the "Sweet Tea" of my youth. The salads were HUGE; made with field greens rather than the more common "American Blend". We skipped dessert, as you may imagine. Tab (for 4 adults) was under $50 before the tip . In warm months, there is an outdoor dining area.....
(4)Dave B.
I finally found the Three Monkeys Cafe and I'm glad I did. Walked through the venue and found a table outside. A very friendly waitress came over with menus and drink requests. Two thumbs up for the Horny Monkey Ale. I had the Teriyaki Chicken Fajita Wrap with salad, my friend had the Fiesta Chicken Wrap with homemade chips. My wrap was decent sized and the chicken was moist and tasty. Our waitress came by ofter to see if everything was alright and If we needed anything else. My friend had a cannoli with coffee & Bailey's for desert, I opted for another Horny Monkey Ale. I'm sure I'll be returning to this establishment in the future. Oh, did I mention that the homemade chips rocked, well they did! Think I'll get chips and a salad next time.
(4)Stephanie S.
Good food that's not the typical old bar crap, attentive service, nice beer selection, and the decor is warm and trendy. Not to mention they have an adorable outside area that I'm sure will be a lot of fun in the summer! I always go there when I want to have an intimate time with a few friends or to do the couples thing. Don't bother going there if you're single or looking for a crazzzy time b/c you might be dissapointed. Nevertheless, it's a truly chill spot.
(4)Lenny D.
outdoor seating is cool.
(3)Joe E.
Having never heard of this, friends of ours wanted to meet up for a drink and suggested this. Not expecting much from a bar in the Northeast, I was pleasantly surprised but Three Monkey's Cafe. Everything is reasonably priced so a night out won't break the bank. Beer selection is good, bar tenders are friendly, and the outside seating if the weather is right is great! So far we've only had some appetizers but definitely looking forward to going back and trying more of the menu.
(4)Jaycee H.
Great outdoor space but that's about it. Mediocre food and lousy service. Decent prices. Kids menu was a nice option, but my kid like most is picky and the chicken fingers were overly seasoned with thyme or oregano that he wouldn't eat them.
(2)William J.
First thing first chef Beth was awesome. Food is well prepared, sevice was great. Went on a Thursday around 5pm and it wasnt very crowded. Every plate we ordered was outstanding. Will be returning.
(5)Joanne M.
Been coming to the Monkey since it opened..the atmosphere is fun, a relaxing meeting spot to catch up with friends..food is great, menu has great variety and the outside bar is gorgeous ..it's always a first thought meeting place for our friends and we always have a blast sitting outside with the lighted tables, the fun island type atmosphere..appetizers are awesome..love the crab dip, the pot stickers and the pretzels..burgers are huge..and delicious!! Does not disappoint...
(5)Nikki H.
Love this place! The outdoor seating is great. Food can get a little pricey, but the ambiance and the drink selection are well worth it. Parking can be a little difficult but there's a municipal lot up the street that is $2 all day, which is a great deal!
(5)Jim A.
Yelp find! This is a nice place, and hopping with fun people. A eclectic dinner menu with lots to choose from. The Pretzel appetizer was a great start, perfect for sitting at the bar with brews watching the game. The dinner was very tasty with great portions. Presented with pride. Service was excellent. Look forward to a future visit.
(4)