Restaurant Review – Monk’s Pub

I love a good old fashioned pub- especially when they have delicious food! This week took me to Monk’s Pub, located at 205 W. Lake St. in the Loop. We came in on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was packed! The after work crowd was bustling and the restaurant was full of energy. We had to wait for about 30 minutes, so if you’re in a rush, I’d suggest coming a little later or on a weeknight. It has a delightful atmosphere, with hanging stained glass lamps, chandeliers, and gorgeous mahogany tables. We were seated in a side room, with a smaller number of tables. There was a basket of peanuts on our table and peanut shells all over the floor- I knew I liked this place! One look at the menu and my mouth was already watering. Buffalo chicken dip, burgers, fish and chips, and more! We decided to skip an appetizer; sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach! I decided on the Jorge’s Ensalada with Salmon: mixed greens, garbanzo beans, sun-dried tomatoes, teardrop red peppers, roasted Brussel sprouts, and fresh mozzarella pearls. It was fantastic! The salmon was cooked perfectly- juicy on the inside, with a nice crispy outside. The veggies were all extremely fresh, my number one qualification for a good salad. I have never had teardrop red peppers before and I loved them! They have a lovely sweetness to them that really complemented the rich droplets of mozzarella. I’m also adding Brussels sprouts to my salads from now on! My boyfriend ordered the Chili-Beer Cheese burger. Yup, it’s exactly what you think it is: a giant burger topped with Monk’s famous chili and beer cheese sauce. Each Monk’s burger is a half-pound blend of Certified Angus Beef, brisket, and short rib served on a brioche bun. First of all, it really was giant! A half pound burger is no joke and they certainly didn’t skimp on the chili beer cheese. Pro tip: you’ll need a lot of napkins to conquer this burger. But it’s definitely worth it! The chili beer cheese was sinfully good and the burger was cooked perfectly. The fries that came with were very good too (I may have snuck a few!)

Monk’s kitchen is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 am to 10 pm, Fridays from 10 am to 11 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm, and closed on Sundays. The bar is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to late (the website states usually an hour after kitchen closes, but as late as 2 am), Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm, and closed on Sundays. Find more information on their website.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO