Monkey Town

it's insane that this place is still open. if this is the future of brooklyn, i'm moving to staten island:\r -ridiculously over-priced and mediocre food\r -filthy, unkept dining areas\r -unqualified, impolite wait staff\r Pros: 0 Cons: all more

First time I went to Monkey Town was for an EyeWash show presentation. It was good and the best of all was the food: Meatless Meatballs! those were the big thing there, also I tried the lamb wraps and it was really delicious.\r \r Last week I went back to this place with new friends and have the worst experience in my life, what a bad service, the waitress was really rude and in an extremely bad attitude. She almost didn't want to serve our table (in the back room where the show happens). Monkey Town changed the menu for a lame one and the lamb and the meatless meatballs are not there anymore. When we got the food, it was completely burnt and tasteless. \r \r Don't go to this place, there a thousands of better restaurants in the city and Brooklyn. more

yeah, this place pretty much stinks. I went there to see a show, having never been there before. I was originally thrown off by the idiotic name but was assured by many that the food was great and that it was a unique space. I have nothing to say that hasn?t already been said in other reviews: extremely overpriced, mediocre food (everything was too salty and in fact lukewarm), HORRIBLE service (not only were they slow and rude but they never removed a single dirty dish! It?s frustrating enough to have some bone head waitress constantly step on your feet while you?re trying to enjoy a show, but to have to smell old fish throughout the night is even worse!) On the plus side, they do have really good beer on tap, but it?s way over priced and Monkey Town is hardly to be commended for the quality of the beer that they serve. \r \r After suffering through terrible service, gross food, and skanky cushions to sit on, as soon as the show was over I was given my check which cam to about $60 for fish and 2 beers (!) and was rushed out by the rude waitress who previously I had never been able to locate when I needed her, but now was unavoidable as they were trying to rush out all of the other customers and me to make way for some sort of techno party in the back room. Yes, Monkey Town is a cool place to see a show, but I would highly recommend waiting to see the musicians that perform there in other, less offensive venues. AVOID. Pros: good beer, cool back room Cons: everything else more

THE EARLIER THE BETTER. It gets kind of crazy after 12 but still fun. Bartenders are the tops. more

This could be a great venue, if it weren't for : 1. the terrible (slow, dismissive) bar service 2: the terrible (tasteless, lukewarm) food. I felt a bit scammed. It's a shame, because the shows I've seen there have been great, but in general the place is getting a bit grim and shoddy, which is not going to help their performers and artists. They were missing a lot of things on the menu and wine-list. I think hard times are apon them. Don't take your out-of-towners there. more

Wow- I cannot believe the negative reviews here. I suspect they dumped the rude waitstaff, or that people are trying to deter the masses from coming. I had one of the best music experiences of my life here. The back is quite a ""scene"" but it works. The waitstaff were friendly enough (exceedingly so by Williamsburg standards) and the food, while a tad pricey, was absolutely delcious as well as innovative. The burger was exceptional and at $10 probably the best deal. BUt best of all was the intimate music experience I had with two incredible musicians. My friend and I mentioned how if any guy went to the trouble of making reservations and taking us there, we'd be mad impressed. I can't say I would return to Monkeytown just to eat in the front restaurant, but I'm returning as soon as I can for the music experience. Thanks Monkeytown! Pros: AWESOME, intimate music venue; innovative food, great burger, nice people Cons: it's not closer to my apartment more

i don't know who gave monkeytown the last 5 poor reviews, but it seems like it is definitely the same person with the same strange syntax. a friend and i had recently had a party in the backroom here and it was a huge success! the owner and manager were both very accomodating and friendly and the waitstaff was nice, though possibly a little stressed because of our very large party (approx. 40 people). both the drinks and the appetizers were very tasty and had good reviews from all our guests. after the party a few people stayed and hung around the bar and had the hamburgers which they proclaimed were absolutely delicious. i would definitely recommend monkeytown as a great venue for a large gathering! also, when i stopped by to scope out the venue before we booked it, the waitstaff was perfectly nice and my exotic cocktail (i think it had ginger in it) was very good. Pros: good value for large gathering, tasty appetizers, good drinks Cons: none that i can think of! more

this is the most pretensious place i have ever been in williamsburg.This place gives bad name to art spaces in the area.They destroy the vibe of friendliness by treating their customer like dirt.i witness a fight twice there the staff does not know how to handle any situation.It was my last time there.Its a cold atmosphere and staff with attitude.The food is unedible as well so why go!Don't use art as your shield because you give bad name to art. more

I don't think prices are too high compare to other places, a burger is 10 dollars however the cook can not even cook a burger!so imagine the rest.This was my third and definetely the last trip there.The food has no flavor,atmosphere is nice however you can not just sit down to have few drinks and go home because the staff make sures you spend over 60 dollars.they harass you they are rude and definetely not nice.you pay cover to enter the back room which is a decent place to see a show however they want to charge you cover for every act in the same night.this place is insane.i will rate it honestly below average. more

the food is not edible and its expensive for what it is,the staff is not friendly,the atmosphere is okay.not recommended by me.i had the worst experience with the staff as well! more

The staff unbelievably rude.The food is beyond gross, but the atmosphere is cool.I am sure this place gets tons of complaints.i heard the staff is racist!I am never going back.Do not support places as this! more

I came there to see my friends show. I paid the admission and spend another $30 during my stay inside for about 1 hour. However the waitress she harass me constantly during this one hour stay while the room was absolutely empty- only two tables were taken.She took my beer out of my hand and told me to go talk to bar about it instead of handing me my beer and apologize for her obnoxious behaviour. I really need you to take my complaint with the utmost sincerity.This place should consider hiring staff with manners.By the way the food is sloppy as well. more

They must have changed chefs because the quality between last November (2006) and earlier this year has taken a serious nosedive. Last year's menu had some real surprises: *my favorite* squid salad, mulligatawny with curried popcorn, lapsang souchong halibut over blackeyed peas and horseradish creme fraiche, curry chocolate mousse with chickpea brittle, pomegranate cheesecake with cardamom and pistachio crust. All of it a dream! I had dinner with my husband earlier this year and the menu had changed, to its detriment. The ingredients were inferior, and the oomph just wasn't there in any of the dishes. The squid salad they bothered to keep made me want to cry in frustration. My seat kept getting kicked by people entering and leaving the back space, and I realized there is always a large birthday group when I go there. The bill seemed much higher, too. Alas, Monkeytown lives no longer in my heart. Pros: Interesting, Fun for Birthdays, Cool Art Cons: Overpriced, Inferior Food, Slow more

The food is always creative, fresh, and delicious. I also appreciate the unusual concept of the restaurant. It's a unique dining experience and I like to bring friends from out of town to eat here. more

I had heard all this buzz about Monkeytown in williamsburg from time out, nytimes, flavorpill, the onion, etc.... I was pleasantly suprised, enjoyed everything and had a really nice time. I was however floored by my disbelief as I read past reviews about other people's experiences. Having had such a good experience, I didn't understand.... My girlfriend and I love cocktails and at Monkeytown a reasonable $8 and a really attractive bartender makes you an imaginative, well crafted, fresh, no gimmicky brand inspired sponsored, delicious cocktail! We loved the lavender cilantro mojito, grapefruit ginger caipirinha, pomegranate whiskey sour, Monkeytown Manhattan, oh and the best Espresso Martini I've had (although Espresso Martini aren't that imaginativel, but this one is very tasty!)The staff was attentive, friendly, cool, and trendy. Also refreshing to find casually dressed staff instead of the stiff apron and all black wearing Manhattan staff uniform. The food came out reasonably paced, was well prepared, intriguing with its combination of spices and generous portions: overall tasty. Grilled squid salad, was spicy, but delicious. Other dishes we had risotto, thai hanger steak, and this layered napolean thing made with french toast. Desserts are always a must in our dining experience and we plunged into a delicious choc mousse (shared the Espresso martini), we were in heaven! The space was filled, but not crowded and the music selection was great.\r We left feeling good and agreed that we had found a special place with some really creative things going on. Monkeytown is clearly trying to do something that manhattan doesn't offer. We will go back for sure and I definitely recommend this place, even if past reviews seem kind of harsh. Which I find utterly confusing...but maybe all places have problems. Following this impressive direction I am sure with experience this ""budding"" restaurant/creative project will iron itself out and only get better as it matures! Pros: cocktails, food, relaxing casual dining environment, not expensive, dessert, artsy project room Cons: Paper napkins, hard to find, but maybe that is good..... more

Reading all the other reviews below makes me wonder whether I'm absolutely out of my mind or these people have their heads up their asses. I had a wonderful experience at Monkeytown, coming from Manhattan and used to fine dining, I admit, i was a but skeptical. I was drawn in by the interesting programming in the back room and the unique experience of eating while watching a fantastic video and music performance. The host was fantastic, he eagerly explained to us the way the place operates, and the waitstaff was mellow/hip but friendly and attentive. Although i thought the flank steak was a bit spicy, i was very satisfied by the enormous portion and the tenderness of the meat. My wife had rissotto which she fell in love with, I highly recommend this place as an off the beaten path mid range dining experience. Pros: great food in one of the most unique settings in new york Cons: crowded front room until the back room is open for the performance more

This is the worst 'dining' experience I have ever had in New York. My husband and I went for our fifth anniversary to a reception and dinner at Monkeytown. The food was mediocre and slow in coming. But compared to the waitress who ruined our evening? Her attitude was hostile and pushy. When we left a 10% tip to register our diappointment with the vibe, food and service she came over to our table to try and get more money out of us. Glad to hear this terrible place is losing its lease. Pros: cool space, great concept Cons: wait staff and the food -- gross cosmopolitans as well more

Awful! I hear this place is closing so i wanted to check it out because I thought the idea was nice. It took fifteen minutes to even get water, not even order a drink. We ordered appetizer salads which TOOK AN HOUR! Then when our entrees showed up our waitress could not be bothered to place them in front of us, she just slammed them on the table. The food was beyond sub par, my girlfriend's quesadilla might as well have come from dennys and my shellfish stew has some of the worst clams i have ever tasted, not to mention there were mussels that weren't even open, gross. Anyway I guess there closing , i can see why, its a shame because it is a beautiful space and the performance space is a great idea. Pros: They are closing and the space will hopefully be turned into a competet restaurant. Cons: Food, food, food more

Monkeytown was an awful experience! The waitstaff was extremely standoffish, unapologetic and way too hip to actually do their jobs. Our reservation for 9:30 was unfullfilled, many of the food items were no longer available and we waited over an hour for our cold, unappetizing meals. Instead of a sincere apology, the waitstaff simply told us that the place had a ""chill vibe"" and couldn't understand why we were so upset. Needless to say we won't be going back. more

somehow they just don't get it. be nice, be courteous, do your job ... you are there to satify paying customers...but the wait staff are probably the worst i have ever ever ever experienced.\r lame..unsincere execuses as to why your drink order was not placed, as to why your food was over 1 1/2 hours late...pathetic. there are so many great places to go to enjoy a nite out and i would definitely never ever recommend this place nevertheless even walk by it ..ever ever again. Pros: food is good if you get service Cons: worst service i have ever experienced in my life! more