Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I love their variety of beers on tap, especially the Flemish sour ale. However, the food quality, which used to be outstanding, seems to have declined recently—perhaps due to a change in the chef? I used to enjoy the Thai curry mussels and chicken fingers, but both dishes were disappointing on my last visit. The mussels were full of sand, indicating either that dead mussels were used or they weren't cleaned properly. The fries that it came with were overcooked and too salty. Meanwhile, the chicken fingers were rubbery and soggy. I hope to see improvements on my next visit...

For a place like this where you come with high expectations, it means a lot when the food is better than you expect. It's no Michelin fine dining, but it's not trying to be. It's just really really SOLID food with the chef's unique touch. I would have tried the mussels which everyone seems to rave about, but coming alone, I chose the duck salad sandwich which did not disappoint.

Monk's is a place that feels just about perfect. Nothing is too fancy or pretentious, it's just excellent all around. I think it's not that controversial to say that Monk's has the best fries in the city, and are a must-have whether you get them with mussels, a burger, or a standalone order. We also tried the cheese board, smoked trout dip, and split the famous duck salad sandwich. All were great and everything felt reasonably priced. When I return to Monk's, I'll probably stick with their burgers since those have been my favorite in the past. Service is great overall, bartenders and waiters are very helpful with the beer list which for many will be the main attraction. While I'm not a beer aficionado, every beer I've had has been outstanding and I personally would recommend the Westmalle Dubbel. Visitors should be aware that there are no reservations at Monk's and limited seating, though the restaurant is bigger than it looks when including the back bar and seating. Expect to wait for a little while if you try to come on a busy weekday evening. We went on a Sunday evening though and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait at all!

If you are a beer lover like me, this place must be part of your pilgrimage! Don’t miss your chance to drink some Pliny the Elder on tap and look for some Cantillon bottles

Being an avid fan of monks since I was a kid, I was extremely disappointed the last time I went. Wanting to take my girlfriend, we were seated and both excited to have our food. We were asked to order by the waiter but needed more time. Then another group came and was waiting by the door when someone came up to us and asked if we were 21. Both being 18, we said no and then they asked us to leave because “most of their income comes from serving alcohol.” It was blazingly apparent that the only reason they kicked us out was because another party had come, especially since I have been to monks countless times as a literal child with and without adults with no problem ever. Would they not serve people who quit alcohol or had no interest in drinking? Yes they would. However, because I was 18 and the staff thought that they could take advantage of me and my girlfriend they demanded that we leave. I thought that was an extraordinarily scummy thing to do and I will not be going back anytime soon.

On my Mount Rushmore for restaurants around the world. Mussels are amazing.

Always love monks! I’ve been coming here for years and took some friends for their first time. Duck liver is always a must have.

An institution.. Fantastic beer selection from Europe

A center city favorite. Mussels are a must. And the beer selection is always impressive, especially the Belgian stuff. Staff rules too

Funky tiny bar restaurant with great choices on their menu. Very large beer selection.

Great place if you are a belgian beer nut and don't mind standing most of the time there . Other than the belgian beer no need to go

Frequented this spot from 2016-2020. The beer selection, food, atmosphere, and staff are all fantastic, especially given the volume these folks deal with when it really gets busy.

Old wood paneled back bar is a cozy place for a beer or two. Reminds me of some small bars in Dublin. Did not try the food.

The mussels were a complete miss when we went. The broth tasted like dirty water. Also, the fries were not fresh and over salted to compensate. Usually both are amazing, but huge miss this time. Even the people next to us agreed.

We came in this ‘bar’ as Belgians and needed to show our ID’s to show we’re legal to drink, showed our Belgian ID’s but couldn’t enter said that lady at the counter. We needed OuR iNtErNaTiOnAl PaSpOrTS… Terrible interaction. Your guys loss. Sorry that’s no service…

Came in for the Vegan Philly Cheesesteak and was really impressed. The service was phenomenal and the beers delicious. Overall a great experience when visiting the city for a couple of days.

My wife and I had the Thai curry mussels here on our honeymoon back in 2011, and just came back in 2024 for the same meal, which was just as amazing 13 years later. Impressive selection of Belgian beers. Interior vibe is charmingly dank in a good way- service is great!

Cozy Belgium bar with no reservations. Came during lunch time to avoid wait times! Kept hearing rave reviews about their fries and WOW… they are incredible. Paired with some magical mayo sauce, no idea whats in it but I want it to be bottled up and in my fridge 24/7. The burger was juicy and seasoned well, my only issue was the brioche bun was a little stale and then got soggy from the juiciness of the burger. It could have used a little time on the grill. Definitely want to come back to try the mussels!

Great food, excellent beer and good service

Cute Belgian style pub. Excellent menu that includes some bar food standards but it is the Belgian/French menu items that really set it apart.

Classic, a gem. Beer selection diverse. You WILL find something you like, if you drink enough, haha. The mussels, plentiful, I had the Ghent style, excellent, especially for the price! Chicken fingers are tip tier, moist, light, tender,, not your usual restaurant fingers. Atmosphere, int8mate and lively at the same time

An absolute staple in the Philadelphia bar scene.

Crowded Belgium bar, this is the 1st time I've been back in +10yrs. Glad to see they're still going strong after +25yrs, the building appears to be getting a refresh. She was the Belgium beer drinker, I liked the mussels, we both like Marvin Gaye? At one point I thought this bar was loosely based on his stay in Belgium, but not so sure anymore. I managed to squeeze in at the front bar, solo life now. I ordered a couple European style lagers to go with my Thai curry mussels. I didn't mind the coffee notes in my Everett dark larger, but blind pig was a little hoppy for this session. The mussels were good if not a little small, and the pomme frits were as good as I remember. I'll have to try their other foods on the next visit, I'm all about duck. It's a cool place to HH if you can get in. I made sure this was my last stop on the way out of town.

Made a trip to Monk’s on the recommendation of a friend. In a somewhat unfortunate circumstance, construction was going on. This prevented me from seeing the facility from a complete view. Access is still easy. Small, but having a lot a character, the atmosphere was enjoyable. The staff was great! I had several different draft offerings that were solid. If you are an IPA or Craft fan, I think you will enjoy!

Love the huge beer selection and great food!!

Cozy little spot popular for mussels and fries. Went with the Gruyère and mushroom burger which was on the smaller side but still extremely delicious. Loved the fries and the fry sauce!

As a Belgian guy myself, I always let myself be surprised by how good quality the American beer is that these guys have in stock, they absolutely know their stuff, their food is great, the fries and sauce with the fries always hits the spot whilst enjoying one of their perfectly curated beer. Bee gave great advice when I was "done" with the beers on draft and her highly recommended beers where amazing choices. I can't say anything bad about this place, the food, the beer, the staff, everything is amazing, except for the location, ... it's too far from Belgium... Monks I LOVE you, keep up the good work, and hopefully see you soon

Incredible beer menu. I wasn’t crazy about the food but their house-made sauce was really good. If you want a unique range of beer options, this is a great place. Old-school tavern atmosphere, cool staff. Definitely have a backup plan because it’s a little place and they fill up quick

A hole-in-the-wall with sticky tables that have seen better days, but also great food and a good selection of beers. My steak was A+, impeccably grilled and seasoned.

Very friendly bartenders. Beer lists is fantastic if course.

Best beer bar in Philly, and the food is great too.

Great fancy beer selection, steak frites was good and a pretty decent price 👍

Monks is always great…. I had their “farm fresh roasted vegetables” (for a change from my usual of mussels and frites) and it was awesome! Plus, of course, the beer and the friendly people; love it here.

Top notch food and an epic beer list! The mussels are phenomenal! World class!

Screw Disney. If you really enjoy a AMAZING beer selection and Belgian culture/food, THIS is the happiest place on earth.

Truly remarkable selection of beers here. IPA selection was a beauty. Wonderful, cozy place to go. “Cheers” (the show) bar vibe. Recommended

Being from out of town or of the region, it was a nice find. The food smelled great and looked great. We were there for the beer. Atmosphere great, the people were inviting. We needed help with the menu (beer) and sadly the bartender had a bad day. We, my buddy and I, both were trying to ask questions about the brews and ended not liking either of our beers and due to the bartenders bad day we just drank them anyways - in the end I guess they are still a beer

This bar has ruined every other bar for me. Any time I am drinking anywhere else I find myself thinking — I wish I were at Monk’s Cafe instead. Edit: except when I was in Belgium. In Belgium it was pretty much the same lol

As a semi selective eater…I loved this place! They have a stellar menu for vegans/vegetarians. I ordered a vegetarian burger and it was delicious.

Rude hostess. Beer they thought was Amazing, sucked!

A jewel in the Philly beer crown. The service couldn't have been better. Burger cooked perfectly to temperature. Well alright!

Always a great selection of beer

Delicious dining experience. The mussels were delicious. We had the burgers, mushroom parpardelle, and the pork sandwich. All were scrumptious! The beer was tasty as well. Fun times with family!

I visit here every time I’m in Philly. Love the selection and really appreciate Jordan’s advice on the different selections. Food is equally as good. Seating is a little congested and it would be great to have an outdoor option as they did during the Covid days. I was a little surprised by the hostess when I was directed to a small table that was over crowded with a group from the next table. She told me I would need to ask them to move and left me to manage the seating arrangement. This was would left me with a negative impression but Jordan made up for it with his great attitude and professionalism.

We have been going here for years and their food ALWAYS meets our expectations! So delicious especially their duck salad. Although their wait time some times can get a little crazy if you go around 6 or 7. It is definitely worth the wait though!

Great selection of Belgium brews - mostly gueze and various sour, fermented beers. Basic, comfortable, and friendly setup. Helpful staff. Belgium frites were better than the ones we recently had in Belgium. Good selction of pub grub with several veggie options. Parking was a total nightmare, but it was probably to be expected in downtown Philly. Highly recommend a visit.

Thay have great beers and I don't mind spending the money every once and a while

Absolutely bucket beer stop! Great beer list, cheerful staff and a must if you like the great beers. Had the cheeseburger and it was cooked perfectly to my liking, the Belgian fries are heavenly. Place felt a tic crowded and shoehorned into an older building, perhaps a part of the charm!

Literally the BEST mussels that I have ever had!!!

Great food, amazing beer selection.

Over twenty years and still top quality!

Awesome Beer and Food. Best beer in town and great hospitality always. Great seeing you again Tom and nice meeting you B and Sean. Thanks All! ~~Bri..'s dad~~

Stopped in for some Belgian Beer and Gent Mussels after doing a downtown Philly estimate. Great place but gotta get there 4-5pm to even get a seat a the bar! Very small establishment!

Changing my 5 star review from last year to 1 star. Beware of waiters trying to sneak in tip charge which was more than 20% for “large party” while we only had 4 people and a 11 month old baby that didn’t have any food. The interesting thing was that she couldn’t find information where does it say that they have this mandatory charge for the gratuity. This place needs to be working on their service, because they don’t even know how to properly apologize. Instead they are try to find excuses.

Excellent belgian beer selection, the mussels are a must have and the fries are legendary. Probably my favourite haunt in Philly!

Awesome vibes and good brews on tap every week. Delicious fries too!

Incredible beer list, huge mussels, excellent fries with a sauce that's to die for. Fantastic staff too, what's not a to like

They have beers for experts and novices alike! The duck salad blows me away every time, and the mussels are outstanding. Be aware lines can be very long for larger parties, but a table for 2 is usually manageable.

Had the curry muscles. So good.

The Thai style Mussels were absolutely amazing and the service matched exactly!

Food and service was great, but we saw FIVE mice come out in the dining area as people were leaving the bar near close….

Beware- this place is always packed with a long wait for a table on a Friday night. Their mussels are absolutely to die for - had every single kind and I always come back for more!! Huge portions and comes with fries! Get the burger if you’re not into seafood. The best beer selection on the east coast- it’s a Philly thing!

Dropped in on a busy day, and the service was still great. Feels like a neighborhood eatery. The fries and salads were very good. The ambiance is nice as well.

Nice variety of beers and pretty good. If you are not joining for dinner, you may only sit in the bar. We had drinks and fries and fries were really soaked in oil, short pieces and a little scorched.

I usually have great experiences at Monk’s cafe, but tonight there was a curly-haired hostess who was extremely rude to my friend and I. She gave us attitude from the second she greeted us and we have no idea why!

The mussels are delicious, as are the fries. Try the rotating draft or the numerous bottles/cans. A must-stop for fans of Belgium beer.

we went based on locals saying how great the food was...everything we tried mussels, short rib & fries were below average...over 200 beers, decent atmosphere really attentive service, fairly fair pricing. If you like craft beer check it out, I won't go back

If you want great beer, an incredible ambience, and excellent food then look no further than Monk’s Cafe

The pandemic is over. Give people menus.

The best Belgian beer bar in the country, hands down.. A must for any Philadelphian or visitor....

One of the best beer bars in the US. Knowledgeable staff, great draft list, and a bottle list like the Cheesecake Factory menu.

A must try hidden gem in the neighborhood. Unique Belgian beers and stouts. Must try the Hercule Stout if you have beef of any kind. Don't underestimate the vegan seitan sandwich. Packed with umami flavor and very satisfying. Wife had the Steak Frites salade and really enjoyed it. Dessert was the lime pie - very tart and very good.

One of the best for good beer selection and the mussels are out of this world. Bartenders are knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive

Sat at the bar with a buddy, shared some fries, and sipped some excellent beers. As a Midwesterner, it's especially unique to have Hill Farmstead and Russian River taps under one roof. It was even cooler to have our very knowledgeable bartender give some of the backstory on how they acquired some very exclusive brews. Between the snug, old-world pub vibes, incredible beer selection, and intriguing menu (we wished we could have stayed for dinner!), I was over the moon for Monk's Cafe. I hope to be back!

Very unique spot. A beer nerd's dream establishment. I consider myself well-versed in beer, but I was overwhelmed by their unique selection and rare choices both on tap and in cans/bottles. The staff were very helpful with any questions. Didn't get food, but it looked good!

Beer selection like no other. The food was very nice. This is a must try!

Craft beer heaven! One of the best craft beer bars we have ever been to - they have so many special collaboration beers, hard to find domestic and international, and all are top tier breweries. The food is delicious as well. Atmosphere is great for a beer bar - a clean pub, not too loud so you can enjoy the company of people around you. Wish we lived closer, but it's always a treat when we visit!

I'm just your average beer drinker, but according to my beer-aficionado brother, Monk's holds the distinction of being the only purveyor of some of the beers on tap east of the Mississippi or, even, in the nation. The beer was good, the food was good, and the vibe was sexy and chill without overdoing it. Definitely a unique spot that's earned its acclaim—I'd recommend to anyone looking for an expertly-curated beer list and delicious food to go along with it

I haven't had food, so no rating, rest is perfect, nice crew, good selection of beer. Even Pliny thr Elder is on tap!

Outstanding pub food, along with Belgian classics (mussels etc). The beer menu is unbelievable.

Truly incredibly lovely. MF Doom on the speakers, mussels in my mouth, more hypeass beer options than you can shake a stick at and good people.

well worth the wait! tight spot but cozy atmosphere, everyone around you is enjoying themselves which adds a special something. beer menu is the obvious main draw and it's killer -- you're hard pressed to find a better belgian beer selection in the US IMO -- but their food is good in its own right.

THE WESTMALLE BEER WAS THE BEST I EVER HAD, SIMPLY GREAT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. THE FOOD WAS PRETTY GOOD AND THE PRICES WERE FARE. THE RESTAURANT IS SMALL BUT HAS A COZY ATMOSPHERE WITH A OLD WORLD FEEL. THE WAITERS WERE ATTENTIVE AND PROMPT. THERE ISNT ANY PARKING EXCEPT IF YOU PARK INSIDE OF A HIGH PRICE GARAGE.

Are hostess/waitress Gabriella was excellent in service and personality. My son and I really enjoyed our lunch. We had the Thai coconut mussels and the duck sandwich. Both of which I would highly recommend.

My go-to restaurant whenever I find myself in Philly. Great beer selection and I love the mussels. The tables are a little small and hard to accommodate a lot of plates but we managed.

Good food, great beer selection. Service seemed under staffed. Server helpful when they finally get to you.

A cosy, snug, warm, high-energy place with good food, especially burgers. Different types of beer are very popular!

Monk’s is one of our all-time favorite places. We used to live in Philly and frequented there often. One of the few places outside of Vermont where you can find Hill Farmstead!! So many great beers and so much good food in a great atmosphere. We now live in Lancaster with four kids and have fostered the love of their muscles in them as well! Whenever we’re in Philly, Monk’s is on the itinerary.

Great beer selection, great ambience, great service, mussels were amazing… not a 5 as I was hoping for real frites…

We've been a few times over the years, and Monks never disappoints. I usually have a couple of Belgian beers because the selection is awesome, but this trip we arrived a week after a Russian River event. There were several RR beers on tap so I couldn't help but get a couple of them. Cheers Monk's!

If you read the reviews, a common theme is that there is a wait, well that's beyond true. Better suited for a meal for 2 or a couple, really....dont think about asking for a table for 4 or more. That said, the food was great, the service just as good. I couldnt give it 5 stars, after having to wait over an hour for 3 adults. Again, the food and service were great. When I go back it will be with just one other adult. BTW, the beer selection and bar are no joke and really diverse as well as tasty.

Super good tap list and always fresh. We also love their French fries and seitan cheesesteak if we're grabbing something to eat here. Friendly staff as well

Very crowded. Great beer. A lot of different types and breweries offered

It's a must stop for any beer lover. Great food also!

This has been a bucket list spot for me for a long time, and I'm glad I finally made it! The beer selection was so good it was a bit overwhelming, and the food was phenomenal. My party got the Ghent mussels, chicken sandwich, and duck salad sandwich. Everything was unreal and very affordable for how good it was.

Pretty busy for a tuesday evening. However beer and thia curry mussels were amazing

Hands down the best beer bar in the city, some of the best food and brews around. Got a decent wait for a table but it's totally worth it!

Great beers nice people AND they play smashing pumpkins and Portishead. Heaven.

Monks cafe is a Philadelphia institution. It feels like a warm hug when you’re sitting in the wooden booth surrounded by wood paneling and incredible food and drinks. It’s always my first stop when I’m in town. We always get the Russian river blind pig, my favorite beer of all time!!! I’ve had other incredible beers there from all across the globe. Most recently they had a rose cider from France on draft in the backbar and it for incredible!! For food we always get the cheese board, chicken tenders and frites. The mussels are good I wish they would soak them another night to get them cleaner, but they’re a steal for the amount of food you get!! 1000% recommend going to Monks, you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you go on an off time to avoid a wait for a table if you’re eating or tight quarters at the bar if you’re just drinking.

Menu looks great, but there was no one seating guest and I got told I couldn't seat myself. Went back up front and was ignored. Disappointed that I made this one of my targeted destinations. May try again