We recently noticed new restaurant construction near our house (not unusual these days). On our way home one day, we realized they had finally opened with a name that's bound to intrigue: Drunken Munkey (not a typo). So on a quiet Sunday afternoon, we had a chance to check it out.
The focus at Drunken Munkey is Indian cuisine and fabulous cocktails. At first they were only open for dinner. But as luck would have it, the afternoon we went was the first weekend they started offering brunch hours. Hooray!
This place definitely has a neighborhood-spot feel to it. It's relatively small with a welcoming bar and new decor made to look old and lived-in, as if you're visiting the home of a friend's parents who make awesome food. Once you're settled in to your seat, you're warmly greeted by the friendly server and have a moment to look up and notice that the chandeliers and candle holders are indeed monkeys. Cute. :)
We started off with the chicken samosas (excellent with great dipping sauces).
Then DJ went for the butter chicken (superb!)...
and Mel tried the Lamb Biryani (a new addition to the menu; like a lamb pot pie with tender lamb and spicy rice nestled under a shell of buttery naan - yummmmmm).
To end on a sweet note, we tried another new addition to the menu: the Rum Cricket Ball, a chocolate cake taken to the next level with a unique blend of spices. Definitely amaze-balls.
We pretty much knew after the first few bites that we would return to Drunken Munkey. We are so glad it is in the neighborhood because we plan to keep going back until we've tried the whole menu!
* * * * * * *
True to our word, we returned to Drunken Munkey with Brandon and Ladell to sample some more of the cocktails and dinner menu. The second visit confirmed that this place is fabulous. The drinks are on the pricier end: totally on par with NYC prices these days, but not what you'd consider a bargain for a quick cheap happy hour after work. But in this case, the drinks are actually worth it because the bartenders are extremely attentive. We sat at the bar this time around and got to know Brennan, who was the mixologist for the night. After we ordered our first round to rave reviews and chatted with him a bit, he started saying to us: "I think I know what you'd like. Let me surprise you." And he would proceed to mix up concoctions on the spot that were really fabulous. When asked what was in them, he'd say, "I can't tell you exactly. I just made it up." That kind of attention to one's craft is what makes a bar experience memorable and will keep us coming back for more!
We also snacked on a few food items from the dinner menu:
Paani Puri
crispy flour puffs, aloo & chick-pea chaat, tamarind mint water
(these were highly recommended but we weren't the hugest fans because the filling is cold; you're supposed to eat them in one bite, which means your mouth is rushed with chilly, spicy, minty water - not quite what we were looking for on a snowy winter night; but this could be refreshing on a summer afternoon)
Lamb Seekh Kababs
skewered hand ground spinach lamb, mint chutney
(excellent!)
* * * * * * *
True to our word, we returned to Drunken Munkey with Brandon and Ladell to sample some more of the cocktails and dinner menu. The second visit confirmed that this place is fabulous. The drinks are on the pricier end: totally on par with NYC prices these days, but not what you'd consider a bargain for a quick cheap happy hour after work. But in this case, the drinks are actually worth it because the bartenders are extremely attentive. We sat at the bar this time around and got to know Brennan, who was the mixologist for the night. After we ordered our first round to rave reviews and chatted with him a bit, he started saying to us: "I think I know what you'd like. Let me surprise you." And he would proceed to mix up concoctions on the spot that were really fabulous. When asked what was in them, he'd say, "I can't tell you exactly. I just made it up." That kind of attention to one's craft is what makes a bar experience memorable and will keep us coming back for more!
We also snacked on a few food items from the dinner menu:
Paani Puri
crispy flour puffs, aloo & chick-pea chaat, tamarind mint water
(these were highly recommended but we weren't the hugest fans because the filling is cold; you're supposed to eat them in one bite, which means your mouth is rushed with chilly, spicy, minty water - not quite what we were looking for on a snowy winter night; but this could be refreshing on a summer afternoon)
Lamb Seekh Kababs
skewered hand ground spinach lamb, mint chutney
(excellent!)
Lamb Shank Rogan Josh
braised lamb, seasoning spices, tomato curry sauce
(superb!)
(superb!)
No doubt about it: we'll be going here OFTEN!
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