The Merry Monk

Waitress great… appetizer Thai mussels great, burgers burned and dryyyy. drinks watered down. I will not b returning…

This place has the BEST croque monsieur sandwich! My husband and I love picking up two sandwiches and bringing them home — we share one for dinner and the other for breakfast the next day! The environment is great as well, if you choose to dine in! Great service!

Really annoyed at the moment. Half the table
Ordered the mussels and we didn’t know. Wish the waitress told us. The place is nice but wait for reviews after this one because the entire kitchen staff quit to go to Albany. The place is very nice but they start a new menu tomorrow. Still looks nice but anything we say about the food is out of date.
Update: management doesn’t get it! Everyone here is waiting for food. There are 10 empty tables because they are short wait staff. We will let you all know.

Delicious food!
We checked this place out on a whim, and boy are we glad we did. The venue itself is a pretty standard bar/restaurant…dining tables on one side and bar/​stools with tables on the other. There are a ton of drink options (it’s is a Belgian joint after all) and a good assortment of food options as well.
We ordered a couple of drinks to start. I wasn’t a huge fan of my Stella Cidre (it had a strange aftertaste). For an entrée, I got the thai mussels with frites. The mussels were a little small but cooked perfectly. The thai curry sauce that overlaid the mussels was delicious. I wish I had a bowl of rice after finishing the mussels to finish off the sauce… that good. The frites, although relatively thin, were really crispy and tasty. The dipping sauces (spicy ketchup, chipotle mayo and honey mustard) were yummy, too.
Service was mediocre. Our server was friendly, but our drinks and food took a little bit to come out.
Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience and would definitely consider coming back to try their other options.

We love this place! Great food and the wait staff are friendly and very knowledgeable about the food and drinks. Highly recommend going and checking it out. The duck drummers are a delicious app to start with!

I have been to the bar of merry monk and this review is for drinks only. We went there on new year’s eve and it was packed. The bartenders were attentive and I wanted to have a whiskey hot toddy that they prepared very well. The bartender made a mistake and gave us a beer instead of the bloody marry my friend has asked for. But then made one for us after we let him know.

The Merry Monk is one of my favorite places in Saratoga Springs. It has a nice atmosphere and the kitchen uses really fresh ingredients. I’m a particular fan of the mussels, especially the Thai curry mussels. The Belgian fries are yummy and the salads are lovely. Another plus is that the restaurant isn’t on the busy main drag of Broadway, so it’s not so crowded and it is easy to get a table. Lastly, the glasses of wine are huge. It gets a few demerits because my college-​student son is bummed that they stopped serving a brunch dish of steak and eggs with chimichurri sauce.
Lots of space for a big group, fyi.

Classic Belgian. Authentic yet creative food. Beet salad with fried goat cheese was very well done. Our table had several mussel dishes — all amazing. The Thai curry sauce was the best. The belly of the beast and specialty sausage and burgers were good as well. Beers — amazing diversity — Christmas and wheat beer.

I’ve been to the Merry Monk in Albany many times so I decided it was time to check out their Saratoga location. My husband and I had a great meal (salmon sliders, fish tacos), and the service was excellent, so there were no complaints on either of those fronts. What it’s lacking, however, is ambiance. The dining room is separated from the bar by a curtain; it was as if two different establishments were planted together under the same roof. I personally like being able to see the bar to people watch, heck, even glance at the television from time to time. The bar, because it had a few patrons, had a vibe going, and from it emanated a pleasant din. The dining room, on the other hand, was mostly empty and quiet. Although it was not a deal breaker, this does lead me to dock the Saratoga MM a star.
Without question the Albany location beats the Saratoga location, but I would return if I were in the area because just about everything about the MM franchise is great. I will also say that the frites, while different, are still absolutely wonderful (they could use a few more mayo options, however). They were more like shoe-​string fries, but they were perfectly seasoned, hot, and crispy, and I scarfed ‘em down faster that you can say prost.

We were en route to Syracuse but decided to split the trip by spending the night in Saratoga Springs (which, by the way, is such a lovely town!) I was looking on Unilocal for a place for dinner and stumbled upon the Merry Monk. Looked nice, so we gave it a try. I wasn’t expecting the Belgian theme, but was rather delighted to see it since Belgian cuisine tends to be quite delicious (a.k.a. FRIED!)
The place was packed on a Friday night but we reserved a table. We started with Belgian pretzels, potato croquettes, and fried brussels sprouts. All were delicious. I had the fish & chips for entrée and it was also very good. Nice crust on the fish and the frites were perfect! (Came with a large selection of dipping sauces). We ended with none other than a sweet fluffy Belgian waffle (a la mode, of course). Overall, we were very happy with the food and thought it was a great little place in a great little town! If we’re ever back in Saratoga, we’ll know where to eat.

Some changes are good, some are bad. My verdict is still on hold for the Merry Monk in Saratoga since their Executive Chef departed about two months ago.
As an aside, our favorite server no longer worked their either. One thing that definitely hasn’t changed is the excellent selection of both draft and bottled beers. As an omen of what was to come, our server returned to inform me that the draft I originally requested had just kicked. But my second choice of a pint of Liefmans’ Goudenbond ($ 10) was a worthy replacement. My wife’s Leffe Blonde ($ 7) was every bit as pleasing as their Brun that we would normally favor.
We shared the Flammkuchen ($ 12) for our appetizer. This Flatbread wasn’t exactly crispy as advertised, if fact the dough may have been slightly undercooked, especially in the center. But we actually liked it that way. It still had enough firmness and thickness to hold its topping of ras el hanout ricotta, diced bacon, heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion jam, white trumpet mushrooms, peppery rocket greens, and ver jus vinaigrette. Really great flavors here.
The earlier beer harbinger continued with our server returning once again to tell me that the Duck Reuben was all gone also. So the Croque Monsieur ($ 12) was elevated from my second choice. With its tavern ham, and creamy béchamel & Gruyère gratinéed on country white bread, it did not measure up to a recent croquet monsieur I had just down the street at TC Paris. The bread appeared to be more like an egg bread or challah due to its yellowish color. The ham seemed like a typical cold cut, and the béchamel lacked a richness. This was just OK.
My wife’s Crispy Fish Tacos ($ 13) were also just OK with their battered and fried cod, iceberg lettuce, tomato, avocado, and siracha mayo. The fish had a little oil taste from the frying. I should remember to also mention that both of us chose to have fries with our meals, and those fries are excellent. A little bit salty, but a must have every now and then.
Service was pleasant and friendly. There is no doubt that we’ll return, even if just for a few pints. That’s what’s holding the Monk at 4* right now.

Called ahead for a recommendation which I’d recommend for you to do as well. This place was slammed for our 7pm reservation. Not a seat to be had, not a space to stand at the bar. So call.
Loved the beer selection. Plenty new for me to try. Expanded beer selections by the bottle and even some large formats which is super cool. The food menu is also good. Plenty for everyone. I let my date pick out a few sandwiches to split, but I had to have the fried mac and cheese which didn’t disappoint and a side salad. Both sandwiches were good and the fries were on point. I really enjoy the fact they have a solid sauce game to go with the fries which you pick two of.
As I mentioned we were in at 7 and the place was slammed. Still our server never kept us waiting, made some solid recommendations and really impressed. Sitting across from my date and not being able to hear her was a bit disheartening. The space was just so busy with people, not their fault. When walking in the left hand side is the bar area and the right hand side tables, but there’s no real division so the noise travels.
I really did like the Merry Monk, though I think i’d rather spend my time on the bar side with bar expectations. Its a cool space with awesome beer and food.

As a traveling salesman, I Unilocaled this place and decided to give it a try as I was right next door at the Hampton Inn. The beer selection is fantastic and the food was very good, not quite the same as Brussels but pretty darn good!
Started with the Duck Wings which were very good, I could have drank the blue cheese!!! Went with the Moule & Frites which were good, not great but very well done. Seeing as I’ll be back in Brussels next weekend I was hoping for a little prep-​dinner. The Real star of this dish were the Frites, perfectly done and the garlic-​mayo dipping sauce was great.
Great atmosphere, mimicking a traditional Belgium restaurant with great beer selections… I’ll be back!

I REALLY REALLY want to like this place. It’s just not consistent.
First problem — the place is always cold. Doesn’t matter what season it is… and I tend to run warm and prefer cooler spots… but when I have the shivers, we might need to re-​think insulation and/​or heating implements.
Last night we started with the seared tuna sliders. They were good, but the bun was so buttery that it was too much. No need to soak the bread in salty butter when you have a perfectly fine piece of fish with some lovely avocado accompanying it. It’s not a lobster roll… it’s tuna. Just sayin’.
I had a pound of mussels in Thai sauce. It was tasty and very spicy. I like spice, but someone that can’t tolerate high heat would have a problem with this sauce. It was served with two pieces of garlic toast — one of which fell off the plate as soon as it was served (as it was precariously perched in the bowl). That’s ok — I didn’t eat either one of them.
My friend had a cheeseburger ordered «rare to medium rare». It was well done and extremely dry — she couldn’t eat it.
The saving grace — french fries. Mine were really good and I like the chipotle mayo dipping sauce. They have several dips to choose from — the bbq is decent and the spicy ketchup is nice.
Also, the waitress was very friendly; I still made sure to give her a good tip.
That said, I’m not rushing back.

I love the Merry Monk on Pearl St so we definitely had to try this one when we were up in Saratoga. The menu is a bit different from the main Merry Monk, but the quality of the food/​drink and the quality of the service is still quite good. I tried the duck wings, pretzels, frites, and the Flemish stew and all were very, very good. I highly recommend this place if you’re in the area and love Belgian beer and Belgian food!

There are a lot of restaurants in Saratoga and The Merry Monk is a consistently excellent choice. A good if not slightly eclectic variety of menu choices including more than a few vegetarian options.
This time around I started with the Beet salad and had the Veggie streusel for dinner. Both were fresh and delicious. I’d order both again but not til I try a few other items!
Service by Tammy was once again impeccable; she’s attentive, friendly and knowledgable.
You won’t be disappointed at the Merry Monk!

I’ve always felt if I could not live in the U.S., I would want to live in Belgium. Barring that, moving somewhere on Henry Street and visiting The Merry Monk often would be a good interim solution.
I probably should have asked for extra napkins when I surveyed the beer selection to ward off the drool (luckily it was plastic covered). There was enough variety here to keep me happy for many visits and satisfy my curiosity on dozens of brands.
I would classify the food selection as a combination of pub food and Belgian-​influenced items. Many of these are recognizable, such as frites, Brussels sprouts, and stews and mussles in Belgian ales. These were quite satisfying though not necessarily as exceptional as I would have hoped.
The appetizer which garnered the most interest was the duck drummers, battered and deep fried duck drumsticks served with a sweet sauce and a warm, spicy, bleu cheese dip. I thought it was a good deal for the price. I also think a slow-​cooked order of duck drumsticks would have been fantastic, but it probably is not practical given the amount of time it takes to cook them and unknown number of orders (deep frying to order is much more convenient). I also ordered a bleu cheese dressing for my salad, and I discovered it was the exact same mixture. It works well for the drummers; I did not feel it worked as well as a salad dressing.
I opted for a burger, and here they are 12 oz. burgers, with a variety of interesting toppings and cheeses. My opinion was again mixed. Two of us ordered burgers medium. The other was cooked perfectly to order. Mine was cooked well done. In hindsight, I really did not want such a large amount of pink center in a 12 oz. burger, so I guess I was glad it was cooked more, though their well-​done burger is a bit on the dry side. I think next time I’ll try medium-​well.
The Merry Monk is a restaurant I will gladly visit any time for drinks, and once I sample more on the menu, I’m sure I will find entrees which will become my favorites.

I wanted to love this place and god knows we tried but it failed.
The beer list is OUTSTANDING… lots of new and off the wall brews which I love.
Unfortunately the food was not that good.
Started with the duck drummers (cause I do love me some duck) served with a Cranberry Barbeque Glaze, Crisp Celery, Crushed Walnut Blue Cheese Dip.($ 11)
ugh…so heavily breaded and smothered… I mean smothered… with sauce… could have been any squab and you’d have no idea.
So on to dinner. P.E.M gets the fish and chips ($ 11.) the biggest filet you’ve ever seen in your life for fish and chips. Unfortunately the kitchen couldn’t cook it right and it was literally clear in the middle. ugh. undercooked fish? are you trying to kill us? Pointed it out to the waiter and he immediately took it off the bill (good man) Too bad it left dining partner sick later.
I had the Croque Monsieur $ 12.00 with Tavern Ham, Creamy Bechamel & Gruyère Gratineed on Country White. Topped with a Sunnyside Fried Egg (additional $ 2. So they forget the egg. Waiter is MIA so hostess stops by and when informed quickly grabs an egg for me which I toss on sandwich but it’s just not the same. Sandwich was ok but just ok as the bechamel was so over browned it was dry.
Boo hiss.
Could have been, should of been, so much better.
I would return here to drink. but say no to the food.

We were in historic saratoga springs for the Dave Matthews shows this weekend. The Merry Monk looked like a quaint great place. It was. It did not seem too busy, arrived around 2pm for a quick bite before the show.
We ordered Hot Bloody Marys, bavarian pretzels, and fish tacos to share, pretty simple, right? WRONG.
While the Hot Bloody Marys came out quicky, we waited 1 hour and 8 minutes for our appetizer (the pretzels) to arrive. The waitress comped them and apologized (due to long wait).
Another 15 minutes later, the fish tacos arrived. They were fantastic and delish! Creamy, wet guac, spicy srircha sauce, tender flaky fish! Amazing!
We loved the food and drinks. However, when the resturant is half empty at 2pm on a Saturday and we wait OVER ONE HOUR for our appetizer, you lose 2 stars! And sorry to admit, our waitress lost out on a tip! Welp, Unilocal,I take that back, we left her a dollar.
I understand that food lateness is not always the waitresses fault, however, I strictly tip based on service, overall customer experience. Tipping is appreicated but in no way required. If you impress me, I will be very generous. If not, you lose. Its the principal. #nohate

The Merry Monk brought me straight back to my trip to Brussels! Sporting an enormous Belgian beer list, the Merry Monk would definitely be a «go to» for me if I lived in Saratoga Springs. I’m just happy we found it during our visit!
We spent a few hours at the bar, sampling beer, ordering flights and chatting with the bartender. The beer list is the real draw here, and any Belgian fan would be in heaven with the selection. I was a little disappointed that they had run out of a few taps while we were there and didn’t have anything to replace them with. Still, I was very happy with the draft and bottle options.
Food wise, we snacked on the soft pretzels which were really delicious and addicting! For entrees, I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and my boyfriend ordered one of the moules-​frites options. I enjoyed the food, but wasn’t blown away by it and we felt the mussels were just a little bit overcooked.
I will definitely return if I am back in Saratoga!