The Monk

A great beer selection and good service. Fun and friendly clientele.
I like that there are no TVs and the music isn’t too loud. It’s a great place to go to chat with whoever is on the bar stool next to you.

We came here for a few drinks tonight, before we had dinner at their neighbors restaurant, Bella Lenas. The place is cute and has an upbeat vibe. I like the fact that they do not have a TV blasting. After all the point of being with friends is to enjoy the company. I think 11.00 is a little too much for a mug of beer. I am not cheap but that’s basically an entrée price at some places. I would come again.

Time for me to burst the bubble. This place is overpriced and overrated. While it has a decent selection, I don’t see what the big deal is about this place.
The first time I went here, the music they were playing was much too loud. So much for the atmosphere. There was barely anyone inside, except for a few Polish speaking men. On top of that, the place closed around 12am. Much too early. There’s better establishments than The Monk.

Bartender was very helpful. He let us sample all the beers on tap. Very limited food selection. For that reason, I give them 4 stars.

Great selection of Belgian beers at reasonable prices, even some of the right or equivalent glasses. Relaxed music in & outside. Sweet, calm terrace in the back. Probably as close to home as they come.

Nice clean bar with an awesome patio in the back, perfect for a date. On the downside, I wish it had a larger selection of beers. The bar is usually empty during the week, though the people are very friendly. Personally I prefer the Tavern next door

I’ve only been here once, for the record. The backyard is nice, perfect on warm days/​evenings. They have some bar tapas which are frankly overpriced for what they are. Good beer selection. Nice staff. I must say — this is the first bar I’ve ever been to where they’d told me they don’t have ice. O_​o

Great selection of beers. Very comfortable atmosphere. Love the backyard. No TV’s. Definitely worth a visit.

The Monk is my version of Cheers. First off, no TVs and yes that is an amazing feature. Why? Well because the owners want you to socialize and it creates a great atmosphere. I’ve only had to fortune of meeting one of the owners (Joe) but he’s a great guy.
Good selection of Belgian beers and their pretzels are second to none I’ve had.

Great beer selection, no matter what type of brew or cider you’re in the mood for.
Usually I’m not a big fan of bars because my idea of good time isn’t a loud, crowded bro-​hall with a filthy toilet and a rude bartender. The Monk is like a dream come true — finally a bar with intelligent, friendly staff and a very appealing environment. The atmosphere is relaxing and perfect for conversation with old friends or new. The furniture is comfortable, bathrooms clean, the music is stimulating but not intrusive, and there’s always an interesting mix of people here from the neighborhood hanging out. I like to sit out on the patio, at the bar, or in a little quiet nook in the back with a brew and just enjoy the place.
The food is also tasty here if you’re in the mood for a snack. Try the cheese, bread, and spicy peppers plate, or the hummus! All in all, a very welcome addition to Ridgewood.

Excellent selection of tasty Belgium beers, magnificent wines, and numerous delicious appetizers! The tripel karmaleit is my absolute favorite as it is a light colored beer with an exceptional aroma and an even more irresistible taste. The vibe at this bar is everything. I’ve met some of the coolest people here old and young, some from the neighborhood and others who are newcomers. Being that there are no tvs gives people the glorious opportunity to actually conversate with one another like the golden days of our human existence. They also have an awesome backyard area for when the weather gets nice, to enjoy your beverage of choice. The monk anoints, never disappoints! :-)

Great chill bar. Reasonably priced and a great beer selection. The burrata was amazing but would love less pepper more burrata. Loved the warm pita bread with the savory hummus. Bathrooms nice too.

Joe is great! Met a lot of new friends in the neighborhood and enjoyed a lot of great beers and cider! The cheese and meat plate was delicious. I’ll be coming back here regularly that’s for sure! Not only are they knowledgable on their beers, but they’ve got a great outdoor patio, games to play, and take advice on new drinks to heart! It’s not an uptight bar like usual and I would rather walk here than drive to Williamsburg! Love them!

There’s no liquor, crowd or many food options. But that plays into The Monk’s strengths. It has a fine list of craft beers, so if you’re adventurous with your beverages, The Monk is worth a stop. The staff is very polite and they’ll get you settled in with a pint or two.

The Monk is a welcome addition to Ridgewood. Stellar beers on tap, laid back vibe, smooth tunes and no TVs. Beautiful garden too! This is the place to go if you want to enjoy great beer over good conversation.

What a wonderful place to come across in Ridgewood! Wide selection of fantastic craft beers and my absolute favorite… organic Samuel Smith cider! They have some nice nosh but not your usual unhealthy fried food that’s the norm these days unfortunately! I had the hummus & tzatziki with pita… what more do I need while sip my delicious drink? If you’re in the area– GO HERE!

Just ate the meat and cheese plate. I’m in heaven. Drinking the Stone IPA. Brilliant!
You don’t even have to try. This place will make you feel comfortable. Great place to kickback with your friends and just chill out. Bartender is super sweet! Good Times

Another LES a Type Bar
Yes our neighborhood is becoming more & more gentrified and changing to accommodate the new people moving in. However, we don’t need another bar unless it’s a salad or coffee bar…

When I saw that the monk was open, I was like, «What? Another bar opened up next to the Queens Tavern?!»
When we came in to check them out, I was like, «What? It’s not a full bar?!»
It’s a Belgium beer bar. They have a wide selection of draughts and bottles, and they’re not just Belgium crafts. Planting ourselves at the bar, we were greeted warmly and… informatively. While we do enjoy drinking and we do know what we like, we’re no craft beer experts. We told one of the owner/​bartenders what we like and he made a few suggestions, coupled with descriptions of the flavors, tossed in some details of the origins, and followed by samples. I really need to start taking names when I get excellent service. We were actually just killing time while waiting on our pizza so we didn’t stay long. We did enjoy the two IPAs that we’ve never had before and we’ll definitely be back.
P.S.
Queens Tavern loves them and think it’s great for business to have them next door. All love.

So few places get 5 stars from me but a quiet, laid back bar with cool music and cool
People is worth so much in this busy city.
We had a cheese board last time and it was delicious. Sliced Granny Smith apples, basket of fresh bread, sliced soppressata, st Andre triple cream, beamster aged Gouda and chèvre blanc goat semi firm. Wow! Perfect combination.
My husband loves the fantastic selection of Belgian beers and I appreciate the Malbec.
We will definitely be back, and bring friends.