Monika Restaurant : Seafood & Grill Deptford — Restaurant in London

Hygiene concerns, poor customer service and food and service delays.

I did email the restaurant prior to writing my review with no hope, I do think it’s important to share my experience with others who may want to try this restaurant so you’re not a blind sighted as I was. This had to be one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had (and I go out to eat a lot).

Booking Issue I attempted to book online but had trouble, so I called the restaurant. A lovely staff member helped me make the booking over the phone. However, when we arrived, the front of house gentleman told us there was no record of it. While he did eventually find us a table, this foreshadowed how the rest of the evening was going to go.

Food & Service Delays Our initial waitress was absolutely lovely, she took our order and made some great recommendations. Unfortunately, it took over an hour/ hour and 10mins for our food to arrive. During that time, I saw multiple tables arrive after us, order the same dishes, and receive their food well before we did.

My friend received her meal about 15 minutes before I got mine. The waitress had to chase the kitchen several times, and even the front of house manager appeared shocked by the delay and spoke with the chefs. I was told it was a "ticketing issue," but food was consistently flying out for other tables.

When my meal finally arrived, it was extremely hot. Unfortunately, it was so hot I couldn’t even eat it right away. After trying to eat a piece of corn and burning the roof of my mouth, I ended up taking the meal home.

Hygiene Concerns 
Another major issue was the hygiene. There were flies all over the restaurant. It was on our food and drinks. It was incredibly off putting having to swat flies away while trying to eat. I'm not sure if they were fruit flies or gnats, and they were everywhere.

A fly or two might be understandable, it happens but this was concerning. Something has to be off somewhere in the restaurant. I have since seen multiple social media videos highlighting the same issue.

Billing 
I think our initial waitresses shift was finished so I flagged down a young lady and asked to pay for the bill. When it came time to pay, I asked for the service charge to be removed which she agreed. As she brought back the updated bill, I was trying to explain that I wanted to pay for the King Size Seafood Bag (£65), but she cut me off and said, “I don’t know what it is, just tell me how much you want to pay.” I told her that if she had allowed me to finish, there wouldn’t have been any confusion.

My friend and I ended up splitting the bill, but the entire interaction left a bad impression. I’ve had my share of disappointing restaurant experiences, but this was really bad.

My cousin who is a content creator had recommended this restaurant, and while I understand everyone can have an off day, the level of service I received makes me question whether regular paying customers receive the same treatment.

To be a fine and premium restaurant, invest in staff with great customer service and in pest control. Guests should never be swatting flies or sharing...

Service: The service was poor on the day. I booked a table for 3 people and they seated us on a table that was for two people. I did say this was a birthday booking on the phone ( Emmanuel was extremely polite and probably the best part of the customer service).

I gave the cake to the host at the door on the day. (As I was told they do a big suprise birthday celebration for guest).

However, ours was ruined by our waitress that came over asked about our cake in front of the birthday girl (who didn't know we had brought her one).

When we started ordering our food the waitress said that all the food would not fit on the table. We asked for a bigger table and she said she will see what could be done, but our food starting to come out (but not all at the same time eventhough that is what we asked for).

Because it took so long for them to get us a table (even though there were spare tables) our food was getting cold.

They did move us in the end but this impacted our meal being luke warm.

Overall Score: 3/10

Food: We had the Suya meat platter which was seasoned well but is was luke warm and the steak was overcooked cause it to be tough. The portion size is enough to feed 3 people. The jollof rice was nice, and one portion could feed 2 people at most (depending on what you order). al Plantain which was nice, Steam vegetables were okay not worth the price

We did order the small chop trigger prawns but they never came.

Dessert: We ordered the sticky toffee pudding. This was the only dish that was hot. It was lovely and would definitely recommend the dish.

Overall for flavour the score would be a strong 8/10. However, the temperature was awful and when we ask for it to be made again to be hotter they didn't.

So overall the score is a 4/10

Atmosphere: The music was extremely loud, to the point we were shouting at each other to have conversation. The music is a great selection but the volume needs to be lowered. The decor is lovely.

It is a lovely location to have a date night.

Due to the music level I would give the overall score 5/10

Overall: If the customer service was better this restaurant could be amazing. But this is the area that is impacting...

Monika, the West African seafood and charcoal grill, is easily one of my favorite dining spots in London. From the moment you step inside, the energy is magnetic modern, vibrant, and full of life.

Let’s start with the star of the night: our waitress, Sade. She is the definition of world-class hospitality warm, charming, and effortlessly funny. Sade didn’t just take our order; she guided us through the menu with confidence, delivering honest and mouthwatering recommendations that elevated the entire experience.

Now, the cocktails — we ordered the Margarita and the Dangerous Kalakuta. My drink arrived with a flaming passionfruit perched on top a showstopper of a presentation that instantly set the tone. Both drinks were perfectly balanced and unapologetically strong just the way we like it.

Then came the feast: the Ultimate Suya Mix Grill Platter. A sizzling spread of beef, goat, chicken, and prawns, seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. It’s generous enough to feed four to five people, which meant the two of us left with a well-earned doggie bag for lunch the next day.

We paired the platter with Jollof Rice, Sweet Fried Plantain, and Mac & Cheese — each dish deserving its own round of applause. Every bite delivered authentic, soulful flavors straight from the motherland. My favorite? The Suya Chicken. My coworker couldn’t get enough of the Suya Prawns. For the dessert we had the banana cake served with warm custard. I almost lick the plate ( thats how good the custard was).

Before leaving, I spotted the Whole Monika Grilled Fish at another table — and just like that, I already have a reason to come back. Next time, I’m diving into that along with a few small chops from the menu.

Monika is more than a restaurant — it’s a full experience. Afrobeat rhythms from the DJ keep the energy high, while the classy West African decor pulls you into a world of culture and celebration.

If you’re in London and craving flavor, atmosphere, and genuine hospitality —...