The Monks Indian Bistro — Restaurant in College Station

For years, this town had only one Indian restaurant, a rather mediocre one. Then, an Indian store opened with a food court a few years ago. Then, since summer of 2024, 3 Indian/Nepalese restaurants have opened in this blossoming little city of ours, each better than the one preceding it. The latest iteration of this trend is this restaurant, Monk's Indian Bistro. The moment I entered this restaurant, the first thing that struck me was that the decor was much upscale and sophisticated compared to all of the other Indian restaurants in town, which helps bust the 'takeout' reputation of Indian restaurants and show the world that Indian food can really be gourmet. The service in this place was quite notable because the servers were attentive, friendly, and considerate. I must say that we had visited this restaurant on the day after it had opened its doors for the first time, so I hope the service doesn't drop in quality in the future. As for the food, I am really impressed. The 'Dynamite Chicken' (a play on the perennial favorite Chicken 65) was well-spiced and creamy, and just overall rather delicious. The Chilli Garlic Momos were good too, but I will say that Aroma's momos may be a hair better than this place's. The Bandi style chicken fried rice and the chicken manchurian tasted rather authentic (especially the manchurian) and were quite good after all. My friends got the mango lassi which tastes the same to me in almost every Indian restaurant across the US. However, the sitaphal (crab apple) shake was a fun and yummier alternative. It's been ages since I last had had the fruit, and I loved it. I had the same complaint for both shakes- they were both a bit too sweet for me (understandably so for any restaurant in the US). We also got the Chicken Dynamite Biryani, but unfortunately our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we could not taste it, so we got it to go (will update the review once I have in in my home). Overall, it was a really nice experience and I will be back rather soon with high hopes and an even bigger stomach!

EDIT: The Chicken Dynamite Biryani is the best biryani I have had in College...

In my opinion and based on our experience. Glad the Indian food scene in College Station is hotting up, with The Monk’s Indian Bistro being the latest entrant. Part of the Monk’s family of restaurant from the Houston metro area. Located in a strip center off Hwy 6 near Holleman. Went for dinner with family. Tasteful and understated decor, prompt greeting and seating. Tried to order Masala Chai, but they said they were out of it (not sure how one could run out of Chai in an Indian place). Instead, ordered Limca, Arka Beer (an Indian-style brew actually brewed locally by Abita; clean and smooth-tasting), Mango Lassi, Gongura Chicken Biryani for one, Gongura Chicken Curry, Vegetable Hakka Noodles, Okra Masala Fry, and Tandoori Roti. Food was served promptly, in tasteful copper bowls, and was hot, spicy, and entirely flavorful! The only underwhelming dish was the Okra as it was coated with too much of the masala to where the vegetable itself was hidden. The tastes and flavors were precisely what one expects of an Andhra-staffed restaurant. Service was very friendly when available, but disorganized/distracted, overall. 2-3 waitstaff would be hanging around the bar area chatting, while we would be gesturing to get their attention. Observed little if any proactive checking on tables for water refills or otherwise , once the food was served. Certainly no proactive checks at our table. Staff need to be dedicated to certain tasks including assigned to sections of tables (like in any American restaurant) so that they can monitor and serve in an organized manner. No one seemed to be in charge and there was unnecessary duplication of effort or gaps in service. Nothing that cannot be fixed with some organization and training. Secondly, would be good to have the staff dressed smartly in company uniforms - staff were dressed in polos or other attire rather randomly, and as such did not project a professional image. Just some constructive feedback for improvement. Overall, the experience was great - quantity and quality were excellent, although a bit pricey ($92 including a good tip). Glad we visited, plan to...

I don't usually leave reviews, but an incident at Monk Bistro yesterday is a serious matter of health and safety. While eating, I found a half-inch piece of sharp plastic in my food. I initially thought it was a chicken bone until I spit it out and saw the pointed, sharp foreign object. I was fortunate that it didn't pierce my mouth or cause an injury, but this incident raises serious questions about the restaurant's quality control and food safety.

We immediately alerted our server, and told to let the chef know about it. We also asked to speak to the manager. The manager and staff were respectful, apologized and did not charge us for our meal. They also offered to make a new dish, to which, we declined; we wouldn’t want to risk it. We asked to speak with the chef, as he is the one who made the food, but were instead told that he had gone on his break. This was around 4:30 p.m.

The manager said they send reports to the owner every night and would include this incident. I gave him my number to request a copy of the report, but I've not received any follow-up. This lack of communication and apparent non-seriousness about a major safety issue is why I felt compelled to write this review.

We have visited Monk Bistro in the past and have loved their food, and we were even enjoying this meal before the said incident. It's a shame, but I cannot in good conscience recommend Monk Bistro to anyone. Potential diners, please be cautious. I hope they are more...