Monarch Izakaya Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

Overall, this is a great place with some really interesting food choices. I’ll start by saying that I came specifically for brunch. I came a few months ago and got the ube pancakes which were amazing. I’d been meaning to come back to try the French toast, which was equally as delicious. I’d recommend both these options. The latest visit, was for my birthday and it was a very cloudy (almost rainy with black clouds and it had rained all night), slightly chilly and windy. Despite this, when we arrived the server gestured for us to follow upstairs (even though they don’t take reservation and it was empty downstairs), then we were give the option to sit outside on the balcony, next to a table seated with a dog, or right next to a larger group. Reluctantly we chose the outdoor seating and it was pretty uncomfortable. I was cold already and after ordering our food and drinks, a swift breeze shifted the tarp and a huge amount of rain water fell on my head and down my back. I moved my seat and let the person bringing our food know but we weren’t given the option to move. No one came to check on us during the meal and water continued to fall beside us from the tarp as the dog from the table next to us watched every bite of food I took. After that, it was hard to enjoy the food and we closed out as soon as possible without getting another drink. This is likely my fault for not speaking up and requesting a specific table so make sure you do. They don’t take reservations so I’m not sure why they pleasant seating was withheld. 4 stars because the food is great and I had a great experience last time but with so many food options, this experience would likely cause me...

I had brunch with a friend there. The food were delicious. The owner and the server were wonderful. We ordered Dutch Colony #2 (drink), Fried Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Laksa, and Chili Cucumber. Dutch Colony #2 used apple cider vinegar as the main ingredient along with ginger. It cleansed the palate and a perfect cure for hang over. Fried Chicken Sandwich used steamed bun that has light sweetness that perfectly complement the flavors of the yuzu mayo, pickles, cabbage, and the friend chicken itself. The fried chicken had a starch batter that was perfectly crunchy. The sandwich had a perfect combination of savory, sourness, and sweetness. Chicken Laksa used wide egg noodle, which was perfect for the laksa sauce to cling on as you take a mouthful of noodle. The sauce was delicious and I could have just eat the noodle with sauce, but the dish was elevated with the pea leaves, cilantro and bean sprout. The greens added freshness and crunchiness to the dish. The chunk of chicken meat, cooked kebab style, was the bonus to the dish. Chili cucumber with green papaya, peanuts, and chrysanthemum greens had a spicy kick to it. It was delicious and the green papaya provided a nice crunchy texture along with the cucumber. It was a great dish to open up the palate. Our server was Rachel. She was kind and delightful, very knowledgeable when introducing the menu. I had the pleasure to meet one of the owner. She was wonderful and we spoke about living in Japan. She gave my friend and me two Matcha white chocolate cookies to try. The cookies were soft and heavenly. They would’ve go perfectly with a...

Came here on a date last Friday, and was surprised by the extraordinary meal. The interior and music was bright, charming and understated. The balcony seating was glorious, but we decided to sit inside, upstairs by the giant windows, because of the 90 degree heat. No need to wait, as the space was busy but not full. The servers were gracious and attentive. So everything’s good, but what about the food?

It’s the food that makes this place a real hidden gem. We ordered The mushroom and chicken dumplings, the watermelon salad, and the Bibimbap in the hot stone bowl. This turned out to be exactly the right amount for us. The dumplings were excellent — my date preferred the mushroom for its rich simplicity, while I preferred the chicken for the delicate meat and rich sauces. The watermelon salad was nothing short of amazing—sweet and savory and fresh in a perfect bouquet, especially on a hot day. The Bibimbap is a common dish, but this one was perfection — my date and I were literally fighting with our chopsticks for the last grains of lightly fried rice at the bottom of the stone bowl.

Altogether, one of the best places I’ve eaten in Williamsburg in the last few years. We’ll definitely be going back, hopefully before they stop serving the brussel...