Monkey Bar became one of my favorite Midtown restaurants because its modern history ran almost…read moreperfectly alongside my years in New York. I arrived in 2008 with very little, and when Graydon Carter revived the restaurant in 2009, I was beginning a rise of my own, first at a large global bank and then, to my astonishment, at one of the city's most powerful investment firms. The suits were daily, the walls were gold, and the pressure was so consuming that even success could feel like a form of attrition. After a few years, I moved to a smaller firm with Southern roots, where the culture was more humane, the work gave me greater autonomy, and I produced some of the strongest results of my career, even within an industry still governed by fear, greed, and status. Inside, the red booths, low lighting, generous spacing, and hand-painted monkey murals made lunch feel ceremonial without becoming stiff. The room was timeless and handsome, with polished service, quality food, and the subtle assurance of a place where you could be proud to bring someone important. I especially remember sitting in one of those booths with two mentors, each only a few years older than I was and therefore close enough in vintage to feel relatable, trustworthy, and genuinely within reach. One had entered my life after I left the larger firm and helped me understand an earlier chapter that had also ended abruptly and, at the time, felt deeply unfair; the other had guided me through the smaller firm where I finally found a more sustainable way to work. Over that long lunch, I introduced them, we discussed several promising ideas, and for a moment my career seemed to have reached the point where relationships, experience, and opportunity were finally converging. One of those ideas consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and energy, and I believed it might become the foundation of my next chapter. Instead, the arrangement eventually turned on me, the role I thought I had earned never materialized, and the business itself sputtered. My professional life, financial footing, and pride all collapsed just as COVID was beginning. Then Monkey Bar closed in 2020, which made the ending feel almost unnervingly complete: the restaurant, the city, and the version of myself built around New York finance all went dark at once. For years, I experienced that ending as devastating and unfair; now I can see it as wisdom delivered through an unnecessarily rough process. The restaurant's later revival by a Chicago hospitality group feels fitting because it still honors tradition and ceremony while allowing the old forms to evolve into something healthier, looser, and more current. I have not been back since that lunch, but a return now would feel like visiting the museum of my past, not reclaiming a life that asked too much, gave too little, and finally lost its hold on me. Even now, I remember Monkey Bar as a great Midtown lunch in a memorable room, surrounded by the residue of old ambitions and the gratitude of having survived them. The cocktails were sharp, the service was impeccable, and the dining room carried that glamorous old New York energy without feeling trapped by it. I remain deeply fond of the place, partly for what it was and partly for what it witnessed. Some restaurants become attached to a chapter of your life, and Monkey Bar holds mine with unusual grace.

The truffle monkey bread while a total carb and calorie bomb was delicious and left a lasting…read moreimpression. It featured a crispy, sugar-glazed exterior and a soft, chewy interior, topped with truffle cheese and served with a truffle butter dip; the pairing was superb, and it tasted great both on its own and with the dip. For the main course, I ordered the miso-glazed black cod. The flavor was flawless, and while the portion was small (which was acceptable), the pool of broth accompanying it was completely unnecessary; it was inedibly salty, so what was the point of serving it? After finishing the fish, I was left with a plate full of broth, rendering the plate unusable. Plus, it was overpriced; for this dish, you're better off going to Strip House Strip House remains the undisputed king of this dish in New York. A friend ordered the chicken parmesan. It was just average. Another friend ordered the short rib stroganoff. The flavor was decent, but it was far too rich and heavy. As someone whose palate is split 50/50 between Western and Chinese cuisine, I could manage only five bites at most. If you have a palate that prefers 100% Chinese food, proceed with caution on this dish. Friends ordered sides of mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. These are dishes originally meant for low-income Americans to fill up on cheaply; there's no limit to how good they can be, but also no floor to how bad they can get. Both were on par with the average quality found in upscale restaurants. Honestly, these are two dishes I would never order myself. To sum up: the atmosphere was great. It's also hard to get a reservation; the place was packed when we had lunch at 2 PM. Aside from that monkey bread, I didn't feel like anything else justified the price or offered something you couldn't find elsewhere. I don't quite get the hype. Perhaps I just didn't order the right dishes; maybe next time I'll try the burger and the steak.

For anyone looking - it really isn't a gluten free friendly restaurant. But it comes up as such in…read moresearch. Fries have flour coating, the steak has gluten marinade. No bun or bread alternatives. If you can figure out the one or two things they do that doesn't contain gluten, the food is tastey.

A great, healthy restaurant everything is very tasteful. Absolutely loved my salmon with the…read moresautéed kale and garlic mash; such a good pairing. Many veggies options, and they all sounded so good was tough to choose since I love vegetables. My boyfriend got the beef bowl, & it was a good size & filling. Service was good & cute setting. Everything was at a good reasonable price. Super glad I found this nice healthier option spot.

Pablo was so attentive and food was amazing!! Thank you!! Salmon bowl was fantasic ans bites were…read morea treat!!

Amazing food and outstanding service! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious--10/10. The…read moreservice was fast, friendly, and attentive. Special thanks to Pablo for being so kind and making our experience even better. I'll definitely be back!

I love coming to this organic and healthy eatery, especially since you can earn points on purchases…read morethat can be redeemed for discounts and free products. You don't need to download an app, just sign up for Le Botaniste Rewards at the register before making a payment. This is the healthiest meal I can find in SoHo, Manhattan. Everything is gluten free, and many items are also dairy free and soy free. Good service from the eatery staff. The place wasn't busy. Just note, there are restrooms available for customers only. I love the comfortable and cozy atmosphere. The Moroccan Veggies are delicious and healthy! The Omega 3 Brownie is to die for. On top of that, drinks come with ceramic cups and meals are served in ceramic bowls along with stainless steel utensils.

First time eating at Le Botaniste and it did not disappoint. Everything is fresh and delicious . I…read moreate here on the hottest summer day and I wanted something healthy and cold as it was 101 degrees outside. I had the lemonade iced tea and the Botanical bowl with falafel . Delicious . Portions were nicely Sized. Dessert I had the mango raw cake , it was yummy . The staff was very hospitable and friendly . Highly recommend.

Quick and very efficient. Prides itself on (with…read morejustification) about the small number of ingredients, that the only oil used is olive oil and the simplicity. The ingredients are extraordinarily high quality, portioned well , extremely tasty and fresh. Go for the chicken, mushrooms, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

SERVICE - ordered take out from here so cannot comment too…read moremuch on the service - catered towards a healthier to-go lunch option MENU - build your own plate with a variety of side dishes - vegan/vegetarian options available - slightly pricey FOOD - 5 bounty box (5/10): for my 5 items, i got the gigante beans, sweet potato, spaghetti squash, broccoli, and cabbage slaw. I got the chipotle aioli for my sauce. I really wanted to like the as the concept of minimal ingredients was appealing. However, the entire box felt like it was missing something. It felt like a collection of side dishes that was looking for a main starch to be paired with. Had the box come with a pita bread or a base of grains and greens, I would have been able to better justify the price. Out of the sides, the one I liked the best was the spaghetti squash. The other ones lacked flavor and mostly tasted like salt. WOULD I GO BACK? Likely not.

everyone was super warm and friendly . good food and great service. Would come back again. Shout…read moreout to Xavier

Love the new pita chips! Always fresh and friendly experience! Will be back soon to try other menu…read moreoptions!

Service was so amazing. Liz was the best, definitely coming back soon. Also--the drinks are so good…read moreget the marg trust me.

There is a particular kind of disappointment reserved for places that should know better…read more The avocado toast arrived looking the part, but the bread was toasted to a brick. I paid extra for the poached egg add-on and received one single egg. Not two. One. The latte was mostly milk with a whisper of espresso somewhere in it. Nothing here was catastrophically bad. Everything just landed just slightly below good, and together the effect was cumulative mediocrity. For a chain, where you'd expect consistency and standards, that's a quiet failure. With no shortage of brunch options competing for your time and money, this one doesn't earn a return visit.

Overpriced & forgot the croutons on my Caesar salad, did not provide silverware in our to-go order,…read moreand gave us still instead of sparkling water

Wish this was in my neighborhood. I remembered it from last year, when I attended a nearby concert…read more Staff is still amazing! I'm currently living for the chicken ramp special!! Had it on a wrap. Absolutely divine! I probably shouldn't wait a year to return!