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Being my usual self, I did a lot of research on where we should eat in Philadelphia. One name that kept coming up was Monk’s. It is was fascinating prospect--a Belgian restaurant in Philadelphia. Who could resist the call of mussels and good Belgian Beer? Not me, that’s for sure.
Monk’s is an easy walk from the Alexander Inn. We arrived at about 11:45 on a Friday and had no trouble getting a seat. Within minutes, the place was packed, with a line of people snaking out the door. Lesson learned, either arrive early or have reservations.
As I suspected, the menu had a variety of mussels: Brussels, Provence, Flemish, Bruges, and Ghent, to only name a few. One was calling my name; however, it was the Thai curry mussels. Rodenbach red ale, fume, house-made Thai red curry, basil, garlic, and coconut milk. Sounded like heaven to me. Tasted like heaven too--tender mussels steamed to perfection in a broth that made my taste buds sing. How could it get better than this? They added their award-winning French fries served with bourbon mayonnaise--the perfect fry with the most delectable dip. It truly was heavenly.
Irene had a very presentable chicken sandwich on a very superior roll with the same to-die-for fries. We were both in foodie nirvana.
Did I forget to mention they have a Beer Bible? Not only does it present their beer offerings, which are beyond anything you can imagine, but it also gives the history of beer--how it is brewed and a multitude of other facts. It's fascinating reading while you wait for your meal or brew to be delivered. In my case, it was a Chimay. This is a Trappist beer with all the flavor and color of a full-bodied Belgian. My adventures in Flanders came flooding back.
"Use our Beer Bible at Monk's as a guide to assist you in selecting a beer to fit your palate. If you think that you don't like beer, then you have never really tasted quality beer. If you are a Bordeaux drinker, we have beer for you. If you like Port, we have beer for you. If you enjoy scotch whiskey, we have beer for you. And if you already love great beer, you have found beer heaven!" -Monk’s website
Now, after this fabulous meal, who would have thought we would have room for dessert, and what desserts! They are created in historic Philadelphia just for Monk’s. We took one look at the tray and lost of resolve. We split a chocolate tart, and if it is possible, it was the best part of the meal.
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