A Grub Street tipster ate at Monkey Bar over the weekend and found that Graydon Carter’s new baby is (as expected) working out the kinks in the friends-and-family phase. High points: atmosphere, especially the Edward Sorel mural in the main dining room; “stellar” bartenders; and the sticky toffee pudding. Low point: the burger! “Server said it’s a brisket blend, but it tastes like grocery-store chuck, ground too fine, recently defrosted,” writes our spy. “I ordered it medium-rare, which it was, but it was still dry as heck. Served on a store-bought bun, with a little pile of napa coleslaw, a half-sour pickle wedge, and a tiny round of tomato on a tiny round of onion on a tiny cross-section of a single piece of romaine. It felt like a joke.” Ouch! And despite this warning on the menu, “ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOGRAPHY — PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES — NO SMOKING, SPITTING, OR SWEARING,” our hard-working spy managed to nab the menu anyway. After the jump, see what friends of Graydon will be eating.
SOUPS
Minted Pea Soup
Chicken and Vegetable Broth
CRUSTACEA
A Selection of East Coast Oysters and Clams - Daily Selection
Oysters Rockefeller
Shrimp Cocktail
Clams Casino
SALADS - APPETIZERS
Chopped Salad
Iceberg Wedge Salad
Salad of Arugula & Parmesan
Beets & Goat Cheese Salad
Waldorf Salad
Buffalo Mozzarella and Cherry Tomato Salad
Yellow Tail Tartare
Scottish Smoked Salmon
Chasen’s Chili
Steamed Globe Artichoke
Steak Tartare
EGGS - PASTA - RICE
Penne Pasta
Kedgeroo
Soft-Boiled Duck Egg with Foie Gras Soldiers
Scrambled Eggs aux Fines Herbes
FISH - SEAFOOD
Whole Roast Sea Bream
Wild Cedar Plank Salmon
Seared Diver Scallops
Skate Grenobloise
CLASSICS
Hamburger
Nora’s Meatloaf
Fish n’ Chips
Lobster Newburg
ROASTS - GRILLS
Steaks - Hanger, New York Strip
Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
Roast Corn-Fed Chicken
Grilled ‘Niman Ranch’ Pork Chop
Chicken Paillard
SIDES
Mashed Potatoes
French Fries
Buttered Fingerlings
Smokey Bacon
Crushed Peas
Carrots Casablanca
Spinach of Choice
DESSERTS - PUDDINGS - CHEESE
House-Made Ice Creams & Sorbets
Mrs Carter’s Butter Tarts
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Strawberry Shortcake
Malted Milk Chocolate Mousse
Scandinavian Iced Berries
Red Velvet Cake
Lemon Meringue Tart
Elysian Black Muscat Jell-O
