My last experience here was pretty awkward and I didn't even get to try the food. I finally had a chance to come back today and actually eat.
My best friend and I walked in around 7 and it was pretty busy. We waited about 15-20 mins and were seated. The actual restaurant is very nice. I love the decor and the bathrooms are super clean, which is always great.
Our waitress was attentive and was great with keeping up with refills on our pop. Despite being busy it seemed like that staff worked well under pressure.
I ordered the Peppercorn Ranch burger and added cheddar cheese. It came out fairly quickly. The actual burger was pretty big. It was cooked perfectly and it had a good amount of toppings on it. The seasoned fries it came with were amazing. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Yum!
For dessert we ordered the Peanut Butter Brownie Mason Jar. Oh my glob! So amazingly good. It comes in a small mason jar, but its big enough for two people to share.
If you're in the area I'd definitely recommend stopping here to try one of their burgers. You'll love it.
This is one of our all time favorite restaurants! Â The food is excellent, the libations are abundant and the ambiance is a lot of fun!
Every time we go here, the staff is prompt and attentive. Â I don't think that we've ever been left sitting for more than 5 minutes without someone coming over to check in with us.
One thing - it gets very loud, so if you don't like noisy, active restaurants, you won't like this. Â For us, it doesn't matter as long as the food is good.
We have never had a bad experience here and we've gone more times than I can count.
Saw this place on Chicagos best and had to try it out. Obviously liking belgian beers i preferred the Tritica best (sort of like blue moon). The white truffle fries and pickle fries were good but nothing special. I decided to try something new by getting "The King". Which is a burger with peanut butter bananas and bacon. It was different,
the salty and savory flavor it is deff something everyones gotta try once. The chicken sausage pizza was great as well. Overall this place is amazing, great menu, great food with good beer selection. The interior is really nice. I deff will be coming back to try everything else on the menu.
Ps great to go to before you head to a movie!
This is a go-to lunch spot for coworkers and me. Â It's got good food, decent prices, fast service and a great outdoor patio to eat on. Â Did I mention they have a great selection of beer? Â That too. Â My favorite things to eat there include fried pickles served with a yummy sauce, parmesan truffle fries and their salads are huge and delish! Â I've never had a bad experience at The Lucky Monk. Â Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.
Review Source:I have been here at least 50 times. Gets a bit crowded on the weekend, but have never had an issue with the service. The manager Neal is awesome.
Food: everyone raves about their burgers, but the best pick is the Nawlins Chicken. Drink: any of their house or featured beers (my favorite being the Tritica), also the Pom-Cucumber Mojito
Went for dinner and it was delicious! great selection, great tasting beers
PICKED FRIES- YUMMY!!
BURGERS:
Hot Head - if you want a kick to your meal and something a little bit more juicy, id pick this one
Ellis- great taste, different flavors, very fresh feeling. one of my favorites!
The quality  of the meat makes the burger.
DESSERT:
chocolate cookie skillet- OMG to die for. a little more on the sweet side. shares with 2-3 people
Apple jar- share with 2, very good and less sweet.
I love this place. The people who work here are so cool and the food is always so good! Their caesar salad is fucking awesome. I cant put my finger on why, but just try it. I go here all the time and never want to order anything else. I also love the chicken chili. Great service, great food, young fun atmosphere, and great location. Love you, Lucky Monk!
Review Source:3 time and still a charm!!!! I at Lucky Monk again tonight with the family. The kids and wife really enjoy the food. Parents, they do a great job with kids menu and give the kids some carrots and a cookie at the end.It is a nice touch. Â The food is very good and the service is great. All three times have been outstanding.
Review Source:Why, oh why, didn't I get the pickle fries?
Regret. Remorse. But it's okay, I know I'll be back to resolve this sad pickle situation.
I came in for lunch, which I think is an important piece of information because some places are just better for dinner than lunch, and vice versa. I think Lucky Monk is good for both, but the atmosphere leans itself to be more comfortable for a dinner setting as my party of two was sat at a rather regal booth that could have easily sat 6-8 people. It'd be fun for a dinner group, but for a business lunch it was kind of like the equivalent of sharing a bunk bed with your boss, but without any kind of creepy feeling because you're boss is pretty rad.
I've been a real lame-rod lately so I didn't get anything boozy to drink, but Nicole W gave the thumbs up to their IPA paired with an absolutely massive burger. And though I technically am giving hearsay information by saying this since I didn't partake in the beer or a burger, I feel confident in saying that between the sight, smells and glistening burger juices on that plate, that there is no way that burger wasn't the best thing ever.
When I first looked at the menu, I was between a few things, namely the truffle fries, loaded fries or pickle fries (I'm a fry-guy), but then I saw the Trappist Trio where you get truffle fries, cheese curds, pickle fries and two kinds of sauces and nearly jumped for that had it not been for the all-too-real of the time my boss gifted me with a one pound bag of cheese curds and chocolate bars on a business trip and like a dummy I ate it all in one night after drinking and then ended up being grossly backed up for, oh I don't know, the entire four days leading up to a shared flight back to our home state. Awkward.
So after some deep thoughts on what I wanted to get vs what I should get, I opted for the veggie tacos "Chihuahua style" with zucchini, corn, mushrooms, squash, chipotle and cotija cheese. The dish came with three tacos, a side of beans and I think I remember some rice in there too, but if there was I ate it way to fast to even describe what it tasted like. The presentation on the tacos was fine, though they weren't very hot and the inside was a weird blend that looked like it was probably mixed together at another time and just reheated for the plate, but I feel like that's the story for a lot dishes on larger lunch menus are restaurants, and honestly, I was just excited that they had a nice veggie option on the daytime menu. The tacos were decent, a bit mushy, but I had no problem swallowing them whole. I won't be raving about them and I wouldn't steer anyone in the veggie taco direction unless they weren't in the mood for a whole lot of flavor, but they weren't bad, just not great.
The next time I go back I'll defo get a dish that's more bar-food or pub-style than veggie tacos, because honestly, every dish that involved frying or grilling something and serving it with a sauce looked (based on other tables) and smelled insane, and I think that's the type of food they really excel at, though I've heard good things about their pizza as well.
I'll be back, and that fry trio won't even know what hit it.
Been here three times in two weeks! And I love this place!
Atmosphere:
You cannot escape how awesome looking the atmosphere is! It is very unique and pleasant on the eyes. You can appreciate all the delicate color coordination and the effort it took to designing this place. Barrels on the wall look authentic, the bar and furniture is well furnished, and the lighting is really pleasing to the eyes! Perfect place for a date! And it is right outside AMC30 movie theatres! The Unique atmosphere is quite upscale and impressive. I'd say this place is very classy indeed!
Food:
Mouth watering... The food looks as amazing as it looks. The burgers are USDA Prime Beef Burgers! Meat tastes so damn good! I ordered the Sunrise burger, but replaced the marmalade with goat cheese. Every bite was satisfying and great. You could taste the natural meat juices and flavors with every bite if you order medium well! The Fried egg and Bacon were good quality as well! However.... My tongue will forever remember this place for the fries. Sweet Potato Fries made in White Truffle Oil... Perfectly hand cut and fried to perfection. I literally had a crumb descend from a tooth after my meal, and a burst of flavor graced my tongue like a meteor. It was that damn delicious! I haven't begun to explore this place! My body is ready!
Service:
I had one of the best waiters ever here actually. Big props to Josh! He was the most attentive, humorous, and informative waiter I have ever had. It felt like family was serving me... As weird as that sounds. Other waiters were friendly and attentive too! But I will remember.... The Josh.... Josh, made my day on my first visit to The Lucky Monk!
So overall... This has got to be the most well rounded restaurant I have ever been to! I haven't even tried the alcohol or the other menu items yet either! I am excited to become a regular at The Lucky Monk. I highly recommend this place for dates with girls, private parties, or a night out with friends! I am in love!
We went to the Lucky Monk last night and were super impressed.
The atmosphere and decor are really classy...kind of a laid back vintage vibe. Lots of dark wood and leather, old time light bulbs, but it wasn't dingy or depressingly dark, it felt warm and comfortable.
The wait staff was friendly and quick. The place was clean and we were seated right away, but it got really busy the longer we were there. I don't know if they take reservations, but it might not be a bad idea to find out if you're planning on going before a movie or on the weekend.
My husband had the Peppercorn Ranch burger, and he said it was the best burger he's had. My husband considers himself a "burger connoisseur," and usually eats his burgers plain (meat and bread only), but with this burger he kept the onion strings. Still, I think that his review should speak volumes, because he recognizes the flavor of the meat better than the rest of us who might be more focused on the toppings.
However, my burger was the epitome of topping-importance. I decided to take a risk and order "the King," which was a burger with bacon, peanut butter, and bananas. The waitress said it was a hit and I have to admit, it was incredible. I was apprehensive, but I've never seen anything like it before, and had to take the chance. It paid off. The combination was really great, and I know if we go there again, I wouldn't hesitate to get the same thing. The peanut butter wasn't overwhelming, it perfectly balanced the burger, and the salt from the bacon matched the salt form the peanut butter, and then the peanut butter added something sweet that the bananas blended well with. It's hard to describe, but if you like the ingredients by themselves, you'll love this burger.
The burgers are enormous, by the way.
You can upgrade the normal french fries (which were great) to a few other options, including cheese curds, pickle fries, onion strings, and a few other french fry options. I got the truffle and parmesan fries, and they were fantastic, although I felt like I only tasted the truffle flavor a few times. It's $2 for the additional upgrade.
We didn't drink but they brew all their own beers, and the list was extensive.
We'll definitely go back to the Lucky Monk next time we head to the Barrington AMC.
Ordered the Green Chili Quest Burger and it was a little on the spicy side but overall it was very tasteful! My girlfriend order the Hot Head Burger = delicious. The lighting was a little dim and it was a bit loud. But other than that, it was well worth it! We don't live very close to South Harrington, but if we're back around here I'm sure we'll come back!
Review Source:Beer *much* better this time around...good head and perfectly chilled. Â The burgers were cooked perfectly and even the egg on top of one was *not* overdone but cooked "soft" with just the right amount of runny goodness! Â Fried pickles hit the spot *again* and make sure you order extra dipping sauce. Â Also, tried the fish tacos and for the price point they were satisfying, however, I would give the fish and chips a try if I had the chance to do it over. Â Nevertheless the Monk is a consistent place to drink and indulge in salty, fatty foods and your favorite spirits.
Review Source:The Lucky Monk has been on my to do list for forever now, so I can't express how upset I am with my less than stellar experience. We got in with no problems on a late Sunday afternoon, which was nice since I thought this place gets pretty packed. Our server (forgot his name) is probably my main reason why I am rating this 3 stars, rather than 4.
We are not huge beer fans, but once in awhile it's a great thing to throw down a cold one. Since we are both inexperienced in this department, I was relying on my server to lead us in the right direction (it worked in Ram and Yard House). We both wanted a sweeter, lighter beer so we asked for suggestions. He was kind of stuck and didn't have an answer for us. Shouldn't they know their beer if that's one of their main attractions? He "suggested" The Cardinal Sin which was not close to anything I described. It's not the end of the world, but it's def a huge minus for me. Aside from the beer, the service was painfully slow the entire time and we had other servers do his work for us. I also had leftover salad which I wanted to take home, but a few minutes after he took my plate away, he came back and told me that someone just took the plate out of his hands and threw it out. At that point we just wanted to go home but he ended up having the kitchen make me a new one (that was nice) but I would have rather have it taken off my bill since it was not that good and had a bland taste.
Aside the Chopped salad, we also had Wisconsin Cheese Curds and Crisp Calamari. Â Both of these side items were DELICIOUS and I would gladly order them again. I've ordered Calamari from a bunch of places, but these came with Parmesan and a few other toppings like marinated carrots and peppers that gave it so much flavor.
Since The Lucky Monk is in the same parking lot as the movie theater, I am sure I will come back here to give it another chance. Their burgers look amazing and with so many positive reviews, I am sure we just had a onetime bad experience.
My husband and I went here for date night on a Sunday. We made a reservation ahead of time, which was a good idea since it got pretty busy throughout the night. The ambiance was great for a fun date night, but also worked for families too since it isn't a quiet restaurant. I had a Bay Burger, which was delicious and my husband had the Hot Head, which he liked as well. The only negative comment I have was that my husband is a fan of IPAs and they were out of their house IPA, as well as the only other one that they had on tap. A brewery should really never be out of their own beer. Other than that, it was fantastic.
Review Source:It's been a few months since I first dropped into The Lucky Monk, I've been staring at my review draft thinking of ways and words to describe my stellar experience there. So, while I could certainly make this a novel, an ode or sorts, explaining my adoration for the place, I'll keep it short and snappy.
Food: Upscale bar food done right. Appetizers are drool worthy - get the curds, yo. Burgers are fabulous - the traditional monk burger is impressive. Chopped salad is a nice addition to an array of heavy-ish fare. The fries are nicely seasoned and cut fresh!
Beer: I was pregnant during my visit so I didn't sample the goods but you can bet I'm making my way back here for a tasting. Even the cocktails looked tasty. Â
Service: Angela is a super fantastic server. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and quick!
Ambiance: Comfy booths, nifty lighting and a slick bar that is dressed to impress.
In suburbia, it's nice to have a place like Lucky Monk so you can avoid the oodles of Olive Gardens and TGI Fridays. Make a reservation as it can get packed after 6pm!
I went here for my birthday with my parents and boyfriend. I had seen the restaurant in passing AMC multiple times, and I was curious to try it.
We made reservations, and we got in right away. The booth we sat in had ample space. A waiter came up to us fairly quickly (about 5 minutes). My dad ordered one of the in-house brews (I can't remember which one), but he very much liked it. It was a full-bodied ale with a touch of nuttiness to it. ("It's a bit nutty").
My parents ordered the pulled pork and fries, my boyfriend ordered the grilled cheese burger and fries, and I ordered the smothered burger and cheese curds. All came to our table within a reasonable time frame as well. Of course, coming in I didn't expect this place to be a health-conscious joint; but after looking what lay before us, I told my mom, "this spread is a cardiologist's nightmare".
Despite the gargantuan fantasy of having a burger between two grilled cheeses and bacon, my boyfriend didn't like it. It's a fun concept (something that you may see on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, although this place is none of the three), it just doesn't execute well. The whole thing was extremely thick and even pressing down to thin the sandwich still made it about 3 inches thick. My burger was OK--the bun went from crispy to soggy very quickly so I stopped eating it. My parents liked the onion strings on the pulled pork, but they took most of it off and there was a good pile almost equivalent to the side of fries. The cheese curds were OK; the cheese seemed a little dry inside, but otherwise I ate them all. A nice feature was the sandwiches placed on a terra cotta-like disk to make it easier to pick up the burger instead of it slopping all over the plate in an attempt to take the first bite.
I left feeling full and a bit guilty for attempting to put my body through a coronary, but I don't eat gastro-pub burgers that often (maybe once or twice a year). I'd go again if someone I knew had the urge to go, but I probably won't have the drive to go again.
It is too late to tell everyone about the awesome hamburgers and incredible toppings- this place is crowded most times between 6:00 PM and 8PM! Â BUT, they do take reservations- so if you want to go for dinner (especially Friday, Saturday or Sunday- I recommend you make them.
It makes a good pairing to go to the movies after dinner - the AMC Barrington is just up the street.
I really enjoy sweet potato fries - and the Lucky Monk sure knows how to make them! But, that said, I have been told that management has removed them from the menu- they are by request only. Â SO, if you like sweet potato fries, please request them and leave a comment about putting them back on the menu!!!!!
We have been wanting to try Lucky Monk for a while so a few weekends ago we decided to make it happen. This was our first time there so our waiter explained a few of their new items and mentioned that they are known for their burgers and pizza.
Being in a burger mood, we both ordered some meat. The grilled cheeseburger (burger between 2 bacon stuffed grilled cheeses) intrigued me but after coming to my senses, I realized it was probably 5 days worth of calories. Instead, I got the smothered burger (Gruyere and caramelized onions). My bf got the King burger....it must be a guy thing. This burger had peanut butter, bananas and bacon. I took a tiny bite and I really didn't care for it. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that there was peanut butter on my burger meat. He enjoyed it though and a guy at the next table got it and seemed to enjoy it as well. Oh, and I can't forget the pickle fries. We got those as an appetizer and I really like them. They weren't too greasy and the chipotle ranch dipping sauce was great...I just wish that they gave a bit more, the 1 cup wasn't enough.
We were there during the afternoon on a weekend and as we were leaving, the front entrance was packed. When we arrived we were seated right away. I guess this place gets pretty crowded so I strongly suggest you make a reservation.
Parmesan truffle fries for a starter. Bourbon Stout burger (with sweet potato fries). Solitude Oatmeal Stout. (And we were supposed to go for a motorcycle ride after this, lol.)
Sometimes, you just need a really nice burger. This was actually one of the first things I ate after recovering from some sort of stomach bug. Good thing my stomach was nice and empty -- I needed the space. I still can't believe I managed to eat the whole thing. That burger was ginormous -- but super, super tasty. I'm picky about cheese on burgers. Most of the time, I'm fine without it. But if I have it? I want good cheese. Not crappy cheese. TLM uses nice Tillamook, which has some flavor and body to it. It was also cooked perfectly.
The Solitude Oatmeal Stout was quite tasty. Perhaps if I'd written this review closer to when I actually drank it, I could give you more details. I will say that I don't recall anything particular standing out about it, except that it was quite enjoyable. Then again, I'm a stout fan. It's not the best ever, but certainly good.
We went around 2pm on a Saturday, so while there were some people there, it wasn't crazy busy. I'm not sure I'd want to go when it was -- not a big fan of the crowded, rowdy brewpub experience. But the food and beer were good enough that I'm happy it's a nearby option.
We hit the lucky monk a couple of weeks ago to start off our 2013 new brewery tour. When looking for a brewery in the Chicago are that I hadn't visited yet I found The Lucky Monk. I hadn't been there and it was conveniently located right off interstate.
The restaurant area is nice. It's a casual feeling, but more upscale than most brewpubs one visits. Since I was mostly interested in the beer we sat at the bar where I could get a good look at the fermenters and other equipment used. Even though I went here for the beer, this is not a review of the beer itself. I will say they did have some very nice ones that were really good.
My wife and I decided to get something to eat. The menu listed many items that sounded delicious. We ended up getting a burger and splitting it because it was half a pound and neither of us wanted to eat that much. We ended up getting the Bourbon Stout burger with a side of Tumbled Crispy Onions. The burger was fantastic. Thick (half pound burger!), juicy, cooked to a perfect medium as requested. The tumbled crispy onions were also fantastic, what really set them apart from other places was the wasabi-ranch dipping sauce. That sauce sent my taste buds into a sensory overload. The wasabi flavor was good, but it wasn't as spicy as one associates with wasabi. It had the flavor with only a mild burn to it. Wow, just wow. I'd go back just for these.
The restaurant itself was clean, well maintained. The service was okay, we did have to flag down the bartender a couple of times. The bartender we had wasn't exceptionally helpful. I asked questions, but his responses were more of a bored disinterested variety. Not something that one looks for at a brewpub.
Overall, I'll definitely stop in there again.
Four stars, because 'Yay! I'm a fan"!!! I do love the burgers here and everything about the place is just cool, calm, and fun for a quiet date. Â I really can not remember one thing I loved, or hated about the place, so this is going to be a short review. Â Definitely worth a try though.
Review Source:When some people mention "The Lucky Monk" they think microbrews. While that's certainly a primary draw for this burger, pizza and beer restaurant, when I hear "The Lucky Monk" I immediately think of their Chicken-Poblano Chili with white beans and cilantro. It's that good.
On more than one occasion, and certainly on cold winter nights when I'm in the mood for chili, I seriously consider driving across the northwestern suburbs to TLM in South Barrington. Since I tend to lean toward chicken-based entrees, I typically choose the chicken-poblano chili for my meal. They do have a red bean chili too, which is also hearty and tasty. Either way, match that up with a decent side salad and I'm good to go.
When I'm not too full from my meal, I naturally look at the dessert menu. TLM doesn't disappoint here either. Their warm apple crisp is pretty good. Their S'mores are very sweet, maybe a bit too much even for a sweet tooth like myself. Definitely split the S'mores order with someone else if you want to try it. And as much as I really want to try their Cookie Skillet (chocolate chip cookie dough, vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce) my willpower has allowed me to resist this beckoning dessert (for now). But one of these days, I may just grab a spoon and go to town on that dessert option, after eating a good healthy TLM salad of course.
Service at TLM has been excellent each time I've stopped in. I've sat at the bar, lounge tables in the bar area, and at dining tables in the main restaurant area. All across the board, service is very good and friendly. Warm woods, neutral grays, natural stones all make this a cozy environment to enjoy dinner, drinks or a quick game on TV at the bar. Weekends will get pretty busy, especially with the AMC 30 Theatres next door. So try a mid-week visit to avoid the crowds and wait times.
Unfortunately South Barrington is a little out of the way for me so I can't visit The Lucky Monk as often as I'd like to, but I'm definitely planning to go back! We went for lunch and beers. I was with some friends and we had some free time, so we tried every beer they make. I ordered a Tritica Wheat Ale first, which ended up being my favorite, and I think everyone else liked it too. There were a couple others I really liked too. They offer a lot of other beers too if none of their originals sound good to you.
After some pretty filling appetizers (I'd recommend the pretzel trio w/ tasty dipping sauces) I ALMOST only ordered a side salad as my lunch, but then I couldn't resist trying their grilled portabella sandwich, called the Saint. I'm soooo glad I gave in! The burger was delicious. It comes with fries, or you can upgrade for another side. The fries were fine (good but nothing super special); I'd like to try the sweet potato fries next time.
Besides discovering a great new beer and eating tons of yummy food, one more reason for my 5-star rating was our server. She was super nice, friendly, and helpful!
Visited The Lucky Monk for my son's (who believes he can subsist solely on burgers and pizza) b-day. We made a reservation since I read on yelp that Friday nights are really busy. Despite having a reservation it still took us about 25 minutes to get seated.
We started with the warm pretzel bread which was okay but a little too salty. The trio of dips that came with the bread were pretty good. Â Everyone had a burger which was pretty tasty but not especially memorable, as I can't recall which burger I ordered. I tried the truffle fries and wasn't impressed at all. I love love love french fries so I was disappointed. My son really enjoyed his burger so maybe we'll give this place another try but I'll steer clear of the truffle fries.
So I was looking up to see if the Wild Monk in St. Charles was open and Yelp pulled up the Lucky Monk instead. It had fantastic reviews AND it was open 4 hours earlier then my original search. It was a long drive, but seemed worth it.
The service and food were really quite great, the beer was just pretty good. We tried all of their beers and really only liked a couple out of the six (the IPA and the Tritica). The rest were just ok. They had a pretty good bottled selection, though, which I might drink from more on a second visit back.
We ordered a sampler for the appetizer - Cheese Curds, White Truffle Fries, and Fried Pickles - all were very good. Full on fried food, my husband and I split the Green Chili Queso Burger which was absolutely delish. You can choose your side from nearly any of their apps, but since we just had three of them we stuck with the regular fries...which were good but just fries in the end.
I'll definitely be back for their food and craft brew list. They need to step up their game on their own beers to earn that 5th star, though. Maybe they will... who knows.
Another Yelp success story here... thanks fellow Yelpers for pointing me to the Lucky Monk. Â
I don't make it to this area often thus not very familiar with the restaurants, thereby I promptly pulled up Yelp for some help. Â After a quick read of several places the Lucky Monk quickly came to the top of the pile considering the menu was fitting the desires of our taste buds. Â
The ambiance of the restaurant itself is very nice. Â Clean, spacious, and nicely decorated. Â The wait staff are nice, proficient and leave you with a good experience. Â As the Luck Monk has several home brewed beers, the staff were very helpful in narrowing down the choices for me. Â I personally liked the Cardinal Sin brew.
For the appetizer, we went with the pretzel and dip trio. Â When reading the description, I was thinking the trio part was the three dips they serve, but when the platter came out there were also three pretzels! Â The bad thing here is, the dips and pretzels were so good that we ended up eating all three pretzels! Â
For the main meal, I had a burger, with blue cheese, onions and jalapenos. Â What a great mix this was. Â The burger came out just as I asked, medium. Â Also, what I though was a good idea is the burger sat on a little round wooden pedestal. Â Just high enough to keep it out of any grease run off and out of the fries... a simple yet cool idea. Â Â They clearly used quality meats and condiments. Â The roll was outstanding too. Â Pile all this into one package made this a great burger! Â
The fries were good too, not overly crusty, yet not limp either. Â On my plate they gave a hefty portion of fries, but kind of overdoing it with the pretzel, I didn't have much room for the fries. Â
In the end, I was very pleased with all aspects of the Luck Monk and will be sure to stop in again when in the area.
Three visits, three great experiences with the food. There were a few issues with the ambiance of the restaurant but let's get back to those at the end of the review. First things first, the food:
Burgers: Amazing burgers that crumbles into your mouth when you bite into it. I'd ask for them medium for the best textures.
- Hot Head: It's supposed to be spicy but I could have used a little more heat on it. I did like the chipotle ketchup which added a tiny hint of spice.
- Green Chile Queso: A weird combination turns out to be my favorite burger so far. The roasted green chiles actually add a nice kick (maybe even more than the hot-head) and the pork shoulder+pineapple makes this taste like two meals in one. You might need a fork and knife for this one. I just wish there was some kind of sauce to accompany this burger.
Truffle fries: Holy cow. Definitely my favorite thing about Lucky Monk. Full of flavor and taste like they have been freshly cut/cooked.
Fish 'N Chips: The texture of the fish is ridiculously soft. The batter is a nice crispy golden brown which adds a texture to the whole dish. I just wish the fish had been seasoned a little.
Margherita Pizza: Thin crust, check. Fresh ingredients, check. Perfect balance of dough, sauce and topping, check. A great pizza although it may be slightly overpriced.
Beer Braised Short Rib Pasta: Short ribs were delicious but I wasn't a huge fan of the pasta. But then again, I'm not a fan of pasta in general. The short ribs are packed full of flavor and are reason enough to try this dish.
S'mores: If you like marshmallows, order this dessert. If you like any other part of the s'more, you might be disgusted by how much marshmallow is in one dessert...
So the food gets a solid 4.5 stars.
As for the ambiance, here's what went wrong each of the three times I went:
1) Seated outside: the waiter stopped by maybe once after we ordered our food. It took forever to get refills or additional napkins or condiments.
2) Seated in the restaurant area: apparently they have live music on certain nights and I chose to go on one of those nights. If you are looking to have conversation, don't go on one of these nights. We were seated in the area furthest from the musician and we still couldn't hear each other over the music.
3) Seated in the bar area: We were seated in the back corner and it was right next to a window that I thought was open because the draft coming from it was freezing!
Overall, a great place to grab some food and hang out especially since it's open pretty late for a suburb location. I'd recommend any of the dishes I've ordered or to try something new!
Wasn't even planning to eat at this restaurant, I was just dropping off my little sister for a party. But, we were sucked in by the soft-pretzel appetizer on the menu. First off, soft-pretzels are my all time favorite appetizer, so I've had them at a lot of restaurants. In my opinion, The Lucky Monk offers the most delicious soft-pretzels ever! They're not greasy like you find at a lot of places, and they give you three dipping sauces that are ALL good!
All three of us in my party tried different entrees, and none of us were disappointed. With a wide range of menu items, my family (which is the all-time pickiest family ever when it comes to food), could all find things they loved. The pizza, burgers, salmon, all fantastic! The ambiance is classy and comfortable, friendly service, I'll definitely be returning.
The Lucky Monk is still a solid choice for some good beer in a typical suburban setting.
It is not my favorite beer, but if I am in the area and looking for some lunch and a beer, I can always find something I like.
I have a previous review, so this is just an update.
On my latest visit, I sat at the bar and Tiffany the bartender was cool and took good care of me.
It was a quiet time of the day. Â Anthony the brew master walked up and noticed our beer themed attire. Â We chatted about beer. Â I am a dedicated beer enthusiast, but I am by no means any kind of expert. Â I enjoyed the conversation. Â After hearing what I liked he even shared a free sample, which was cool.
The Confessional IPA and Solitude stout were tasty. Â The stout was very creamy with a nitrogen pour.
I am still irritated by the burger heightening scandal and therefore I always get the pizza.
I went to The Lucky Monk last night with my BFF post a movie at AMC. I've gone by a million times when going to movies but never actually stopped in...what was I thinking!? They surprisingly have a big beer selection including a favorite of mine I've had at many Yelp events, Crispin. Gotta love that 5% hard cider. We went about 7pm last night and there was a 30 minute wait. They do take Open Table reservations but had no openings last night. We opted to sit at the bar with no wait and I'm glad we did. We grabbed a couple of corner stools and had a lovely time.
Instead of ordering entrees, we decided to get a buffet of appetizers and some beers. Not only did the orders come out quickly but they were huge! We felt like beasts with 4 apps between the two of us. The bartender said we had a castle of plates. :( I'll have you know, judgmental bartender, we took most of it home but it was great to get to try a variety of items. hehe :D
Warm Pretzel Trio $9.95 - These pretzels were great but be sure to eat them right as they come out & are still toasty warm. They come with a warm grainy mustard butter (loved it), wisconsin cheese beer fondue (loved it) and tomato parmesan sauce (could have skipped it).
Crispy Eggs $7.95 - 6 Deep fried deviled eggs with bacon marmalade, truffle oil, chitpotle aioli, and everything good. This was a very close second favorite of the appetizers we got last night. The crispiness was well balanced out by the soft hard boiled egg. I loved the contrast in textures. I loved the surprising flavors in each bite. I found these to be packed with flavor and would get them again in a heartbeat!
Whipped Goat Cheese $7.95 - Not what i was expecting at all! This appetizer comes with two mini loaves of bread and a tomato marinara sauce with goat cheese in the middle. The goat cheese was phenomenal, but poor ignorant me thought this would be a dish...not a bread with dipping sauce. The bread was quite dry and super hard, tough to cut off. Even when we tried to rip it with our hands it was rough. I would pass on getting this dish again.
Wisconsin Cheese Curds $7.95 - We both agreed this was our favorite appetizer of the night. Beer battered goodness in the form of cheese balls. Honestly, these were the best deep fried cheese curds I've ever had. I've had a thing for cheese curds since getting them fresh from the Glenview farmer's market every weekend as a kid growing up so whenever I see them on the menu, I gravitate towards them. The breading on these curds was light and delicious plus the curds inside were soft & fresh.
The Lucky Monk has a fantastic craft beer selection plus they concoct their own brewskis! The cool thing with the beers is that they pair the right glass with your blend and don't just give you the run of the mill standard cup. My friend got a goblet with her tasty bubbly brew! Â It's such a chill space inside, plus they have a great patio. After our chowing down and drinking, my friend and I took a seat on the patio next to the fire pit to tell ghost stories ;). They have huge comfy chairs outside which makes for a relaxing, chill atmosphere. I absolutely loved everything about The Lucky Monk.
This is the kind of place I could drive by a million times and never think to stop. It is large and nice looking, but there is not curb appeal or warmth to the place. Fortunately several of my Yelp friends wrote glowing reviews, so we actually made it our destination, sight unseen.
What I really liked about the place was the quality of the products they served. The Bourbon Stout Burger I had was made with really good quality beef. Christopher had the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on the special list and it was also really quality stuff. We both loved the crispy onion appetizer and the fries that came with the meal.
I got pretty schnockered on the margarita I ordered and it tasted very good, so that is a plus. Christopher tried one of their house brews and enjoyed it too.
It is very noisy. The floors are carpeted and the booths have fabric, but it just isn't enough to absorb the noise. I would not want to be in there when the place is really packed. It would be impossible to carry on a conversation.
The service was very good and the bathrooms were clean and roomy. I would not go out of my way to return, but if I am ever back in Barrington, I might consider a stop, at least for a margarita and an appetizer. The place is not cheap, but heck, it is in Barrington.
Destroyed my "diet" in the best way possible.
Found this joint on a fellow yelper's best burger list, and she did not lead me astray! First off, if you come here on a Friday, like I did, make a reservation. The restaurant is massive, but the people around us were "enjoying" a 30 minute wait.
Having taken a look at the beer menu previously, I ordered a Tritica-Wheat as soon as we sat down, and man was it good! If you are a fan of Two Brother's Ebel's Weiss (or hef's in general), then you will certainly enjoy this clean, clovey goodness.
Even though I am not much for appetizers (remember: "diet"), I couldn't resist ordering the pretzel trio. It came out in about 3 minutes (yay!) and was huge! The app easily could have been enough for 3, but it was so good that the two of us quickly polished it off. The warm, soft pretzels are served with mustard butter, parmesan marinara, and a beer-cheese fondue - all were great.
For my main course, I ordered the Bourbon Stout burger, which is served with Tillamook cheddar (yum!), braised onions, and a pickle - simple, but delicious. I upgraded my fries to sweet potato fries, which come sprinkled with chipotle cinnamon. They were both great, but the massive pretzel app really sapped my appetite.
Overall, the Lucky Monk was a great experience - good food; great drink. I definitely see myself returning here to destroy another "diet" in the future.
Friday night at Lucky Monk for a friends birthday. Â 12 people. Â Never been here before, but from the reviews it looked really good and I had concerns about how we were going to get a table for 12. Â Then....we noticed the "couch lounge." Â Oh yes, this is our area. Â Screw the bar or dining room, we will be eating delicious food while our feet rest on ottomans. Â
I noticed the "grilled cheese burger" on the website before we got here. Â The description confirmed that this is what I would be ordering. Â Lucky for me, and everyone else who orders it, there are no nutritional facts on the menu. Â I usually feel bad for eating one grilled cheese sandwich. Â You want me to eat two now? Â Wait...you're putting bacon in them? Â Hold the F on....you're putting a half pound burger between the sandwiches? Â Game on.
My girlfriend had about three bites and could eat no more. Â I couldn't let the party down. Â Feeling the burn of a full stomach (I already ate 8 BBQ rib appetizers), and two beers, I pushed on. Â Bite after delicious bite. Â I've heard myths of the fabled Krispy Kreme burger, but this burger was something I actually enjoyed.
A friend ordered a regular burger and only ate half, and I finished hers as well. Â If I ever stop my active lifestyle, I will put on 50 pounds in no time.
I went here after a movie since the parking lot is literally connected to South Barrington AMC it felt like a no brainer. Â So after our movie we headed over for a snack and a beer (well cider for me).
When we got there the valet was done for the night. Â Apparently. they stop taking cars at 10 pm. Â So we parked and walked in. Â There was no hostess at the front. Â We waited for a little bit and then decided to walk out to the patio area and seated ourselves. Â
The waitress seemed a little thrown off by this, but when we explained the situation, she apologized and got us menus. Â The service was top notch after the confusion.
We quickly ordered drinks of the pretty large beer list. Â I got the seasonal Woodchuck that said it had hints of ginger and orange in it with a yellow label. Â It was really good!
For food, we just wanted something to munch on since it was getting late. Â We ordered the fried pickles and an Al Pastor Pizza. Â I wished I was hungrier so I could have gotten one of the burgers, but I knew I couldn't finish it!! Â We really enjoyed the fried pickles, the batter was different from what I was used to. Â The Al Pastor Pizza was fantastic! Â It had spicy pulled pork and a pineapple relish. Â Truly amazing. Â But, next time I am totally getting a burger.
Oh and the patio is beautiful, if you have a chance sit there!
We've been to The Lucky Monk a few times now and I think we are officially fans! Â Most recently, my dad and step-mom decided to take us for an anniversary dinner (married four years already...holy moly!!). Anyhow, dad and I coordinated the evening. The location is great for us. Them coming from Carpentersville. Â Us coming from Bartlett. It's right off the Route 90, so although they traveled a little further, it was highway miles which makes it a-ok.
We went on a Monday night and they were packed, but we arrived early and a table was ready by the time the rest of our party arrived. Beer flights, lagers and ciders all around. It was a celebration and the drinks were great! Â We split a sampler of cheese curds, fried pickles and truffle fries. The cheese curds reign supreme! Â
I'm still trying to count my calories, but this past month has been kinda meh, if you know what I mean. So, I ordered fish & chips. I ate all of the fish and a little less than half of the chips. A year ago, I easily could and would have finished all of my food. The portion is a nice size, but there were a lot of fries.
The love of my life, the apple of my eye, the ying to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly...my hubby, ordered a burger. Honestly, I have no idea which one he went with, but he ate most of it and didn't complain, so it had to have been good. I recall spice and cheese. I'm guessing it was the Hot Head. Dad also went with a burger, but at our waitress' suggestion, he tried the peppercorn ranch. He thoroughly enjoyed it. Dad is fairly easy to please which makes me wonder how I became so picky...uh, such a connoisseur of things. ;-)
My step-mom seems to really enjoy a nice meal out. She is quite the cook and I've noticed that she tends to order things that she doesn't make at home. This only makes sense. Â Mushroom risotto with chicken was on her agenda that night. No complaints from her and I believe her leftovers even went home with her for lunch the next day.
Some more thoughts: Â I don't like the acoustics in here. Sadly, it is difficult to carry on a conversation. It's loud and the sound travels funny. I don't know how else to explain it. Our server has been fine every time we've been here. Fine, but not memorable. These reasons keep The Lucky Monk at four stars for now.
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