Had a very good hot lobster roll last week. Didn't like the skinny shoestring style fries. Don't "get" the cheap white bread that is so typical of lobster rolls. Why not use decent bread?
Service was a little slow and food took quite a while (they were not busy), but the food was fresh and well-cooked.
I grew up in CT but ave been living in Chicago for the last 15 years. Â Every time I visit, I stay with my father in Essex. Â Last July, my boyfriend came home with me for the first time and together we discovered The Monkey farm. Â Anyone that grew up in this part of CT know the bar scene is super cheesy and lame. Â Lots of boring waterfront lounge bars with some light jazz band playing for ambience. Â This is NOT our scene. We were driving around one night, looking for a place to drink a little whiskey and watch the Olympics and behold! Â This bar is the GREATEST. Â The ambience was a wonderful mix of old and young. Â Super nice bartenders. Â Plentiful pours of Jameson. Â Lovely old dark wood bar. Â My boyfriend and I literally went here for a night cap every night we were in town. Â Never disappointed. Â I'm excited to come to CT again this summer and The Monkey Farm will be one of our first stops when we get there. Â This place is the most.
Review Source:Worst place for families to dine! Â The worst service! Â We waited over an hour for soup, an appetizer, and pizza to be served. Â The place was not even full of patrons. We ordered an 11" cheese pizza for my kids and they did not serve it until we asked for our bill. Â The waitress who claims she was the owner said it is normal for her restaurant to service food at a slow pace and if we did not like it we should not return. Â She explicitly categorized her restaurant as a "Monkey Farm" and even picked up the menu so we could read the name of her restaurant (I guess assuming we failed to do so when we entered her establishment). Â I explained that my kids were starving. Â She threw our money at us when we complained and screamed in front of my young children. Â We were at the restaurant for over an hour and my kids left hungry. Â The restaurant is not equipped to manage a volume pizza order. Â It was not worth going there!
Review Source:Happy Saint Patty's Day! Â The farm had some decent corn beef and cabbage today although I didn't try it this time around... Instead, I had the New York Pastrami sandwich. Â It comes on rye bread with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and tomatoes. Â Accompanied by a nice cold Guinness.... It was very good! Â The crowd was lively with several festively dressed and car bombs a plenty.
Review Source:We've driven past this place for years and finally stopped by for dinner one night....like a throw-back to an earlier time. Â Low key, casual and local. Â Dart boards and tv's inside with a really active bar, and seating inside and out on the porch for food. Â We had great dishes- not fancy but good burgers, chowders and fish. Â Our waitress looked about 15 and was not all that attentive, but all in all a fun night out with good friends. Â You can tell that it's a local hangout, everyone seemed to know each other and it was wonderfully loud and boisterous. Â One drawback is that they only take cash, so be prepared.
Review Source:Well according to the joint profile that is "Melnmike" us locals are nothing but "shoreline swine" hahaha..... Trust me you guys were weeded out on purpose.
The Farm's clientele ranges from millionaires to blue collar workers who all mesh well. The bartenders and servers are super sweet and will take care of you if a little respect is shown. A full bar and cold bottled beers will wash down a crunchy Cobb salad (made fresh) and the best buttery CT lobster roll you'll ever have (IMO). You can sit out on the screened-in patio or table/bar inside. There's also a deck with tables and chairs for you smokers. If you've always wanted to check this place out or if you're an out-of-towner passing through looking for a classic dive then this is the place for you. This IS the Cheers of Saybrook.
After driving by for many years, we finally went in. Â We love it. Â As others have said, it is what it is --a kind of dive, but a great dive. Â Great burgers, sandwiches and steaks. Â And honest drinks. Â A great place to relax. Â Great prices too. Â The waitstaff is as nice as can be and aim to please. Â Do remember that they only take cash, but there's an ATM inside.
Review Source:I spent all last week in Old Saybrook and always ended up here at the Monkey Farm at some point in the day. Staff was really nice. Bill the bartender will take really good care of you and even lend you his huge coffee mug so you can enjoy a coffee with Baileys on a cold night. Thanks for that.
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1. Strong and reasonable drinks
2. Pretty good food
3. Great service every time.
4. Eclectic crowds and laid back atmosphere
Thanks guys for the hospitality
A must
My  wife and I pulled off the road looking for a bite to eat.  This bar looked like a great spot and boy were we right.  The Seafood bisque was amazing and their burgers were fantastic.  Although we did not get the lobster roll,  a women next to us did and it looked incredible. Â
Moreover the prices were a bargain
If you are passing by Old Saybrook this place is well  worth it
Let me just say, That you guys just plain ROCK!!! This past summer, I had a surpise party for my fiance. I had to make it look like a motorcycle run and invited as many friends as I could. Needless to say,  I couldn't get the cake and they where more than happy to take care of that for me and I couldn't be more appreciative. We had an extraordinary turn out. Not one of us out of about  30 people had ever been there. Well , we put them on our run stop for the summer permantly. Service was outstanding and the food great. Fun atmosphere and the other patrons were very friendly.With that many people , we sampled a lot og the menu. Can't wait tYouo return . With the weather keeping up, it might be sooner than I thought . So THANK-YOU very much for a truly stellar moment. Stellar being the oprative word.
Review Source:I love the monkey farm, as has everyone else I have brought here. It's a local dive bar so don't kid yourself if you're looking for something fancy.
The food is amazing though. I've never liked a corned beef Reuben in my life...and I salivate thinking about this sandwich. I've come here on numerous occasions for it. Their burgers are HUGE and delicious as are other sandwiches and wraps on their menu. They have a larger lunch menu than dinner menu as after 5 it's mostly drinks and light appetizers that people tend to order. Their wings are pretty delicious too.
Drinks come from bartenders who know the locals (or are locals) and they're friendly and helpful. No beer on tap but plentiful beer in bottles/cans.
Darts, arcade games, pool, football pools during the season etc. and of course a juke box which is most commonly playing some rock or country music.
Don't miss this place if you are in Old Saybrook. The food is outstanding but the atmosphere and history of this place are worth a visit. Nothing fancy, but plenty of stories from the locals. The hamburgers are my favorite and the lobster rolls are the best in Connecticut. Prices are reasonable and service is friendly.
Review Source:The monkey farm is an old school bar with rustic decor and even more rustic patrons. The atmosphere is casual, drinks are generous and the food is excellent - prime rib Friday rocks. If you love your meal buy the cook a shot of Rumplemintz.
This LA native makes it a regular stop when he's in town - 5+ stars!!!!!!
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