After spending the past there nights of our Chico adventure touring cheap bars we decided to get classy and enjoy a nice glass of wine at Monk's.  This romantic restaurant was long and chic, adorned with beautiful paintings and trendy décor.  Though the price for a drink here is drastically higher then it's neighbors, it was reflective of the quality of wine, service, and decorum.  Our waiter was both generous and professional.  He set the mood for the wine bar with his snazzy suit and led us to the back where we dined on intimate couches.  He patiently listened to our tastes and thoughtfully made appropriate suggestions.  He was even eager to give us generous samples before we ordered to ensure satisfaction.  Monk's is perfect for a business meeting or night out with the girls; it's trendy style and quality wine selection make it the ideal date spot.
Review Source:By FAR one of the best meals I have had in Chico. Two of us shared bacon wrapped scallops over homemade guacamole for an appetizer, ribs & truffle oil fries for our main dish and a deep fried bacon stuffed avocado for dessert, all topped off with a beautiful summer wine, Tess Red & White blend from Napa Valley. I left a very happy and full gal. I would recommend this restaurant for both a night out of the town with friends or a romantic night with your significant other. It has a very trendy San Francisco / Napa Valley vibe to it, and it sounds like they are upgrading the outdoor seating quite a bit in the near future which I can't wait to see. Be sure to take in the small details of the place while you're there, ie. the cork wall in the bathroom and the wine barrel light fixtures. I was very impressed with everything including the service, well done!! Thanks for a terrific night.
Review Source:If you want some great Italian food and want to enjoy some wine, this is the place to go in Chico. I love this place. I first tried it a couple years ago because my friend worked there. The food is delicious, the chef is always coming up with something new and delicious. The meatballs and really all the appetizers are awesome. Even the salad is good... I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, but the staff is all knowledgeable about what I might like with what dishes. They have some choices that don't break the bank, but they also have a huge selection of the nicer varieties too.
Review Source:I used to love this place. Â So what's changed? Â Why is it that for the last year, everytime I go to Monk's I walk out thinking, "Well that was a waste of money?" Great company, but crappy service! At the end of the dinner (large party) EVERY menu was still on the table, as well as every dish that we didn't physically hand to the server so she couldn't ignore us. The server didn't deduct anyone's coupons (which the manager was handing out as we came in). Â I said something to her, when I found her playing on her iphone behind the curtain at the wait station. Â As we were leaving (note: Â only 5 people left out of a party of at least 20) the "general manager" (seemed like a very nice guy) came out to see if everything was okay. Â That was nice of him...
Review Source:Been to Monk's twice now, got a sandwich there for lunch, it was good, but did not think it was worth the cost.  More or less the quality of Broadway Heights down the street (which I like), but about 30% more expensive.  Went back for just dessert though and was kind of shocked, got a creme brûlée ($7) and a chocolate cake ($7)...both were pre-made 2 or more days before and clearly taken out of the refrigerator and the plastic wrap, just not that good, then we each got some decaf coffee ($3.50 each), not latte's or americano's or something exotic, just coffee, and a refill (another $3.50 each which wasn't on the menu), $28 plus tax and tip for something that just wasn't that good.  I really don't mind spending that much for each of those things if they are really something very good, but this just was not that good.  Also have heard from people that they have a cheese plate literally with just the sample cheeses from Costco.  I love Costco, but I don't think I would pay a premium rate for their basic cheese variety pack at a supposedly high end wine bar.  I did think the wait staff was very friendly though and the motif or decor was pleasant; sophisticated, but not arrogant.
Review Source:Went to Monks for a friends birthday dinner. Â The food was great and the wine selection was wonderful. Â Our server on the other hand was terrible. Â There were seven of us and we had reservations so it wasn't like we just showed up with a party of seven. Â The server was very slow and was inattentive. Â My friend who has been to Monks several times has had her as a server before and had the same issues. Â It took at least 25 minutes just to get wine and the food delivery was even slower.
Review Source:Let me start by saying that I enjoyed the cheese platter very much and the baked brie was delicious. I also did the wine tasting from Grayson Cellars, which was nice.
However, the waiter was awkward the entire visit, said he could tell us all about the cheeses on the cheese plate and then said "well I don't really know that much." He also didn't know where the wine came from that we were tasting. In a service position you have to KNOW YOUR PRODUCT! I realize Monk's carries a lot of wines but if something is on special management needs to brief their staff on where it's from and why their customers should try it. Near the end of the night he actually insulted me by basically saying to my husband that he sympathizes with him because he felt the same way with his ex-girlfriend when she was spending time with her friends and he had to put up with them. Way to be rude...
My husband ordered the rib-eye and said it lacked flavor, was not a very good cut, and the ten oz portion was not ten ounces, it seemed much smaller. Granted I know that ten ounces is precooked weight and meat loses a quarter of the weight once cooked. The Lemon grass potatoes were strange and just tasted like a ton of lemon juice was added. Perhaps a garlic mash, cheesy potato or roasted herbs would be a better fit. The whole roasted garlic on the cheese platter was delicious, they should use that.
We sat for about twenty minutes with no water while the waiter passed by us never giving us a glance or a check in. Then after I asked for water it took another ten minutes.
I also found it strange that I was not given a new glass with each pour or the option to have them rinse out my glass between tastes. The whole point of wine tasting is not to taste every wine I have already tasted! I rinsed out my own glass with a spare glass.
Lastly, my chair broke! The staff says it happens often because the chairs are cheap. Our table paid over $100, buy better chairs! They checked three chairs before finding me one with solid legs that were not loose.
I may return as a patron in the future for the cheese plate, it was very tasty. I hope for better service in the future and I hope they fix their chairs, it was embarrassing for myself and the wait staff.
I love monks, I go there with my family often.We always get the smokin' prawns. The food is fantastic and they're wine selection is awesome. The place itself is very well decorated, I love the exposed brick. They also display local artist's work. Their normal dinner/lunch leaves nothing to be desired.
I have recently been going to the tastings on Wednesday nights and was a little disappointed. The tasting wines were okay, nothing really to write home about and some so sweet I couldn't finish even the tasting. (I really like full bodied reds). And the service on those nights is slow.
It was early on a Thursday night. Â A friendly greeting; a great table in the window up front. The place has a cozy wine bar ambience. Â We tasted beer and wine to find the right one. Â The menu now has daily specials so we just had to try the "Beet Sliders" (Yes, Beets) and it was really tasty and probably healthy! Â We also had the deep fried Avacado filled with something tasty. Â It was good but I like the Beet Sliders better. Â And we had the baquette with sweetened puree Pumpkin. Â So, by this time we were getting full so we split the Rib Eye Steak. Â Absolutely the best Rib Eye I've had. Â All through this, great table service, and interesting wines suggested. Â As previously stated we were encouraged to taste the wine prior to purchase. Â A nice touch. No dessert, we were too full. Â You will have a gourmet experience at Monks and the pricing reflects that.
Review Source:Dinner last night was extraordinary with good friends at Monks Wine Lounge & Bistro we had one of the amazing appetizers ever, deep fried Avocado ...... it was stuffed with ...... you will have to find out by ordering it. We also ordered something from the secret menu that we read about recently.
Polenta with butternut squash very tasty.
All in all great company and excellent food and service. Bread to die for with a in house dipping sauce. Highly recommend. Love the extra room, just keeps getting better. Thank you for a lovely evening.
This was place was fantastic.
In order to earn a 5 star rating from me, you need to be the cream of the crop. Â This place was close.
We walked in and were immediately greeted by a very friendly staff and promptly seated. Â The ambiance is clean, inviting, and warm.
The menu had some nice selections, and boasted about serving organic local beef. Â I had the organic filet, and it was truly the best filet I have ever had. Â It was served with wilted kale and roasted red potatoes. Â My wife ordered the butternut squash polenta, and I was allowed a taste. Â In all honesty, this was truly the best polenta I have ever had. Â It was served with fresh local vegetables, and was a sizable portion. Â It was a little dry, and needed something to help moisten the overall dish.
The service was adequate. Â Our waitress seemed nervous, and new. Â Her service skills were lacking, and with time I am sure she will get better.
I would go back.
I was in town for my sisters birthday and we went to Monks. Â We ordered the ravioli and the grilled ceaser salad. Â Of course we had to have wine with our dinner along with an order of bread with roasted garlic. Â The food was outstanding. Â Our waiter Anthony, took real good care of us. Â I will definitely go back to Monks when I come back by. Â Thanks Monks for an unforgetable birthday experience!
Review Source:After 6 years of passing by it, I finally went in to try it with my family for lunch. The Monk's salad with chicken is very good and a very healthy portion; the chicken pesto sandwich was very tasty! Â They also serve dinner and the menu looks very good. We will be back for dinner.
This has now become my favorite place in Chico. Quaint little restaurant with delicious food and personable service!
I have visited Monks regularly since it opened and have always been pleased with their exceptional service. If you are unfamiliar with a wine that you're considering ordering, they offer you a taste to ensure satisfaction. An awesome quality thing to do, in my opinion.
My last visit was this past Tuesday and was delighted to learn they offer a "Happy Hour All Day Tuesday" (I moved to the bay area for a year and was unaware of this before). The happy hour prices offers a 20% off bottle wine/bubbly purchase which comes with a complimentary tapas of cheeses, $2 off glasses of wines and a beer special, which I sadly do not recall. I believe it was $1 off??? I normally get their Monks salad, which is so light and tasty, or their Circus of Vegetables (features a butternut squash polenta and assorted grilled vegetables with crisp bread) but this time shared their dungeness crab and avocado salad with my husband. Delicious.
The ambiance inside is a perfect mix of classy meets artsy, as they are always featuring art of local artists on their walls. Definitely contributes to dinner conversation. They offer lovely patio seating out back and it is decorated nicely; perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and sharing an appetizer.
I will continue to visit Monks as often as I can, the only thing I would like to see would be some core menu variations or to offer more regular daily creations. I'm always trying new things. I've come in a couple times and tried some specials, but feel that it should be a regular thing. Just my opinion, though. Great place!!!
I had a great time at Monk's this evening. Â My wife and i each tried different wines. Â We wish they had more Italian wines, but there was a very nice selection of wines to meet most peoples expectations.
The small plates that we tried were wonderful. Â We stuck around after closing and talked food and travel with Kevin the owner. Â
It was a great evening and will certainly become one of our Chico hangouts when we are in town.
I never wanted to go in this place for fear of a snooty staff and really high prices but my friend finally convinced me to go and I was pleasantly surprised. Although it is a smig more pricey than a typical restuarant it is so worth it. The decor and atmospher are elegant with a rustic twist! The waiters are lovely and the food is delish. I had a belini super yummy. I recomend skipping multiple visits to taco bell and saving to go to Monks for a nice evening out! Oh yes I went for my birthday last year and got a free drink!
Review Source:While walking in Chico with some colleagues, we were looking for a place to get a drink and came across Monks. Â Cute wine bar that is also a restaurant. Â We were seated and treated very well. Â The young lady that was serving us was very knowledgeable on the different wines they served and about wine in general. Â We ordered a bottle of Moscato from Italy and YUM!
Review Source:One of the better places to go and relax if you want to stray away from the stinky old 2 dollar drink lounges. Â If you are looking to get flashed by 21 year old college girls this is likely not your place. Â But if you want to have a good conversation with a great friend while receiving nice service than you should come check it out. Â I heart Monks and their ever changing wine list.
Review Source:Wow, wow, wow. The food is so sumptuous, I forgot to drink my wine. My had the circus of vegetables, with the most amazing polenta. And I had a lasagna, so incredible, Â I ate it slowly to savor every bite. I typically don't indulge in dessert, Â but given the rest of the dining experience, Â I knew I'd be a fool to miss on dessert. Â The flourless decadent chocolate dessert was irresistible! Â Yum! I can't believe I didn't discover thus jewel of a restaurant earlier.
Review Source:Monks Wine Bar opened while I was still in Grad School....just about the time I was getting to the end of my rope of hanging out at LaSalles for 4-5 years.
It is a welcome break from the sticky $2 drinking spots around downtown.
The wine list is changing and offers a strong variety of wines and wine cocktails.
By San Francisco standards the prices here are flippin' fantastic as well.
Lemon Tart and Champange cocktail for $12.
I love Monks! It's one of the only "bars" in Chico, in which I actually look forward to spending time. It's small, but rarely feels crowded. It's atmosphere is relaxed and inviting while maintaining an element of class not found in many Chico establishments.
They have an eclectic variety of beer and wine, that should please even the most finicky of palates. Â They also offer a small menu of appitizers and entrees. Both food and drink are a little on the pricey side (at-least for Chico), but are well worth the extra money.
Monks also has live music on certain days of the week. I have always been impressed with the quality and level of talent these musicians display. However, in such a small venue the music can easily overpower a conversation. So, if you are looking for peace, go to the patio!
We were there Saturday evening for dinner on my birthday, with reservations for 7pm. Â The restaurant was not busy and our table was waiting for us. Â
We wanted to try some different things, so ordered 2 different glasses of wine and 2 "small plates". Â The wines were good. Â The "small plates" were okay, but really heavy on breads. Â
We decided we'd order a half-rack of ribs to share between the two of us ... they were out of ribs, so took the chicken instead. Â While the chicken and the accompanying potatoes were good, they didn't seem to go together. Â The cauliflower on the plate was undercooked and the Brussels Sprouts were over-grilled, tough and chewy.
Since it was my birthday, we were going to order a dessert ... whatever the chocolate dessert was. Â They were out! Â The waitress suggested a cookie ice cream sandwich. Â It ended up being vanilla ice cream between 2 overly sweet cookies and chocolate syrup over the top. Â To cut the sweetness I ordered a cup of coffee, which ended up being very weak and didn't drink any more than 2 sips.
While some of the pieces of our meal were okay, but nothing that stood out as being really good, the pieces just didn't fit together. Â The fact that they were out of 2 of the items we were wanting was overwhelming. Â We felt that service was mediocre.
We won't be going back, nor will we be giving a good recommendation to anyone we know.
Monks is a little oasis of class and culture in Chico. It's so good, it really doesn't belong in Chico...but I'm very glad that it does!
We ordered four small plates, which came out at the same time and at the right temperature:
- Dolmas: very nice stuffed grape leaves; nothing unique about them, but obviously made on site (not from a can). The tzatziki-esque dipping sauce was very nice.
- Deli meat plate: a generous amount of salami, olives, almonds, and pickled peppers.
- Polenta with roasted veg: amazing! The polenta was super rich with a nice crispy crust of cheese on top. The vegetables were perfectly done. I thought cauliflower and Brussels sprouts were a very gutsy move on the part of the kitchen, but they were very good. The asparagus was perfectly grilled. The bruschetta served alongside was spectacular. Toasty and crisp without being too difficult to bite through.
- Salad with toasted hazelnuts, fresh pear, and gorgonzola. Mmmm. You cannot go wrong.
There was much discussion with our fantastic server (Travis) about what wines we might like. He brought us a couple samples before we ordered - I love it when they do that!
I got a flight of whites and Travis recommended a really nice, complex Chardonnay for my Cabernet-loving, "I don't drink white wine" husband. My husband was very impressed!
After our meal, Travis brought us a sample of another wine he thought we might like (I love it when my server takes a personal interest in my tastes), and boy was he right. The 2 Oceans blend from South Africa. My oh my, was that a good one.
We also had the ice cream sandwich, made from a cookie from The Cookie Shoppe. The menu doesn't tell you, but when you order this bad boy, you also get a gift card for a free cookie from The Cookie Shoppe! Awesome!
Two teensy complaints:
- The service was slow - BUT, it was slow because poor Travis was the only one really working the floor. There was another girl there, but it looked like maybe she was being trained in? She didn't do much but check our waters and hide behind the counter a lot. When Travis did manage to find time for us, he was wonderfully attentive and charming. I just would have liked to have had more interfacing with him.
- There was no ice in the water refills. I liked the cucumber slices in the glass, but if you keep putting warm tap water on top of that cucumber, soon it will grow slimy and taste like dirt.
I have been coming to Monk's for about 6 years and they have really upped their game in the last 6 months or so.
The newest small plate selections are excellent. there is a good range of pricing on them and the portions are very generous for the prices, far more than anywhere else I have been that do similar types of small plates. The presentation is fantastic. Some of the nicest looking dishes in Chico. They taste pretty good too!
The wine is not cheap, that is for sure. they used to have some $5 and $6 glasses, but not anymore. least expensive is $8 but there is probably not a bad glass of wine in the place. I am assuming that they personally select all their own wines to make sure they have a good selection of quality. The amount you pay for the wine is balanced by the good pricing on the food.
Service is always very attentive, friendly, helpful and classy. We once asked about a Spanish wine that was one of their cheapest, Juan Gil - Silver Label. The waiter said it was probably the best glass they had. We got it were amazed. We've since bought the same bottle at BevMo many times. I read up on it and it turns out its made from grapes in the same vineyard as their $150 bottle of El Nido. Not a bad choice!
The patio out back is great, very cozy and relaxed. Perfect for a hot summer night to drink some wine, order some appetizers and just hang out for a couple hours.
Bottom line is you can't go wrong at this place.
I went here 4/8/11. Â Wine list, it's not THAT extensive, don't expect wine country or coastal tourist town equivalent but for Chico it's respectable.
If you want some bread with oil & balsamic which is standard at so many restaurants around here, if you want it at Monk's, your paying for it. Â If your famished, expect to shell out a little extra. Â Portion size is not huge, and there are no little extras. Â It's also going to take a little time to get your food, don't come here expecting super fast service.
The food was good, my husband got a oyster/pasta dish and I ordered the almond chicken which was drizzled in chive oil, came with a little roasted veggie and some scalloped parmesean potatoes. Â We both got wine by the glass. Â I'm estimating a 6 oz pour for $11/glass.
With no appetizers, we're looking at a $60 tab, before tax/tip. Â For the quality of the food, we felt the price was fair, and we will likely go again. Â
We probably won't be regulars. Â The space was a little tight, I don't like sitting that close to the wall and other patrons. Â The chairs were uncomfortable. Â So all in all while I like the restaurant, I think I'll only go occasionally.
Most of the tables were reserved, but as we went early there was one open. Â I would suggest if you have more than 2 people make a reservation.
If you have never tried it, go! Â It's worth a few visits and definitely a switch up from the usual Chico fare.
I come to Monks wine lounge as often as i can! meaning every other week now for the past few months, and i have never had anything to complain about. The food is wonderful, the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and wines, the live music is great, atmosphere and to top it off the WINE!
with all of this in mind you would think that their prices are outrageous but they're not. i am a college student on a budget and can afford this place. they have dinner specials on Mondays, wine tasting specials on wednesdays and so much more!
hands down ive lived in chico for four years now and this place has impressed me the most!
I came here with some of my girlfriends tonight (Wednesday) for their wine tasting deal for $10. The person pouring the wine was well performed and even talked German to us. Â The staff were all very nice and friendly, and made sure that we were comfortable at all times. Â The wines that we tasted were absolutely divine, and they gave us information on how to obtain them. Â The small plates offered are mouth-watering, and I especially like how they only offer local, organic ingredients. I suggest Monks to anyone in the Chico area, and I'm sad that I only discovered this lounge during my last year at school.
Review Source:I love this place! Usually, the service is great, but this past Friday night there was a brunette working and it seemed all of her tables needed to hunt her down for something including me and my girlfriend. Served food w/out plates, we asked for water twice! She also got our wine orders mixed up.
The food is very tasty and well presented. Most are very willing to share their knowledge of the selected wines and are friendly.
Nice place for a first date or to meet friends for a drink after work. Very relaxing and inviting atmosphere. Desserts are fabulous! A change from the typical Chico college bar scene  FOR SURE !
A must for wine lovers and there are a few beers on tap to enjoy.
Wednesday night is the night for all the lover's of wine...it is wine tasting night and for $10.00 you get a taste of four carefully selected wines...and they do pour a nice glass. The staff are well educated on the wines and can recommend the perfect palette for you. The menu offerings are great too and pair well with the wines. My favorite is the chicken lasagne which goes well with any wine and whatever I happen to be wearing that day! Live music usually starts after 9pm. great for a casual meeting...chck out the great patio in the back!
Review Source:Second year anniversary, an hour and some romance needed, our cab driver suggested Monk's wine lounge. Â We sat in the front window and let the starry-eyed evening of sharing each other and wine and food begin. Â Our server was amazing, he is one of the best server's we have ever had. Â If you work at a restaurant that has an extensive wine list, you should have tasted every single glass and bottle and be able to suggest such desired wine. Â He knew what he was taking about and made our evening so bitter sweet. Â
Started with an Amador County Zin and the cheese plate, I think we finished it in 3 and half minutes. Â The special of the night was some meaty Lasagna dish which I am glad we shared, it was so filling and delicous. Â Cheesey, meaty goodness. Â
If you get the chance sit on the back patio, it's very Midnight Summer's Night  Dreamy. Â
This place would receive a 5 star if they had more unusual, savory items on their menu, which seemed to me that they would be very capable of. Â Regardless, Â an awesome, beautiful evening and will come back for the live intimate music on the weekends.
Nice place to enjoy a bottle of wine in an adult setting. Â The service is very good if not over attentive; we had 3-4 different people coming to our table while we were there which led to a little confusion. Â The food is very good, simple, nothing fancy, but paired well with some of the wines on the list. Â Definite negative is having to pay for bread with dinner, should be included if you're buying food.
Review Source:I love this place. Its the perfect way to escape the filth of downtown Chico and enjoy yourself. That is, if your not trying to get piss ass drunk, lose a shoe, and wake up next to some bimbo named Brittany. It's even quiet enough that you can have a real conversation with your friends! The inside is really cute and comfortable and they display cool, local art. I didnt give it 5 stars because from time to time the services is so so/ a little on the slow side.
They have a wonderful wine list, duh, but several other good drink choices too. My personal favorite is the sangria. Also, their food is fabulous. A little over priced, but it definitely adds to the experience. I recommend the fruit and cheese plate for starters. On the weekends they have a live jazz band...so classy it makes you forget you are a starving college student in Chico, blowing your entire paycheck in one night. Ahhh, the memories.
This is the only serious wine bar in Chico. IMO. They stock a great selection of wines from California, and a large number of them are from the Gold Country (my fav). The wine here is not your average restaurant faire. Think $$ per glass. Try the "Flight of the Monk"--thats three good sized samples for the price of one glass. A great place to explore and the atmosphere is not too posh but sharp enough to get dressy. I discovered one of my favorite wines here (Sobon Estate "Rocky Top") The food is not the best--their only downfall-- but they have lots of wine complementing dishes. Dont go there for dinner, but go to enjoy wine with some food on the side. Â Its not too big so go with a small crowd.
BTW...There are a number of nice wine retail spots like Cellar Creek and Vino 100. Monks also sells bottles but I would not purchase wine here because of their restaurant pricing. Vino 100 carries nearly all of the same wines for much cheaper. Sorry Monks!
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