84 Henry St., Saratoga Springs
Food 4 C’s (out of 5)
Service 3 C’s
Family friendliness 3 C’s
Although a trip to Europe was out of the Family Chow’s budget, we decided to splurge on a night out in Brussels, by way of The Merry Monk restaurant in Saratoga Springs. The Merry Monk offers “authentic Belgian cuisine” along with an impressive list of more than 100 Belgian beers.
We arrived on a Sunday evening with reservations and large appetites. Although we expected an adult crowd, given the attractive bar area and the emphasis on beer, we were pleasantly surprised to find several families among the customers. The space is open, with somewhat crowded table placement. There were two large garage doors that can be opened onto the street, adding to the European ambiance. We waited a bit to be seated, as the host was busy serving tables.
As we sat down, wine glasses were filled with water, and menus were distributed. The beer menu took some time to peruse, although there were helpful descriptions of the draft beers. Bottles ranged in price from $5 to $65 for a 25-ounce Deus Brut (11 percent ABV)! Mom decided to start the night untraditionally, with a Lindemans Framboise beer that arrived in a cool, skinny glass and tasted of raspberries yum!
We also started off with an order of Belgium’s national dish Moules-Frites (mussels and fries). The Merry Monk offers seven different styles of mussels, from classic to Thai. Each sounded interesting, but for our first try, we settled on the classic preparation with butter, garlic, parsley and wine ($10 for 1 pound). For an extra $3 we got a side of frites, with two sauces. The mussels were an instant hit with everyone except Son who would not even hold one in his hand. They came in a giant bowl, bathed in broth. Daughter loved the taste and described the texture as “very soft and easy to swallow.” The fries were tucked in a paper-lined, vertical cone and were well seasoned. While Son stuck with plain ketchup, the rest of us enjoyed the flavors of the two dips chipotle and roasted garlic mayo.
The moules-frites were just right to whet our appetites, though we did wait a while for the main courses to arrive. The Merry Monk’s menu is simple but filled with interesting choices and combinations of ingredients. Though Mom and Dad appreciated the enticing descriptions of each menu item and the many Belgian influences, we have found that sometimes less wording is better when it comes to getting kids to try new foods. Being picky, Son managed to find one or two things “wrong” with each description until he reached the Classic Burger ($11). Having previously approved of the fries, he picked another order of them for his side. Daughter also stuck with a burger, although hers came with blue cheese and prosciutto, and she chose the side salad. Both kids liked their burgers, but remarked on the overly charred edges. Mom loved the Duck “Rueben” ($12) a delicious combination of duck confit, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut balanced with a touch of fig jam. It was a satisfying mix of taste and texture.
Dad ignored his French onion soup “rule” (if it’s on the menu, it must be ordered), and chose one of the Belgian specialties the Carbonnades Flamande ($14). He loved the texture of the celery, carrots and onions, although he was less than happy about the potatoes being cold. He did like the flavor of the stew, including the hint of stout.
For dessert, we opted for the Belgian waffles ($8) to share. Although we enjoyed the taste of the waffles, the texture was denser than we expected, and the generic ice cream and bottled chocolate sauce detracted. Next time, we might opt for the delicious-sounding homemade framboise ice cream.
We loved getting to experience a bit of Belgium in Saratoga at the Merry Monk. While the service was a little on the slow side, the staff was friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. Mom and Dad could see returning with a group of adults for a deeper exploration of the extensive beer list along with a round of yummy moules-frites. We give the Merry Monk 3 C’s for service, 3 C’s for family friendliness and 4 C’s for food.
The Family Chow hails from the Capital District and will be contributing regular reviews of area restaurants based on service, food and family friendliness.