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I just paid the Monk a quick visit, because I was planning to meet friends elsewhere. As a result, I only tried a couple of the many beers they offer. My first selection was a bit... unexpected. The bartender was one of the most adorable women I have ever seen, but her descriptions of the beers on tap were a bit incomplete. So I ordered a Lindemans Framboise, unaware that "raspberry lambic ale" translates roughly to "kicked-up wine cooler." Don't get me wrong, it was tasty. But I wasn't in the mood to belly up to the bar and quaff a pink beer. So I put it away as fast as I could and ordered some calamari.
Old Monk's food menu is as extensive and varied as the beer list, so the food wasn't an easy choice. But I love calamari. It is an easy dish to cook poorly, so I thought it would be a good test of the kitchen. To my palate, it was cooked perfectly.
While I chugged my pink beer, I took a careful look at the beer list, hoping to avoid another squirrely selection. I settled on Harp, an Irish lager. This beer was excellent.
I also tried a cup of the Guinness beef stew, which was extraordinary. My only complaint was that I would have liked a couple more pieces of the beef, which was tender and exquisite in flavor. But the stew was packed with big, tasty chunks of perfectly cooked potatoes and a couple of other veggies. It also came with a good bread for sopping up the delicious broth.
Overall, the food and beer were excellent. While I found her descriptions of the beer lacking, the bartender was very friendly and personable.
The atmosphere of the Old Monk is nice as well. It is small without being cramped. They have a lovely outdoor patio area, which, when I went, was filled with attractive women. With the windows and doors open, the temperature and air quality were excellent. There are several tables and ample space at the bar. There are a few TVs, but they don't monopolize the bar or drown out conversation.
The only real problem I saw was that parking was somewhat scarce when I arrived around 7 on a weeknight. But the Old Monk would have been well worth parking a few blocks away and hoofing it!
On a scale of ten points (pints?), I give the Old Monk a nine.
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This bar has about 15 beers on tap and about100 bottles. As big a Belgium selection as you're going to find in Texas. Most of the Belgium ales are the mainstream variety (Chimay, Duval, Orval, Hoogarden) but, in Texas, this is reaching out. We had a great server, sat outside in the pleasant fall weather (albeit right next to the street) and enjoyed the brews. Nice place to hang out.
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