Monkey - Lunch Restaurant Review

For those of you that are already fans of Monkey, don't worry, their old classics such as the Marilyn Monroe Halloumi burger (which can now also be enjoyed in a soft shell taco) and The Dude pan-fried chicken breast burger are still available.

We popped in at lunch time, but the new menu is also available for dinner. Being so close to the Aiguille du Midi cable car, Monkey is a great spot for those that want a filling breakfast, brunch or even lunch before tackling the Vallee Blanche.

Having checked-out the menu beforehand, I already had my eye on the Sirlon Steak with hand-cut fries and rocket salad. My French friend was feeling a bit more adventurous and opted for the Cool Runnings Jerk Chicken burger with roasted pineapple salsa, coriander and lemon aioli. Keen to sample as many new items as possible we also went for the Lime & Apple Slaw and the Beetroot & Smoked Tofu Salad (one of the great things about Monkey is that there are plenty of options for vegetarians).

Steak can be very hit and miss, but Monkey's was spot on. Perfectly cooked and with a delicious Chimichurri green sauce - not at all the usual with steak but it was absolutely delicious and really nice to have something so fresh to accompany the meat. Their hand-cut fries, both the traditional and sweet potato, for me, have always been the best in town - so they didn't last long.

Although completely satisfied, there was no way I wasn't going to try the Lime & Apple Slaw and Beetroot & Smoked Tofu Salad. The Slaw was a scrumptious, refreshing variation with its tangy flavours and the salad was especially tasty with plenty of fresh ingredients, it could definitely be enjoyed as a filling meal on its own.

All that was left to do now was to wrestle some of the Cool Runnings burger off the French man. It was worth the fight - a great spicy combination of flavours with tender chicken.

Despite being thoroughly full - we felt it would have been rude not to have a pudding and a coffee (which came with a small square of brownie) especially with such tempting options. We both fancied the Freshly Baked Cookie Sundae but unfortunately being on a lunch-break we didn't have the 20 minutes preparation time to spare, so being the mature adults that we are, we played 'Eeny, meeny, miny, moe' between the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Orange Spiced Apple Crumble, and the Crumble won. We weren't disappointed. The orange is a great addition to this traditional pudding, making it more mellow and less sharp.

All in all we had a fantastic meal with excellent service. The French man (who is particularly fussy when it comes to food and service) was very impressed by his first Monkey experience. He thought that the menu offered an interesting variety of dishes, the food was fresh, well cooked and full of flavour and it was all topped off by quick and pleasant service (in both French and English). We will be back! (especially as Monkey offer so many great dining offers throughout the week).