The Old Monk

The Old MonkThe Old Monk
The Old MonkThe Old Monk
Bar, Eatery

2847 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, Texas, 75206-6470
United States

(214) 821-1880 | map
oldmonkdallas.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
39
pDev:
10.86%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.7 by chrisjws from California

May 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.2 by SpaceBeagle from Utah

Jan 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by NeoClassicist from New York

Feb 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by texdoh from Texas

Oct 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.64 by zizouandyuki from Texas

Jun 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by aufie from Texas

May 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by ruzzal from Texas

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by memphischas from Tennessee

Apr 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by bonercityUSA from Texas

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by MattSweatshirt from Texas

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by spycow from Illinois

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by CRJMellor from Arkansas

Nov 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Abbbp from Texas

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mgr78704 from Texas

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by RobertH50 from Texas

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Nathan_Short from Tennessee

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by BJasny from Texas

Jul 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by street1891 from Texas

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SavageHopHead from Texas

Jun 03, 2014
Photo of Kellya
Reviewed by Kellya from Texas

2.3/5  rDev -43.2%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 1.75
Many of the reviews cover my complaint: not enough beer.
An example of the shortage of beer is the Draft list on the chalk board - my husband asked about one and was told it was in a bottle. He noted that it was on the board but the waitress pointed out that only the top two beers are draft and the other 5 were labelled as bottles.
We are used to more than 2 rotational beers so we didn't even notice.
I had the Franconia Hefeweizen and enjoyed it as usual but I'd really wanted something appropriate to the cool weather. It was $5.50.
My husband had the Duvel Single for $8.
I kept telling my husband we could come another time and try it when there wasn't such a crowd but then I looked at the beer list and couldn't find a reason to go again. I went through the argument three different ways and still arrived at the same conclusion.
Many more better places to spend my money.
I reviewed the atmosphere low because it was smoky, noisy and didn't have enough seating. I reviewed the quality as poor because I went here to try some good beers and they had nothing I wanted to try.
Mar 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by rjtx000 from Texas

Nov 22, 2013
Photo of dtivp
Reviewed by dtivp from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Visited with friends on a hot Saturday afternoon. There was a large outside seating area, the temperature drove us inside. Very Belgium brewpub like atmosphere with dark woods, large open seating area with a nice bar area.

There were about 15 selections of beer on tap and around a 30 to 40 bottle variety. Mostly Belgiums and a few local brews and the typical big box beers.

Waitress was very attentive, friendly and had great knowledge of the beer selection and menu.

Very nice selection of food very good quality, enjoyed the Bilton Burger and the Guinness Beef Stew. Very reasonably priced and overall a very enjoyable pub.
Jun 16, 2011
Photo of stephens101
Reviewed by stephens101 from Oklahoma

3.94/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Pretty hoppin on a Friday night. Atmosphere was cool and laid-back. No blaring music, just a lot of people seemingly having a good time. Has an outside patio that is partially open and partially covered, with plenty of space. The covered part had picnic tables and the uncovered part had regular tables. Selection was good with a nice array of Belgian brews and American Crafts. I thought the draught options were a little slim. Had a few Texas brews, and was hoping there would have been more. I've noticed the lack of local brews at a few places in Dallas. What up with that? The waitress was friendly, but mostly business, which works well for me, as she kept the drinks full and was on top of it. If I lived in this area of Dallas I could see the Old Monk being a stomping ground for me.
Sep 12, 2010
Photo of GJ40
Reviewed by GJ40 from North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Old Monk is a medium sized pub in a nice little area north of downtown Dallas. It's got an authentic feel with dark woods, exposed brick, low lighting and lots of little touches that would remind you of a European pub. The Christmas lights really spice it up for the holidays.

They had about 15 on tap with the usual Europeans (Guinness, Harp, Stella, etc.) and several others. I went with a Maredsous and a Breckenridge Christmas Ale (on their rotating tap).

The Old Monk is a nice little pub. I don't think it's worth going out of your way for but if you're in the area or passing by, it's worth a visit.
Dec 17, 2009
Photo of 86sportster883
Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -6.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
On Tap:
Franziskaner, Kronenbourg 1664, Maredsous 8, Hoegaarden, Lindeman's Framboise, Chimay White, Stella Artois, Franconia Hefe, Harp, Smithwicks, Guinness, Sierra Nevada, Blue Moon and Gulden Draak.

Bottles included a nice selection of Belgians, a decent selection of Bavarian wheat beers, the mandatory UK brews, a limited selection of US micros and a few select beers from elsewhere.

The Old Monk was a lively place on a Wednesday night. The inside was dark wood, dimly lit and boisterous. Although primarily filled with guys, there was a good number of couples scattered among the tables both inside and out. Were I not alone, I would have preferred the outdoor seating which seemed a few notches mellower than that inside.

I watched the Stars beat the Red Wings on one of two flatscreens while enjoying a couple of Belgian drafts at the bar. Once the game was over though, I could find little reason to stay. The prices were a bit high, the music grew a bit loud and the draught selection was just too run of the mill.

I finished my Maredsous 8 and left to find the Ginger Man.
Nov 21, 2009
Photo of ballewblake
Reviewed by ballewblake from New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I have a hard time wanting to enjoy this place, but I can see why lots of people seem to want to go here. The place is just way too busy and crowded for me. I tend to always end up here with friends and thats a peek times. The selection of drafts change frequently, but for some reason I'm never impressed with them (Stella, Blue Moon, Francoia Wheat, Guinness, Harp, etc. nothing great or different.) The bottles are more interesting to me but waaaay over priced. A Westmalle Trip for 9 bucks, Duvel for 8, just doesn't sit well with me when I go to other bars off the beaten path for 6 and 5.5, respectfully. Also, parking is a royal pain here, rarely have I seen an open spot in their tiny lot, and I'm not cool with valet due to past experiences, and parking in the residential hoods is just sketchy. Basically, a meat market for pretty people that enjoy stella.
Apr 14, 2008
Photo of Beertracker
Reviewed by Beertracker from Oklahoma

4.6/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
The Old Monk is an absolute haven for weary travelers and should be on any beer lovers radar while in Dallas. The place has an authentic European charm about it and that's no coincidence because the proprietors hail from Dublin, IE. The pub is located in the heart of the Knox-Henderson area just 1 block east of US-75 & Henderson. The draught selection is well balanced between BE, UK, & US micros and the bottle selection is fairly extensive with a few hidden gems. As an added bonus, the bartenders make an effort to serve all of the beers at the right temperatures in the appropriate glassware which makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The food menu is not expansive, but absolutely fantastic for pub fare. I love the Belgian steamed mussels and Moules frites, the cheese boards are awesome, as is the Ploughman's Lunch. You cant't really beat the fish & chips or the soups & sandwiches either. Hell it's all good, so stop by for a firkin pint!

CHEERS! Beertracker
Feb 01, 2008
Photo of skillerified
Reviewed by skillerified from California

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon with a couple of friends. Really liked the place. I'm not familiar with much of the Dallas side of the Metroplex, but this looked like a pretty cool little part of town.

It was dark, even in the mid-afternoon. Dark colors abound. Good mix of music that was just loud enough to have to talk over, not yell over. Lots of seating. Outdoor seating looked plentiful too (it was August afterall, maybe it's different in October). They do allow smoking indoors, which was unexpected, but not too bothersome. My only complaint was that it was pretty hot in there that day. Me and my two friends had broken a sweat by the time we left, but it wasn't unbearable. Maybe the A/C was just out that day or something.

Service was prompt. They brought water as soon as we sat down without us asking for it, which I really appreciated. The waitress seemed to know her stuff, made some good recommendations.

Selection seemed decent. Not a Flying Saucer-like selection, but lots of good stuff in the Belgian style. Everything served at proper temperatures and in/with proper glassware too.

Definitely would stop back in. Great little beer bar here.
Aug 23, 2007
Photo of ddarden
Reviewed by ddarden from Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Visited on a Sunday night and enjoyed the experience. The building and decor is what I like in a beer bar: long bar, a lot of dark wood, no tv's, etc. The music was a little loud, but alteast I enjoyed what they were playing. My favorite aspect of the bar was the bartenders. They were extremely friendly and attentive. I had dinner there and it was excellent. My only disappointment was the beer selection. They had a very common lineup of Euro beers with a couple of Belgians (Maredsous, Chimay) The bottle selection was better on the Belgian side, but very common stuff from other countries. Definitely a small American craft selection. They did use appropriate glassware for the beers they poured. All in all, a very well done atmosphere and great service, but average selection.
Apr 03, 2007
Photo of SwillinBrew
Reviewed by SwillinBrew from California

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Landed in Dallas 5:30pm on a Sunday, was at the Old Monk by 7pm. Damn, i love this place.

You go in under a small red brick archway, thru a small front patio and into the front doors. If you kept going straight you would go thru some cool monastary looking dark brown double doors to the side patio area. (No one was in any of the patios because it was raining when i went)

As you go in the front, a warm cheery, red brick and dark wood atmoshpere greet you. The lighting was quaintly dim with the bar on the left and large mirrors behind it. Oh the shelves behind the bar were bottles of various belgian, english, german, scottish brews. There were about 12 taps with one of the taps dedicated to a guest beer and the other dedicated to a local texas beer which was Real Ale's Shade Grown Coffee porter... damn, it was friggen tasty. All glassware served was appropriate and when i ordered a bottle of kwak, my kind waitress poured it into my chalice so i wouldnt get the sediment... what a sweety.

The food was tasty. I had the mussels steamed in hoegaarden along with the ploughman's lunch ie 2 cheeses (u pick your items), pickeled onion, bread, cup of soup, and crackers. i thought i was in medieval europe. The rest of the menu looked delicious!.

The only drawback was too many people were smoking in here. I wish TX didnt allow that. However, i'm not dinging the place for it. In CA you can't smoke in the bars... would it be right if a smoker dinged a CA bar because he couldnt smoke... that's my logic. Anyways, i loved this bar the best while in TX. Do yourself a favor and get here now.
Dec 15, 2006
Photo of Melchizedek
Reviewed by Melchizedek from Texas

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
My only complaint with this place is that it's a touch loud, music-wise. Nice decor, comfy, pleasant, helpful and attentive staff (wasn't in a situation to test their knowledge, but I was impressed with our waitress's pour technique).

Selection is good - not huge like a Saucer or Ginger Man, but their picks are good, and it's pretty easy to find something that will suit your palate. I had a couple 550 mL bottles, Fuller's 1845 and Sam Smith's Taddy Porter, and fish and chips (which was a delightful meal). Prices are overall reasonable - certainly no more than you'd spend anywhere else for comparable victuals and beverages. Really, I could be a regular there if I lived closer.
Nov 14, 2006
Photo of Morris729
Reviewed by Morris729 from Texas

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Fairly laid back beer bar/restaurant in a trendy area of town (so parking can be a problem at busy times). 15 or so taps with about 50 bottles from which to choose. Taps are kept in good condition. Emphasis is on Belgian beers, but they have a fairly decent selection from the rest of Europe as well. The staff is very knowledge—a trait sadly missing in many bars. Food is top notch with the fish and chips and the mussels steamed in Hoegaarden both being excellent. This is one of my favorite spots in Dallas.
Oct 06, 2006
Photo of dougnboston
Reviewed by dougnboston from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Several Belgium taps make a beer bar a wonderful expeience. I was travelling on business, checked beerfly and found this place. It has a really big patio area that wraps around the building. Lots of tables and hard working staff. I started inside at the bar. BIg and comfortable. I think there were 15 or so taps working. Lots of bottles. Not the biggest selection but a very good one. Proper glasses always make the experience that much better. My last beer was a fresh Orval in it's proper Orval glass. Lots of friendly people around to chat it up with. I was impressed.
Aug 10, 2006
Photo of beerdrifter
Reviewed by beerdrifter from Germany

4.6/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
After spending 5 years living 30 minutes from the Belgium border, being transferred to Louisiana has been hard to deal with. But after discovering the Old Monk, there may be hope. The moment we walked through the front door we knew we were in the right place. The dark wood and exposed brick adorned with Belgian beer signs instantly transported us back in time. They really hit the mark in keeping with the monastic theme.

If the atmosphere alone isn't enough to keep you coming back, just wait until you open the menus. The beer selection is outstanding, of course with an emphasis on the Belgians, including Hoegaarden, Maredsous, Chimay and Orval. There's also a very respectable selection of beers from Germany, Holland, the UK and the US.

We figured that with the great atmosphere and wonderful beer selection we'd be asking too much to hope that the food was also top notch. But the real show stopper is the food. You must try the house specialty...Moules Frites. It's a generous portion of mussels steamed in Hoegaarden and served with fries and spicy mayo. It was every bit as good as any we had in Belgium. And the Fish and Chips and Guinness Stew are equally amazing. The Old Monk is by far the best pub I've been to in the US!
Mar 05, 2006
Photo of briman
Reviewed by briman from Texas

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Belgian style pub down around the SMU area of town. Great Belgian style pub...great atmosphere with both indoor & outdoor seating. Beer selection is usually excellent, and to be honest my favorite thing about this place is the food. A very unique menu with quite a few selections you won't find in other places, and everything I've tried has been excellent. The only negative about this place is it's location...parking can be quite a challenge...but if you find a spot, this is the kind of bar you can stay at a while.
Mar 03, 2006
Photo of assurbanipaul
Reviewed by assurbanipaul from Texas

4.05/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Refreshing to find a place like this in North Texas, which is relatively poor in quality beer joints. The Old Monk is very nicely done, good atmosphere and very well laid out for a Belgian-style pub.

The emphasis is, of course, on the Belgian selections. Not as extensive a beer list as I would have preferred but better than you'll find anywhere else in the area and all of good quality, served in the proper glassware. About a dozen taps and good standards from the rest of Europe (Guinness, Paulaner, etc) are also available.

Food is good to great, everyone seemed happy with it. Servers are well-informed about the selections and can make recommendations. This place attracts a very nice crowd as the evening progresses, also.
Oct 05, 2003
Photo of LarryKemp
Reviewed by LarryKemp from Texas

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
The Old Monk reminded me of an European pub. They have a wide variety of Belgian and German beers on tap and in the bottles. The wait staff seemed informed and ready to serve. The service was good. We went on a Sunday afternoon before the late evening crowd showed up. The selection of Belgian beers may be the best in the Metroplex. The ciders on draught was also good. The fish and chips were excellent. My friend had two orders of steamed mussels - so I guess they must have been pretty good. My wife's hamburger was big and she said it tasted good. I recommend this place for someone to sit and have a few beers in a conversational environment.
Mar 30, 2003
Photo of johnrobe
Reviewed by johnrobe from Tennessee

3.93/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This was my favorite pub when I lived in the Dallas area. Belgian themed, The Old Monk manages to have an authentic old world feel while not coming off as kitschy like so many other Euro-themed American pubs. The Belgians are well represented here with Affligen, Belle Vue, Chimay, Corsendonk, De Koninck, Duvel, Hoegaarden, Liefmans, Lindemans, Lucifer, Mannekin Pis, and (on draught) Maredsous. They even have 3 liter double magnums of some Belgian beers for the truly thirsty (Duvel is one. Go ahead....I dare you). ;-) Selections from other countries are small but very respectable. The menu consists of pub fare with some Belgian specialties: steamed mussels, a cheese board with...you guessed it...Trappist cheese. My personal favorite is their Guinness Beef Stew. The only drawback is that it gets pretty crowded on weekends.
Oct 17, 2002
The Old Monk in Dallas, TX
Place rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 39 ratings