The Lucky Monk Menu

The Lucky Monk Restaurant Review:

Named for the Trappist monks who perfected the craft of Belgium’s monastery brewing, this casual, heavily populated, sporty eatery is right by a theater, which helps. But the fact that the pizzas have chewy, crunchy crusts and quality toppings, and the menu is loaded with well executed, just-different-enough crowd pleasers bodes well, too. Among starters, chicken-poblano chili, its broth thin, has good flavor and just enough burn, while the soft pretzels --- which arrive as a platter of three --- are most memorable when dunked in Wisconsin cheddar-beer cheese. We like the salty, fried pickle coins and the spicy, truffled deviled eggs as well. Burgers are Prime, and they arrive pumped up on little “stands,” making them seem larger than life. The Farmhouse, topped with apple wood-smoked Duroc bacon and an add-on fried egg, more than suffices, especially with the fistful of crisp hand-cut fries on the side. Among entrées, we recommend the stout-braised short rib pappardelle with roasted tomatoes and wild mushrooms. For dessert, the fig-mascarpone tart is a must; meanwhile, kids get their own hot, fresh-baked chocolate cookie with chocolate sauce and chocolate milk for dunking. The house-brewed beer selection ranges from Czech-style pilsner to thick, tasty porter, but watch for seasonal specials (especially bourbon barrel-aged stout).