Monkey Bar NYC: Hog Salt Does It Again
I’ve been a Hog Salt fan for years. Like, ride-or-die, trust-the-process, order-without-thinking kind of fan. Au Cheval, Small Cheval, the Chicago spots, all of it. The only reason it took me this long to get to Monkey Bar NYC is simple: I do not enjoy fighting for reservations. That is not my ministry.
Luckily, my friends from Florida are willing to do the work. They grabbed the reservation, dragged me along, and suddenly I’m sitting inside Monkey Bar, wondering why I waited so long.
There were four of us, and this was our second stop of the night, which is the perfect way to experience Monkey Bar. You don’t overthink it. You just order a little bit of everything and let Hog Salt do what Hog Salt does best.
The Food: Dialed In, As Always
We started strong with appetizers. The butter lettuce salad did exactly what it was supposed to do: light, refreshing, palate-cleansing, no drama. A little avocado, a few accents, and boom, reset button hit.
The shrimp cocktail was textbook. Big shrimp, clean flavor, no surprises. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Then came the heavy hitters.
We ordered the double cheeseburger with the runny egg, cut in half so everyone could get a taste. This burger is one of my favorites in the city, even if I still think Small Cheval slightly edges it out for my personal smashburger-loving soul. That said, this thing performs. Bacon on point, meat cooked right, egg doing its thing. You can absolutely split it and still feel like you lived your best life.
We also added the prime rib French dip, because saying no to that would be irresponsible. Rich, beefy, dunkable, and exactly what you want late into a night of good decisions and better ordering.
The Drinks: Martini Territory
Martinis were happening. Obviously.
I stuck with my usual blue cheese situation, while the ladies went for an espresso martini with reposado, which was surprisingly excellent. Balanced, not too sweet, and dangerously easy to drink. Hog Salt knows how to run a bar. Period.
Dessert: No Regrets
For dessert, we went with the chocolate cream pie. Insert your own joke here. We also added gelato, because at that point why stop.
Everything landed.
Service & Overall Vibe
The staff was friendly, attentive, and perfectly timed. This is what Hog Salt does better than almost anyone. Nothing feels rushed, nothing feels forgotten, and everything arrives when it should. The whole operation is just… dialed.
I’ve eaten at their New York spots, their Chicago spots, even their Italian restaurant back in the day. They do not miss. There’s a reason reservations are hard to get. It’s not hype, it’s consistency.
Final Verdict
Monkey Bar NYC is absolutely worth the reservation battle, even if you don’t want to fight it yourself. The burger alone earns a repeat visit, and the overall experience reminds you why Hog Salt continues to dominate wherever they open.
Now, excuse me while I think about that burger again and actively resist ordering delivery before this turns into a very different kind of blog.
But hey, what do I know?
Look, I’m just a Fat Guy from Brooklyn giving you my two cents. If you want more Top 10s—steakhouses, burgers, restaurants, you name it—click the words and keep going.