Bexley's Monk

10/10/09

Disappointment. Don't Bother

by meeks8 at Citysearch

I could write a novel on all the things that went wrong at this restaurant, but I'll try to keep this brief. I made a reservation online, however, it did not go through to their system. The manager told me "That is why I hate our online system... Oh, and by the way it's been down for a day and a half". Wow. Thanks for putting a disclaimer about that on your website and not offering an apology. We later overheard him arguing with the table next to us after they complained that there food was cold, bland and they had been there for an hour and a half. He did eventually offer them an apology, but not without being a defensive jerk first. So, the manager was clearly clueless. Our waiter exhibited rude and odd behavior the entire time. 1) It took him 15 minutes to even acknowledge our presence. 2) I was finishing my salad (which came at the same time as our appetizer and took 30 minutes) when he came up and said "Wow, it looks like you are actually going for that last piece of lettuce, so I'll wait here to take your plate". I was in such shock, I put my fork down and handed him my plate without saying anything. 3) He threw 3 loaves of bread on our table when we hadn't finished the first one. 4) When he brought the paid check back, he said "which one are you" while waiving the check back and forth between my husband and I before finally put it down in the middle. He didn't tell us to have a good night or even say goodbye after that. Not to mention that he never checked on us or asked how our food was. He'd throw something on our table and literally run away.The bread, salad and shrimp cocktail were good, but the entree (a simple tomato and basil pasta) was ridiculously bland. Bottom line: It is shocking that this long-standing Columbus institution is, in fact, a long-standing Columbus institution. DO NOT GO HERE. We certainly will never go back.

• Pros: Good Bread, Salad and Shrimp Cocktail
• Cons: Horrible Service, Rude Management, Overpriced, Bland Entree

02/14/09

Waited 2 hours for some of the worst food in Columbus

by markjbecker at Citysearch

Mussels, not bad, tomato sauce little burnt. Salad dreadful, no "blue" in the blue cheese and smoother in oil, just avoid. Crab cake, if there was crab in them, had a dominant herb flavor that was soooo bad no one at the table could eat them. They were substituted for raw scallops which were also sent back. There seafood stew was essentially the mussel dish with pasta and shrimp thrown in. The lamb amazingly after, such a long wait were on the rare side of really rare. The problem, they were very fatty, which doesn't work well when you don't cook them fully.

We had to get the manager to try and get our dinners after 1 hour and 40 minutes. The waiter dissappeared, I am assuming because he was so embarrassed. This left us sitting there with no wine, water, bread and butter or anything else for an hour. Although the manager was nice and was sorry, even if service had been good, the food was just horrible.

• Pros: Close to my new home
• Cons: food and service

05/20/08

Be careful

by Eattae at Citysearch

We have eaten at Bexley Monk several times over the years. Once upon a time it was outstanding. It then deteriorated to dreadful. I have not eaten there since new ownership/management/chef has taken over.

My son ate there not long ago in party totalling five (5). The menu alerted to an 18% tip for parties of six (6) or more. The waitress arbitratily added 20% tip.

The last time there was dreadful. My wife ordered scallops which were severely overcooked. They were as rubbery pucks. Where is Alton Brown when needed?

We are butter addicts and were served some kind of yellow spread which was whipped and served in a bowl. It simply was not butter. The meals were $21 each. If they want to serve partially hydrogenated stuff, then say so and we can bring our own butter.

In all fairness, I spoke to a person who had eaten at Bex Monk, had ordered the scallops (post new owner/manager/chef) and I was told the scallops were excellent.

This is not a discount restaurant. I am more of a quality food guy than a Martha Stewart ambience one. If your partner is turned on by ambience and you can afford the prices, go for it. Again, I've not eaten there for a while.

2008-05-20-3-2034 -0400

• Pros: Free parking
• Cons: Overcooked food and lack of butter