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Spice Monkey
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1628 Webster St(between 15th St & 17th St)
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 268-0170
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 10 am - 10 pm
Sun 10 am - 2 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
286 reviews for Spice Monkey
Review Highlights
"Missed the childhood chicken pot pie and had that."
(in 39 reviews)
"The lavender lemonade was wonderful."
(in 14 reviews)
"The bbq pork sandwich made the cut."
(in 14 reviews)
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286 reviews in English
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Review from Barbara K.
Oakland, CA
2/7/2012 2 photos
Decor: Very Good
Food: Very Good, interesting choices, fresh ingredients
Service: Excellent
Parking: Perfect when I went, but probably tight M-F because it's downtown
My dh and I went with a discount coupon for their weekend brunch. We went on a Sunday, so the parking was easy and free. Both of us appreciated the attention to detail in the decor: the tile/brick motif was consistent throughout the space. The fountain, while taking up space, also helps to define and separate the entrance from the bar and tables. The service was friendly and attentive. The brunch menu was really interesting, as there are dishes to satisfy many different tastes. I'm not particularly adventurous for the first meal of the day, so I had the eggs, chicken apple sausage, smashed potatoes and salad. It was very good. The salad was fresh and lightly dressed. The smashed potatoes were really good, and the sausage was unique & amazing--mixed with fresh green onions and probably other things and then fried up in big patties. The eggs were fine, though I asked for them to be fried medium well and the yolks were very runny. According to dh, the coffee was very good and he really enjoyed the kale omelet plate. I'm pretty sure we'll be back. A couple of minor criticisms: there were 3 herbal teas, but only one flavor of loose leaf caffeinated/black tea. I'm a tea snob -- it would be good to have a couple of options like Earl Gray or Constant Comment style or something. The prices were low/moderate; entrees were $8-$11. Coffee/tea were about $2.75(cup of coffee) - $3.75 (pot of tea). Oh, and it would be nice if the heat were turned on; it was a little chilly inside. So bring a sweater ;~). -
Review from Ileana S.
Oakland, CA
2/5/2012
Spice Monkey is worth a visit for the ambiance alone. The adorable tiled courtyard feel plus the charming neighborhood appeal, make it a great spot for sangria and appetizers. Some of the entrees occasionally miss their mark , but the sandwiches, salads, and appetizers are solid.
The seasonal menu worried me at first because some of my favorite items disappeared, but they brought 'em back, and that made them seem even more special.
Best bets: Portobello mushroom sandwich, beet salad, empanadas, mac-n-cheese, and of course Sangria! -
Review from Susan D.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been here once before with the kidlet, and remember it being good and quick for our pre concert meal.
So the other kidlet is in town from LA and wanting "something healthy" we had to scratch off a few faves for a dinner. We had many considerations, as I was picking up kid w/fiancee at Oakland airport and the other kid actually lives in Oakland and refused to drive out of that perimeter for dinner. Wow, okay then YOU pick something.
So Eldest Ungrateful Yuppie larvae decides Spice Monkey will make everyone happy (I really do love my kids, just trying to please everyone was a bit much)
Fine, we have a 7:30 reservation. I find ample just around the corner from the restaurant, though......this Saturday night the Occupy Oakland are marching and getting arrested. So that area is a bit "tense". Were we park theres a cop just standing in the dark, I guess watching the area. Great can you keep an eye on the car while you're at it. (when we returned after dinner he was seriously still there!)
Anyhoo it's a smallish restaurant with a big bar area downstairs, though I do think there's seating upstairs (I didn't check that out) Nice bathroom since I was dying to go after waiting for the plane to come in) Clean and nicely decorated.
The restaurant has a casual vibe, the three of us were waiting for the other kid and her new beau so we ordered lettuce wraps. I think these were chicken and quite tasty.
I then ordered a Cambodian salad that was really good. It had some beef that was coated in a lightly spicy sauce with veggies and lettuce. Came in a huge bowl and I devoured it! Everyone had something different and I'm sorry can't remember everyone's but my kidlet from LA ordered a fish dinner. They come back and say they are out of that fish but they have a cod? So she says fine and when it's served it's smothered in a sauce ( a dairy based sauce) Now this is my "healthy" eater and doesn't do dairy. They were very accommodating and remade the fish with a wine sauce.
For 5 of us the bill was around $100.00 including the 5 meals, appetizer, tea, beer....not bad and everyone seemed happy. It's also right around the corner from the Fox Theater so could be a nice choice for the pre concert snack. -
Review from Linda M.
Hayward, CA
1/24/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Tuesday night - half price bottles of wine!
Monkey fries!
These are two of the things that make me happy to come to Spice Monkey. I come up here every once in a while with a discussion group. This group happens to include some folks who know how to pick good wine. I like to be around those kinds of people, especially when bottles are half price.
I've tried several things on the menu and have never been disappointed. Most recently the vegan black bean soup, which had a nice kick. And a side of Monkey Fries. Always, a side of Monkey Fries.
The service is always friendly and accommodating. I like the Spice Monkey. -
Review from Melissa B.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 1/15/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Downgrading to a 2 star, unfortunately, even though the space is lovely, I don't want to mislead people based on my review from a year ago. Things seem to have changed, and not for the better. Came here with my boyfriend, who had never been, and I was embarrassed to have brought him here because the pot pie I hoped he would like wasn't good at all, the crust was lame, and the filling looked and tasted kinda off, it had curry in it or something?
My turkey burger was only okay, the side of hummus was kinda unappealing.
I don't know if there's been a change of management or what, the menu has certainly changed, and there were not that many people there, and it was kind of a downer atmosphere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/29/2010
I had a great evening here with 2 Yelp pals last week after drinks at SOMAR.
I fell in love with… Read more »
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Review from Chris L.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is so awful, I don't know why the ratings are so high. Have some standards!
Our table of four sat next to the fountain, which does nothing for the restaurant other than take up space. The waitress was bumping into my chair every few minutes during the whole meal since the tables are too close together. There was only one waitress for the first floor and it was really busy for a Friday lunch. She was awful. It took over 15 minutes to receive our lav-en-der lemo-nade (separated it so that it does not show up on the mentioned words list on yelp) (which was not worth $3.25 since it tasted like crap and was not sweet at all!). I had the pork sandwich and the pork was not bad but the portion is very small and not worth it. Also, the monkey fries are bigger than three fingers, which didn't look appetizing so I went for the salad, which was really a coleslaw with some random kale in it. The fish burger was not thoughtful in its presentation. The chicken pot pie was ok, but a bit watery - I'm not sure whether it was better or worse than Marie Calendar's frozen pot pie or what they used to serve in high school cafeterias.
I would never come back here. The service, taste and quality of the food, price and everything else were awful. The only attempt at service was at the end when the waitress asked our friend if she needed a refill. Also, service was really slow. I parked right in front of the place and it took over one hour and fifteen minutes to finish lunch - ridiculous! -
Review from Ruth S.
Oakland, CA
1/22/2012
My hubby and I have different palates - and usually one of us has to compromise, but not at Spice Monkey.
I can have Mediterranean flavors and he can have Asian.
We tried POW-POW SPARE RIBS and the CAMBODIAN STEAK SALAD. Food was plentiful, service was friendly, vibe was mellow.
Thanks for a great evening. -
Review from Aracelli F.
Alameda, CA
1/9/2012
My boyfriend and I went here because I bought a voucher online that was $25 for two for brunch. It included 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and two coffees. Great deal, couldn't pass it up. We decided to go in Christmas Eve day and we soon learned from looking around that everyone in there was in there on the same voucher meaning they had no brunch regulars. Bad sign. We ordered bloody marys, I ordered the Chilla Tortillas (their version of chilaquiles) and he ordered the S.O.S (biscuits and gravy).
I was pretty excited when the Soju bloody marys came because we both love them, so even though they looked a bit anemic (almost pink) and were missing olives, we excitedly took a sip. All we could taste was horseradish and boooze. Kudos for making them strong, but where was the tomato? The worcestershire? The flavor? No celery salt on the rim, even though they boast on the site that they make their own spice blends. I have never had the need to add salt and pepper to a bloody mary before this but it tasted like a glass of melted ice water from the bottom of a raw oyster condiment tray.
Next, our coffees. They sell it on the menu for $3 as "Fair Trade Coffee", and if you're going to charge that much for a cup of coffee and serve it in pretentious clear glass cups instead of mugs then at least have the decency to make sure it's not completely transparent like sweet tea! No flavor. Weak, weak coffee. Neither of us are picky people, especially not when we have a deal like this, but any decent diner will offer you a solid cup of joe that won't cost you $3. Things were just not looking good for the Spice Monkey.
My Chilla Tortillas. Hmmm. Ok, chilaquiles are one of the greatest Mexican breakfast items on the planet. My grandma made them. I love them. Basically, you take a bunch of stale tortillas from the day before, pour leftover salsa over them, maybe some meat, and simmer them in a pan until they soak up the salsa and are tender and yummy. Then you sprinkle some chopped onion and cilantro over the top and some cotija cheese. This was not what i got. I got some round, salty tortilla chips that looked like what you'd buy for a cheap tailgate party with some shredded chicken and salsa verde on top. Tiny bit of cheese. Overcooked eggs. The flavors were there, but the execution was awful. I couldn't eat the chips with a fork because they broke into a million pieces. It was like some bastardization of nachos. I ate it, I hate to waste food, but it disappointed me so much.
My boyfriend's S.O.S. was bland as could be. Apparently, the Spice Monkey stole all of the spices from the kitchen and buggered off into the Oakland jungle with them because the gravy was flavorless, and the green onion biscuits tasted like a golf puck made out of Play-doh. Never did identify the green onion flavor, and they were burnt on the bottom, dry and crumbly. The gravy was under-seasoned even though it had sausage in it. How can you screw up such a simple, classic dish? They did.
We really wanted to like this place. It's close. It's beautiful inside. It's nice to support local businesses. However, until they get it together with the basics, we will not be going back. Oh, and without the voucher, this place is way too expensive for Oakland. NYC prices in that area? I take that back, the average brunch in the East Village in NYC without a voucher is about $10 and includes the coffee and bloody mary.
If the price reflected the quality, more people might go. better yet, make the food good and reasonably priced, and it might be as packed as the Can't Fail Cafe. -
Review from Brian C.
Oakland, CA
1/22/2012
Had dinner here with three friends a few weeks ago on a Friday night. The place seemed to be pretty busy, but luckily we got seated quickly.
We all shared many different dishes (that were all delicious) and had a fun time.
My friends who live in the South Bay were big fans. We'll be back! -
Review from Deanna A.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was pretty excited to check the Monkey out because it's one of 37 participating venues for Oakland's 2nd annual Restaurant Week. The deal was 3 courses (salad, entree, dessert, and BOTTOMLESS house red or white wine) for $30. Plus Friday they had a free bluegrass performance starting at 7:30 pm. SO there!
Overall, my mind wasn't blown -- I wasn't underwhelmed. It was good, solid fare. But service side of the house needed help so my 3 stars is apprehensive.. See "SERVICE" below.
Let's break it down:
(VENUE): Broadway, street parking. Id park on Webster (16th Ave & up) and perpendicular streets (17th & Up between Broadway & Webster). Cozy, w character, fountain in middle of first floor (hint of Morocco). Walk up curved stairs to the second floor which is more spacious as the tables are along the wall w benches. Windows to the street. Local artists featured. Check out the fliers at front host stand for "meet the artist" toe of events.
(DRINKS) Beer & wine license only. House red was a nice, flavorful, light table wine. I had 4 glasses, thank you very much. :)
(FOOD) I feel that "New American" is the wrong category type. While they do have items such as chicken pot pie , Mac & cheese, chicken club sandwich & fish/chips, this should really be under fusion. There are pork belly Asian tacos, Asian paella, ramen, sambousek, kebobs, chimichurri steak, empanadas.... A complete mix of cultural fare. Due to the menu variety, everyone found something that they liked which was great because 1 person is on a diet, 1 is allergic to gluten, and 2 are "foodies". A fair amount of gluten free options.
-Beef empanadas: 1 order = 3 mini empanadas for $6. Excellente.! Full of shredded beef. Beef was bursting w season and not sopping w sauce which I like.
-Amazing Asian tacos: 1 order = 3 tacos for $9. Bao (white steamed bread) was perfectly cooked - fluffy & soft yet stable to handle fillings. Pork belly could have been a little larger in my opinion but was well cooked. The Asian slaw is tossed w vinegar so it has that Asian sour pickled taste. Honestly I could have eaten this and the empanadas for dinner.
-Southeast Asian paella: was made w coconut milk and reminded me of ginataan (Filipino dish w shrimp, green beans, coconut milk). It was tasty but I would not order this. I like my paella to have a little less sauce.
-Prix Fix items: salad was standard. Cajun Orichiette Pasta which I had w bay shrimp. (other choices were pork and vegetable) I loved the flat noodle, crunchy green bean and asparagus. Perfectly blanched in my opinion. The dish tasted fresh and healthy. Dessert was the STRAWBERRY TART w vanilla ice cream- SO GOOD! This is going to sound bad but it's meant in the best way (since i LOVE them) but it tasted like an upscale strawberry Toasters Streudle w the jam and fresh berries. Repeatable.
(SERVICE) oh boy! Spice Monkey managers, what happened? Please heed my message. I know you were busy and there was probably an unexpected blast of hungry patrons at the door but please put enough waitresses on staff. 1 waitress for 2 floors? And she was new so she didn't know the menu?? And its restaurant week- when you ESP need to be in best form?? Come on now. The new waitress was sweet as can be and was hustling so I can empathize and I'm not lowering my rating. We remained patient although we waited throughout our entire meal. Thankfully I was w good friends so I was in a good mood when another one of the staff members dropped her tray of water on the whole right side of my shirt and leg. I laughed it off but I know its not completely her fault bc she was frantically running around & frazzled bc it was so busy.
I would try it out again, Spice Monkey because your food was good, venue is comfortable, local art is displayed, and your new waitress worked her butt off and did it w a smile. -
Review from Sweet Daphn E.
Oakland, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just went there for the first time this morning. I think this is gonna be my new spot. First of all LOVE the space. Old art deco building, outdoor seating, beautiful fountain in the center of the room. I havent seen upstairs but I'm sure it is awesome as well. The staff were very attentive and friendly. I ordered the lamb burger and spice monkey fries - red potato steak fries (I'm still dreaming of them). I have no clue how they made that pickled asparagus that comes with it also but my god I want to buy a case of it and just munch on it all day. Of course i got a mimosa and the spice monkey mint tea. The tea was great, not sure if they bag their own spices but it was enchanting. I think i could spend a whole afternoon there the place is so cute and homey, also love the grand fireplace.
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Review from Jeanna K.
Palo Alto, CA
1/30/2012
I came here with a friend for Saturday evening dinner, and was very satisfied with the food. I had the chicken dish and she had the $30 Oakland dine around town deal which included a plate of alfredo pasta, bottomless wine, and dessert. Everything tasted wonderful!!!
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Review from Toni M.
1/14/2012
Diane and I met here for brunch this morning. I arrived first and was seated at a two top against the wall. I was facing the fireplace, which is gorgeous, faced w/ tile. I asked the waiter what the space had been previously and he told me it had been a tile showroom. He then brought me a dinner menu, which has the space's history on the back. As I looked around I saw the glorious tile stairway to the upstairs and the extensive tilework outside in front. He pointed out the tiled archway in the back leading to the kitchen. There is a large, tiled fountain toward the front of the restaurant. The place is a feast for the eyes. It was a tile showroom from 1898 to 1926 or thereabouts. The owner had hoped his sons would take over the business but they weren't interested. The company was closed and the building was sold. It's the only tile showroom from that era that exists almost intact and is on the Oakland Register of Historic Places. I'm paraphrasing from the history on the back of the menu; unfortunately it's not on their website so I can't check my memory.
There was another couple eating at a window table when I arrived. The waiter asked if I wanted to something to drink while I awaited Diane. They blend their own teas. There were several herbal/spice blends but I wanted a black tea. They had a black tea w/ lavender and something called Equatorial Breakfast or something similar. I love Peet's Earl Grey w/ lavender, but the Equatorial Breakfast intrigued me, so I ordered that. It was brought w/ honey. I didn't ask if they had Splenda. It was a nice, strong, flavorful tea. Diane arrived and ordered coffee, which she pronounced delicious. She ordered a Dino Veggie Scramble, which is made w/ cherry tomatoes, dino kale and goat cheese. It comes w/ smashed potatoes and salad. I ordered a lamb burger, which is seasoned w/ mint, anise, green onions and herbs. It could be accompanied by Monkey potatoes, smashed potatoes or green salad. I asked which potatoes were crispier and the waiter said "Monkey potatoes", so that was what I ordered. For an extra $1 I ordered yogurt-tahini sauce. When our dishes arrived I started w/ the potatoes, dark brown wedges that looked at first glance to be a little overcooked but were perfect, nicely seasoned, crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. The lamb burger was cooked medium rare as requested. The bun was substantial w/out being too bready. Tasty marinated vegetables accompanied the burger and potatoes. I cut the burger in half and though it was delicious, I could only eat half of it. I took the other half home, arriving just as Alan was having lunch. He had just eaten part of an inadequate burrito, so I gave him the rest of my burger, which he ate appreciatively.
Getting back to the restaurant, it gradually filled up as we ate. One of the owners arrived w/ his adorable toddler daughter, over whom everyone was fussing, from customers to staff. She was fascinated by the fountain. Her dad and an older man who was probably her grandfather kept an eye on her, as did this grandmother, a habit I have had since long before grandmotherhood. It was a comfortable place w/ very good food. I felt comfortable there and will be back.Listed in: I Hella Heart Oakland, Breakfast/Brunch
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Review from J B.
Oakland, CA
12/19/2011
I've been to Spice Monkey three times now, twice for dinner and once for brunch.
The first time I went to dinner I met some friends at the restaurant. We got there around 7 on a weekend, and the place with hopping. We met one of the owners and our food was delicious all round.
The second time I went to dinner there with an out-of-town friend, the food was good overall, but the bacon in my sandwich was under-cooked, and the Monkey potatoes were not as spicy or delicious as they had been during my first meal. I pulled out the bacon and ate the rest of the sandwich, but I was sad that it didn't really measure up.
Finally, I went to brunch at Spice Monkey this past Saturday with my girl, and it was fantastic! I had the French Toast and my girlfriend had some egg dish. We both loved our respective food, and as a bonus they have a fair amount of tasty gluten-free options for my gluten-free woman. Not just "we can wrap that in lettuce instead of giving you a bun" but actual delicious meals made with no gluten in it.
The final verdict is that I'm happy to return for brunch anytime, but a bit more hesitant on spending money there for the pricier dinner meals. -
Review from Frank D.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/29/2012
This place is definitely unique and offers up very tasty food that stands out from general restaurant fare. All the dishes are well spiced and flavorful. We had the slow roast pork shoulder which was nice and tender and had a really nice chile sauce that wasn't spicy but had some real deep, complex flavors. The Cambodian chicken salad, and bangkok lettuce wraps were delicious as well.
It seems like they put a lot of thought and effort into creating each dish so that it is well rounded and healthy. It's so hard to find a place that serves dishes that have both meat and cooked vegetables (I don't count side salads which are just a handful of spring mix found at the grocery store).
The ramen was $15, which is pushing it from a price standpoint, so I didn't try that. I hope it's outstanding for that price. -
Review from Derya A.
Oakland, CA
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not quite sure how to categorize this restaurant, food-wise or decor/ambiance-wise. I'll leave it at simply "unique and good".
The lavender lemonade was really delicious and refreshing (and has inspired me to find a recipe for it). I loved the turkey burger (it really is the greatest around). It's super flavorful, and actually tastes like kofte (Turkish/Greek meatballs). I wouldn't ever pin it for being turkey. Yum! The monkey potatoes it comes with are delicious with the sauce offered. I look forward to trying their brunch! -
Review from Genevieve G.
Mill Valley, CA
Updated - 11/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Go to Spice Monkey to find out what an "armadillo egg" is...and how amazingly delicious it can be.
I can't rightly express how much I wish there was a place like Spice Monkey in Marin County. This restaraunt isn't just a great experience, it's a CONSISTANTLY great experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/20/2010
The waitstaff are genuinely friendly the food is the real deal.
I reccomend their housemade chicken… Read more »
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Review from Richard L.
Oakland, CA
1/12/2012
I have been to this place twice in two years. My visit today reminded me why I do not go here. Both times were with work colleagues for a group lunch. Both times we waited over one hour for our food. The food is nothing special and is not a bargain. I will never go here again. It is not worth waiting an hour for mediocre food. I do not know what the problem is. Our server said she was pleading with the kitchen for the food. So, I assume there is some inefficiency in the kitchen that needs to be resolved. If this establishment cannot produce food in an hour, then they need to seat fewer people for their lunch rush. Maddening experience.
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Review from Noah C.
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for lunch recently with my sister in law. It was definitely a hit or miss experience, which other reviews of Spice Monkey seem to reflect.
When we first arrived, there were several open tables, and the lunch crowd seemed to have mostly subsided already. Nevertheless, it took something almost akin to jumping up and down to flag down anyone resembling a server or host to seat us. There was one server who seemed to also be acting as the bartender that noticed us, but she kind of looked away quickly in order to avoid making eye contact. I'm sure this is because she didn't want to take the responsibility for seating us, or something, but whatever the case, we weren't seated yet. Then, another server blew by us and said "hi" (I think), before vanishing outside. When she came back in she said "two?" and then disappeared again, almost before I could answer. Finally, someone came over to us and had us seated, amusingly enough, in the server/bartender's section.
For lunch, I settled on the promising sounding 14 hour pulled pork sandwich with a side of "Monkey Potatoes", and my sister in law ordered the town fish sandwich. She had eaten here before and dissuaded me from my initial intention of ordering the Tokyo Ramen, which she assured me was neither ramen nor anything close to looking like it came from Tokyo.
Once our order was placed, it took...a long....time...for our food to come. I wanted to make the obvious joke that since I ordered the 14 hour pulled pork that it was going to be...wait for it...14 hours (!!) before my sandwich arrived. It wasn't that, but it felt like it.
The sandwich itself was good, though maybe not totally worth the wait. The pistu as a flavor just seemed kind of...missing. Anyone who's had anything with pistu/pistou/pesto on it knows how strong the flavor is, so I'm kind of surprised it was sort of missing. The pork itself was good, though, flavorful and falling apart just like a good pulled pork should. The roll for the sandwich was nice, with that hard crack on the outside and semi-creamy chew on the inside. It was just a bummer that I couldn't taste more of the pistu. The pepperonicinis were far too mild, too - I would've preferred harder chilis like the kind that adorn the Spicy Hog over at Southie.
The "Monkey Potatoes" were supposedly dusted with a 12 spice mix, but all I could really taste was salt, though the accompanying ailoi was nice.
All in all, I'm probably being generous at 3 stars, but I liked the ambiance, and despite my criticisms of the sandwich, I did enjoy it for the most part. My sister in law enjoyed her fish sandwich, too, and I glanced at other dishes that definitely seemed to look pretty good, though I also caught a glimpse of the bad looking vermicelli noodle ramen. (Again, can you really call that ramen? I'm all for fusion and creative takes, but ramen is supposed to have...you know, ramen alkaline noodles. That's why it's ramen) -
Review from Steve S.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011
Friendly staff with great happy hour food pricing weekend afternoons.
Food was just ok, monkey needs more spice to have that flavor linger a little longer. Decent value with discounts, but probably not if it were full boat. -
Review from Brian A.
Mission, San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Honestly my favorite restaurant of all time. Fantastic food and atmosphere. There is nothing they can't do well!
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Review from Jenn k W.
Oakland, CA
8/18/2011
1. Evangeline was our fantastic server. She was all smiles, great service, and very accommodating to our table of 20+ people.
2. Food came out promptly and was very good. The table tried almost everything, but I personally liked the Beef Empanadas and Coo Coo's Nest best.
3. Don't come to Spice Monkey expecting a particular "style" of cuisine. The food really requires a new name like "Eastern Eclectic" or something. -
Review from Deanne A.
Danville, CA
1/11/2012
Service = 4 stars
Food = 1 star
We went there when they weren't very busy during lunch. We waited several minutes before someone came to get our order. But, once we got the waiters attention, he was very attentive. We ordered their large hummus platter and turkey burger with their potatoes. When I got the turkey burger (my friend and I were splitting it), I cut in half. I noticed it was difficult to cut through but I thought maybe it was the large roll. When I looked at it, I noticed it was RAW inside. Not undercooked, RAW. I think it was the manager/owner that came to our table and she was joking about it. She said there was a new chef and he's still figuring the temperatures. Seriously, with raw meat? Anyhow, we she took it back (thankfully we had our hummus plate) and it probably took another 15+ minutes to get our new turkey burger. It wasn't even worth the wait. It wasn't good, overspiced and now our potatoes were overcooked. She did apologize about the wait but the entire time was more cavalier about the whole thing than overly apologetic. If that was my customer, I would have been mortified. After all that, they didn't even comp the burger. Mind you, this is during a work lunch so the whole process also took over an hour. I would never go back based on how the manager responded to turkey burger. Had I not cut open the turkey burger, I would've bitten into a raw meat. -
Review from Cortt D.
Oakland, CA
10/29/2011
The food is inventive and good. The wait staff is personable and eager to serve. But go for the atmosphere: they have my vote for most comfortable, warm, charming, inspired and comfortable restaurant in town.
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Review from Drew G.
Alameda, CA
7/22/2011
I've been coming here off and on over the years since they first opened. It's been generally a 3.5-4 star kind of experience. However, I knew that there were always a few menu items that were consistently good like the roasted pork sandwich, the greek salad, the homemade chicken fingers, and the various wraps.
Decided to try it out again since the last time I was there I heard they were going to be changing the menu. Apparently "menu change" actually means higher prices and smaller portions. I ordered the roasted pork sandwich with the side of (7-8) potato wedges for $10.50. Unfortunately the sandwich is now about half the size it used to be. As soon as I picked it up to take a bite, it started dripping at a rapid pace and soon my entire plate was covered in a pool of orange oily liquid. The dripping kept going for a good two minutes. Not very appetizing. I actually asked my waiter if it was "always this watery" and he confirmed that it was. So at least now I know it's always bad and wasn't just mine! Furthermore, the pork itself was fatty and chewy. I finished it but walked to find an enormous cookie afterward to get the gross taste out of my mouth.
Unfortunately it looks like the menu isn't the only thing that has changed since there is an entirely new staff as well. Maybe an ownership change is what actually happened here. They get a few stars for having a good beer selection - not that you would ever want to hang out here and drink them. Won't be giving the new expensive menu another chance. -
Review from Sarah S.
Oakland, CA
6/6/2011
I went here for lunch with a friend a while back. I absolutely LOVE the interior! I'm pretty sure I'd want my kitchen to have that sort of "all over the Mediterranean," vaguely exotic feel to it. Service was quick and friendly. The arnold palmer was delicious, good quality iced tea and lemonade, and perfectly balanced. Our food was really very good, but I knew something was awry when I tasted the supposedly vegan lentils and thought, "wow, how'd they get these to taste so buttery?" So I asked. Know how they get the vegan lentils so buttery? Butter. Pretty much the only dietary restrictions I have are matters of taste (no peas here), but I really think that if you're going to bother labeling items vegetarian/vegan/gluten free/whatever, they should probably actually adhere to that label.
We also had some takeout from them for a work function. I had the falafel. Delicious.
Since the label thing doesn't really affect me much, and this place would be a solid four stars if it weren't for that, I look forward to going back. -
Review from Inga B.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2011
They really do have the best turkey burger ever (that's what it's called).
2nd time I've had it, thinking about making it a bi-weekly lunch treat.
Great atmosphere, decor is bright, nice place to have lunch. I may have to try the 1/2 wine Tuesdays. -
Review from Tootie A.
Martinez, CA
11/3/2011
This place is has good food, great service, fun entertainment, a nice selection of beer & wine, and a sweet looking environment! The menu has a wide variety of excellent food choices. Some of my favorites are the chicken pot pie, the mediterranean wrap, the turkey burger, and the tiramisu. There is something on the menu for everyone. The food taste's fresh and comes out fast. Spice Monkey is a nice place to go for lunch, a dinner date, or bring a group of friends. There is an upstairs loft available for large groups, parties, or even if you want a little privacy. They also host fun events in the upstairs loft such as art shows, music performances, spoken word, comedy, vinyl record sales, and many more cool things! This place represents what the bay area is about; food, art, and culture!
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Review from Rikena B.
Alameda, CA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a great little place. Loved everything about it from the eclectic menu to the decorations!. They have a little bit of everything for everyone even those picky vegan people! I had the lavender lemonade yummm and the tokyo ramen soup which is a japanese/vietnamese soup o so delish I am still thinking about it today! My husband had the asian tacos and the beef kabobs which were also yumm. The place is a great spot to have either lunch or dinner nice and comfty and the servers were really nice. Can't wait to be back and have that soup!!
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Review from infamousbat ..
Oakland, CA
5/2/2011
I really, really want to give this place more stars because I believe in supporting your local businesses.
However, their service lately has just not been up to snuff. I went their with my boyfriend a couple weeks ago on a pretty busy night, which was nice to see. But once we got seated it took at least 10 min to get our drink orders and the ladies at the table next to us didn't even get acknowledged (other than being seated) for just as long. Once we did order our appetizers didn't come out first. They served them with our dinner order.
On the other hand, the food is really tasty. I'm a HUGE fan of the veggie empanadas, monkey fingers, beet salad and the veg pot pie. I still have yet to try a lot of the other items because I get stuck on my go-tos.
I'll definitely continue patronizing them because they're local and I'd like to see them thrive but they need to pull it together! It might have something to do with their inability to gauge how much business they'll have from one day to the next because it really varies. But it still shouldn't take so long to get a beer. At least that occupies us until the next step... -
Review from Miranda E.
Oakland, CA
5/19/2011
Decent happy hour (two $3.50 Racer 5's will erase your nine-to-five worries), and decent food (I had mac and cheese and a big salad), but the service was HECKA SLOW.
The building's beautiful but it is still very Oakland in the sense that it's got mismatched furniture, kinda-pricey food, and sloooow service. -
Review from lena k.
Oakland, CA
9/10/2011 9 photos
Great place for food and music, I guess they have great free show music night their. I did not know they have so many free music shows. We went their for dinner and over heard the band play up stair decide to go up for a peak and decided to stay. The band tonight was awesome. The island faux was great flavor of curry coconut broth. I guess they make all their own spices blend, did anybody know this that information. I guess I just missed this information all this year. Now we know why they are so special. Power to the spice monkey.
It is sad sometime to see that they are not as busy as they should. I guess due to their location. It is good for me but I guess not for them. Please help spread the word if you love spice monkey and want more of them. They are also have their new menu is out. -
Review from Yasasha R.
Oakland, CA
9/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Love the decor, casual lunch spot with lots of charm. The bartender was friendly and talkative and he was knowledgeable about all the beers they had on tap. I walked in with a HUGE appetite and ordered the lamb burger with a side of wedge fries. Holy moly I was blown away with how tasty the meal was and a full bodies beer to boot. The burger was complimented with tasty pickled veggies and I would definitely come back again to indulge in good eats!
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Review from Brittany P.
San Bruno, CA
3/24/2011
Ordered it to-go for lunch one day after hearing really good things about it. I got an order of veggie empanadas and the Mediterranean munchie platter which had hummus, pita, falafel, and lavash chips.
The veggie empanadas were so good! They make their own pastry for it, and they were really worth it.
The Mediterranean plate, was alright. The hummus wasn't bad, but a bit chunky, the lavash chips were really tasty (first time I've seen that), but the falafels were kinda gross. They weren't crispy on the outside, and were sort of crumbly. The ingredients were pretty chunky too, and they had sort of an off flavor. Expensive chips and dip at $9.
They do have a huge menu, and since they're not terribly far from work, I'll try them again. -
Review from Amy J.
2/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Spice Monkey is one of those places where the menu is so huge, you can't really decide what you want. Some friends and I stopped in here after a the Oakland Art Murmur. Since they had they claimed to have the "best turkey burger ever" I had to try it. I was waffling back and forth between a Mediterranean dish and a burger but I decided to see if the claim of the best turkey burger "ever" would live up to the hype. They were out of chicken pot pie and buns so our burgers were served in pita pockets.
I was actually delighted when I took a bite of my turkey burger. There was a slight kick in the flavour. I wouldn't say it was the best burger "ever" but I will say it does have a good flavor to it. The spices were what really made it stand out. My friend tried the turkey burger and he had a lamb burger and he actually claimed the lamb burger was better.
The lavendar lemonade was a bit weird. I'll have to try the ginger lemonade next time I visit. It's a different place that has a wide variety of choices. The prices are pretty decent as well. -
Review from Jason G.
Oakland, CA
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like it. Good varied menu with plenty of tasty and/or healthy options. I'm partial to the beet salad and the Mediterranean salad. The meaty stuff is good too, if you're into that sort of thing, which I'm not really anymore.
I think they tend to be a little understaffed. I went in for a drink the other night right after work and my friend and I had to ask for our drinks twice (really?). Come to think of it, they advertise happy hour from 5-7 on weeknights right on this site, yet we were given no discount nor pointed in the direction of one, and it was 5:15 when we showed up. They are also frequently slow towards the end of the lunch rush. (It's fair for me to say that because I waited tables one summer.)
Anyway, four stars for the food minus one big one for service. -
Review from Lydia K.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2011
I went here for lunch with my boyfriend during my lunch break at work. I've been here once before with my coworkers and got the Chicken Pot Pie. It was a while ago but I remember it was satisfying and very filling (if I remember correctly, I wasn't able to finish it). This time, I decide to try something different and these are the dishes we got:
1) Veggie Empanadas - Surprisingly amazing! Somehow I didn't expect much, but it was super yummy.
2) Lamb Burger - I ordered it medium rare because I like it juicy and not over cooked. Burger was delicious and the sauce that they put on a little tangy but very complimentary. I had the salad for the side and it was okay only, but glad I have some greens on the side so I don't feel as unhealthy.
3) Portobello Mushroom Sandwich - my boyfriend ordered this and he loved it. I didn't try it but it looks amazing and I typically like Portobello mushroom so I'm sure I'll enjoy it if I had eaten it.
We also got a pot for tea for the both of us and it was cute how it's served in small eat pots. The restaurant décor has a ethnic vibe and the music is pretty upbeat. This spot definitely makes you feel comfortable and you know you'll have an enjoyable meal. -
Review from John Z.
Dublin, CA
12/8/2010
Oh baby, Spice Monkey may very well be the most original, flavorful, and uplifting new lunch spot to come along in many years. My only gripe is that they are in Oakland while I live in Dublin. At any rate, the service is wonderful. The decor and ambiance has they eclectic hippyish vibe that I love. The food is incredibly flavorful and original.
The bread dish provides the perfect foundation for the meal to come. How about samosas? Spice Monkey has a glorious intepretation of the traditional Indian favorite that pairs wonderfully with a special sauce. The Mediterranean wrap with roasted chicken was a delight. The tres leches dessert was fantastic. Spice Monkey's iced tea was also a terrific thirst quenching treat to titillate the taste buds. -
Review from Garett N.
Berkeley, CA
9/3/2011
Good sandwiches. Ramen is eh. Still a good lunch spot.
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Review from Sam R.
Oakland, CA
3/28/2011
I hope everyone in Oakland gets to go here. I don't know how old they are, but I could see them becoming insanely popular.
Spice Monkey is a themed restaurant---the theme being VERY broad: spices! Haha! The spices aren't specific to any nationality, so you actually get one of the most flavorful, unique and varied menus in the area! Major points go to any restaurant where the menu is clearly laid out, but you still spend way too much time just drooling over the choices. If you are afraid of all seeing the magical flavors in one place, or you just aren't s huge "spice" person, I recommend still going and getting the lamb burger and the mac and cheese. Both are made with special spices, but are really just jacked-up versions of American classics :)
I usually see the same woman working, and have only ever had one other waiter, but they are fun, chatty, take care of you, and love to talk about the food! They are as nice as the food is delicious!
It's a really easy-going vibe at Spice Monkey, even though you're surrounded by plush pillows, ornate, handmade tile and a beautiful indoor fountain. The building was the headquarters of some historic tile-maker back in the day, and they've preserved all those details in and outside of the building! I'm not sure if it's on the national registrar, but it's definitely got a cool history (read about it on the menu!) and nice people and food to back it up.
They also do a great Thanksgiving-Dinner drive for the homeless as well!
The great thing is that they are just a block away from some really fun bars, so it's a really awesome place for a date--casual enough to be comfortable, not super expensive, but really beautiful and really unique and memorable-----and then you can go out and dance it all off afterwards at the Layover, 355 or Oasis!
And if you AREN'T single, then you and your significant other can just stuff your faces, go home at watch TiVo and get fat together---I hate the both of you! (just kidding, I'm jealous!).
Conclusion: Spice Monkey is EASILY a big fat Yelpy 5!!!
