Don't let the name fool you, this café is anything but monastic. In fact, it's one of my favorite places to visit in Philly. I go to Monk's Café, located on 16th and Spruce, because the Belgian comfort food is delicious and the selection of imported draft beers on tap is extensive and ever-changing. I like to go on weekday afternoons when it's not crowded and the bartenders give you their full attention. Plus, it's more fun to get drunk in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week. At Monk's, in addition to the draft list, you can choose from hundreds of bottled beers from Belgium and around the globe or from a pretty decent wine list.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with three rooms and two bar areas decorated by dark wood paneling and bathed in warm lighting. You can gaze at the medieval tapestries and old school beer mugs and pretend you're in a Trappist monastery in the Belgian mountains. Or at least at a decent bar in Brussels.
It is absolutely absurd to leave Monk's without eating the following things: at least two orders of pommes frites (extra bourbon mustard is a must), a big pot of mussels (there are eight types to choose from), a Ghent burger served with garlic sautéed broccoli rabe and cheddar cheese and a duck salad with mesclun greens and caramelized walnuts. It is even more absurd to go there without getting drunk, so chat with the knowledgeable bartenders, get down with the beer bible and drink 17 beers you've never heard of. (Some of the bottled ones come in extra large sizes and many have deliciously high alcohol contents, so choose wisely and get excited.) Most importantly, be sure to go back next week. And the week after that. Really.
