All Reviews
F. G.
Edited 6 years agoAmazing! This restaurant is tucked into the Diplomat hotel, and is by celebrity chef Michael Schulson (double knot, graffiti bar etc..) We went on a Saturday night and ordered several small dishes and they did not disappoint. Our waiter Henry was knowledgable, helpful and did a great job. We started with a miso soup which was quite good, moved on to a spicy tuna roll, which was not very spicy at all but that's not a big deal. The octopus sunomono was incredible, made with mozuku seaweed, cucumber and, ama-su. Up next was the crispy tofu which was extraordinary. Prepared with a mizuna pesto and miso caramel, this dish was really amazing! Even my 4 year old son loved it, He ate most the plate!! He also ordered a bowl of fried rice, which was nothing special....but the Sashimi yellowfin was tender and very tasty and the robatayaki scallops melted in my mouth....absolutely delicious!! Last was the rainbow roll, great flavor with a variety of tender fish. Do your self a favor and try the smoke mustard on the table....truly incredible. My only regret was not getting the chef tasting menu, but my partner wasn't very hungry that night, and if one person at the table orders the tasting menu, then both have to order it, but she wasn't hungry enough to justify the amount of food or the price ($68-includes 10 tasting plates, one from each section, and a dessert)..hopefully next time! Reservations highly recommended, opens at 6pm Don't miss out on Monkitail, well worth it, a wonderful experience.
Adrian Knows
6 years agoI went to Monkitail for the first time on Valentine’s Day. I had heard many great things and I have to say that this was one of the best meal experiences I’ve ever had. We had the pleasure of working with Pavlo, the table next to us told us to listen to his recommendations, so we did and we’re ecstatic that we did. We tried multiple dishes from the chef’s tasting menu. All of them recommended by Pavlo and each one was more delicious than the other. We went the way of the Wagyu which was apparently on special for Valentines and I’m so happy I did. Delicious Wagyu sliders, sushi, and beautifully cooked wagyu slices. The location is beautiful, and while we sat in the bar area instead of the main section it was still a great atmosphere. I wish I took more pictures of the beautifully presented dishes but I was too into enjoying the dishes that I forgot. This was a wonderful and memorable experience, and while a bit pricey it’s something that anyone who can should experience.
Maryam Z
6 years agoMy bf made a surprise dinner for me at this restaurant which was quiet impressive. First of all the menu items and availability of choice with such a unique taste. Also want to highlight our charming, professional and such a positive server Pavlo, he made this experience super light, easy and memorable. Thank you so much Pavlo, will definitely be back to see you again.
Trish Hans (Hans on Beauty)
6 years agoWow! This is the place if you want to impress someone. The ambiance is amazing, great cocktail selection, all the food is superb.
Casey Mefford
7 years agoAbsolutely delicious and such a great experience! The food was incredible, loved all the unique flavors and the concept of sharing small plates. We tried the cold avocado tuna, the edamame dumplings and duck scrapple bao buns (recommended by our server) to start and all were incredible!! We tried some of the robatayaki next and finally some rolls and again amazing. Our service was superb as well. Our server Mateo was attentive, friendly, and had some great suggestions for dishes that we enjoyed all of! (Drinks are a little pricey so beware, but they’re so good!) The drink in the picture is Monki’s Fist, so good. The atmosphere is relaxing and intimate as well. Overall would recommend and absolutely would return!
Bonnie Hui
7 years agoThe food was fantastic, soft uni tasting of the sea, perfectly grilled octopus skewers, unctuous pork belly and a great cocktail was part of the meal, he tasting menu is worth it! The server was knowledgeable and provided wonderful service, just the right amount of attention to our table.
Chat Chow
Edited 8 years agoIf you’re only heading up North for one dinner, we suggest the $65 per person tasting menu at Monkitail. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson (Schulson Collective) brings his modern Japanese fare to this charming izakaya that’s as great for one-on-one romancing as it is for groups. The tasting menu proffers 10 selections, one from each of the menu sections (cold, small, rolls, sushi & sashimi, crispy, meat, fish, sides, specialty sashimi, and robayataki). We let chef do his thing and show us what Monkitail is all about, which includes pristine fish, cloud-like buns, an off-menu green veggie roll that’s to die for, broiled seabass with truffle soy and pea shoot, and an assortment of melt in your mouth rib eye scallion, Kobe beef, and short rib robatayaki. For dessert, ice cream sushi is in order. In it: rice cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and toffee.
Brenda Popritkin
Edited 8 years agoIf Hakkasan and Kuro had a love child, Monkitail would be it. While visiting the new Point Royal restaurant at the renovated Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach recently, I caught a peek of this addition and moved it up on my list of must-try places. As in, I went back the next day. Philadelphia Chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson‘s seventh restaurant brings modern Japanese cuisine to the area. Lined with dark and intricately carved wood panels, and showered with over two dozen multisized chandeliers, the seductive dining room’s wow-factor game is on point. Broken down into various sections- Cold, Small, Crispy, Meat, Fish, Sides, Robatayaki, Sushi, Sashimi, and Rolls-, the menu teased with reasonably priced items all begging to be ordered. Where to even begin… WHAT I TRIED Pastrami Bao Bun ($8) Duck Scrapple Bao Bun ($8) Robatayaki Lobster Tail ($12) Japanese Fried Chicken ($9) Robatayaki Skirt Steak ($4) Robatayaki Lamb Chop ($6) Robatayaki Miso Eggplant ($5) King Salmon Roll ($4) Yellowtail Roll ($4) Scallop Roll ($4) Foie Gras Roll ($10) Hamachi Jalapeño ($10) Edamame Dumpling ($8) Bacon Yakisoba ($9) Ice Cream Sushi ($8) Mini Soft Serve Cones ($7) HIGHLIGHTS Engaging every sense, the standouts out of a succession of pleasing bites were the Edamame Dumplings, the Bao Buns (Pastrami and Duck Scrapple), Bacon Yakisoba, and the Scallop Sushi. I never wanted the umami concerto to end. I am not monkeying around when I say I could easily and happily eat at least three portions of the addicting soft dumplings: misleadingly small, yet robust in flavor. The bao buns disarmed me. The pastrami, topped with a Brussels slaw for added crunch, finished with a mildly tangy Japanese mustard. Do yourself a favor and ask for extra mustard from the get go. Maple teriyaki and chili gave the duck bao a sweet and savory punch. The prices deceive those of us who find this type of food irresistible. Listed per piece, it’s easy to over-order. Ignore the lingering FOMO. Do as I say and not as I did. On your first visit go for the Chef’s Tasting Menu. For $65.00, you can choose one item from each of the ten sections on the main menu, plus one dessert. It’s more than enough to eat and unequivocally the perfect way to test every menu section. Barely two months since quietly opening, Monkitail is scorching H O T! I could not spot a single empty seat during my visit. The staff ran around hustling and working nonstop. Is that a miss? Of course not. But it was obvious they were understaffed. Despite this, our waiter Joel dealt with the chaotic situation surrounding us as courteously and professionally as he possibly could. He did his best to find backup when it became physically impossible to tend to the four tables simultaneously needing his service. Perhaps it’s time to hire a little of extra help on the weekends. Monkitail offers several areas ideal for private dining and large parties. Nokku, their quaint speakeasy lounge complete with karaoke rooms, hides within the restaurant. But I’m not saying another word on the topic; you’ll have to discover it all yourself. Maybe I just want to keep this part of the story a secret a bit longer. It’s been a while since we had a Broward County restaurant arrival as exciting as Monkitail’s. Besides the obvious delectable eats, we get the swanky Miami Beach “it” vibes without the inflated cost, taxes, difficult parking, and attitude. The tourist-magnet Diplomat houses the restaurant, and locals can take advantage of the complimentary valet parking with a validated ticket. A win-win for us all. It also sounds like a culinary staycation waiting to happen. Visit Point Royal, Monkitail & Diplomat Prime and complete the trifecta. I’m predicting only increased popularity for this gem, which can be a good or bad thing. Here’s hoping Monkitail remains genuine and maintains their integrity through the upcoming whirlwind without making any drastic changes. Monkitail…sexy, mysterious, and invigorating. I, for one, am smitten.