Monster Kitchen & Bar

Even though there's a lack of advertising on their website, Monster appears to have gone vegetarian for 2021. That's fine if you're specifically after vegetarian food, but an unfortunate surprise if you're not.

Despite that, my wife and I stayed for the meal (no other nearby options on a Monday). The clear lowlight was the $32 cauliflower dish. It was overpriced and deeply unimpressive - just a few florets dumped next to almost-plain rice, satay sauce and sambal sauce.

It made the under-seasoned pumpkin side dish (sitting in a creamy/green slop) almost look good.

To rub salt into the wound, the vegetarian change was purportedly for sustainability reasons. That came across as tokenism in light of the gas fire happily burning next to me (on a 30+degree day).

Monster used to be one of my favourites. Not now.

If you haven't tried vegetarian but thought you might like to try it then I would highly recommend trying the Monster Bar. Food is innovative and beautifully presented. Been twice now and have not been disappointed. Service has been outstanding on both occasions

The food was superb. Creative, interesting and well presented. A treat for the taste buds!! The cocktails were fun. The location works well: comfortable and good noise levels for holding a conversation. The service was mixed - on the whole perfectly functional but lacked the tips and engagement that can enhance a dining experience.

Fantastic new and original menu. Definitely something different. Good service and ambiance for couples and groups. Cocktails are a highlight!

Vegetarian food not pretending to be meat. Left feeling content and healthy.

Great venue with attentive staff. Had a lovely night!

The best restaurant in Canberra. Perfect for a special event or special someone.

The vegetarian menu was very reasonably priced and interesting. A bit bland for those used to Asian tastes but nevertheless worth trying out.

Amazing - I am coeliac and the staff was very aware and accommodating. Food was incredible and great value for how much we got!

While the food was great it was very hard to get service. We sat in both the foyer bar and the restaurant in the evening and for breakfast. At all times it was like the staff were trying to ignore us. Overall this ruined what should have been a great experience.

Was nice food but drinks took such a long time... and they shut the bar very early. We enjoyed the food and experience but wouldn't rush back. Have previously had fab experiences there... this time the service was minimal and that was really disappointing.

It has an exciting and tasty menu. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very pleasant. It all made for a most enjoyable meal.

Wonderful! Heard they’d gone vegetarian, which is why we tried Monster Bar. Will be back again!

I’m loving the new veg menu and I think this place is my new favourite Canberra restaurant!

Absolutely fantastic. The food was delicious, carefully put together and beautifully-presented. The menu and cocktail menu were diverse and unique, the wines featured local offerings, and the service was excellent. To top it off, it only cost us $67 a head to share three courses (2 small plates, 3 large plates, a side, and a dessert) and have multiple drinks each. And we were full. And it was completely vegetarian. 10/10.

The food was outstanding and nearly all the servers also. There was one young lady however who was less than great - appeared disinterested and like we were putting her out. A very odd manner all together and commented on by all at our table. ( in the bar area) Everyone else was wonderful so this was a shame

I have been to Monster Bar a number of times and was excited that they have changed their menu to only being vegetarian.

However, I was disappointed that the prices have not dramatically changed even though there is no meat. I think charging $32 for a "head of cauliflower" sounds reasonable but not when it is only about a third of a head on the plate, then I think the description is a bit deceptive.

Also the service was really not great. We ordered entrees and mains and both times what we received was not what we ordered. The order of drinks was similar. Also, we got mains without clearing the previous plates, and then the plates were taken away and then plates arrived a bit later.

I can understand that the night may have been busy (Tuesday) and mistakes can be made but I wouldn't expect this sort of service when you charge these sort of prices

Exceptional food and experience.
Plant based menu proves that a good chef can create a bold menu without meat based protein.
Will go back for the amazing atmosphere, service and food that I am still thinking about 3 days after being there.

Great food and wonderful staff! Excellent experience.

Was excited to hear that the menu was plant based. And how delicious! The Parmesan churros - heavenly, the brioche with mushroom soup - outstanding, the cauliflower - so good! And all delivered in such an awesome space. Definitely recommend

All vegetarian menu is fantastic, every dish was delicious.

The menu and the food was honestly so disappointing and barely palatable. It was so cheap and underwhelming (cauliflower, rice and satay for the price of steak, really??) and clearly not designed or cooked by an actual vegetarian, there was literally so substance or consideration of nutrition or biochemistry to any of the meals ie. where was the proteins? It was essentially deep fried or sloppy pub “sides” at best, which is I swear is something only meat eaters enjoy doing to vegetables, cheese and dough to justify a vegetarian option. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, it just tasted so bad. Was so excited to see a place like Monster commit to such an idea but that was clearly performative at best.

Service was excellent, drinks are always good.

The temporary vegetarian only menu was amazing, highly recommend!

Great dining experience. The all vegetarian menu is fantastic, casting veg in a different light. As an avowed near lover, the creativity brought out through the vegetarian menu exceeded expectations and delighted!

Menu is now vegetarian and still quite expensive. Area we sat only had one waiter, who was doing well but could not keep up with the number of people. $95 for a vegetarian shared main and some sides is a bit over priced.

So good to have a proper creative and delicious fine vegetarian dining experience back in Canberra, and in such a distinctive and classy bar. Lucky us.

Delicious selection. Love the herbivore menu. Casual service.

The vegetarian menu is a refreshing change to what has always been an innovative restaurant. I’m not vegetarian but thoroughly enjoyed dinner two weeks in a row

Loving the commitment to plant based and sustainable eating. Everything was delicious and the ambience was gorgeous. Will definitely be back!

The food was unique and drinks were nice. All tasted great! Service was a tad slow.

A delightful spot to dine with friends. The vegetarian menu was well rounded and delicious.

Not just a good vegitarian/vegan range of options - but superb!

A guaranteed pleasure of a night. Everything the highest level. Unlike going to a pub where the chips might be cold or the cocktail is poured out of a premixed bottle.

Excellent menu, especially now that it’s entirely vego

Top shelf vegetarian meals are far and few between, totally satisfied!

The menu has now shifted to vegetarian. The food was just ok, albeit a little rich and boring. There were limited options on the menu and the food was expensive for what it was.

Personally, I think this venue will struggle with a vegetarian only menu. The location is fantastic and the service very good. The previous menu better catered for a variety of dinners and was a go to place for many in Canberra. I would certainly not go back again.

New vegetarian menu is great and flavourful. Food was delivered quickly but we were given ample time to enjoy each course at our leisure. The wait staff were attentive and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful experience.

Lovely staff and tasty food made our anniversary special. Will definitely be going back!

Fantastic! Loved the new vegetarian menu. Delicious and creative.
So happy they are supporting the environment by reducing meat consumption.

Vegetarian food was amazing. Mushroom dish on the entree menu the highlight