Monkey Business...

More than just bananas...

As per previous post, Shoreditch (or East London for that matter) is not my area of expertise so when it came to finding a place for after cocktail eatings, I had to resort to Google Maps.

Serendipitously (is that a word?!) I had been chatting to a friend earlier in the day about heading to Shoreditch and she had mentioned going to The Drunken Monkey which served an all day dim sum (yum cha for the Aussies). I was skeptical but popped it into the memory bank for future reference thinking I'd visit sometime in the future. The future was that very night when it popped up on Google Maps and we realised it was practically across the road! It was a cold and blustery evening so we high tailed it over.

On first impressions, I would probably have just as quickly turned away and gone hungry for the night. As my belly rules my mind, we forged ahead and walked straight in. The place is dimly lit with tables against the walls and looked like an old pub needing a bit of love (perhaps a bit of a clean too!). Numerous red lanterns hang from the ceiling and though perhaps a little cliched, added a pretty touch.

Waiting a couple of minutes, we were soon seated and perusing the menu. The options weren't half bad, pricing quite reasonable and dammit, we were hungry. Food came quickly and I'll be honest, I was surprised by what was before us! Everything was really tasty! How could this be when I'd been to so many 'authentic' dim sum places only to exit with utterly disappointed taste buds and belly. Now let's not get carried away and call this THE dim sum/yum cha place of choice but given the option, I'd go back and certainly with a little more of a spring in my step!

As mentioned, the setting isn't the nicest (just needs a bit of love) and there's an odd dj booth in the corner that doesn't quite work. Maybe it's better on a Friday/Weekend rather than mid week? The service wasn't half bad so there's another plus!

In conclusion, that'll teach me to judge a monkey on it's looks. Check out the place - it's tasty, it's quick and it's pretty cheap!

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The Drunken Monkey can be found at:

222 Shoreditch High Street
London E1 6PJ
T: 020 7392 9606
E: events@thedrunkenmonkey.co.uk

OPENING HOURS
Mon - Sat: 12pm - 12am
Sun: 12pm-11pm