Mona's Bistro and Lounge
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: (206) 526-1188
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- NE 65th Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Date Spot 2007
- Hours:
- Sun-Wed 5pm-10pm, , Thu-Sat 5pm-11pm, , Lounge: Daily 5pm-2am
Editorial Review for Mona's Bistro and Lounge – by Citysearch Editors
In Short
The art-filled, ruby-colored walls make this Latona hideaway a romantic mainstay, while floor-to-ceiling windows create an airy European feel. Most weeknights are ideal for quiet dinners or casual cocktails, while the festive crowd and live jazz combos on Thursdays and Saturdays can make things noisier.
The changing menu offers Mediterranean-flavored seasonal dishes, like Pork Loin Saltimbocca with apple and parsnip-stuffed gnocchi or duck confit with lentil, carrot and feta salad.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkKnown for its seasonally changing, highly inventive cocktail list, there's also a very affordably priced by-the-glass wine list and a short but sweet list of beers on tap.
Look GoodHave vegetarians in your party? Ask for the special menu just for them.
When to GoThere's a live band on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9pm to 12am, or check out the downtempo DJ on Wednesday and Friday for a chill scene.
The ExtrasMost of the ingredients used are organic and sustainably produced.
Happy HourMonday-Friday 5pm-7pm, offering bargain appetizers like lamb pitas and mini-empanadas, cheap margaritas and deals on wine, beer and wells.
User Reviews for Mona's Bistro and Lounge
04/01/2008 Posted by espelund
I decided to take my girlfriend here for an anniversary dinner based on the reviews and its recommendation as a great date spot. They were pretty much dead on a Monday night. Our server seated us in the picture window by the door, presumably to show passersby outside that people actually dine there. I have no problem being used as a marketing ploy, but the big picture window and adjacent door made the space a little drafty. I should have asked to be moved to one of the dark corner tables. The space has a nice warm glow to it, but the bar in the middle of the room takes away from the mood. I would say it is a good friendly first date spot, but have a hard time calling any restaurant "romantic" when a television is in plane view from my table. Our server was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. He even brought out three different wines for my girlfriend to sample when she asked him for a recommended sweet red. For appetizers she ordered the cheese flight, which was very tasty and included homemade crackers with a touch of honey, a fig compote, roasted nuts and three cheeses (one of which somehow tasted exactly the way a farm smells, if you're into that sort of thing), I had the arugula salad, which was good, albeit it extremely oily, even for me. For our entrées I ordered the lamb shank. I'm not a huge lamb fan really, but I found it to be tasty. My lady had a seasonal dish: cheese and pea stuffed ravioli with asparagus. I found it to be very tasty, but it could have used a few more ravioli for the price. Both entrées were also a bit oily, which seems to be a theme at Mona's. Total cost of the meal (which also included one glass of wine and one very reasonably priced beer) was $103 with 20% gratuity. I would recommend going in for drinks and apps or maybe wine and desert (we didn't get any, but it sounded very good), I thought the entrées were a little prices for what you got. Also, a very small selection on all menu items.
03/05/2008 Posted by yumyum77
We go out twice a week to Seattle restaurants with a mission to try every bistro in town. Our evening at Mona's was 2 hours 45 minutes of life gone and never to return. Waited 5 full minutes for anyone to speak to us at the door. This next part I swear is true - after being seated it was around 20 minutes before anyone spoke to us. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it is absurdly long -a Seattle record. The server acted like she had done us a favor so we could "get familiar with the menu." We made the wrong decision of just ordering appetizers and drinks when she finally came. After the apps and drinks came (another 20 minutes) we ordered our mains. Please note this is a "cozy, neighborhood bistro," which sounds to me like you should be able to enjoy a full course meal and drinks in no more than 90 relaxed minutes. Please note we left this place almost 3 hours after arriving. After we were finished with our salad (very good with arugula and a slice of cheese) and oysters (average) we waited 40 minutes for the mains. When my "lobster" ravioli arrived - $28 - I was over halfway through when I wondered aloud if I had been given the proper dish - no lobster to be found anywhere. 5 raviolis = $28 and one decent lobster bite in the last one. An entire evening gone - there was going to be a movie later...
Pros: If everything else on the planet is closed
Cons: service, lobster ravioli, service
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Schedule
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