Monk's Cafe – American
This dimly lit sanctuary hums with the warmth of a storied neighborhood haunt, where the air is thick with the savory perfume of golden pommes frites and simmering seasonal soups. The kitchen masterfully bridges the gap between casual comfort and culinary artistry, pairing silky chicken liver mousse and smoky trout dip with inventive plates like lion’s mane mushroom cakes. It is a place designed for lingering, where guests gather over fiery "Spanish Flies" and tender lamb meatballs in an atmosphere that feels both timeless and vibrantly alive.
264 South 16th Street, 19102 https://monkscafe.com/Rating: 3/5 (1 reviews)
Cuisine: American
Price range: $$
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, high-protein, keto, low-carb, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, atkins, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, aip, alkaline, carnivore, renal, tlc, volumetrics, zone, lectin-free, macrobiotic, slow-carb, sesame-free, soy-free
Diet fit at Monk's Cafe
Dairy-Free at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 7 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Vegan Burger, Spanish Flies and Baby Green Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Gluten-Free at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 4 gluten-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Spanish Flies, Mussels Monks and Steak Frites Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 8 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Vegan Burger, Soup of the Day and Roasted Local Veggies. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 4 high-protein-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Roasted Half Chicken, Roasted Local Veggies and Burger. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Keto at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 7 keto-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Soup of the Day, Roasted Local Veggies and Steak Frites Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 8 low-carb-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Spanish Flies, Soup of the Day and Roasted Local Veggies. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Nut-Free at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 1 nut-free-tagged dish on its current menu, including Steak Frites Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at Monk's Cafe
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia has 7 vegan-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Vegan Burger, Baby Green Salad and Gascon Malbec (Glass). Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at Monk's Cafe
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast Burger | 72.1 g | 82.3 g |
| Butternut Squash Bolognese | 37.6 g | 68.1 g |
| Seitan Cheese Steak | 26.4 g | 56.2 g |
| Duck Salad Sandwich | 40.7 g | 56 g |
| Roasted Half Chicken | 29.3 g | 41.8 g |
| Roasted Local Veggies | 4 g | 41.1 g |
| Steak Frites Salad | 0 g | 35.3 g |
| Burger | 4.4 g | 29.9 g |
| Beet & Citrus Salad | 28.1 g | 29.1 g |
| Spanish Flies | 21.2 g | 28 g |
| Kielbasa Sausage Sandwich | 43.1 g | 26.6 g |
| Cheese Plate | 41.9 g | 22.6 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Currently closed
Hours
- Monday - Sunday
- 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM
What diners are saying
Diners appreciate the fair pricing and consistent quality, highlighting the establishment as a reliable choice for a quick and satisfying bite. Guests praise the adequate portion sizes and value for money, noting that it serves
Menu
Starters
- Cheese Plate - $18: Seneca Blue (Sheep), Springdell (Cow/Goat), Noblette (Cow), house-made jams, Green Meadow Farm raw honey, seasonal fruit, house-made pickles, pickled mustard seed Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chicken Fingers - $12: Lager-battered chicken, mild barbecue sauce Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chicken Liver Mousse - $12: Pickled mustard seeds, house-made jam, pickled apple, chives, toasted sourdough Available at: dinner, lunch
- Lamb Meatballs - $11: 3 lamb meatballs, cauliflower puree, kimchi-tahini, cucumber and onion relish Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Lion's Mane Mushroom Cake - $15: Lion's mane mushrooms, arugula, samurai sauce (mayo, sambal, creme fraiche) Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pommes Frites - $6: Fresh-cut double-fried potatoes, bourbon mayonnaise Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smoked Trout Dip - $11: Smoked trout spread, caper and onion relish, sliced baguette Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Soup of the Day - $8: Cream of Broccoli, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Spanish Flies - $15: Chicken wings, chipotle pepper sauce, frites Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
Salads
- Baby Green Salad - $7: Organic greens, Monk's Flemish Sour Ale vinaigrette Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol Available at: dinner, lunch
- Beet & Citrus Salad - $16: Local spinach, golden beets, Melogold grapefruit, Satsumi mandarins, Penncrisp celery, Point Reyes blue cheese, citrus vinaigrette, toasted breadcrumbs Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Caesar - $9: Romaine lettuce, tangy caesar dressing, croutons Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Monk's Duck Salad - $21: Organic greens, grilled duck breast, goat cheese, spicy walnuts, Monk's Flemish Sour Ale soaked craisins Available at: dinner, lunch
Mussels
- Mussels Ghent - $22: Ommegang Hennepin, fumet, parsley, caramelized leeks, bacon, bleu cheese, garlic, served with frites Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mussels Monks - $22: Allagash White, fumet, garlic, parsley, served with frites Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mussels Red Light - $22: Belgian golden ale, fumet, toasted chili de arbol broth, parsley, garlic, served with frites Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mussels Thai Curry - $22: Monk's Flemish Sour, fumet, Thai red curry, basil, garlic, coconut milk, served with frites Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
Burgers
- Burger - $18: Baker Street Bread brioche, house-made mayo, served with frites or side salad Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chicken Breast Burger - $16: Baker Street Bread brioche, house-made mayo, served with frites or side salad Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Vegan Burger - $16: Vegan burger patty, house-made mayo, served with frites or side salad Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
Sandwiches
- Duck Salad Sandwich - $18: Grilled duck breast, goat cheese, spicy walnuts, craisins, baby greens, house mayo, Amoroso roll, side salad Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kielbasa Sausage Sandwich - $15: Polish pork sausage, cider mustard, sauerkraut, long roll, side salad Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pulled Pork Sandwich - $16: Spicy pork in Belgian brown ale, slaw, BBQ sauce, house mayo, Amoroso roll, side salad Available at: dinner, lunch
- Seitan Cheese Steak - $16: Michael's seitan, onions, mushrooms, gruyere, house mayo, Amoroso roll, side salad Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Plates
- Butternut Squash Bolognese - $20: Rotini pasta, butternut squash, ground beef & pork, mirepoix, pickled peppers, Parmigiano Reggiano, fried sage Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roasted Half Chicken - $25: Half roast chicken, charred broccollini, duck fat roasted potatoes, chicken jus Dietary tags: High-Protein, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roasted Local Veggies - $22: Seasonal veggies, vegan Soubise sauce, local mushrooms, pickled Romanesco, fresh herbs Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Steak Frites Salad - $23: 5oz flat iron steak, garlic, herbs de Provence, seasonal greens, pommes frites Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Carnivore, TLC, AIP, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free, Soy Free, Sesame Free Available at: dinner, lunch
Dessert
- Bourbon Pecan Tart - $12: Bourbon spiked filling, pate brisee shell, pecans
Wine
- Château Moulin de Peyronin 2020 Vin de Bordeaux (Glass) - $15: Red Wine Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
- Gascon Malbec (Glass) - $15: Red Wine Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
- House Red Blend - $10: Red Wine Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
- House Chardonnay - $10: White Wine Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Varichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blancs (Glass) - $12: Sparkling Wine Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
Frequently Asked Questions about Monk's Cafe
- Is Monk's Cafe dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. Monk's Cafe has 7 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Vegan Burger, Spanish Flies and Baby Green Salad.
- What can I eat at Monk's Cafe on a dairy-free diet?
- Vegan Burger, Spanish Flies and Baby Green Salad carry the dairy-free tag, out of 7 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does Monk's Cafe have vegan options?
- Yes. 7 dishes are tagged vegan on the current menu, including Vegan Burger and Baby Green Salad.
- Is Monk's Cafe gluten-free?
- 4 dishes are tagged gluten-free on the current menu. Chefi never infers allergen tags from a dish name alone, but a tag is not a certification — confirm preparation with the restaurant if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
- What is the highest-protein dish at Monk's Cafe?
- Chicken Breast Burger, at roughly 82.3g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
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