Monks on the Commons is in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel just a few meters from The Ithaca Commons. The restaurant extends out from the registration desk and has a light, airy feeling and a pleasant décor with shiny black tabletops, cream-colored cushioned chairs, and red cloth napkins. There’s overhead recessed lighting and the overall atmosphere is rather basic and unpretentious.
The capacity of the seating area is about four dozen and there’s a bar with room for about fifteen more.
Since Monks is in a hotel, it’s not surprising they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A cup of the soup du jour at lunch and dinner is $9 and a bowl is $12. One lunch I ordered the daily special: cheesy, potato, bacon soup because I like all those ingredients. The soup was thick and creamy and chock full of skin-on potato chunks and a few diced carrots. However, it was barely warm and I couldn’t find any bacon. When I brought it to the server’s attention, she cheerfully took it back to the kitchen. When she returned, she admitted that the cook had forgotten to add bacon but enthusiastically exclaimed, “There’s plenty of bacon now!” There was, and it had been reheated.
After noticing that soup was the same price at lunch and dinner, I studied the two menus more closely and discovered that some of the items from the lunch menu also appear on the dinner menu and I’m happy to say, some of the prices of these items are not jacked up at dinner time with only slight variations.
One of these is Cheese Burger ($18). Here’s the variation: lunchtime, Cheddar cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions, garlic aioli, house cut fries, a pickle spear, and a potato bun are all included. At dinner, all of these are included for $18 however you’ll pay $4 more if you want the bacon.
Speaking of the cheeseburger, I’ve ordered it and it’s tasty. I can just get my mouth around it, and I like the variety of flavors in each bite. I do wish, however, they would add more cheese which is barely discernible and could add a lot to the flavor profile. I’d like to share with you something I learned from several visits that is not on the menu: If you, like me, are not a fan of fried potatoes, if you ask your server, you can substitute a small side salad or a cup of fresh fruit for the fries at no extra charge. Recently, the fruit cup consisted mainly of diced melon and blueberries.
Another example of the same pricing at lunch and dinner is Spinach Feta, and Tomato Flatbread ($17). The dough is pleasantly thin and covered with a pizza sauce, Feta and Mozzarella cheeses, fire roasted tomatoes, spinach and a bit of garlic and was divided into eight convenient pieces. The tomatoes give it a bit of a spicy accent but it’s mild enough that I think everyone would enjoy it.
Once, at dinner, I ordered Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts ($9) from the Communal Bites section of the menu. They were just a bit spicy and had a wonderful honey and pepper coating. I really liked them.
From the Fork and Knife section, I’ve ordered the Ribeye steak ($38). It came boneless. I prefer the bone in because it preserves moisture and flavor while cooking, however I understand that it’s more difficult to cook a steak with the bone in because the meat next to the bone cooks more slowly and it’s more difficult to cook a bone-in steak evenly. This one was delicious with a zesty peppery overlay.
Also from the Fork and Knife section I’ve ordered “Lamb Chops” ($38). I asked the server what cut they were as I would not have selected shoulder chops and would have been pleased with loin. They were rib chops, so I ordered them and received two plump double chops and one single. I can’t remember ever having more flavorful lamb chops in Ithaca. However, I’m convinced that the “garlic mashed potatoes” on the plate never were exposed to the inside of a garlic bulb and I brought the al dente green beans home to cook a bit more.
Beverages: The wine menu, which is small but adequate, lists the winemaker, vintages, and locations. Here, however, prices do increase at dinnertime when glasses of whites range from $11-$19, and bottles from $47-$70. The spread of red wine glasses is $12-$19 for a glass and $50-$73 for a bottle.
There is a very good offering of beer in cans and bottles ($6-$8). I’m not able to comment on what is available on tap as the menu advises “Check with your server for local & regional rotating selections.”
Monks on the Commons is located in the Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons at 120 S. Aurora St., Ithaca (607) 272-2222 ext. 6654
monksonthecommons.com. Open seven days: 6:30-11 a.m.m noon-2, 3-11 p.m.