Located at 494 Main Street in Monroe, Monroe Social lives up to its name and has been working to meet the needs of the community since it opened in November 2016. The restaurant aims to be a casual, laid back venue serving top-notch American cuisine and a great place to spend time with family and friends. For Constantine Crama, General Manager of Monroe Social, the ultimate goal is to provide a place where people can come and enjoy good company and great food.
When the restaurant first opened, Crama said he and his partner at the time had plenty of experience working at popular restaurants in the area and felt like the time was right to move in this direction. Crama has always been a fan of Monroe and the surrounding towns and had always wanted to come to the area, so when the location that would become Monroe Social opened, Crama said, “it was the right place at the right time.”
Monroe Social also started out as a burger joint. According to Crama, they started out with their signature house burger (a burger topped with cheddar ale sauce and bacon barbecue onion jam) and it was a hit. But people wanted more than just a burger joint, Crama said, so they had to keep tweaking it every year.
Crama said they’ve since shifted from being a burger joint to “a little bit more something,” serving eclectic American cuisine that offers a little bit of everything. From small plates like smoked pork belly and grab-and-go dishes like their signature house burger to mains like peach bourbon chicken and the wildly popular fried chicken, Monroe Social has plenty of options for people to eat and enjoy.
The restaurant keeps things fresh in both food and drink by changing its menu every six months to reflect the seasons, and over the past two years, Monroe Social has gradually shifted towards more local ingredients, sourcing meat and vegetable ingredients from around the area.
According to Crama, Monroe Social has the special distinction of being the only bourbon bar in the area, and the restaurant boasts an unparalleled selection of 250 whiskeys. Crama explains that they love whiskey so much that they buy their own barrels. When you walk into the restaurant, you’ll see empty barrels, but these barrels are actually purchased from various distilleries. The restaurant has its own private label, which is available to sample for free.
“If you like whiskey, this is the place for you,” says Kurama. “We carry just about every whiskey on the market, so there’s something for everyone.”
Crama said he wanted to be here for the long term and be part of the community. That remains true today, with Monroe Social striving to be a central location serving the needs of local residents and working closely to support local organizations. A major event hosted by Monroe Social is the annual golf tournament that benefits Sterling House Community Center in Stratford. Crama thanks his customers for their support and kindness over the years, and he thanks his staff for their hard work and dedication to serving the restaurant and the community.
“It all starts with our staff and how we run this place. I feel like we all share the same mindset of being very open, friendly and caring to those around us,” Crama said. “We couldn’t run this place without them.”
Monroe Social has some kind of special happening every day. On Mondays, they offer half-price bottles of wine. Crama says they have a great selection for every budget, and the sale gives you the chance to try wines you might not normally try. On Tuesdays, they have happy hour all night until closing time, and offer a menu that has “a little bit of everything” at reasonable prices, from beer, wine, and cocktails to a variety of specials.
On Wednesdays, kids can eat free off the kids’ menu, and Crama encourages neighborhood families to treat their kids to some fun. On Thursdays, they host a fun, competitive trivia night, which lasts five rounds and is mostly based on general knowledge. The topic also changes each week and is usually a surprise. Karaoke night is on Fridays from 9 p.m. until closing time, and Crama says it will feature almost any song people want to sing.
And there’s live music on Saturday nights; Crama says it’s mostly acoustic, but about once a month, a band will play late into the night. On Sundays, they offer a Sunday Night Special, a delicious 12-ounce New York strip steak for $17 and half-price bottles of wine, which Crama says they’ve “done forever” and is what people know them for.
“I want people to come in and have an experience,” Crama says, “and it’s great that you can come in and have a great steak and try our wine collection and not have to spend a ton of money, because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. We just want people to come in and have a good time.”
Monroe Social serves brunch with its own menu Friday through Sunday from 12-3 PM. The restaurant also occasionally hosts special events around holidays, which will be announced as they are planned. Catering, family meals, reservations, and the ability to schedule private events are also available.
Menu sample
Brunch: Available every Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, includes “The Boss,” the ultimate breakfast dish with a bacon and cheese waffle, two hash browns, bacon, sausage, two fried eggs, chili aioli and local maple syrup.
Small Plates: The restaurant’s Smoked Pork Belly is smoked, marinated and seasoned in-house and served with sautéed onions, tomatoes, cherry peppers, beans and spinach. Brussels sprouts are a longtime staple and are served with pumpkin seeds, bacon and local honey for a deliciously crispy flavor.
Salad: Grilled Romaine Wedges are loaded with garden-fresh tomatoes, red onions, crispy bacon bits and blue cheese dressing. We grill half a head of romaine to change up the lettuce flavor and create a salad you’ll never tire of.
HAND-HELD: Monroe Social’s signature house burger is a longtime staple for a reason: a locally sourced, grass-fed burger topped with cheddar ale sauce and bacon barbecue onion jam, served with fries. They also have the popular smoked brisket, which is smoked, marinated and seasoned in-house and served with a pretzel bun, coleslaw, pickles and barbecue.
Mains: The main selection includes a versatile plate of locally sourced filet mignon, tender with rustic truffle mash, sautéed local spinach and mushrooms, and a red wine sauce. Another standout is the signature fried chicken, made with boneless chicken breast and chilli aioli served with fries. The perfect combination of seasoning and beer batter makes this dish a repeat favourite.
Sides: Monroe Social offers a variety of sides including a variety of fries, tater tots, sautéed cauliflower, truffle mashed potatoes and house-made onion rings made with the same beer batter as their famous fried chicken. Whatever your menu choice, you’re sure to find the perfect side to accompany your meal.
Dessert: There are plenty of treats to satisfy your sweet tooth, including brownies, gelato, chocolate mousse cheesecake, and Oreo peanut butter pie.
Drinks: Monroe Social’s motto is “a little bit of everything for everyone,” and that applies to their drink selections. Monroe Social purchases private barrels that are used in most of the cocktails on their cocktail list. The Social, named after the restaurant, is a fan-favorite cocktail that combines Monroe Social Private Barrel Bourbon with vermouth, orange bitters, muddled oranges, and Amarena cherries. There are also several non-alcoholic options, including non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine, locally made craft sodas, and mocktails like the Skinny Margarita and the “Dirty Pelican” Paloma. When it comes to beer, Monroe Social strives to serve local and has a good selection of local options. There are a total of 15 beers on tap, with domestic and imported beer options as well. When it comes to wine, the restaurant sells them by the bottle and has a classic selection of white, red, and sparkling wines.
Monroe Social is located at 494 Main Street in Monroe and is open Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 9pm, Friday through Saturday from noon to 10pm, and Sunday from noon to 8pm.
Online ordering, reservations, gift card orders and private event reservations can be made online. For more information, visit themonroesocial.com, call 203-590-3450, email info@themonroesocial.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook @MonroeSocial or Instagram @monroesocial203. To book a private event, call 203-601-0510 or email events@themonroesocial.com.
