Date Night at MONROE!
2:11 PM
A few weeks ago I ventured to MONROE in Central Square for Tuesday night date night. The Mass Ave restaurant recently re-opened after renovating their dining room, bar, and night club. Marked with a bright neon sign, MONROE is positioning itself as the new Central Square hotspot for classic American comfort food and a bustling international nightlife scene.
After a quick tour of the new space my date and I were seated for dinner in the rear dining room. Chef Youssef introduced himself and walked us through the menu he created before ordering apps. He sent out an amazing charcuterie plate with various meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and other condiments. I love a good charcuterie plate and this is one I would definitely order again. We also ordered the tuna tartare (fresh and beautifully plated) and an order of crispy chicken wings (what can I say, we have diverse palates!)
For dinner I settled on steak with mashed potatoes and a side of asparagus while my better half opted for the pulled pork sandwich. We found it interesting and rather innovative that it was served on an English muffin rather than a traditional bun. Chef Youssef certainly wins points for that one!
Dessert was a decadent chocolate cake and two mugs of Chef Youssefs 'relaxation' green tea spiked with star anise, cinnamon, and saffron. I'm a big fan of green tea so it was a really nice way to end the meal.
I really enjoyed the food and chatting with Chef Youssef about the menu, his inspiration, and his background. If you find yourself in the area I definitely recommend stopping by for dinner, drinks, and a little dancing!
MONROE Restaurant
450 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
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