Mona's

Took a total of 10 minutes to get drinks...considering nobody else in the place! Food was excellent, service was lacking. Pros: good food Cons: bad service, indifferent more

If you haven't visited Mona's lately, it's time to return to a neighborhood favorite that has reclaimed its soul and injected fresh spirit into its food and cocktails. The above editorial is woefully out of date, as both the owners and chef of Mona's have changed in the last year, and they are elevating cocktails and cuisine to new levels of pleasure. On a recent visit, the night's special appetizer featured locally foraged porcini mushroom sauteed in brown butter and layered between slices of French Morbier cheese, the plate ringed with lavender honey gastrique...it might sound fancy, but the meltingly rich and earthy flavors tasted like the best grilled cheese you've never had in your life- ultimate soul food. The menu is predominately Italian, but inflected with flavors from throughout the Mediterranean, and relying heavily on local, seasonal, organic produce and meats as much as possible. I'm fortunate that I live close by, and am considering moving even closer so I can spend more time there. Oh, they also serve food to accompany the always first rate cocktails until 1 am Thursday through Saturday. Pros: Ambience, Food, Parking more

Fun and varied menu, good wine prices, funky sexy decor. If I lived in the hood I'd be at mona's two or three times a week Pros: eclectic, pretty Cons: $40 cab ride more

As you can tell I love small mom and pop shops. I support them and avoid big restaurants. Mona's is great. I avoid bringing any children along, this spot is not for them. This is definately the place for mom and dad to have a "date night". The only negative is sometimes it is hard to have an intimate conversation when the band starts to pick it up. Other than that, ditch the kids and enjoy the atmosphere. We are lucky up here in North Seattle, so many great restaurants not enough date nights. Pros: atmosphere galore, great drinks Cons: cramped seating, can be loud more

Mona's has recently has new owners. The desserts are now made by one of the co-owners, a pastry chef . . . simply delightful and worth saving room after a wonderful dinner or just go in for dessert. The variety of live music is a lot of fun, and the downbeats from the evenings with the dj vibes a lively mood. I'm very glad they brought back the ravioli. I'm waiting for the filet mignon with gorgonzola, asapargus and garlic mashed potatoes to return. Start off with the arugula salad, you can't go wrong. Pros: Good parking, Great service, Nice wine List more

Mona's has consistently provided creative food, delightful drinks, and an ambience which takes us to Miami or New York if only for the night. We live in West Seattle so our visits are not as frequent as we would like, but the drive is always worth it. The baccala cakes and Cuban/Chinoise fusion satay excites your mouth and the portions leave you very satisfied. The martinis are original and perfectly mixed. The high ceilings allow for a live band in the background that does not drown out your conversations. If you like bossa nova and jazz, this is the place. When will you open another Mona's in West Seattle? Pros: excellent value more

a oasis in Greenlake, highly recommend. Good ambience, bar, food, service. Wines by the glass choice aren't so great, everything else is! more

Great staff, a great place to be a regular. New chef since the last posts so get yourself in there and order the chicken. Pros: Great staff, Great food, Great drinks more

Even though Mona's is a little out of the downtown circuit, it is worth the extra drive. They provide some of the best service and ambiance in Seattle. Monas offers casual class and is great for dates or a night out with friends. Pros: Service more

Monas, in my humble opinion is the nicest bar out of the city center. The staff is always prompt and engaging, they have a nice wine list for a small place. A beautiful bar, which is actually being expanded to double its current size. The crowd tends to be a bit older and more mature...not the professional drinker feel of so many bars north of downtown and off Capitol Hill. Often times they have a smokin' jazz band that just simply rocks, though a bit load for the small space; they could use some good djs playing downtempo and such...perfect space for that...mood lighting and big picturesque windows. It is my favorite spot. more

Mona's is hard to rate, you nedd to break it down in a few areas. I ordered scallops for $ 20, was expecting the large bay scallops for that much money and some nicely prepared vegetables. I got 5 medium scallops, a potato tarte with some garbanzo beans and the whole thing was very dry. Well, it's a nice place, I may go back because it feels nice in there but they have some work to do. The dessert "panna cotta" was very good. Stay away from the tuna salad. We were the only ones there pretty much. more

The blood orange seviche is absolutely fabulous as the starter and then the Halibut Cheek special was cooked perfect, nice and flakey with spice. My wife said the beet risotto was to die for. But the best thing was the Bombay Saphire, straight with a twist Pros: Art on the wale Cons: Bring back the olives more

Overrated, overseasoned, overpriced! It was pretty salty, and the wine was ok. more

This place is a gem. It's tucked away off 65th and Latona, which means you could miss it if you're not paying attention, but it's usually too not crowded. The food is to die for. They have great wine. It's expensive, but not bank busting. It's worth it. The atmosphere is very romantic. Candlelit. Wonderful. The bar area is great with cozy seating. A nice place for after dinner drinks and that first date kiss where no one is glaring at you like you're a pervert. Go there! It's great! Pros: Romantic, Great food Cons: Pricey more

Monas is one of the best places. My Husband and I are big fans. The owners, and staff are always friendly and courteous. more

Their menu changes and usually has surprises. Eaten here many times, and they have the BEST martinis. Watch out, they go down like water! Usually I am more than satisfied (beet salad, duck, great chicken and salmon), but every once in a while, I have a dish that's too salty or a little expensive for the portions. The atmosphere is great, and the bands that are there are usually great too. Good place to kiss, romantic, definitely! Service has been a little spotty a few times. Pros: great atmosphere, excellent drinks Cons: parking more

Mona's does a great balancing act between the "Classy Destination Point" and "Comfortable Neighborhood Joint". If you live nearby, you should feel lucky to have such a jewel within walking distance... and if you live further out, it's easily enough to get to off of I-5 to make it a great place to head out to for dinner or drinks, or both! Pros: Great drinks, Great bar menu, Comfortable Cons: TV over bar, Smoking allowed more