Roger Monk’s

SUCH a great find! This place is in an 1860s farmhouse, so if that’s not a vibe you’re interested in, it’s not the place for you.
However, they did an amazing job with the whole feel of the place. It smells wonderfully musty and rustic as soon as you walk in. We seated ourselves by the fireplace (actual wood-​burning and crackling and the waiters stop by every so often to add another log), but sitting by one of the floor-​to-​ceiling windows would have been great too. Happy hour is from 3 until 6 or 7 pm (I forgot which…) on weekdays, and there’s a list of a bunch of drinks for $ 5 as well as $ 5 appetizers.
My friend and I both ordered sangria to drink, which was really good, and split a few appetizers. They bring out hot rolls and herb butter too, which was really good. We liked the meatballs a lot, and I liked the mussels but my friend did not. We loved their french fries.
They were playing some sort of gymnastics meet on TV, which was random but pretty cool to watch, haha.
I can’t wait until summer to go eat on one of their decks!

Amazing burgers and they always have good specials. The setting is unique in a beautiful old home. Definitely worth the trip out there.

I can’t decide if I feel like I’m in Maine or up north when I walk into Roger Monk’s, but since either is a very good thing it probably doesn’t matter. There is something extremely «log cabin» about this place. Yes, it has a fireplace. And there is a lot of wood (walls, tables, staircase). And you are somewhat out in the country (in between Ann Arbor and the suburban sprawl of Metro Detroit). I just want to come here with a book and hang out for awhile — it feels that much like a family place up north. Combine that up north vibe with remarkably creative and tasty burgers, a good selection of beer (on tap and in bottles), and what looks to be a great happy hour (sadly, we have yet to take advantage of the happy hour specials) and you really can’t go wrong here. I highly recommend the Kick out the Jams burger — topped with gorgonzola cheese and shallot marmalade. Roger Monk’s is a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth a stop if you are heading out of Ann Arbor.

First time trying Roger Monks it was pleasantly wonderful. Décor-​very different with a lot of character and old charm. Food– they didn’t have the duck entrée!!! I was very sad about that. However, there was a special for pork chop with chipotle maple glaze and that was absolutely delicious very flavorful… no part out did the other on the plate. If you like spicy though it was not spicy at all not even a Franks hot sauce spicy. I ate my whole plate though, no big deal. Staff/​service– helpful staff knowledgable BUT did nothing special regular service that you would get at an Applebee’s or red robin so I gave it 4 because the food was better than 3 but overall experience would probably be a 3?

Something was a bit off. Ambience: reminded me of «Legs Inn» up north in Cross Village, but not as well cared-​for. Service: below average and slow. She (the server) didn’t seem to really care about us being there, and I overheard the bartender say something like, the music is playing just for him, that’s why the speaker is pointed this way. It was not ‘crowd pleasing’ music.
That’s a pretty good microcosm for the feeling I had dining here — that the restaurant exists for the benefit of the proprietors, not for the guests.
Food: The burgers were good, but burgers are always good so nothing special here. The do have a nice craft beer selection, but it took over five minutes to get the beer I ordered (we were one of three tables seated). In short, a disappointing visit to a place for which I had high hopes. I may return for happy hour, but I won’t come back for dinner.

This is a great privately owned place with an up north pub feel. Great food, unique menu items like sweet potato fries and egg plant Parmesan and specialty hamburgers. Great beer selection

I’m overdue to give this place an update, and another star. Ate and drank here many times since my last Unilocal,and over the course of those I’ve seen Roger’s improve considerably. The kitchen has really tightened up. Burgers have been cooked to order consistently (and more generously dressed with cheese and other toppings), the soup selection has gotten tastier (worthy of special notice here – Senegalese lemon), and the entrees we’ve ordered have been at least satisfactory; the meat loaf and the Devries pork chop really stand out in that category (though these are specials, so pure luck of the draw whether you see them or not),. The $ 5 happy hour mussel plate is probably the best appetizer deal in town.
Looking forward to more good outings here.

I can get past first impressions, but not when the second impression is the same. This was my second time here, and I found it quease-​inspiring: extremely musty smell, waited an exorbitant amount of time to get service, and the menu includes a mayonnaise and peanut butter burger.
Keep in mind, I have worked in the food industry, so I realize it’s hard to get everything right. Although I left before ordering, I did tip the waitress.
Here’s my experience today:
The musty smell lessens once you’re past the foyer, but the dark wood walls and dim lights don’t do much to help the dankness. The door creaked closed behind me, and no staff were in sight. I stood at the host stand, staring at the big clock on the wall.
2 minutes later, the hostess/​waitress finally walked towards me. I said «I’d like a seat by the window.» She continued walking, not stopping, but glancing towards me very briefly. Just after she passed me, she said (with her back to me), «you can sit anywhere you’d like.»
The waitress continued walking away, and I sat by a window. The waitress brought a paper menu with wrinkles and faint food smears. Although she placed 1 menu in front of me, there were 2 different menus already on the table, all with food smears.
The waitress brought a glass of water with a large slice of orange submerged. I told the waitress I was ready to order, but she left without taking my order. 5 minutes later I walked up to tell the bar tender I was ready to order. Another 5 minutes passed with no waitress in sight, so I left. 10 minutes total from saying I was ready to order until leaving.
A couple quippy notes about the menu:
Satiating big appetites, their standard burger is ½ pound. For the slightly bigger appetite, they have a ²⁄₃ pound burger: «The Stealer $ 12~ Our take on a classic made famous elsewhere. Two ¹⁄₃ patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese etc.» I wonder why they opted for the extra ¹⁄₆ pound for this burger, and I wonder how «etc» tastes. :P
However, I would NOT want to know how this burger tastes: «Pleasant Dreams 10~ Mayonnaise and peanut butter.»
TIP: Plan on spending both time and money here.
TIPS TO OWNERS:
1. Reprint your menus and consider laminating them.
2. Take down the big wall clock and add some overhead music. Thinking about it, I have never seen a restaurant with a clock in the dining area. However, without that huge clock, my review would not be as accurate, so thank you for that.
3. Improve attentiveness by encouraging staff to remain within eye-​sight of customers when possible.

I really want to like this place, it has such potential with its history and quaint location the owners should consider investing some time and money on a make over. The food can be hit or miss at best and you can always depend on the service being very, very slow and bad.
So for cleanliness, poor service and lack of interest by the owner I have to give this a negative rating.

This is a great cozy spot away from the downtown crowds. Excellent beer and wine selection, tasty interesting menu, and it’s family owned so you can’t beat that. Fireplace in the winter or a deck with a gorgeous view in the simmer (you can bring your dog!). Roger Monks shouldn’t be missed!

I was surprised at how empty the place was on a Saturday night but we had an exceptional experience!
Starting with the baby spinach salad with toasted walnuts they also served us warm bread with chive butter that was very tasty. My veggie burger w grilled onion and jalapeño was very good as were the sweet potato fries… also a very nice beer selection. We definitely plan on getting back to Monk’s again soon! Nice atmosphere too, kind of rustic but classy.

Roger Monks is a hidden gem! Quiet and non-​pretencious, it is the perfect spot to eat with a loved one or a cocktail after work. Make sure you get the sweet potato fries and The Stealer burger with extra sauce! This place blows any burger joint out of the water. But shhhhhhhhh don’t tell anyone or else the secret will get out! Also their old fashions are award worthy.

Roger Monk’s is a particularly formal restaurant or anything, but it’s a bit more of a highbrow bar/​restaurant. It kind of reminds me of Carson’s American Bistro (on Commonwealth Dr), except more rustic and more of a bar than restaurant feel (if that makes sense).
RM has a decent happy hour with appetizer and drink specials. The beers are craft and microbrew, so if that’s your thing, then you’ll like their selection. It’s also pretty cool that they rotate their selections with some regularity. Though it’s been implied, I’ll explicitly state that they do not have domestics or other poor people beer. So if that’s what you want or like, this place isn’t for you.
Regarding their food, I’ve only had appetizers during happy hour. Specifically, I’ve had the meatballs, hummus and pita bread, sweet potato fries. I always order the meatballs. I typically get two orders, because the portion of meatballs is quite modest. Others I’ve been with order the hummus & pita and sweet potato fries. The portion of sweet potato fries is very generous and they’re really tasty. Comes with both chipotle and a sweet sauce (the latter almost tastes like a saucier cream cheese frosting, which I quite like). I’ve never had the hummus and pita, because I don’t like hummus, but the people who get it really like it.
Overall, RM is a slightly highbrow bar (though not upscale) with a fine selection of craft beers and a decent selection of good quality food. Their happy hour is decent. RM is never my own choice, but rather I go because it’s close to my place of work and my coworkers like it. If you like fancy beer and fancy food, check it out.

Roger Monk’s is extremely okay, exceptional average, overwhelmingly underwhelming. I want to like it, as it’s just around the corner from my house, and I’m glad to say it never disappoints. It just never really impresses either.
The food is pretty good, and my party is usually one of the few there so service has been pretty on point. Good burgers, love the crab cakes, solid salads. The atmosphere is pretty neutral and depends on the crowd you bring. I’ve been there for casual date nights, large family meals, business meetings, etc. RM is definitely an upgrade from the former Lord Fox (though the menu shares a few items), and I’ll probably return in the near future.
All in all, it’s good. The parking lot always looks popular when I drive by, but I’ve never seen it during a busy period. Decent food, nice atmosphere (great music!), and nice staff. If you’re in the area, give it a try, but I’m not sure it’s something to really write home about. Happy Dining!

Hidden Gem in Ann Arbor. Are you tired of fighting traffic? nearly killing yourself and everyone in your vehicle for that coveted free parking spot downtown? Well, fight no more. Take a short trip out from the tired downtown scene for a relaxing or romantic meal.
Coming to Roger Monk’s feels like a trip to the countryside. I love it. Plymouth road suddenly turns into a 2 lane road. You see a sign for «dixboro general store». Winter atmosphere is magical. Feels like a ski resort. Fire is going and you smell the sweetness of pine in the air. I LOVE wood fires. Summers are awesome. Porch seating is super sweet.
Food is great. Note that you’re not going to get anything world class but the burgers are incredibly juicy and the fish is delightful. Fantastic beer and wine selection… great happy hour prices.
Servers/​staff — 5 stars. Friendly and fast. They’re all genuinely nice people. what a crazy idea?

We really wanted to like this place – it’s very charming and has a warm, family feeling to its ambiance. But the service is mediocre and the food is quite disappointing. We have been there twice, and every plate reminded us of someone else’s better version of that item.
On our last visit, R’s burger (ordered medium) arrived so overdone it was like a hockey puck, and J’s veggie burger was Kirkland’s frozen patty (you know, the kind we buy from Costco).
Despite decent cocktails and the happy hour deals’ reasonabe appeal, we won’t be back

Came with a friend last night. We only had a couple adult beverages and split the meatball appetizer, but that alone has encouraged me to come back.
Why? You ask… (Or at least I am guessing you are asking) The customer service was outstanding! The waitress was a sweet as punch and kept refilling our waters and asking if we wanted a second wine (and then a third). The meatball appetizer was great! I could make a meal out of them!
The happy hour specials are nice. Five dollar martini’s, wine, and appetizers.
The menu looks great. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, etc. And they are all at a reasonable price.
Location is great if you are driving between Canton and Ann Arbor!
Can’t wait to come back!

Monk’s is a unique place. I always enjoy dining in an old house. It feels cozy.
A group of colleagues gathered and had some local Michigan beers… Bell’s and Founder’s products were represented.
We also ordered food. My selection was the Burn burger. I was impressed with the effort. The bun was decent and the burger was cooked as ordered and very tasty. The cayenne mayo and fresh jalapenos were delicious. I also had sweet potato fries, which were quite good. I grabbed some of their regular fries from a colleague, and they were very good as well.
Service can be sketchy at a large table, but our server did just fine.

So I’m torn on this place, from what it was and what it could be.
Its an upscale roadhouse. Trendy burgers, great beer selection — local craft beers and some odd ball imports — an eclectic wine list. They also have a pretty nice selection of cocktail drinks using local distilleries. Its definitely off the beaten path, much closer to Ann Arbor than Detroit or the Detroit suburbs. You really need to look for it, so take Plymouth road instead of M-​14, M-​14 goes zooming right past it.
So the draw was the Kobe burgers of which they have 12 – 14 options. Interesting toppings and combinations. We went as a group, and half the group loved the place, I fell into the it was good but…
Its bigger than you think, it sprawls around and I assume in the summer the deck would be nice looking over the little lake out back. The service was OK, young — i’ll get to that — but not overly bothersome. I assume they have well water because they put a slice of orange in the water glasses.
We start with a couple of appetizers, the caramelized pear and Portabello fries. The fries were good.
We all order burgers, except one person order the wild mushroom pasta. I had the J. Giels Band burger — on the menu it’s Love Stinks — the waitress didn’t yet it — I’ll assume it was her age and not my wit. It was a Kobe burger with apple-​wood smoke bacon and Gruyère cheese (Mild Swiss).
So here’s why I rated this place a 3 and not a 4, which it could have been, It was a good enough burger, but the Kaiser roll was just a Kaiser roll — and it broke apart (I wonder how fresh it was). For these Kobe burgers, I thought they would have a better selection of rolls. Heck you are already paying $ 10, what’s another $ 1 for a pretzel or a nice potato roll? It also bothered my that they skimp on the Gruyère cheese. I think I had a ¼ of a slice on the burger. I went with the regular fries and every was good, but not great.
We stayed for desert, and there was a duet playing music in the bar area, with amps, and they were so loud that the waitress couldn’t hear my desert order from across the table. And they never turn the music down, Who needs speakers in a restaurant with 30 people in it anyway?
We will probable go back, in the summer to check out the deck.

I loved Roger Monks. I know reviewers go back and forth about this place, but I had great food and a great experience. Roger Monk’s was our new restaurant choice for September. I heard they had unique burgers and it’s about 3 miles from our house so it was an obvious choice.
I love restaurants that once were homes. There is a certain automatic cozyness to them that you can’t get anywhere else and Roger Monks is no exception.
I ordered The Stealer (their take on a Big Mac) and the hubs ordered the Pleasant Dreams (burger with peanut butter and mayo). They both were perfectly cooked and tasted terrific! They have quite a few more burger selections and we both decided we want to keep coming back and checking things off the list.
They also have a nice selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Their beer and wine selection isn’t huge, but enough that everyone should be able to find something they like.
Good place!