Monk’s Steamer Bar

oysters are sooooo good! shrimp also yummy, clams could use a little more butter, but good. Worth the trip for the oysters alone!

Terrific steamed shrimp, a baguette order was a must to lap up the sauce which accompanied the shrimp, soooooooooooo good. I went to Monks with my out of town guest, they really enjoyed the food and we couldn’t have asked for better more attentive staff, great service all around. This will be one of the go to stops when I have visitors in town from now on.

My opinion, the best place to have fresh oysters. Steamed shrimp with all that butter and seasoning is awesome. I had a second order. We also had the Monkafellos steamed oysters w/​parm cheese & butter. Over the top great !!! Service is good and very friendly.

Simple, strait forward seafood. No frills, no gimmicks… amazing. This is exactly the kind of place we love. Don’t expect sides or veggies it’s just a bar and seafood… perfect. I think we’ve tried everything on the menu and the jumbo shrimp and muscles stand out. If you’re not into seafood the smoked sausage is also fantastic! The only thing we didn’t love was the crawfish, only because they have been frozen and aren’t as fresh.

Fast friendly and oysters were just right simple menu they stick to what they do well. Well oiled machine!!! Shrimp was great

Love it! Fun, friendly and yummy shrimp & oysters monkafellars! The porch/​outside area is a nice addition!

I was hesitant to try one of the MonkeFella’s oysters. I was blown away. They are the best oysters I ever had. I love this place. Make it a stop on your next trip to Siesta Key. I can’t wait to try everything on the menu. A simple bar with a very relaxed atmosphere. Eat inside or out on the patio. You won’t be disappointed. Monk’s has a really a great friendly staff also. I gave it a five star for the quality of the food. It is a very casual atmosphere. I want to go back when they have a band I heard hear it is a lot of fun.

Monk’s is a dive bar with great seafood. There is nothing fancy about this place but the jumbo (peeled) shrimp are amazing! They are cooked in garlic, butter, old bay seasoning and two pounds of them disappear quickly. We had the shrimp, monkafella oysters, snow crab legs and the crawfish. I’d skip the crawfish if I went again. The oysters and snow crab legs were very good but nothing came close to how amazing the shrimp were.
The downside is that this place doesn’t have any sides besides a small hunk of bread or a soup of the day. It would really help this place if they had some salad and just a couple more side choices.
This isn’t a good place to bring children but it would be an awesome place to watch a sports game, the bar is covered in TVs. The good thing about children not being allowed inside is that you’re guaranteed not to have to listen to screaming children while you eat. Which is a BIG plus in my book.
Again, the jumbo shrimp carries this place, it’s incredible!

Absolutely love this place, fresh oyster or shrimp or the mussels are amazing. Staff is very friendly, and they shuck the oysters right in front of you. If you love oysters, these are the best ever

Amazing service! Great food! Awesome concept! Perfect for a local beach style restaurant/​bar. Could use more female employee presence but every male working is rocking out and killing it! Great attitudes all around great communication and a great experience! Highly recommended!

Wow… I love love love this place. I was vacationing in Sarasota this past wk and a local introduced me to this place. It was amazing! I had the monkefellas oysters and the peel and eat shrimp (in garlic butter and old bay seasoning)… Both were incredible! The place is nothing fancy and the concept simple — a small menu offering steamed food. This place is much more than the touristy oyster bars in the area… This place has local flavor.
My suggestion, head to Monk’s one night with your sweetie. Order some cold beers, a dozen monkefellas oysters and the peel and eat shrimp and walk away a happy person.

Really great steamer bar. Bartenders are nice and food is plentiful! Only thing is, I wish they had at least one vegetable on the menu… sometimes it’s nice to have SOMETHING green :)

Best oysters and steamed shrimp in SRQ. Casual sports bar atmosphere, but it feels like a friendly neighborhood pub. Simple, limited menu, decent service and a great vibe. It’s not boisterous like many sports bars… Never had trouble carrying on a conversation like in other sports bars. But I’ve never had oysters as plump and sweet. And the 2 lb steamed shrimp (p&d) was a feast we couldn’t finish. Perfectly plump shrimp, consistently tender and sweet. A great place to catch a game!

Super divey. Which we like. No one under 21 can eat inside so had to sit outside where smoking is allowed. No fillers on the menu as in bread, well we asked for bread so soak up the juice of the mussels and they were out. No salads no potatoes nothing but oysters, mussels, shrimp, crab legs, … Very good though!!!

So good! My husband and I are regulars here, particularly because we have occasional cravings for monkefellas. I love their mussels too, but everything is fresh and tasty. Keep in mind, it’s a bit pricey if you’re intending to make it dinner and order multiple items.

We had heard only good things about Monk’s but hesitated to go because smoking was allowed inside.
However, when we called we were told that about six months ago, management decided to ban smoking inside but allowed it on the patio.
The drinks (gin & tonic) were great and so was the price.
We were raised in Baltimore and appreciate great seafood especially when it’s steamed, broiled or baked.
Monk’s delivered BIG time. The Monkefellers were delicious and so were the mussels. Randy suggested we try the 2 lbs of large steamed shrimp. We didn’t take his advise… Then we did order them and they were incredible and made with Old Bay.
So, definitely go to Monk’s but listen to Randy and order the large peeled shrimp.
The bartenders and waiters do everything. They steam the seafood behind the bar, having said that, we wish they offered steamed corn on the cob or even steamed baby red potatoes to add to the dishes. It’s just a thought. We’ll be back for our next fresh seafood fix!!!

Best oysters & raw bar in town BY FAR! The Oysters Monkafeller are truly astoudingly good as well. Fun casual atmosphere, amazing service, strong drinks, great food. Go.

Monk’s is the best! My husband and I get down to our Sarasota place in Gulf Gate a few times a year and make sure to stop at Monk’s, usually to catch an Eagles game. Their seafood is delicious, the bartenders are super friendly, and I just discovered that they make the best Bloody Marys on the planet. They even told me where to buy the mix they use (of course, they doctor the mix to make it their own) so I was able to pick up some before I left FL. Love going here!

Love, Love, Love Monks Steamer Bar. Monks is the only place I will eat oysters at here in Sarasota. The staff at Monks are great too, their always friendly and ready to serve up whatever you want to order. The Monkafella’s, muscles, shrimp and crab legs are all super delicious. The outside patio is a much welcomed addition too. I’m sure all the non-​smokers appreciate it. IF you love simple delicious good seafood you have to check out Monks you won’t regret it.

This place is delicious and it allowed us to order across the street and bring our hoagies to the table. Not everyone loves seafood. The seafood is awesome and fresh. We had oysters Rockefeller, raw oysters, shrimp and of course the hoagies from across the street hahaha.
Recommend and the prices are great. Service is wonderful, the deck is beautiful and peaceful. When I am back in Sarasota, you will find me here!