The Monks Society

Name: The Monks Society
Address: The Monks Society 49 Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, Republic of, V95 K88N
Telephone: (065) 670 0111
Price range: €30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2

127 reviews

€30 and under

European

Top tags:

The Monks Society is located in the historical town of Ennis in county Clare.
The building itself dates back all the way to the 13th century to when it was part of the Ennis Franciscan Friary.
Now, The Monks Society has been refurbished and now comprises of a stylish ground floor bar with a contemporary restaurant finding its home upstairs.
Bookings are only taken for the restaurant and the bar operates on a walk-in basis.
The Monks Society offer an a la carte menu, a set menu, and a brunch menu on weekends.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

9 Dec 2023

19:00

Booked 6 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
€30 and under
Cuisines
European, Irish, International
Hours of Operation
Wed–Fri 5:00 pm–12:30 am Sat, Sun 11:00 am–12:30 am
Phone number
(065) 670 0111
Website
http://www.themonkssociety.ie/
Payment Options
Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Business Casual
Executive Chef
Jose Vega

Location
The Monks Society, 49 Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare V95 K88N
Area
Ennis
Parking Details
None
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Gift card

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What 127 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.4Service
4.4Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Munster
Best Service
Munster
Best Value
Munster
Great for brunch
Munster
Good for business meals
Munster
Good for business meals
Munster
Innovative
Munster
Great for creative cocktails
Munster
Hot spot
Munster
Great for fine wines
Munster
Good for special occasions
Munster
Vegetarian-friendly

127 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Limerick
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous meal, excellent waiting staff. Most enjoyable evening
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AH
AnnH
Munster
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 18 November 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Friendly staff and attentive, great variety on menu, beautiful food & good selection of drinks, very efficient service.
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SN
SNSszsz
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Food portions very small for mains. Only 5/6 options for mains. First preference wasn't available, so ordered the cheese souffle, which was size of an egg and surrounded by leaves. No sides included. Disappointing. Buttered chicken dish looked a bit better, in fairness. Lovely staff and ambience though.
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A
Amanda
Dublin
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on 4 November 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful restaurant But unfortunately 2 of us had to send the crispy pork tacos back as we got them for mains the taste of tuna fish off them was revolting, 2 others that weren't having them tried the pork and they also could taste tuna.. I am going again on the 8th December with more friends so hoping food will be better.. Also the butter chicken my friend had she could hardly cut the chicken breast as it was dry and rubbery.
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RS
RachelS
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 1 November 2023
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
A group of 6 went to the monks society for a birthday celebration. We arrived downstairs, not knowing where to go and no staff were in sight. We made our way upstairs and we’re seated. The space was cold (in temperature) and two of our guests were expected to sit on stools. I did ask could they change to chairs and we were told no. A while later a different staff member came over and asked would they not prefer chairs so we switched. We then ordered and were told that there would be delays with food due to the chef being alone. 15 minutes later the server came back to let us know one main course that was ordered wasn’t available. Some starters arrived cold, one main course had raw chicken. Overall sadly just not a good experience. I had really high hopes but just too many issues for one evening.
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PC
PadraicC
Connacht
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 29 October 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely place, great staff good food, maybe expand menu for evening dining
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LC
LisaC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 29 October 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The food was delicious, with a good variety of vegetarian options. The rest of my family (non vegetarians) really enjoyed their meals also. Would definitely recommend a visit.
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B
Brian
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 October 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
All staff were so nice and helpful, we really enjoyed the Monks, looking forward to returning soon.
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AM
AnetaM
Munster
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 October 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All was good we all very happy with this place and restaurant is great designe and pub down stairs
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JO
JerryO
Cincinnati
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on 13 October 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was great , fantastic flavours , great menu, great service
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C
Coco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 6 October 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Pork tacos were a bit disappointing - not crispy tacos as written on menu and a bit bland and not very warm! Truffle and parmasean fries were nice, Cocktails were very good👌🏻
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C
Clare22
Dublin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 30 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We really enjoyed our lunch. The menu selection was great. The food was top class and the staff really looked after our table. Highly recommend.
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C
Clare22
Dublin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 23 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We ate from the tapas menu downstairs. Everything was delicious. We enjoyed the cocktails and the service was spot on. Thank you so much.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 5 October 2023
No - thank you so much! Thank you for visiting our venue and trying our small plates menu and our cocktails, and for leaving such a lovely review afterwards. Hope to see you again soon!
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J
Josep
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 16 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really cool spot Great atmosphere, food was excellent and the staff was outstanding. We’ll definitely be back again .
The Monks SocietyResponded on 5 October 2023
Thank you for leaving such a kind review Josep, we look forward to seeing you again soon!
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S
Sarah
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 16 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was really lovely. Each course that I had was tasty. Cocktails were great. Service was excellent all night. DJ came on a bit loud around 10 and we were just finishing up our dessert then.
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E
Eimear
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 15 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The cocktails were unreal and good for the price. Everyone was so nice and welcoming to us at the door.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 15 September 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Really nice, friendly attentive service Interesting menu and great drinks
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ML
MaryL
Dublin
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 13 September 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely food, good service in a beautiful unique location
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GL
GrainneL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 9 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful food , great service , lovely staff , very obliging and couldn’t fault anything
The Monks SocietyResponded on 12 September 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review Grainne. Hope to see you again soon!
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PR
PatrycjaR
Munster
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 2 September 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and drinks were gorgeous. The staff was very friendly and chatty. Definitely will go back again.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 8 September 2023
Hi Patrycja, thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind review. I am thrilled to hear you will be back, our new Autumn Winter evening menu launches shortly which I hope you will enjoy just as much as our Spring Summer menu. See you soon!
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AM
AidanM
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 26 August 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service, ambiance and food. Had an excellent time
The Monks SocietyResponded on 8 September 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star rating and such a lovely comment Aidan! I hope we will see you again soon.
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LM
LouiseM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 24 August 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We both had 3 courses, all were really tasty and the presentation was spectacular. The service was exceptional, and the waiting staff were very attentive. The highlight for me was the steak , it was seasoned perfectly. The starters were presented beautifully and the desserts were gorgeous I couldn't say enough positive things about the experience Louise -Ennis
1 person found this helpful
F
Familygal65
Limerick
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on 23 August 2023
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Booked a table for 2 based on positive reviews. The food was only ok, a bit bland and luke warm. No atmosphere as we were the inly ones in the restaurant @ 8.30. Food was served promptly, staff were pleasant but could do with additional training. Based on my experience I don’t think we’ll be back.
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AH
AineH
Munster
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 17 August 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Enjoyed a beautiful and very reasonably priced dinner with excellent prompt and courteous service on Thursday nights for 2 friends , certainly recommend The Monks Society for a dining experience .
The Monks SocietyResponded on 22 August 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star rating and such a kind review Aine. I am delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit and would recommend us to others! I will be sure to pass your lovely comments on to the team as well. Hope to see you again!
1 person found this helpful
JO
JenniferO
Connacht
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on 6 August 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Lovely setting. Beautifully decorated. Cocktails really nice. Food is average.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 16 August 2023
Hi Jennifer, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback for the team. I am delighted to hear you are a fan of our renovations of this historic address and that you enjoyed some of our award-nominated cocktails. However I am sorry to hear that the food did not match your expectations on this occasion. I hope that this won't prevent you from trying some of our other menus or for giving the restaurant another go in general.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 6 August 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was amazing food was fabulous decor was stunning staff were absolutely lovely
The Monks SocietyResponded on 16 August 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave 5 stars and such kind words, it is greatly appreciated!
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GT
GerT
Munster
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 3 August 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a lovely evening. If I was to make one observation, it was that I had booked for 3 people and the staff had to shove two small tables together. And if I’m being honest, I felt that the small tables are a bit too close together. Other than that, a really enjoyable experience.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 16 August 2023
Thank you Ger for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback for us, it is greatly appreciated! I am glad to hear you enjoyed your visit so much.
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PS
PeterS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 26 July 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
EXCELLENT WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO TRY AND STAFF WERE GREAT
The Monks SocietyResponded on 29 July 2023
Thank you for leaving a 5 star review Peter and for the recommendation!
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KL
KatieL
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 22 July 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food and service were excellent but music was a bit loud
The Monks SocietyResponded on 25 July 2023
Thank you for leaving a review and some feedback Katie, it is greatly appreciated!
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FL
FionaL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 16 July 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food service and the decor is fab. Will be back for sure
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a glowing review Fiona. Look forward to seeing you again!
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DD
DesD
London
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on 15 July 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Quite simply beautiful food. Kitchen was a bit backed up but it was excellent when it came. Worth the wait. Prawns perfect.. lamb mouthwatering.. properly set pannacotta ... delicious
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind review Des! I will be sure to pass your comments on to our Head Chef and kitchen team.
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A
Ailish
Limerick
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 14 July 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very cool quirky place, food was fab, staff were very attentive. Great atmosphere.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind review Ailish! I am delighted to hear this feedback and I will be sure to share your comments with our team.
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C
Clare22
Dublin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 14 July 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food, top class service, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! I am thrilled to hear you had such a good time and I will be sure to pass your comments on to the rest of the team.
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K
Kevmep
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 13 July 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
A very nice building with plenty of potential. The girl that greeted us was excellent and very professional. Once we got upstairs the young staff were very cordial but lacked training in areas such as standards and product knowledge. There was no obvious sign of a supervisor or anyone in charge. The food was only average. We had the prawns pil pil to start and it was barely warm, though nicely presented. The double 4oz burger was a little tough which is down to the meat cut or the way it was minced. The vegetarian burger was tasteless and barely warm. It was not a busy night and these basic issues are inexcusable. This property is very nice and quirky but you need to get the basic products right if you want to stay in business. We will return but will expect a more professional service, better standards and better food product.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback for our team. I am delighted to hear that you are willing to give us another chance to impress. You can make your reservation directly by emailing Sorcha at hello@themonkssociety.ie Looking forward to seeing you again!
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EF
EnnisFoodie
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 9 July 2023
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We got brunch in the Monks Society on Sunday. Overall the food was disappointing. An order of the Korean crispy chicken and waffles was nothing like the description or picture on Instagram, it was served with a pancake and no waffle. There was no salsa/slaw as stated on the menu and the chicken had no coating. Pancakes were a bit dry and the haddock omelette was bland. The breakfast plate was fine, as was the French toast. Overall, a disappointing food experience.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Hi there, I am so sorry to hear that your Brunch experience did not live up to expectations. I have taken your feedback in to consideration and I will pass your comments on to the Kitchen and Management teams. We will be launching new and improved menus in the near future and I would love if you would consider giving us a second chance to try them out. You can contact me directly to make your reservation at hello@themonkssociety.ie Kind regards, Sorcha
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CG
CaraG
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 7 July 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Lovely food and ambience. The waiters and waitresses were very nice but they needed to be more of them in our section in order to meet the needs of the diners.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 18 July 2023
Hi Cara, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback - it is greatly appreciated!
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PC
PadraicC
Connacht
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 1 July 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service and excellent food Beautiful restaurant with a great vibe to it Staff very efficient and friendly Great place for a night out
The Monks SocietyResponded on 4 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind review!
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A
Anna
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 25 June 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Staff were great, Drinks were lovely. We did bottomless prosecco and it kept on flowing. Really good day out. Food was good - missing options, no possibility of dessert - but there was a big party in so it was just bad timing. Beautiful venue and again the staff were class. Very attentive and quick.
The Monks SocietyResponded on 4 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review Anna! We are blessed with the team we have and I will be sure to pass your comments on to them all.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Dublin
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 23 June 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Lovely venue, staff etc but the food is really bland. Good price point however was expecting similar standard to House
The Monks SocietyResponded on 4 July 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback for the team, it is greatly appreciated. We will be launching new menus in the coming weeks that may be more your style!
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CD
CeinD
Munster
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 18 June 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Service was a little on the slow side/had to wait longer than expected for orders to be taken or someone to come see if we needed more of anything. Great atmosphere and décor. Delicious food!
The Monks SocietyResponded on 27 June 2023
Hi Cein, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and some feedback for the team. All reviews are considered carefully as we strive to learn and improve. I hope that these issues will be resolved on your next visit!
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FAQs

The Monks Society is rated 4.2 stars by 127 OpenTable diners.

The Monks Society does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

9 Dec 2023

19:00

Booked 6 times today

The Monks Society, 49 Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare V95 K88N

Additional information

Area
Ennis
Hours of Operation
Wed–Fri 5:00 pm–12:30 am Sat, Sun 11:00 am–12:30 am
Price
€30 and under
Cuisines
European, Irish, International
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Business Casual
Parking Details
None
Payment Options
Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Jose Vega
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Website
http://www.themonkssociety.ie/
Phone number
(065) 670 0111

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

The Monks Society

Make a booking

Additional information

Gift card

Menu

What 127 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

FAQs

How is The Monks Society restaurant rated?

Does The Monks Society offer gift cards?

Is The Monks Society currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information

Gift card