NYC Bread Lovers Are Willingly Paying $35 For This Appetizer
At many restaurants, the list of appetizers is easily skippable, but at one New York establishment, one particular order is commanding attention. Though Midtown Manhattan's Monkey Bar has tempted customers with hearty dishes since 1936, a bread appetizer has diners dreaming about the dish long after they leave. Priced at $34.99, Monkey Bar's Truffle Monkey Bread is made with Périgord truffles, Parmesan cheese, and truffle butter — and customers are adamant that the order is worth every penny. "I think about Monkey Bar AT LEAST once a day," wrote a fan on Instagram.
When the first plate is this good, a certain level of restraint is required to enjoy the full meal. "And to be honest, I was a second away from ordering 2. It's the kind of indulgence that makes you wonder why you're not royalty," wrote another customer on Instagram. "Insane. And it has a slight sweetness to it where you'll be talking about it the next time you have a convo about any type of food." After tearing apart pieces of the monkey bread, customers can dig into prime rib and crab cakes while sipping on cocktails and browsing a serious wine list.
A dish that lives up to its reputation
Monkey bread may sound whimsical, but the pull-apart bread has origins in the Hungarian dessert known as aranygaluska, or "golden dumpling." The recipe made its way to the U.S. by was of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants in the late 19th century, and found favor in the White House and among diners who liked to tear into their food. The treat has also made appearances at 1960s Hollywood parties. When seated at a red leather booth at the Monkey Bar, with intricate murals wrapping the walls, anyone can feel like a star — especially when an appetizer this good lands on the table first.
Classic monkey bread recipes call for canned biscuits, sugar, cinnamon, butter, and vanilla, but the version served at Monkey Bar keeps its exact preparation under wraps. What is known is that Périgord truffles are harvested in the winter and bring a fragrant, complex depth to dishes. They are pricey and prized — costing anywhere from $40 to $70 per ounce. "I'll go back and pay $40 for this piece of Parmesan truffle bread time and time again," remarked a fan on Instagram, who called Monkey Bar's monkey bread "probably the best bread" they'd ever eaten.