True to its name, Monroe Social at 494 Main Street in Monroe has worked to meet the needs of the community ever since opening its doors in November of 2016. The restaurant aims to be a casual, chill joint that serves top-notch American food and everyone can hang around and have a fun time together with family or friends. To Monroe Social’s General Manager Constantin Crama, the ultimate goal is to give people a place to enjoy great food in good company.

At the time of the restaurant’s opening, Crama says that he and his partner at the time had a lot of experience working for popular restaurants in the area, and felt that it was the right time to move in this direction. Crama had always been a fan of Monroe and the surrounding towns in the area, and thus had always wanted to come up this way. So when the spot that would eventually become Monroe Social opened up, Crama said it was “the right place at the right time.”

Monroe Social also originally started as a burger joint. They kicked things off with their signature House Burger, a burger topped with a cheddar ale sauce and a bacon BBQ onion jam, and got feedback on it according to Crama. However, he said that people wanted more than just a burger place, and so they had to keep on adjusting every year.

Crama says that they have since shifted from a burger place to “something a little bit more,” coming up to serve an eclectic style of American cuisine that offers a little bit of everything. From small plates such as Smoked Pork Belly and handhelds such as their signature House Burger to entrees like Peach Bourbon Chicken and their wildly popular Fried Chicken, Monroe Social has many options for people to dig in and enjoy.

The restaurant continues to keep things fresh by changing the menu every six months to try to stay in tune to the season, and that goes for both food and drinks. In the last two years, Monroe Social has also been slowly shifting towards local ingredients, gearing toward sourcing local ingredients for their meat and vegetables from around the area.

Monroe Social has the special distinction of being the only bourbon bar in the area according to Crama, with the restaurant boasting an unmatched variety of 250 whiskey options. They are so in love with whiskey, Crama adds, that they buy their own barrels. People can see empty barrels as they enter the restaurant, and those barrels are actually purchased from different distilleries. The restaurant has their own private labels that people can come and taste for free.

“If you like whiskey, this is the place to be,” Crama said. “We have almost everything that is out there, so there is a little something for everyone.”

Crama goes on to say that he came for the long run and wanted to be a part of the community. That rings true to this day, as Monroe Social tries to be a central place for the needs of local residents and works closely to support organizations around the area. The main event Monroe Social holds is their Annual Golf Tournament, which supports Sterling House Community Center in Stratford. Crama thanks his customers for their support and kindness over the years, as well as his staff for their hard work and dedication in all that they do for the restaurant and the community.

“It really starts with the staff, with how we run the place. It really feels like we all share the same mindset of being very open and friendly with the people around us, to show them that we care,” Crama said. “I couldn’t run this place without them.”

Monroe Social makes it a point to have some kind of special happening everyday. On Mondays, they do half-priced bottles of wine. Crama says they have a great wine selection for every budget, and that the deal gives people a chance to indulge in something they otherwise might not try. Tuesdays have Happy Hour available all night long until close, with a menu featuring “a little bit of everything” from drinks such as beer, wine, and cocktails to various specials at a reasonable price.

Kids get to eat free from the kids menu on Wednesdays, so Crama encourages families in the surrounding area to come in and treat their kids to a good time. On Thursdays they have their fun and competitive Trivia Night, which lasts for five rounds and is mostly based on general knowledge. The topics also change every week and are generally a surprise. Karaoke Night is on Friday from 9 pm until close, and features almost everything that people would want to sing according to Crama.

Then on Saturday nights, they have live music. Crama said that most of the time they have an acoustic act, but that once a month or so they have a band that goes until late at night. Sundays feature their Sunday Night Special, which is a delicious 12 oz New York strip steak for $17 with half-priced wine bottles, that Crama says “they’ve been doing forever” and that people know them for it.

“I’m trying to get people to come in and have an experience,” Crama said. “And that’s great for people to come and try a good steak or try our wine collection and not break the bank, because at the end of the day that’s what it comes down to … We just want people to have fun and treat them to a good time.”

Monroe Social does brunch Friday through Sunday from 12 to 3 pm with its own menu. The restaurant will sometimes hold other special events around the holidays, but those are advertised as they are organized. Catering, family meals, reservations, and private room event scheduling are also available.

A Sample Of The Menu

Brunch: Available every Friday through Sunday from 12-3 pm. Includes The Boss, a dish featuring a bacon and cheese waffle alongside two hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, two sunny side eggs, chili aioli, and local maple syrup for the ultimate breakfast meal.

Small Plates: The restaurant’s Smoked Pork Belly is smoked, marinated, and seasoned in-house, and gets complemented with sautéed onions, tomatoes, cherry peppers, beans, and spinach. Their Brussels Sprouts have been a menu staple for years, and are served with pumpkin seeds, bacon, and local honey for a crispy and delectable taste.

Salads: The Grilled Romaine Wedge is loaded with garden fresh tomatoes, red onion, crunchy bacon bits, and blue cheese dressing. Half of the romaine head gets grilled to change the flavor of the lettuce to help create a salad people cannot get enough of.

Hand Helds: Monroe Social’s signature House Burger is a long-standing staple for a reason. With a locally-sourced, grass fed burger topped with a cheddar ale sauce and a bacon BBQ onion jam, paired with a side of fries. There is also the popular Smoked Brisket, which gets smoked, marinated, and seasoned in-house and is served with a pretzel bun, coleslaw, pickles, and barbeque.

Entrees: Among their selection of entrees is the Local Filet Mignon, which has a tender filet mignon joined by rustic truffle mashed potatoes, sautéed local spinach and mushrooms alongside a red wine reduction for an eclectic plate. Another highlight is their Famous Fried Chicken consisting of boneless chicken breast and chili aioli with a side of fries, which is especially noteworthy for its seasoning and beer batter that creates a delicious taste and keeps people coming back for more.

Sides: Monroe Social has a large selection of sides, from different types of fries alongside tater tots, sautéed cauliflower, truffle mashed potatoes, homemade onion rings that use the same beer batter as their Famous Fried Chicken, and more. Whatever their choice, people are bound to find the perfect side for their meal.

Dessert: There are also several sweet treats for anyone to satisfy their sweet tooth, including brownies and gelato alongside Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake and Oreo Peanut Butter Pie.

Drinks: Monroe Social makes it a point to have “a little bit of everything for everybody,” and the same rings true with their drink selection. Monroe Social buys private barrels that are used for most of the cocktails on their cocktail list. Aptly named after the restaurant, The Social is a fan favorite that features Monroe Social Private Barrel bourbon, partnered with vermouth, orange bitters, muddled orange and amarena cherry. There are several different nonalcoholic options as well, including nonalcoholic beer, nonalcoholic wine, locally made craft sodas, and mocktails such as the Skinny Margarita and the “Dirty Pelican” Paloma. When it comes to beer, Monroe Social tries to keep things local and features a good amount of local options. There are a total of 15 beers on draft, alongside domestic and imported beer options as well. As for wine, the restaurant sells by the bottle, and their selection features classic varieties across white, red, and sparkling wine.

Monroe Social, located at 494 Main Street in Monroe, is open Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 9 pm; Friday through Saturday, from noon to 10 pm; and Sunday, from noon to 8 pm.

Online ordering, as well as reservations, gift card ordering, and private room event scheduling, are available online. For more information, visit themonroesocial.com, call 203-590-3450, e-mail info@themonroesocial.com, or follow the restaurant’s Facebook @MonroeSocial or Instagram @monroesocial203. For private room event scheduling, call 203-601-0510 or e-mail events@themonroesocial.com.