Monad in Belfast

The first thing that hits you when you walk into Monad is the smell; an acrid, most unpleasant smell of deep fat fryer oil that should have been changed weeks ago. Maybe because they had fried chicken on the menu. The service is clumsy . We were sat eating our joint first course of assorted breads, spreading butter onto the bread with the only knife when the mains were plonked down in front of us. My left hand had a slice of butter in it and the right my knife with butter on it which I had to use on the main. Food was unremarkable, akin to school dinners, some overcooked dry beef with a scoop of mash and gravy; no attempt at garnish and some dry pork fillet , a scoop of mash, gravy and no garnish . First time I’ve ever had pork fillet in a big lump, not sliced no sauces just gravy. The wine list was a joke. Cheapest was a Pinot Grigio at £28 then the next a Spanish white at £35 and after that it went into the £40-£60 wines I’d never heard of. Also you could have a glass or carafe of some of the £35+ plus wines. When you get it I wonder if the bottle is open and for how long and if a bottle is opened for you , how long is that bottle kept for. Normally , wine by the glass or carafe is for cheaper, house type wine not in the £35+ range . Plus the wine we ordered arrived at the table already opened. Not good . The bottle could have been already opened a while and topped up with fresher wine - how do you know ? . Similar to sister property Duad where bottles are served already open and tonic for gin & tonic comes from an already open large plastic bottle of tonic so arrives flat. Disappointing.