The Merry Monk in East Cambridgeshire

This place is a tad unusual. Superb food - high quality ingredients, interesting menu, everything perfectly cooked. It loses a star based on a lack of ambience - it is essentially and old fashioned country pub - and the staff were friendly but didn’t know the menu (so didn’t/couldn’t advise). I would recommend it as the food is great and prices are reasonable.

Visited with family and was made to feel welcome. Food was genuinely superb, service was pleasant but did let it down ever so slightly. Wine list could be better but will definitely visit again

We went to the Merry Monk to try it out as we hadn't been before. We had an overall nice experience there and the food was nice but were shocked when we got the bill. I will say the prices of the adult main meals felt in line with other places but the extras seemed high. We were offered water when we sat down which was on the bill at the end for £4.50. A pint of soft drink was also £4.50. The childrens meal was on the menu as £11 something ( I cant remember exactly) but the price on the bill was £13.50. There were also no drinks included in the childrens meal and in total our child's food and drink came to £17.40, more than we've ever paid for a meal on a childrens menu before. Service charge was included and in the end the total was far higher than we anticipated. We probably won't be back as the food was nice but not superior to more affordable venues

Came for Mothers' Day lunch with the family. I hadn't been here for a few years, it having once been a favourite haunt. I remembered why I used to enjoy this place so much, and vowed to come more often in future. The food is exceptionally good, plentiful and unpretentious, the ambience relaxing. We had various roasts. The beef (unusually) is cooked to your preference, and was delicious. I like the customised approach to the cheeseboard (which, by the way, comes with plenty of biscuits!). Nice selection of beers too.

My friend and I popped in today for lunch and oh my word what a find. The service was amazing. Perhaps the most welcoming waitress I've encountered, friendly and chatty with a wonderful sense of humour. The food was sensational. I had the gnocchi and my friend had pork and both of us were blown away. But the desserts...oh the desserts! Simply delicious! We're already making plans to return on our next ladies that lunch outing.

We have been here several times for a special occasion the food has always been great , my favourite place for a decent meal tonight my food was barely warm asked to reheat which wasn’t much better , owner was not very helpful my words to the waitress was barely warm he stated the only time it was cold was before it was cooked I never mentioned cold , we have a.ways found him very pleasant but tonight he didn’t give a dam we won’t be back

Probably the best Sunday Roast in the area. Great selection of vegetables, proper roast potatoes, very tasty Yorkshire and absolutely amazing meat, all topped with amazing gravy. Located in Isleham , small car park at the rear. Plenty of room inside. Will certainly be visiting again. Thank you to all the wonderful people working there.M

We have visited the Merry Monk on numerous occasions and as far as a cosy good quality pub restaurant goes you can't go far wrong. We have never had a bad selection off the menu to date, and all mostly well cooked. Our only ''gripe'' is it is pricey - we are talking London prices ! However they have regular deals on when you sign up which is a positive and makes it slightly more affordable. However you appreciate the upkeep of a place like that is not going to be cheap - it must be a fine balance? The service in general is good however can be a bit pushy at times, never the less the service seems friendly overall. So for a special occasion we cannot recommend it enough - just make sure you have deep pockets !!

I’ll start by saying how lovely the food is at this pub - no complaints with the actual food however price and service isn’t so good. This is an expensive village pub - we were shocked by the cost of drinks especially! The online menu prices are not the actual prices on the pub menu. The staff aren’t overly friendly and didn’t know some answers to questions around the menu. We also didn’t spot the added £22 service charge on the end of the bill (I know lots of places do this now) but I just feel this is a bit too much. Especially as I questioned the price of the drinks. I wouldn’t visit this place again based on the above - a shame considering we’re close by!

Fabulous decor old but quirky , food excellent, staff very helpful. Only problem was cold from door opening and closing

The Merry Monk is wonderful. The food is really quite special, particularly the treacle bread. We have had many wonderful meals there and look forward to returning soon.

As always, the Merry Monk, Isleham is first class. I have been there 3 times at lunchtime recently and many times in the evenings before Covid. Not once have I been disappointed. I wish them every success.

Had a lovely meal here served by the lovely owner. The food was delicious and they were very accommodating. Had a plat de jour for those who can’t eat too much, and it was lovely…..roast loin of pork that was beautifully cooked. The husband had hake with mussels and loved it. Both came with veg….a decent amount. Really nice place and if it wasn so far from home, we’d certainly be going again.

We flew over from Spain to take our family out for a Xmas meal. Having lived near Soham a few years back, and enjoyed a few meals in this place, we thought it would be a good choice as the family lives in Ely. It was three days before Christmas, but the ambiance was not very festive, no Christmas music and very few if any decorations. The food was good to excellent but the service could be best described as perfunctory.... polite yes but not welcoming, no warmth. The drinks menu was limited and eclectic. For example no bitter, no Guinness (not even bottled), no bourbon, but strangely there was Estrella Damm and something called Neck Oil! We were a table of eight and the bill was around £320 including a mandatory 10% service charge. Having paid a deposit on booking the waitress came with the card machine for the balance. She entered the balance (or so I thought) and I presented my Amex card. Annoyingly, they are stuck in the dark ages and don't take Amex, so I paid with my Mastercard. All done, so we sat a finished our drinks. Several minutes later, her boss came over and asked me for the bill. I handed it over and he muttered something about a discrepancy; I'm deaf so I thought he said I had been overcharged. I was wrong; a few minutes later he returned and asked for my card as she had undercharged me by £16.00. Unbelievably niggardly in the run-up to Christmas! Yes he was entitled to the missing £16.00, so I paid it. But we were all quite astounded that he had the brass neck to ask for it when the service charge was over £30. To me, dining out is all about the complete experience.... a warm and welcoming atmosphere, attentive staff, a wide range of drinks, good food, a full choice of payment options and, when the staff make a mistake, the business should suck it up. We're moving back to the UK shortly and were looking forward to including this place on our list for dining out. How wrong we were.

We went in for Sunday lunch - we both had roasts, beef and pork - the meal was perfect….. the service from the owner, Adrian and his staff was fantastic. Truly a five star restaurant. Well done to The Merry Monk

We love eating here. We are never disappointed. We shall go back. This time it was brunch with some of the family.

I booked a table at the Merry Monk on line for Sunday Lunch, I meant to book at the Merry Monk in Taunton Somerset, on discovering my mistake I quickly rang to explain why we were unable to come and frankly expected a sympathetic hearing , I was bluntly told as I had booked on line and given my debit card details I would be charged £100 for a no show ! I asked if this could be waived due to our circumstances and the person I was speaking to, hung up on me. My husband rang later and spoke to another person who assured me the owner would ring back when he was free, he didn't! The proprietor of the Merry Monk Taunton said this was not the first time that had happened. Lesson learned if the booking requires payment card details, go elsewhere! Top marks to the Merry Monk in Taunton who found us a table and served us with old world courtesy on a very busy Sunday

The Merry Monk serves the most exquisite food you will find for miles around. It is operated by a superb chef and he knows how to select, prepare and serve food. Our Sunday lunch was quite the finest I have ever eaten. The beef was just sublime - tender, tasty, perfectly medium rare as requested and melt in your mouth. All the accompaniments were similarly top notch and the meal was simply extraordinarily splendid. The staff are informed, attentive and polite. The whole experience could not be faulted and I cannot recommend The Merry Monk any more highly. If you eat out and haven't yet visited - you must!

We've visited the merry monk a few times which have always been nice, but oh how the prices have rocketed and service quality dropped recently. We received an abrupt greeting when we arrived, then a long delay in drinks being delivered. Starters took a long time to appear, but we overheard them say they forgot to put our order though - but no admission or apology of this to us directly. When the mains arrived they were tasty but the chips (£4 & had to be added to meal prices) were so greasy as was the squid starter. Both of us left with an upset stomach this morning. Maybe service slipped as usual managers weren't around but a shame that it's not as good as a year or so ago - maybe an off day for all but a real shame.

Discovered the Merry Monk last night due to two other hostelries letting us down. But boy was it worth it! We phoned at 7.30pm absolutely starving anly to discover that their last booking had just been seated. However, the two ladies in front of house (forgive me as I do not recall their names) said if we could get there in the next twenty minutes they would do their best to accommodate. And accommodate they did. The welcome on arrival was superb. Nothing to much trouble and we're very attentive of our needs. The menu hit the spot with some unusual dishes and on arrival the food was excellent. Flavoursome, superb quality tasty and and we'll portioned. A huge thank you to all the team at the Merry Monk who helped save the evening.

We visited on recommendation from our son. We were not disappointed, all of the food was delicious and great quality. The staff were friendly and attentive.

Met with family member for lunch, very impressed , nice choice menu, food and service excellent, would not hesitate to go again and would recommend to others

This place is great for a special evening. We went for our wedding anniversary. The food and service were outstanding, it's the second time we've been here and it definitely won't be the last. I'm looking forward to when I can go again. Just wish I could've eaten more!

After a break of several years because of Covid, today we went back, this time for brunch. Service and food were as good as ever. They deserve to do really well.

I had talked about this place for a while and my daughter surprised me with a booking for my birthday. We absolutely loved it. Lovely building in a great village. Friendly staff. Great menu and portion sizes. Highly recommend. Please support local independent restaurants so that they are here to stay.

Great brunch menu. Such a lot of choice from a full fry-up to plenty of sweet treats for the kids (waffles, pancakes and cakes). Really tasty veggie option too. We thought it was very reasonably priced too for the amount and quality of food. Would definitely recommend a visit.

I'm a really big foody so something has to really impress me to do a 5 star review. We went on a very hot day in June and sat outside under the covered terrace, lovely summer relaxed vibe and very nice gentleman that served us. Food was outstanding, so so so tasty and fresh ....we even saw the chef come out to pick some fresh mint that then appeared on our dessert. Everything was so tasty, the steak was huge and cooked perfect for my meat loving man and i adored my seafood dish. The homemade treacle bread done in a shape of a mushroom was adorable and tasty and the duck pancakes were inspired. we will definitely be going back whenever we need a treat, can't recommend enough! best food out of all the local pubs I know and worth the price.

We were highly recommended to try a meal here by our son and his wife who had been the previous week to celebrate a birthday. I booked online and it was an easy experience. On arrival we were shown to our table in a nicely set out dining room. The menu was lovely, lots to choose from and the waitress was very helpful with any questions we had. All the food we had was beautifully presented, cooked perfectly and delicious. It was well worthy of five stars if I could have given more I would have. I would definitely recommend it and can’t wait to return.

Visited Merry Monk for Sunday Lunch after a gap of a year or so, food overall was good, especially cauliflower cheese! Roast potatoes disappointing and pots of veg so crunchy watch out if you have dentures!! Deserts were ok, baklava however was very poor.

Absolutely fantastic food staff were amazing read us very well and knew how to engage with us and every other table same owner for twenty years still cooking still enjoying it and it shows took my party and mum would recommend to anyone hood honest food cooked with passion

There is a great selection on the menu at Merry Monk, we tried a couple of different things, including lamb and fish. The food was really top notch. The service matches the high standards of the food, everyone was friendly and very helpful. Highly recommended!

A really good find! A great restaurant with8n walking distance of the river. We are in the marina and just discovered this place. A real gem.

Very good food, spoilt by poor service and getting a couple of free drinks at the end of the night does not make up for the experience, particularly when it’s basic service that’s missing, I would suggest hiring someone with experience in front of house...

We visited here for a Saturday lunch as we were looking at properties in the area. We were the only ones there the whole time we were eating. I had the Thai Massaman curry with Chicken, which was OK but nothing very special for the...

Firstly I would like to say the food was great, but was let down by the drinks, had to send by beer back twice and finally changed to a glass of wine. At £45.00 per head I thought it was expensive for what we had.

The restaurant looked nice and was well presented, unfortunately the online menus was out of date so some meals we were looking forward to trying were no longer available. We were surprised it was so empty for a Saturday evening there were almost as many...

Fabulous food. Lovely staff. Great atmosphere and on our doorstep. I felt like I was a judge on Masterchef! Honestly. I had the duck and it was cooked to perfection as were the accompaniments. 11 out of 10! Well Done to the chef 👍

This is a smallish country pub. Offered water for table - said yes - not tap water as expected, but a bottle of unknown cost till the bill - £4. Extras offered all the time - refused. One very good Sunday roast, one OK burger...

The food was fresh and tasty, the service was quick and our host was friendly, with a lovely atmosphere would come again, would give 6 stars if possible

We have been several times now and always been wowed by the experience. Tonight however was disappointing as the quality is still excellent but they have altered the menu to the extent that popular dishes have been altered and food items now missing off the...

New to the area, and the Merry Monk was recommended by my neighbours; it did not disappoint. The full 'gastro pub' experience tucked away in a pretty village, with a very friendly and professional staff and absolutely delicious food. Priced accordingly but well worth it.

It was our first time to The Merry Monk after moving up to Cambs in late 2020, I can honestly say, I wish we had been before! The food was stunning and really great portions, the drinks, especially the cocktails were gorgeous and all the...

happy to say 4 of us ate here last night, AMAZING food and drinks, cocktail's are spot on, lovely decor throughout and the staff very friendly and happy to help. highly recommend. will defiantly be returning

Lovely surroundings, lovely atmosphere, amazing front of house team and fabulous food! Everything was cooked to perfection and the portion sizes were really generous. We went with our children and their grandparents and everyone loved the delicious food. Thank you for such a lovely and...

Three of us enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in a sunny setting. We were greeted in a warm and friendly manner. Our service was friendly, professional and well-timed. So, we were not rushed and thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely lunch. All of us enjoyed all our...

Sunday lunch is Sunday lunch so I cannot really comment on their creativity, The service is good but it helps to know the layout when booking a table ,rejecting the first offer we eyed a better one to be told that was always held for...

First time I have taken my parents but as always a great atmosphere and delicious food. Thank you. Recommend the chilli squid or pork Neely and hens egg for starter. New menu since last visit - Coley was very nice.

I dined here on a busy Saturday evening and I couldn’t fault a thing. The staff where all very polite and helpful, nothing was too much of an ask of then. Each course was just beautiful and had been well thought out - the squid...

Absolutely stunning setting!! The food was perfectly presented and delicious. The waiting staff were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Nothing was too much trouble even for our slightly fussy eaters. We cannot wait to return, highly recommend this beautiful restaurant in Isleham. Thank you for restoring...

The food was good I'd say an 8/10 the booking system is terrible! I booked late on Friday to eat Saturday night, I then find an email at 1.30 pm Saturday saying I had cancelled the table, it turns out you have to give your...

Was recommended by a friend but they hadn’t eaten here since 2017. Lovely pub but the host needs to work on his hosting. Not very welcoming although the hostess was friendly. Steak was good but chips seemed to be forgotten and when they arrived they...

We went for Sunday Lunch based on a recommendation. It is a lovely characterful pub. Really good menu and the standard of food( both Beef sirloin and Loin of Pork) was superb with a really good selection of vegetables. Very friendly and efficient staff. Will...

We arrived on an Saturday evening with our 10 month old daughter. Upon arrival we asked the waitress if our daughter could be accommodated with a high chair and if we could put our pram somewhere. She was very friendly and said of course, showed...

Difficult times for all Restaurateurs I know, but desperately missing front of house skills that make one feel special. My wife and I came to love this restaurant to the point we were, I believe, the first people to have our wedding reception here, and...

Food absolutely wonderful, service friendly and attentive. Such a wonderful evening with friends Cocktails 👍 Any complaints of this restaurant should be ignored as awkward customers like to moan 😊

Lovely food and friendly service. Even a picky 11 year old who was sceptical loved her meal. Good range of options. Smoked salmon served with pizaz. Crispy duck starter lovely, as were all the desserts. Highly recommend the pork and egg starter.

The patron hasnt altered this menu in 18 months, I would have hoped that Covid could have inspired him. I opted for a burger as it seemed a safe bet last time I had it. I truly fear that this wasn’t fresh but more of...

We had a family meal here on a Sunday in early October, we were all excited as it was the first time since January (with the lockdown most of the summer) preventing us visiting. We've been to this restaurant many times before with various family...

My boyfriend booked this restaurant while we were staying at Newmarket. What a find, in the little village of Isleham. The restaurant had a Michelin recommendation plaque on the wall. The ambience & decor was fabulous. The food was superb & beautifully presented. We both...

Visiting the area we had looked online for somewhere special to go and having read the reviews we booked for tonight- we were not disappointed The food was well cooked and very tasty from the parfait starter we shared to the fish and chips main...

Well set up with Covid 19 guidance and hand sanitiser etc on arrival. Our Hostess was great and let us pick our table as it was a fairly quiet lunchtime. The service was attentive and the food was fantastic and beautifully presented. We hadn't been...

Visited with friends and the food and service is absolutely sensational. I’ve eaten in good restaurants all over the world and this is certainly up there. Would definitely recommend a visit here.

My partner and myself both went for a last minute mid week meal here. The setting is warm and cosy and it has been decorated to a fantastic standard. Much thought has gone into many details which you notice continually from start to finish. Our food was great and it was topped off by was husband and wife who run the pub and who welcomed us so warmly. You can tell what they do means a lot to them. A must if your in the area.

This place is amazing the service A+ The food is delicious we had all 3 courses and enjoyed every mouthful great selection of food and reasonably priced will definitely be returning 👌🏻👌🏻

Our new favourite place - have been twice in the last week. Once with a table for four, the second for just the two of us. Service and staff are excellent. Menu is very well thought out, presentation is excellent. Value is superb! On the busiest night we were impressed at how the waiting staff handled themselves, running a very tight ship. Fantastic value - you cannot get better for the price. You must try the Smoked Appletini.

Of the 5 restaurants we visited during the Eat Out to Help out scheme - this meal was by far my most enjoyableHaddock with Lanquistine (I think)I asked if there was sufficient fish in the dish, and was reassured there would be.Indeed there was. WonderfulBit disappointed with £4 for sparkling water - but hey ho my mistake - - will ask for tap water next time.The best meal yet and will def. returnAmbience is great - lovely cottage feel. Deco brightens up what could be a dark and gloomy roomStaff very attentiveExcellent attention to sanitising - names taken on arrival, instructions for hands before we were seated. Plenty of sanitisers in loos. Couldn’t faultAnd we got to take the napkins home.

Upon arrival the waiter asked 3 times if we could fill out the covid tracking he seemed agitated and wasn't very welcoming. After wondering around the pub trying to find our own table we settled in the corner next to a table filled with outdoor umbrellas, not quite the setting I'd been hoping for after hearing positive responses to the food and atmosphere.Bread was late to the table and basically came with the starters, forgivable I suppose, I had chicken liver parfait which was acceptable and my boyfriend corn dogs... tinned frankfurter sausages in soggy batter.. pretty vile. Moving onto the mains, he ordered a medium steak with triple cooked chips, what was presented was an unrested steak in a bloody puddle and chips that were so greasy they were inedible. I ordered Hake with mussels, this came with non crispy skin, gross, and cold mussels so they were like eating pieces of rubber, very unpleasant. Having sent the meals back to the kitchen we were given complimentary cocktails which was an ok touch. The mains came back to the table and we experienced the same issues, also the steak had a pepper sauce which tasted packet like and floury. We again returned the food and said we were disappointed with the quality. Having done so one of the chefs came marching out of the kitchen and was rude and argumentative, saying we didnt know what we were talking about, I'm not a chef but I know what tastes good or not! Following the outburst we agreed with the waitress that we would not be paying for the meal at all and the drinks would be complimentary and we therefore left. It was then a great shock to receive a threatening email with images of us in the restaurant, at no point was I made aware I was being filmed, I'm pretty sure this is a legal requirement, anyway the email suggested reporting us to the police and a copy of the bill including everything we'd agreed not to pay for due to the poor experience. I can't quite believe a reputable local business would behave in this manner and it is a great disappointment. Would definitely not recommend anyone attempt to eat here!!

Visited as part of the eat out to help out scheme and it surpassed my expectations. Staff have done a fantastic job of adhering to COVID guidelines. The food was amazing!! Michelin style food and presentation.Friendly service and great setting. What a lovely hidden gem.

Really enjoyable meal. Dad and I thoroughly recommend the pork belly starter and mum enjoyed the chicken parfait! Beautiful. The rare steak was cooked to perfection and my mum really enjoyed her flavourful gnocchi (such a huge portion she didn’t have room for dessert!). The mango & lemon terrine was a work of art as well as tasting heavenly! Thank you! See you again soon!

We returned to the MM for the first time since Covid 19 started. We were not disappointed. As ever, the food was excellent, beautifully prepared, cooked and presented. Between us we had a variety of dishes and all were of the highest quality. I especially enjoyed the salmon starter and my wife really enjoyed the hake. I can strongly recommend the cauliflower cheese side dish. The safety arrangements were of the highest order with sanitiser at the entrance and on every table. All the staff wore PPE. The service was attentive but not fussy and Adrian and Michelle were only too happy to chat. It was a delight to return to this lovely restaurant.

Simply outstanding from start to finish. Best starter I’ve ever had (pork belly and dippy egg!) amazing steak and divine dessert. I’ve been a couple of times before and this was the one place I’d dreamt of returning to after lockdown. We aren’t local and drive some distance to come here. Never fails to be delicious each time. What I love is it isn’t pretentious, they simply don’t know how outstanding they are. Thank you. These Covid times must be so difficult. We wish you all the very best.

The Merry Monk was the last place we ate before the world went mad ...and the first dining experience when the new normal was in place...o what a treat. The precautions in place were very , very good we felt safe but crucially not compromised by them . The staff were so lovely to us all and nothing was too much trouble and most importantly not a mention of reduced menus or the like ....the food was out of the world . Oh joy to be spoiled and fed ..felt like real life ...thank you all very, very much, Odette , Jeremy and Maureen xxxx

Thank you so very much for producing and presenting an incredible meal Saturday evening evening. The squid - after a few bad experiences from meals out at other places l vowed I would never have it again. What you served to Lauren was just the best ever!!! Tom our main courses were just to die for. The flavours were incredible the duck cooked to perfection. Jake the sticky toffee pudding and ice cream was simply the best! Michele your drinks were perfectly made and looked great. Your welcoming warm smiley personality was so reassuring. The presentation of it all was outstanding!!! And the taste faultless!!!Bloody marvellous evening! THANK YOU!! See you again. Take really good care. Love & best wishes. F & G xxx

"Whenever there's a problem it's always the vegans" the chef told me when I asked why the meal he served me wasn't the one we agreed over the phone 3 days before. He was rude and argumentative simply because I asked why. He then charged me for the meal I didn't eat. It was like eating out in the 90's

Great food and lovely warm atmosphere with such friendly staff. Had the whitebait as nibbles, chicken liver parfait and mussels as starters and then roasts for a main. Everything was delicious!

Although I've visited here a few times before, this is the first time back since they re-opened during these strange times we now find ourselves in. I have to say, if you have any reservations at all about eating here, then don't! They have gone above & beyond what is required to keep themselves, their staff & most of all their customers safe!! My friend & I had the most wonderful lunch & also treated ourselves to a couple of their fabulous cocktails. Will definitely be booking & returning again soon. Thanks guys, 10 out of 10 as usual!!

Our family celebration meal was booked here by others and we didn't know what to expect. The pub is very welcoming and well presented. As a party of 10 from age 71 down to 9, our meals were by necessity varied - some places find that awkward, not so here. The meals were very good and everyone enjoyed their choices. The service was a little slow, with one item forgotten, but then it was a busy Saturday. All in all a very pleasant evening.

Our second visit for Sunday lunch in recent months and once again an excellent, good value for money two/three course meal served by attentive, helpful staff. Rather limited choice of wine by the glass (and a little pricey for a 175ml Pinot Grigio at £6.95) but apart from that, bang on! Will be back soon!

I was invited by my new partner to a Valentines Day meal. I live in Cambridge so had not heard of The Merry Monk. What a wonderful surprise. Greeted by very friendly staff who let us choose our table. The attentive staff was excellent but not intrusive. The food was the best i have had in a long time. The duck starter and the pork main was cooked to perfection. No room for pudding but a lovely ice cream and sorbet mix went down a treat. Many diners were congratulating the chef on an excellent meal. I will definitely be dining here again.

We walked in and were greeted with smiley faces and the owner (I think) asked if we wanted to have a drink before our meal (we were a few mins early). They were prompt, polite and so nice. When they showed us to our seats, the owner carried my drink and sorted out my coat and even made sure we minded the step. It wasnt very full as it was the day before valentine's, but it was a nice atmosphere none the less. There was already warm treacle bread and water on the table waiting. The meals all came promptly and tasted out of this world. The owner explained to us at the end that his sons had made the meal (lovely touch!). My partner and I's food was all hot, incredibly tasty and was very fresh. It wasn't cheap, but for 3 brilliant courses and lush wine it was well worth it! Tell everyone to go, such a treat, especially for a special night out!

Took three of us out for dinner (prebooked a table) and spent about £200 for a very average food and drinks.I went up to order more drinks and was told they were not serving anymore as it wasn’t worth their time being open for just us! (Supposedly open until 11.20pm.)It was a very odd experience to be forced to leave just because they hadn’t attracted enough business. Well they’ve lost more now.

£140 for Sunday Lunch. Cold Sunday Roast. Tried to attract waitress attention but she was distracted talking to ‘another table’. When the test of the table had finished their meals (they were not cold) the waitress finally came to clear the table. There was no apology or an offer of heating the meal or a refund of meal. When deserts came up no cutlery. The food was good but Cold. Not a happy experience to take family to.

I have been going to the Merry Monk for many years. Usually go as a special treat as a couple for example:wedding anniversary or birthdays.On arrival greeted warmly and was shown to our table and offered sparkling or still water.Lovely warm cosy restaurant and we were looking forward to our meal and some ‘us’ time.The restaurant did not disappoint us on ambience and the above.For starters my partner ordered the pork with egg.I ordered the tomato soup. Both starters were delicious.For mains my partner ordered the duck breast which he said was just ok.I ordered the chicken breast with some kind of pasta. Sadly the chicken was a let down. It lacked taste and was very bland despite being stuffed with some kind of mushroom truffle. For drinks I had 1 gin cocktail and my partner had 1 cider and 1 coke.We both felt a little let down and decided not to have dessert.The bill came to over £80.On the bill we paid a service charge of nearly £9 and charged £3.95 for some water.Overall felt everything was very over priced for what we received. Shame as I have loved coming to the restaurant as it always felt a real treat. However sadly out experience will mean we will not return. This is a true and honest account and I have been as fair as possible so please do not ‘ slate’ me. Your experience may be a better one.

Not the warmest of welcomes on arrival, but the young waitress made up for it. Lovely interior, cosy and warm. Sat by the kitchen-restaurant thorough-fayre which was a little disruptive at times due to staff bottle necking, but luckily a quiet service. Gorgeous fresh treacle bread served before the starters. Crispy duck was very 'crispy' verging on burnt. Hard to detect the duck taste but accompaniments made up for it. Mains fine, but when it says crispy belly pork..it was a little disappointing to get a smattering of pork crackling on the side. Hake dish nice. Best value for money was the cheese board. Gorgeous cheese with biscuits, savoury jams etc. Overall attention to detail was lacking and staff seemed a little miserable other than the young waitress. Maybe we experienced a sub par night, expected a little more.

We have been visiting the Merry Monk for many years and have always received a warm welcome from Adrian and Michelle. Having lived out of the area for a few years though we had n't been to eat recently but we moved back to the area a few weeks ago and decided to book for sunday lunch. We have also been back again today with family members. We are happy to say on both occasions the food was fantastic, the staff very friendly and super efficient and we loved the refurb - in a time when so many eateries are "up and down" it is great that Adrian and Michelle have maintained such great continuity over the years and it will definitely continue as our favourite place to eat locally.

We came here for a group Christmas meal of 16 and can’t complain at all. We booked the table 5 days before and they managed to fit us in with no complaints - there was just a £10 deposit (which comes off the bill) per person for larger tables. Such a large table we did expect there to be a few problems along the way but there where none. They even offered (without request) to set up separate tabs to make payment easier for us all. This meant no awkward arguments and made the whole nigh run smoothly. The food was fantastic, and all the food came out at once and was all piping hot. The service was amazing from all the staff and they couldn’t do enough for us. As returning customers none of us left unhappy or dissatisfied, and will continue to return. The merry monk by far has some of the nicest food around and would come highly recommended by all of us. I can’t thank the staff enough the whole night was amazing and we look forward to coming back.

Quite a cold seating area with no fire burning which is what were looking forward to.

Every time we eat here the food and service is the best in the area. Will continue to return. Pork belly starter and mussels dish are amazing.

Considering we only live about six miles away - what have we been doing ? Sunday lunch was our first visit but wont be the last.The food was excellent , you really could not fault it...well presented , hot and soooo tasty. Lots of exciting choices as well. The ambiance was warm and cosy and just right. The staff were a lovely as well.. Please could we move in ?? See you again soon.

We were greeted by a lovely lad Lewis who was so professional and was very friendly helpful and made our evening special he is a credit to beefeater.well done Lewis. .will certainly visit again

Just had my 70th Birthday Lunch here today, with all of my family. Excellent food, well presented, and with a good variety of choices, all at reasonable prices. Perfect sized portions and hot. Staff were attentive and helpful, always with a smile. Comfortable setting, and with good background music, but not loud, you could hold a conversation. Overall a very pleasant time was had by all. A big Thank you to all staff. We will certainly be in again soon.

visited Saturday night with friends for the first time Although I couldn’t fault the presentation of food what there was of it! When I ordered the chicken I would of thought for £17.50 it would have Included at least some mash but all I got was a chicken breast 2 small stalks of broccoli a few pomegranate seeds with a sauce that was it I didn’t feel I should’ve had to pay extra for potatoes!! And thinking back the only mushroom I had was one that my son didn’t want with his steak!!

We were greeted on arrival and had a drink at the bar. Our first impressions of this restaurant were that it is a lovely, quaint and delightful place. This didn't change. The service was attentive but not over-bearing. The restaurant itself was so lovely and when you walk in you think you may have walked into a friend's cosy front room. We loved it. The food was delicious. I was soooo looking forward to the treacle muffin bread and was not disappointed. As we got to our table the bread was delicious and warm and smelt delightful. We ended up staying for a while after our meal, having a few drinks and chatting to our hosts. It is indeed a family run restaurant which offers superb food and a relaxed atmosphere. If we lived closer we would definitely visit more often. The only thing I would say is don't order too many side dishes- there is plenty of food. Thank you

Tonight was moms birthday & I asked the person taking my call that this was the case, to be told that “we need advanced warning of a birthday” I understand this & just wanted some acknowledgement for mom that the night was special (nothing extravagant - mom is 86, no balloons or singing required) . We wanted some bread with olive oil & balsamic vinegar - “ sorry we don’t have Olive oil or Balsamic”. I ordered a ribeye steak @£26 & while the cooking was spot on the steak was tough as ....I let the waitress know but it didn’t go any further. My wife is a vegetarian & was disappointed that of the mains there were only two choices. Mom ordered the duck & complained that it was tough. I was charged £135 & was disappointed by the lack of customer service. We will not be going back & will advise others we know to avoid.

We have been coming here for dinner for over 10 years, it’s always been our favourite. We took a break for a while and returned for dinner yesterday The meal and the staff were superb as usual, faultless food and brilliant attentive staff. We noticed a couple of changes though which took the edge off. Firstly not sure about the loud pub music throughout our dinner ( if we wanted a music pub type bistro we would have gone to one). Secondly what happened to the decor? It has in places been updated very tastefully - but the padded wall area with a mirrored ceiling felt like we were in a 1970’s pole dancing pub. Such a shame as the ambiance and decor used to be one of the things we loved about coming here. 10/10 for food and staff as always but no longer a relaxing environment in which to fine dine.

Hands on management offering excellent food and drinks with friendly staff in a pleasant olde worlde atmosphere. Definitely going back.

Just home from our meal at the merry monk and feeling disappointed and slightly angry. The bread we had was very nice and enjoyed the olives too , the restaurant is nicely decorated and the meals looked very well presented. I ordered fish and chips which looked lovely, but as I cut into the fish and tasted it , it didn’t taste right , I smelt the fish on my fork and it didn’t smell fresh , never smelt fish like this before so it immediately put me off , my husband tried a little and he agreed it didn’t taste very nice. I called the waitress over and explained to her and asked her to smell it but she wouldn’t , she took it back to the kitchen and returned saying the chef said it’s fine. She asked if I wanted anything else but to be honest I was put off eating anything else . I felt I was fobbed off and that no one was bothered by this . However when I asked for the bill I saw a different waitress who had no idea what happened as she said was everything ok to which I replied no the fish was awful , I was not charged for my main course which I expected , I just feel very disappointed at the way it was handled . I will not return here again .

We dined last night at the Merry Monk and enjoyed cocktails, dinner and dessert - all were excellent and we were served by warm, friendly staff.

Absolutely brilliant. Great food well presented and cooked to perfection.A good selection of drinks. Lovely pleasant staff. Helpful and always a smile.Great table location and quiet. No loud music so good conversation can be had with dinner guests.

Ate here while on holiday in Isleham and heard that this was the place to go for great food. We'd heard that it was very popular and, as it was a Friday, thought it best to book online for our anniversary meal. On arriving just before the pre-booked time of 7.30pm, we were stunned to find that there were only 2 other tables occupied. No matter, we prefer it quiet anyway. We ordered a bottle of wine and a starter of squid to share (I can never finish the main if I eat a whole starter!). This was really good and came with treacle bread, absolutely fabulous! We both looked forward to the main. My husband had the 12 hour 3 cut of pork, which was delicious but lacking in any crackling as advertised on the menu and the portion of mash was very small (he had been tempted to order extra veg but declined as it came with mash potato). I had the Bang Bang chicken salad which was stunning. So what are my gripes? Actually the food was great but the pricing is ridiculous. My salad contained a chicken breast, some noodles, carrots and a peanut sauce. The pork dish contained a small cut of pork, a small portion of mash, some mushrooms and no crackling. At £16.50 and £17.50 respectively I think this is taking the mickey! I don't mind at all paying for something if I think it's worth it, and this meal was lovely, but completely overpriced. Wouldn't put me off going again, but only for a very special occasion. Visited The Pantry in Newmarket a few days later and had a meal just as good for a third of the price