Local Bistros
One of
my favorite “deals” among Parisian restaurants is the bistro. Sometimes spelled bistrot, this type of eatery is usually
small-sized and offers a limited selection of simple yet tasty, satisfying meals
at a good price. In Paris, of course,
bistros are found in virtually every neighborhood. Here in Albany, while we might not have an
overabundance of choices of this sort, we do have a couple that are worth a visit.


Just
this week I spent a lot of time in downtown Albany and decided to drop in at The Merry Monk for lunch. Billed as a bar, the name undoubtedly refers
to the fact that Belgian Trappist monks have been in the beer-making business for
centuries. The restaurant, which has been open just short of a year, is situated at 90 North Pearl Street in an old building with a lot of charm, both inside and out. Its extensive beer list
features bottled and draft brews from Belgium to Brooklyn and a lot of other places
besides. (Wine doesn’t seem to be an
option, just so you'll know.) On the menu you’ll find salads,
soups, burgers and other sandwiches, as well as the national Belgian dish: moules frites. Being a mussels
fan, as readers are well aware, I
tried the Thai curry variety; they were great: fresh, plump, in a delicious
yellow curry with big pieces of lemongrass.
You can specify whether you want one or two pounds of mussels. The French fries, which come at an extra
charge, were a big disappointment for me—not crispy and probably not made on
the premises. Still, on the whole, the place has
possibilities. A starter, which was
accidentally delivered to our table, the wings, looked especially good. And I’m always up for trying the crab cakes,
so I’ll definitely go back.

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