Welcome to Republic Kitchen and Bar

Daily travels lead you to new places and even better food. Today in our travels we stumbled across the Republic Kitchen and Bar. The restaurant is in the town of Monroe, CT and as we were working on our taxes down there we decided to grab lunch before we went. Trying new places has been a big thing for me as I am a picky eater. I have to say I was amazed at the ambiance, the food, the music, and the service.

I love architecture and cozy places to eat. From the moment I walked in the door, I was impressed with the design of the restaurant. I loved the welcome sign, the entrance doors and the feel of this restaurant.

The food is exactly as it is pictured on their website which is amazing because I have never been to a place where the food came out looking like it did on the menu. With the kitchen close by the seating area you could smell the wonderful food being prepared.

The bar took up a small portion of the restaurant which I loved. It proved that while it is a bar, the kitchen and food were the main focus. I had to try this drink, Park Slope because it seemed to pair with what I decided on for lunch. I am not a big drinker, but sterling vodka, passion fruit, orgeat, lime, and Averna is a great combination of flavors. The drink was mixed well without being too heavy on the alcohol.

To start with I tried the chicken quesadillas. These were not your traditional quesadillas... they had additional cheeses on the outside of it. The flavor was amazing. They came out very hot, but just the way I like them. I am very opposed to my food being lukewarm. It is a very big pet peeve for me when eating out.

Chris had the filet. It looked amazing and of course, I stole a piece. It melted in my mouth. The paired vegetables were perfect and cooked to perfection.

The Brussel sprouts that Chris had were mixed with cranberries and a butter sauce that smelled amazing. I do not even like Brussel sprouts, but the dish looked delicious.

With so many choices on the menu, it was hard for me to decide the main course. I settled on carne asada tacos. They did not disappoint. Not only were the tacos full of meat, but the combination of tomatoes and onions was not overpowering the meal. The rice was not overcooked or undercooked and the black beans were the best I have ever had.

At the end of the day, I am sure we will be going back. The staff was courteous and attentive without being too attentive. The waitress didn't hover which I truly don't like, but she knew when to come back to fill the water glasses without having us ask.

Have you found a new place to go in your area?

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