Red Monkey Tavern

Situated next to the Cheesecake Factory and Belk in Crabtree Valley Mall,  the Red Monkey Tavern has been described as being " kind of like a steampunk bar".  The bar has two unconnected sections, one upstairs and a downstairs area which is more like a bistro and opens into the mall.

The downstairs bistro-like section of the Red Monkey Tavern.

The other night Dan and I decided to go out for an early dinner.  To catch a quick bite we headed over to Crabtree and The Red Monkey Tavern, a bistro we hadn't tried before.
Amid the hubbub of the Christmas shoppers in the mall, the histro provides a quiet little enclave.

Rice crackers and hummus.

 Along with the menus we were given a unique free appetizer of large rice crackers and a very flavorful hummus. Delish!

I opted for an appetizer, lobster bruschetta, that was half price--their Wednesday night special.

Lobster bruschetta.

 Dan chose avocado macaroni.  Unusual, but very good.

Avocado macaroni.

Chocolate cake for dessert.

We shared a very rich chocolate cake.  Actually we had only a portion and the rest we took home.  We had enough cake for two more days.

Airplane in mall outside bistro as part of decor.

I'm not sure of the significance of the airplane as part of the decor.  The waiters didn't seem to know either.

My friend Marcia and I are getting together for lunch soon, I think I'll suggest The Red Monkey.