Monkeyshines

In a word: There's a little monkeytarnish.

The specs: #00975   
6209 McKee Rd., Fitchburg 53719
Details at Yelp,
Official web site, Facebook

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JM ate the nachos.
Nichole ate the "Monkey melt."
The bill was $, or $/person, plus tip.
JM gave Monkeyshines a B; Nichole gave Monkeyshines a B- (see our grading rubric).

Monkeyshines is one of those hit-or-miss neighborhood-type sports-oriented bars where things could go really well, or they could go downhill in a hurry. This one walked the line between those two extremes. The big thing we missed is that, according to Facebook, they cure their own bacon. We should have gone for breakfast!

The atmosphere was literally cold (maybe because the thermostat hadn't yet been adjusted for fall) but the place was friendly enough. Kind of loud, but spacious and clean. The menu is actually pretty extensive, being comprised of several burgers, sandwiches and wraps, along with a small breakfast menu that includes something called the "garbage can lid."

Nichole settled on the Monkey Melt, a burger on marble rye topped with Swiss cheese, onion rings, and French onion dip. It was OK. JM got another standing bar order of his: nachos. Usually, he finishes most of them and takes the rest home (which makes for soggy leftovers, usually), but the portion size here was a little more right-sized for one sitting.  They were nothing special, though, and he wouldn't likely get them again.

Indeed, the whole Monkeyshines experience was a little on the underwhelming side, but again, maybe we missed some good points. That's the main drawback of our one-visit method.