Monkey Town Brewing & Restaurant - Dayton

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If there were such a thing as a 7-star review, Monkey Town Brewing Company in Dayton, TN would wear it like a badge of honor.

After 34 years of shared adventures, my wife and I thought we’d seen it all—until Monkey Town Brewing stunned us with a masterclass in hospitality, flavor, and thoughtful design. From the moment we walked in, the attention to detail in the décor whispered stories of Dayton’s rich heritage, blending rustic charm with a modern pulse that felt both familiar and fresh.

🍅 The Tomato Soup deserves its own standing ovation. My bride, not one to toss out superlatives lightly, declared it “the best she has ever had.” That’s not just praise—it’s legacy-level culinary achievement.

🍺 The “put It in Reverse” IPA was a revelation. Cleverly named and brilliantly brewed, it paired perfectly with the town’s historical backdrop—especially the nod to evolutionary theory, which felt like a poetic wink to Dayton’s Scopes Trial legacy. This isn’t just beer; it’s storytelling in a glass.

👑 And then there was Grace—our spectacular waitress. Informative, kind, and effortlessly engaging, she elevated the entire experience. Grace didn’t just serve us; she guided us through the menu like a seasoned curator of joy. Her warmth and knowledge deserve public recognition. If Monkey Town Brewing is the heart of Dayton, Grace is its soul.

Whether you’re a local or just passing through, this place is more than a brewery—it’s a celebration of craft, community, and care. Monkey Town Brewing doesn’t just meet expectations

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had the bbq ribs and they were super tender. The portions were big and priced similar to chain restaurants. We'll be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food, drinks and service are just okay. I also dont know why workers think they need to dress like they work at hooters.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

This is the 5th or 6th time we have been here. Always enjoyed it. This time was disappointing. We walked right in and sat down....should have been our 1st clue because we always had to wait before. Got waited on in a timely manner but service was not good. Not sure if the guy was new but he was not good at service at all. He was nice enough but he forgot to put in our appetizer order didnt bring silverware, didnt check on us and we had to get someone else to take our money. We almost walked out without paying after waiting 20 minutes. We finally asked a girl to take our payment. She was really sweet. She even asked if I wanted a to go cup. The atmosphere was OK. Just doesn't look like they take care of the place very well anymore. My husband got the fish taco and chips. He said it was good. I got ham and cheese cruisant and baked potatoe but after first bite of sandwich, I couldn't eat it. It tasted like they had cooked it on a dirty grill. It was awful. So I ate the potato that was room temperature in hopes I wont get sick. They removed the sandwich from the bill. Salt and pepper shakers had drops of ketchup dried on them. They were gross. Their place in Loudon is so much nicer so we will go back there. We wont ever go back to the Dayton location.

Well.....after reading the owner's reply, I did what he asked and emailed him. Month or so later, no reply. His response looks good on Google review....but...actions speak louder than words.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

The potato wedges that comes with the cheeseburger was really hard and I couldn't eat them and the cheeseburger liked like McDonald's had put it together. This was my first time being here but I won't come back. My money is as valuable to me as your business is to you.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

If you're ever traveling anywhere near Dayton, TN, do NOT miss the opportunity to eat here. My goodness! DH said it's one of the best burgers he's ever eaten (and we travel a lot so we're not unaccustomed to eating out) and my chicken salad croissant was amazing. Their homemade fries were delicious too. We keep a running list of restaurants we love as we travel and this one will certainly make it on there.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food and beer are excellent, but every time we have been there the service has been subpar

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: House-Made Beer Cheese

While I was very happy with my food, and my server, the manager behind the bar was SO rude and loud. I sat and listened to her bad mouth all of the employees who were trying their hardest. They were all such sweet girls and to watch their manager treat them like this was awful. My server put in our drinks and when they took more than 10 mins, my server went back to ask where they were and she snapped at her. This is not the first time we’ve watched her do this. It’s the black haired lady.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 4

This place is amazing! Michael the beer guy makes the most exceptional and unique varieties of beer in all of East Tennessee! Alan runs a stellar business and has amazing staff! This place has great food, also. Check it out if you’re around the Dayton area!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Really good food. We had pretzel bites with beer cheese as an appetizer. Amazing PB&J beer in my flight.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Everything I've ordered so far has been great. The Ruben sandwich doesn't have enough meat but tastes good. Other than a few flies in the room the atmosphere was nice. I really like the beer selection. I will be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Great selection of 🍺, good food, good atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food here is terrible. The burger I ordered was like a microwaved great value burger. I wish I had a picture of the Alfredo pasta slop my wife and mother in law got. What a disappointment. The fries are worse……among the worst I’ve ever had. Wouldn’t recommend.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 2

Great food, GREAT STAFF. REALLY GOOD BEER 🍺 👌 👍 👏 😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Monkey Town is our go to place for craft beer and food.
Always treated with kindness and the knowledge among the staff is great.
They know their stuff or will find out ASAP.
Bonus.... If we have our dog with us, we can sit outside to eat, drink and our dog always has fresh water here

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5