I went to Monki for the first time and I have to admit I didn't love it. Maybe it's a victim of it's own success and my expectations were a bit high but I found the food acceptable and better than say Denny's but nothing I'd really go out of my way for and since it IS out of the way and you pretty much are doomed to wait even on the average weekday at a strange time it's one of those places I'll probably leave for everyone else that's obviously in love.
Hubs got the Monki brisket and thought is was OK but had too much going on with no star of the plate. At least he was satisfied. I have stuffed french toast and although the cream cheese should have been flavored with heavenly hazelnuts it tasted sour (not gone-bad sour... but the natural sourness of the product with nothing added) and honestly that consumed the dish when I cut in and it spilled out. No amount of nutella and condensed milk compensated for that and it just fell flat to me. Even the side of fruit was just ok... I'd had more delicious fruit from the grocery store the other day. Presentation is nice and the atmosphere is cool.
Alright but not memorable is about the bottom line and if I want to test my patience before eating breakfast one day I'd probably pick half a dozen other places in Calgary first.