Monkitail Named #1 Best New Restaurant of 2017 by USA Today

  • January 10, 2018
Monkitail Named #1 Best New Restaurant of 2017 by USA Today
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson, brought his modern Japanese fare to Hollywood, Florida this past spring 2017 with the opening of his seventh restaurant, Monkitail. His menu is a contemporary take on the classic izakaya, featuring sharable small plates and sushi. Tucked away beyond the main dining room is Nokku, a discreet cocktail lounge with four private rooms, each having full karaoke capabilities.

A panel of experts partnered with USA Today’s 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Marla Cimini (USA TODAY), Eric Grossman, Gerrish Lopez and Christopher Parr (Pursuitist) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the American food scene. Over the past four weeks, USA Today’s readers have been voting for their favorite new restaurants. The other nine notable restaurants awarded in this category are as follows:

1. Monkitail - Diplomat Beach Resort - Hollywood, Fla.
2. Vicia Restaurant - St. Louis
3. Signature, Inspired by Chef Andrew Weissman - San Antonio
4. The Morris - San Francisco
5. Rooster Soup Company - Philadelphia
6. Hart's - Brooklyn, N.Y.
7. P.Y.T. - Los Angeles
8. Brewery Bhavana - Raleigh, N.C.
9. Meraki Greek Bistro - Miami
10. Kemuri Tatsu-ya - Austin

In August 2017, Monkitail was awarded “#1 Best Hotel Restaurant” by the USA Today’s readers’ choice. They’ve also been named the “Best New Restaurant of 2017” by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The Diplomat Beach Resort recently finished a $100 million transformation, breathing new life into this iconic oceanfront destination. From the Atlantic coast to the Intracoastal, the reinvented property pays homage to the hotel's storied past as a social hub, which began in 1958, with a modern take on design and amenities. The property boasts more than 10 new culinary concepts, reimagined public spaces, a deluxe spa experience and more than 209,000 square feet of meetings and events space. As part of Curio Collection by Hilton, a global set of distinguished upscale hotels handpicked for its unique character, the resort redefines comfort and style with 1,000 guest rooms and suites.
Monkitail is located at The Diplomat Beach Resort at 3555 South Ocean Drive in Hollywood, FL and open on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. For reservations, please call (954) 602-8755.

For more information, please visit https://www.monkitail.com/