I LOVED this place. Went twice whilst visiting London. The staff was great. The outdoor patio (with the eponymous monkey puzzle tree) was absolutely delightful (indoors fine, nothing to write home (or on Google) about). The beer selection (especially cask-conditioned) was fab. Yet, I gave The Monkey Puzzle 4 stars overall and for food. Why? Their fish and chips were OUTSTANDING. A large fillet of moist whitefish masterfully breaded and fried to perfection, served piping hot. PERFECTLY-browned fries. The prototypical portion of mashed peas. All unbelievable. But the tarter sauce? Not a house-made dill-laced delectable dollop, not even a passable bottled tarter sauce from some mega manufacturer. No. What, then? Believe it or not, they provide those little 1 x 3 inch packets of tarter sauce (that are hard to open and dribble over fish, if you're so inclined), devoid of flavor or nuance or . . . anything. (Catsup in same packets too BTW.) UGH! Using that tarter sauce is like splashing paint on the Mona Lisa, or chiseling the nose off the David. Inexplicable. But don't let me dissuade you -- go and order something else, or bring your own tarter sauce, and if they remedy this single but essential faux pas, it'll be five stars all the way.