Menu
The Eli boasts a one-of-a-kind, carefully curated atmosphere, handcrafted cocktails and a sharable tapas menu with a view overlooking historic downtown Monroe.
The Eli (as in Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin) is bathed in a glow of amber lighting, deep leather textures, and rich wooden accents. This retro-style bar will transform you to the Prohibition era with its speakyeasy vibes and a vast variety of specialty cocktails and spirits.
The Eli (as in Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin) is bathed in a glow of amber lighting, deep leather textures, and rich wooden accents. This retro-style bar will transform you to the Prohibition era with its speakyeasy vibes and a vast variety of specialty cocktails and spirits.
When Prohibition caused most states in the Deep South to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in the late 19th and early 20th century, savvy businessmen found legal ways around that to supply a demand. Jacob Bloch was said to have launched the first mail-order liquor dealership in downtown Monroe, out of the same building that Restaurant Cotton now occupies at 101 North Grand Street. Long after Bloch closed his mail-order liquor business, the historic building was used as a general store, a cafeteria, a bookstore, and even as a lively cotton exchange, hence our restaurant’s moniker today.
