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    Monarca Dining

    4.1 (257 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars, Salad
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Monarca Dining Reservations

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    MONARCA DINING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

    Recommended Reviews - Monarca Dining

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lobster Tacos & Octopus Tacos
    Lieu N.

    Beautiful restaurant downtown with amazing food! Went with a large group and they were super accommodating and everything came out relatively quickly. We tried most of the apps: ceviche, guacamole, elote, and queso (in order of my fave) For the main course: octopus and lobster tacos were both great and came with a side of rice Finished with the flan, cheesecake and the churros which came with ice cream Will definitely return to try the other tacos!

    SHRIMP TACOS
    Ashli A.

    The vibe of this restaurant is super cool and unique. Definitely recommend making a reservation since the wait times can get long. Our server was friendly and did a good job overall, but he didn't refill our drinks which would've been nice, though to be fair, it was a busy Saturday night. We went with a group of friends and the food did not disappoint! Half of us got the shrimp tacos and OH MY GOD, they were amazing. The fried cheese, the sauce, the tortillas, the shrimp, everything was so delicious. My husband and a friend had the enchiladas and really enjoyed them too. One friend tried the rib eye tacos and didn't love them as much, but overall everyone was really happy with their meals. It was also great to see they have solid gluten-free options, which made it easy for two of our friends.

    CHOCOLATE CAKE
    Kaitlyn M.

    Monarca is quite the experience! We loved the Birria tacos they had a crunchy shell and the most tender flavorful meat inside. It came with pickled onions and cheese on top which was perfect! Enchiladas were incredible as well! The drinks! Wow! So incredible the detail and decor on each cocktail is spectacular. Definitely order the chocolate cake it comes on this cool stone plate, and has so many gooey layers! Our server kaylie was such a bubbly, fun server so happy we had her.

    Drinks
    Tylee W.

    Came here for a work dinner and got to try a bunch of different dishes. Salmon chorizo, ribeye and bone marrow, elote, ceviche, churros, flan, cheesecake, etc. everything tasted great! My favorites were the ceviche, elote, and churros.

    SHRIMP TACOS
    Hannah N.

    I really wanted to love this place because the vibes are soooo cool! Every time I walk by, there are a lot of people in a lively atmosphere. The building had a really cool open concept and the brick is stunning. I went with a group of friends and we were all really excited. The server asked if we wanted any appetizers and we said no. He then asked if we wanted chips for the table and we said yes and he said great I'll bring two for the table. Chips and salsa are not listed on the menu and the server didn't mention there was a cost. When he brought of the check he let us know he added them on there. I don't mind paying for the chips and salsa but it felt really weird that they offered them and selected how many for us without indicating we would be charged. For the prices they charge, it felt kind of corny to trick us into paying for something rather than just having it on the menu. The shrimp tacos were incredible. I'd give them a big 5/5. The rib eye tacos were good but not great. The bone marrow was delicious. The Diet Coke was just okay, but the guava pisco sour drink was really good! Overall, it is a fun atmosphere and the food is yummy. The service was okay. I probably won't be back, but its def a fun option for upscale Mexican food

    Lamb over mole and rice. Amazing.
    Katy B.

    We were in Salt Lake on business and ended up coming here twice in the same week we liked it that much. The menu had so many interesting options that it was hard to choose, from "basic" or familiar Mexican dishes like chicken enchiladas to the more elevated fare like halibut cooked in a zucchini blossom sauce. I strongly recommend the lamb in mole over rice, or (if you're on a tighter budget) the gooey, drippy birria tacos, omg. Good service, amazingly fresh and flavorful ingredients. I do think it's a bit overly expensive--be prepared that most of the main entrees are above $30 apiece. I wasn't wowed by the house margarita but did very much enjoy their paloma, served in a big ol' terra cotta cup. Seems to fill up on the weekends (understandably) but wasn't very busy on a weeknight Monday.

    Halibut was ok. A bit overcooked
    Joe S.

    Overpriced Mexican! That alone isn't a bad thing, but the quality wasn't there for what they were trying to be. The chips and salsa they brought out was absolutely flavorless, and everyone dining agreed. I ordered the Halibut which was served on some hot peppers (I think poblanos) which made the Bottom super spicy. The Halibut was also pretty dry with the exception of 1/3 of the middle of it. I picked at it but it wasn't good. If you like your fish well done, then maybe it's your cup of tea. The Queso Fundido was amazing though. I'd totally just get that next time. The guacamole was also pretty good, but again, pricey. Maybe it's because Salt Lake City is far from Mexico (and uphill?). I don't think I'd come here again when in SLC. If I did, I'd stick to appetizers and the basics.

    cochinita pibil
    Manda H.

    Monarca was such a fun spot to eat! The atmosphere is lively with welcoming staff and the food definitely doesn't disappoint. The ceviche was really fresh and packed with flavor. Their cocktails are also yummy and pair well with the dishes. We also tried the Cochinita Pibil, which was tender and delicious. There was plenty to eat and we ended up having to take some to go and it was just as good later. The flavors were spot on, and we definitely left satisfied. We're already planning our next visit to try the huitlacoche--it sounds amazing, and after how great everything else was, we're excited to see what else the menu has to offer.

    Grilled salad
    Annie H.

    Our meal here was just ok. I always wonder about high end Mexican. What are they going to do to elevate what is usually perfect at a much lower price point? Monarca's answer is not much. The food was decent. Granted we didn't try anything outrageous. It just isn't as good as the price point suggests. You want your enchilada to have a little cheese pull with each bite. You can see here that these enchiladas are not such. The sauce looks vibrant but the flavors fell flat. My companion ordered the grilled salad and said it was incredible.

    Hang M.

    I rarely leave 1-star reviews, but this experience unfortunately "secure" it--not because of the food, but due to how the staff handled a serious incident. I visited this restaurant with a group of 12 colleagues, including coworkers and managers. While parking was a bit of a hassle, I opted for garage parking and looked forward to a good meal. I ordered the Tacos Birria. However, when our food arrived, the server accidentally spilled my entire dish on me. The hot birria sauce drenched my shirt, jeans, socks, and shoes. Thankfully, I was wearing loose jeans and was able to pull the fabric away from my thigh, minimizing the burn, but it was still painful. I had to go to the restroom to clean up, and a coworker helped me wash what we could. I returned to the table soaked and sat through the rest of dinner that way--about two hours--because I didn't want to ruin the rare occasion of our team dining together. The manager did come over to apologize, offering a $25 gift card, which I used to pay for dinner, and a complimentary dessert. While I appreciated the apology, the gesture didn't come close to making up for the damage. My jeans alone cost more than $150, my shirt $50, and my shoes $300--not to mention the inconvenience and discomfort of being soaked and burned in my thigh during the entire meal. I'm also traveling for work, staying at a hotel with no laundry facilities, and I won't have access to laundry until the weekend. This is the only pair of shoes I brought. With $25, I think I can get a new pair of socks. While I understand accidents happen and didn't want to make a scene (not single word or attitude during my diner), I expected a much better response from an upscale restaurant. Some of my coworkers expressed their disappointment with how the situation was handled. The food itself was good and nicely presented, but given the circumstances, won't be returning for sure.

    Bart was amazing the food was so good and the service was the best. We love this place. The vibe and atmosphere are top tier too.

    Ceviche
    Jen S.

    Kylie is an awesome waitress! Cocktails and food are excellent! Tacos and margaritas are great! Had avocado and ceviche apps, so good'

    Thomas K.

    The Monarca has some impressive staff. They worked diligently to provide seamless service. From my visit, it appears this place was a local favorite. Many large parties (12+, such as ours) were gathered for their Mexican American cuisine. I had the halibut, which looked great on the online menu. The white fish was a little tougher than I would like. A coworker who ordered the same thing, also agreed. The fish might have been cooked 2-3 minutes too long. It might have happened when they were trying to get our orders out at the same time, but were a tad unsuccessful. The zucchini flower sauce was a little too mellow for my taste. I think it needed a typical acid. Overall, I still thought the presentation was nice. My espresso martini was delicious. No complaints there!

    Tacos De Birria

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    3 months ago

    Worst queso fundido I have ever had. Don't order it. Came out like soup and had no flavor. Not sure how it is possible to mess up that badly

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    5 months ago

    Food was good but what really stood out was outstanding service, Tristin our server was fantastic, very prompt and friendly. 10/10

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    5 months ago

    Good and drinks were amazing!!! Tristin was the best server and took great care of us. We will be back again.

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