I had really high expectations for Restaurant Monarque and was hoping it would completely blow me…read moreaway. While the food was delicious, the overall experience fell just slightly short of what I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber.
Service was the main area that didn't quite meet expectations. After being seated, we waited about 10 minutes before receiving menus and had to ask for them. Throughout the meal, interactions felt a bit rushed - several staff members who stopped by the table were somewhat brief, and on a few occasions, items like bread or water were dropped off while we tried to ask questions, but the busser had already walked away.
That said, the restaurant was quite busy during lunch, so it's possible the pace and attentiveness were impacted by that.
As for the food, we ordered the albacore tuna appetizer along with the strip loin, butcher's cut, and duck for our mains. Everything was well-prepared, though the duck portion was noticeably small. Desserts were a highlight - especially the pavlova with maracuya, which was excellent.
Our server Laura was professional, though not very engaging until the very end of the meal when we were settling the bill.
I would still return, as the food is strong, but I have to say that Bar George left a more lasting impression on us in terms of both food and service.