Hubby and I've been here several times. We've only had drinks at the bar but from what I've seen with all the servers carrying out the plates on an eye level for all to view, looks amazing. We will aim for the whole experience on our next visit. View A+ Vibe A+ Joe the bartender A+ read more

What a fun place! I've been trying to go here when they first opened, but the wait was too long, about 2 hours and they don't take reservations. Last Saturday, we got seats at the bar and had a pretty nice view of the ocean! We shared the short rib pastrami sandwich and chose seasoned fries as our side. The food took forever to arrive, but was well worth it. The meat was brined in the Green Egg grill for 5 days, so it was full of flavor! There was so much meat too! I'm glad we shared this because it was very filling. The fries were cut uniquely and were pretty good. My friend got a dragonfruit margarita and red wine for drinks, while I opted for the Monarch sunset. The cocktails were pretty and strong. On Saturdays, they do a sunset toast with everyone in the restaurant, which was pretty cool. The bartender reads a funny and short poem and then everyone toasts together while the sun goes down. I had a great time here and am looking forward to my next visit! read more

See all

Amazing restaurant. The views of the ocean are incredible and the vibes are casual and relaxing. Tons of seating options that include both indoor and outside with ocean views at many seating spots. The food was incredible. We came for happy hour as they have many amazing deals. I can't say enough praise about the carrots and brussel sprouts. Can't wait to come back again next time I'm in town! read more

See all

Came here as a group of 4 on Friday at 6. Waited about an hour, but there are a lot of places to walk around while you wait. Also they have a good waiting list system and you can see where you are in line and how long you have been waiting. Once seated it took a while for the server to get to use but once we ordered the food came fast. The server didn't come by much at all, but it was very busy. We shared wings and bread. I ordered the turkey sandwich and it was very fresh tasting. The fries are a mix between potatoes chips and wedges. The view is nice too but just don't expect an attentive server. read more

See all

Came here on a Saturday afternoon. The host was nice and when we checked in was about to seat us, but then said there would be a small wait. One hour later we finally got sat. The host said "I'm surprised you're still here" lol (me too girl me too). Service was good and the food came out timely. Fish and chips tasted a little old (too fishy). Fries were great. Chips seemed like the oil needed to be changed in the fryer. Short rib pastrami was bomb! Highly recommend. The Mai tai I sent back because it had way too much amaretto. I ordered the espresso martini instead which was delightful read more

See all

Only did the outdoor patio with some music on a Friday. Drink pours were proper. Was a good time. Can't give five stars because I didn't try any food. read more

The food was super good the view was very nice and the waiters and owner were so nice so good we came twice t

Love this place. Not only is the ambiance stunning but the whole crew makes sure they go above and beyond to remember you and make you feel special. Great food, great drinks and great service. Always a good time at monarch read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Menu - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Came for Sunday Brunch at around 10:30AM with a friend. Not super crowded, seated almost instantly - but later changed seats to be by the window view. Gorgeous scenery and venue. Service was quick and super kind, food was fast to come. We ordered and shared the Fried Chicken Tenders and Hawaiian Donuts along with the Carbonara Flatbread. The chicken and donuts were alright. Found the chicken to be a tad bit over cooked and tough, without too much flavor. I would say the donuts didn't add to the chicken, but were tasty by themselves. (3/5) HIGHLY recommend getting the Carbonara flatbread. The cheesy and stretchy mozzarella is for sure not skimped out on, and the eggs add on to the rest of the flavors nicely. It's like an egg scramble and pizza mixed together! So good. (5/5) Iced tea! Not the most important nor notable aspect, but deserves a mention because I love iced tea! And monarch serves some good iced tea (5/5) All in all, great venue and great food. Prices are reasonable and highly recommend for a classy meal by the beach. (4.5/5) read more

See all

Yes the food is 200 and service is excellent but the ambiance is a Slower than normal read more

Scenery 10/10 Food 6/10 Service 3/10 The lousy service really ruined the experience. Our group had the pork chops (a little dry), nosh board, Brussel sprouts, a salad with chicken that was too dry to chew, and the salmon (very good). The drinks were made well, but a little expensive for a whole lot of ice in the glass. Would've been nice to get a second, but the server never came back around. The sunset was amazing! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

The ambiance is beautiful! The food and drinks are delicious! Loved the Ube MALASADAS. Only downside was the service was slow. Super nice but slow. Also the parking in the garage below restaurant is $10 an hour so it costs at least $20 after a nice meal and no parking validation included. read more

See all

Great joint. Have been for several happy hours. Great price. Great food. Someone reads a poem at a certain time or at sunset - cannot remember. The entire restaurant becomes quiet. And everyone listens. Such a surreal moment in today's age. But! Took my wife for her birthday today. So off the happy hour menu this visit. I have tried many lobster rolls around North County. For years. Monarch's lobster roll is the one I have been searching for. I savored every bite. My wife also snuck in a bite because she knew from the sounds I was making that it had to be good. And her chowder! Best one we have had out. It was a bit salty. But that is user preference so not knocking the chowder for that. I love salt and even I thought it was over salted. Incredible view. Staff are awesome. Feels like a well-run establishment. Highly recommend. Going to back again, outside of happy hour, and try their oysters. You may have to wait for an ocean view. So factor that in. Lots of lovely shops you can enjoy while waiting. Or grab a seat at the bar. Always have fun there. And their drinks! They are creative and delicious. All-around great experience. Highly recommend. Can't wait to get back! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Lobster shrimp roll. Chowder soup. Brussel sprouts. - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

Came here for our 25th anniversary. Cannot beat the view!! Food was great!! Drinks were perfect!! And Taylor was such a great and friendly bartender and server. She made some great recommendations for us and we had a perfect day! Can't wait to come back!! read more

2/16/24- I arrived there at 1pm with a party of 15. We sat out in the patio area. One, no one knew we had to order food at the bar. No one told us. We were waiting there for sometime before we figured it out. Why then provide us menus when we sit down? I ordered a burger with fries. I paid with cash. Total was about $20.44. Or something odd like that. I never was given a receipt. I received change back for $4.00. I asked about the change and they looked at me crazy. LOL. Guess they kept that for a tip. They're bad, they lost out on a bigger tip. The food was called out from a bullhorn and was placed inside a big paper bag. Burger was good but the fries were soggy. They didn't vent the to go container at all. That's how you get soggy fries with the steam inside. They are killing me. A total of 3 stars, took 1 star off for the fries and 1 star for no change return. I do not plan to go back there. Final 1 star taken away for the poor parking in the area. read more

See all

Having had excellent fresh, crispy, tasty and flaky fish and chips in Ullapool, Scotland, I rate Monarch's as exceptionally good. Ruby's service was perfect, friendly and timely. As for ambience, all I need to say is Pacific Ocean view with a slight breeze. read more

Let's just say that the view is a 6/5, the food is 4/5 for a casual bar setting but the service is hit or miss which makes me sad. The drinks are fun, and thoughtful, try a slushee! For dessert favorite for me is the milk and cookies. Flatbreads are delish and who doesn't like a fried chicken sandwich! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Cocktail Menu as of 12/27/21 - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

4.5 Star Review! San Diego has no shortage of amazing restaurants and Monarch does not disappoint! Located in Downtown Del Mar, there may be a shortage of street parking but no need to worry as there is a large public parking garage directly underneath Monarch. It's a minimal fee but well worth it for not have to keep circling the block for street parking. Come here for the amazing view - Stay for everything else! I'm a sucker for good service and at Monarch, that can be hit or miss depending on the time of day and just how busy the restaurant is. If I'm being completely honest, the hostess station could use a quick refresher in "service with a smile" but the bartenders and the waitstaff have always been super friendly, welcoming and made out experience top notch. Be advised that this place does get busy - especially at sunset because you do not want to miss that gorgeous ocean view - but the team hustles and does it with a smile on their face. If the service seems to be slower than usual, take a quick look around as the team is mostly likely running around like crazy and doing everything they can to make your experience enjoyable. Not only does the view have us coming back time and time again, but the food and drinks here are fantastic! There are plenty of local craft beers, wines and custom cocktails to chose from - I typically can't resist a good IPA but if I'm looking for a cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is the way to go! If The Hubs is not sipping a beer, he'll go for a delicious POG Mai Tai or The Selleck - So many delicious drinks, you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. The delicious food will keep you coming back time and time again {lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch..they have it all}! Some of our favorites are the BBQ Lettuce Wraps {Smoked Pork Belly, Pickles, Chicharrones and the House Mustard}, the Shroom & Burrata Flatbread {with Garlic Creme, Sweet Onions, Mozzarella, Greens and Heirloom Tomatoes}, the Farmers Salad with added Chicken {Fresh Greens, Smoked Beets, Butternut Squash, Pomegranate, Blood Orange Vin and Pistachios - No Nuts for me though}, and Blistered Shishito Pepper with Lemon and Salt. These are must-eat dishes! I already know what's next on my must-try list: the Creamy Polenta and the Salsiccia Flatbread. What are your Monarch faves?? read more

One of the few places in the area still open for dinner on a Thursday night. All the way up top in the multi level complex, but with easy street parking for the night. Decided to share a few plates between two people. Ordered the Smoked Mushrooms ($9), Fries ($9), and Smoked Eggplant Dip ($12). Mushrooms are your basic fare, lightly seasoned while sauteed in a tangy sauce. Fries are cooked well with grated cheese on top ; not too salty. The dip is the best of the bunch - good flavors in the eggplant and perfectly toasted bread. Service took a bit of time as they were winding down the night. Probably the best option in the area for late night eats. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Mushrooms, fries, eggplant - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

I was expecting more from this restaurant. It was a little pricey and very small portion sizes. All of the food was good but forgettable, except the vinaigrette on the beet salad. It was fruity and mild. The waitstaff seemed a little zoned out. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Appetizers- brussel sprouts, carrots and risotto balls - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

Pristine restaurant. The food, drinks and staff are great. The location is really what puts this place on the map. Its on the second floor of a busy shopping mall with a fantastic view of the ocean. The only complaint I have at this establishment is the parking. A little hard to find and complicated to get to. I felt that I almost had to leave breadcrumbs to find my car. Otherwise, no complaints with this restaurant. They offer a variety of different sized tables from two - tops all the way up to private rooms for large meetings. A great place to gather whether it's business or pleasure. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

The window side seating was lovely! I had a great time and the ambience was beautiful! I ordered the Caesar salad and Brussels sprouts, and my boyfriend ordered the fish sandwich! Everything was delicious! The service was wonderful and I would highly recommend visiting at sunset! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Brussels sprouts, Caesar salad - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

This new eatery on the upper level of the Del Mar Plaza just had their grand opening this weekend. You can park downstairs in the garage for up to two hours free of charge so take advantage of that opportunity. I don't recall which restaurant occupied this suite previously, but like their neighbor across the pathway, the westward facing outdoor patio has a gorgeous overlook of the ocean horizon especially during the sunset hour. All seating right now is on the patio which includes the bar because their indoor tables are prohibited from use until further notice from the county. The one-page menu was rather simple with five items each of Shared, Greens, and Sandwiches. Four boards/breads, seven sides, and one dessert rounded out the offerings. I picked the Lobster + Shrimp Roll ($24) for my meal which came with a choice of organic supergreens, purple potato chips, or seasoned fries. I selected the chips to go with the roll which had knuckle and claw meat, wild patagonia shrimp, butter, malt aioli, and chives on toasted brioche. I really liked how the kitchen did not mix in too much mayo (aioli) into the lobster which some places do. A little more meat was needed to balance the amount of brioche as the bread did dominate the item. For one of their first days of business, there was a sizeable walk-up crowd. The service and food were good enough for me to give a four star rating. read more

See all

After several recommendations to Monarch Ocean Pub I jumped at the chance to impress my parents after a day trip to LA. My friends and colleagues have raved about the vibe and views from the sky deck. Hoping to beat the traffic and the dinner rush, we timed it perfectly to arrive just in time for happy hour. Parking was easy (small fee) and we were able to get in to what seemed to be a very open restaurant. I'd signaled to the hostess that I was hoping to watch the sunset with my parents and she acknowledged and agreed to accommodate. We were asked to wait for our table in the adjacent rooftop deck which was fine, but there were noticeably open tables and no reservations taken at this establishment. Ding #1. After ten minutes we were buzzed over and seated at a communal patio couches for 6 when I'd asked to be seated at a table as my parents requested an actual table with dinner seating. Ding #2. We then waited another 15 minutes to be seated at a similar patio style couch seating after just sharing a request for an actual table. Ding #3 I could sense the hostess was reserving or holding select spaces for certain guests or locals and it was almost an hour before we were seated in a fairly empty restaurant. This definitely soured our experience and to make things even more lackluster our server didn't check in on us for nearly ten minutes after being seated. :/ Unfortunately this review is not about food because the service model truly impacted our experience and excitement. Our food wasn't much to write home about either. It was truly surprising that such a popular restaurant had such a lackluster hostess management and service especially when prompted for a special occasion. Not sure I would return to this establishment until the service model improves. The sunset was amazing but the service we received that day was the opposite. read more

Always a great stop for out of town friends to get a beer or wine at Happy Hour 4-6P. The menu is also great especially a shisito pepper and flattop burger during happy hour! The nightly toast and bell ring is part of the charm. Easy parking in the Plaza. Enjoy! read more

Had a great little solo lunch at the bar. The bar tenders were very friendly and always checking in on me. The food and beer were delicious and the vibe was great. There are awesome views of the ocean. Will definitely come again! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Turkey sandwich with fries - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Finally something that will last in this amazing location! Great drinks and ambiance. I love the fried chicken sandwich and the fries with it are amazing. Also, love the ceviche. The views are unbelievable. Dog friendly, even inside. If you sit at the bar and Sean, Carissa, or Matty take care of you, you're in good hands. Don't miss out on one of Erik's sunset toasts. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Dining room view - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Monarch is perched above the downtown area with a view of the ocean. While you can't hear the waves, you can see, feel and smell the ocean. We dropped by for an early weekday lunch - warning we should have made lunch reservations. The hostesses were accommodating as much as they could be. Our orders came out quickly. We started with the Smoky Eggplant Dip. This was fairly plain and was very creamy. The pickled onions helped but didn't carry the dish. We then shared the Farmer's Salad. The cubed squash and cubed beets were smoked and quite good. The greens were very fresh and the salad was large. The house salad dressing was bland. The Short Rib Pastrami sandwich had large portions of meat. The meat was of great quality, but in and of itself, surprisingly didn't have the flavor that I expected, a bit mild. The Dijon mustard and pickles helped the overall flavor tremendously. This is a very rich and filling sandwich. The hand cut fries were thick and shaped liked potato chips. They were fried well, and needed salt. I can see why this is a favorite hangout place. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Farmer's Salad - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

This was my first time visiting Monarch and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun atmosphere, the drink menu is extensive and exotic, and the food fits every pallet. The outdoor patio is the big draw here as it looks out at the ocean. We came around 5:40pm and it was an hour wait so we missed sunset which is the clear draw with this location. They don't take reservations so if it's a weekend and you want the ocean view be sure to come early and put your name in. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Pink dragonfruit margarita with the Nosh board on the table - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

I went into monarch earlier tonight with my girlfriends. We are all over 21 and one of the workers kicked us out for suspicion of us being under age. This is unneccaptable to kick people out when we gave them our ids and he used a black light on them and they were real. I don't understand how a business like this is still aloud here. read more

Now I have to admit the food was good. It was just normal so if you're looking for something to while you off the menu, I didn't find it. The calamari was hot. It was very tasty. I enjoyed the sauce. It had a great bite. Great crunch, the charcuterie board very tasty probably one of the better ones that I've had the price point And I can also say that for the price point the meal was exceptional I wish there was a way to give half stars because giving it only three stars doesn't give it justice. It's just it for some of the other offerings of the San Diego area. I found this to be something that you might get in your normal local neighborhood. Not that it's bad you're looking for some familiarity when you're looking through menus however, I found this one to be just very very familiar. Very tasty but very familiar. Definitely recommend it for the service. Our waitress doted on us make sure that our drinks are refilled. she came by and checked on us the ambience for San Diego so what else can I say beautiful! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - The char board - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

Favorite restaurant. Most beautiful view. Delicious food and drinks! 11/10. Always recommend to people.

Everyone was raving about monarch but their service and food were below average. Everything was super unorganized. Make sure you check your receipts because they double charged our party AND our friends. I assume it's because most people don't look at their receipts. We sat down and no one checked in on us for awhile. Our friend went to the bar to get drinks because our waiter was no where to be found. Bartenders and servers weren't friendly. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Burger and calamari. Ranch had a lemony taste to it which was odd. Honey on the calamari really threw everything off. - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

There's probably not enough characters allowed on here for me to list all the great things about Monarch. The location is absolutely prime with great views and a great bar with a huge patio that opens up with even another bar! It is great to come here for any meal and or just do get drinks and hang out with friends. I have not had 1 bad thing on the menu and the service is always great but my go to is always the wings and the Brussels sprouts. The wings are unreal and the only non wet chicken wing i will ever eat and they hit the spot every time. The drinks are always on point, must try the mai tai!! If you are in Del Mar then Monarch is a must! i recommend this place to everyone! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Monarch - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Came her last night. Crowded for a Tuesday night. Got on the wait list. 45 minutes. Went to bar and ordered some drinks. One of the bartenders let us know that there were 2 seats available on the other side of the bar. Nice! I got a Tito's cosmo and husband got a beer. Both were good. While we sat there we looked at the menu and a lot of things sounded good. The bartender asked us if we wanted to eat here instead of waiting for a table. It seemed like it was going to be more than 45 minutes so we decided to say yes. We shared the halibut and shrimp ceviche. It was good, but a little to mushy for my palette. For the main we shared the smoked bacon burger. Excellent! I switched to red wine, Caymus I believe. Very good. Husband got an old fashioned. Said it was excellent. It is a little on the loud side, not over the top. Just not a place for a quiet dinner. Reminded us of a few places we have been to in Hawaii. TV's at the bar but no sound. We just missed the sunset, but would be a great place to catch one. We will be back! Halibut and shrimp ceviche read more

RUDEST SERVICE!!! Came with my wife for early dinner. Hostess told us to feel free and grab table in bar area. We sat for 20 min at a table only to be finally greeted with "these tables are not part of the bar, and there is a wait for them". There was NO ONE waiting. We explained the misunderstanding and that we had been at this table for over 20min and she still insisted that we get up from the table and go back to the host station. As a restaurant owner (that I am) I tried to be understanding of the situation and our misunderstanding of the seating but there server was absolutely unnecessarily rude, I would have fired her if she worked for me. This is probably the third visit and most likely the last to Monarch. Living in Del Mar there aren't a lot of options, but this arrogant and dismissive attitude isn't appreciated. One day another restaurant will open nearby and these folks will have to earn the respect of their customers again. read more

I'm a Del Mar local of 30 years. Our server was an entitled woman who preferred to sit and eat oysters with a rich guy. I'm disgusted that this is what is happened in my home town. Do not support this business. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Many empty plates sitting at the table all night while our server flirted with rich guys. - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

I came here for brunch with a couple of friends and let me tell you they did not disappoint. There was this restaurant I went to once with shrimp and grits and I still dream about it this wasn't that place but let me tell you I took the leap and ordered the shrimp and grits let me tell you it did not disappoint it was creamy it didn't have that gritty taste you sometimes get if they aren't cooked properly not this, these were delicious. Also the shrimp was cooked perfectly and they didn't scrimp on the shrimp (hahaha sorry bad joke). If you get a chance you have to try this place out Ohhh and I can't forget the service. The service was great. It was a great experience. The only thing is the parking situation you have to pay for parking if you park in the garage. It's worth it though. Ohh and the view is spectacular!! read more

See all

Had a wonderful lunch today. The Pear Salad was flavorful and fresh. The salmon was perfection and the Potato & Gruyère balls were a treat! Service was prompt and friendly and the laid back ambiance with an ocean view atmosphere is priceless. read more

*NOT kid friendly I came here to eat with my boyfriend and I was appalled to see that they kicked out a sweet POC family with a child who seemed to be autistic. He was not disturbing us NOR anyone around us and management told them that they had to leave. How can anyone support a business like this? I've been here numerous times and have seen children running and playing YET a child who is non verbal and made some sounds offended the employees? I do not recommend this business at all. Especially to parents, better yet parents with children with minor disabilities. Monarch should be ashamed of themselves. I will NEVER come back. I'm greatly offended for that family and sincerely apologize on their behalf. read more