Such a great spot!! All the drinks are really great and well made-- my favorites are the mai tai and the mule. Everyone is so kind and the servers are very attentive. This is a great spot for date night or a night out with friends. read more

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

The yellowfin tuna board... is so fabulous! Had to update my review with this because highly recommend. You get so much & get to play around with each bite :) Our waitress was lovely for the 8 of us, checked in often & made another good experience at Monarch! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Yellowfin tuna board! - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

One of our go-to spots for bringing family and friends who are visiting San Diego. Overlooking Del Mar beach, Monarch boasts beautiful views and has a great food and drink menu (and kids menu!). They also have a dog friendly patio which our pup loves since she hates being left at home. Some menu favorites are their lobster and shrimp roll and spicy chicken sandwich. Their fries which come as a side with most entrees are so good - they are super crispy and shaped like a chip. Service has always been great, both when you dine in or if you're at the bar. There can be a wait on weekends or peak times. There is an attached parking lot that charges something like $3/hour. read more

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

First time coming in here, which I'm so glad we were here to watch football Sunday. We both had the house made short rib, pastrami, hash, which was amazing. I definitely recommend this breakfast. The service has been great, amazing and on top of it. And the ambience is hardly described except through the picture. It's awesome!! I recommend anybody coming, football fan or not, any day of the week. read more

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Loved this place, came here at night so could not see the ocean, but the environment was awesome. The staff was also great. We had a good time, everything from the drinks to the food was good. read more

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

We were over at Delmar racetrack and asked one of the parking attendance where we should go for a drink in Sunset after the race races. He was from Delmar and he said you gotta go up to Monarch and we did.‼ that area is really packed, and it's not easy to find a parking place so you gotta go into the parking structure and pay for parking but then you go up to that terrace of theirs and it's spectacular. You can either walk up and order kind of like takeout and then pick a seat anywhere you want or go inside the dining room room. The dining room room was standing room only, three deep at the bar and quite a madhouse. Don't go there for a quiet conversation. When you do the ordering outside, a guy walks out with a loudspeaker in his hand and calls out your name and then you go and pick up your food which comes in a paper bag just like if you were taking out food from any place, but then you go sit down. Drinks are up there too. Samo we got there and it wasn't that busy at around 4 PM but by the time we left the place was packed everywhere. All in all pretty great love the picture of Tom Selleck on the whole wall in the main restaurant dining area. read more

Great customer service I forgot our waitress's name but she was wonderful. Good environment family friendly and the scenery of the ocean was stunning. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Monarch Bowl delicious, the chicken was overcooked. - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Ambiance 10/10 !!! Beautiful views all around. The restaurant is located on the top level of an outdoor shopping/restaurant center. Food 8/10 the fried chicken and donuts were pretty good and the short rib hash was slightly too rich, but delicious. Parking is free for a limited time, but the food comes out super quick so there was no concern! Would definitely come back read more

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Finally writing a review for Monarch after a million times hanging out there. It is definitely my favorite spot for watching sunsets with a beer in hand and festive ambiance. That is why I choose that place for a brief visit of my Scottish friends. They got a different view of SD, not only downtown, but more slow paced and coastal little town. Del Mar delivers and Monarch Ocean Pub too! We loved the live music, the great and fun atmosphere, the friendly and efficient service (we were able to change spot to be on prime seat watching the sunset). I would like more variety on the happy hour food. My favorite is the sishito peppers and the brussel sprouts but would not recommend the salad. Hawaiian donut dessert is really good. Cheers for many more sunsets! read more

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Views are unbeatable, great cocktails and a really solid food menu. Eric's sunset toast is so special, absolutely love this bar.

I've been here a few times and normally I sit at the bar for a couple drinks but my best friend and I stopped in for lunch a few Saturdays ago and had a great time! As always, they were busy but we were sat right away which was an awesome surprise. We always park in the underground parking structure but sometimes you can get lucky and find street parking. The short rib pastrami was SO good. The chimichurri and picked onions really set the whole sandwich off. Very good balance of flavors. Love coming here in the afternoon for happy hour and if you're lucky, you'll catch a killer sunset! The service is always good, even when they are busy. Can't wait to come back and try more menu items! read more

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I don't frequent the Del Mar area very much, but when I do, I gotta be bougie!! Lol With 2 of my besties in tow, we randomly chose Monarch Ocean Pub for dinner. It was over an hour-long wait, but for a busy Saturday night, it was well worth it! I'm kicking myself for not remembering our server's name, but she was super sweet and very attentive. She did a great job checking on us and keeping our waters filled. This place is awesome!! At sunset, one of the managers (or is it bartenders?!) writes a poem and reads it to everyone in the restaurant. You can't miss it because he'll ring a cow bell to get your attention. Pretty cool to see! I had to split the video since Yelp only allows 12 second clips at a time. =/ Anyway, the ambiance is very casual. They have a good size bar, surrounded by tables, including high tops, and booths. The larger booths are located at the front of the restaurant near the restrooms. If you're willing to wait like we were, you can snag a sweet spot by the window, where you can watch the sun go down. We got a corner table and it was amazing!! Even though the place is kind of loud, it's to be expected since people are out to have a good time. The food was nothing short of phenomenal! We left nothing behind, even the Charred Broccolini (which had a hint of spiciness to it, but I could hang on this one!). The extra Truffle Butter that we devoured with the Parker House Rolls was gone in a flash. The star of the show for me, was the Scallop & Pork Belly Chowder. I used a piece of the bread to mop up the inside of my bowl since you already know that I "don't waste!" The Potato & Gruyere Croquettes were cooked perfectly, but they were a bit bland imo. We also ordered French Fries, and the first time they came out, they were cold. We kindly sent them back and we were given a fresh, hot batch without question. Now THAT is service at its best!! We all finished our drinks with no problems. Heavy on the alchi? Yes please!! They even offer you a double if you're up to it! Parking can be difficult, but we parked at a nearby public garage about 2 or 3 blocks away. Pricing is average but the experience is outstanding! We are definitely coming back! read more

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This place is amazing to wind down the day and watch the sunset. They do not take reservations, so I would recommend coming early for their happy hour which is from 4-6pm. We came on a Friday and were immediately seated. However, not long after, the crowd came. The happy hour food was delicious, and everything was really good. Would recommend this place. read more

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

17 open (amd cleaned) tables on a Fri... literally. But quoting 55 min wait. Poor management. Trying to create more demand by having a line of people waiting, by not seating most of the restaurant. Stay away. They don't deserve your patronage. read more

Loved the vibe, the music and the Hugo Spritz! Really enjoyed the appetizers at Sunset!

My friend and I came here after dinner. I've always been curious what Monarch was every time I drove past it. It's a really nice upscale bar that has a decent dinner menu. There are plenty of seating at the bar, tables in their dining room, as well as a large outdoor patio overlooking the ocean. It's massive! I had a cucumber mint cooler and. My friend ordered an espresso martini. We also got a Nosh Board to share. The board included chef's selection of artisan cheeses and cured meats, pickles, almonds, strawberries, dried cranberries, olives, artichoke hearts, and herb toasted baguette. I didn't care for the herb toasted baguette and found it rather greasy. Plain toasted baguette would've been better in my opinion. Beautiful ambiance and really great service! They have a nice Happy Hour on Mondays - Fridays 4-6pm with food and drinks that's worth checking out. read more

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Sorry, guys! This place is just too loud without anything to absorb the sound. It would be a great place to meet up with friends, but you can't hear each other and it's so crowded so even as a people watcher, I couldn't stay more than a minute before I had to escape. I gave it two stars because the location is pretty good. read more

The fish and chips are about the best in the region, with big fat fresh perfectly battered cod filets. Most places serve much smaller pieces for not much lower cost. The smoked wings are uniquely excellent, with a tasty crunch rather that the usual wing sauce. Two very good mayo-based dipping sauces are included. The calamari was fine, but nothing special. The ceviche is superb, with fresh halibut and shrimp and the usual avocado, cucumber, and pickled red onions, plus thin red jalapeno slices. One in our group ordered the shrimp and pork belly soup, but disliked it so much due mainly to chewy pork that she sent it away. The Parker rolls are very fresh and tasty, but they're $8.00 for four. The fantastic beverage options are icing on the cake. The outdoor dining area ambience with an ocean view was fantastic on a warm October night, and the service perfectly professional and well-paced. If Yelp allowed decimals, I'd give the place 4.5 stars. read more

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The truffles fries are the best French fries I've ever had! The shape is unique, they're crispy on the outside while soft on the inside. We loved every part of the meal. We had a great view and a fantastic, attentive waitress. 5/5 stars, we can't wait to come back! read more

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Came here during HH with friends. Had an old fashioned, chocolate chip cookies and milk and a fish sando. Everything was okay but nothing stood out that would make me recommend that you need to come here. It's pretty loud so it's hard to hear. read more

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

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Monarch is absolutely lovely. Ambiance cannot be beat with one of the best ocean and sunset views in del mar accompanied with delicious food! I got there around 6:45 and surprisingly was able to snag a table with a wonderful view of the sunset! Service was wonderful our server Mo was such a sweetheart if you guys get her make sure to leave a good tip she's awesome! I highly reccomend the cobb salad I love how the lettuce is butter lettuce and not romaine or other lettuce it just tastes so much more of quality! Highly reccomend this place for dinner dates and also drinks on the rooftop as well! read more

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We went here around 4:30 PM on a Sunday for a late lunch/early dinner. Seated promptly on a nice table with a view. Our server Sierra was simply amazing!! Amazing personality and so charming. The fresh baked bread with the burnt garlic butter was delicious and so were the croquettes. Everything went south after this. We ordered a shroom flat bread and the burger. Both were way below average. The burger was very overcooked and the bacon was chewy. The flatbread was extremely thick and greasy. No microgreens as written on the menu. Just regular lettuce. I guess with the volume they do they don't really care but then place has potential for being really good. Just some extra care from the kitchen staff is required. read more

Had dinner with my husband and friends at Monarch Ocean Pub on a Friday night, and it certainly won't be the last. They don't take reservations, so there was a 45-minute wait when we arrived. However, the time passed quickly since we hung out at the bar. Food: 5/5 The Fish & Chips were fantastic. The fish was tender, flaky, and perfectly battered--not oily, with just the right crispiness. The fries are amazing; they taste like a cross between chips and french fries. I'm glad my husband and I both got fries because it meant I could have more. The House Smoked Turkey Sandwich was another highlight. The portions are generous and delicious. I ate the other half of my sandwich the next day, and it was just as good. The sandwich comes with avocado, provolone, bacon, pickles, tomato, pickled onion, sprouts, and mayo, all served on toasted sourdough. Drinks: 5/5 The Espresso Martini is a must-try if you enjoy espresso martinis. It was perfectly balanced and delicious. The Moscow Mule, though not served in the traditional copper mug, was still very tasty. Atmosphere: 5/5 Monarch's motto is "Cheers to me, Cheers to you, here's to a hell of a view," and it aligns perfectly with the pub's lovely charm. It's comfy, spacious, and stylish. We were seated inside, right by a fireplace and a TV playing sports. The husbands were happy, and we wives were quite satisfied with the atmosphere, drinks, and food. It was a great time. Staff: 5/5 The staff was helpful and accommodating, even on a busy night. They made the experience smooth and enjoyable despite the crowd. Parking: 3/5 Parking in the area is limited during weekends, so expect to either hunt for street parking or pay for a spot. We parked at the garage located under the restaurant. It was about $28 for 5 hours of parking. read more

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I came here with my family recently, partly on a whim and partly because it's been on my list for a while! Every time I'm in the area in pass by, it always looks like it's popping! After all, it's in a beautiful, central area of downtown Del Mar, right in the middle of all the excitement. We came on a weekday for happy hour, and luckily, we didn't have to wait for a table. That being said, we were seated in the rear of the restaurant; we did not get a view of the ocean, and the table was very small for our party of five. If you get a table towards the ocean side of the restaurant, I'm sure the experience and ambiance would be even better. Nonetheless, it was still a very lively environment, and the interior is beautifully decorated. Very fitting for a coastal restaurant. Although the happy hour menu is rather limited, it's a great deal! The food items are basically half off. Now here is a breakdown of everything we ordered: - Flat top burger: I didn't try this, but my brother thought it was ok (he's picky though). It's almost like a smashburger with how crispy the meat is. That being said, the burger is a very small portion size. - Crispy fish sando: I also didn't try this one, but my dad really loved it! He even ordered two because, again, the portion was very small. - Gochujang brussels: The flavors were nice, but it's really salty with all the sauce. I would ask for light sauce next time, if possible. Love the addition of the crispy shallots, which was a break in the flavor palette. - Charred broccolini: This was a crowd favorite. The char flavor is very pronounced. The sauce isn't too heavy like it was with the brussels sprouts. I'm glad we got this dish. - Calabrian chili cavatappi: This was my personal favorite! The tomato cream sauce is a little spicy with the Calabrian chili, but nothing crazy. However, it adds a great zing to the dish. And I absolutely love the pasta shape. No notes. - Nosh board: Okay, so this was not on the happy hour menu, but we had to try it. It's a small filling, board of meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread. One thing to know is that it doesn't really look like the picture on the official website (fewer fruits, addition of honey, fewer bread pieces); not really sure what that's about. This was soooo delicious though, especially two of the cheeses that I cannot remember the names of. Highly recommend this one. Overall, I liked most of the dishes and loved the ambience (if you sit in the right area). I can definitely see myself coming back here! Maybe next time, I'll get a table with the view...hopefully! read more

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Beautiful space with amazing views of the coast. Food is always solid there and our server was very nice and accommodating. Lunch on a Monday so fairly quiet. The Cobb and the mushroom flatbread were both tasty as was the calamari which was tender and yummy and served with a couple of sauces. Our family's turkey sandwhich and burger were nicely done as well. Hard to fault this place which is often understandably mobbed but worth the stop if you can get a table. The outside deck is amazing as well. read more

I've been here a few times for happy hour and also for dinner. I really like their burger, probably one of the best in San Diego to be honest. I've also tried their salad and come other apps. The patio outside is great and offers a beautiful view of the sunset when the sun goes down. Sometimes they have live music on the patio which offers great atmosphere read more

Our waitress, Mo, was absolutely wonderful and made our whole night! She was so positive and kind despite being insanely busy. The food was also fabulous! read more

Duh! The views! But the drinks! Loved! Great locals chatting it up, service at the bar awesome, go early for good seats and great menu ! Love! read more

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

Overall an amazing dining experience. We were told to wait for a window table would be about 45 minutes so we put our name down and waited on the outside viewing area where they also serve food and drinks. We ordered 2 cocktails and found a table with a beautiful view of the ocean and street below. The cocktails were not the best especially considering the price but the service was quick. Once our table was ready, we were seated at a table by the window. Becky was our server and she was just absolutely lovely! We ordered a steak along with the fish and chips. Fish and chips were good, excellent aioli and tartar sauces. We ordered a medium steak and they didn't bring it out till it was cooked perfectly. The appetizers tasted good and their dessert is a good finisher for the meal. The caviar to this place is to show up around sunset to hear the poem of the day, we were poem #921 and it actually made me go into deep thought... the crew and the vibe of this place is exactly what Del Mar is about. Would highly recommend this place read more

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Had an event here for work and rented out the outdoor area. Was a wonderful venue with great views! The food, drinks, and staff were great! read more

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(2.5 stars if I could). I've been to Monarch Ocean Pub a handful of times, and while the food itself has been consistently solid (the chicken sandwich, cheese plate, burger, and salads are always on point) , the service is unfortunately where this place falls short. It's a shame, because the space is absolutely stunning. The views, the vibe, the layout....everything about the setting screams potential. But it's consistently let down by poor or indifferent service, which has been true across multiple visits. Most recently, we were met with a noticeable lack of attentiveness and friendliness from our server, on a (not crowded) week night. For a place with this kind of prime real estate and steady foot traffic, you'd hope the customer service would match. Coming from someone in the hospitality industry, I know not everything can be perfection, but being consistently kind and engaged with your guests is the bare minimum. Especially when there are so many people who would love the opportunity to work in such a beautiful environment and bring that energy to the job. Monarch could be a five-star gem if they invested more in cultivating a strong service culture. Until then, I'll keep expectations in check when I come for the view and a bite and hope they eventually raise the standard on the service side. read more

Food was good, we got sat right away. However we waited 20 minutes before having to get up and go ask for a server, from then once we got our waters there was something floating in the water. The serves was slow which is unfortunate because there is a great atmosphere. read more

This is my 4th time there so it's about time I reviewed! Every visit has been excellent! The view, the drinks, the food are all fabulous! Last night was my birthday dinner. Our server Jack, was attentive, funny and obviously experienced. I had the mussels- delicious! Also had their farmer's salad. It was really fresh, with beets and butternut squash. Friends had the quinoa bowl and the pork chop- both were great. It was really loud inside and I wish they took reservations for outside. They gave us an hour wait but got us in within 10 minutes. (Pacifica, next door lets you sit on their patio and order drinks while you wait.) This may be the perfect summer restaurant. Pricing is what you'd expect these days. Almost forgot - I got a free dessert for my bday. The donuts were served hot, with a maybe raspberry sauce (?) AMAZING read more

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

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Good service! Nice gluten free options and vegetarian options. Shishito peppers and Potato & Gruyere croquettes were delicious (it's harder to find croquettes in SD than you'd expect). Fall fungi bowl was tasty, highly recommend. Music might be a bit loud for some. read more

Super lively place! Went for a HS reunion. Would come back for sure. We got the pastrami sandwich I think. Service was fast.

Stopped by Monarch for a late lunch on a Friday. Appetizers and entrees were all delicious, but the overall service was lacking. Two of our table did not receive their entrees until 7 minutes after the rest of the food came out, and there was no apology for the delay. I had to request ranch twice before I got it, and glasses would fully empty before refills came. read more

$58 2 ppl. Pre tip. *Bacon burger. Not requested, but cooked well and the meat was dry. Killed it in a bad way. I didn't find out till the end of the meal so we (I) didn't say anything. *Pastrami. Good flavors. Maybe 1/4 lb of meat. The majority of the meat was on one half, but I wish the other half had that same amount, more like an east coast deli style. Got the salad, I like dressing but the bottom of the bowl had 2-3 tablespoons of vinaigrette. *N/A beer *Ice Tea Got there at 12:05 on a Monday in late August- got front row to the view. By 1230 that part of the room was filled. The service was quick and attentive. Plenty of check-ins. While it was an off day for the kitchen, the wait staff was appreciated. The location is Del Mar HQ for sure. Spot is great for any occasion. I'd go back. They hand you the credit card machine and the gratuity options are automated at 20, 22, & 25%. Pro tip - ask for the house made spicy mayo on the side. read more

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We were in Del Mar for a Friday wedding, so naturally we had to fuel before the wedding. We arrived right around 11:15 (they open at 11) and were sat right away!! Most of the tables right at the windows with the view are only 2-person tables so we sat at a large booth a bit away from the windows but it was so comfy and we could still see the view of the ocean. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich with fries and my husband ordered the burger. Both were delicious!! The burger was huge!!! Loaded with meat and bacon - he couldn't even finish it. The fries were really unique - a hybrid between a chip and a fry and I loved how crisp they were. Service was pretty good but they didn't refill our waters one time during our meal, which was a bit disappointing since we were all thirsty. Overall pretty good food and amazing views and ambience. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Spicy chicken sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Great option for groups or couples alike. The place is definitely on the louder side and has an outdoor patio with separate service that has great summer vibes. The wait can be long on the weekend so plan accordingly. We ended up sitting on the "bridge" and it was perfect as it was quieter than the inside and gave us gorgeous views so ask if that's available when you check with the host. We tried the crab eggs Benedict (alright) and Ube pancakes (interesting). Service was really good and parking in the structure is easy. I'd say the ambiance and views are what you come here for as the food is ok but definitely still hits the spot! read more

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Great views and service and food. They got the trifecta. Came with friends and enjoyed drinks and I got the short rib pastrami which was delicious! Can't beat the views of the ocean. read more