Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mosquito Cafe

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)

    Order Mosquito Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Mosquito Cafe Photos

    MOSQUITO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Mosquito Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Schuyler S.

    We were on the hunt for a cozy breakfast spot to cure our hunger after a night of partying...and this place did not disappoint! It was pretty packed but the line moves fast and they have plenty of seating. They have a huge menu, so take your time and look around at what everybody else is eating. The staff is super friendly and will happily help you decide. Will definitely make this a regular stop on any future trips to Galveston. Highly recommend it! Almost makes me want to be nicer to mosquitos now...

    One bite is all it takes
    Carrie M.

    "One bite is all it takes" is the slogan for the Mosquito Cafe. I thought the name of this brunch restaurant was interesting, and the slogan even more so. There is a very negative stigma against mosquitoes, so the name choice is a bold move. When my friend read the slogan, he said one bite from a mosquito is all it takes to ruin his day. When I read it, I instantly thought that one bite is all it takes to give you malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, etc. Despite its morbid name, the Mosquito Cafe is a lovely brunch spot. You order at the counter then sit down at a table. It was very crowded when we came, and there was a long line. However, it moved quickly. Although the indoor seating was full, the staff were very efficient in clearing out tables as customers left. I really appreciated how kind the manager was as she came to talk to customers in line and let us know that the staff were working hard to find us seating. There was seating available outside with fans, but we opted to wait for a table inside as it was sweltering outside. She assured us that the food comes out quickly after you order, and it did in fact come out very quickly. You can really tell when the restaurant staff have an attitude of caring towards their customers, and it shone through. I ordered the bacon cheddar omelette ($16.77), which was a large portion that I could barely finish. The egg was very thick, and it was a tasty omelette. I would have liked if there were vegetables in it. There was a veggie omelette option, but it was the same price without any meat. The breakfast potatoes were so delicious. I liked how they were more potato-like than the breakfast potatoes at other restaurants, which tend to be more oily and french fry-like. My friend got the breakfast bowl, and he finished it after taking a few breaks. He said it's bulking season.

    Shrimp , Grits , and Eggs
    Syd G.

    We were in town for the morning getting ready to cruise. Everywhere else had a crazy 1 hour wait for breakfast except for Mosquito Cafe. So we just lucked into a 15 min wait. You order at the counter and then pick your seats. I was happy that they had someone coordinating the tables. Otherwise, you get a group camp out at a table while waiting to get in. The inside is not huge but has enough tables to accommodate. We were completely shocked at how quickly our food came out too. They bring it to your table. I had the bacon cheddar omelette which was really good. The eggs were just slightly overcooked in the omelette but still good. My two kids had the breakfast bowls and said they liked it. My wife loved her shrimp and grits. The shrimp was way overcooked but still good. A little disappointed in $4 sodas. Considering the mimosa was only $2.50 more. We would definitely come back. Great food and very accommodating.

    Thai Noodle Bowl
    Ruthie W.

    Stop before boarding Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas @mosquitocafegalveston. Dad and I shared the Thai Noodle Bowl and Hubby had the Spinach Pasta! Great lunch place in Galveston.

    Veggie ' Shroom Sandwich
    Oz E.

    Boy does this location live up to its name. A dining experience here is sure to be accompanied by little bugs flying around you. Okay that's a bit of an overstatement but there are a few flies here and there. The food itself though was absolutely delicious. The service was fast and efficient and our waiter was incredibly helpful. There was a bit of wait before we were sat but that is understandable seeing as it is one of the few dining spots in the area. Overall a good dining experience that my family and I enjoyed!

    Indoor Dining (outdoor patio available too)
    Kristen M.

    Nice atmosphere with counter serve ordering. Serve breakfast all day, salads, sandwiches and some entrees. I had the Plain Ol Breakfast with scrambled eggs and bacon. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon properly cooked and the herb potatoes absolutely delicious. They also serve baked goods from the bakery across the street. Service limited but good. Nice experience.

    Veggies Omelet
    Karina M.

    Great local restaurant in Galveston! Fast and casual. We ate here before boarding our cruise. Street parking... short walk. Stood on line to order (kind of like Panera, and you get a number and sit wherever you want). Air conditioned indoors but it did get quite crowded and people can be standing over you while you eat. You CAN opt to eat outdoors as well, though. Service was good and have nothing to complain about in regards to the food. The veggie omelet was filling and delicious. Coffee is self serve. Enjoy!

    Silly art.
    Kevin M.

    I really loved this place despite my meal being a bit ordinary. Service was quick and friendly. Despite a bit of a line it really did not take long to get our order placed. Quite comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Outdoor tables were available. Meal arrived fairly fast. You can get breakfast all day. Despite that I ordered the spinach pasta which was a bit mediocre. Could have used more sun dried tomatoes. My wife's basic breakfast looked amazing. Herb potatoes were yummy. It does look like they rotate in daily specials into their regular menu as well. Many interesting options to choose from.

    Veggie Burger
    Sunny B.

    We chose Mosquito Cafe due to the vegetarian options available on their menu. Really appreciate that their vegetarian items are labeled on the menu, it makes such a difference. The vegetarian burger was delicious. The patty was clearly homemade and complete with many different types of vegetable. I could spot corn and potato in the patty. The burger itself was very filling and delicious! I thought the patty was a little too large for the size of the burger and the sides crumbled off as I ate it. It was very pricey. $15 for a veggie burger felt like too much. The service was great and parking was easily found on the street nearby. They were even nice enough to offer complimentary dessert due to the long wait time to get our food.

    Their turkey sandwich is loaded! No way to close this sandwich, open face all the way!
    Tim H.

    Excellent brunch spot. I've visited a couple times over the last couple years. Service is always friendly and accommodating. There is a comfortable, laid back atmosphere. Most importantly, the food is delicious and portions are big!

    Mosquito Cafe- Galveston
    Aruna K.

    A cute little cafe just minutes from Gresham place. Its a must visit considering the proximity to the house and, their food is awesome. Their walls are decorated with art that can be purchased, so thats great- u like something u just don't admire it, you can actually take it home. My favorite part- they have plenty of vegan options. I got the chilled tomato soup on this hot hot day, and my partner got the tacos special. This was a decent plate and can easily be part of a tasty brunch which can keep you going till evening. The tortillas were soft and warm. It came with Thai garlic noodles on the side. The soup was tasty, good for a light meal which I wanted, but then I ended up having the irresistible yummy double chocolate cake , which kind of messed my diet- ha ha They had actually forgotten the soup in the order, but when we reminded them got it promptly. As far as coffee is considered, they don't carry many options other than drip coffee.

    Huevos Rancheros
    Elizabeth R.

    Two Huevas Rancheros and a bagel & Lox plate, plus 2 coffees: $60. Ouch! Inflation is out of control. Huevos Rancheros were interesting. I think I tasted a little bbq sauce. There was a line out the door but many tables inside and outside were empty. Employees looked happy and not too stressed(that's good), but my guess is that they are short staffed. Employees seem well trained and were smiling! We got there around 9:30 am on a Sunday (just in time). Coffee was really good. They could improve by covering small patio to keep the crows out.

    Goat Cheese and Candy Fig Salad
    Steve A.

    Mosquito is an essential spot on Galveston Island. It get packed during peak season, but this place has amazing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plenty of street parking. Highly recommend sharing a slice of the spice cake. Thank me later.

    Entryway from where I was seated

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Syd G.
    109
    768
    1972

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kylie W.
    161
    11
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 42
    Thanks 0
    Love this 39
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The staff here are so kind, the food is delicious, the location is clean, cozy, and in a good location. Highly recommend.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kay H.
    240
    25
    11

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo J.
    95
    13
    16

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Maria M.

    Maria M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 36

    Mosquito Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mosquito Cafe

    Where can I park if I drive a car?

    There are parking spots along the front and side of the restaurant. If those are fully occupied you can park anywhere in the immediate neighborhood, thank you for your question.

    Is this cafe ok for a group of 10?

    Yes but I would call first. You will not be disappointed

    Does the manager or customer service of the restaurant have a business email I would rather email then call?

    Hi Gregory, please send the email attention to James Clark, james@mosquitocafe.com

    Do they sell shirts? and the only way to contact them on getting a shirt is by phone or do they have a email address?

    Yes

    Looks great! Is it dog friendly? Looking for a nice brunch(ish) place tomorrow. Been wanting to get our tripawd down to the beach.

    Thank you for the question. Yes, our outdoor patio is dog friendly. When you arrive the gate on the parking lot side of the patio is open, please have a seat with your furry friend. Please have someone in your party watch over your furry friend… 

    Are we in Spring do you have shrimp salad o the menu or potato salad?

    Thank you for your question, Shrimp Salad started today and the Potato Salad is taking a break until September.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill - Grilled Shrimp over Fettuccine Alfredo!

    Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Cutting across Texas to New Orleans, I knew we would be skimming the shore of the Gulf of Mexico…read more Shut up. My review, I can call it what I want. That being said, it had been some time since I've gotten some proper fish-n-chips. I had to remedy that. Especially since the BBQ fiasco the other day, I was going to go on a hunger strike, but once I made the sign, I got potato chip fingers on it and started to eat it. So, I decided to fight fire with fire, and figured I would eat myself happy again. Which I'm never mad about. Sometimes I make myself angry just so I can eat myself happy. And now, the rest of the story. I have learned that I enjoy Cod fish for my fish-n-chips. And I think also Haddock. I am not a fisher nor a fish. So it's hard for me to say. But I know Cod is one for sure. I also sometimes have baby mouth and am afraid of new things. I do know I love my fish battered and deep fried. I also know that Shark Shack had good reviews for their fish, so, that was all I needed to hear. Plus, it was a perfect little eatery with bar seating, table seating, and gifts! So you can bet your bottom dollar tomorrow I ordered the English fish-n-chips. Boy oh boy. Just like how Britain colonized all those countries back when it was the cool thing to do, these fish and chips colonized my taste buds. Respectfully. This plate came with FIVE logs of fish. FIVE! Maybe they were tubes of fish? Honestly, I don't care what shape they came in, they looked perfectly crunchy and perfectly brown and perfectly fish. The super cool extra bonus? These fish came with CRISPIES! I've only ever seen crisps with fish from Long John Silvers, whose fish is probably as far from Cod or Haddock as legally possible. I actually think one of my pieces of fish from there had shoelaces. Didn't matter. Still ate it. Respectfully. (If you aren't privileged enough to know what fish crispies are, there little batter pieces that fry or fall off the fish as they cook. Basically little crumblies. If you make a wish over a fork of them and get the forkful in your mouth without dropping any, your wish will come true). Homemade tartar sauce was good, but there was a certain flavor profile that I wasn't a fan of. It was still good to use on the fish rods, it just tasted a little too much out of the tartar sauce field for me. The meal was wrapped up nice and tight with lovely square-cut fries. Perfect doneness. Perfect Ketchup vessel. I could just stare at a pile of them all night. Mostly because I'm weird. Perfect Fish Capsules: 12/10 Ideal Fry Sticks: 12/10 Times I Would Re-visit: Infinite

    It has taken me a little while to write this review purely because I am so torn on the rating. Some…read moreareas of our visit warrant a 3-star rating, and some a 4-star. I decided to lean more toward the 4-star side, so here we are. While in Galveston for a quick weekend getaway, we wanted to go out for dinner. Katie's was my first choice, but the wait was too long, so I pulled up Yelp to see what else was recommended. Shark Shack had great reviews, and when we arrived there was zero wait, so we went for it. The one area where I docked a star was the service. We were seated immediately but waited quite a while for our server to appear, and then even longer to get our drinks. I was so excited for a margarita, but when it arrived in a plastic cup, I was immediately disappointed. Plastic cups are for the beach and nightclubs, not a restaurant with a bar. And that's not where the awful drink experience ended -- it was so weak and just not good at all. Our server seemed so disinterested in everything: taking our order, answering questions, and when it came time to pay, we had to wait ages to see him and wave him down. The food was decent with no major complaints. It wasn't "blow your mind" amazing, but it was good. The owner -- well, I assume he was the owner -- came and spoke to us when he found out my husband was military, and he was really nice, friendly, and very supportive of the military community, offering a very generous military discount. That definitely raises the rating and is much appreciated, so thank you. Overall, the big fixes for me would be the service and the drink situation. I can't say we would rush to come back just because we love Katie's for the service, food, and drinks..

    Photos
    Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill - Top Rated Seafood & Burgers in Galveston's Downtown, just 1 Block from the Cruise Ships!

    Top Rated Seafood & Burgers in Galveston's Downtown, just 1 Block from the Cruise Ships!

    Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill - Redfish Tacos!
"Famous for Fish Tacos!"

    Redfish Tacos! "Famous for Fish Tacos!"

    Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill - Blackened Fish tacos

    See all

    Blackened Fish tacos

    Huli Huli Hut - Huli Hell Fries

    Huli Huli Hut

    3.9(481 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This place has a dive bar vibe and laid back atmosphere. We arrived a little before noon on a…read moreSunday and had no wait, but the indoor seating was full before we left. The bar menu was extensive and there was a solid selection of local beer on draft. The server took awhile to take our drink orders but was attentive from there on out. The kids got pizza, a Caesar salad, chips and salsa, and a chicken Caesar. The pizza was really high quality, much more so than we expected. The Caesar was a bit soggy, and the chips and salsa were pretty standard. The adults ordered boiled seafood. As south Louisiana residents, we are often disappointed with boiled crawfish in other areas but Hulu Hulu Hut did it right. The prices were high but it was worth it.

    I came to this restaurant because I was told the food was amazing. When we arrived, it was very…read morebusy and extremely loud, which I understand can happen. Our waiter was decent, but my experience went downhill after I ordered the shrimp scampi. I specifically asked for no mushrooms, tomatoes, or spinach. When my meal arrived, it had extra mushrooms. I let the waiter know, and he apologized and had it remade. What disappointed me was that there was no effort to make up for the mistake. In many restaurants, when an order is incorrect and a customer has to wait while everyone else at the table is already eating, the staff will try to accommodate the inconvenience in some way. Instead, when my food finally came back, the shrimp was cold. At that point, I didn't complain again--I just ate a few bites. Afterward, we waited another 20-30 minutes for our check. When the waiter brought the card reader so I could pay, my daughter accidentally dropped one of her AirPods. While I was trying to help her pick it up and tap my card to pay, the waiter said, "Ma'am, please be careful with the machine. If anything happens to it, I have to replace it." I found that comment unnecessary and unprofessional, especially since I was simply helping my daughter while paying. Overall, the experience did not live up to the recommendations I received. Between the incorrect order, the long waits, the cold replacement meal, and the interaction at checkout, I left disappointed. Unfortunately, I won't be returning. I was still charged extra for the mushrooms I didn't ask for

    Photos
    Huli Huli Hut - Fresh catch

    Fresh catch

    Huli Huli Hut - Crawfish Boil with Bahama mama drink

    Crawfish Boil with Bahama mama drink

    Huli Huli Hut - Restaurant

    See all

    Restaurant

    Hearsay on the Strand - Espresso Rubbed Pork Chop. Perfect crust and seasoning, and tender inside.

    Hearsay on the Strand

    3.9(720 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We loved this place! The food and drinks were delicious, the service was outstanding, and the…read moreatmosphere was amazing. DJ was the best and made our experience even better. We can't wait to come back!

    We were in Galveston for Memorial Day weekend and we came here on a Sunday night…read more They were shortstaffed so thank goodness I made a reservation so they seated us right away but if you did not make a reservation, they told you it was a 25 minute wait even though there were seats available. So other than the service being a little slow, the place was really cute. The ambience is amazing. I love the big chandelier. It gives you old-time rich vibes. Their menu has different options. They do have a vegetarian portion. The samosas were kind of like beef, taco mimosas that's what it taste like to me. They're red fish was really good cause the crab crusted on the outside and the sauce mixed together. I definitely recommend getting that if you like fish. I got it with a side of mac & cheese. It does come with veggies, but they let you change out the side. My mom got the margarita pizza and I've had pizza for sure but they do have five or six options of pizzas to choose from. And all the best thing was the bread pudding. Definitely get that save some room. It was warm with ice cream and the perfect bread pudding. I've ever had get it. There is street parking after six. It's free. There's a garage parking too. I don't know how much it costs. Besides the service, everything was really good. It took them a while to fill up our waters, but I did notice they were shortstaffed.

    Photos
    Hearsay on the Strand - Food baby.

    Food baby.

    Hearsay on the Strand - Deviled eggs were nicely seasoned and the "egg crate" presentation was unique.

    Deviled eggs were nicely seasoned and the "egg crate" presentation was unique.

    Hearsay on the Strand - Cucumber Cooler

    See all

    Cucumber Cooler

    Pirate Island Bar And Grill - JC's Pirate Roll.

    Pirate Island Bar And Grill

    4.7(146 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I came here for two things, the novelty of a pirate themed bar and Vietnamese coffee, however I…read morefound it to offer so much more! The food was astronomical, mark my words BEST PHO ON THE ISLAND, there I said it. The Pirate Seafood pho with chicken was dynamic with a flavor that I kept coming back for. It was like that scene in Ratatouille where the critic Anton Ego is at a loss for words. If there's one thing I know about Phos they usually take 3+ limes and a dollop of sriracha to make it taste right...but this? Perfect as is. Needs not a touch of anything more. My only regret not getting here sooner. Spike the owner, a loving man who cares about atmosphere, personalized service and taking care of your needs. He provided service as if you were sitting at the dinning room table of his own house. Show Spike and Pirate Island Bar & Grill some love, it's beachfront, quiet, and has a seat there just waiting for you.

    This, as other Yelpers have noted, is not a fast food establishment. Everything is made to order…read moreand fresh. So, if you step in and it's a full house settle in and enjoy the experience! I eat here on a regular basis, Spike makes an amazing margarita with fresh squeezed juice. The pirate rolls, wings, Pad Thai with Grilled Pork (I prefer level 3 spicy because habenero keeps me humble), Banh Mi Sandwich and Vermicelli bowls are all on regular rotation. See you at the bar-but not on Tuesday, because they are closed.

    Photos
    Pirate Island Bar And Grill - At least the TVs are cool

    At least the TVs are cool

    Pirate Island Bar And Grill - Banh mi with grilled pork

    Banh mi with grilled pork

    Pirate Island Bar And Grill - Huge big screens everywhere!

    See all

    Huge big screens everywhere!

    Monarch Restaurant - Crab cakes

    Monarch Restaurant

    4.1(12 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Walking into the Grand Galvez for Sunday Brunch always feels like stepping into a bit of old‑school…read moreGulf Coast glamour -- polished serviceware, a terrace that looks out over the water, and a buffet that's unapologetically extravagant. The food really is the highlight. Raw oysters come out cold and clean, the kind that make you stop for a second because they're that fresh. The prime rib is carved to order and surprisingly tender for a buffet line, with that slow‑roasted richness you hope for but don't always get. The omelette station turns out made‑to‑order plates with plenty of fillings and cooks who actually pay attention to what you asked for. And the chicken and waffles -- hot off the iron, crisp, sweet, and genuinely satisfying -- are worth the wait every time. Then there's the dessert room. Not a dessert table, not a dessert corner -- a full room dedicated entirely to pastries, cakes, mousses, tarts, and confections. It's theatrical in the best way, and it's one of the reasons the brunch has always felt like a special‑occasion splurge. But the disconnect comes from something the hotel itself emphasizes. On the brunch reservation page, the dress expectations are printed clearly and prominently -- essentially no shorts, no swimwear, no hats, and gentlemen should be in collared shirts or similar attire. It reads like a firm standard meant to preserve the elegance of the dining room. Despite that, we saw plenty of guests in beach shorts, cutoffs, t‑shirts, baseball caps, and even a someone with a chain running from a facial piercing to one of the studs on their shredded jeans. No judgment toward anyone's personal style, but it's noticeably at odds with what the hotel says it requires. For a brunch that runs close to $100 per person, in a historic hotel that prides itself on refinement, it's hard not to feel the mismatch. The staff seems more focused on getting bodies through the door than maintaining the ambiance they themselves advertise. It doesn't ruin the food -- the food is excellent -- but it does sour the overall experience enough that, even after enjoying it on several special occasions, it's no longer something we plan to keep in our rotation.

    Located within the Grand Galvez hotel, there is a sometimes-strict dress code. Men are expected to…read morewear collared shirts to enter, but they don't always enforce it. There is free street parking behind the hotel (on the north and west sides of the hotel). Service was friendly and so pleasant. We were sat right away on a Friday night. The menu was much smaller than I would've expected, especially for such a big restaurant. We ordered the goat cheese & onion tart, Caesar salad with chicken, seafood bisque, the New York strip special, and the key lime pie. Food is going to be hard to rate because it took SO long for it to come out, it was cold. It had clearly been sitting there for quite some time. We honestly thought our order had been lost by the time it came out so we weren't surprised, but very disappointed. The steak was very fatty, and cold. The chicken with the salad was cold and had given rubbery, but the Caesar salad itself was great. Very refreshing and crisp. Seafood bisque was also very good and thankfully came out first so it was still hot. The goat cheese & onion tart was very cold and at that point hard & inedible. We still appreciated the atmosphere and service, but wouldn't return unless it was for a drink and appetizers.

    Photos
    Monarch Restaurant - Beautiful settings.

    Beautiful settings.

    Monarch Restaurant - Ponchitrain

    Ponchitrain

    Monarch Restaurant - Entrance to the restaurant

    See all

    Entrance to the restaurant

    Mosquito Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...