Diplomat is a Mediterranean restaurant in the Old Town Monrovia area. I came on a Friday lunch early lunch without a reservation and was able to get seated quickly. When I left, the tables got packed. I tried the platter for two, which came with a load of delicious rice, three proteins, roasted tomatoes and peppers. I enjoyed pairing it with their tahini and garlic sauces. The service and hospitality were amazing. Shout out to Ari, she is the best and really made my dining experience seamless. From recommendations, to check-ins, to bringing sauces for my table to try, it felt personable. The interior is perfect for families, dates, and catching up. It's casual but feels elevated. Overall, I had a great dining experience here and I'd recommend others to visit. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

We were traveling nearby and saw that The Diplomat had a 5-star rating. Having now eaten there I can confirm that it is deserved. The food is delicious and the prices are appropriate given the portion sizes. Service was prompt and professional. Parking might be a challenge, though there are public lots within a block or two. We went on a Friday night and encountered heavy traffic from the local farmer's market/fair. The best item was the Beef kabob, 5 out of 5 stars. It was perfectly cooked, a very simply salt and pepper seasoning, juicy and simply divine! We got the kids meal, which came with only 4 pieces, and I'd be interested to return for the full adult portion. Also a 5-star experience was the Fried cauliflower appetizer. It had just the right amount of crispiness, without any blackening, and the garlic/parsley/lemon juice combo worked well. The juice was sucked into all the crevices, and overall it was light. I think I could have eaten two portions myself and called it a satisfying meal. I did dip in some tzatziki, which worked great too! Lastly the Chicken shawarma was a 4-star dish. Still delicious and I'd get it again, but it was slightly salty from the marinade and added sauce. I was expecting this to be wrapped up, but it was more an open-face naan with the chicken covering the top. Rice pilaf was savory, I'd rather not know just how many calories are included, the rice was still moist even after reheating the next day. read more

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The service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a cozy Mediterranean-style atmosphere. However, the dining room was a little too dark, making it difficult to fully enjoy the meal. Unfortunately, the food was just average. Some of the dishes tasted slightly burnt, which affected the flavor. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't memorable either. The good news is that there are plenty of other great restaurants along the same street, so you have lots of choices. I'd recommend exploring one of the nearby spots instead. read more

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WOWWWWWW what a treat! You MUST, MUST, MUST get the grilled meaty spring lamb chops. They are EXQUISITE! I live in Sherman Oaks and it's worth the drive to Monrovia for this gem. Also had the fried cauliflower and the potato borek, all scrumptious. Service was super friendly, and the casual elegance of the dining area was quite relaxing. I must return for the tartar and dessert :) Needless to say, I highly recommend. read more

Came here for a work dinner and there was about 15 of us. I was very impressed with the service, our waitress hustled like crazy and she was on top of everything. There was lots of food and drinks to go around. The food was very good. Would definitely come back again on my own to try out more food items, but this place does not disappoint if you have a larger party. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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The Diplomat was a great find. The drinks were excellent, and the filet nestled in the hummus was outstanding tender, rich, and perfectly seasoned. The outside curbside seating made the evening even better. Golden hour settled over the street, the sunset reflecting off everything just right. Across the table, that warm light caught her face for a moment... and honestly, it might have been the highlight of the night. Great food, great drinks, and the kind of atmosphere that turns a simple dinner into a memory. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - fillet Hummus, - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

Ordered dinner for pick up on Mother's Day. We ordered 3 chicken kabob platters, a kids chicken kabob platter, a Greek salad and an arugula salad. The salads were huge. You can share with someone to have as a side with your meal. The hummus and pita bread they provided with the meal was so good! The food was delicious and customer service was great. I will be back. read more

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What an incredible surprise! I originally came for the whiskey, but I ended up falling in love with the food. The Diplomat is so much more than a whiskey bar--it's serving some of the freshest, cleanest, and most flavorful Mediterranean cuisine I've had in a long time. You can truly taste the difference. Everything is made fresh from scratch with so much care and attention to detail. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and the quality shines through in every bite. The full bar has an excellent selection, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the outdoor patio is the perfect place to relax--especially since it's dog-friendly! Being right by the Monrovia Farmers Market makes it an even better spot to grab a meal or drinks before or after strolling through the market. If you're looking for amazing food, handcrafted drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere, The Diplomat is absolutely worth the visit. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Cheese rolls - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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Came here after my girlfriend has been raving about this Mediterranean restaurant for months and honestly, the fact that she's been coming here for years with her family already said a lot. We finally made it a girls outing after a Pilates class, and I'm so glad we did. The restaurant itself is simple, a decent size, and very minimalistic. The food, though, was way better than I anticipated. My only regret? Not listening to my friend and ordering what she got. She had the beef kabob, and I ordered the gyro. Don't get me wrong, the gyro was delicious, but her meat was absolutely mouthwatering. I also ordered a tequila mule... mmm, so tasty. The salad and hummus were super fresh, and the service was great, very friendly and genuinely helpful when it came to deciding what to order. That always makes such a difference. Safe to say this spot has officially been added to my list of favorite restaurants in Monrovia. Will definitely be back and next time, I'm ordering the beef kabob. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

The Diplomat never disappoints! I wanted to celebrate my birthday with a place I knew would definitely have good food and Im beyond happy with my choice. The hummus is always delicious along with the rice. Service is always friendly and I love that there is an option for indoor and outdoor seating available. Will definitely be back :) read more

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This spot was pretty good. I ordered a mixed plate and a chicken kebab plate. The star of the show was the chicken and I also really enjoyed the pickled cabbage. The hummus fine, not as smooth of a texture as I prefer but still tasty. I did not dine in but the interior is really beautiful and has a very nice bar. Would love to dine in at some point. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

The chicken shawarma plate was good. I was craving Mediterranean and this satisfied my craving. The chicken was a little dry but the rice was really fluffy. I wish there were more tomatoes with the dish. We also got the gyro plate (not pictured) and it was amazing! There was so much flavor and the meat was so tender. If I ever come back, I would definitely get the gyro plate over the chicken shawarma. read more

I came here for a birthday celebration. Decor was nice however tables seemed a bit plain. Like they needed some linens or flowers. Not sure! Anyway, food was tasty. I was missing some garlic sauce or something . I like eating my chicken with garlic but I guess they don't have that here. Rice was ok and portions were ok too. Service was ok, she could have been better. The restaurant was basically empty. So having to ask for napkins 3 times wasn't ok. I do think it's worth coming back though. lamb chops were so tasty! read more

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We recently visited the Diplomat restaurant for lunch on a Thursday around 12, and since it was raining, it wasn't busy at all. The food itself was pretty good -- flavorful, fresh, and nicely presented. Overall, we were happy with what we ordered. Unfortunately, the service was very mediocre. It was difficult to get someone to come by our table to check on us, even though the restaurant wasn't crowded. We had to wait longer than expected for simple things and didn't feel very attended to during our meal. We were also charged for a small container of sauce, which was not discussed or disclosed. read more

We used to be regulars at The Diplomat, but after Lucie left, we honestly stopped coming. She set such an incredible standard for hospitality that it just wasn't the same without her. Yesterday, we found ourselves craving the spicy lebneh and decided to give it another try. I'm so glad we did because we were lucky enough to have Ari as our server. Ari is truly extraordinary. She is warm, vibrant, genuinely engaging, and has that rare ability to make every guest feel welcomed and cared for. Her hospitality is effortless, authentic, and unforgettable. There honestly aren't enough good words to describe how wonderful she is. She completely changed our experience and reminded us why we loved coming here in the first place. The food was just as delicious as we remembered, but it was Ari who made the visit exceptional. She's an absolute gem, and we'll definitely be back because of her. read more

Every plate was just spectacular. Service was top notch. My group requested off the menu drinks specalized drinks and they made it so delicious. They did it with a smile and did a fantastic job. Great pricing for the quality of food. Definitely recommend read more

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Stumbled upon this little Mediterranean gem while trying to find a good dinner spot for Mother's Day. It's located within the downtown Monrovia area so parking is street or there are free lots a short walk away. Most of the time it's not too busy except for the Friday farmer market which shut downs a good amount of Myrtle street. We arrived here without reservations and were seated right away. It was fairly busy and the place was pretty much full so lucky to get a seat. The place helps by labeling vegetarian and vegan options. We went with the vegan appetizer sampler, a salad, some pita bread and cheese rolls for the kids, spinach boreg and Swiss chard lentil soup. The food all tasted amazing and fresh! Prices were pretty fair considering the quality being served. Would definitely consider coming back! read more

It was my first time coming to this place. My old co workers often go here so I've definitely heard of the place. The food is pretty good. We went during lunch and my friend and I both got the wrap. She got a side of fries and I got a side of baba ganoush. Service was okay except for the fact that she was hesitant in giving us more to go containers and almost lost my friend's credit card. Come at lunch as it isn't that busy (I heard this place is poppin at night though). We sat next to the cabinets of alcohol and whisky (I heard they have a really good whiskey selection for all the whiskey lovers out there). read more

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They get a 5 star because their falafel is the best i have ever had!! Never misses! After 4 years it still wins! The best! read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

Meh. This is how I feel about the food. I got the salmon. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't have salmon kebabs, but nonetheless.... another reviewer said the salmon was "well done". I use this phrase when I mean something is done well - like, it's good - like, "Well done on your class presentation!" In this case, I mean...cooked well done salmon. Not delicious, juicy, tender, medium rare salmon like salmon should be cooked.....but well done, hard-ish, dry-ish, having all of the soul and joy sucked out of it salmon. For $22. *sobs dramatically* The rice that it sat on was pretty delicious though. And our friends had gotten the 2 person combo to share - which comes with chicken, beef, and lule kebabs. They seemed to like it very much. We also got the hummus (good), the moroccan eggplant (very good), a lentil and chard soup (we were sort of wondering where the chard was in the soup), and the spinach boreg (this was like a fried wonton with spinach inside - I was sort of hoping for a denser packet here - there was a lot of air). Oh, and the pitas were the flat boring ones that you can get at the grocery market. I think we have been spoiled by pitas the likes of Zaatar's in Fresno, Ammatoli in Long Beach, and Mazal in LA, where they are fluffy and freshly made. They do give you pita refills if you need. Service was good, and we enjoyed time with our friends. Just wish the actual food was a bit better, especially at the prices these were at. $14 for a bowl of soup? $12 for a small serving of hummus? *Sigh* Bathrooms are gendered and multi-stalled....and of course, the women's bathroom is the one that has the diaper changing station. *sigh* Street and lot parking aplenty in Monrovia. read more

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Awesome falafel -very tasty. Also excellent hummus, we love coming here for special dinners when we see a movie (before the theater closed!)

We love going to The Diplomat and it's easily one of our favorite restaurants to come back to. The atmosphere is dimly lit and relaxed, with a casual feel that still has a touch of elegance. Even when it's busy, it feels lively rather than chaotic, and you can tell it's a spot that locals love! The staff are always friendly and welcoming. When we visited again on Valentine's Day they had live music, which was a beautiful touch to our evening. The food is incredible and we honestly haven't had a dish here that we didn't like. The portions are also so generous so you definitely get what you pay for! It's a place we happily recommend to all our friends and family. read more

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Every time I go its phenomenal! The service at the bar was a little slow in the middle of the afternoon, but the food came out quickly.

Love the vibes. Great bar area and drinks. Service was great. Food was just average. The rice is different. Hummus was ok. I would just come to have some drinks. read more

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I went to The Diplomat in Monrovia because people kept telling me to. Simple as that. When enough folks say the same thing, you eventually listen. I wasn't planning on writing a review, but the food ended up being good enough that I felt like I should. Joey, the guy running the place, is cool and easygoing. You can tell he's been around restaurants his whole life. I was looking at the menu thinking I'd get a lule kabob (I like kabobs, never had a bad one anywhere), but Joey walked over, took the menu out of my hands and said, "You're getting the lamb chops." So I went with it. Good call. The lamb chops were really good -- not dry, not tough, just juicy and full of flavor. I don't pretend to be a food expert, but you know when something is done right, and these were. I had them with a side of eggplant and rice and honestly didn't need anything else. The place itself is kind of interesting. It's not one of those spots with flags and pictures all over the walls trying to look "Mediterranean." It feels more like a modern bar and restaurant, but with food that's actually worth eating. I liked that. The drink menu is serious. Tons of bourbon and gin if you're into that. I wasn't drinking because of Dry January, but I noticed Coors Light was only five bucks, which is cheap these days. Most places charge almost double. I didn't try everything, but from what I saw coming out of the kitchen, there's a lot more than just kabobs. Steaks, chicken, other stuff that looked good. It's not a one-item kind of place. Is it the best restaurant in Monrovia? I don't know. I haven't been everywhere. But I do know I left full, happy, and thinking about when I'd come back. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

Great spot serving Mediterranean food and great drinks too. Came with a group, our server was attentive. The apps were delicious- olives and hummus with beef, shareable for a group of 6. I ordered the Greek chicken salad, I enjoyed the dressing. I had a bite of the gyro wrap- it was yum! Love the decor inside read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Greek salad with chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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My wife and I were in the mood for some Mediterranean food and stumbled upon this fun restaurant. It was a nice surprise that they were a whiskey bar and also had beer on tap. The restaurant had a cool, chill, and fun atmosphere. We came in with our stroller and the waitress/hostess was very nice and accommodating. They provided a seat where we could park our baby right next to us. We browsed the menu and noticed they had happy hours and specials on certain days, so we definitely want to come back for those! We ordered the Baba-Ghanouj (grilled smoked eggplant with sesame paste) and the Combo for Two (Chicken, Beef and Lule Kebabs). For drinks, we got the Dilomat Pilsner and the Trumer German Pilsner. The Baba-Ghanouj was good and flavorful. It came with pita bread and my wife really enjoyed it. The Combo for Two was a good first time order that allowed us to try the chicken, beef, and the lule kebab (lean ground fillet beef mixed with onions and spices). It also came with rice pilaf and pita bread. The chicken was a bit dry but the beef and lule kebab were delicious. We will probably just order the beef kebab and lule kebab next time. The beers were refreshing. Both were good but we enjoyed the Trumer more. The Trumer was more flavorful and it also comes in its own special glass. Overall, we would return and look forward to experiencing their happy hour menu! read more

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Amazing cocktails - especially the Diplomat Sour Authentic Mediterranean food food Love the owners - Joey & Lucy read more

Indoor and outdoor seating available. High tops and low tops and bar seating, too. Started with fried cauliflower. Yum! Had the chicken kabob plate. The chicken was seasoned well...but a bit dry. The rice was fabulous. It also came with pita bread (no humus). Brewed iced tea to drink and followed up with the baklava. There are 2 small bite sized pieces. Order your own because one bite won't be enough. It was good. Server was attentive and great at refills. Parking available on the street or the free parking lot. read more

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Went here on a Sunday afternoon, the place were pretty empty when we arrived. My friend and I shared the hummus with beef appetizer and the combo for 2 platter. We can definitely taste the authenticity of the food served, especially the hummus. One thing is that we wished that the platter would be served warmer, that would make it more enjoyable for us. Server was very nice, she actively went to our table to see how we're doing. Thank you so much! Overall a great Mediterranean spot in Monrovia (with happy hours too!) read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Hummus with beef - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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The falafel entree was delicious and very filling. The entree comes with 3 falafels. Each one is dense, fried and well seasoned. It tastes good with the creamy hummus. The bed of lettuce and tomatoes add freshness to the overall dish and I couldn't be more satisfied with the healthy food here. The place is clean and spacious. Great for large or smaller intimate groups. There's also a bar if you want to hangout there. I didn't order alcohol so I don't know if it's good. The staff is bubbly and would always refill our beverage at our table. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Falafel entree for lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

I always go to the La Verne location and decided to stop here for a quick bite I ordered the beef hummus to go as that's one of my favorites, when I opened the hummus it was extremely watery in texture there was barely any beef I honestly couldn't even eat it. Waste of time and money . The only reason I'm giving two stars and not one because I know the La Verne location is amazing. Not happy to have spent almost $20 on a hummus that went straight to the trash. :( read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant. Parking along the street or in a nearby parking lot was plentiful. Our server was super nice. The portions were larger than expected. I got the falafel plate (vegetarian friendly) and my boyfriend got the chicken schwarma plate. He raved about the rice all night and said the chicken was a little spicey for him but he doesn't tolerate heat well hahah the falafel was perfectly crispy but moist and well seasoned with herbs on the inside. They also gave a generous serving of hummus which I really liked! The only thing is I wish they had the garlic sauce!! read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Chicken schwarma and falafel plate. Delicious!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

Joey and Brynn were the best employees I've encountered here. They were very welcoming, kind, and checked in regularly on my solo dinner date with myself. I also got a nice pastry dessert on the house! The rice on the chicken kebab plate was soooo good. I highly recommend dining in here! read more

Not very often do well made drinks go with great Mediterranean food... they did it well. Will definitely be going back!

We were looking for a place to watch the game and we came across this place The ambience really cute laid back open concept, and they did have a couple of tvs and the game was on, the bartender Mike was Attentive and friendly.He suggested a black Manhattan for my husband which he enjoyed.We also ordered the lamb chops we also got a garden salad with Chicken While the salad was good, the lamb chops were amazing!!! Compliments to the Chef! We will be back! Thank you to The Diplomat! read more

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Disappointment and irritated is how I felt while walking out the doors of this restaurant. Unfortunately, my experience here did not meet my expectations. My family and I were recommended to this Mediterranean restaurant by a bunch of people. But the hype did not match expectations. We came on a Saturday night at 6:00 pm and were seated almost instantly in the corner table on the right side of the restaurant. Probably the most unlucky spot to be seated because it seems as if we were invisible to all the servers, waiters, and even the host. Multiple times we had to raise our hands for long periods of time or shout "excuse me!" across the room to be heard. Our server explained that she had to step away for a moment to use the restroom but this is no excuse for the rest of the restaurant. It was as if our appearance did not matter, whether we sat there eating or if it was an empty table. Sadly the food did not meet the expectations we had. Very dry cuts of beef and chicken. I'm not sure if that's just the way Mediterranean food is like but it just dampened the atmosphere. Plus the constant ignoring attitude from everyone, completely brought the vibes to an all town low. I honestly expected more but it was just a disappointing experience. 1 server shouldn't have to be blamed for the whole experience. Everyone else collectively ignored our group even though they walked into the room multiple times. We shouldn't have to yell across the room or shout loudly to get a servers attention. Not once did the servers turn their heads left or right to look and see if anyone else but their own table needed assistance. The food was alright overall. I'll give it a 2 star but overwhelmingly dry. The food doesn't seem to be my pick but service also did not appeal to me either. read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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The servers are friendly and like to socialize, and it's peaceful and quiet.Finally, the food was super yummy with homemade garlic sauce and juicy meats, and a memory I'll remember! read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Kids plate Beef and rice (Beat mixed in with beef, garlic sauce and rice) - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

One of the very best Mediterranean restaurants around. The beef kebab was the most tender and juicy one I have ever had. The Lule and chicken was also very tasty and not dry at all. The portions were large and had great value. The interior is mainly a bar and there are lots of drink options, with plenty of seats and beautiful design. The staff are very friendly and helpful. read more

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Always has the best food and great customer service. Their beef kabob a d greek salads are so delicious!! I always order extra vegetables and extra olives for salad. Absolutely the best quality food. Authentic Medditereanean food!! read more

The Diplomat Eatery and Tavern - Mediterranean Near Me - Monrovia, California

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