Monarca

It didn't start well, no servers came to our table for the first 12-15 minutes, maybe they had staff shortage that night, as the bartender was the one taking care of us in the end, we were very close to leaving, and I'm glad we didn't. The food was de-li-cious. The octopus tacos were amazing. The mole was outstanding, may be one of the best I've had. My wife loved her halibut with zucchini blossom cream, which is a coveted thing in Mexican cuisine. The churros were crisp and delicious. We liked it so much that we called the chef/owner just to meet him and congratulate him, he gave us a nice little story about the mole. The service ramped up eventually, so may have been a one-off thing, and the only other thing that may need a little improvement is the cocktails, but again, the food was fantastic. Look for this place if you find yourself in Salt Lake City.

Met some friends for lunch on a Saturday. I got lucky with parking and found a spot right in front of the restaurant. My friends had to do a bit of walking. The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and the staff is very attentive and helpful. We weren't offered the full menu, but had good options to choose from. We ordered an appetizer of guacamole and chips. The quac needed salt, but I was ok with that because I don't eat a lot of salt. I ordered the birria tacos and they were perfect. Beans and rice weren't included so I had to order them on the side. The refried black beans were tasty. The rice was comparable to other places. One friend ordered the enchiladas and was very happy with them. The other had the chichi. She said it was different front what she was expecting. The prices were what you'd expect for city dining. I think mine was around $20 for the tacos and the sides of beans and rice.

The food was very good, the atmosphere was nice, and the service overall was good. However, when it came to asking the waiter about certain items that were supposed to come with the dishes such as the molcajete salsa they didn’t seem to understand. One of the dishes specifically mentioned it, but nothing came on the platter. There were also a couple of other small issues. For example, I asked for a Coke with no ice, but it was brought with extra ice. When I pointed it out, the waiter apologized and said it was on the house, but we never received the Coke without ice, which made things a bit awkward. Other than that, the food was great and the service was above average. Maybe the staff just needs a bit more training on the menu and what each dish includes. I’ll definitely come back and give it another try.

The vibe of the restaurant was amazing. The music takes you on an adventure like your traveling and then paired with the food. The flavors were phenomenal. We got the ceviche, light and citrusy. And the salmon w/ chorizo. The salmon was cooked so perfectly, and layered on a corn salad. The bistec ranchera was also just as delicious served with warm tortillas, almost like eating in your abuelitas kitchen.

Very nice restaurant, food was wonderful and service was also very good, our waitress was very nice. The owner chef and his wife came out and talk to the guess, that is so nice to see and experience. Is a almost lost custom, he came to us and talk for a while. Really nice dinning experience. Looking foward another opportunity to visit SLC, he mention he will be open a new restaurant, fusión of asian peruvian.

Found Monarca on my way to another restaurant as I had struggled to find healthy vegan options. After reviewing the menu, I found a salad & tacos that could be modified to make them vegan. I was thrilled to have found Monarca - staff, interior design, service and food exceeded my expectations. I flexed my diet so I could enjoy the Flan de Elote, well worth the flex!! Special thanks to Lilly, Elmer, Finley & Gio for making my visit memorable.

I’ve visited Monarca a couple of times, and overall, I’ve enjoyed the experience. The presentation of the dishes is excellent—thoughtful and elegant. The ceviche is tasty, and the food in general is quite good and satisfying, though the prices are a bit on the higher side. It’s a great option if you’re looking to try Mexican dishes with a gourmet twist. Their cocktails are also very well made, both in flavor and presentation. The space itself is a bit small and can get somewhat noisy during peak hours, but the atmosphere is stylish and well-decorated, giving it a modern, upscale feel. Service on both of my visits was relatively pleasant, with no major complaints. Another detail to keep in mind is that there’s a private parking lot right across the street, which makes access easier. In summary, Monarca is a solid choice if you’re in the mood for elevated Mexican cuisine in a beautiful setting. I’d recommend it for a more dressed-up outing—perfect for a special dinner or a stylish evening with friends.

A very upscale Mexican restaurant, had poblano chicken legs and the birra tacos. The slightly deconstructed poblano chicken dish was amazing. Poblano Chili's and cream sauce were very good. Tacos were amazing, there's tortillas were perfect. Slightly expensive for slc, but very very good food for this town. Worth it! 11/24 Okay 2nd round. Had ceviche, soup, and carne asada. Ceviche was amazing, shrimp were firm, very well balanced, thats a theme here. I would suggest jalapeños on the side if you want it more spicy, but not needed. Greens were perfect, not wilted. The kicker was the tostados, omg. The deep corn flavor, crunchy with firm shrimp and the lime w/ avacados, it like does a yin yang thing, you cannot descibe it. As I'm writing this, Alfanso, the chef just talked to me. Such a humble guy. He loves what he does, it shows. Tortilla soup, first words: delicate, with bumps of flavor. The broth was subtle, when you taste it, its slow, not like a thick heavy soup, but a wow I keep tasting it over and over. The chicken might have been cotton candy, just melted, the cheese and small bites made for a different taste eveytime you take a bite, so good Lastly carne asada. Ill just say wow, I only eat prime beef but this melted like wagu. No need for a knife. Seasoning was perfect, you tasted beef beef, then the slightly spices, green sauce balanced with the grilled lemon(very good with the fat) was perfect, but the corn/cheese/Chile combo was divine. The sweet corn w sweated onion and poblano worked so well. Oh portions are huge imo, but I eat here for the quality My mouth is happy. Thanks Alfonso