Pretty good food. Almost more like a tapas place than meals.
Gianluca P.
Food is really, really good here. It can get a little smoky.. looks like HVAC has not been well engineered. We will be back.. very creative food and excellent quality. Congrats!
Rebecca W.
Holy smokes. Monarch blew our minds - partly because we dropped in at 9:30 on a Wednesday night on our way up the coast (no expectations), but mostly because the flavor combinations were unexpected and meticulously crafted. Surprise, surprise - our impromptu road trip dinner turned out to be a Michelin-worthy artistic experience! Imaginative, delectable, layers of flavor, unique, pure magic. The kind of food you don't want to destroy with a utensil, but when you do, you just have to close your eyes and let the sensations wash over you. It's that good. The following night (Thursday) beckoned to us with the promise of dinner at the Post Ranch Inn (the renowned Sierra Mar restaurant) where we planned to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday. Well no offense to Post Ranch, but Monarch outshined it in terms of culinary art. (Post Ranch was spectacular for the views, architecture, and experience - and the food was also very good - but at twice the price and half the flavor, held no candle to Monarch.) If Monarch were in our area of Los Angeles, it would cost double the price and be booked out months in advance. In response to those reviewers complaining about price point, portions, and "fanciness," please don't review all restaurants using a fixed scale. Would you complain about a Beethoven symphony because you wanted Spice Girls instead? Monarch = Beethoven.
Maureen M.
We Stopped in for a glass of wine to check out the restaurant after a long day of house hunting. We read the reviews but I need to start off by saying that they don't do this place justice! We were greeted by Keegan who was happy to recommend a great Pinot noir after our long day. We were worried that we may be too casual but he assured us that we were very welcome and offered us a menu. He introduced us to Danielle, who gave us a rundown on the menu....4 or 6 course tasting menu. ALERT! You need to try the short rib!!! It's like the most melt in your mouth, delectable short rib you will ever experience. Danielle is the one to talk to when you are choosing your courses. She is in the know! Romy is the sommelier and she was outstanding in recommending our wine pairings. Hats off to Romy!!! Last but not least was Chef Edward who personally came out and served each outstanding course. The cuisine.... Magnifique! The team that came together to provide the most amazing dining experience... was exceptional! This dynamic group if people made our experience here outstanding! We felt like we were in our best friends family kitchen and we are definitely coming back to visit our new friends again. Thank you, Monarch! You have an amazing team!
Peter M.
Great experience. Romi ( sp?),the Sommelier ,is a fantastic part of the equation and worth going just to discuss wines and learn from her. Rest of team super attentive. Its a great night and like the new layout. One request: bring back the larger portion of short ribs as the smaller portion seem to have changed the character.
Laura Herrera
Pleasantly surprised by the citrus salad with chicken. Perfectly filling and the taste was so delicious, something unique and I haven't tried before. Cute little lunch spot.
Gene R.
We were very impressed with everything at The Monarch. Our server Danielle was a perfect combination of informative, friendly and professional and did not try to push us toward the $85 six course menu. Instead we tried the $55 four course menu which we felt was very reasonably priced given the quality of the food. Notable dishes we ate included abalone with bone marrow, capers and shiitake mushrooms; black cod with avocado; and pork belly with squash and endives. Bergamot with yuzu, pistachio and vanilla cream was amazing for dessert. All of the dishes were very flavorful without being overwhelming. I would definitely recommend this place if you are visiting Santa Barbara / Montecito.
Monique B.
Phenomenal, unexpected and underpriced for the exceptional quality, service and experience. Small, quiet, sezy vibe. Had the 4-course dinner + wine pairing, a must before they figure out the price point is too low. Way more than enough food. Keegan and Romy know their stuff and provide such a personalized experience. Will make the drive from SD just for this place.
Paul N.
We visited Montecito from NYC and were looking for some good local dining. The hotel, Rosewood Miramar, recommended The Monarch. It was simply exquisite. The restaurant, located within the old Montecito Inn, is unassuming and unpretentious. The ambience is low key and chill. But don't go there for the decor -- go there for the food. It was marvelous. The menu is a changing tasting menu, made of and based on availability of local fresh foods and ingredients. Chef de Cuisine Edward Ruesga's ability to create novel, spectacular tastes and lovely presentations is on the level of Joel Robuchon and old school Bobby Flay. Really a needle in the haystack! We hope he goes on to a spectacular career. A+
Nate Evans
The Monarch recently trimmed down the size of it's dining room to allow a more intimate feel. The service was truly the best I have had in Montecito and right now Drew (manager) and his staff seem more focused on professional service than anywhere else you'll go in town.
The restaurant has changed from the previous family style to one where you choose 4, 6, 8, or 12 small courses, which also includes their fabulous bread and butter. The waiter suggested 4 courses was for if we had eaten a few hours before, but our group of 6 opted for the 4 courses, and we all left stuffed. There were 16 food options, including 4 desserts, and you can choose multiples of the same thing. We did lots of sharing, which enabled us to try things that otherwise would have been skipped like the watermelon salad and asparagus that were huge hits. Other favorites were the abalone, mussels, and duck.
Ashley R.
Possibly the fanciest and most expensive place I've ever eaten at. I was in town for a business trip. I got the 6 course option and a glass of wine. Everything was delicious. I would say 5 courses is the perfect amount. Some were smaller bites and some were more substantial. The waiter said they were all pretty small and that we might be hungry with 4- not sure if he was just trying to upscale. I only eat seafood for my animal protein so I got more of the lighter options and was stuffed. This is more of an artistic experience. I don't think I would return if I were paying, but I appreciate the time, art, imaginative minds and skill it takes to create high quality masterpieces. Lost one staff because the waiter seemed a bit off/slow/coming down from meds maybe- nothing negative, just a little awkward. Bravo!!!!
Kirby Shaw
Absolute perfection on every level. The attention to detail is unbelievable.
Brett M.
Food is decent but way too expensive for what you get. Asked the server to modify a dish by taking off the mushrooms. She said she would check with the chef. Came back and said the chef wouldn't allow it, that I had to eat it the way he made it. What a tool! Take your cocky attitude back to LA. Montecito doesn't need the attitude.
Terry M.
One of the best meals we've had in a long time. Food was spectacular in every way, from the amazing oysters and burrata to the short rib ( slow cooked for 3 days!). Service was on point and friendly too. We had a few drinks at the bar first, where our bartender Travis made us feel right at home. Keegan our server guided us through the meal and made some great wine recommendations. Can't wait to come back!
Pretty good food. Almost more like a tapas place than meals.
Food is really, really good here. It can get a little smoky.. looks like HVAC has not been well engineered. We will be back.. very creative food and excellent quality. Congrats!
Holy smokes. Monarch blew our minds - partly because we dropped in at 9:30 on a Wednesday night on our way up the coast (no expectations), but mostly because the flavor combinations were unexpected and meticulously crafted. Surprise, surprise - our impromptu road trip dinner turned out to be a Michelin-worthy artistic experience! Imaginative, delectable, layers of flavor, unique, pure magic. The kind of food you don't want to destroy with a utensil, but when you do, you just have to close your eyes and let the sensations wash over you. It's that good. The following night (Thursday) beckoned to us with the promise of dinner at the Post Ranch Inn (the renowned Sierra Mar restaurant) where we planned to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday. Well no offense to Post Ranch, but Monarch outshined it in terms of culinary art. (Post Ranch was spectacular for the views, architecture, and experience - and the food was also very good - but at twice the price and half the flavor, held no candle to Monarch.) If Monarch were in our area of Los Angeles, it would cost double the price and be booked out months in advance. In response to those reviewers complaining about price point, portions, and "fanciness," please don't review all restaurants using a fixed scale. Would you complain about a Beethoven symphony because you wanted Spice Girls instead? Monarch = Beethoven.
We Stopped in for a glass of wine to check out the restaurant after a long day of house hunting. We read the reviews but I need to start off by saying that they don't do this place justice! We were greeted by Keegan who was happy to recommend a great Pinot noir after our long day. We were worried that we may be too casual but he assured us that we were very welcome and offered us a menu. He introduced us to Danielle, who gave us a rundown on the menu....4 or 6 course tasting menu. ALERT! You need to try the short rib!!! It's like the most melt in your mouth, delectable short rib you will ever experience. Danielle is the one to talk to when you are choosing your courses. She is in the know! Romy is the sommelier and she was outstanding in recommending our wine pairings. Hats off to Romy!!! Last but not least was Chef Edward who personally came out and served each outstanding course. The cuisine.... Magnifique! The team that came together to provide the most amazing dining experience... was exceptional! This dynamic group if people made our experience here outstanding! We felt like we were in our best friends family kitchen and we are definitely coming back to visit our new friends again. Thank you, Monarch! You have an amazing team!
Great experience. Romi ( sp?),the Sommelier ,is a fantastic part of the equation and worth going just to discuss wines and learn from her. Rest of team super attentive. Its a great night and like the new layout. One request: bring back the larger portion of short ribs as the smaller portion seem to have changed the character.
Pleasantly surprised by the citrus salad with chicken. Perfectly filling and the taste was so delicious, something unique and I haven't tried before. Cute little lunch spot.
We were very impressed with everything at The Monarch. Our server Danielle was a perfect combination of informative, friendly and professional and did not try to push us toward the $85 six course menu. Instead we tried the $55 four course menu which we felt was very reasonably priced given the quality of the food. Notable dishes we ate included abalone with bone marrow, capers and shiitake mushrooms; black cod with avocado; and pork belly with squash and endives. Bergamot with yuzu, pistachio and vanilla cream was amazing for dessert. All of the dishes were very flavorful without being overwhelming. I would definitely recommend this place if you are visiting Santa Barbara / Montecito.
Phenomenal, unexpected and underpriced for the exceptional quality, service and experience. Small, quiet, sezy vibe. Had the 4-course dinner + wine pairing, a must before they figure out the price point is too low. Way more than enough food. Keegan and Romy know their stuff and provide such a personalized experience. Will make the drive from SD just for this place.
We visited Montecito from NYC and were looking for some good local dining. The hotel, Rosewood Miramar, recommended The Monarch. It was simply exquisite. The restaurant, located within the old Montecito Inn, is unassuming and unpretentious. The ambience is low key and chill. But don't go there for the decor -- go there for the food. It was marvelous. The menu is a changing tasting menu, made of and based on availability of local fresh foods and ingredients. Chef de Cuisine Edward Ruesga's ability to create novel, spectacular tastes and lovely presentations is on the level of Joel Robuchon and old school Bobby Flay. Really a needle in the haystack! We hope he goes on to a spectacular career. A+
The Monarch recently trimmed down the size of it's dining room to allow a more intimate feel. The service was truly the best I have had in Montecito and right now Drew (manager) and his staff seem more focused on professional service than anywhere else you'll go in town.
Restaurantji Recommends
The restaurant has changed from the previous family style to one where you choose 4, 6, 8, or 12 small courses, which also includes their fabulous bread and butter. The waiter suggested 4 courses was for if we had eaten a few hours before, but our group of 6 opted for the 4 courses, and we all left stuffed. There were 16 food options, including 4 desserts, and you can choose multiples of the same thing. We did lots of sharing, which enabled us to try things that otherwise would have been skipped like the watermelon salad and asparagus that were huge hits. Other favorites were the abalone, mussels, and duck.
Possibly the fanciest and most expensive place I've ever eaten at. I was in town for a business trip. I got the 6 course option and a glass of wine. Everything was delicious. I would say 5 courses is the perfect amount. Some were smaller bites and some were more substantial. The waiter said they were all pretty small and that we might be hungry with 4- not sure if he was just trying to upscale. I only eat seafood for my animal protein so I got more of the lighter options and was stuffed. This is more of an artistic experience. I don't think I would return if I were paying, but I appreciate the time, art, imaginative minds and skill it takes to create high quality masterpieces. Lost one staff because the waiter seemed a bit off/slow/coming down from meds maybe- nothing negative, just a little awkward. Bravo!!!!
Absolute perfection on every level. The attention to detail is unbelievable.
Food is decent but way too expensive for what you get. Asked the server to modify a dish by taking off the mushrooms. She said she would check with the chef. Came back and said the chef wouldn't allow it, that I had to eat it the way he made it. What a tool! Take your cocky attitude back to LA. Montecito doesn't need the attitude.
One of the best meals we've had in a long time. Food was spectacular in every way, from the amazing oysters and burrata to the short rib ( slow cooked for 3 days!). Service was on point and friendly too. We had a few drinks at the bar first, where our bartender Travis made us feel right at home. Keegan our server guided us through the meal and made some great wine recommendations. Can't wait to come back!