Stopped in for a late lunch and I was pleasantly surprised. Great atmosphere, and really good food.
S T
The food here was very good the margaritas not great. While they boast fresh squeezed juices it is in fact, heavily sweet-and-sour mix with a little bit of the fresh muddled juice mixed in, which tasted fine, but I think that just sort of cheapens the quality when you have to use those mixers and the mixers are overly sweet in the body = upset stomach from cheap stuff (whereas I’ve had margaritas that were top shelf ingredients none of this cheap sweet-and-sour mix all good stuff and never had any stomach issue )Also, I’m sure it contained the average amount of tequila but I will say other Mexican restaurants I have ordered margaritas at we’re really strong and here, I didn’t think it seemed overly strong much to my disappointment because I like a strong margarita parking is a bit of a hassle because if there’s not something on the street, you have to try and find whatever you can and so it could be a little tricky and you may have to walk quite a bit and since I visited in winter, it wasn’t ideal to be walking around although the square itself and Medina is cute and quaint place was nicely decorated, I will say the bathrooms left a little to be desired as there seem to be zero heat in that hallway or in the bathrooms themselves I saw that there was a space heater plugged in in the hallway where the bathrooms are located, but it was either not working or not on so getting up and going to the restroom multiple times and having to freeze walking down this hallway not ideal the service once we actually got it was very good however we didn’t get it right away. There was nobody around when we walked in. We just sat at the bar. Nobody was even at the bar could’ve just been a random one off on this day, we waited around 10 minutes before anybody even appeared in the bar area. We already ordered our drinks and about 15 minutes later the hostess lady asked us how many in our party and did we need a table. I was thinking to myself. We’ve already been here almost a half an hour table sitting at the bar, I would’ve liked a table in the warm part of the restaurant instead of sitting at the bar, which was chilly by the front door, but at this point, I didn’t feel like moving because it started to get quite packed and there was a lot of noise coming from the back of the restaurant with all the people so it seemed a little quieter at the bar
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Shawn Belles
Stopped into Monarca in Medina today and thought the place looks cool inside. The décor is vibrant and has a butterfly , Frida Kahlo and Dia De Los Muertes vibe. The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming.
I originally came for the Mexican street corn and also ended up trying the tortilla soup. It had just the right amount of spice and was loaded with shredded chicken. I also ordered the Tinga chicken tacos, which came in as 3 soft tacos. Great portion-size. We asked if they had any homemade hot sauce in the back, and they brought some out—great heat, great flavor.
We got homemade guacamole, which tasted incredibly fresh, like something you’d get in Mexico. My lunch partner had the Barbados Street Tacos, and there wasn’t a single thing either of us could complain about.
The prickly pear margarita was like being in the west !! Yum
Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Denise Hritsko
Excellent street tacos and tortilla soup!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
joe gagliano
Sat at the bar by myself, I’m from out of town, water and chips given then ignored for 10 minutes. Literally 10 minutes. The bartender wasn’t that busy. Just avoided any eye contact with me whatsoever. Was walking past me as I was about to get up and asked if I needed anything. Like I have a menu, what did you think I was there for. Fine. Ordered Barbacoa tacos, absolutely the most flavorless taco’s I’ve ever had. Oh and the salsa is as bland as a v8.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Marcy Frank
The place is very pretty and was excited to try this place, however when we walked in an older man was the hostess and we asked not to set at a high top near the door and he was not happy with our request and we would have to wait, then as we was waiting a lady came in to ask how long the wait was as they had reservations at another place but really wanted to eat there, he says we do not take reservations and dismissed her to stand outside. He was very frazzled. The area was busy bc the square was lighting the tree and more. We should have walked out but everything else was packed. Very disappointed as we drove from port Clinton area and prob won’t come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Mark schueszler
Food and pricing was very good. We enjoyed it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steven Lloyd
Easily the best Mexican food in Medina. They have many authentic Mexican dishes not found at a standard tex-mex restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carnitas
Bob Khanna
I had Huevos Rancheros. The eggs were done perfectly and the whole dish was delicious. They also have excellent pico de gallo. This is a nice little Mexican restaurant with great service very accommodating and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Wodicka
Tacos were average, worst margaritas I've ever had in my life. Guacamole was turning brown and straight out of the refrigerator...not fresh at all.
Super delish, great sizes for cost. We were from out of town and this place was very memorable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rhonda Moretz
First time here and it was amazing!! Food , drinks, service all top notch.. we will be back !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hunter Hanna
Monarca Cantina in Medina is, simply put, a masterclass in modern Mexican dining. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a special experience. First off, the decor is absolutely stellar. It creates a vibrant, warm, and elevated atmosphere that feels both authentic and contemporary. The attention to detail in the lighting, artwork, and design elements is exceptional—it truly transports you the moment you step off the street. The service matched the ambiance perfectly; the waitstaff were incredibly attentive. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, offered fantastic recommendations, and ensured our drinks were never empty without hovering. Their professional and friendly approach made us feel truly valued as guests. And finally, the food! The dishes were not just delicious, they were noticeably fresh and delicious. Every plate, from the appetizers to the main courses, burst with authentic, vibrant flavor. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients, resulting in food that tastes genuinely homemade and expertly prepared. Monarca Cantina has set a new standard for Mexican food. We can't wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler Danielson
Have lived in Medina for 5 years and never got a chance to come here and that is the only bad thing I can say about this review is I didnt come here sooner! No exaggeration the best meal I've had in a very long time! We ordered chips and queso, quesadilla & chimichanga (both with mixed chicken/steak), blood orange marg & blackberry mint marg which are fresh squeezed, and to finish a fried ice cream dessert. This place is a MUST visit, you will not be disappointed. And to top it off, our server/bartender Maria was phenomenal! Amazing recommendations, back story of the restaurant and super friendly. Not even a question we will be back, truly phenomenal 🙌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A Rose Studios
What a pretty and comfy place to enjoy some creative Mexican dishes! We loved the lit tree in the middle. Margarita flight was very tasty! I had the street corn which was one of the best I’ve had anywhere. Tacos were really authentic tasting and even the rice was flavorful and moist! Our server was very friendly and helpful. I’d def recommend
Stopped in for a late lunch and I was pleasantly surprised. Great atmosphere, and really good food.
The food here was very good the margaritas not great. While they boast fresh squeezed juices it is in fact, heavily sweet-and-sour mix with a little bit of the fresh muddled juice mixed in, which tasted fine, but I think that just sort of cheapens the quality when you have to use those mixers and the mixers are overly sweet in the body = upset stomach from cheap stuff (whereas I’ve had margaritas that were top shelf ingredients none of this cheap sweet-and-sour mix all good stuff and never had any stomach issue )Also, I’m sure it contained the average amount of tequila but I will say other Mexican restaurants I have ordered margaritas at we’re really strong and here, I didn’t think it seemed overly strong much to my disappointment because I like a strong margarita parking is a bit of a hassle because if there’s not something on the street, you have to try and find whatever you can and so it could be a little tricky and you may have to walk quite a bit and since I visited in winter, it wasn’t ideal to be walking around although the square itself and Medina is cute and quaint place was nicely decorated, I will say the bathrooms left a little to be desired as there seem to be zero heat in that hallway or in the bathrooms themselves I saw that there was a space heater plugged in in the hallway where the bathrooms are located, but it was either not working or not on so getting up and going to the restroom multiple times and having to freeze walking down this hallway not ideal the service once we actually got it was very good however we didn’t get it right away. There was nobody around when we walked in. We just sat at the bar. Nobody was even at the bar could’ve just been a random one off on this day, we waited around 10 minutes before anybody even appeared in the bar area. We already ordered our drinks and about 15 minutes later the hostess lady asked us how many in our party and did we need a table. I was thinking to myself. We’ve already been here almost a half an hour table sitting at the bar, I would’ve liked a table in the warm part of the restaurant instead of sitting at the bar, which was chilly by the front door, but at this point, I didn’t feel like moving because it started to get quite packed and there was a lot of noise coming from the back of the restaurant with all the people so it seemed a little quieter at the bar
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Stopped into Monarca in Medina today and thought the place looks cool inside. The décor is vibrant and has a butterfly , Frida Kahlo and Dia De Los Muertes vibe. The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming.
I originally came for the Mexican street corn and also ended up trying the tortilla soup. It had just the right amount of spice and was loaded with shredded chicken. I also ordered the Tinga chicken tacos, which came in as 3 soft tacos. Great portion-size. We asked if they had any homemade hot sauce in the back, and they brought some out—great heat, great flavor.
We got homemade guacamole, which tasted incredibly fresh, like something you’d get in Mexico. My lunch partner had the Barbados Street Tacos, and there wasn’t a single thing either of us could complain about.
The prickly pear margarita was like being in the west !! Yum
Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent street tacos and tortilla soup!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Sat at the bar by myself, I’m from out of town, water and chips given then ignored for 10 minutes. Literally 10 minutes. The bartender wasn’t that busy. Just avoided any eye contact with me whatsoever. Was walking past me as I was about to get up and asked if I needed anything. Like I have a menu, what did you think I was there for. Fine. Ordered Barbacoa tacos, absolutely the most flavorless taco’s I’ve ever had. Oh and the salsa is as bland as a v8.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
The place is very pretty and was excited to try this place, however when we walked in an older man was the hostess and we asked not to set at a high top near the door and he was not happy with our request and we would have to wait, then as we was waiting a lady came in to ask how long the wait was as they had reservations at another place but really wanted to eat there, he says we do not take reservations and dismissed her to stand outside. He was very frazzled. The area was busy bc the square was lighting the tree and more. We should have walked out but everything else was packed. Very disappointed as we drove from port Clinton area and prob won’t come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Food and pricing was very good. We enjoyed it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Easily the best Mexican food in Medina. They have many authentic Mexican dishes not found at a standard tex-mex restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carnitas
I had Huevos Rancheros. The eggs were done perfectly and the whole dish was delicious. They also have excellent pico de gallo. This is a nice little Mexican restaurant with great service very accommodating and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tacos were average, worst margaritas I've ever had in my life. Guacamole was turning brown and straight out of the refrigerator...not fresh at all.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Super delish, great sizes for cost. We were from out of town and this place was very memorable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time here and it was amazing!! Food , drinks, service all top notch.. we will be back !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monarca Cantina in Medina is, simply put, a masterclass in modern Mexican dining. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a special experience.
First off, the decor is absolutely stellar. It creates a vibrant, warm, and elevated atmosphere that feels both authentic and contemporary. The attention to detail in the lighting, artwork, and design elements is exceptional—it truly transports you the moment you step off the street.
The service matched the ambiance perfectly; the waitstaff were incredibly attentive. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, offered fantastic recommendations, and ensured our drinks were never empty without hovering. Their professional and friendly approach made us feel truly valued as guests.
And finally, the food! The dishes were not just delicious, they were noticeably fresh and delicious. Every plate, from the appetizers to the main courses, burst with authentic, vibrant flavor. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients, resulting in food that tastes genuinely homemade and expertly prepared.
Monarca Cantina has set a new standard for Mexican food. We can't wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Have lived in Medina for 5 years and never got a chance to come here and that is the only bad thing I can say about this review is I didnt come here sooner! No exaggeration the best meal I've had in a very long time! We ordered chips and queso, quesadilla & chimichanga (both with mixed chicken/steak), blood orange marg & blackberry mint marg which are fresh squeezed, and to finish a fried ice cream dessert. This place is a MUST visit, you will not be disappointed. And to top it off, our server/bartender Maria was phenomenal! Amazing recommendations, back story of the restaurant and super friendly. Not even a question we will be back, truly phenomenal 🙌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a pretty and comfy place to enjoy some creative Mexican dishes! We loved the lit tree in the middle. Margarita flight was very tasty! I had the street corn which was one of the best I’ve had anywhere. Tacos were really authentic tasting and even the rice was flavorful and moist! Our server was very friendly and helpful. I’d def recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Street Corn, Taco
Loading...