Monarca — Restaurant in San Salvador

I recently visited Monarca and I must say, my experience was far from satisfactory. The overall service was incredibly slow, the food was just okay, and to make matters worse, it took them over 1.5 hours to serve our meals. Additionally, they managed to mess up our orders, serving us the wrong dishes. It was an evening filled with frustration and disappointment.

First and foremost, the service at this restaurant was painfully slow. We arrived with hungry stomachs, eagerly anticipating a delightful dining experience, only to be met with endless waiting. The staff seemed disorganized and overwhelmed, failing to prioritize their customers' needs. It felt as though we were completely forgotten about for long stretches of time.

When the food finally arrived, it was nothing extraordinary. The taste was average at best, lacking the wow factor that we were expecting. It certainly did not justify the exorbitant amount of time we had already spent waiting. The presentation was also subpar, with dishes appearing rushed and hastily put together.

To add insult to injury, our orders were completely mixed up. We had specifically requested certain items, but the kitchen seemed to have completely disregarded our preferences. Not only did this result in a delay in getting the correct dishes, but it also left us feeling ignored and disrespected as customers.

In the end, our dining experience at Monarca left a bitter taste in our mouths. Slow service, mediocre food, and wrong orders are simply unacceptable. The management should take a serious look at their operations and make necessary improvements to ensure a better experience for their patrons. I cannot recommend this restaurant based on my experience, and I would advise others to consider alternative options...

After seeing the menu I was hoping to finally have a good gin and tonic in El Salvador. I ordered Bombay Sapphire with cucumber, expecting a well-balanced drink. Unfortunately, they used San Pellegrino tonic, one of the worst tonics, it’s barely carbonated, has a dull bitterness and lacks the crispness needed to complement a London Dry gin. So, my drink ended up tasting flat and watery, not what I’d expect for $11. For this price they should at least use some good tonic like Fever Tree, Thomas Henry, etc.

We also tried some of their tapas, but they were disappointing as well. The burger had a nice homemade bun, but the patty was too dry and lacked any sauce, likely because the meat was too lean. The papas bravas were just one potato with tomato sauce and really bland aioli, nothing special, definitely not worth $11 (would be overpriced even for $4).

Yet another overpriced spot in El Salvador that doesn’t justify even half the cost. Definitely...

I’m from the United States and recently visited Monarca in El Salvador with friends, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. We ordered a wide range of dishes including tuna tartare, trufa tartare, pulpo español, dumplings, crostini de lomito, croquetas de jamón serrano, empanizados, and papas fritas. For mains, we enjoyed the New York strip, lomito cuts, entraña with chimichurri, and the lechón confitado with salsa de manzana. Everything was cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. On top of that, the service was outstanding — attentive, professional, and welcoming. We also tried their wine selection, which was excellent and paired perfectly with the meal. Drinks like mezcalitas, mules, Don Julio, and wine by the bottle complemented the evening perfectly.

For the quality and experience, the pricing is very reasonable. Monarca exceeded all expectations, and I will absolutely be coming back the next time I’m in...