Monarch Restaurant — Restaurant in Dallas

Organized chaos is the best way to describe this place. From parking and being asked to parralell park at the valet to the quick rundown at the check in desk. Then comes the sparkling rosé which perhaps had a sparkle days previously but not upon receipt of the glass.

Arriving on 49 the views and atmosphere is spectacular. However, all the pre arrival hype about dress code and being prompt went out the window even though it would be at the peril of $25 per person should one cancel. It was apparent by the clientele that all of the sins listed on the pre-arrival checklist were not enforced in anyway. We saw all of the deadly sins mentioned in that email and subsequent text messages and then some. In other words— come as you are.

Our birthday person was MICHAEL- (a common name in the US)and we were first time diners. We were greeted as “George and thanked for returning to dine at Monarch.” We corrected the waiter and then the Maitre’D who brought us three custom menus each with Michael’s name misspelled or worse, another person’s name altogether. This was a swing and a miss.

Upon ordering it was clearly discussed we would start with the Appetizers and then the salad would follow. It was literally drinks, appetizers bread and salad like a tsunami. We were awash with food as if our life depended on eating everything at this moment. For a second I just thought we were at a Golden Corral in the sky. Then I remembered this was supposed to be the upmarket experience described. I would be reminded otherwise.

The pasta was served whilst a guest was in the rest room. Then of course when they returned it was cold. If you’re claiming to be serving Italian cuisine. One should familiarize, (specifically the chef, what Al Dente means). The cold yet mushy pasta had been seriously overcooked. The spicy sauce was interesting.

Sides are served family style. The potatoes with truffle was enough to feed a small rodent, not a person, much less 3. These were a special item at $22. The sides were small my scallop entree was literally three scallops. We were told portions were exceptionally large don’t over order. If this was a Pritikin Order I could see the need for portion control. While I wasn’t expecting family style sized portions; enough for a 140 pound man would be sufficient. After dessert, I was tempted to run through the drive through on the way home.

Then it was time to order dessert. We saw a lovely strawberry Tiramisu go by. But alas it was not for us— only for those who ordered Sunday dinner. (At 9pm. How many Sunday dinners are you going to sell at this time.)The birthday person wanted that dessert and we figured with all the snafus it would be possible. But it was denied. No acknowledgement other than the misspelled menus and being called every other name was made for the birthday person.

Then the check arrived and my after dinner drink did not, yet it was conveniently on the bill. It was taken off— and then it arrived.

This isn’t a soft launch and at well over $700 for three people on a special occasion this was by far one of the most disappointing dinners I have ever experienced. It was an embarrassment.

While it is important to recognize that you want to keep the experience at a high level by enforcing a dress code and texting the guests repeatedly. Perhaps the accessory of infants should be included in that warning. The number of infants in the restaurant was absolutely insane and those who failed to read the dress code were in great supply as well.

At best with the men running around with ear pieces and the runners merely literally dropping things off at tables not telling you what they were or calling them something other than what they were— it was organized chaos.

If you want to play in the big leagues you had best step up your game. Dallas is where restaurants good and bad go to die. Sometimes by their own hand. This one should take its own life— and examine it. It was a $700 lesson in “Don’t let this happen to you…” rather than a “wow! That...

This review is 100% about the hostesses and the dress code. I LOVE the other staff here. I LOVE the food. Bartenders, wait staff, and food runners are all amazing and highly educated on the products sold here and extremely kind and respectful. I’ve been to Monarch over 15 times in 3 years and have never wrote a review until this weekend.

The hostesses however, especially Kirima, gave me the most disrespectful and unprofessional welcoming I’ve ever had at any restaurant. I was wearing a traditionally styled West African shirt with a Mandarin collar. When I go to the bar with my girlfriend I am told that I must wear a suit jacket and they will provide one for me due to my lack of a collar (Again, I’ve been here MANY times and dressed far less upscale and NEVER been told I am unwelcome in my clothes). I was honestly appalled and inquired about my collar as this new dress code seemed to instantly marginalize certain fashions that were non-traditional white American and the hostesses seemed to have zero knowledge of a mandarin style collar. Long story short… I agree to wear this pitiful jacket.

2 minutes into our experience I take the jacket off since I’m extremely uncomfortable and I’m approached by Kirima who asks me to put it on stating that if I don’t (don?) the manager will come out. Honestly, I’m livid yet respectful. Is this some kind of threat of getting kicked out?

About 15 minutes into our meal I see a gentleman at the bar with me wearing a t-shirt and no jacket. I approach the host stand and ask Kirima why he is able to wear a t-shirt and yet I was singled out. He is there for about 10 more minutes in his shirt and never puts on a blazer so I truly begin to question the antics of this madness.

Towards the end of my meal there is a gentleman who also sits at the bar in a black and white t-shirt with no collar and no blazer. I’m left wondering again why I am singled out. At this point the disrespect seems targeted and preposterous.

I am told by the bar staff that luckily Kessaku is much more relaxed and that I can wear my mandarin collar upstairs as I walk around the 360 views with my date. I pay, go and hand the loaner jacket to the host stand, and as we’re walking over to the stairs at Kessaku they stop me and say I’ll need their blazer to go upstairs too. I wear it. I say nothing because I wanted everyone to know my thoughts here written in this review opposed to in person for no one to see.

You (the collective you as in management and hostesses only) have no knowledge of fashion and or culture. God forbid a group of Asians or Africans come in with mandarin collars and or traditional clothing and you’re suddenly pressed to give them all worn out Goodwill suit jackets. Would you really do that? Why was I singled out? My experience recently was by far the utter most disrespectful and honestly strange experience I’ve ever had in any restaurant not only in Dallas but across the entire country. I hope you’re able to take action to educate your staff on how to treat customers and that other forms of professional fashion exist aside from traditional English button ups and suit jackets.

My girlfriend moved here that day and got off a plane literally an hour before we came there as her welcome meal to Dallas. Monarch and their haughty and uncouth hostesses managed to truly give us an experience to remember! Unforgettable in fact.

P.S the Wagyu carpaccio is smaller than it used to be while staying the same price and the King Crab roll upstairs is most definitely red crab; you’re...

We have been going to Monarch for 3-4 years (shortly after they opened). Each time we go, we notice it is worse than the last visit. In this case, we were there yesterday, and 2 weeks ago. I can't believe restaurant can decline in 2 weeks, but it did.

Visit 1 was amazing. Our waitress was attentive, knowledgable, the sommolier recommended a great wine and dessert wine (Tokjai). I think our actual favortine things were the Tokjai and the complimentary whipped butter with bread and the champagne greeting at the building entrance.

Visit 2 we were seated by a window in February that was not sealed and you could hear and feel the wind. They told us there was some kind of construction going on and there noise that made it impossible to hear the person across from me. Eventually, they moved us to a different table. We didn't even request the move, they just knew the table (that we paid to reserve) was awful. Visit 2 was a great clebration for a work promotion with an experience almost as impressive as to first visit.

Visit 3 was okay, we were seated really close to the kitchen, so it was extremely hot. We loved the complimentary champagne greeting at the building entrance and the whipped butter and bread were great. The smoke alarms went off which was scary on the 49th floor. Staff didn't seems concerned and said they have been having problems and the alarms were being reset. That lasted 5-10 minutes.

Visit 4 was 2 weeks ago. We reserved a great table for our out of town guests. We were disappointed that the champagne table in the lobby was gone. We asked about it and were told that they had moved the champagne service from the lobby to the table. Not as impressive, but acceptable. We also loved the bread and whipped butter. The Tokjai was awful, the waitress seemed to know it was bad and offered a German dessert wine instead without us asking. We tried both and the Tokjai tasted rancid. Disappointing. Tab was over $700.

Visit 5 was yesterday for our first anniversary. Again we booked a $500 window seat (we were seated at the same table as 2 weeks ago). Not only was there no champagne in the lobby, but the waiter told us they had stopped the complimentary champagne but he would do us a favor and get us a little bit. Then there was no bread or butter service. The waiter told us they had stopped bread and butter and were instead serving a few grape tomatoes with olive oil and salt due to the "change in season." That doesn't make any sense given that bread and butter were available in August, but not in September. For our first anniversary, they were thrilled to give us 1 page of their standard menu with our names printed on the menu. No clue who would want or care about that. Again, we were disappointed in the wine selection. We ordered Tokjai, but the bottle was the same rancid bottle as two weeks ago and they offered the same alternative bottle. For the price, I would expect they would have discarded the old bottle and ordered a new one! We were a party of 4, and the waiter added the tip to the ticket as though we were at a cheap restaurant that would have been just as good for far less than the $750 tab at Monarch.

It is sad to see this restaurant declining so quickly. We will start looking for a new restaurant for special occasions in Dallas. Don't waste your time or money on Monarch. They rely on the view, but the view isn't worth the cost and...