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Monarch @ Hotel Zaza Reviews List
Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Like everything at Hotel ZaZa, the dining room and nightlife space are designed to entice your every sense. Hotel Zaza dares you to lose yourself in the intoxicating aromas, layered flavors and unexpected touches of the “see and be scene” Monarch Restaurant & Lounge. So come, play, revel, and experience dining and entertainment in the Houston area that’s a world apart.
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46 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Rating Breakdown 46 reviews
5 stars
(12)
4 stars
(14)
3 stars
(9)
2 stars
(8)
1 star
(3)
Food
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- special occasion(17)
- great for outdoor dining(14)
- romantic(12)
- hot spot(11)
- vibrant bar scene(11)
- fit for foodies(10)
Monarch @ Hotel Zaza Reviews List
Review 1 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great food
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Monarch has been a great spot for special occasions for my wife and myself recently, however this was just the ticket for welcoming guests to Houston after a long day of travel. The pork belly appetizer was amazing and the seasonal amber jack was perfectly done - incredibly flavorful and we'll paired with Israeli couscous. Definitely a wonderful meal, though the service was a touch slow given that it was Saturday night and the restaurant wasn't full."
Dined on 6/15/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 2 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Pay to valet? No thanks!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The fact that it's $12 for valet makes me doubt I will return no matter how good the food was or how much I enjoyed the atmosphere."
Dined on 6/12/2013
2012
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Review 3 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Great brunch, dissapointing dinner
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"We went to brunch loving everything, the server, the decor, the food. So, we decided to try dinner. We had the mussels for an app. which were good, and the waitress was okay, but after the 1st coarse, things went down hill. I had the scallops, which were small for the price ($32), but decent, and with the potato, filling enough. My husband ordered the the filet ($40), which was the 2nd most expensive thing on the menu. He asked for rare to Medium-rare and it came out medium-well. Tender, but dry from being over cooked. We mentioned this to the server, and while she took it back, she stopped serving us and was very slow. By the time he got the new steak, I was done eating. The 2nd steak was great. The sides left something to be desired."
Dined on 6/12/2013
2013
Special Features: great for brunch
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Review 4 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Overall evaluation
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Excellent food, service and ambience."
Dined on 6/08/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, romantic, scenic view, late-night find, hot spot
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Review 5 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Nice dining in museum district
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"he hotel provided free valet parking if you have lunch or brunch at Monarch. The hostess was very courteous. When we arrived around 12:20 p.m., there were not that many tables. It got crowded after 1 p.m. The food was excellent, the ambience was nice and the service was good. The selection on the menu was not bad. My company ordered shrimp and grits while I had egg white frittata. All were tasty and came out warm. Then we had the dessert sampler which was just the right size for two people. It was of very good value at $10 and included cheesecake, key lime pie, chocolate cake and a small pana in a small shot glass. I would definitely go back again for brunch."
Dined on 6/01/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
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Review 6 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Great Brunch!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We enjoyed a wonderful brunch here after church. My 6 year old loved her meal and enjoyed talking with The Princess (the bride) who was holding her wedding reception here while we were dining!"
Dined on 5/26/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, kid-friendly, hot spot, special occasion
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Review 7 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Sat. afternoon brunch
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Had friends in town for a Rice U graduation; they had never been to the hotel/restaurant, so I suggested we meet there. Didn't know at 1:30 on Sat. afternoon, that the menu would be Sat. brunch...........Everyone was openly bummed by the choices on the flat menu - one ended up with French Toast (really? at 1:30 on Sat.) another with an omlette; 2 of us with salads. At decaf coffee at $4.00 a regular size coffee cup; very limited food selection and 2 small children screaming around us - we ate; we left & won't be returning for this. View of the Mecom Fountain was as beautiful as always!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 8 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
The Monarch Is Not The Same
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The last time we ate at The Monarch, it was in a beautifully decorated, elegant room overlooking the fountain. Today, it is located in the poorly and under decorated bar next to its former spot. Compared to the former Monarch, it's like eating in a Friday's......lots of loud bar chatter all around you. And the menu is equally less exciting and well prepared. The waitress who served us was poorly trained in many ways, having to return to our table several times because she couldn't remember our order. Overall, we were very disappointed and will not return."
Dined on 5/08/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene
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Review 9 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
dekicious food, wonderful
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"dekicious food, wonderful service, great staff"
Dined on 04/14/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 10 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Disappointing
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Absolutely lovely setting for brunch. Covered outdoor dining overlooking the museum district was almost magical. Unfortunately, there was not enough staff for the moderate crowd and kitchen was extremely slow. Our server was not particularly knowledgeable and bordered on the unprofessional. After ordering it took an hour to get our food, everyone's entrées did not arrive at the same time, and several dishes were lukewarm. Even the cocktails seemed inconsistant and thrown together. What a shame that the experience couldn't live up to the potential."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2006
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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Review 11 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Why would two business leaders
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Why would two business leaders have to spend a one plus waiting for a vegetable plate and roast beef sandwich at an upscale business hotel restaurant? Why wouldn't a server come by in 60 minutes to explain the delay? Someone should ask the ambivalent staff at Monarch and Hotel Zaza."
Dined on 03/25/2013
2009
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Review 12 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Our waiter was totally incompetent
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Our waiter was totally incompetent - my husband had to keep reminding him that he had ordered a beer. I have always gotten the little lamb chops in the early afternoon, yet the waiter said they were only available for dinner. He finally agreed to go ask the kitchen if they had them and fortunately they did. My husband ordered the "deconstructed" chicken salad which turned out to be a few tiny slices of chicken in a mound of mayonnaise. Really, really bad and WAY overpriced."
Dined on 03/17/2013
2012
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Review 13 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Good food, fair service, overpriced
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The last couple of times we have been to Monarch the service has been pretty bad. We went for a saturday brunch this time. The hostess seated us, but gave us the wrong menu. After sitting at the table for a while with no waiter, I had to ask the hostess to find our waiter. We finally got waited on and the food was good. I would not recommend this as a brunch spot since the mimosas are $12 each. With all of the places around that offer bottomless mimosas for less than one at Monarch, we will not go here for brunch again."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2008
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Review 14 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Great view and patio
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I had not been to Monarch in a while. The re-done patio is gorgeous. It's very nice to eat outside. Good atmosphere. Good view. The menu was quite different though (I guess there is a new chef) and they don't have the special nights they used to have. I miss some of the old menu items. Good was good (but not spectacular). The manager or chef who walks around and asks how everyone is doing seemed cold and didn't even look at us when he asked. I'm not sure I'll be going back real soon."
Dined on 03/13/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, scenic view
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Review 15 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Don't bother unless you're crazy
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I have typically had sub par service from this restaurant, usually at lunch time, but last night was one of the worst dining experience of my life. From the last of coordination between the hostess and the wait staff, to the almost non existent memory of the server to the food, it was not good. I even saw one of the server drinking alcohol from a drink of one of her customers. I have put up with the poor service in past, after all it is a trendy hot spot, but not again. Never! And they can't blame it on the large crowd there, because ironically there was no crowd."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2009
Special Features: hot spot
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Review 16 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The food was fantastic. We
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The food was fantastic. We ordered salads and entrees. They tell us but the salads are huge for appetizers. You should share it or have as an entree. The service was very slow. They didn't seem organized. We never had the same waiter the whole night. Very strange. I guess that's why they accidently threw away our leftovers and had to make a new meal to replace it. We had a feeling that would happen since we never had the same person come to our table to serve us. I would go back for the food."
Dined on 02/27/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 17 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Had breakfast with a business
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Had breakfast with a business contact staying at hotel. Everything for the meal for good, including service. Monarch comped my valet parking and arranged to call for my car when I was leaving. No problems and everything fine."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2013
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 18 for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
service was lacking. Wait
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"service was lacking. Wait and bar staff not very attentive, possibly under staffed but I did notice that the staff was more interested in each other than the customers. Food was mediocre for the price."
Dined on 02/19/2013
2012
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Monarch @ Hotel Zaza
Based on the average of (28) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
6 out of 7 recommend this product
Food
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic