Monarch Grill Gets a Makeover
via Mace & Crown — Old Dominion University Student Newspaper
By Amy DeLaura
Staff Writer
Just across Hampton Boulevard is an unassuming Marriott. Just below is a restaurant that may have been overlooked by many, until it received a complete makeover this past summer.
Opening up just in time for Old Dominion University’s first football game, the Monarch Recovery Sports Grill is a guaranteed touchdown for game day munchies.
Not only was the interior gutted to have a more inviting atmosphere, but the menu has been totally revamped. Replacing regular tables and chairs, huge rounded booths line the walls, perfect for fitting your entire fantasy football crew.
Monarch Recovery Sports Grill offers OnDemand, meaning any game you can imagine is at your fingertips. New speakers are placed at every table, giving you the option to listen to any of the ten brand new Smart TVs with a click of a button.
The renovations to Monarch Grill are an upgrade to a higher level of class. Beautiful tiled, wooden floors replaced the collage of stickers and stencils of the old Monarch Grill. Even the outdoor seating got a facelift with comfy new lounge chairs and the noticeable fancy details of stonework.
The menu now features updated fare like truffle fries, ahi tuna, and salmon. But don’t fret about breaking the bank; surprisingly, everything is still reasonably priced.
Of course, Monarch Recovery still offers the regular bar food of burgers and wings.
“The wings are perfect,” said ODU junior Andrew Bailey. “These aren’t your typically tiny bar wings. These are huge and meaty, especially for this price.”
The twice cooked wings are baked and then fried to juicy perfection and come in a variety of flavors: hot, medium, mild, Thai peanut, Thai chili, BBQ, or spicy garlic.
Who doesn’t remember having peanut butter and jelly as a kid? Now take that childhood memory and check out the “Sticky Fingers” burger. Natural peanut butter is spread across a bun while thick candied bacon and raspberry jam top the burger, creating the unexpected perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory.
Another menu standout is the “3 Peat” burger, set apart with a Cajun rubbed patty and gorgonzola cheese sauce. These are no small burger patties, and the cheese sauce was a little overpowering compared to the Cajun flavor. Consider asking for the sauce on the side.
This sports grill even has its own twist on something as simple as mozzarella sticks. The “Wisconsin Cheese Curds” are bite sized, cheesy goodness that cannot be ignored. They are served with a raspberry dipping sauce and a Thai chili sauce. The combination tastes like flavors you’d expect in an expensive wine bar while still supplying deep fried satisfaction.
The rebranding comes with a hope to makeover the customer base as well. The Monarch Recovery Grill aims to stray away from the drunken bar scene and instead attract more of the family friendly consumer, including ODU alums, parents, and fans attending university sporting events.
No matter the reason for stopping into the new and improved Monarch Recovery Sports Grill, taste buds everywhere are guaranteed a classy atmosphere to enjoy a new twist on sports bar fare.
