If you’ve never been to the Monarch Beach Resort you’re missing out on one of the most beautiful destinations in Orange County, if not in most of southern California. Every restaurant in the hotel has a view of the Pacific Ocean — there are six of them — and I found myself one leisurely Sunday enjoying Sunday brunch with my best friend in tow at the resort’s Motif restaurant.
The dining room was already bustling with a crowd when we arrived and were immediately ushered to our table. I decided to do a walk-around to see what my choices were before making a selection.
The salad buffet area was impressive — raddicchio, mache, carrot ribbons, endive, baby greens — as well as an array of prepared salads like Israeli couscous, beets, green beans, buffalo mozzarella, roasted vegetables and more.
There is also a Mediterranean section with hummus, babaghanoush, sundried tomato dip and a bean dip.
We decided to try a little of everything so we made a plan to not double up on anything — make the most of it right? Ceviche was next and it was tart and delicious.
The staff brings over a sample of their signature Bloody Mary mix to all the diners and after tasting it, we both ordered one — yes, with vodka!! It was one of the best Bloody Marys I’ve had to date — spicy just the way I like it. Definitely NOT to be missed.
There is a sushi station with really fresh nigiri sushi — ahi, salmon, unagi, ebi, ikura — all replenished as quickly as the platter is emptied. The plate was flanked by smoked salmon, lox, seared ahi and vegetarian rolls.
The carving station featured prime rib and tandoori salmon if you are looking for hot food, but venture further and you will find scalloped potatoes, veal in marsala sauce, as well as Eggs Benedict.
I don’t have a sweet tooth and I really dislike eating sweet breakfast items, but the made-to-order pancakes were just incredible. They were light and fluffy — like air — stuffed with all sorts of fruit including blueberries, strawberries, mangos, pineapples. In fact, they can make over 200 variations of pancakes with the ingredients available. Can you believe I ate TWO of these????
If you like Belgian waffles or crepes, they also have those. These are self-serve and best eaten when fresh off the waffle iron.
If you want freshly made egg items, you can stop by the omelette station and have them make you one specifically to your needs.
To complete the line-up of savory foods, there is an Asian station with Korean, Chinese and Thai options. Pan fried noodles, egg rolls, tempura, Korean short ribs are only a few of an array to choose from.
And if you think that’s the end of show, boy are you in for a surprise. The dessert spread is in an area all on its own. There are more than 20 things to choose from and each are in its own little shot glasses, or bite-sized, all small enough for you to really indulge in.
When you’ve had your fill, you can relax in the dining room or take a stroll on the grounds and enjoy the fantastic view. Brunch is regularly $69/person, or $79/person with unlimited champagne. Children are $39 (5-12 yrs).
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Easter brunch is $105/person with unlimited champagne and $35 for children.
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The St Regis is offering a spa package for Mother’s Day which includes two brunches and a hairstyle/blowout, champagne, and a Davine beauty product gift bag for $210. Additional brunches on Mother’s Day are $95/person. To book this package you must call reservations at 1-800-722-1543 and refer to the Beauty and the Brunch Mother’s Day Package or you can email Judith.Farris@stregis.com
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The St Regis has graciously offered a brunch for two to giveaway to one of my lucky readers. Please leave me a comment for a chance to win. If you “Like” both the Monarch Beach Facebook page and diary of a Mad Hungry Woman‘s page, you can leave an additional comment for TWO chances to win. Entries close Sunday April 8 and winner is announced Monday April 9. GOOD LUCK!!!
Sunday brunch at Motif
at Monarch Resort
1 Monarch Drive
Dana Point, CA
Tel: 949-234-3200
The last time j came to this spectacular brunch was when i got married 6 years ago and it was a very nice treat for us…I am a stay at home mom and would love to treat my husband for his birthday and for our wedding anniversary coming up soon…he does so much for me and our three children..I would be sooooo happy to do something for him, and we have been wanting to go back to St. Regis the minute we left:). I like the St. Regis page and your page too on FB:)
yum! we are traveling the next few months, but if we can use the brunch sometime later in the year i’d love to enter! thanks for the chance!
Everything looks great! I’ve never been to the St. Regis for brunch and would love to check it out.
Everything looks great! I’ve never been to St. Regis for brunch but would love to check it out.
Looks absolutely delicious! Would love to try it.
I love the brunch here…
and I like both pages…
I’d love to get the brunch giveaway so that I can have a nice Mother’s day =) Food look excellent!
I would LOVE to win a free brunch at the St. Regis! My husband and I got married there and that place holds a very special place in our hearts!
I “Like” both the St. Regis Facebook page and diary of a Mad Hungry Woman‘s page so I’m taking this opportunity to get TWO chances to win, hehe! St. Regis of Monarch Beach is the best and I’d love to win a fabulous free brunch there!!
Winning a free brunch at the St. Regis would be amazing!! I’d love to take my wife and relive our memories from our wedding there!
Thank you for this contest! I’m a fan of both pages so this is my second entry. I hope I win!
That does look good!!!
And I love the St. Regis
Everything looks great. Never been to a fancy buffet like this.
this sounds fantastic. thanks for the opportunity
Your pictures are gorgeous! I love the Sunday Champagne Brunch at St. Regis! They are simply amazing, both the food and the view. I would love to win and visit there again!
amy [at] utry [dot] it
“Liked” both the St Regis Facebook page and diary of a Mad Hungry Woman‘s page! yay!
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Looks fantastic. Great pics.
Already fan on FB, or like or whatever 🙂
Would love to treat my husband to this brunch since he does so much for me and our 3 kids….*crossing fingers* to be able to go:)
This brunch looks amazing! I would love to take my mom. (By the way, it was nice meeting you in person last weekend!)
Ooh I want to win!
Eggs benedict mmmmmmm.
Jonathan Zabala
jzabala123@gmail.com
Liked both fb pages! Hopefully I get to try their brunch soon!
The brunch spread looks scrumptious! My wife and I have never been to the St. Regis for brunch and would love to check it out. Thank you for the opportunity!
The brunch looks so good. I would love to try it!
Everything looks amazing! Thanks for sharing Anita. We’d love to check out St. Regis for brunch sometime. Hmmm. Our 12 year wedding anniversary is coming up… I’ll have to drop a few hints for Jim. 🙂
MaryAnne xoxo
Here is my second entry. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂
The Last time I went to a great brunch buffet was at the Plaza Hotel in NYC for my sister’s wedding. The photos for the St. Regis look almost as good!
I just liked the St. Regis page.
Would love to win the brunch. I have been dying to go there!
What a divine brunch! Would love to win this and share it with the best mom I know, my mom.
congratulations you are the winner of the brunch. please email me at madhungrywoman@gmail.com
If I’m not the lucky winner, I will have to drop hints for the hubby to take me there for Mother’s Day. That package seems too good to be true (2 brunches, champagne, and hair blow out for $200)? Just “liked” you and St. Regis on FB.
That looks awesome!! but too expensive for me 🙁
This brunch looks and sounds divine. Would love the opportunity to take my Mom there. Thanks so much for the chance. I already “like” you on FB, so I’ll “like” the St. Regis now too.
This would be amazing! I liked both pages and am crossing my fingers for the win :).
oooh a fancy brunch place, my favorite!! summer’s coming up and it would be awesome to sit on the terrace with friends and pig out, i’m down for that!
i would love to take my girlfriend to this place! too bad i’m a broke college student..with a girlfriend
I had no idea the brunch was served and that it looks so yummy. I have avoided Sunday brunches after reading Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation book… he doesn’t paint a pretty picture!! I think I’ll make an exception to this though. Thanks for sharing Anita. 🙂
Oh, oh, pick me, pick me. lol… just liked the pages.
Haven’t been to a brunch like this since Vegas a couple years ago and truth be told…it looks divine!! Since starting Nursing school in September, I can’t afford such luxuries but I will definitely spoil my mother and friends once I am able to again… 🙂
And here’s to a second entry… Best of luck, everyone!
Oh my gosh that looked divine.
The brunch looks amazing. Thanks for the review.
Delicious choices and wonderful pics – yum!!
The pictures show a great food. It looks like a great way to spend a Mother’s day on a food tasting field trip to St Regis Monarch Resort!!!
Alma
Field Trip Mom