Gem City Grill

The crowd that's usually there are outstanding if,you've never had a friend go,to gem city you'll definitely feel like part of the crew Shannon behind the bar mixing your drink never gets it wrong China, hosting the karaoke on Thursday night from 9 till close makes everything come together

It was the warmest, most down home, sweet, sunny place we've been to in a while. Though center stage is a full bar, it's is a sandwich shoppe with some of the best hot dogs I've had in a while. I'd all but given up on hot dogs, till you eat beer-steamed beef Hoffy dogs with steamed New England buns. I'm almost remiss to share because I never don't want a seat here for me, my husband and my dog. Tracy, charming the eaters, Alex cooking up her daddy's recipes, and I can't remember the bar gals name...all went above and beyond. My husband had the Angry Beast sandwich and I laughed at him as he finished the second half. I urge you, please don't go, because I truly want it all to myself. Go East Coast, West Coast love, local Monrovians, I cheer thee!!!!!!

I ordered the beyond burger, no cheese, with the red cabbage salad in the side. Burger was delicious and the service was great. Coworkers each enjoys the sandwiches they ordered. Will come back

The place speaks for itself! Great Music, crowd, pool tables, dancing it's Monrovias original Honky Tonk! Stop in have a drink or two, kick up your heels & just enjoy yourself!

Yooo this spot is it 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙 Bartenders are the coolest ( and the rest of the staff) Good competition on the pool tables What else could you ask for also a huge shout-out to Meaghan, you will not meet a more caring and cool bartender anywhere in the world Another shout out to helen shes always got the perfect one liner for every situation and keeps the drink flowing

It is our dive bar. You know what you get with dive bars. Bartenders that call you honey and pour strong drinks. What else can you ask for? No that market city moved in, kind of the best little joint in Monrovia.

I am so glad to have Market grill sandwiches back I've missed them since they left their shamrock locstion.They operate out of the kitchen of Gem City grill. Sandwiches are massive and full of flavor in every bite. My go to is the California chicken and I add bacon

Awesome bar. Trish, Pauly, Meghan, Helen, and Kenny are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Restrooms are very clean and the atmosphere is always fun!

This is the most delicious place to grab lunch. The owners are super nice and the food is just as good as it looks. Great for a date night or when you want to grab something delicious and have an alcoholic beverage.

Alex Palacios

I am so glad to have Market grill sandwiches back I've missed them since they left their shamrock locstion.They operate out of the kitchen of Gem City grill. Sandwiches are massive and full of flavor in every bite. My go to is the California chicken and I add bacon

Christopher Hodge

Awesome bar. Trish, Pauly, Meghan, Helen, and Kenny are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Restrooms are very clean and the atmosphere is always fun!

robert macias

This is the most delicious place to grab lunch. The owners are super nice and the food is just as good as it looks. Great for a date night or when you want to grab something delicious and have an alcoholic beverage.

Atmosphere and bartenders are always great. Mag, Kenny, and Helen. Always a great time for a quick one or an entire shift.

Mag is an amazing example of what it means to tend bar versus pour drinks. Made me feel welcome while visiting for a wok trip. Perfect little local dive.

It's a dive bar. Fantastic service. Mag is such an awesome bartender. He remembers your drinks, converses with you just the right amount and adds a great personal touch. No food here though and the pool tables/sticks are worn down. They allow you to bring your own food in.

Love Trisha and Mag - best bartenders and help us with trivia every now and then. We miss the kitchen and the fire onion rings. Thanks for having us during trivia nights!

I might be biased based on my favorite bartenders (Pauly and Meaghan) but this place is top notch. The food is great, the drinks and environment is great. There are slow days but still good. Been coming here over a year with my bf. To have bartenders know your drink right away and even the pace of your drinking is something that doesn't go unnoticed. Love this place! I tell everyone about it!!!

Sort of a dive bar, but less "dive-y". Owners are friendly. Food is pretty good. Prices are great. Trivia night is a blast. Their soft pretzels are excellent.

Everything about this bar is five or more stars. Including the cleanest restrooms in town. Great drinks, great staff, a couple of pool tables and a few dart boards as well. The new owners have turned an old rundown, dirty dive bar into a real "GEM". The big bonus of Gem City, is the Market Grill which takes over the kitchen Tuesday thru Saturday 11:30 to 8:00. The food is excellent. (Google them too).

Went to play some pool and have a few drinks. It's very nice inside, totally remodeled I hear. I don't remember it before, only went a couple times. The after is nice. Friendly people and I won my first three games. Was a good night. Check them out. No mask required for those that want to know. Cheers!

Rockin live band!! Happening crowd!! Pool, food, good drinks, can’t beat that!! Last Saturday night…1st time hittin a sports bar since 2019. Gem City Grill, in Monrovia, been around for about 22 years! DAMN!! Atmosphere was so happening and inviting, that we forgot to wear our masks. 😬 no one was wearing one, so if you’re scary, this is not the place for you. It’s my first time there. Apparently, they have live bands every Saturday, and pool tournaments every Wednesday. We got there kinda late so all we could get were tator tots, but they did hit the spot! Played pool (2 bar size tables @ 4 quarters per game),had some strong drinks, and fun company! Cool crowd, about mid to late 30’s & up, mostly white-ish, but every color seemed to be represented, lots of singles, & some couples Everyone was friendly and upbeat! Overall, an excellent time was had!! Great service! Clean bathrooms, nice neighborhood. Can’t wait to get back there!!! Great place for a much needed girls night out. Enjoy!!!

Gem City Grill has a well earned reputation for good food, friendly bar (and bar tenders) and occasional live entertainment. But I don't care. I visited today for the first time specifically because I was nearby, hungry and had seen a picture of their double cheeseburger surrounded by tater tots, and decided I had to give it a try. So I ordered the double cheeseburger, adding avocado and bacon, along with the aforementioned tater tots and a couple bottles of Corona to wash it down. The burger was one of the most impressive I've ever had. Carefully cooked, incredibly flavorful and juicy AND IT WAS HUGE. I don't think Gem City Grill makes any particular claims as to weight but I can tell you that it puts the franchise chains' doubles and even triples to shame. I'll be returning to Gem City Grill, soon and often/ And yes, the staff is friendly, making this newcomer feel right a home. :)

Nick Garcia

Atmosphere and bartenders are always great. Mag, Kenny, and Helen. Always a great time for a quick one or an entire shift.

Danny Mueller

Mag is an amazing example of what it means to tend bar versus pour drinks. Made me feel welcome while visiting for a wok trip. Perfect little local dive.

Daniella Laset

Love Trisha and Mag - best bartenders and help us with trivia every now and then. We miss the kitchen and the fire onion rings. Thanks for having us during trivia nights!

Q

It's a dive bar. Fantastic service. Mag is such an awesome bartender. He remembers your drinks, converses with you just the right amount and adds a great personal touch. No food here though and the pool tables/sticks are worn down. They allow you to bring your own food in.

Zack Stromberg

Sort of a dive bar, but less "dive-y". Owners are friendly. Food is pretty good. Prices are great. Trivia night is a blast. Their soft pretzels are excellent.

SarahJo Riley

I might be biased based on my favorite bartenders (Pauly and Meaghan) but this place is top notch. The food is great, the drinks and environment is great. There are slow days but still good. Been coming here over a year with my bf. To have bartenders know your drink right away and even the pace of your drinking is something that doesn't go unnoticed. Love this place! I tell everyone about it!!!

Montana N

Rockin live band!! Happening crowd!! Pool, food, good drinks, can’t beat that!! Last Saturday night…1st time hittin a sports bar since 2019. Gem City Grill, in Monrovia, been around for about 22 years! DAMN!! Atmosphere was so happening and inviting, that we forgot to wear our masks. 😬 no one was wearing one, so if you’re scary, this is not the place for you. It’s my first time there. Apparently, they have live bands every Saturday, and pool tournaments every Wednesday. We got there kinda late so all we could get were tator tots, but they did hit the spot! Played pool (2 bar size tables @ 4 quarters per game),had some strong drinks, and fun company! Cool crowd, about mid to late 30’s & up, mostly white-ish, but every color seemed to be represented, lots of singles, & some couples Everyone was friendly and upbeat! Overall, an excellent time was had!! Great service! Clean bathrooms, nice neighborhood. Can’t wait to get back there!!! Great place for a much needed girls night out. Enjoy!!!

Doug Gillin

Everything about this bar is five or more stars. Including the cleanest restrooms in town. Great drinks, great staff, a couple of pool tables and a few dart boards as well. The new owners have turned an old rundown, dirty dive bar into a real "GEM". The big bonus of Gem City, is the Market Grill which takes over the kitchen Tuesday thru Saturday 11:30 to 8:00. The food is excellent. (Google them too).

George Siegel

Gem City Grill has a well earned reputation for good food, friendly bar (and bar tenders) and occasional live entertainment. But I don't care. I visited today for the first time specifically because I was nearby, hungry and had seen a picture of their double cheeseburger surrounded by tater tots, and decided I had to give it a try. So I ordered the double cheeseburger, adding avocado and bacon, along with the aforementioned tater tots and a couple bottles of Corona to wash it down. The burger was one of the most impressive I've ever had. Carefully cooked, incredibly flavorful and juicy AND IT WAS HUGE. I don't think Gem City Grill makes any particular claims as to weight but I can tell you that it puts the franchise chains' doubles and even triples to shame. I'll be returning to Gem City Grill, soon and often/ And yes, the staff is friendly, making this newcomer feel right a home. :)

Stephanie Renner

Went to play some pool and have a few drinks. It's very nice inside, totally remodeled I hear. I don't remember it before, only went a couple times. The after is nice. Friendly people and I won my first three games. Was a good night. Check them out. No mask required for those that want to know. Cheers!

Lesson one: be a gentleman. Dont just yell at the bartenders for your drinks. Respect goes a long way. Locals know its a diamond in the rough here and its always a wild time here!

Didn't try the food but this is a solid local bar. Not too divey, not too mainstream. Everyone is nice. Popped in on karaoke night and everyone was having a good time!

It's a good old fashioned local bar where drinks are reasonably priced and everyone knows your name. Live music and karaoke on various nights adds to the charm of this Monrovia favorite.

Did not try their food so I can't post anything. I love playing pool ,watching sports and having a couple drinks ,it's a great place to chill and hang out with family and friends for the holiday.

This is my first time at this establishment. Bartenders were on point with their drinks. They were friendly and sociable. They were pretty busy for a late Sunday night. I haven't tried the food, but I hear the wings are delicious. I was told to make sure I asked for the gem sauce. I will definitely be going back to try some of their items on that menu and looking forward to my future visits... perhaps play some darts and pool.. oh , and bartender Kenny knows his stuff.!!!

Genevieve Martinez

This is my first time at this establishment. Bartenders were on point with their drinks. They were friendly and sociable. They were pretty busy for a late Sunday night. I haven't tried the food, but I hear the wings are delicious. I was told to make sure I asked for the gem sauce. I will definitely be going back to try some of their items on that menu and looking forward to my future visits... perhaps play some darts and pool.. oh , and bartender Kenny knows his stuff.!!!

I wanted 20 minutes for a waitress to come take my order. Then I noticed there was no waitress. The music was great. The band Three Saints and a Sinner, really ripped it up😎This was Friday night, October 13th. The crowd was cool and many people were dancing. I'll be back for Karaoke Thursday.😁

We love gem city, it's a great bar; but i wouldn't call it "gem city GRILL". It would be 5 stars of they would just have a set schedule for when the kitchen is open. We've been here at least a dozen times, and only once was the kitchen actually open. Edit: upped the stars to 4 out of 5 thanks to owners response. Will likely be able to up it to 5 out of 5 when we can finally have a chance to try their food!

We went to Gem City for the Market Grill (a well known Monrovia sandwich shop), reopened after 5 years. The sandwiches are as they were. Tasty as ever and great friendly service. Don't know much about Gem City, but a few moment there, it was a welcoming place and the bartenders we're very nice to us.

Justin Kwok

Didn't try the food but this is a solid local bar. Not too divey, not too mainstream. Everyone is nice. Popped in on karaoke night and everyone was having a good time!

Max Ann

We love gem city, it's a great bar; but i wouldn't call it "gem city GRILL". It would be 5 stars of they would just have a set schedule for when the kitchen is open. We've been here at least a dozen times, and only once was the kitchen actually open. Edit: upped the stars to 4 out of 5 thanks to owners response. Will likely be able to up it to 5 out of 5 when we can finally have a chance to try their food!

Richard Young

I wanted 20 minutes for a waitress to come take my order. Then I noticed there was no waitress. The music was great. The band Three Saints and a Sinner, really ripped it up😎This was Friday night, October 13th. The crowd was cool and many people were dancing. I'll be back for Karaoke Thursday.😁

Ok bar selection but they are missing out on about 5k a week with no real kitchen a simple agm or gm could have burgers and fried food and easily make money …

Great local karaoke spot... wish their kitchen was open. but good times nonetheless. The old school restrooms are hilarious. Special crowd sometimes - beware. Cheap drinks make up for it.

My experience is most of the staff are not very service orientated and have attitudes like they don't give a bleep and don't really look you in the eye. I like that they play live music. I don't like the restrictions they have put in when all the other bars in the area are freedom orientated with respect.

Shannon is one of the greatest bartenders of all time, he works Soo hard, on busy nights he is that the main man. Steve the karaoke King is working the people and the tunes on Thursday nights. I really want to give this place 5 stars but the owners and there overbearing non-caring no empathy, lack of leadership bring this place down to 1out of 5. Shannon and Steve make it a 3/5 even with the 💰 hunger owners.

Went for some drinks and to play pool. Had a good time but the next day when I checked my credit card bill I noticed they over charged me by $50! Not sure how many other people have had this happen to. Not good to take advantage of people who are drinking, if you think they're so intoxicated that they won't noticed then you shouldn't be serving them so much in the first place.

Vanessa Cano

Went for some drinks and to play pool. Had a good time but the next day when I checked my credit card bill I noticed they over charged me by $50! Not sure how many other people have had this happen to. Not good to take advantage of people who are drinking, if you think they're so intoxicated that they won't noticed then you shouldn't be serving them so much in the first place.

For locals only...waited patiently for 30 minutes. I thought it was my turn...but wait...a guy with a fidora approaches next to me, (obviously knowing the bartender)...and instantly, "what would you like"...by reading other reviews im not alone.

Eh, Darcy is usually the bartender there and is pretty bad at it. Some people like her I guess lol but she is the slowest bartender I have ever met. The free pool is kind of cool but usually just amounts to the same weird people taking over the tables night after night

Your Bartender was rude to my friends and was mad because they are Gay and show some PDA. She told the to tone it down or leave ..She has a video of how rude she was... Love is Love and should not be punished!

A dump, with a management that is verbally abusive to seniors who walk into the establishment to buy a occasional snack, only to be cursed at and told to leave. This is the site of a murder and they still won't hire security during operating hrs. This place should be boycotted.

Don't go here!! RUDE employees and attendees. I was ignored when asking for service. Both bartenders even shook their head making it clear like "why are you even trying" I went to the juke box, bartender and attendees started asking me what kind of music am I going to select, then after answering, they said, "this isn't the place for that kind of music"(80s disco) Then after selecting my song, a minute into it playing, they turned off the jukebox, and acted like they didn't know what happened. Then they gave me looks, like "get out of here" Not sure if it was because I was POC or LGBT, but it was clear i wasn't welcome

The darts league is shown little respect by the establishment and the inattentive bartender from that side of the double bar. The lighting is insufficient and the boards are a wreck and never replaced. The floor is in poor condition and conditions are extremely cramped. I was told even the pool league plays elsewhere now.

I was really looking forward to this bar because a friend recommended it and has always had great experiences here. Sadly, ours was awful. The bartender on shift was clearly intoxicated. While he was initially nice, things went downhill fast. He refused to make drinks and shots we ordered because they were “inconvenient” and tried to push whatever was easiest for him instead. I literally had to tell him I didn’t want him to make a drink he decided on without asking. To make matters worse, I was charged incorrectly on my tab and had to get another bartender to fix it. She was professional and helpful, but it was painfully obvious she was doing damage control for someone who should not have been serving alcohol. After that, we were treated poorly for the rest of the night. When I ordered drinks for my friends, I was told I had no right to order unless they were on my tab, which is ridiculous. I left feeling disrespected and disappointed. An intoxicated bartender should never be working, and the way we were treated was unacceptable. Definitely not coming back.

The bartender asked for my i.d. FYI, I am 67, but that's ok. He proceeded to scan my license info into a scanner. He said it would be deleted at the end of the night, but who knows. Big brother runs this bar. Good reason to go elsewhere.

mark bocchetti

The bartender asked for my i.d. FYI, I am 67, but that's ok. He proceeded to scan my license info into a scanner. He said it would be deleted at the end of the night, but who knows. Big brother runs this bar. Good reason to go elsewhere.

Soli G

I was really looking forward to this bar because a friend recommended it and has always had great experiences here. Sadly, ours was awful. The bartender on shift was clearly intoxicated. While he was initially nice, things went downhill fast. He refused to make drinks and shots we ordered because they were “inconvenient” and tried to push whatever was easiest for him instead. I literally had to tell him I didn’t want him to make a drink he decided on without asking. To make matters worse, I was charged incorrectly on my tab and had to get another bartender to fix it. She was professional and helpful, but it was painfully obvious she was doing damage control for someone who should not have been serving alcohol. After that, we were treated poorly for the rest of the night. When I ordered drinks for my friends, I was told I had no right to order unless they were on my tab, which is ridiculous. I left feeling disrespected and disappointed. An intoxicated bartender should never be working, and the way we were treated was unacceptable. Definitely not coming back.