Royal Restaurant

Had an amazing experience eating here for the first time. Everything we had was a hit, but I was especially excited about the elote deviled eggs and the fantastic french onion grilled cheese with beef patties. That might be one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever have had in Northern Virginia. Also, excellent service and cocktails from the bar. We ordered a large salad to split, and without us needing to ask, they brought out the salad split into two portions - I thought that was so accommodating and courteous, and most other restaurants would not do that.

5 star brunch! Breakfast was so good that we wanted to return for dinner but didnt have the time. Staff was pleasant along with the owner. We were skeptical to sit at their outdoor patio due to the temperature but the temp was well regulated. If im ever back in that area again, I will definitely re-visted.

I hadn't been here in years. The restaurant has been beautifully updated since I was last here. Great service and hands down the best steak and eggs I've ever had. The coffee was outstanding, as well. The entire dining experience was a great start to the day.

We visited on a Sunday morning expecting a bit of a wait which was okay with us. We took that 20 min wait time as an opportunity to walk to the waterfront in Old Town. The Passionfruit Mojito was amazing! Food was amazing and we had the most wonderful service!

We came here for a quick bite to eat on a Friday evening. I definitely love that they have their own parking at the restaurant. Not a huge lot but better than nothing considering the area usually just has street parking or garages at random. We got seated pretty quick. The atmosphere was welcoming. Moderate noise level. Bar area on one side and the regular dining area in the middle. They have what looked like a covered area beyond the dining area. That night a private party was going on. Service was alright. It seemed they were a little short handed but that may have been because of the private event going on. The menu had a lot of great food and drink options. We were not disappointed with our food or drinks. We definitely want to go back to try other options as well. Also like that they have all day breakfast offered. Prices were decent too! We'll be back!

Absolutely love this place. I’ve been 4 times and the staff seems like a close knit working unit. It’s more quiet than a lot of the restaurants nearby, which makes it perfect for working/reading during the day. I have had some really good food here but I cannot recommend the avocado toast enough. The farthest from boring, so many flavors.

Service was impeccable as well as the ambiance in the restaurant. We walked in 5 minutes before brunch was over but they still let us order brunch. That was amazing. We had driven from the suburbs just to come to have brunch. Didn't realize they didn't serve breakfast all day long, which they should because it's delicious.

Omg the food was delicious. I told my hubby we've found our Sunday brunch spot. Will definitely be back real soon. We have been to this place 4 times already. Each time we go the experience gets better. The food you can tell is fresh and of high quality. Easily become our Sunday after church spot.

Lovely decor and design elements, I could not stop looking around. Everything was extremely well seasoned, down to the potatoes and crispy fries. Coffee was the best I've had since I've been back in Virginia. Well selected ingredients, amazing pairings. 10/10 will come back again!

Stopped by with a friend, and was thoroughly impressed by the kind service and large portions. We tried the chili cheese fries on the happy hour menu, along with the stroganoff and smash burger, per our server Christine's suggestions. The seating is spacious, and I liked the touch of plants around the restaurant. Only note is that the food is a bit too salty - otherwise great and excited to try their all day breakfast items next time.

Second time here since they relaunched under new ownership. Food has been phenomenal both times, and the service is exemplary. Have had the chicken enchiladas and the skirt steak fajitas, both are tops. The corn relish is to die for, and their shoestring fries are perfect. This new version of the venerable Old Town North staple is a revelation!!!!

Last night, we made our first visit to the Royal since its remodel. It looks pretty good and we like the new outside deck. Aside from it being a gorgeous evening, we chose to eat outside because the inside was set to the lowest temperature I have ever encountered in a restaurant. What the... Service was excellent. The dinner menu has a bar food/Latino emphasis. We both ordered the Meatloaf Melt. This is an outstanding and delicious sandwich. However, the flavor of the shoestring garlic-epazote fries was offputting and I shoved them to the side.

One of the few spots in old town Alexandria with their own parking lot. Very good happy hour menu in terms of pricing. Fried pickles had nice zest and tacos had a lot of toppings on them.

The food and service is great here. I really enjoyed the shrimp and grits for brunch. Jersey was an amazing food tour guide during our dining experience. We will return. Please note that I had the sausage removed from my shrimp and grits. My son loved the mocktail.

Sunday=Brunch We ended our weekend getaway for our anniversary with brunch at Royals Restaurant in Alexandria, Va. We should have booked a reservation with OpenTable but we did not. They were super packed with limited space for a waiting area. We were able to get a table at the bar and immediately when we sat down the gentleman bartender greeted us, took our drink order, gave us menus, etc...Once we were ready to order, he took our order, refilled our drinks, and just provided superior customer service. We got to chat with him about his favorite drinks to make and I wish I would have got his name. He was awesome, never had to ask for a refill, checked on us to see if we needed anything, just all in all great customer service. Food The food was delicious, fresh, perfectly seasoned, and in plentiful portions. If I'm ever in Alexandria, Va again this will be my stop for brunch with a reservation of course, lol. Ambiance The restaurant's aesthetics were super modern, with lots of beautiful lighting. Parking A small lot is available but there are limited spaces available. It's VA/DC so parking is always limited and horrible.

3.5 stars, roundup to 4 Good location, 2 blocks from water! Weekend brunch is always packed, above average foods, attentive services, would recommend it & repeat!

We returned to the Royal Restaurant after a ten year hiatus. The new Royal delivers a wonderful breakfast. We had the Royal 1804, eggs easy over, hash brown potatoes are the Royal way. The potatoes taste like spice wedges with onions soft cooked. You will need ketchup. The toast and bacon cooked just right. Service was excellent. I am cautioning Royal booth guests that the booth table has an obtrusive black metal pillar under the table that will ding your leg if you slide in the booth without looking. The Royal now has a beautiful outdoor patio. All in all we are glad the Royal is back. The music is electric.

Five stars for LIZ! She really knows the menu and provides excellent service. She's one reason to the restaurant!

The Royal has been totally renovated with a new menu. New ownership, too. The inside is beautiful and there is lots of outdoor seating as well. I rarely have issues parking in this area. The food is good, but there were some bumps in the service we had. We had brunch on a Saturday so we wanted to eat in that vein and didn't try the lunch menu. One item of note, no beverages were listed on the menu. We didn't know they had lattes and cappuccinos (now you know). Our service was slow and nonexistent when we needed water, coffee. We will definitely be back because the food is that good.

First time back since the renovation. Last time we will visit. Overpriced for quality and portion size. Breakfast, Greek omelet, presented as a folded egg pattie with small portions of required ingredients dumped onto the food. No taste, watery, not fresh, and spinach stems still attached. One bite and returned. French toast looked great but was soggy, should have stayed on for a couple of more minutes. Order a side of 2 eggs scrambled with my French toast, $8 up change. $3.50 for glass of unsweetened tea.

Now This Is Good Breakfast! This newly renovated restaurant gives you great options for breakfast and lunch, nice size portions, and outstanding service! Also, it's reasonably priced! This is a staple and would definitely come again and again!

Stopped by Royal today after picking up a family member from local Amtrak station and they wanted to have brunch. All day brunch is a hard to find. We were sat immediately. We both enjoyed the Royal Breakfast. The food was good, came out fast, and the service was thorough. I also ordered an espresso martini, which was great. I would definitely recommend and will be returning for more mid week brunches.

My wife and I ate breakfast here on July 11th, 2024. We hadn't been to Royal in a long time. We left impressed with our server Ana, our food, the remodel, and the free parking. We'll return often!

Very decent breakfast with an old school sort of cafeteria feel. I ordered home fries, blueberry pancakes, grits, and a bowl of fruit. The pancakes were standard pancakes, nothing to dance about. They were good. The home fries had onion in them, which was so good, I wish more places did that. The bowl of fruit was just cantaloupe and pineapple, but it was freshly cut, as we had to wait a bit for the kitchen to cut it. The grits were good, too, but the waitress kind of gave a look when I asked for some American cheese to go in them. I didn't order any eggs or meat, so I can't really comment on those items. The service was alright. Nothing to really complain about, but nothing great either. The prices were average for the area, in my opinion. About $14 for an American breakfast with eggs and sides, but my pancakes were only about $10.

Great Breakfast. Our party had the Breakfast Burritos, Mushroom Skillet, and Chicken and Waffles. All were great The burritos were huge and tasty. They accommodated deleting onions and peppers from the mushroom skillet which was also fantastic. The chicken was moist and tender and the waffle was tender with a slight crunch and was also delicious. Service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. It was pretty popular and you can make reservations. Will definitely return.

I wanted to love the new Majestic, aka the former Family owned Royal Restaurant. Gone is the 100+ year old Royal Restaurant I found 8 years ago when I moved here. Gone is the Royal Restaurant where we ate our last meal in March of 2020, in an old, red-vinyl booth before the world shut down a few days later for the Pandemic. Gone is the Royal Restaurant where we ate our first meal again when it reopened. Let's be real no one was going to the Royal Restaurant for fine, dining, and a 5* meal. What they did go for was the people, I knew them, they knew me. We came in for the feeling of being in a place that wasn't fancy, it wasn't pretentious, the coffee wasn't my favorite either but it was my FAVORITE place to be on a Saturday Morning. Their Sunday buffet was awesome too! Liz and Maria knew my order, they didn't even come to the table to ask, they stopped by for a quick conversation and catch up. I loved the tiled floors, the red vinyl booths. I loved everything about it. My eggs, home-fries and bacon were always great, my English muffin extra crispy, great. It was the total experience, the food was great, the service was fast, the people were awesome. The new Majestic spot, yes, it's pretty, they maximized the space, they provide next level food preparation, and a nice outdoor space. I can appreciate the attention to detail too. We arrived and expected to be seated in the almost empty dining room, instead we were ushered to the outside seating area because of the requirement to reserve a table to eat indoors. (!) the same dining room which remained almost empty when we left, while the outdoor seating was full of the rest of us who didn't have reservations. I could probably say more, change happens, I get it but sometimes it's nice to leave things as they were. Part of what makes a neighborhood spot so great, is the reliability, the people, the feeling of finding your "Spot" when you've moved to a new town, you can't replace over 100 years of that, you just can't. Even seeing Liz and a couple of the former Royal employees still on staff couldn't save the feeling that is gone. If I want to go the Majestic for a fantastic brunch/lunch/dinner, I'll go to the Majestic on King Street. This is not it, they should call the revamped Royal Restaurant, exactly what it is, another Breakfast spot owned by the Majestic.

Very cozy eatery with an olden day vibe. 1. Big establishment with many tables. Big booths and big portions. 2. Food is good. You may just need to order 1 dish and share. It was so much food when we ordered just 2 items, one for each of us and had to take it with us. Really generous portion. #Merica 3. Drinks: fresh coffee available. Won't recommend tea here. 4. Service is nice.

The interior of the restaurant has been updated but retains the ambiance of the original restaurant. The breakfast food menu has been updated. Additional menu items have been added but there are no outstanding dishes. The meal prices have doubled. I did enjoyed my sandwich and the service was outstanding.

Amazing food, great service and ambiance! First time I tried since the renovation and I will be back. Best MEATLOAF in the world! Really topping of corn and string onion rings make this a favorite! Come check it out for yourself!

So excited for The Royal update! My boss and I had discussed our love of diner meatloaf, so when the Royal reopened and had meatloaf on the menu I invited her to meet me for dinner. I ordered a mocktail to start (the Metal Petal) and we split the beet salad-the dressing is spicy, so just keep that mind when ordering (it was very good and different than the usual beet salad). The meatloaf dinner was a HUGE serving (I had told our server initially that I would also be ordering a meatloaf dinner to go for my husband-but cancelled because it was enough for both of us). Everything was very flavorful, next time I would ask them to crisp up the meatloaf a little more (I'm assuming they slice and brown off). When I checked in on Yelp, a coupon for a free dessert popped up and we split the banana cream pie-it is a mini-individual pie, so a perfect sweet treat at the end of a meal. Scott, one of the partners in the restaurant group, stopped us on our way out to mention the breakfast menu and that they had heard the locals concerns and kept the 10 most popular items at the same price they were. I look forward to going back with my husband as there were MANY items on the menu that look delicious.

Had breakfast at 11am and EVERY bite was excellent. Omelette with potatoes toast latte. Keith our server was very professional and pleasant. Absolutely worth a visit.

They have done a wonderful job with the renovations! The bartender was working really hard for happy hour, and also seemed to be a personable guy. The drinks were fantastic and happy hour was a good deal! Cons: At the bar area tables it takes forever to get service. We eventually moved to the bar to get service from the already overworked bartender. The bar is too small for the happy hour they've promoted. Food: My husband loved the HH sliders. I got the HH tacos. Good flavor but the greasiest thing I've ever had. They need to fix that asap. It was gross! All and all, I want them to succeed. If they are serious, with just a few adjustments would make it great!

I was worried when the Royal was changing ownership but the new restaurant group have done a great job! They have managed to keep what was great about the Royal while elevating some the experience. I went with a basic waffle and Bloody this time but I want to go back for the burnt ends. Food looks great!

Drinks, Mimosas especially the pomegranate and guava is absolutely amazing! The Royal Breakfast was good and the Steak Hash is great!

The recent improvements were helpful. There's still a lot of comfort food. Service is still great. It's new ownership but still has the hometown feel.

Staff is always friendly. Food is on point. Not a long wait if you arrive before 11. Omelettes and Waffles are made to order and are very tasty. The coffee is even good here. Always on point. I wish they'd add wings and other pieces of chicken to the brunch menu instead of just legs. Try to be seated in a booth because the tables are way close to each other.

So excited this is open under new ownership (and is the reason it was on our radar as we love Matt and Tony's). Husband and I went the other weekend and we just love the overall vibe and decor of the place. We sat in the bar area and even ran into some friends! The menu is intriguing, and we can't wait to try more. The chicken skewers and crab quesadilla as apps were . Burger was bomb. Cocktails were the cherry on top for our evening. Looking forward to going back!

Royal Cafe is definitely a nice hidden gem in the Alexandria area. Over the years, I've only visited on Sundays to enjoy their all you can eat buffet but they do offer a regular menu for breakfast/lunch/dinner throughout the week also. The service here is amazing! Everyone is friendly and very attentive. Prices are very reasonable and I simply just enjoy the atmosphere. Royal Cafe never leaves me disappointed.

Terrible. What used to be a quaint neighborhood diner (since 1904) has gone "current" after their reopening. This used to be a typical American diner - now it's more of a modern Mexican centric restaurant. The lunch counter is gone - replaced with a bar. The old diner interior is now modern black & white decor. They kept a few of the old dishes - I guess so they can claim they are the same - don't be fooled. No one in our party ate their French fries after their first taste - way too spicy. And big surprise the prices have gone up. It's a shame they are still using the "since 1904" tag - the diner that had been the Royal since then is not this place. So sad.

I have always enjoyed the "old" Royal restaurant, but with the new renovations and menu, it's awesome! I am so happy to see Liz and Anna are still here and enjoying it! The outdoor patio is such a great feature. I look forward to trying out the new happy hour!

My goodness - what a change! The Royal is under new ownership, and they have clearly invested a great deal in renovating the premises. So, starting with the good: much of the longtime staff is still there, and they are wonderful, as always. Moving to the bad: no more onion rings. And the Royal made THE BEST onion rings I've ever had. As for the "Ok - but I wish they didn't" - they have fancied up my old standby Club Sandwich: roasted turkey, ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato - but now it's on ciabatta, and has a fancy sauce. It was good, but honestly I prefer the very plain, very old fashioned version - but the accompanying fires were fantastic. I'll be back, but a plea to the management: please bring back some of the old favorites (the homemade pita bread, the BLT, and most of all, the onion rings!!!!

Food was great, service was great and outdoor space is beautiful! We have been twice in the last two days - the first time we had the smash burger and the brisket hash, both tasted great. The shoestrings fries have a garlic seasoning that is unlike any other fries we have ever had! Jose and Ana were our servers and both did a great job - we will be back for sure!

Snagged bar seats and was waited on by Chris, who was super friendly and accommodating, even though it was insanely busy when we were there due to the marathon. Sausage beignets were awesome, and the espresso martini was the best I've had in a long time. Will definitely be back!

I went to this diner for the first time since it reopened. While prior the food was decent diner food, now it feels like it's trying to be fancier food? However the food is not good at all, even the coffee is bitter. What makes it worse is the service. We arrived at 8am and while the place was empty they made us sit at the counter because they said they had reservations. That seemed a bit odd for a diner, but OK. The counter stools were actually quite comfortable. However, the service was horrible. It took forever to get water and coffee refilled, even though we asked politely many times. To get condiments for our breakfast took multiple asks as well. I can't imagine a time that I will go back there. Honestly, it was better before the renovation.

BLUF: Nothing special. Didn't live up to expectations A friend of mine recommended this place so we went there for brunch on Sunday afternoon. Two of us got the breakfast buffet, one got the avocado eggs benedict, and more got the lamb hamburgers The hamburgers were okay. Not seasoned very well and pretty dry even though we'd ordered them cooked medium. The tzatziki sauce was pretty sparse on them and they didn't fill the bun. They came with a house salad which was a pretty generic iceberg lettuce, one piece of tomato, and some red onion. The avocado eggs benedict was actually pretty tasty. The people who got the buffet were disappointed. It was 1 hour until the buffet was due to end and it became obvious that the restaurant stopped refilling the buffet. Things ran out and weren't refilled. In addition the fried chicken, which look delicious, had pretty much no seasoning on it. Our service was adequate but slow. I don't think I would go back again. What we had there I think we could get about anywhere at the same quality

I loved this place. I'm not a local but if I was, I'd be in there all the time. Really nice happy hour menu seven days a week. Friendly staff and classy, casual atmosphere.

We had an outstanding brunch here recently. I had been here several years ago and loved it then. The service (Kay) was great, the food was awesome and we'll definitely be coming back for the same. 10/10. Would recommend to anyone visiting Alexandria. You will not be disappointed.

What a difference from when we came here years ago. The new management has done a nice job renovating the restaurant and has a solid menu. The crab quesadilla and burnt end empanadas were definitely highlights and highly recommend them. The steak was cooked well and ended up getting a side of their fries which were garlicky and crispy. Ended the meal with a banana cream pie and the roasted apple chimichangas - both were super flavorful (really loved the crust on the pie and the crunch from the chimichanga). Will definitely have to come back for dinner again.

Love this place even before they redid the interior (looks great btw), awesome staff - our server Anna was so nice, very quick, great food. Will be back!

I was excited to see the "new" Royal reopen, especially with its beautiful facelift and the new outdoor seating. However, I must admit that I wasn't as thrilled about the menu. It seems to heavily emphasize southwestern flavors such as ancho, chipotle, mole, and green chilis. Personally, I find it overwhelming. It feels like these flavors are in almost everything, including the desserts. If you don't like those flavors, you are screwed with most of the menu. While I appreciate unique dishes, the "new" Royal is nothing like the old. Please don't get me wrong, the "old" Royal had very average food at best. The "new" menu could use a few basics, or the good old standbys. Not very sexy, but you know what you are going to get when you order it. Chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, potpie, a turkey dinner, or a classic cheeseburger with fries would be fantastic. A basic club sandwich with three slices of bread, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo would be awesome. Simple fries would be great, too ... not with that green powdery stuff on them. I hope the menu evolves to include both unique items and beloved items that cater to different tastes. Until then, I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon.

Loved this place. Happened upon it quite by accident as it blends into its environment. Service was exemplary. Food is slightly pricey ($20/person about) but oh so good! Home fries seasoned to perfection. Coffee outstanding, We were all extremely pleased and have decided we definitely want to go back. Perfect Sunday brunch spot for sure.

very excited about the new happy hour menu!! the large open window in the bar area has is a great view outside!

They just switched to a new menu and everything we had was great! Loved the blueberry pancakes (so light and fluffy with tons of blueberries), the shrimp and grits (so flavorful with huge shrimp!), and the green chili burger (cooked perfectly) with the best crispy fries. Highly recommend!

This is my favorite brunch in old town. They have made to order omelets and waffles with a wide spread of other delectables! Service is excellent with a cheery smile.

We are so happy that The Royal has been redone and been taken over by one of our favorite restaurant groups (BIG MIA'S AND ADA'S FANS HERE)! It's such an upgrade to what it was before - they really put a lot of work into it! AND THE FOOD - I couldn't figure out what I wanted to try first! Our table decided to get a little bit of everything to share since no one could decide. From the smash burger to the creamy grits, from the sausage begneits to the empanandas - everything was off the charts good! We were so surprised considering they had only been re-opened for a week but we cant wait to go back! The Server was very knowledgeable and was very good with handling my allergy too. We are so happy that this neighborhood place had someone give it a refresh - we went here one time when it was open previously and it was dingy and the food was not good at all. WE CANT WAIT TO GO BACK!

This is a review of the "new and improved" Royal, from a neighborhood local who went to the old Royal diner about once a month for weekend breakfast. I'm sure there will be many newcomers to the Royal, as it has spiffed itself up, adding a nice bar to the original front room, outdoor seating that will be all year round, new lighting, paint and reupholstered booths. The basic outline of the old diner is still there. I have to say I miss the old menu. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries, which in the old diner would have been a classic single patty with swiss, lettuce and tomato and regular-sized fries. I received a "smashburger" instead, with garlic shoestring fries. The smashburger was two big patties and had a gooey cheese that ran all over the sandwich, creating a sauce instead of a cheese. There was little crunch to the lettuce - that's why classic diners use iceberg not fancy salad. I don't like garlic so the fries were inedible. (It was also $6 more than the old diner order but it was also not the same item at all.) Good for the longtime Royal family to sell itself to the ALX restaurant group. And I'm happy that we the neighborhood still have a diner. With Mason Social up the street offering a real gastropub experience, I'm afraid my review is just "OKAY" because the new Royal seems to want to be both a local diner and an upscale gastropub. I'm sure these early days will tell the tale. If you live in the neighborhood please continue to patronize the Royal so it doesn't get turned into a bank, a Starbucks or a frozen yogurt joint.

Just tried the Royal Restaurant since it was renovated and the menu was changed. It was excellent! Loved the menu and everything we ordered was delicious. The service was terrific. Highly recommend!

Seated immediately, good service and food came out quick however the positives stop there- green chili omelette was just ok and home fries were so oily that I couldn't finish them. I would not return unless assured the food has a complete overhaul.