The Royal Room Seattle

$23-30, we had cocktails vs. beers. I'd have to say, Seattle is much better off with The Royal Room in it. Yet, live music never gets going until AFTER Happy Hour, and/or I want to be home. It must be the traffic. The Royal Room has started a free (no cover) Happy Hour in the outer bar area, 4-6. I saw an old guy trio, and had some impressive Yam Chip appetizer. Pints & Well Drinks at a decent price, and a casual place. We were't the youngest folks there, as one guy without any grey hair met his parents there. But, the acts that followed up were sure to pack in a few dozen. OK, round 2. We, arrive at 5:09, and they take a break. We just could not plan any better than that, contractor and traffic. No issues. Their singer is killing it with Dad jokes after songs. And, the Happy Hour tacos are VERY tasty, and almost as messy. My wife's yam chips came in handy as utensils for plate cleanup. Very fast turn around.

Under recent new management, it seems like we're getting more exciting acts. Drinks are good. Food is pretty good, and the service is great. You can sit at the bar if you don't want to have a meal and the view of the stage is still excellent. If you want to have dinner, I strongly recommend making a reservation for one of the tables, they fill up regularly with a good act. The sound is quite good for a space of this nature.

This was our second visit to the Royal Room, each time to see the wonderful Jovino Santos Neto Quintet. We love the casual neighborhood vibe and intimate layout of the club. The lighting is comfortable, including some amusing black cut-outs that look like a hand making shadow puppets, back-lit. The tables on the main floor are quite small. The stage lighting and audio system were very well designed, "Goldilocks" style (not too loud, not too muffled, but just right). The drinks and service are great; the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating. The food is lackluster, but priced accordingly (not jacked-up for a captive audience). The club has a somewhat clumsy but workable reservation system: you first reserve your seats for the performance, then are sent to a third-party site to purchase tickets, then return to the club's site. After doing this, you have reserved seats (including your name on a specific, reserved table), and a dinner reservation, and paid tickets. Parking is available a few blocks away at a neighborhood parking lot on S. Ferdinand St. with very low per-hour prices.

I went here with my family for a scalpels night. There was many people there and everyone had a good vibe. It was very busy so the service was a little slow but when the food got here it was pretty good.

Gave me the old Seattle vibes inside with some tight tables on the floor. The music was great but food were not the best. Beef stew is tender but practically have not flavor. Po boy was a little better. Service was a little awkward ever since we sat down till the bill came. Hope it’s a little bit more welcoming.

The royal room never disappoints. I think they have music six days a week. I’ve seen national regional and local band bands there. Sound has always been great. Services always been great. Food was always good.

must-visit if u r in seattle! A fantastic, great live-jazz! I visited on a Monday evening, and there was no admission fee.

Gorgeously naturally lit intimate venue in a historic part of town with high tops and tables. Easy to sit up close for an act you're there to see or easy to sit a little further if you're surprised to find a show on your visit. But if you're going to see a show here, don't expect to be thrashing around on the floor in front of the stage Menu looked delicious - and there's a ✨ great✨ full length selfie mirror by the bathrooms 😄

This is a classic, old Seattle vibe. Definitely a must for live music. Drinks were decent, and service was friendly. Our table had the chicken wings, tacos, burger and fish and chips. The chicken wings were good but everything else left much to be desired. Will be back but maybe just for the drinks and music.

I was there for a private event and had a wonderful time. The bar had great selection of drinks and food.

Great venue for music. Decent food. Good service. I like sitting in the back booths.. plenty of room to move. Enjoy this place every time!

They have live music which is awesome! The drinks are extremely strong, which can be good or bad depending on what type of night you're going for!

The music was great, the catfish and greens were delicious, the wine was red and wet; but the service was unfortunately absolutely awful. We actually went to the bar to place our food and drink order, because we didn't see a server for way too long, and we got our food before the table next to us even got their drinks! Then their server never came back to refill their water or drinks. It's a great place, and I feel bad for writing this, but that server needs to go. Sadly sweetie, waitressing is not your calling. ‍

The event I attended was a university students' performances. There were three lineups and I was there to support my friend's son perform. Anyhow it is a little cute venue and I love the fact that they encourage young kids artistic values. The service was great. The waitresses came around to check in so many times for our drinks and I would go back to this venue again. The only thing is it was little scary to walk about tao blocks away to where I parked after 11 pm.

I love a good jazz performance and was excited for my first event here. Street parking was easy to find near the venue. I visited during the pandemic so they were verifying COVID vaccine cards and IDs at the door - much appreciated. The venue is on the smaller side so you won't have to deal with large crowds. However it is all-ages until late at night so you may see children there on occasion. There is a bar area as well as a set of tables for viewing the stage. Event pricing is typically low cost but you can see some great shows here. They have a bar and a kitchen so you can enjoy food and cocktails during the show. The food menu isn't minimal either. You can get a burger, tacos, pasta, fish, salads, sandwiches, and even a few desserts. I opted for the cheeseburger with fries and enjoyed the meal with a couple glasses of wine. Will definitely be returning for another show soon!

Food is nothing special, but the live music has to be some of the best in the PNW. Servers are friendly and unobtrusive. Plenty of room to dance, cool artwork, talented and knowledgeable sound mixing. We have been twice for salsa/Latin concerts and both times, the music was smokin

Came here for Mardi Gras and despite them being increasingly busy, service was still awesome. The food was delish, drinks were poured just right and the ambiance of the music was perfect. No place like it in Seattle. If you want a nice meal and the experience of a small stage with incredible music, the Royal Room is the place to go.

Loved this venue, and the show. We got there early, about 6:30 for a 7:00 reservation. We didn't know that they didn't open the doors until 7, which is somewhat strange. We wanted to go in and have a drink before dinner, but that wasn't possible. We had great seats, as we arrived early. I felt sorry for the people who had tables in the middle of the room, as they couldn't move their chairs back far enough to get out for a rest room visit, or to stand up. I would have hated sitting there. They really need to remove just one table from the center of the room, it would give people so much more comfort. The waitress was nice and attentive. The food was very good, I had the salmon cakes and salad. Delicious, even though there wasn't enough dressing on the salad, and the waitress didn't come back to check when I really needed more dressing. All in all, we had a wonderful time at the Royal Room. I would recommend!

Came to hear some Klezmer music on a Sunday evening. Very attentive servers, good selection of drinks and some very creative food options. I had a burger which was fine, but I saw a barley risotto with cauliflower and mushrooms that looked great. A really great music venue!

Here for Mardi Gras Night, 2020, Beatwalk. I marched with the Mardi Gras band here on the sidewalks of Columbia City earlier. The Royal Room has jazz, Salsa, Blues, Live Vocals, High School jazz bands, and R and B bands. It gets really crowded very early on weekends to get a seat.

Great place to see live music, especially jazz but they present various genres. The dinner a menu offers delicious, flavorful dishes and many of the drinks are unique and creative. Service I received at the Royal Room has always been top notch.

Great look, good music but the food and drinks are a let down. I was there to see a show recently and it was perfect to do just that. The stage is huge compared to some places and the tables weren't packed in so you can enjoy your night. The décor gives the place a great feel. The total staff seemed small and it shows. They were doing double duties. Once they got your order, they ignored you. 3 times I tried to flag them down for the check but they ignored me. I watched them so they didn't have food to deliver or have orders taken. They were in their own world at times. As for food, just get the fries here. I would have suggested the hummus as well but they serve the pita without any color on it so they just took it out of the bag. The mussels are a warning because they don't clean then we'll enough. The bowl is small but I found 3 mussel beard as well as other grit. Just get a beer here as the mixed drinks are a glass of ice with some liquid, so unless you sip your drink gone in no time. It's a great place but with big flaws.

Another South-Seattle concert venue with Latin-American inspired food. Woo, more plantains! Plantains are delicious, but why are they the new deep-fried cauliflower of concert venues? They're more or less cholesterol fried in cholesterol with a mild, pleasing, crunch. The alcohol, in the words of our server, "isn't as sweet as you'd think" for any cocktail. They're all way too savory. Would probably not order the dark rum Mojito again. Would probably just stick to water. Wasn't worth the buzz. It's a very intimate venue for shows, so if you're going for that alone, it may deserve a higher rating. The food is edible, the cocktails are average, but it's a solid event space. I'd go back; just probably edit my order a little.

Seating in front of the stage was a bit cramped and service seemed a bit understaffed or slow. But everything else was AMAZING! Food was great! We had the mussels, poutine, hummus and a round of drinks. A bit pricey, but still had a great time. The sound was perfect and not ear splitting/cracking. It sounded like we were listening to a CD or Ashley Simpson on SNL! I'm finding myself wanting to come here again and hearing other performances here too. We founding parking on the street easy to find on a Sunday afternoon. The city has improved since the days I was living around here as a kid some decades ago. Afterwards we found some nice spots around to hang out at and grab some grub and a few drinks too. We did hear that the changing room for performers needed quite a bit of attention because it was small and did smell a bit like a cat litter. So I hope they fix that so more performers would be happy to return to do a show. All in all...super nice spot!

I've been coming to the Royal Room for a few years now. Their food is always fantastic, the staff is always friendly and helpful. For example, last night, I ordered a grapefruit and soda. The waiter repeated it back to me and we each thought we heard the other (through masks and while music was playing). When he brought me "Woodford and soda" (bourbon), I explained our miscommunication, and he immediately fixed it, apologizing for the mistake -- even though it was really both our faults. The venue is a great place to listen to music, the acoustics are great, and there's not a bad seat in the house. They've maintained a mask policy (ie: keep one on if you're not eating/drinking) and proof of vaccination for entry. I tend to see jazz shows, so this is a benefit for the older crowd that tends to be at these performances as well as the performers. Overall, they are one of my favorite venues in Seattle.

I love the vibe and energy of the Royal Room. It reminds me of a jazz joint from a long time ago-tables in the main room, tall 2-tops near the bar. Drinks are about the Seattle average, $11 for a fancier cocktail (if you like a hot toddy, the honey ginger one will give you the warm fuzzies) wells and beers are cheaper. Service is good, responsive but not over the top. We prefer to come for drinks and music but in the past the appetizers we've had were fine. I appreciate what the Royal Room brings to Columbia City and if it wasn't such a trek from Ballard we'd probably become regulars. Dress up a little, listen to some good music and knock a couple back-you won't be disappointed.

Intimate venue with live music, good seats and good food! Friendly staff made sure we all had a fun time! I had the fish tacos with rice and beans and they were all quite tasty. I didn't come in expecting much except the concert and was pleasantly surprised at how great the evening turned out to be!

I came here to catch a jazz show with a good friend. We were quite hungry so we started with a couple of appetizers and opted to split a main entrée. I ordered The Jack made with Gosling's black rum, lime juice, ginger beer, with a float of Cointreau served on the rocks with lime. The drink was so good that I ordered two! Our appetizers arrived: some garlic chicken wings and their poutine. The wings and drumettes were tossed in a house-made garlic ginger sauce garnished with green onions and served with celery. I felt that $12 was too pricey for the amount we received. The Poutine Roja were house-cut fries topped with carne asada, provolone cheese, onions, and cilantro, then slathered in their house-made salsa roja. The poutine also had sautéed mushrooms but we got those on the side since my friend isn't a fan. This was the same price as the chicken wings. Shortly after we polished off our appetizers, our Pork Adobo arrived - braised cubed pork simmered in their house-made adobo sauce, served with rice and black beans. We both felt it was a large portion for $16.50 and we were nicely full. My friend craved something sweet so to finish the evening's meal, he picked a bowl of apple cobbler served à la mode! The seats were comfortable and all the tables seemed to have good sight lines. There were donation envelopes on each table that you could give to your server or drop in a box attached to the wall. 100% of donations go to the performing musicians. I thought that was a nice touch. I would definitely return to The Royal Room for a performance or to enjoy their Happy Hour. Street parking can be limited but I think not too hard in the streets behind the main street. We scored a spot right in front but judging by previous experiences, I'd say arrive with a little extra time so you don't miss your evening's festivities.

i've only been here twice, and the first time was a good experience. We opted to sit in the back because they will only reserve a table if you have dinner. That turned out fine, and we enjoyed the music. Last week we went to see a show we really wanted to be closer for, so I tried to make a reservation for dinner, but was told they wouldn't let us in til 8:30 because of an earlier show. But dinner is still required for a 9pm show? We showed up at 8:30 to find out they were sold out - standing room only - even though they say they save some unreserved tables. Our server came to take our drink order, brought it quickly, and then we didn't see her for over an hour! In fact the only reason we did see her was I tracked her down so we could pay our bill and leave. Lucky we weren't really hungry!

They support live LOCAL music, and for that I have to give them big humungous ginormous kudos...a virtual standing ovation. But really...you cannot take food and non-alcohol drinks home with you? Mr. Rude bartender (probably not his given name, but very fitting) acted as if I had just asked him a huge and really inconvenient favor by ordering (strange....I thought that was how it works at a bar) a wine for me and lemonade for my daughter. I tipped him anyway (I regret it now) even though he didn't seem to feel the need to muster up any friendliness or even speak a word to me beyond the price. But when we had to leave soon after, and my 8 year-old daughter hadn't finished her very expensive glass of lemonade and wanted to take it (in a to-go cup obviously), he stated that, "Nothing can leave the premises". Period. Now I assume he meant food and drink , though who knows as no further explanation was offered. No apology for the inconvenience. No more words. Really? Really? I don't believe it. Why? Honestly, don't go here unless you are supporting the music. In that case l, DO go there. Also in that case, apparently don't expect to take anything you don't finish home with you (really?), and more importantly, don't expect to be treated with respect by the bartender. It is a shame because I love that they support live music, but I really am not a huge fan of being treated like my family and my business is an inconvenience. You can easily go somewhere else with similarly expensive and good food, and other places might even provide you with a to-go container as is the norm here in the United States. I know I will go somewhere else with my money when possible...and avoid ordering much when I am there to support the music.

This is a totally welcome addition to Columbia City! The music is nice, the food is great and the vibe is chill. The bartenders I've gotten were really cool and friendly. Great drinks and tasty food. The low lighting is warm and inviting. I like how the 2 sections seem different: the left side with the bar and some corner seating is more dimlit with low ceiling and the right side with the stage and more seating is ambiently more lit and spacious. Their cocktail menu of 4 resembles the Four Face Cards: Jack, Queen, King and Ace. Which I suppose is also related to the name (think Royal Flush or other card terms). It'd be nice to get a bar seating foot rest. One thing I noticed was during one of the event nights with cover, for about half my visit, there was no playing from the band (it seemed like they were on a break, still tuning, doing whatever, etc). Hopefully it's nothing but kinks getting smoothened out...

Haven't been to Columbia City in a long time, and I'm really pleased to see how it has gentrified. Many great places to dine and spend time, and The Royal Room is one of those places. THE ROSES: Remarkably good food for the price point. My chicken enchiladas were definitely not your typical 'Tex-Mex Combo Platter' fare. The sauce had great heat and flavor, and the enchiladas were served on a bed of rice with braised kale (!). Many other dishes were unexpectedly spicy. If you like strong flavor profiles and aggressive seasoning, TRR is for you! THE THORNS: The restaurant was a bit understaffed, leaving a usually pleasant (but occasionally harried) bartender left with working both the bar and the dining room. THE VERDICT: The Royal Room is definitely a 'keeper'. Eclectic menu, tasty food, and reasonable prices more than compensate for occasional service issues. By all means check this place out!

This place could stand and definitely CAN afford to update some things... Tables are sticky and the chairs tacky, and chair legs loose. Bathroom was an absolute nightmare and the toilet would not even flush the last users deuce. I went with the $20 chicken enchiladas. Please never do this. They were brought out to me COLD, they were very bland, and again, COLD! Horrifying! Could not get half of the way through it. If I am ever forced to eat here again, I will go with a salad, because you can not mess up lettuce. Right?? Wait staff were rude and walked past me despite me having made eye contact and continually waving. Acoustics alright. Only positive.

The Royal Room is a hidden gem in Columbia City where you can find amazing live music for free from local artists. Since I didn't try their food, my review is on drinks, the live music, and the customer service experience. Overall, I give The Royal Room a 3.5/4 star rating. After happy hour at Tutta Bella's across the street on a Friday night, my friends and I headed over to The Royal Room to grab a drink. It's an all ages music venue (before 10 pm), so it wasn't out of place to see a kid or two sitting closeby. Five days out of the week, they have free music and performers get paid by the generous, voluntary donations from the crowd. The atmosphere was relaxing and intimate. We luckily stumbled across singer Ayron Jones with the R&B voice of Chris Brown and the accoustic guitar skills of John Mayer. I definitely loved singing along to all his great covers of "Billy Jean" and "Ain't No Sunshine." We wanted to sit in the dining area close to the stage,so we had to meet a $10 minimum/person (which you can easily hit by ordering a cocktail). However, there's really not a bad seat in the house and next time I would probably just sit in the bar. The customer service was okay (not mind blowing), but our waitress was generally nice. My main disappointment though was my drink order (Ginger Hot Toddy for $9 and a bottle of champagne to share @ $28). Unfortunately, the Ginger Hot Toddy didn't have a description of how they made it, so I was disappointed when it ultimately was a hot, medicinal tasting tea with a splash of vodka. I love hot tea, but it felt like an old lady drink better suited for a cold than a cocktail from a bar. The champagne was also average tasting, and not worth $28 a bottle. However, despite the disappointing drink order, I loved the musical vibe of The Royal Room and would come back for another show to see some local bands in Seattle.

The management here should be ashamed of their abysmal performance. After repeated attempts to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Royal Room, I finally give up! If you can't staff your place even minimally, why are you even in business?! It should not take over an hour JUST TO ORDER FOOD, especially with a reservation. And forget about getting drinks, all night long. "Understaffed" is a maybe understatement. The only reason I'm giving it two starts instead if one is because of the atmosphere and great sound, but it's kind of hard to enjoy yourself when you can't get a damn drink or bite to eat... Seriously people, HIRE SOME FREAKING WAIT STAFF. I have never EVER had a good experience here, which is a total shame because the food is good and the music is great. You suck. I'm done.

Went for a Jazz gig with friends and this place is impressive! It is an intimate venue where the performers are right at your front. The sound and lighting are excellent, I truly enjoyed the show. The food is also pretty decent and the price is reasonable. Got blackened fish tacos and they were delicious. Good drink menu, with quite some choices from the mocktail section which I appreciate a lot. This venue is a little tricky to get a table when there is a performance. You have to get a performance ticket, but that only allows you to enter the door, but not guarantee a table. Be sure to "email" (sorry no call) the venue ahead of the time to reserve a table. Better to do it 24 hours before the show to secure a good spot. The line is long before door opens. Service could be slow because it is a little understaffed but not a deal-breaker. Street parking are not too difficult in the neighborhood. A very interesting place and definitely would visit again.

Beautiful ambience, generous sized drinks, excellent bartender and great acoustics... what more can you ask for from a music venue? I love the Steinway piano that they have on stage for the performers, the generous sized drinks that are fairly priced, and the seating arrangements at this place. We saw "En Canto" here with a bunch of friends and there was plenty of room to dance. The service is excellent... our waitress was always available and checking in on us. Columbia City is an awesome neighborhood with plenty of restaurants to go to before a show. The Royal Room also has some food choices. (I've also only had the charcuterie plate, which was pretty generous for $15). The Royal Room has some great live music acts and I would highly recommend this place for its sound quality and vibe!

Top notch music venue! Got to see a fantastic Portland band here on our visit. Farnell Newton Band accompanied local Seattle band, Industrial Revelation, at the show tonight. People were packed in enjoying the funky music, dinner, drinks and good company. We ordered drinks. Prices were reasonable and selection was good. $6 beer and wine. Food looked tasty but I can't vouch for it since we had a huge dinner before going to the Royal Room. The stage was easy to see from most seats. Unfortunately, if you were by the bar it was hard to see the stage due to the wall between the rooms. Fortunately, you can hear just as well anywhere in the Royal Room. Sound guy was spot on. Balance between the musicians in the space was excellent. I will definitely visit again when I'm in Seattle!

Based on their food and the FACT THEY CHARGE for soda water this place gets a 3. Their servers and service and venue are great...but let's talk about the Mac and Cheese w/Chicken. Take a look at the photo and tell me how it is they charge $4.00 for that little amount of chicken. I counted 25 tid-bit pieces thrown on top. And then when I bit into it there was no flavor.

Here for an hour, the wait staff still hasn't taken an order. So glad I bothered making reservations. The stage for live music is good but the single bar tender means no drinks are flowing. Sad!

Love live music and this place is jamming staff is chill food is great things and stuff again I dont like that yelp wants me to use so many words I and saying it a great place that should be enough

The food here is better than it need be. The service here is better than it need be. The music variety is unmatched in the area. This is what Seattle should be. But isn't. Thank you.

This place comes from a long and venerable culinary tradition within the world of jazz clubs--this means, if you're not picky about food, you can easily knock The Royal Room up to five stars. But everything else about the place, from bar to live room, is as perfect as can be. First off, the reclamation of old space here is wonderful. They have taken everything back to the bare walls and ceiling and started again. The stage, mix board, and acoustics are all clearly placed with an ear toward maximum enjoyment of live music--they put as many people as possible in direct visual and audio contact with the band. They've added baffling and curtains to keep the sound from getting too wild. They haven't wasted a lot of flash cash on overdone furnishings or bathrooms--you see reclaimed materials wherever possible, but everything's clean and nice and smells good. There's a full bar off to the side, with a solid lineup of beers, wines, and spirits. They keep their tap lines clean and pour a nice pint of beer. The menu is a couple pages, and very well thought out. Good apps, entrees, and desserts, with interesting specials thrown in. Unfortunately, the recipes aren't quite as good--virtually everything tastes like it's out of a can or a box, with the exception of the bread. There's nothing wrong with it, but there's so much good eating on these blocks, and a lot of times, the music doesn't start here until after the dinner hour. They're almost ordering you to dine elsewhere. But that's OK. You'll be alright if you come early for a good seat and eat here, because the music is what matters. And they support the hell out of the music. On one Monday night they presented a very experimental post-bop quartet, an ambitious 13-piece big band conducted by the guy who owns the joint (Wayne Horvitz), who got great playing and tight listening out of everyone. The headliners were an already-accomplished new five piece, the Majestical Quintet, featuring a bunch of local veterans. The 13-piece had multiple musicians from both of the other bands. This is exactly what makes a healthy music scene--everybody playing together, everybody taking chances with what they're playing, and playing their hearts out. The scene they're cultivating here is impressive. When it comes to the music, they leave an envelope on your table for you to cash in. $15 or $20 a head feels like the right donation, so the musicians can get paid. This is one of the coolest things happening in Seattle right now. Between here and Paratii, there's definitely room for people to play jazz in a low-key environment where people really want to hear the music, and hear it played well.

I don't need much convincing to travel to Columbia City, a neighborhood with an intimate community feel that's older, more human-scale, and more deeply rooted than the sophomoric and often sterile cookie-cutter neighborhoods of Seattle. Royal Room is no exception -- To sit at a table is to bask in the character of a lived-in, comfortable and well loved space... and travel backwards in time to one's childhood (or perhaps just to a different place), where the buildings and markets are older, lower to the ground, and, are simply repurposed with each passing decade (as opposed to being demolished). Lately, we came for the lovely Chef Tarik Abdullah's unspeakably great Morning Star, a Mediterranean inspired pop-up brunch, which was simply divine! The meal was a sensory experience, from the live music provided by Kaffein to the friendly atmosphere and service to the wonderful tastes. It goes without saying, the sumac spiced granola (with coconut yogurt and mint leaves) and the vanilla bean pancakes with apricot compote were winners. I love love loved the pancakes!! FYI, chef's doing more of these... so google his name if you want in!!

One of Seattle's completely essential music venues. Community, collaboration, experimentation, and transcendence all live here if you look in the right place. The city owes a great debt to its founders.

Only the sound of fine musicians could wash down the most pedestrian charcuterie and cheese plate in the city. It was as if a long-neglected refrigerator meat/cheese drawer was raided and combined with a day old crusty loaf and last season's green grape rejects. A cool $15 down the drain. I'm still chewing as I write this.

This place is super cool. I wish I lived closer to come here more often. If you are going to a popular show then get your tickets online and get there early so that you have a seat. I was left with two seats in the back by the bar. The sound is amazing so I could hear everything but I felt far away from the stage and it was distracting to have people walking back and forth. I didn't eat anything but the food looked great. Walking to the bathroom during a quiet part was a little awkward because the artists could see you sneak near the stage.

They seem to have really stepped up theirs service game over the last few months. I have to say, I love this place. The music is great, the food has a lot of vegetarian options. I do wish they would ask people to be more quiet during performances, but otherwise one of my favorite spots in Seattle.

Did not expect to find this gem in this neighborhood. Awesome live music, great service by the staff, well priced drinks and the food was alright. I ordered the mac n cheese which was exactly what I needed after drinking all day. The only thing that I thought could have been better was just a pinch more salt but super creamy and nicely portioned. Our waitress was awesome at checking up on us and being super responsive. The feel of the Royal Room is very warm and inviting, kind of a place you could imagine smoking a few cigars in......if only you could do that. The live music they had going on that night was amazing. Leaving the bar had a good laugh with a woman in one of those scooters selling warm pot cookies and said "What do you expect you're in Rainier Valley!" Best end to the night ever.

Came here today for another event. The waitress asked if we wanted anything to drink, but as we had just sat down, we asked her to come back in a couple of minutes. She never came back. Tried to get her attention throughout the presentation, but it seemed as though she didn't want to make eye contact. Very bummed out we didn't get to eat dinner or even get a glass of water. Previously: Came for the Owl presentation- Menus tempted us, so we ordered poutine roja. Tasted like bbq, not sure if I'd rather have gravy (personal preference). Dish was quite lukewarm, but meat was tender. 3/5 Service- A very friendly lady welcomed and seated us. Only thing is our waiter never refilled our waters, and we couldnt quite locate him (albeit we were located in a corner). Location- the place is quite nice and cosy, pretty cool set up.

Great Venue for local music! Good times with good people! When I sit down and want to relax to some good vibes, eats, and drinks...this place marks the spot.

As a music venue this place is top notch, one of Seattle's best and it contributes to the musical community by hosting student and professional concerts. As a dining venue, meh. However when we mentioned issues with our meals the server was more than generous with compensation, that we didn't ask for. The risotto isn't so much a risotto as a soup and it's salty and didn't quite have all of the things that the menu said it should have. The stew was spicy and it didn't say in the description that it would be. The apple dessert was obviously microwaved, and wasn't really a cobbler and didn't have a lot of flavor -- so I recommend a pass on that one, folks. Next time I will probably order the charcuterie because it looked pretty good. The table next to us ordered the hummus and seemed to enjoy it so maybe small plates are better than large ones. The rest of our experience was wonderful, great musicians, decent service. Though our server was a bit overwhelmed she was still accessible and really worked her tail off.

The Royal Room is a vital part of Columbia City, and the Seattle music scene. They play a vital role in supporting acts that might not otherwise have a place to play - younger acts, etc. Also, they are big supporters of jazz, and some incredible stuff can be seen here. For that, they will have my support. That being said, the rest of the place is, well, not that good. I've been going here for years, and quite frankly, the food is, and always has been pretty mediocre. Service for the most part is good, but can be hit or miss. I really wish they would take the time and effort to revamp the menu/kitchen and make and serve some really good meals here. It's great that there are ways for the audience to "pay" the musicians - through envelopes on the table, or (sometimes -- I've had conflicting experiences with this method -- sometimes told there isn't enough "money in the till" to pay off the band) via your tab.

This place is cute, cozy, and relaxing. I came in on a rainy day and I walked into live piano playing. It is pretty spacious as well. I came for HH, I got the house white which was only 3 bucks. They don't have HH food though, I go the museels and clams dish with dipping bread on the side. I did enjoy it-it was good, but nothing special. Service was great, friendly and attentive. They even have a dance floor for those who love dancing.

I've been to a couple of shows here and have really enjoyed myself. I like the way the stage is set up and how the tables are in the back and she kind of reminds me of a dinner theater vibe. I like that they showcase local artists I feel like my musical horizons have expanded because of that. T

Great ambience - reminds me of my favorite bluesy eclectic old-style neighborhood bars in New Orleans.

Went here for a concert even a couple months ago. Really enjoyed the atmosphere. Great food and drinks. The place isn't too big so you feel like you can really enjoy the band, not matter what seat you have in the house.

The Royal Room is a little bit out of the way for me, but I'm glad I made the trip. The acoustics and sound quality were great for my friend's jazz group's performance, and even when people were talking and there was a bit of a hum, we could still hear the music well. While the house was packed, the hostess was able to make sure everyone had a seat. The drinks we got were pretty decent, but I think the food is a bit pricey for what you get. Service was a bit on the slow side, but since we were there to enjoy the show and not necessarily for a meal, that wasn't a problem for me. So while I wouldn't necessarily go back for just food, it's definitely a good place to catch a show!