Royal Tavern

I recently moved two blocks away from Royal tavern and I already ate there twice. I can just tell that I will be coming here way more often! The fries are DELICIOUS, crunchy and salty! I also had the Chicago hotdog on the last day of dogs of summer and it was the best hotdog I've ever had. Bummed that I have to wait until next year to try all the dogs. But in the meantime, I'll be there eating my way through the menu.

The Grilled Cheese sold me on this place. It has three cheeses (cooper sharp, smoked gouda, and boursin), diced tomatoes, bacon, and garlic confit served on country white bread. When I tell you it was a great combination. I'm willing to drive all the way back down South Philly for another and I don't like to drive. The atmosphere is laid back with low lighting which draws you to the beautiful ceiling.We went on a Thursday evening so it wasn't crowded. It's on street parking with a 2 hour time limit on most blocks.

Good food! The food came out extremely fast and everything we had was very good. I would definitely go back again.

Never had a meal at Royal tavern I didn't like! It's always great! Amazing staff! And like you just can't goWrong!

We came here on a Tuesday night and I was shocked that it was full. We were lucky that there was one empty table.Our waiter Bob was awesome. He was so personable and I felt like we had known him for a long time. The tavern is quite dark. There are some tea candles on the tables. So if you want to take a nice instagrammable picture you definitely need to have additional lighting. Music was a bit loud but you can still have an enjoyable conversation.Burger wasn't big. It was served with some crispy bacon. The burger was not greasy. I was underwhelmed with the burger as I was expecting more flavor from the burger.Side dish kale was more enjoyable. Kale was not tough to chew and had a hint of heat with some rain. Dessert: Payday pudding was very delicious. It had a layer of vanilla and chocolate pudding with caramel topped with roasted sweet and salty peanuts. It can be shared with another person.

Such a good neighborhood spot. I wish they would bring back their Philly veggie cheesesteak. a lot of the recent reviews disparaged their wings. I totally disagree. They are crispy. Have a meat like texture and the sauces are clearly homemade drinks are a little pricey for tavern type place, but it is nice. They have lots of natural wine overall, this is the type of place I would go for a semi special occasion, or if I was in the area and wanted to go to a casual, good dining option not necessarily something I would travel for! Service was great

Updating my review since they re-opened since the pandemic (geez - took you long enough...we missed you!) Royal Tavern remains a delicious restaurant/bar that serves good food, good drinks, lots of vegan/veggie options, small plates, large plates, and just about something for everybody. Is the menu large? No. Is there always something delicious on there? Absolutely. My only problems with Royal Tavern are 1) it's really dark in there 2) it's small 3) it can get crowded/busy and they don't have the best way of handling a wait list and 4) they are being written up about in reviews/papers/etc. so the last 3 things make it even worse. Imagine a very small very dark bar with everybody trying to get in on a Friday night. I mean, good for them! I love this for them...just not for me. I just hope they don't become like other places where you can't just walk in and grab a good burger and a brew - but alas we might already be there. Long story short: Keep up the amazing work, Royal Tavern and everybody else...stay away so your girl can get a table! I'm hungry!

Royal Tavern is a top-notch destination for sandwich lovers. Their menu boasts a variety of fresh, flavorful options, from classic turkey and avocado to inventive combinations like the spicy Italian. The ingredients are high quality, and each sandwich is crafted with care. The staff are friendly, and the service is quick, making it ideal for a tasty lunch on the go. Their grilled cheese is the best. With its inviting atmosphere and consistently great food, Royal Tavern is a must-visit for anyone craving a quality sandwich.

Returned to try the vegan wings that a friend had raved about. I swear this is an 'emperor's new clothes' scenario because these were absolutely the worst vegan wings I've ever had. It wasn't like I had a 'just okay' meal - these were honestly pathetic and frankly embarrassing to serve.For $16, you get just more than a handful of hard shards that are fried to oblivion. They reminded me more of the little scraps you find at the bottom of a frier basket than a 'wing'. There's no 'meat' to them - they're more like very tiny, thin crispy chips.And I've rarely met a sauce or condiment I didn't like, but after trying all four of the dipping sauces, I discovered new levels of bland. None of them made me want to go back for a second dip.I guess I'm missing something with this new menu, but it breaks my heart that it's so far from what it used to be, and instead it's just pricey, small portioned and disappointing. I think this place will be a 'drinks only' joint for me unless the menu gets an overhaul.

I've been back a few times and I have an important update: ROYAL TAVERN HAS THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH IN PHILLY Honestly, it might even be the best grilled cheese sandwich *in the world*