Royal Hen

I recently visited Royal Hen with my husband during the holiday season, and the inside was beautifully decorated with Christmas trees and lighting. It added such a cozy, Hallmark holiday movie ambiance. The place is small, dark, and intimate, which made our dining experience even more special.Our food was great. We started with the tiger prawns and zucchini blossoms. I ordered the mussels with coconut sauce, and my husband went for the scallops with risotto. The mussels were delicious but could've been better quality, as several remained closed after being cooked--more than a quarter of the bowl was like this. Surprisingly, my husband's risotto was cooked to perfection! It's a dish that can easily be messed up, but it was phenomenal!For dessert, we shared the pistachio tartufo, one of our favorite desserts. Even though they were very busy, the service was great, and overall, it was a wonderful restaurant experience.

Nothing bad to say here. Been a few times and will go again. Nice people, friendly service, solid food, and reasonable prices for the area. The Royal Hen is a really solid addition to Balboa.

Love the asparagus appetizer. This is a great place for a date but it gets busy because it's a popular restaurant. The food is tasty and the vibe is very classy-yet relaxed. The bar area is small and I like to sit there with my friends.

Being a customer here is a privilege... this adorable sweet piece of heaven is not only adorable but one of the few remaining owner run and owned establishments. Where do I start...the amazing staff or the incredible food. Worldly wines paired with exceptional cuisine... this is a don't miss on balboa island!

Cute ambiance, but our food was under-seasoned and forgettable. It wasn't bad, just not what I expect when paying high prices for pub food. It should be cravable and inventive. It was just kinda ok.

romantic dinner! Food was amazing! Wine was perfect! Dog enjoyed it ! ambience was great sat outside! staff was attentive! Try this restaurant you won't be disappointed!

This is more like a 3.5 star review. Always wanted to visit and finally we did. Easy to make a reso on Resy. Arrived on time to a full restaurant. Service overall was a little slow. The server mentioned it. We let it slide multiple times but at some point we just felt disconnected and ignored. Opted for the miche bread, Brussels caesar, and fish and chips and two drinks. Kinda crazy we paid $12 for bread IMO. I would've enjoyed less of a portion for free. Caesar salad was just ok. Overdressed. Grilled chicken added on was tasteless and dry. Salad was wilted overall. A mix of arugula, romaine and Brussels, and yes, spicy from the arugula. The star of the meal was the fish and chips. Crisp batter with flaky fish. The fries were also outstanding. Loved that all three dipping sauces came alongside the fish. Had to ask multiple times for share plates, boxes and the check. Did not get offered refills. Cozy ambiance. More of a bar with a restaurant. Might return. Parking can be challenging since it's on the Island.

My favorite place on Balboa Island. Always delicious. Don't miss the zucchini blossoms. The Brussels sprouts Caesar salad is fantastic too.

My lovely friends and I rsvp to try something new. The ambience of the place was very comforting. Welcoming, and all the staff were on point on their service. Loved the menu was small with great dishes. Owner was very awesome. Her and her staff were awesome. I would recommend.

Fantastic owners - the kind that work the bar and know your name. Patio seating is great to pet all the dogs walking by and be out enjoying dinner whilst really getting the feel of balboa. Food is all pretty solid too.