The Royal

The Royal in Washington DC truly lived up to its name during Winter Restaurant Week, offering a dining experience that left me thoroughly impressed. For a steal of $40, I enjoyed a three-course meal that was not only delicious but also incredibly generous in portion size.Let's start with the Brussels sprouts. Crispy, tangy, and savory, they were perfectly balanced and utterly addictive. I practically devoured the entire bowl myself, and I'd happily return just for them.Next up was the masa gnocchi. While a touch salty for my personal preference, the dish was undeniably delicious. The use of masa created a unique texture, making the gnocchi light and flaky rather than dense.To conclude the meal, the carrot cake was a decadent treat. Rich, moist, and flavorful, it was the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic dinner. The portion was substantial, making it ideal for sharing (though I confess, I didn't want to!).The generosity of the portions was truly noteworthy. These were not your typical restaurant week "taster" sizes; they were practically full-sized dishes, making The Royal an excellent value, even outside of Restaurant Week.Beyond the food, the service was impeccable. Our server was attentive, friendly, and offered excellent suggestions, enhancing the overall dining experience.The restaurant itself is cozy and intimate. It's a relatively small space, so reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak hours. The outdoor seating, which I'll definitely be trying when the weather warms up, looked charming. I also loved the fact that The Royal transforms into a cafe during the day. I'm already planning a return visit to explore their daytime menu - it looked incredibly inviting.In short, The Royal offered an exceptional Restaurant Week experience. From the delicious food to the attentive service and charming atmosphere, it's a must-try for anyone looking for a memorable meal in DC. Highly recommended!

I was really excited to try this restaurant, but my experience was meh and left me desiring more. Starting with the reservations, you are required to supply a credit card in order to reserve a table as you will be charged a $20 per person cancellation fee if you cancel your reservation with less-than 24 hour notice. This was a first for me, but I went ahead because I really wanted to go. Next, the service is non-existent. Once you're seated, the only time you see someone is when they drop off your food as all ordering is done via QR Codes at the table. My first item was the "Walk Through the Autumn Leaves" coffee which was disappointing - not much flavor at all. After I looked over the menu and decided what to order I was unable to order it because, unbeknownst to me, the menu changed at some point to an afternoon menu. Again, no one to communicate this information which was frustrating. I picked something from the new menu and ordered my meal. My food looked good, but considering it was set at a different table before the food runner realized it wasn't theirs and THEN brought it to me, I was a little uncomfortable with that. Usually when food is given to the wrong person, it is not then retrieved and given to someone else, but that's exactly what happened. Also that bowl of fries with a drizzle of cheese sauce and scallions was $12!! I'm not sure what I expected, but I definitely expected more for that price. They tasted ok, but nothing special for sure. No one ever came to check on us after our food/drinks arrived to ensure we were ok, nor did anyone clear glasses/dishes from the table once we were finished with them. When it came time to leave, we even had to go inside ourselves to retrieve boxes for our food. I'm not opposed to the self-ordering system that is used here, but having someone check in on people would be nice, at the very least. We paid our bill and left. Overall, I felt there was no service at all which was really unfortunate considering that they suggest a 22% tip at checkout! I likely won't be back based on this experience.

The service was average. The ambience was amazing though. The pork empanadas were great. The empanada shell was masa-based and had a unique flavor and texture. Though I'd have preferred the shell flakier. The vinegar-based sauce was pungent and lovely. It did however take forever to receive the appetizer. The beverages were nothing to write home about. The matcha flavor barely came through in the latte. The open sesame had a unique flavor. Overall, I won't return.

The Royal is a new favorite for sure! This place is so cozy. I tried their specialty latte in honor of girl scout season, and it was perfection. I'm a sipper by nature! So if I drink something fast, trust that it's for a reason! The flavor was subtle but perfectly nutty, super creamy, and just an extremely satisfying sip. Definitely one of the best seasonal lattes I've had in a while. If I'm paying 7 dollars for a latte I want it to taste like this.

This place is really good! I've always wanted to go. We loved every dish we ordered - lots of gluten free options too! I will definitely be back.

I've never been disappointed when I come by The Royal! The first time I dropped in for lunch with a friend and had the citrus kale salad and more recently had dinner and picked the burger. Both options were delicious and the service was so fast and nice! This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood because it can fit so many different kinds of vibes for whatever you're looking for

My husband and I came in for our anniversary at the end of June and had such a wonderful experience! We got to sit on the small but adorable patio on a perfect summer evening. The staff were absolutely incredible, so kind and patient. They even gave us free champagne for our special night! My husband and I both ordered seasonal cocktails that were absolutely divine! Honestly choosing a drink was so hard, everything sounded good. We then split the empanadas which were crisp and full of flavor! Pretty large too. For main course I ordered the masa gnocchi which had the most delicious hand made gnocchi! My husband got the crispy pork belly and it tasted amazing! Such a memorable and special meal for us!

Booked our table for 4 online and we were early so they let us get drinks at the bar and then transferred it to our tab. The staff were awesome and attentive. You order and pay from the QR code and service was quick. My friend ordered the Cherry Blossom Cold Brew (cherry blossom, tart cherry, cardamom, colombian) and loved it. I got the Open Sesame which is a tasty decaf option. We also hot a guava pastry for the table, egg sandwiches, and Calentado. Everyone loved their food. I know I'm going to daydream about that egg sandwich because i'm from out of town and I'll probably be a long time before I have one again! It wasn't too busy on a Sunday morning at 1 but I would book a table in case. It's nice that it wasn't noisy. Also I love their decor and cute bathrooms! The beer handles behind the bar are so unique.

The place is very cute but very small, reservations are absolutely recommended. The server came to our table exactly once to talk to us and bring water and tell us to scan the QR code. Then he never talked with us again. We ordered through Toast, and everything we ordered came quickly. The food was good, but I didn't like the slaw with my Cheese Arepa, it was way too sour for me. But the Arepa itself was really tasty. The coffee was as beautiful as the picture and absolutely delicious and came with a caramel on the side, which was a nice touch.

My friend frequents this spot and recommended I check it out! Really loved the vibe in here. Very cozy and comfy. Tons of outlets so it's a great place to work from as well. I really like that you can order thru a QR code and the food will come out when it's ready. Some people like more interaction, but this is fine as well! Drinks were okayyyy, nothing special (maybe I need to try something else). The pork belly was delicious! So flavorful. I loved my cheese arepa as well. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meal, and one is a vegan and had many options!! We will definitely come back and try more things!