As mentioned in previous reviews, this place is a no frills spot for playing pool, hanging out and listening to live music on the weekends. Royal James is CASH ONLY, which I usually don't carry, but when visiting Beaufort, I'll make it a point to stop and get cash so we can come here. Their prices are more than fair, although like every place else, they've had to raise them recently, but they are still very fair. The beer is cold and the food is actually pretty tasty for what it is. Plenty of parking nearby, the service is generally friendly and always very efficient. read more

Well it was an experience for sure. Very local place that only locals go too. We went and had the 4.00 cheese burgers , bag of chips and bottled water. Bill was 12.00 for 2 people. Can't even ear at McDonald's for that cheap. Wasn't fancy, but hey it was an decent burger. read more

Royal James Cafe - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

See all

I was visiting Beaufort to get a hot dog in Carteret County and Yelp led me to Royal James Cafe. I parked a few blocks away to avoid the pay parking and enjoyed a short walk around town before the rain from Tropical Storm Debby picked up and I ducked into the Royal James Cafe. There was a good crowd around 2:30 as folks were sheltering from the storm playing pool. I ordered a hot dog, a cheeseburger, and a Miller Light and took a seat at the bar. As others have noted cash only and you pay when you're done. The guy behind the bar did everything: cashier, cook, bartender, server; so if he was busy everything slowed down a bit. It wasn't long before my food was slid in front of me. The burger was basic but good. The hot dog wasn't my favorite. Their chili sauce has a strong onion flavor and a spice level that wasn't appealing to me. I did appreciate that the dog was split down the middle and it looks like they use Brightleaf hot dogs. I'll also support a local wiener. All in all: just ok. read more

Royal James Cafe - Hot dog with chili sauce and mustard - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

See all

A few Pool tables and a bartender, mostly for people that play pool. Just a simple hamburger at the bar. Nothing fancy.

Don't expect anything fancy here. This is a dive with cheap food they cook behind the bar. No frills. Not fancy. A hole in the wall that won't break the bank. Bring cash. Eat your burger dodging pool cue shots. I always stop by when I'm in town. read more

Best burgers in Beaufort? Is this a joke? What part of NO cheese does your establishment not understand?! Twice I've ordered a burger, specifically without cheese, but guess what was on my MFIN burger. Yep, cheese!!! The burger I ordered was with chili, onions and mustard only. The chili looked and tasted exactly like ketchup (see pic). They're ALWAYS out of something. They quit buying bacon, and you're lucky if you can ever get lettuce or a tomato. I'll never eat at this pool hall/bar disguised as a burger joint ever again. I suggest you skip this dive and just order from Burger King, which they suck, too, but at least they have the proper ingredients to put on a burger. SMFH. read more

Royal James Cafe - That's chili? - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

This is a rating for lunch time on a weekday in May. Place doesn't look like much, definitely a pool hall, probably a very different vibe at night. However absolutely one of the best burgers that I've had in a long time and the service was fantastic. Highly recommend for a lunch time burger. read more

See all

Carlos will steal your money. Count your change. I used to enjoy the dive bar, until he graduated from fry cook to bartender

Grilled cheese...the cheese was not even slightly melted. The restaurant did not have ice. Service was well.. I'm on vacation and want to be nice. I took a cautious bite, followed up by a swig of soda, then hightailed it to Mezcalitos . Seriously delicious!! read more

Royal James Cafe - Grilled cheese... - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

Fantastic value in a historic establishment. Great beers on tap and the food prices can't be beat; all while playing a game of pool and in a convenient location. read more

Royal James Cafe - Grill - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

See all

Very welcoming owner and cook. This place is a gem and has been here for years among the new construction businesses. Hope it stays I enjoyed the food and ambiance. read more

Did not seem to want to serve us. They said they didn't have cheese curds, so I made sure to ask if there was anything else they didn't have. They said no. We ordered onions rings to start. 5 minutes later our group of 8 goes to order and they tells us kitchen is closed. read more

A nice, local couple suggested this place to get a basic, "good" burger. They explained it was kind of a "dive", local "pool hall." Fine...no biggie. Burger was ok; small but ok. Onion rings were good. HOWEVER, the place was not the cleanest. Bathrooms NASTY and the sink area was horrible! A health check would certainly warrant and would be cause for health violation. I actually felt my hands were cleaner by NOT coming in contact with the sink area which is strangely outside both restrooms in the pool table area ??? But good grief...just CLEAN IT! Not sure if the nasty scum is suppose to be part of the "character" of the place and/or maybe the usual clientele disregard it??? Guess I'm leaving this for the tourist who may consider eating here. Skip it! Sorry to be so harsh but no excuse for NASTY in a public place of business, esp one that serves food. read more

Ok, it says on the door: "voted best hamburger in Beaufort". It's not but it is probably the cheapest ($3) and they are cool people. Which they will be less metal, more jazzy but I was who they are now, soooo read more

The historic Royal James Cafe is a local legend and a friendly dive. The open mic night was a blast with fun songs! They also have Wisconsin cheese curds which is tough to find outside the Midwest. A great place to grab a drink, a burger and just hang out. I always make a point to stop by when I'm in town. The menu updates and entertainment have definitely taken this place up a notch. Casper and Richard were especially welcoming! read more

Royal James Cafe - a man playing a guitar - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

See all

Just finished eating here! The double cheeseburger and fries were great!! The burger melted in my mouth! The only complaint that I have is there was no soap to wash your hands and the cook went out to smoke and didn't wash his hands when he returned. read more

After eating at so many upscale restaurants in Beaufort, it was a breath of fresh air to eat casual burgers and play pool and pinball at Royal James. The two staff members were exceptionally welcoming to our 4 year old at 5:30 p.m. (before their rush/regulars). They gave him several free quarters to try the games, and even switched one of the TV's to cartoons without us asking. Their customer service was unmatched especially when we needed to manage a toddler who was tired and cranky after a day on the sun and water. The Double Cheeseburger, fries, and onion rings were all solid. read more

Royal James Cafe - Pinball - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

We were told to try the "hole in the wall" burger place while in Beaufort...it did not disappoint! The burgers literally melt in your mouth and the portion sizes were big. read more

See all

We were in town visiting family and stopped in. This place is pretty divey, and we enjoyed it. The people are friendly and prices are excellent. And they made some awesome burgers and fries! There are pool tables and a few tables to eat at. There was also a live band playing, too. You can tell the locals love this place! Oh, and this place is cash only. read more

You go here..... because. Just because. It's a landmark. Not a special one, but still.... Yeah, it's a counter, a pool hall and a stuck-into-the-corner restaurant, and the fare is, well, simple. BUT. It's downright cheap, of decent quality and is cooked fresh. So, what's not to like? And, with North Carolina having joined the ranks of no-smoking states, the place is no longer smoky. So, go for a fast burger or dog, and enjoy it for what it is. read more

See all

Two things were good. The beer & the pool cues. It's a dive bar! Dirty table & balls; crappy felt. Needs a good "pressure wash"!

Maybe the best cheeseburger in the whole dadgum world. Hand pattied fresh ground everyday and grilled on a flat top grill that has 60+ years of seasoning going on. Hot dogs are spilts and grilled to perfection. If they've got chili I didn't find it. They have a chili sauce which is a mix of catsup, mustard, hot sauce and some secret ingredients we'll never know. They have got a formula here. It works. They tolerate advice but don't really need it much less adhere to it. It's a pool room so it's kept dark. Beer is kept cold, and they keep on heaping those burgers on that flat top. They sell the sizzle. Good place to get out of the sun and kick back a cold one or six. read more

My fiancé and I had the best time. We laughed and carried on with the bartenders until wee hours of the morning. It is very welcoming for all different backgrounds! Very "come as you are," and we love that! Pool tables and good music. Very reasonably priced! :) read more

Today 1 Star : my wife called Wednesday 6/20 about 1:30 pm to ask if they had the MLB package or at least the mlb station as we were looking to watch a game, drink beer, and hang out. The guy that answered I guess jumped to the conclusion that she was trying to sell them something and was pretty rude because he didn't listen to the question. Everyone has rights but no one has a right be be rude. It's nothing for us to go into RJC and drop around $75 + between food, beer, tip, juke box and pool but no worries we found another place to do so that day. *Many Other Visits 4 stars : we have been on several occasions and really enjoy what this place is about . read more

Great little dive bar. Those all always the best. Great hamburgers. The band was a little loud for conversation

Good place for a quick lunch. Good prices. Good burgers & fries. Good service. A little loud and full of locals but great vibe. It's not fancy and it has a limited menu but is great for what it is. Pool tables and live music some nights. We ate an early supper about 5pm. It had been recommended by locals and we finally got a chance to try it. Will go again soon. read more

Royal James Cafe - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

Love this place. PLEASE FIRE CASPER. He IS NOT a friendly ghost. Yells last call like he's herding sheep. Very aggressive ghostly man. Please save royal James and our community and let Casper go. read more

The best burgers in town. All the staff are chill, friendly, and prompt. Food is extremely good but very reasonable prices. Love the royal james ipa!! Go here! read more

I'm from out of town came out here for work and this place has great food great hospitality pretty good beer the bar tender really cool good vibs read more

Locals' bar with small seating area for inexpensive bar food. 5 pool tables- not a family place- smoky. It's a place that time forgot...hasn't been cleaned in decades!! read more

Royal James Cafe - 5 pool tabLes - Pool Halls Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

This place has been here forever. I remember picking up food when my dad used to take me out on the boat as a kid. A dive bar with pool tables that has a small grill with a limited menu. Their burgers and hotdogs are very affordable; $2.25 for a cheeseburger $2.25 for a order of large fries big enough to split between two people. Their beer runs ~$3-$5 depending on what you order. The place just needs to be cleaned and the employees were drinking while we were eating/waiting on our check. read more

Good ole simple food. Reasonable prices compare with other places on Front Street. read more

See all

Fun place to drink a cold beer, but I just called to see if they had the MLB package. Whoever answered the phone was rude and said he didn't know what it was or was he interested in getting it and hung up on me. He just lost out on beer sales. ‍ read more

Came here looking for a place to play pool with two buddies and my dad. The place had a limited beer selection, but that's not always an issue. Pool tables were in terrible condition. We ordered fries and played two games of pool while waiting. Probably 20 minutes later we noticed the cook and the barkeep were outside talking and we had still not received our fries. Went outside and my dad said "we ordered fries 20 minutes ago". The cook sat there like a 6 year old and said "that's nice" "that's great" stuff like that. We had a bit of a verbal argument and he then proceeds to mock my dads speech impediment (He had two massive strokes last year which affected his speech). He said he hadn't received any order for fries but went in to check and what do you know? An order of fries uncooked. After that I closed my tab and dropped a couple pennies that were on the bar in the tip jar. The barkeep then proceeds to throw the pennies at me. Verbal altercation insues, etc. Moral of the story, this bar is a shithole, the staff (at least the ones we met) weren't considerate of the patrons, and apparently the cook doesn't realize he chose to be a cook which means he's supposed to actually cook. Wouldn't recommend this place. read more

If I die tonight, I hope to be laid out In the morning on a cooling board atop a 8' pool table in this venerable place, bathed in music from one of the most finely curated collections of traditional country & western music in all of the Carolinas. Cold beer, lyrical cheese burgers, a varied and somewhat dissolute clientele and a cavalier attitude toward hygiene collide to produce the anti-matter of fine dining. Either you get it or you don't. This is what a bar ought to be. Simple, no pretense, honest food and a home for Everyman. read more

Came out for a day trip, Locals recommended us......glad we listened! All we wanted was just something to hit the spot after a long day of fun in the sun. Had cheeseburgers and fries!.......but these burgers are not like any cheeseburger and fry. The burger itself was amazing, fresh onion, fresh meat and loaded with cheese. The fries are double fried and cooked to perfection on the inside as well as the outside. Completed it with a cola and bam our meal was complete. We will be back and we recommend this little joint to anyone. ****TIP***( If you are high maintenance or you have to be pampered to meet all your needs, walk away). read more

DO NOT ENTER! Let me set the stage for you. We have been to the Royal James before and know generally what to expect. Super casual but decent burgers and beer in a pool hall setting. 4 of us went for lunch today. The place was populated but not over packed and we took 4 open seats at the bar. There were other open seats at both the bar and tables. There were 2 employees, a bartender / waitress and a cook at the flat-top and fryer. The bartender pick up some beers from the cooler right in front of us and did not acknowledge our presence. We should have left. We offered a friendly greeting and was responded with a "be right with you" without looking up. We should have left. After a few minutes we asked for 4 waters, 2 beers and a diet coke as well as 4 burgers with fries and a hot dog to share. The beers came within a reasonable time and we waited on the burgers. 30 minutes pass and it appears that those that came in after us are served. We should have left. We ask about the burgers and are responded with "soon". And we waited another 15 minutes. The burgers finally arrive and we are told that the fries and dog would be following soon. We were pretty hungry and dug into the burgers. The patties are so thin (did they change them?) that you could not really taste any sense of burger, just ketchup and bread. I almost thought I tasted burger in one bite but it was really just the ketchup implying that there must be a burger in there somewhere. We finished the burgers... no fries and no dog. We left. Never to return. They may have just been having a bad day but it was the absolute worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. The only thing that could have made it worse would be food poisoning but so far, so good. I would rather go to McDonald's and I never go to McDonald's. read more

Funky place. Got the Shrimp and it was pretty good. Would hit it up again for inexpensive fare while in Beaufort.

Grumpy waitresses poor service but decent food for cheap. They'll murder you with the drink prices though so watch out!

So finz has an hour wait, bad service, and no IPA. Everywhere else on front Street, same story. Enter RJ and they are ready for us with instant cold beer and double cheeseburgers all the way. Yes it's a total dive. No we don't care. read more