The kind of neighborhood bar that makes Philly better than other cities. Great drinks. Great food. Great happy hour. Lots of regulars, it seems. And for good reason. They have a good burger, interesting specials, and everything is made from scratch. They also have vegan and vegetarian options in every section of the menu-- not just a Gardenburger. People in the neighborhood are lucky to have it. It's a destination-din ing worthy place, but getting there can be a journey if you don't live nearby. Nevertheless, take that journey; you won't regret it. read more

Stopped in to Royal Tavern on a busy Friday and got lucky with some bar seats. Standard neighborhood bar sized place so it gets full quick, very lively atmosphere. Good draft and drink list, and the food menu has a fair variety of choices. Started off with a crab puff for a quick bite. Great crab flavor, and covered in shaved grana padano cheese. Got the smoked beef round sandwich for main and split an order of their fries. The beef was very tender, sauce complemented it well and didn't overpower it, and overall was a great sandwich. Huge order of fries great for sharing. Fun place, good food, thanks. read more

Royal Tavern - Smoked Beef Round Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food 5/5 The burger was very good and juicy. Burger cokes medium rare, but I requested medium. It's dressed with thick bacon, tomato, cheese and a pepper. Fries are thick cut to perfection served with mayo and one order is large enough to share. Service 4/5 Bartender/waiter was nice. Ambiance 4/5 Dark interior, dive bar vibes with bar and table seating. Intimate and cozy interior. read more

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Went here on a whim with friends and the friendly guy at the front got back to us with a table super fast for a busy night. This whole place is a vibe, dark woods, music, great conversation as the background. But the food is good too. The server suggested a seasonal appetizer that I was unsure about and it was banging. You're gonna spend some money of course but for a night out it's a great choice. read more

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Great spot with a fun pub vibe, good food, and really crispy fries. Everyone was so friendly. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and came out just right. Would definitely come back. read more

Royal Tavern - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Our friends always rave about the Royal Tavern burger ... so totally on a whim, we left our already-made dinner behind and joined them on a summer night to finally join in the hype. Royal Tavern is nestled in Bella Vista, so close to home for us. We had a group of 7, and Royal Tavern isn't the largest establishment so we weren't surprised to wait a bit. Luckily, Dive Bar is right next door, so we ducked in there for a drink while we waited but we ultimately were seated fairly quickly. Royal certainly has bar vibes - large bar when you walk in, high top tables around the dining room, dim lighting, loud sounds, eclectic personalities. It was a weekday night but still bumping - we were all about it. Our server was helpful, but service was a bit slow at times (our fries took forever to come out, and without any explanation or apology). We did a few rounds of drinks (mostly beers for the table but some cocktails), and their vast menu was appreciated so we could easily find multiple options we were into. I noticed they had a few NA beer / cocktail options, which was a nice touch given the changing drinking climate. Our friends encouraged us to try the pickled eggs, a dish my husband and I had never enjoyed before. I was not expecting their presentation in the most adorable little cups - that honestly made all the difference. The egg itself was curious; the creamy texture mixed with the sourness of the pickling blending well together. It's something I would never make myself nor seek out on a menu but enjoyed nonetheless! We had to get the burger to feel the hype, and it definitely disappoint. The price point is probably one of the more "affordable" in the city - $15 for a burger with gouda, caramelized onion, bacon, chili mayo, and long hots. I loved all the toppings, and while it was extremely messy (I wound up fork and knifing it for the most part), it hit the spot. I loved the kick from the mayo and peppers balanced by the sweet caramelized onion. The patty was juicy and paired nicely with the crisp bacon. All in all, 10/10 burger! We all wanted to split a few orders of fries, which came out significantly later than our burgers, delaying our evening a little bit but not the biggest deal. The fries were solid - shoestring variety with a vinegary mayo to pair. I was fairly stuffed after the burger but still felt myself reaching for many fries. We all had a great meal at Royal, and even though we waited and food was slightly delayed, it hit the spot. I can easily see myself returning to Royal to try more bevvies and menu items (perhaps for the Dog Days of Summer 2026?!), hopefully someday claiming it as my neighborhood bar to frequent! read more

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Great service, very good cheese sammi and interesting beverages! Bar is a bit tight but fun patrons

Amazing burger truly. I highly recommend enjoying that with fries. Yum. Outstanding staff. This part I cannot say enough about. They treated me so well. Two dudes both helped me with my baby and stroller. I know it's not convenient for them but they offered a lot of help and even cleaned my daughter's pacifier once. This is the type of place you want in neighborhood. Plus the inside is legit and cozy with the wood everywhere. read more

Great neighborhood vibes and good bar food! Of course, try the burger. They are known for it. It's a delicious patty with bacon and the long hots make each bite worth taking. My daughter ordered a pasta special and we shared the delicious fries. It's a lively place with Philly flair. If you want great pub flavor with a French spin, this is your place. read more

Royal Tavern - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We had just left a holiday party (that lasted way too long) with dismal food options. Yelp to the rescue, recommending Royal Tavern for late night food! The Spiro's Vegan Gyro was warm and delicious. The pita had a crispy bite to it, but the tzatziki was very heavy on the garlic. You may want to rethink this option if you're heading into a social setting afterward (my social setting was bed)! My love ordered the Royal Burger which he devoured with a smile. Our friends ordered the Smoked Celery Root Sandwich (surprisingly good!) and the Smoked Beef Round. Crisis averted - full bellies and no more "hangry-ness"! Our server was super warm and friendly and offered good recommendations. The bar area was lively, and the music wasn't deafening. Great vibe on a cold winter's night! read more

After helping a family member move into the neighborhood, we walked over to Royal on a Sunday night. The bustling atmosphere was an immediate vibe - Royal felt very friendly as soon as we walked in. It's a classic pub style place, with emerald green walls, a long bar frequented by regulars (or so it seems), and spacious tables along the side and in back. For all that, it's not loud - you can easily share a conversation without straining. Greeted by a delightful concierge, they quickly cleared and reset a table for our party of five. The wait staff is terrific. They seem very dedicated to making it a great experience, know the menu well, talked a bit about the chef in glowing terms, who apparently not only crafts the dishes but is an amazing pastry chef! I had the crisped mushroom sandwich, which is inventive and delicious. My table mates had a handmade sizeable burger, a yummy flatbread, and a home-made veggie burger - kudos all around. Almost skipped the dessert menu but so glad we didn't - the coconut cake in particular was . read more

Royal Tavern - Crisped mushroom sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is a really great neighborhood spot for good drinks, food, and service! There were 6 of us and while they don't take reservations, we called ahead and they had a table waiting for us when we arrived. Cocktails were creative, draft list was adequate, and we were impressed to see a long list of amari and digestifs as well. The clarified milk punch cocktail was very well balanced and delicious. We split chicken wings, seitan wings, and 3 orders of fries. Both varieties of wings were well-seasoned and crispy. And the FRIES!! They were served with a malt vinegar mayo that was so good! I had the fish sandwich which was quite a generous portion and cooked perfectly. It was served alongside an herby tartar sauce that really complemented the fish. TBH, their sauce game is really on point (the sauces with the wings were also a highlight)! The grilled cheese was perfectly toasted and had the right amount of cheese-to-bread ratio. The burgers received high marks as well from those in our group. Service was very prompt - nothing took longer than 5-10 mins and our waitress was very helpful answering any questions we had. Although we are not in the area often, we would love to come back! read more

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Burger is 2L2Q. Do yourself a favor and stop in today. The ambiance is terrific. The beer is cold. And the fries are crispy. read more

Royal Tavern - Plain cheeseburger for the kid - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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. read more

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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. read more

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

Royal Tavern - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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

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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! read more

They do not have a full bar. They couldn't make the most basic drinks. The food is sub-par, and pricey for the small portion. Would not recommend at all. read more

Great food, staff was on point, and solid atmosphere. Got the crab cake snack and focaccia. The focaccia was incredible. Highly recommend, will definitely be back! read more

Service is amazing here. We had to wait but we also came on a Saturday prime time and expected that. Loved the Caesar salad and fries. The burger is good but tad overhyped imo. If you like bacon though- this burger is for you. read more

Royal Tavern - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We ordered the focaccia bread, and that really pissed me off because they might as well made bread crumbs out of it. It was so stale and rotten! But I will admit Homemade french fries were very delicious. read more

I can only speak to the brunch menu but this was great! The house-made focaccia and biscuits would be amazing by themselves and are even better with the fresh delicious stuff they put on them. Great place to escape the daytime heat for a bit! read more

Good ambiance, drinks, and service. Came for lunch and enjoyed the breakfast burger. Recommend if needing a bite or drink in the area

We finally went back to the Royal Tavern since the renovation/menu change and we had a pleasant time. The ambiance is similar but certainly improved. We had the burger to reminisce on old times and both laughed when it came out. It's half the size of what it used to be! And it doesn't come with fries which is disappointing per the cost (although I get that inflation has impacted everything). Burger still tasted great (the same as before) - just wish there was more of it. Also wish the glass size was bigger for the iced tea and lemonade we got which was filled with ice and felt like 3 sips. I would give ANYTHING if they would bring back the nachos from the old menu. I've never found another nachos anywhere that was as good as the Royal Tavern's. I'd go back again for sure - it just can't be the weekly outing it once was because of the new cost/value. read more

We went for brunch and the menu was very limited and unimaginative. I mustered up the courage to order a beer and the royal burger sub salad (the only item from the lunch menu available) the salad was roasted Brussels, arugula, pecans and green apple. Ok, but needs some refinement; way too many textures. My friend ordered the biscuits and jam and there were about 4 silver dollar size dots on the plate for $16. My other friends got eggs, potatoes and toast looked ok. Brunch menu could be improved but good spot to grab a beer and I've enjoyed the tavern menu in the past. read more

Great food! Everything I had here is great. Form the vegan gyro, the hot dogs and even salads. No complaints, only compliments. Greta ambiance for a date night or just drinks with friends! Not the best for a large group and it gets busy so that's a thing to keep in mind. read more

Triangle tavern was packed but we were craving the seitan wings and this did not disappoint. The sauce comes on the side so be sure to get multiple. Also probably the best Caesar salad I've ever had from a restaurant. read more

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. read more

We used to go there on a re-occuring basis, but some employees there made the wifey and I feel disrespected and taken for granted. We will consider other options interim. Food menu Def needs improving. read more

Food is excellent! The chef here really has a strong vision for this menu. The service is also excellent, every server I've had is very knowledgeable about the menu and has recommendations. Energy is great, always busy, but you're never waiting too long for your food. read more

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* read more

Great service, INCREDIBLY OVERPRICED. I used to love this place, but $16 for 6 wings is ridiculous. They aren't even that good where they can try to justify the nearly $3/wing cost. ...and the burger that they're known for (and we went back for) is nearly 1.5x the price it used to be, and 1/2 the size, at best. Oh, and no fries included. Very disappointed. Won't be back. read more

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 read more

Use to be one of my favorite, go-to places in the entire city! I'm not sure how Royal Tavern has gone this long without me writing a formal review LOL Royal Tavern just underwent a renovation and overhaul of their menu. The venue is now brighter, incorporating more steampunk and French design influences. Gone are the chalkboard specials and dive bar feel. The menu is has essences of its former hero, but with less options and small changes to their classics. They have incorporated more classic dining options and sharing options, which may or may not be a good thing depending on who you ask. HOWEVER, they have redone my favorite menu item... Royal Burger, and it was not for the better. My favorite burger in Philly is now dethroned, leaving the spot empty. They took out the longhot peppers for shishito peppers, and I've lost the smokey gouda cheese taste. The food overall is still superb and may appeal to a broader, more mainstreamed audience, but long-time regulars may feel just as conflicted as I... The beer selection has not changed! Still some of the best draft beer lists. Never disappoints. read more

Royal Tavern - Chicken Wings Brined, juicy, and delicious! - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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So let me preface by saying I haven't been to Pennsylvania in about 10 years, and now live in the West Coast. However, this place had the best burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches I've ever had in my life. I can't speak for any of the ales or anything, as I've never been a drinker, but the individual I went with, seemed to really like them. The prices were reasonable, and as I recall, they had a large selection of vegan/vegetarian offerings. My favorite was their vegan Philly cheesesteak (made with Seitan) which was so good it was hard to believe it was vegan and low-calorie. Granted I haven't been to Philadelphia in 10 years. I'm sure things have changed, and menu offerings have been updated, but still, I highly recommend checking this spot out. read more

Royal Tavern use to my go to for a great burger pre-covid. It seems covid has shrunk their burgers and the price has increased with the shrinkage. On top of that, fries are not included. This is America. What is a burger without its partner in crime. read more

The ambiance is kinda divvy in a good way and Eric, the bartender, is the best in the city hands down.

Good bartender and service. So so wings. The smores dessert was amazing, one of the best in the city.

Love the tavern burger but since reopening the burger is comically small. I know prices are up but $15 for just the burger (and if you want fries tack on another $6) that is half the size it used to be is insane. read more