As the stars say "Could've been better". The official Yelp label for a 2 star review is "Could've been better" and that appropriately sums up my experience last night at El Royale. The other word that comes to mind would be "hectic". Hectic for various reasons but mainly because it was a Thursday night and they are the new flavor in town. Thursday evenings always seem to be the popular night of the week to meet with friends and colleagues after work for drinks and this night was no different. Having only been opened a few months, El Royale's reputation is trying to carve it's mark into the Birmingham food scene. Located downtown just a few blocks from UAB St. Vincents, parking can be a challenge but they offer valet parking. Having previously been a nursery and greenhouse, the aesthetics is unique and impressive. The decorative walkway was filled with beautiful greenery and bushes opening up to a covered patio with benches and tables for outdoor dining. The main dining room is speckled with nostalgic tiles and memorabilia that exudes a good home cooked sit down meal. Centered in the room was a large three-sided bar that was quite busy. Kenny had to make a reservation for our six top a few weeks ago so we had a table waiting for us on this bustling evening. When questioned about our table, the maitre d seemed very disinterested in helping us find our friends or table and just motioned us to look in the back. Our six top round table was almost centered in the back dining room surrounded by tables and small booths. There wasn't an open seat to be seen, but there were certainly loud conversations to be heard. Above this dining room was the remnants of what appeared to be the ceiling of an old greenhouse. With this remarkably tall ceiling space you would hope that it would accommodate the noise, but you would be incorrect. It was incredibly difficult to have any conversation even with the six of us leaning on our elbows. Our server Andrew did his best checking on us, but he was swamped with other tables and eventually got our drinks to us. The Little Dove mocktail with large slice of grapefruit, lemon and lychee was refreshing. Tammy didn't have much to say about her margarita. When Andrew finally had a chance to take our order, we had to wait what I would consider a longer than usual time for our entrees to arrive. In the meantime, keeping us pacified with chips and salsa helped, but our server wasn't really exceptional in that endeavor either. At the conclusion of our meal, our table sat uncleared as well reminding us that they were short staffed. Linh tried the Jolene combination. Her opinion of its mediocrity was apparent. Paul and Tammy ordered the Blackened Grouper. My sampling of it was that it was in desperate need of seasoning. Renee chose the Fish Tacos which appeared to be large portions of grouper fried with heavy batter. As a lover of everything seafood, I wanted to try their house special Prawns Royale. Just the name of the dish exemplified magnificence, unfortunately it fell short of it's intended mark. There's not much you can do with plating 5 shrimp with the head on so it was a blessing that they kept the lighting dim and to a minimum. I mentioned shrimp because the only thing resembling "prawns" was the grilled heads. The paltry sizes of the shrimp left much to be desired considering the attached pricing. I'm glad I ordered the additional beans and rice since the shrimp did not come with any sides. The saving grace was the sauce. The cilantro and parsley added a very nice flavor to the butter infused sauce. A good dining experience is not always just about the meal. It is often a collective experience. Would my opinion be different if we had been here on a Wednesday evening with a kitchen that wasn't backed up? Would I return in 12 months when it's not as hectic and the "newness" has subsided? Perhaps, but when you pitch an elevated Tex-Mex dining experience at this price point, it's paramount to make that good impression on the very first encounter. This night was memorable for its wonderful fellowship, but dining expectations unquestionably fell short. read more

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ElRoyale does not disappoint! Cute, garden-like ambiance whether you sit inside or out, delicious food (everything we tried was phenomenal), and perfect for happy hour or a date -- easily in my top five restaurants in Birmingham! Tip: Make reservations several weeks in advance. read more

El Royale - Barry's Plate - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The service was very good but everything is pricey for what it actually is. I did not think the food was any better than your average Mexican restaurant. The drinks were super expensive and not as flavorful as they should have been. It's a great venue but I don't see myself being a regular patron. read more

El Royale - Barry's plate - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My first visit for lunch with friends. My first attempt we didn't have a reservation (a Sunday afternoon) but this time we did. Friendly reception. Ordered a drink from the bar before being seated. I tried the peach margarita and they did not hold back on the alcohol (yay!). Once seated we ordered the dip trio appetizer with guacamole, queso and the el royale. All were good and shareable with three people. I am a sucker for ribs so I ordered the Honey Chipotle ribs with fries and slaw. The fries and slaw were okay and the ribs were delicious! Tender and almost fall off the bone. I would definitely order that again. Nice ambiance and decor. read more

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Last night we visited El Royale for the 2nd time. The first was at an inside table which was lovely. But last night we could only get a patio table and it was just too hot to dine outside. Food is great. Both times I had chicken fajitas. I love that they are served with a head of roasted garlic and melted butter. My family had fish tacos which they also enjoyed. The drink menu is great. The frozen sangria is delicious. My only complaints - 1. If you're waiting for a table outside skip the outside bar. I paid $15 for the margarita pictured that's practically Dixie cup sized. 2. Get bottled/sparkling water. We ordered tap and it tasted like sugar water. The server told us it's kept in iced tea urns and the sweet tea must not have been cleaned out. read more

El Royale - Margarita on outside patio - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

First time here and like everyone has said the atmosphere is so nice! We ordered a cocktail and waiter seemed pushy about ordering quickly. We didn't want a ton of food so we split fajitas and the prawns. Very good but it came out so fast. In and out in 1 1/2. Definitely will go back. Place was packed! read more

El Royale - Chips and salsa - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The food, ambiance, and service was amazing! The drinks were definitely on point. I will be back. read more

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Like many people, the buzz around this place really had me in the mood for some Tex-Mex. They are in a great space (miss the Bier Garden truth be told) and have done a nice job with it. Broke out mi muy mal Espanol on the waiter, but his was mas mal. So we soldiered on in English. Did some quick 'maths' (as the English say) on the Margarita pricing and decided to go in on the pitcher. It was a good drink -- muy bueno for those of you hoping for some more Espanol. Can't seem to get the Yelp site to put the squiggly thing over the 'n'. C'mon Yelp! The chips were good as was the salsa. Salsa is really how I judge a Tex-mex restaurant. If there aren't any chucks of tomato and onion I say meh (Now he's writing in Yiddish, will this nonsense ever stop). I'll be sure to try it again. Hasta la vista compadres y vaya con dios. read more

Gorgeous restaurant, exceptional service, mediocre food. We had the bone in ribeye, blackened grouper and Mexican chopped salad with shrimp. Presentation was beautiful for each entree. Flavor was lacking. The best item was the salad surprisingly. read more

The vibe is great. Really good design and interior. The food is pretty good. A little over priced. But the experience makes up for it I guess. My main issue- the bar. This is the only place where it is the most difficult thing in the world to get a drink while you wait for your reservation. The bar tenders actively ignore you. There isn't a designated places for people to grab a drink without disturbing the people who are seated at the bar. And the attitude of the bar tenders towards people who are getting a drink while they wait is terrible. read more

El Royale - This is the "spot" where you order a drink if you want one while you wait. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The food and service were good. I ordered the crispy beef tacos for $17 and the party vixen drinks for $15. It's a new Mexican cuisine restaurant with valet parking. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I highly recommend reservations because it's new, and everyone is checking it out. It has a nice ambience with dim lighting. Perfect for all occasions: date night, girls night, or just a night with friends. Check out their website too! read more

El Royale - Crispy beef tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I am obsessed with this place! The ambience is amazing and it's gorgeous inside the restaurant. We started with the delicious beef tallow chips and salsa, along with the brisket flautas as our app. I can't stop thinking about the flautas and the consume to dip them in! My main was the sourcream enchiladas with creamy chicken and cheese inside, along with rice and beans. Our server was amazing and we will definitely be back! read more

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The decorations were fun & festive. The staff were very friendly! My enchiladas plate & drinks were good. But the RIBS were AWFUL (too salty, I couldn't swallow it), the food prices for Texmex were too pricey, and we made a reservation for 8:30PM but had to wait 20 mins with no waiting area. They directed us to wait at the bar where seating was limited so we awkwardly stood in the way of the staff running around us. The overall dining experience did not match the price. read more

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Came here with a couple of friends as it has been popular based on the social media posts. The indoor and outdoor decor were beautiful. The drinks were good, and the food was decent. While it was more expensive than other places in town, I would say that most dine here because the ambiance is consistent with the social media posts. It definitely has the vibes during the busy night social hours. All in all, it was nice to experience the hype and worth the visit for those who have not yet been. read more

This is definitely the hot spot right now. I was surprised at how fast reservations book up, but have been able to get in twice. The earlier the better. Both times I went around 5p. By 530-6,they are packed. The atmosphere is definitely upscale, but loud. I love the decor- so bougie! We had the same waitress for both visits. She was very nice and knowledgeable about the wine. Yes I said wine. Although this is a Mexican restaurant, it is upscale and has things like grouper on the menu! Which, I will have to say was absolutely delicious and served with drawn butter, guacamole, rice and a little pico. The grouper was grilled perfectly - nice and charred on the outside, moist and flaky inside with a delicious flavor. The cheese dip has a dollop of cilantro and jalapeños on top- yummy! The chips were light and crisp, just like I like them. They were served with two salsas, a red and verde. The verde was delish! The chicken suiza was also yummy. The chicken was tender and flavorful. I tried the Verde wine. It was lite and crisp. We had a small vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and sprinkles birthday Sunday which was complimentary. Overall both visits were great. read more

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I really enjoyed my visit here. I met up with a friend of mine for lunch. I was concerned about parking since we had a 12:45 reservation. However, they had valet, which I absolutely loved. So that alleviated any parking concerns. When we arrived, our table wasn't quite ready, but the staff kept us updated, and we didn't have a super long wait. The whole ambience of the place made me love it even more. We had a great server who explained menu options really well, and they were great about taking allergy precautions, as I am allergic to shellfish. We got the dip trio as the appetizer. I have to say that their tortilla chips are so good, and the dips were good as well. My favorite dip was the queso, although I did find the el royale dip to be tasty as well. I ordered the Golden Spritz for my drink, and I loved it. My friend ordered the flaming royale, and I really liked the concept of the drink. I ordered the Jolene plate for my entree. They really give you a nice portion of food. The enchiladas on the plate were easily my favorite. With this plate, I liked the variety because it included a taco as well. So it really was a nice treat. I plan to visit again, as the place and service were both great. read more

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This restaurant is absolutely beautiful and the food & service are good. However, the wooden chairs are TERRIBLE! I'm 5'11 & weigh 170 & think those are the most uncomfortable chairs I have ever sat in at a restaurant. read more

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There was great atmosphere and service and the food was really good. This is a very unique restaurant for a date night or a family dinner out on the town. I would recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning for another great experience. read more

One of the most beautiful restaurants in Birmingham. We were told that staff may be a little slow that day, and I always appreciate the honesty. The caramelized hot cakes topped with butter for brunch were delicious and came with sides of strawberry, syrup and whipped creme. The taco trio was excellent. The chorizo had excellent flavor and paired deliciously with their amazing flour tortilla. The birria taco was phenomenal. It's rare to find one that is actually crispy and cheesy. It had a crunch when I bit into it. They use double tortillas and put lots of cheese in between them. The chicken tinga wasn't as flavorful as the others but was good when you add their very fresh guacamole, pico and sour creme. The beans were also delicious! The only thing that was average was the rice, but since it's meant to be eaten with the very flavorful beans, it works. Had an excellent experience and will definitely be back! read more

El Royale - Caramelized hot cakes - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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What a gorgeous place, inside and out! It is very bright and clean, and the restaurant gives an outdoor feel. Our service was quick and friendly, with a knowledge of the menu. The food and drinks were truly phenomenal! read more

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The design of this restaurant was beautiful and gorgeous, especially the outside walking in; it felt very tropical and exotic. An upscale Mexican restaurant is something that we've been missing here in Birmingham for several years. Family and I ordered the dip trio. The thick chips were amazing and the 3 dips (along with the complimentary salsa and chips) were tasty. I ordered the deluxe taco trio for entree. Loved both the chorizo and birria tacos, wasn't not a fan of the chicken tinga taco but I was convinced that it was because I had eaten so much food I couldn't eat another bite. Margarita was meh, but that was on me: I got something different than a house margarita so that does not count. The prices are high and while that would be a breaking point for me, my meal was on my parents so.......5 STARS! Will bring my wife back! read more

The atmosphere is AMAZING!! The food was okay! But the mocktails and drinks you def need to try it out! This place is beautiful! read more

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Had lunch with some girlfriends and got seated fast as we had a reservation. Environment was great; beautiful and reminded me of Italy. We got complimentary chips and salsa which was delicious as you can tell the salsa was fresh! I ordered the Chipotle Ribs and they were cooked too much as the bottom of the ribs were charcoal black and I couldn't eat but the sauce was delicious and everything else tasted amazing. Overall, I would go again but I would order something different. read more

El Royale - Chipotle BBQ ribs 1/2 with fries but instead of coleslaw I asked for rice. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food was delicious I enjoyed everything I ordered. My steak was cooked perfectly seasoned well and very tender. My first time having chimichurri and now I want more! read more

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We finally got the chance to eat at El Royale & it did not disappoint. The space is beautiful & welcoming. The service was friendly and spot on. The food, there's so much to say, we had surf & turf fajitas that was enough to feed 2. The steak was cooked to perfection & an entire lobster tail sat on top, also cooked perfectly. We also had the taco trio, a chorizo, a chicken tinga, & birria. It was so so good! The red salsa so smokey & full of flavor, it was my favorite. Even our most picky little eater said that was the best food he's ever eaten. We will definitely be back to try different food! read more

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Totally recommend. Great food, drinks, desserts, service and ambience. Definitely worth it

Beautiful atmosphere, but sadly the food didn't live up to the hype. Birmingham has plenty of better Mexican options--with much shorter wait times too . read more

Went here recently with friends and I was very impressed! The atmosphere is perfect for late night dining with friends. I could see how the low lighting might make it hard for some to read the menu but it wasn't a problem for us. I'm very impressed with how they renovated the dining space--especially the bar! The cheese dip was great and the Birria tacos were the best I've had in bham! My one critique is that the chips were a little too thin for how thick the cheese dip was which made it a little difficult to eat. Will definitely be going again! read more

El Royale - Birria tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We stopped by the new restaurant Friday night around 7 p.m., not expecting to get a seat--but to our surprise, we were able to slide right into the bar with a 15 minute wait. The bar is first come, first served with about 12-15 seats, and while several tables inside were open, it feels like they may still be in soft opening mode. The ambience? Absolutely top-tier--arguably the best in Birmingham. It's a unique blend of upscale Mexican aesthetics with the charm of a vintage café: think checkered floors, red lighting, and a laid-back, vibey soundtrack. It manages to feel both stylish and approachable, with multiple seating options to fit your mood. What really caught us off guard in the best way was the outdoor space--a large, beautifully designed gravel patio with a separate bar, lush oversized plants, and a dreamy European walkway vibe. There's a covered patio option as well, perfect for drinks or dinner al fresco. The menu leans traditional Tex Mex with some traditional Mexican items- no overly overcomplicated plates or terribly extraordinary. Freshly made tortillas. Grilled steak stood out. The salsas were freshly prepared. They offer modern cocktail options. If there's one area for improvement, it's the service. When we arrived, bar seats still had dirty dishes from previous guests, and the bartenders seemed more focused on chatting than turning over the space. We eventually flagged down a manager to clear the area, but his response was curt and dismissive--not exactly the hospitality standard the atmosphere and menu suggest the owners are aiming for. That said, the overall vibe is phenomenal. Birmingham has been waiting for a place like this. Thanks for bringing it to life--we'll definitely be back. read more

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Great food the spicy Margarita was good. Our server Bradley was very helpful. We will return

El Royale was 9/10 experience! I really enjoyed the freshness of the food and drinks. The service was great but also they weren't as crowded. The aesthetics are picture worthy so come dressed to snap photos! I was not a fan of the Side Hustle but I switched it out for a Mambo Taxi. Mambo Taxi was FIRE! Tip: Make reservations! read more

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The first time I came here I didn't realize how expensive it was and I don't even care. The first bite of skirt steak made me see stars. The avocado crema and garlic that came with it made it somehow even better. I wouldve continued eating the royale dip for forever. Came back again and the queso was phenomenal. I'm broke but I'd go back just because it's amazing. read more

Amazing service and even better food. 10/10 recommend. The ambiance was beautiful and the food was hot and delicious! read more

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Lack luster food, mediocre service. The only good things were how accommodating they were, to our needs which was due to them being over 30 minutes late to seat us for our reservation, and the guacamole and drinks were good. Other than that, the waitress, was rude, gave snarky responses multiple times, the worst one being when another person on the waitstaff dropped salsa on top of one of the members in our party. She made a remark telling him not to be a hero (over the mistake he'd made) and then walked out. When she came back the person who'd been involved in the incident brought it up, she lied and said she did not see it happen, and was not helpful at all. Overall, none of the guests in our party will be back and neither will I. This place is more for the aesthetic than food or hospitality. read more

The ambiance and visual appeal transport you to Europe upon entry. Every detail is perfection! To start, my boyfriend and I ordered the Paloma and the flaming Royale. The Paloma was perfectly sweet, fresh, and you could definitely taste the spirit. The flaming Royale came with a fun presentation and gave a strong peach flavor. We heard the food was mid, but we were not disappointed with any of the dishes we ordered! The dip trio was fun way to try each dip! We preferred the chips that came with the complementary salsas to the thicker chips that came with the dip trio. We ordered the carne asada and it was 1000/10. Perfectly cooked and came with a nice crisp on the outside. It came with a delicious crema on the side, but the steak was seasoned so well that we did not use it. We ended with the caramel filled churros which were crunchy, sweet, and came with a chocolate, dulce de leche, and creme dipping sauce. Parker was our server and was attentive, knowledgeable, and super pleasant. We enjoyed it and will be back for another fun date night! read more

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Drinks amazing! The queso is the best I've ever had and also staff is so nice! Can't wait to be back in the city to go again

Upon our early arrival to our reservation, we had margaritas at the outside bar while we waited for our table to be ready. We ordered 4 spicy margaritas and asked that no agave be included. Unfortunately, the outdoor bar only offers premade cocktails, with no room for custom changes. Instead, any custom cocktail requests must be placed with the restaurant once the table was ready. Because of this, our cocktails were far too sweet and the manager was kind enough to accept our refund request. Once we received the text message that our table was ready, we were sat at a table with chips and salsa upon arrival. After 15 minutes of snacking on the chips and spicy salsa duo's, no waiter greeted us nor offered us water. Finally, we flagged down a server who had a full pitcher in her hand and asked if we may be able to get some water. She frantically responded that she was tending to a private event, and would be unable to assist us with that, and scurried away. Approximately two minutes to follow, she came back out of no where, reached over a guest at our table, SLAMMED the pitcher down in front of her so aggressively that the table shook while exclaiming, "JUST TAKE IT," then disappeared. We were all left astonished with our mouths wide open- speechless. After rationing off the one pitcher amongst our party of 6, a server came to ask us if we needed anything. While lacking an official greeting of our party and introduction of himself, we placed an order of drinks and the dip trio. The greeting did not include an apology for the delay. We received our drinks moments later, and amongst the 2 items ordered, one was incorrect- a Dos Equis rather than a Corona. We waited for the correct beer before toasting and reviewing the menu. Continuing to snack on the chips and pass the basket across the table- we finally received another one for accessibility purposes so we could stop passing the same basket amongst each other. Finally, the server returned to ask us what we would like for dinner. Following submitting our orders, we waited for the food to arrive. Enough time had passed between placing appetizers and ordering dinner that one of our guests was too full to order a main dish. However, across the table, we enjoyed chicken tinga tacos, birria tacos, and enchiladas. All contained excellent flavor and were delicious- just slow to come out. We were rarely checked on throughout our meal, but the food itself was positively delicious. We will definitely enjoy this food again, but via takeout. read more

Very disappointing dinner at El Royale tonight. My wife had dined there once before and gave it a glowing review. My first time tonight completely failed to meet expectations. Sunday night and the restaurant was pretty full (good sign) with a warm and energetic vibe (good sign). Seated promptly and quickly met by our server with complimentary chips/salsa and for drink orders (good sign). Drinks promptly delivered and placed our orders for appetizer (brisket flautas) and entrees (sour cream enchiladas for my wife; triple taco combination for me). All good so far. After 15-20 minutes nibbling on chips and salsa our entrees were delivered. I explained that we hadn't yet received our appetizer so the entrees went back and shortly thereafter our appetizer was delivered. We had just started on the flautas (very good) when our entrees reappeared. When I told the server that we did not want our entrees until we finished our appetizers, she said "well they told me to bring these out now." I politely, but firmly, requested she take entrees back until we were ready for them, which she reluctantly did. After we finished the appetizer, they brought our entrees which had clearly been sitting in some kitchen purgatory all that time. The tacos were lukewarm and the shells were soggy. Basically inedible. Likewise my wife's enchiladas were well past prime.we consumed less than half our entrees. Given the sequence it failure, they should have trashed the entrees and prepared them anew. But no. All this is basic restaurant blocking and tackling. Not complicated and not something you would dream of experiencing at an establishment that bills itself as "fine dining". So disappointed that we passed on dessert. Insult to injury was our server asking if we wanted to take our leftovers home! Maybe just an outlier, but hard to see myself returning. read more

The ambiance at El Royale is top notch. Beautiful space and decoration, service was good not great. The chips and salsa were amazing, perfectly salted and hard to stop eating. The Dip Trio was also great, and I loved the thicker chips with the trio that had a doughy quality to them. Steak Quesadillas were light on steak which is probably why they were listed in the appetizer section. Definitely a fun spot and will be coming back to try some new dishes. read more

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First visit to this restaurant. Very busy for a Sunday night. Food and selections very good. However, when entering the restaurant a very prominent sign indicating it is a Cashless Restaurant. That's fine. However, when the check came, there was a 3% Credit Card surcharge! Sorry, this is unacceptable when use of CC is not optional. Spoke to manager on duty-he indicated he's received this complaint often. Well, evidently owners don't care and want to keep gouging customers. So we are one and done until this policy is changed! Too bad cuz food is great! read more