This place was pretty great- it's situated in cute Old Town, Alexandria. It's deceiving- it looks very small from the outside, but it's actually pretty big! I came for some breakfast buffet. There's an omelet station which is amazing- there's all these options: mushrooms, spinach, onion, swiss, cheddar, ham, and some other things I can't remember. There's a guy just rocking 3 different pans and making omelets. He did a fantastic job. the omelet's are HUUUGE. Next to him is a man doing the waffle station. Sadly, I didn't have any waffles, but you got the option of syrup and powdered sugar! Yum! At the buffet, there was a decent number of things to choose from: ham, bacon, sausage, chipped beef, biscuits, a weird potato hash that was actually pretty good, watermelon, and some different pastries and doughnuts. Our waitress came around and got us some orange juice and chocolate milk. The food is amazing and not too pricey. It's like just under 13 bucks per person for this buffet and it's definitely worth it. The decor is interesting- it's this old kine of 50's, 60's decor with pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. read more

Cute neighborhood gem! Came for breakfast and the service is awesome especially at 7am!! They were able to accommodate all of my requests!!! Had the bacon and egg and asked to sub for everything bagel instead of biscuit or bread and ask to sub for fruit instead of the home fries and wasn't any hesitation! Their dinner and brunch menu looks great, will have to come back! read more

As soon as you walk in.... you think this place needs to go on Restaurant Impossible. This restaurant is in desperate need of a makeover. Old and dated, doesn't look very clean. They even have one of those salad bars that I remember from my childhood. The food was decent. I got a royal burger with fries. I asked for my burger to be cooked medium but came out medium well to well. The fries were actually the best part of the meal. Nothing special, but they were cooked just right. My cup of water had something still stuck on the rim of the cup. Service was mediocre at best. The place was fairly empty and I saw 2 servers. They were quick enough to take our order, but they never really came by to check on us after that. When we asked for our check, our server came by and dropped it off quickly. However, 5 minutes later, she had still not come back to pick up the check. We asked the other server if she could take our check, and she said that it wasn't her table so she couldn't really do anything. Needless to say, that's pretty ridiculous. Based on my overall experience, I will not be coming back. read more

We came here around 6:30am on a Friday morning, and it was the perfect time to grab breakfast here. Our waitress was super nice and quick, and our food came out piping hot and cooked to perfection. I had the chicken and waffle (a Belgian waffle with 3 fried chicken breast filets), and he had the Greek omelet with a side of biscuits and gravy. The omelet and biscuits came with two small chunks of watermelon as garnish/fruit accompaniment. The biscuits were light and fluffly, and the gravy was real gravy - with chunks of fine sausage in it. The chicken filets were crunchy, not greasy, and were great covered with the ooey gooey syrup as well as the smooth gravy. They also have a Saturday brunch buffet that's supposed to be great, but the one time we went, it was so super crowded so we ended up going somewhere else. Best part is that they have a parking lot, so unless it's the weekend, parking should be a breeze! read more

Restaurants like Royal are pretty few and far between (especially in the DC area). I've only had breakfast there, and it never disappoints. On side note, I get a weird vibe that I am on vacation when I eat there, which is probably why I like it so much. Anyway, back to the food. The breakfast buffet on Saturday and Sunday can get pretty crowded, but is worth the wait. They do very big made to order omelettes, and waffles, plus have all the other typical breakfast foods. (Make sure you tip Chef Gary) I recommend it to anyone in the area or just passing through. read more

I'm giving 3/5, but only reviewing based on the brunch buffet. I did not eat off of the regular menu., so consider this a half review. As far as buffet food goes, it was adequate. They had a spread of the typical breakfast options (bacon, sausages, potatoes, biscuits & gravy) that were pretty good-including a create your own omelet and waffle station. Not too many healthy choices there, but hey-usually you want something greasy and bad for you on a Sunday morning. Atmosphere was a bit crowded, but service was fast and friendly. Definitely worth a try if youre looking for affordable, quick, and overall sufficient breakfast food that will keep you full all day. read more

I used to love the Royals Sunday Breakfast Buffet, but since the needless restrictions of COVID were imposed by the city of Alexandria the experience has fallen quite dramatically. Rather than being able to serve yourself, they have a man who is so old he can barely stand serving customers. He puts one slice of bacon on your plate and gives you a blank stare. He's so slow there's is a line around the restaurant. If you ask for more of the watery grits he splashes them all over you. This is a buffet and most people are hungry. One slice of bacon 'aint gonna cut it. Why management doesn't correct this is beyond me and I've notified them of this obvious problem. I wish the Royals management would come to their senses and do something to improve the experience. Founder Charlie Euripides would not approve. read more

We did the breakfast buffet and it was pretty good. Nothing to write home about but they had a nice variety of things. The made to order omelets and Belgian waffles were my favorite part- in fact, they are the reason I am giving 3 stars. I am glad we went on a Saturday as it was only $11.25 - the price goes up to $13.50 on Sundays. Unless they provide more options or higher quality food on Sundays, I don't think it would be worth that much. read more

I was at the Sheraton across the street for a three day conference and all three days we ate lunch here. There is enough variety (hey, it's a diner!) that you can't easily get bored with the menu. The sandwiches are all good, as long as you like butter. Yummm. If I liked butter a little less I might have gone for a salad on at least one of those days. But that didn't happen. They seem understaffed at lunch. Maybe it is just because there isn't always a conference at the hotel? I would think there is often enough though. But the service was decent and I have nothing to complain about. Each day lunch ran me $15. That was with ordering a soda and a sandwich. So it isn't cheap food but for a sit down meal with a lot of variety it would be hard to beat. Also, its proximity to the Sheraton would be hard to beat! read more

I came here for a simple, reasonably priced dinner and I feel like I made a really great choice! I liked my buffalo chicken salad and it was good (and cheap!). My boyfriend got a steak and crab cake, and I had some bites and it was SO good I wish I got that instead. For the price, it was a pretty darn good steak and crab cake! This place is a really good deal and most importantly we had great service! The manager was extremely helpful and personable. They were training a new server that night but they handled the situation perfectly! I was nervous at first, but then at the end of the night I was totally impressed. It was a friday night and it was quite and not crowded, which I really appreciated. I like the old school comfy feel of the place and I felt very welcomed there. read more

There are few places on this planet that would inspire a second brunch in the same day. I have been coming here for years, and am consistently satisfied at both culinary and soulful levels. read more

Royal Restaurant - Waffle with omelette and lots of good stuff that will make you feel great all day - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Everyone knows about the weekend brunch, but they're great during the week too. There are so many food choices in Old Town, and the Royal could easily be overlooked. If you're in the mood for breakfast comfort food or even a good BLT, and you don't want to spend a lot of money, stop at the Royal. If you don't know about the weekend brunch, it's legendary all over the city. Eggs made to order, waffles, and a cornucopia of food ranging from fresh fruit to lasagna. Get there early or you'll wait forever. You won't eat again for 24 hours. Service is good, prices reasonable, food is great. read more

This place has limited parking. It has a great Buffett. Where they place the buffet is annoying. If you don't want an omelette you get stuck in that line. The place it too small. read more

Royal Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This was my first visit, and I was delighted to find a very nice breakfast buffet (omelet and waffle, with most everything else). It's a nice mom-and-pop place, and very convenient in terms of location. The Royal is really a diner at heart, without the customary diner exterior -- if your expectations are set right, you'll have a nice time here. read more

I don't like to be negative, but this place served me one of the worst breakfasts of my life. It's so highly reviewed here and everywhere that we thought we had to try it. On the morning we went the place was busy, which creates certain routine problems, but I've never seen things fall apart this completely. After a good long wait, we were seated at a table and forgotten for 15 minutes. Once we placed our orders, we were given tepid coffee in dirty mugs (both had lipstick etched into them AND food stuck on them) and forgotten again. We ordered a waffle with fruit and pancakes with bacon. When the food finally came- after a nasty wave-off from one of the waiters- it was disgusting. The pancakes were liquid inside, and the "butter" was margarine in a semi-congealed state I've never seen before. The bacon was so undercooked I couldn't bite through it. The waffle had canned fruit topping poured over it, which was already disappointing, but it had been done so long ago that the waffle and fruit were cold and the waffle was soggy all the way through to the plate. After maybe two bites apiece, we waited ten minutes to flag down someone to bring us our check and got out of dodge. I wish I had pictures to underline my story because it's really a standout in my memory. read more

This place is dirty, has terrible food and has lazy staff. We go in for breakfast. No menu. No price posted. The host, who is a jerk, seats us, and we ask for coffee. We are told it is a buffet. After looking at the spread, we figure we are going to be paying County Kitchen prices: limp & greasy bacon, overcooked cod, McD pancakes, aging biscuits, hotel waffle machine, and watered-down sausage gravy. Cool, whatever, right? Nope. The coffee was served in shot-glass sized "mugs." We stayed for 45 minutes, and got served watery coffee ONCE. The place was dirty and smelled. The host patrolled the joint, assuming that everyone was going to dine and dash (Seriously.). The food tasted worse than it looked. Then we get the check. 14 bucks each for the buffet, and 3 bucks each for coffee. I wish I would have burned this place down instead of paying the check. read more

Ordered the Ruben and low and behold they brought me the freshest ingredients I've tasted in a sandwich in a loooong time! Going back today to try something different! Oh and I only eat half! A must try. read more

Royal Restaurant - THE BEST IN VA - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Wife and I stopped by and had their Sunday buffet. Food is excellent, and the omelet station is very fast. They have the normal items, waffles, bacon, sausage, etc. I must say the grits are the best I have ever tasted. Now just when I felt full, my wife said the magic word. Fried chicken! I guess people have it with their waffles, I had it alone. Wait staff are very friendly, and a busboy came running out to return her gloves she left. Highly recommended. read more

The food (I had) was great, the breakfast buffet has something for everyone, and they have fantastic service. I watched as they made me an amazing omelette and a great waffle. Even the coffee was good which is usually not the case at most diners. But I am torn between 3 and 4 stars only because at its core, it's just a place that takes in the degenerates, the late risers, and the "feed me immediately!" crowd. All good things in my book, probably not for others. This place is exactly what you expect of it, a great place for breakfast to cure hangovers and to start the day. It is not a 5 star restaurant. I can't comment on anything past the bacon, potatoes, waffles and eggs, which were all great, but I suspect that the rest of the food isn't up to snuff. I understand that American's expect great service, but you people that left poor comments are idiots if you think you're going to get a first class filet. this place is great at its niche which is making people that roll out of bed at noon absolutely happy. And for that, I thank you! read more

We were staying at the Sheraton and ended up parking right near this restaurant and decided that we would forgo the in-hotel dining the next morning and try breakfast here. I have to admit, I was attracted to the old-timey look to it, but much to my surprise, it wasn't quite as quiet when we arrived that next morning! In fact, the line was pouring out onto the sidewalk...the reason? Sunday mornings = brunch. We knew we wanted to eat here, so we walked in, agreed to sit at the counter/bar area and were seated in about 10 minutes. The brunch buffet was abundant! Everything from homemade biscuits and gravy, to waffles with all the toppings and fixins you need, plus pastries, donuts - even fried chicken - and for the healthier palette (LOL) there was actually some really great fresh fruit, too. read more

Hands down the best diet-destroying brunch in Old Town. The buffet is endless. I have never seen so much bacon in my life... and I'm a Jim Gaffigan fan. The omelet guy is a freaking genius. Omelets and waffles are the high points. Biscuits are good, french toast is okay. Potatoes are pretty decent. The good donuts go fast. Fruit varies widely. Saturday is better than Sunday, crowds-wise. The post-church crowd can mean a wait and lots of crowding. Go on a Saturday, wear loose fitting clothing and schedule a digestion nap for afternoon. Beyond brunch, I can't really recommend the place. It's bland, uninspired diner food at Alexandria prices. read more

Bland food in a terrible space. Royal is not for people who like their food fresh or tasty, but for people who value quantity. The main attraction at the brunch buffet, which I had, are the omelets. You can pick out what ingredients you want and the (talented) cook makes it up for you. He gets three omelets going at once on three different burners, which is fun to watch, but the line for the omelets gets 10 minutes long. They also make waffles for you, just like in your college cafeteria. The rest of the buffet is soggy potatoes, dried out looking meat, and some reasonably supple fruit. As compared to the Diner in Adam's Morgan, this fails on both looks and taste. On the other hand, you don't have to fight for parking or wait an hour to be seated. I won't be back just for myself, but if I have suburban family in town and need a place that caters to their strip mall, olive garden taste buds, I might give this place another chance. read more

Ate brunch here about seven hours ago and I am still having a hard time breathing. My boyf and I are in a constant hunt for a reasonably priced all-you-can-eat brunch buffet in the area. One morning we even drove all the way to the Shoney's in Manassas, VA from his place in Bethesda, MD just for a brunch buffet. Thank goodness for the glorious-ness of yelp in helping us find this great place! My mom lives in Old Town so it is not completely out of the way either. The buffet had a huge array of options: made-to-order omelets, Belgian waffles, turkey sausage, real (and sooooo delicious) sausage, amazing biscuits, perfect bacon, French toast, donuts, potatoes with corned beef hash, regular taters, donuts, pancakes, and I am sure I am forgetting something... The homemade salsa was sooo good on my awesome and HUGE omelet from Gary. My boyf was literally stuffing the bacon in his mouth, I think he must have had 10-15 pieces. We both might have a heart attack by the end of the night. As soon as we walked in we could tell this place is quite the institution in the area. There were lots of regulars and even at 9:30am there was a wait to be seated. Definitely get there early! Not much for ambiance, but it was the best, cheap breakfast I have had. read more

I've only ever been here for the brunch or breakfast and every time was great. I went in just yesterday for brunch after a bit of a hiatus from Royal Restaurant. Just as good as ever. This place can get crowded on a Sunday morning but we had no trouble with parking in the lot and were seated right away. Within 7 - 10 minutes of arriving I was enjoying a delicious breakfast. Food - I had a made to order omelet, Belgian waffle, bacon and piece of friend chicken. Pretty good. I was actually surprised how good the chicken was, as I am a bit picky. Not too much breading, juicy on the inside and hot as if it was just out of the pan, not a buffet. Service - Our waiter was really good. Friendly and fast. Atmosphere - This place isn't very big or fancy, but still clean. One side has a bar for those dining alone if you like. Bathroom very clean. The only issue I encountered was pushy patrons. Can't blame the restaurant for rude people however. read more

Royal Restaurant is a friendly, warm, old-fashioned diner that will revive your nostalgia for a different time. It's not in competition for the best food in Old Town (dear Lord, there are some great restaurants in Alexandria!), but it's certainly one of the most charming, and it's brought my wife and me back time after time over the years. We also have an annual tradition of spending our Thanksgivings there, where they serve a fantastic buffet of down-home Americana! The smoking section has, by far, the best atmosphere, so I recommend it whether you're a smoker or not (I'm not). read more

Quite a fine place for breakfast. I myself enjoy the pancakes which are superb. Omelets are fantastic as well. I avoid the French toast which is not quite up to par. Sunday is a large brunch buffet, nice spread. At one point I went here for four weeks straight on Saturdays. I have never been for anything besides breakfast and brunch and I do not intend to in the future. read more

We came here for the first time last weekend for brunch after deciding that a $60 brunch at Columbia Firehouse was not a fiscally-responsible decision with the holidays approaching. Three words: $11.95 brunch buffet. Say WHAAAAAAAT?? It's standard diner food, standard diner service, and standard diner decor. Exactly what we wanted. The sausage was the jam, The waffle station made really light waffles and the BF loved his omelette. There was basically everything else you could want in the bar: pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, ham, grits, hash, fruit, pastries. The only thing that could make this better would be booze. Bottomless mimosas, por favor. The BF gives the place 4 stars. I docked them 1 star for charging for coffee refills--seriously? We'll be back. We'll just BYO coffee. read more

Saturday breakfast buffet is all I have done here, and I have done it twice. The dude manning the omelet station knows what he's doing - light and fluffy omelets pf generous proportions. Made to order waffles are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Perfect. Grits are only "OK" but hash browns are better. Both times they had a good selection of bacon from really crispy to less well done - something to please anyone. Best of all . . . IMO it is a great value. On the down side, the decor is quite dated, the ambiance is too casual for my taste, and finding parking nearby can be quite challenging. But I am willing to put up with that for good food at a terrific price - and that is what they offer here. Give 'em a try! read more

Really good New York strip and Delmonico. Good service, excellent price as well. Nice surprise in Alexandria which otherwise has run a bit expensive. read more

I work around the corner from the Royal and we go there quite a bit for lunch. Have always found the service to be quick and friendly. Food is pretty good, not the best I've had at a diner but far from the worst -- as Godilocks says, "just right" when you're in the mood for diner fare. Their lunch specials are a great deal, some standouts are the Roast Chicken (1/2 a chicken and potatoes) and the beef stew -- bring your appetite. The burgers ain't half bad and I like that the turkey in their club sandwich is slices of roast turkey. read more

Been here a few times on the recommendation of friends. Their weekend brunch is delicious. Was in the mood for a good, filling breakfast so I stopped in. The Royal has been a landmark in Alexandria for years and for good reason. I was able to seat myself and was promptly greeted and beverage order placed. There are 2 sides to the Royal and I've seen it when it's crowded. It can be tight but the staff moves everyone. I ordered the French Connection (French toast, Canadian bacon & home fries). My meal arrived promptly. The French toast was perfect, light and airy. I haven't had it this good in a while. The home fries were done right with a slight char and they were seasoned to my taste without adding anything else. The egg whites and bacon were great! Once again, The Royal knocks it out the park! I'll be back.... read more

Royal Restaurant - Crab cake sandwich with fries and coleslaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Old town can be stuffed with many pretentious restaurants to choose from, but this hidden gem provides a nice change in a good way. No frills and nice place to chill with prices that won't break your budget. Went there for brunch. Staff was great and attentive. The brunch had all the basics from the omelette/waffle station to all biscuits, french toast, 2 different types of sausages, bacon, grits, gravy, fried chicken tenders and some more your heart desires. While it was great to have variety, it would have been nice to have some labels to what is what...e.g. chicken sausage vs pork sausage. Overall, good decent place with good prices. Take a trip and see, especially for brunch ($12.95). read more

This place was right next to the Sheraton suites where I was staying until I moved into my apt. First glance it's a whole in the wall diner. It has the potential to be a cool little euro bistro from it's layout but alas it's just a diner. Went for the margarita chicken since it's dinner time. A blend of 5 tropical spices that weren't too tropical. The chicken was a tad over cooked, the mashed potatos came from a box but the string beans were great. It was expensive IMO for that plate and a diet coke....unless of course they charged me for a refill. Either way it was 17 bucks...bit much for what I got. read more

Royal Restaurant - Margarita chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Went there for the first time in a number of years for Sunday brunch. The food was great, the staff was very sweet and helpful despite it being busy. However the young host was a complete dick. Discourteous to myself and other patrons as we walked in, and very rude and abrupt with the staff. That's the only reason this wouldn't get five stars. read more

Ordered bacon cheeseburger and fries through grubhub. Burger was cooked right medium well, and a good portion, but barely any cheese. French fries were cold, undercooked and soggy. Wont be going back and continue my quest to find a good burger in old town. read more

So after sitting in The Table Top parking lot, and not being at all impressed with their Yelp culture, I decided to instead take my early Sunday hunger in Old Town to a return visit to the Royal Restaurant. Sunday is just a brunch buffet for all seated patrons. In being through the door at 7, I was the first to attack. All of the food is visually appealing, and well supplied with utensils. The Omelet bar was the most surprising, as it was one of the better ones that I've had in recent memory. Swiss. Bleu, Feta and Cheddar are your cheese options, and several fresh crisp veggies to add in. It would have been nice to see some Jalapeno available, but they have a homemade salsa that added the punch I was looking for. The Corned Beef Hash is made in house, and the Corned Beef is perfect. The hash as a whole may need a shake or two of salt but right on. With elevator jazz in the background, and a ready-to-please professional waitstaff at your service, The Royal is ready to make a quick meal a memorable one! read more

Seating was quick, however the wait was ridiculously long. Fortunately the food was great. Worth it if you have the time. read more

Royal Restaurant - Blueberry pancakes are delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Breakfast this morning. I have been driving by this place for 20 years. I think I mentioned to friend EVERY time that I should go for breakfast. So after 20, I finally did. A local place. Great breakfast. Eggs cooked as I had asked. Patty sausage was flavorful. Great service. I could become a regular for breakfast here. read more

I went recently with a friend for their Sunday brunch. Seating: No complaints here. Its a small place, so crowdiness/tightness when walking around is expected. They do their best. Food: Omelet - ok. Honestly though, how hard is it to make a decent omelet? Not that hard. The plus is that they have a bit of ingredients that they can toss in - tomatoes, spinach, 3 types of cheese...I liked that. Decent omelet. The rest of the food I wasn't impressed with. Considering most of the food is comfort food, and theres nothing wrong with that- fried chicken, potatoes,...I was expecting some sort of fresh fruit. What I saw though was a peachy mix - resembled more of a jam, with ton of sugar and sauce, and something similar made out of berries. I like to end my food with some nice fresh fruit, so this was a huge disappointment. Veggies in the salad - tomatoes, cucumber- looked a bit tired too. Another disappointment. Suggestions: Add FRESH fruit to the buffet. Your jamy fruit mix is not for everyone. Certainly not for me. Make sure your veggies are and look FRESH. For this reason, I wont be coming back. Not worth it - for me at least- to pay 13$ for an omelet. read more

I came here for a weekday breakfast with a friend one day and was thoroughly pleased with my french toast (which was NOT made with that thick a** challah bread that most places like to use now), perfectly scrambled eggs, endless cups of coffee, and attentive but not overly disruptive waitress. But even more impressive for me was the vibe there. I saw no claims of sustainable this or free-range that or gluten-free whatchamajig and no gimmicky decor...just good food in a pleasant environment. It reminded me very much of regular family-run spots I could find in the NYC tri-state area. So the vibe was familiar and comfortable for me. I brought my family here a week later for dinner and again enjoyed the experience. If your preference is the shi shi foo foo then this is not the place for you. But if you like tasty food at reasonable prices with regular folk then stop by! read more