Royal

Wow, wow, wow! If there were more stars available, I’d happily give them! The outside of this place, (off the beaten path, a little shabby) may throw off less worthy foodies, but how wrong they would be!
Décor inside is rich and eclectic. Lush wall colors, mood lighting, rustic seating and a killer playlist that allows you to enjoy your conversation, or take a lull and loose yourself in the melody makes for an incredible ambiance… but of course, at any restaurant worth it’s salt, the real star is the food.
Get the 4 course meal for $ 29/​person-​if it’s still available, and the chef hasnt figured out we’re literally stealing from him based on quantity and quality.
I went with the arugula salad w/​Gorgonzola, red onion, light vinaigrette (extremely fresh and Gorgonzola was wonderful)
I chose the fried artichoke hearts for an app. Wonderful! I was also able to try the bang bang cauliflower (spectacular-​1^st choice) and the «fish and chips» (delightfully light and lime-​y). These we’re full portions too!
We were expecting by entrees we’d receive a portion more commensurate with the price. Instead, monster portions that were just piles of goodness. I got the lamb special (cooked exactly to my specifications). My parents had the chicken thighs (tender and amazing) and the pork loin (it was… duh. fantastic).
Then! Oh my god-​then! Outta this world red velvet cake and fried Oreos.
Add to this that the waitstaff (shoutout to Valerie!) was wonderful. Food came out at a perfect, luxurious pace. The chef came out several times to check on us. I mean, as an NYC foodie, I’ve got decent standards. This place was exceptional… but WAITT
all of this for $ 90! For three people! 12 courses in total!
Seriously-​go, go go. A million stars! A truly royal experience.

We visited for brunch, but will need to return to get a better idea of the place. The menu is rather limited, BUT the chef takes great care to prepare fresh dishes. The food is good and carefully prepared… But it’s not great (hence only 4 stars). (I ordered the Eggs Benedict and it was slightly undercooked, which is a big deal for a dish like th

This is just what Watertown needed. A close friend of mine lives within walking distance and has been chatting me up about this new place for a while. Last night we went and it was one of the best dinners I have had in a long time. I started with the Arugula salad which was so fresh and the balance of balsamic with Parmesan cheese was perfect. The baguette was still hot and the pesto dipping sauce was perfect. For my main entrée I got the grilled chicken which was cooked perfectly. The veggies are from Russo’s and they always have great selections.
The owner comes out to greet you and ask how everything is. He is friendly, warm and genuine. I find this to be a wonderful personal touch. Its not everyday you find a place where people actually care about your experience and value your comments and opinion. our server, Melanie was very friendly and very attentive. She checked on us many times through our meal. We even got dessert. Fried Oreo cookies with a dab of ice cream and whipped cream my friend got pumpkin cheesecake and the taste I had was wonderful. I can’t wait to try breakfast, lunch and brunch at Royal. They are working on a liquor licences and have plenty of non alcoholic beverages and «Mocktails» which are a great creative alternative. I am not a huge drinker but I know a lot of people want a great wine to pair with the fish and lamb dishes they have.
I CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK. Thank you so much for a great night and experience!
Update — Went back Saturday, April 4^th. Again, had wonderful service from Melanie and another excellent meal. Our friend was Vegan and Rachid (the owner) came out and talked with him and made him a very generous portion.
I really like that he comes out to talk to everyone and check on his patrons. I can’t wait to try the lunch menu!!!
Honestly where do you find a place like this?
**ROYAL RESTAURANT WATERTOWN!!! GO and thank me later!!!**

Finally, a great burger in the square. Two of us went for dinner. Loved the food, atmosphere, music, and service. Funky, eclectic décor.
The only downfall is it is alcohol free (no license and Watertowwn doesn’t allow BYOB), but they are working on it.

I tried Royal («A Local Eatery») for breakfast a couple of days ago. It has only been open a couple of weeks.
The black & red décor is somewhat loungy, which was a tad disconcerting that early in the morning (made me think I had never even made it home last night!). Personally, I didn’t find the wood-​tone chairs very well matched to the rest of the décor, so maybe that is where the Kickstarter campaign came up short.
Although there is no sign outside the restaurant, it is right on the corner of Lex & Main. Easy parking on the righthand side of Lexington.
I enjoyed my «duo» of Eggs Benedict, but it could have been warmer when served. And, although there was only one other table that was occupied between 7:30 — 8:30AM, service was still on the slow side.
Photos (yes, the descriptions really are that detailed):
A DUO OF EGGS BENEDICT: Cured ham, Norwegian smoked salmon, pancetta, poached eggs, Champagne hollendaise, house boursin, citrus arugula, bistro potatoes, herb/​heirloom tomato salad ($ 15)
HOUSE BOURSIN & WILD MUSHROOMS OMELETTE: Sun-​dried tomatoes, chive hollandaise, aged balsamic, citrus arugula, bistro potatoes, herb/​heirloom tomato salad ($ 11)
I will probably try it again for breakfast or dinner, since it is on the way to/​from work, but I wouldn’t really call the breakfast something I would drive out of my way for. Let’s see how dinner is…