Rex at the Royal

Name: Rex at the Royal
Address: 1524 South St, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19146
Telephone: (267) 319-1366
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

306 Reviews

$31 to $50

Southern

Top Tags:

REX at The Royal provides guests with transformed southern fare, a full bar, daytime cafe and curated bottle-shop housed in the historical Royal Theatre, known as a staple in the rich cultural history of the City of Philadelphia for its role as a hub for Black culture and artistry, including film-making and live music, during the 20th century. REX at The Royal, now operating out of the newly-renovated theatre, maintains key tenets of the historical site including a stage for live music performances, as well as sweeping arches and other details sustained from the original design.
REX at The Royal cuisine pays homage to the great early 20th-century African-American chefs who adapted traditional southern fare to Philadelphia’s urban landscape. The concept’s foundation lies in the Lowcountry cuisine of the Southeast Atlantic coast, influenced as it was by the grains and traditions of the African diaspora melded with the local agriculture and fisheries.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 1, 2023

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Southern, Burgers, Creole / Cajun / Southern
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(267) 319-1366
Website
http://rexphl.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, Women
Executive chef
Aaron Paik

Location
1524 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Neighborhood
South Street
Cross street
15th Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Lombard South SEPTA Station.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Oysters on the Half Shell$19.00
half dozen east coast oysters, house hot sauce, pickled cucumber mignonette
Jumbo Gulf Shrimp Cocktail$15.00
poached gulf shrimp, cocktail sauce
Local Catch Crudo$17.00
leche de tigre, radish, chow chow, benne seed
Lobster Salad$21.00
scallion buttermilk ranch, shaved fennel, pickled corn, celery, crackers
Seafood Plateau$69.00
half dozen oysters, shrimp cocktail, local catch crudo, lobster salad

Appetizers

Land

Grit Cakes$10.00
marsh hen mills grits, mozzarella, tomato gravy, herb salad
Fried Green Tomatoes$11.00
cornmeal dusted green tomatoes, house pimento cheese
Grilled Asparagus$15.00
ramp ricotta, farm egg, lemon

Sea

Crab Fondue$21.00
three cheese fondue, crab meat, house-made philly pretzels, apple salad
She Crab Soup$12.00
crab roe bisque, cornbread croutons, sherry
Crawfish Pot Pie$21.00
three cheese spicy crawfish etouffee, crimini mushrooms, house made pie crust
Fried Oysters$11.00
long hot comeback sauce, chervil, sourdough toast

Salad

Beet Salad$11.00
artisanal lettuce mix, spinach, marinated baby beets, grilled asian pears, caputo brothers ricotta salata, cider mustard vinaigrette, candied pecans
Southern Caesar Salad$12.00
romaine, buttermilk caesar dressing, parmigiano, cornbread croutons

Mains

Accra Burger$19.00
curried marsh hen mills black eyed pea fritter, root vegetables, crispy red onions, butter lettuce, Sambal sauce, brioche bun
Rex Burger$22.00
all beef burger, crispy red onions, spicy pimento cheese, butter lettuce, smoked bacon, brioche bun
Hoppin' John$19.00
marsh hen mills black-eyed peas and carolina gold rice, pickled carrots, onions, tomatoes, celery, peppers, okra
Shrimp and Grits$31.00
fresh shrimp, marsh hen mills speckled grits, andouille sausage tomato-shellfish gravy, carrots, onion, celery, peppers
Fish Fry$28.00
pan-fried local catch, red rice middlins, spring peas, mint
Frogmore Stew$32.00
fish, mussels, shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, corn, spicy old bay brodo, grilled sourdough
Chicken and Dumplings$29.00
grilled chicken breast, smoked leg, sweet potato dumplings, hen of the wood mushrooms, caramelized onions, pepper jus
Bone in Pork Chop$39.00
14oz duroc bone-in pork chop, sweet and sour braised collards, rhubarb butter, grain mustard sauce
Prime Smoked Brisket$31.00
slow smoked beef brisket, bbq sea island red peas, chipotle molasses bbq sauce, jalapeno coleslaw, pickled spring vegetables

Sides

Braised Collard Greens$8.00
smoked turkey, sweet and sour
Skillet Mac and Cheese$13.00
cooper sharp cheese, smoked provolone, gruyere, cavatappi, garlic, breadcrumbs
Buttermilk Biscuits$7.00
pepper jam, honey butter
Skillet Cornbread$9.00
jimmy red cornmeal, honey butter
House Cut Fries$8.00
Sweet Potato Fries$8.00

What 306 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

306 Reviews

KK
KandK
Philadelphia
110 reviews
vip
5.0
110 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was wonderful!
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AJ
AJ215
Philadelphia
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall3food4service5ambience4
Spent almost $700 at the bar and had a manager or owner treat my friend rudely.
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c
csj33
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful all around experience! Beautiful large room, background music was nice and in background, server and sommelier were outstanding, food portions were large and delicious - we have a home in SC and so know Lowcountry cuisine, this was the real deal and very well done. Even when there was a goof on one of the entrees, server handled it perfectly and kitchen rapidly produced the replacement.
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RT
ReginaldT
Brazil
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Pleasurable experience @ the Rex at the royal restaurant
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P
Phillyfooddad
Philadelphia
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
The space is beautiful. The service was very attentive and quick to offer suggestions from the vast beer list. We ordered a majority of the menu, and the food was wonderful. Unfortunately, the Frogmore stew was missing a component, but the staff was quick to fire the missing piece, and offer us a credit for a portion of the meal. I will certainly be back.
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MS
MichaelS
Philadelphia
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Great drinks. Great service. We’ve been twice. It’s now one of our favorites and we’ll definitely be back.
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K
Kathleen
Philadelphia
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Fall menu items were a wonderful addition to the menu.
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r
richarda
Philadelphia
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience4
Sides came out 10-15 minutes after mains. And the food was just average overall…a disappointing experience.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, customer service and ambiance!
Is this helpful?
CB
CeeBee
Washington DC
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience1
We made a reservation on open table and mentioned that the dinner was a special occasion. Our party of four arrived together and on time for an 8pm reservation. We were led to a table outside the dining room and seated next to a large, very brightly lit beer and wine fridge. The type you see in pizzerias and delis. The view from my seat was a cinder block wall stairwell. About 10 minutes later, the waiter took our drink order, and when the drinks were served, we asked if there was a table available in the dining room. The waiter said they were "very busy" and there probably just weren't any seats in the dining room for "walk ins". We told him that we had a reservation, and then he said he'd check with the manager. A few minutes later he returned and told us that they had a table for us in the dining room. As we were led across the entire dining room we passed two empty four tops before we reached our table just outside what appeared to be the only bathroom in the restaurant. There was a continuous flow of people walking in and out spilling light and sound from the bathroom into the dining room during our entire meal. The final "are you kidding me right now moment" was when the hostess interrupted our meal to inform us that we needed to check our coats because they were in the way of people passing our table on the way to the bathroom! Everyone enjoyed most of their food and cocktails. The "best of philly" crab fondue was cold, and the shrimp and grits were gluey with an overpowering andouille sausage flavor. We never take out our frustration with the management or disappointment with the kitchen on the wait staff and tipped generously as we always do. We spent over $350 on our evening at Rex. I usually don't write reviews of restaurants just because I didn't enjoy my food, but management's lack of concern or apology about our experience was so insulting that I must. Would not recommend Rex at the Royal for any occasion.
3 people found this helpful
C
Crystal
Philadelphia
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible food, service was wonderful, very cute ambiance. Loved it all!
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DE
DETravelers
Philadelphia
10 reviews
vip
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall3food5service3ambience3
Great food, great wait staff. Had to wait for our table to be vacated. Could not believe the $1 charge for ice for a cocktail. Have never seen this before on a bill. What's next, charging for water?
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charlotte
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The cocktails, food and service was wonderful. Everything in the venue is so pretty - especially the cocktail presentation. Just mad I forgot to take pictures. Lol.
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S
Sally
Philadelphia
125 reviews
vip
5.0
125 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
A lux new restaurant with food that is a bit unusual in a good way. Everything we ordered was delicious. Portions ample and although not cheap, not outrageous. Manager comped us for dessert because we had to wait too long for it. Nice gesture. Will be back. A youthful vibe. Might want to turn down the music. And provide a little more light to see the detailed menu. But definitely recommend.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server Leath was great. We enjoyed the cocktails we had and our meal was delicious
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LT
LoveThisPlace
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was my second dining experience at Rex at the Royal. The food was once again outstanding as was the service. The drinks were excellent. I can’t wait to go back as there are other things on the menu I want to try. Amazing place to have in the neighborhood.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience! Great bartender while we waited for our party to all come. Who had all types of suggestions. Awesome attentive server. We had fried okra app, shrimp and grits, chicken and dumplings and pork Shank. Everyone enjoyed their entree. There was a jazz trio playing too! Definitely would go again!
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G
G717
Philadelphia
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Jason was amazing! The food was delicious and with his outstanding service it made everything so much better! I would definitely go back and want to sit in his section for service.
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s
stevec
San Francisco
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience2
Our reservation was seated in an auxiliary space upstairs that had none of the ambience of the main dining room. The host said we could not sit in the main room and we had to sit upstairs. We were seated next to one other party…the food and drink were good but overpriced especially since we could not enjoy the feel of the restaurant. This space should not be used for guests with reservations…not if you aren’t offering anything in exchange. Friendly server, this was clearly a failure on management’s part.
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KM
KristenM
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We attended Tanya Holland’s California Soul cookbook tasting. It was our first time at Rex. The food was delicious. Creative cocktails in an extraordinary space. We will definitely return!
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p
pigs
Caribbean
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
Food was great just really over salted. Prices are high for the value.
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CM
ColleenM
Philadelphia
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was our first time there and we enjoyed it greatly! The food was upscale and delicious but unpretentious and the portions were solid.
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CC
CharlotteC
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely loved the vegan cocktail & paired multi course dinner night! Would love to attend more vegan events here!
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LD
LisaD
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love Rex at the Royal. The staff is very friendly and our waiter, Jason, is always theeeee best! We always request him!!!
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CC
ClintonC
San Antonio
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2022
overall5food3service5ambience5
Ambiance good and service good. Food was just ok. Probably would not recommend only because there are so many other Aplus places to dine
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RZ
RichardZ
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was amazing,Our server November, was very knowledgeable and timely , her suggestions were right on the money.The booth we had was a perfect place to dine and chat with friends too.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great food and great drinks. Perfect for a date night out.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The shrimp and grits was really exceptional. The Andouille sausage can sometimes push the dish into too spicy territory but this was perfectly balanced.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful! Gorgeous place, delicious food and well worth the time, evening and money!
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F
Foodie1
Philadelphia
90 reviews
vip
5.0
90 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This spot is a definite visit especially Tuesdays with a live band and Fridays a DJ. I had the frogmore stew which is very much like a New England seafood boil. Shrimp,fingerling potatoes,cobs of corn,mussels and nice pieces of fluke flounder and andouille sausage. Delish! Chocolate cake with authentic vanilla butter cream frosting. Yum! Coffee was good and cocktails have many flavors for the palate.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 20, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great ambiance and service! The food was okay but not worth the price. I would
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J
Julie
Chicago
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful decor inventive cuisine and stellar and personable service. Great find!
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D
Dave
Philadelphia
36 reviews
vip
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food and fantastic service!!!! Our first time there and we'll be back. Thank you.
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ET
ETaylor
Philadelphia
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great experience. Best chicken and waffles I've had.
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GG
GratitudeGirl
Baltimore
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience5
Super nice spot - the grits, brisket, and Caesar salad was amazing. Only issue was kitchen took a long time…but communication from our waiter was top notch. He checked in and kept us updated once he knew our order was delayed. Things happen…he communicated well.
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k
katef
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food, beautiful space, excellent service! A great overall experience.
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B
Bluebomber
Philadelphia
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Overall a 4/5 stars, service was great and ambiance was great. A bit of a mixup with the kitchen because our main dishes came out before the appetizers but the server did his best to address the issue. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice and overall the food was good. Would high recommend the crab fondue, crawfish pot pie, and the biscuits were amazing. Other notable mentions would be the brisket and the burger was good.
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MJ
MichelleJ
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience overall customer service was amazing. Food was definitely comfort food will recommend and will return!
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E
Emmag
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server KB was amazing and very patient! Food was really great :)
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 9, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Beautiful Atmosphere! Wonderful to be served by Leath. Can’t wait to return on a Tuesday evening.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Rex at the Royal using the Order Online button. Rex at the Royal also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (267) 319-1366.

Rex at the Royal is rated 4.6 stars by 306 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 1, 2023

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

1524 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Additional information

Cross street
15th Street
Neighborhood
South Street
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Southern, Burgers, Creole / Cajun / Southern
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Lombard South SEPTA Station.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, Women
Executive chef
Aaron Paik
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://rexphl.com/
Phone number
(267) 319-1366

Rex at the Royal

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Shrimp and Grits

Crab Fondue

Chicken and Dumplings

Raw Bar

Oysters on the Half Shell$19.00

Jumbo Gulf Shrimp Cocktail$15.00

Local Catch Crudo$17.00

Lobster Salad$21.00

Seafood Plateau$69.00

Appetizers

Land

Grit Cakes$10.00

Fried Green Tomatoes$11.00

Grilled Asparagus$15.00

Sea

Crab Fondue$21.00

She Crab Soup$12.00

Crawfish Pot Pie$21.00

Fried Oysters$11.00

Salad

Beet Salad$11.00

Southern Caesar Salad$12.00

Mains

Accra Burger$19.00

Rex Burger$22.00

Hoppin' John$19.00

Shrimp and Grits$31.00

Fish Fry$28.00

Frogmore Stew$32.00

Chicken and Dumplings$29.00

Bone in Pork Chop$39.00

Prime Smoked Brisket$31.00

Sides

Braised Collard Greens$8.00

Skillet Mac and Cheese$13.00

Buttermilk Biscuits$7.00

Skillet Cornbread$9.00

House Cut Fries$8.00

Sweet Potato Fries$8.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

Does Rex at the Royal offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Rex at the Royal restaurant rated?

Is Rex at the Royal currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information