Rex at the Royal Reviews

The REX really nails the low country cuisine with an upscale twist. We enjoyed the fried oysters, Mac & cheese, oxtails, crawfish pot pie, and delicious biscuits with blueberry compote. The flavors were layered and rich. The beautiful decor included deep turquoise walls and cushioned booths. The chairs at our table though were small and seemed a bit inadequate for those of us who are not petite. The waitstaff were nice and adequately attentive.

Great vibe. Service was excellent. The pot pie came out very "off". Sent back without drama. The manager came back with another one " on the house" - nice touch. Overall experience was excellent: great attention to detail, service. Food was above average.

Really disappointing. We had a reservation but still had to wait 35 minutes to be seated. They didn’t offer any kind of compensation until one of our party mentioned it would be appreciated…at which point they offered biscuits (the cheapest thing). Several menu items were not available. When the food came one meal was cold, the others were sub-par. Not worth the money

my wife decided that we should have brunch this a.m. at Rex where we have been twice before and with no reservations, we arrived at 11 which is opening time. We were seated at the comfortable bar and the manager greeted us, having remembered us from before (what a great memory) I ordered huevos rancheros and barb ordered her favorite of biscuits and gravy. The eggs were cooked the right way and the food was just right. We decided to have desert and barb had what appears to be beignets and a milk shake accompanied ...I had coconut ice cream with caramel and chocolate topping. What more can i say? We looked at the dinner menu which we have not tried and will probably come back for that....the manager, Heather has a great memory and takes care of the patrons in a super way...seth and barb koch

We looked up "The Best Fried Chicken" and this came up. A lucky break that we found it. When we (my wife and I) arrived, we were greeted promptly. The servers are all friendly and professional. Being it was a beautiful day , we picked a table outside. We don't usually get Appetizers, but there were two that caught our eye. We got the Skillet Corn Bread and the Fried Chicken Skins (better as for them extra crispy). There was one thing that we didn't like. We ordered the Sweet Chili Fried Chicken and it comes with Potato Salad which my wife doesn't eat so we asked if they would substitute Sweet Potato Fries in it's place and they refused. By the way....The Coconut Ice Cream is worth the trip.

I went here this past weekend for a romantic birthday dinner. I had reservations about three weeks ahead and they called to confirm hours prior. I get there and they tell me they have a 16 top and never sit me. The hostess told us she was confused even though she told us to sit and wait? Weird but okay because the bartender was so cool. The food was very 50/50. Good biscuit tray. Good hush puppies. Fried green tomatoes that are pickled because? That wasn’t adding. Trout was really good. Boyfriend had rice that was nearly crunchy and it had tons of beets. Awesome shells and cheese. So, bad service mixed with good service. Good food mixed with food that would be good if they got it more together. I don’t know what you all were doing 3/14, but thank the bartender because he saved your asses from more annoyed customers minus us.

I was looking for a relaxing atmosphere, and found what I was looking for at Rex 1516. The waitstaff are friendly and attentive, and the menu had many interesting items to choose from. We had a wonderful pear and arugala salad with ricotta. The pear was poached beautifully, and was a lovely ruby color. I also had the seared salmon with grilled veggies, and blackberry sauce. The salmon was perfectly seared and crispy on the outside. The flourless chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and banana ice cream was heavenly. Kudos to them all.

We were a big group of friends celebrating a Birthday n Fathers days last week at Rex. We sat next to the window by the street. Was early so quiet and tranquil. Ordered the Jambalaya Shrimp n Cheese starters. The Jambalaya n Shrimp were outstanding. Had a cocktail starting with South something was refreshing. The pork main I ordered was huge and tasty. Others who ordered the Rib were also very happy. Quick service with a smile was appreciable. Modest interior decor was pleasing to the eye.

I honestly regret not taking photos, but who cares about that anyway. Take my word for it; the food was amazing. I ordered the crawfish pot pie. I could have eaten 3 and been happy. The portion size could have been much more generous, but the taste was absolutely there. I managed to limit myself to one cocktail that was as equally amazing. I definitely plan on returning sometime soon.

I went here on a Saturday night and had the burger...Loved it!!!....one of the better ones I've had. Loved the toppings and the nice Lil kick of heat from the cheese, it doesn't last long and it's delicious

I had the Fried Green Tomatoes with the Comeback sauce which was wonderful, 3 CHEESE SPICY CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE Pot pie, Spare Ribs everything was GREAT! very flavorful can't wait to go again. It's a small restaurant with a southern flare call for reservations.

Having struggled a bit to find restaurants with good gluten free menus l was really happy to find this restaurant. Good gluten free dedicated menu including dessert. Serving staff well informed and advised they did not have a dedicated fryer to enable me to make my choice. Burger was delicious - wished our trip was longer would have loved to eat here again. Suggest owners include reference to Gluten Free options on website to help visitors to the city.

Wandered into this dark spot when a street fair was going on outside on a dreary day. I had a beautiful and tasty Ceasar with some nice white wine. The vibe was cool - low key and casual. Service was a bit aloof.

walking on a pretty autumn day down south street, we come upon this cute restaurant , we look at the menu and lets give it a try...we were not disappointed...brunch was excellent..cant speak for dinner but we will go back and try it for dinner...new orleans like? wife had the biscuit and gravy and she raved..good coffee, service was a little slow but there was only one waitress for about 10 tables...we will go back!

Recommend making a reservation. We were lucky and it was early so we had no problem but it's cozy so not many tables. Menu is rather limited but I opted for the burger which was very good and cooked as expected. Service was great and we didn't feel rushed. I was expecting a bit more southern fare and a bit of a jazz feeling but that's not what we experienced. It's a bit eclectic but that's ok too! I'd recommend it as it was good food.

Best bartender in town, Alex, has been found again at this terrific charming dark pub, where we sat at the marble bar & enjoyed a very good brunch, along with Alex's usual good company & care. The menu is varied & creative with generous portions of delicious food & service gracious & efficient.

I took some business associates here on a Monday night and we had a very pleasant meal. The menu is simple, but creative without pretension. I had the vegetarian meatloaf which was satisfyingly smooth, yet with the crunchy edges that make real meatloaf lovable. The burger was much loved by the hardcore carnivore of the bunch and the roasted chicken with root vegetables was expertly prepared. Very nice atmosphere with fine service.

wait long for 8 people. Came across this place. They had a large table and happily gave it to us. The menu was very interesting with southern flare. Not your typical brunch but food was very good. I had shrimp and grits... Delicious. Staff very nice and accommodating. Highly recommend.

No major complaints. Everything was fine and I don't need a wow factor every time I eat out. However, I expected a little more from this place. My friend and I went in to continue burger month: we ordered the Rex burger and the featured burger. Both were delicious but for all the work and extra details the featured burger was lacking. It's not a permanent menu item so one could expect a hit or miss sitch here. Overall the service was sufficient; no hiccups. I'll go back for sure.

Another great Philly find. Rex 1516 is a gem amongst all the other establishments of South Street. We dropped by here for brunch, and surprisingly, it wasn't packed (perhaps it was the weather driving everyone to stay indoors). I started off with the Huevos Rancheros, which was brunch heaven in every bite and by far the best rendition of a Huevos Rancheros I've had anywhere in Philly. On top of two corn tortilla were a fried egg, crawfish etouffee, avocado, and pico de gallo. The crawfish etouffee added a bold cajun/creole flavor to the mix. I also had a bite of the Monte Cristo - the equivalent of the French's Croque Monsieur with house baked ham, pepperjack, and fig-bourbon preserves layered in between two slices of brioche. Unlike the Croque Monsieur we had at La Petite Dauphine, the Monte Cristo was worthy of its name. The portions were large and it tasted much better than the Croque Monsieur. To wrap things up, we split the fried carrot cake - yeah, this can't go wrong. I enjoyed this, but I'd admit that it tasted very much like a doughnut, with a hint of carrot cake. Overall, great spot. If food is consistently this good in future visits and the desserts get a little bit more refined, I'll bump it up to a full five stars.

I've walked past this restaurant a million times and finally stopped in today. They have delicious southern/creole food, with a mix of Americana in there as well. I usually grab one of their delicious burgers and fries (10$) and a coke - AMAZING. Their burgers are high grade filet mignon and brisket and their fries are fresh cut with sea salt. Their menu changes every few weeks, but their MacNCheese for dinner is worth taking a cab for. The bartender (Anastacia) is friendly and attentive - the wait staff are charming and the ambience is incredible. They usually have old movies playing in the background during dinner. Their entire menu is amazing, you can't go wrong here!

Today I went to Rex1516. The menu had a very nice variety of interesting sweet and savory dishes. I ended up ordering the chicken and waffle dish with a bit of trepidation. When the dish arrived the first thing that impressed me was the presentation. The dish was a cajun spin on a classic southern dish. They take a traditional belgian waffle with syrup, they add a piece of fried chicken with a spicy and very crunchy coating, and topped by a poached egg all covered with a cajun hollandaise sauce. My first bite totally blew me away. I love savory breakfast. I wasn't sure how the sweet syrup would go with the spicy hollandaise. The entire meal was amazing. The flavors came together splendidly. I love to eat out and I think this dish was the best breakfast meal I've ever had.

Convenient location, small gem of a restaurant! From the minute on entering, everyone from the floor manger, waitstaff, servers and bartender had their "A" game on! The cocktails and the food are really a delicious treat. Biscuits are hand made and freshly baked for the Farmer's Platter! The chicken, the pork and the steak will done perfectly and there wasn't a complaint in the group. Just a great experience!

My daughter actually found this place on Yelp. We had a group of 8 people for brunch. It's not a big place, but very quaint, with a friendly staff. The cocktails were very good, coffee strong. Food was very good. I had the banana foster french bread which was really incredibly delicious. The other enjoyed their choices also. And yes, there was room for dessert, which you should save room for. You won't be dissappointed with your choice.

The old Rex was great when it was managed by Heather. Service and service training is obviously lacking. The staff even dress haphazardly. I understand these are trying times for staffing, but a place that considers itself upscale needs to do better.

Man, this place is great. Just go settle up at the bar, have a drink, and have Sweet Lou drop some knowledge on you. Everytime I've been here I've had an incredible time and its, by far, the best happy hour in the city (in my humble opinion.) Also checkout the burger special which changes every week...it's available Tuesday and Wednesday and features a whopping, amazing burger (with a cheeky name) a beer and a shot for $15. You can thank me later.

When I walked in the door, I immediately loved the cozy, elegant feel of this place with the comfortable looking bar in the back. The menu, with a large wine and beer list, is New Orleans inspired, but my dining partner and I had trouble finding anything we really wanted. Cornbread $7, was listed as an appetizer? Maybe that's because no other bread was served at the meal. They had six entrées listed and no specials. We debated on leaving, but decided to make the best of it. She settled on a salad with chicken (which you could get anywhere). I decided on a house salad and the appetizer crayfish pot pie. The house salad was 'a salad', but the crayfish pot pie (an appetizer) was very good. Certainly won't be back and would suggest you check out the menu online before going. I guess it's okay, if you want an expensive $13 hamburger (Listed as an entrée!) or fried chicken $20, in a nice-looking room.

Wonderful atmosphere and food! NOLA charm on South St. Stylishly decorated, accompanied by great Dixie style music. Big screen showing old movies overlooks bar. Food from apps to dessert was crazy good and service was prompt and knowledgeable. Must experience! Made for a fun night!

Very tiny restaurant. My 2 sons loved the burger. Staff were friendly. Little pricey. Limited menu. Not anything special.

Dinning at Rex was recommended to us by our friends and I must say it was a great experience. A unique drink we had was the Spotted Lantern Fly and the Deep South. Where the names come from doesn't matter as long as they taste good.. The size may be a bit small but as mentioned previously they were quite tasty. Along with our drinks we had numerous small plates. We had the Beet salad with grilled shrimp, a tuna special, BBQ Beef & Beans, and the Crudo Catch special. All choices were good and worth going back again in the future. Our server Ariana, did a great job!!

We ate here a few nights ago, I had a hamburger, wife had something else. The hamburger was fine but covered in a spicy sauce I did not like. That's a personal choice though. Service was excellent, and the ambiance was good. I would return, but not have the burger this time!

I’ve been trying burgers around the world from street food to fine restaurants and nothing absolutely nothing comes even close to Rex Burger! The most delicious burger I’ve ever had, we crave for it each time we return to US.

We met some friends at Rex 1516 prior to going to a play at the Philadelphia Theater Company. I had never dined here before, so I was a little anxious about eating here, since the other couple made the reservations. It was a first for both of us. When I looked it up on Google Maps I could find the address, but the street view was not accurate, so that added to my anxiety. We arrived and were promptly seated. Overall it is a small restaurant with a bar and a dining area. We did not feel crowded and we were able to carry on a nice conversation, even with a full house. They have a very extensive list of beers and wines. We all had appetizers that everyone enjoyed. I particularly liked the "mac & cheese" and my wife the cheese sticks. For the entree I had the "smoked short rib" with a side of collard greens. It was very good. Everyone else also enjoyed their entrees. We were running short on time so we did not have time for coffee and dessert. Overall service was very good. Next time I go to the theater here, I will stop by Rex 1516 again for dinner and I would encourage you to go also if you like a "southern" flavor.

This place is awesome in ever aspect. The service is exceptional. The usual standards apply... quick, attentive, courteous, clean, etc etc. The exceptional comes in when the staff remembers your favorite drinks after 2 visits... the waitstaff discusses the menu with you and is extremely knowledgable about how things are prepared... drinks/food are described with clarity and enthusiasm. The environment is great.. you have to like "cozy", but the space management is out of this world. I am thoroughly impressed with the way the waitstaff maneuvers and coordinates efforts as they move through these cozy spaces. The bartenders and waitstaff strike up casual conversation, but they don't overdo it. The food is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.... Salads are a little small, but other courses are perfectly portioned. JUST GO AND ENJOY YOURSELF!

We checked this place out for brunch before an afternoon concert, and it was a good decision! The food was delicious, the service was friendly and efficient. We’ll definitely try it out for more than just brunch in the future.

We were leaving Philly and Googled restaurants near our parking garage. We found this a couple blocks away and it had an interesting menu and solid reviews. We were surprised that literally no one was there but there was construction outside so that possibly had something to do with it. We got cornbread, followed by some big breakfast plate, cinnamon sugar pancakes, and a side of grits. Every item on the menu was kicked up a notch, like the cornbread being served in its own mini skillet with berry mint butter, the grits being chock-full of cheese and pepper, the pancakes having vanilla butter and whipped real maple syrup, etc. It was sublime and the prices were fair. I would eat there all the time! The wait staff was pleasant and helpful.

Nice casual bar/restaurant with an intriguing menu of southern and Cajun dishes. The fried chicken has a great dark crust, the burger is really juicy. The feel is slightly upscale but comfortable. Nice attentive service. Still looking for a really clear identity.

This is definitely in my top 3 Philly restaurants thus far and I’ve tried quite a few. The service was absolutely flawless. It’s a small restaurant so definitely make a reservation. The mac and cheese is awesome, as is the fried chicken with its sweet glaze. The pimento burger’s also great. The desserts all sounded amazing, but we had a birthday cake waiting at home so we abstained this time. Items I didn’t love: the potato salad and corn that came with the fried chicken. The sweet potato fries were pretty good. If you want the best sweet potato fries, run, don’t walk, to Burger in Vegas. Cooperage in Philly has great ones too.

We've had family brunches here twice when our kids are in town. Fabulous bloodies! My husband & kids are in love with the duck confit omelet and the shrimp and grits are the best I've ever had. Great low-key atmosphere with good New Orleans music vibe. Not mobbed like so many other trendy spots. Come to Rex1516,to relax, eat really well & hear the conversation at the table without screaming over a bunch of hungover girls.

Friday night was hopping, and you need to book to get a table. The atmosphere is just great. Nice and dark with good beverage service, but the very thing I came here for - the Fried Chicken, was not as tasty as KFC! No spices, and little taste, plus it was dry, but crispy. Very much wanted to be stunned, but I was underwhelmed. The service was great and the welcoming lady at the front was very friendly so no complaints there. It's just the food was seriously lacking in ooomph...

Went to Rex with friends for a Saturday brunch. We arrived at around noon and were seated immediately, as the place was not crowded at all. The hostess was most welcoming and the bartender was quick and knew her beers. The beer menu is pretty interesting and a few stouts are offered (but no milk stout). You could really feel the “South” on the menu but with healthy options available (such as gluten free dishes). The décor is modern but not posh and the space is embellished with wooden tables, some cool photography, has a cozy brick wall and has a small outside seating area in front of the restaurant. We ordered a few things: shrimp and grits ($11) were delicious. I have never tasted grits (we got one portion with cheese and the other one without) that were so flavorful and mouth-watering. I literally respect grits now! we also got “two eggs” (name of dish - $9)-you can have eggs made any style (except poached) and choose one side off of an a la carte menu (I chose sausage, which looked like a small beef patty (2 count) and nothing like a sausage but it was full of flavor and spices); this dish also comes with either home fries or sweet potato fries (diced in small cubes). We also took a “southern Caesar” with grilled chicken ($11) salad, which was the “loser” of the day. The lettuce was not the freshest and the chicken was just ok…but the grits made us forget all that (who comes to a Southern brunch for salad anyway?). The bloody mary was very good, which is why brunch exists in the first place. Overall, it was a very pleasant and tasty experience so go and enjoy!

What a wonderful experience! Sat at the bar for dinner in this small, cozy downtown restaurant. Our bartender, Lou, mixed drinks and conversation behind his bar like the highly skilled mixologist he is! Described and recommended our entrees of mushroom bucatini for me and shells and cheese with pork BBQ for my friend. Both dishes were unlike anything else we have ever had, flavorful, cooked to perfection and artfully presented. Rex was the highlight of our PA experience!

My first experience at REX 1516 was about a year ago but I have recently started going more often because the food is amazing. The Mac and Cheese is amazing and I highly recommend the fresh homemade cornbread. Its a small restaurant and is not super busy but is defiantly one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia that I have been to. The cost is fairly affordable but for what your getting its all worth it. Although some of the staff knows me I have always had great service. Overall if your looking for a great selection of really good quality food this is the place for you.

The decor is unique. It is sort of like a cleaned up old haunted mansion inside and they play old movies on the flatscreen. Maybe like having dinner on a set from scooby-doo if scooby-doo was real. I mean that in a good way. It really is a great place to have a date night. It has a small bar and we have had great experiences with the bartender. Lately it seems there are a lot of snooty "speakeasy" places that have $15 cocktails and hipster bartenders that sneer for a living. Rex kicks that vibe to the curb with friendly bartenders who mix $10 cocktails that easily rival anything those other bars put out. The food is very well prepared to. We have not tried many things there. But, we did really enjoy their mac and cheese and the burger was good as well. If you have a special someone and want to take them out for a night on the town, this is a great place to go.

This place is very charming. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. The food is very filling. The mac and cheese is awesome. My husband loved the fried chicken. I don't eat meat, but still had an excellent roasted squash salad and pasta dish.

Just returned.from father's day brunch. Very satisfying experience. I ordered the special and my only complaint was that I specifically asked if the ham was country ham and was told yes by the server. It was not country ham. It was fresh ham which still tasted great. But I was looking forward to.country ham which is rare in this part of the united states.

Stopped in for brunch on a Saturday before a matinee at the Academy of Arts. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Service was quick and we ordered a round of drinks. Basil Mojito and Paradise Lost. Both were good, the Paradise Lost was fabulous. We ordered biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits. Both were outstanding. The biscuit was an "everything bagel" biscuit and very tasty. I would say the only knock was that they should have added a bit more gravy. The shrimp and grits were a bit spicy. The were served with crispy pork belly lardons and tomato jam. Outstanding service as well. Overall,we really loved this little spot on South and will surely return.

A group of six, we enjoyed a wonderful morning at 1516. It is a small, but spaciously designed restaurant. The service was excellent and so was the food. Most of us ordered the day's brunch specials or the Huevos Rancheros (Fried Egg, crawfish etouffee, corn tortilla, Lime crema, avocado, pico de gallo $11). Entrees range from $8 - $12.00. The menu reminds me of New Orleans with a tad of Old South mixed in. We all enjoyed our selections very much. Clean plates and no complaints. The dishes are innovative: ie: Omelette -Duck confit, chaurice Sausage, taleggio, sautéed spinach and onions $11 and Monte Cristo -- House baked Ham, pepperjack, fig-bourbon preserves, Brioche $10. The drinks were good, but in typical Philly style, pricey. I don't remember exactly, but do recall that they were almost as much as some entrees :( On the upside, cappucino was reasonably priced $1.00 more than coffee. Parking is on the street, but there is a lot a few yards away that was only $8.00. Enjoy!

Went here with a friend when our scheduled event was cancelled. It was in a nice, convenient location for us and we had no trouble getting a table at 6pm on a week night. It is “cozy”; there are several small tables and bar seating. Rex 1516 clearly has loyal guests and that was reassuring to me. In fact, the table of regulars sitting next to us convinced me to return on a Tuesday for the burger special. Haven’t tried that, but my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal that night. I plan to return soon to this cute, cozy, unassuming restaurant decorated in warm dark colors. The wait staff was just attentive enough, not too much, yet not forgotten.

This place is a tiny jewel on South Street that is easy to walk to from Center City where our hotel was located. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The food is Southern with a twist of "unusual". Be sure to save room for the "milk and cookies" desert ( but share it)!

Nice atmosphere and friendly staff, but slightly pricey. Servers are very helpful and it is not too noisy.

We came up to attend my daughters PA ceremony at Temple and was looking for a place for dinner. My daughter walks past this place everyday and wanted to check it out. The reviews were good and they served southern cooking which my wife likes. So I ordered the Muffuletta salad, my wife and daughter both had the crawfish pot pie, my son the pasta with cheese and her boyfriend and his mother both had the Muscles. Everyone loved their food. My only complaint was the lighting is to dark and it is hard to see the menu and what you’re eating.

Treated a friend (her choice) for lunch. It's a very tiny restaurant on South Street. This is southern food (not South American as described by trip advisor) with a very heavy dollop of everything caloric. If you fancy all that and shellfish too..this is the restaurant for you. I'm not sure about cost, but lunch for two including coffee and desert was about $55 w/out tip.

My daughter & I went and each had ST Louis Style Spare Ribs a full rack with Memphis BBQ Sauce, Pickles and Onions, Beans, and striped Cole Slaw for $26.00 each. We found out later we could have split them and saved some money. But the Ribs were delicious the fell off the bone ! Awesome ! We also had a side order of fries and took the rest home. We were stuffed. Little pricy $64.00 plus a tip. $20.00 for a half rack seemed dumb since full rack was $26.00. $13.00 each which saves you some money. But was happy good Food & Service would go back.

Great celebration. The place is quite quaint and cozy. The service was great. -Attention to detail and knowledgeable about entrees. Had the grits and eggs (my fav) and it did not disappoint. I could not believe how all the ingredients came together so well. Rude to inhale your food but (quietly) I did:) Looking forward to going back. And this time, I'll ask for extra shrimp on my grits. I dont know what the chef seasoned it with, BUT it was beyond measure!! I've traveled the world (eating the entire way) and this ranks high. Really high. See you soon!!

Sat at the bar. Friendly service, but so dark I couldn't see my burger. Kinda trendy joint. The burger was large and on the chilli side, which was different but cool. I opted for a green salad instead of fries, and although just a bunch of leaves, the dressing was tasty and I think, after my spinning class that day, an altogether better choice than fries! No wifi.

I selected this restaurant. Each of us had something different. I had the fried chicken which was a leg and ample thigh. Very good. Garlic mashed potatoes were good. When I told others at table I had mixed feelings about restaurant, they were a bit perplexed. Each said their meals were very good. The skillet corn bread was excellent. So what was my problem? One. The bottled german wheat beer I had was not to my liking. Two. I consider a menu as a whole and I think I was expecting more New Orleans rather than southern which I have no experience with. So experience wasn't as I usually like but my fault, not restaurant. BTW. Staff was very friendly and professional. Rex is worth visiting.

We started with the potato & shrimp croquet, my wife really enjoyed it. It was too delicate for my taste. My Southern Ceaser salad was crisp, chilled just right with a southern flare including corn bread croutons. My wife's Green Goddess grouper was perfectly prepared, however the accompanying quinoa and vegtables were way under done and franky too crispy (crunchy) to enjoy. My 8 oz. burger was delivered medium rare as ordered and topped with, pimento cheese, bacon and crispy frien onion straws, all on a well sized brioche role, it eas perfect and the a accompanying fries were some of the best I've ever been served.