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Rex at the Royal, Philadelphia, PA

Rex at the Royal

4.6 (306)
$31 to $50
Southern
1524 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Make a reservation

A photo of Rex at the Royal restaurant

Rex at the Royal

4.6
$31 to $50
Southern
South Street

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

About this restaurant

  • Romantic
  • Innovative
  • Good for special occasions
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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Aaron Paik
  • Delivery & takeout
  • 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

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What 306 people are saying

Rex at the Royal reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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

NoiseModerate

306 Reviews
  1. Nicole

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful, moody and delicious! Parking close by too

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  2. KandK Gold

    Philadelphia134 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was wonderful!

    Is this helpful?

  3. AJ215

    Philadelphia4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Spent almost $700 at the bar and had a manager or owner treat my friend rudely.

    Is this helpful?

  4. csj33

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    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.

    Is this helpful?

  5. ReginaldT

    Brazil1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 1, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pleasurable experience @ the Rex at the royal restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  6. Phillyfooddad

    Philadelphia4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on November 27, 2022

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    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.

    Is this helpful?

  7. MichaelS

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food. Great drinks. Great service. We’ve been twice. It’s now one of our favorites and we’ll definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Kathleen Gold

    Philadelphia23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service. Fall menu items were a wonderful addition to the menu.

    Is this helpful?

  9. richarda Gold

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on November 22, 2022

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Sides came out 10-15 minutes after mains. And the food was just average overall…a disappointing experience.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 20, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, customer service and ambiance!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Aaron Paik
  • Delivery & takeout
  • 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

FAQs

Yes, Rex at the Royal is a great choice for date night. The dining style is Casual Elegant in a beautifully restored historic theater with moody, intimate vibes, a full bar and live-music stage that create a special evening atmosphere. Guests describe the space as “beautiful, moody and delicious, ” and the menu focuses on transformed Southern and Lowcountry fare, making it a memorable spot for a romantic night out.

It depends on the experience you want. For a lively, music-forward night, visit on a Friday or Saturday evening when the stage programming and late hours create a buzz. For a quieter, more relaxed visit, try Sunday daytime or early week evenings. Guests also note convenient street parking nearby, which can make evenings easier.

The ambience is moody, elegant and rooted in the theater’s history, think dim, beautiful lighting, sweeping architectural details and a stage for live music. The tone is Casual Elegant, blending a soulful Southern menu with a curated bottle-shop and full bar. Guests describe it as “beautiful, moody and delicious, ” which highlights both the food and the setting.

Busiest: Friday and Saturday evenings, when later hours and live-music programming create a livelier crowd. Quietest: Sunday daytime and earlier weeknights (Mon–Thu early evening) tend to be calmer. If you prefer a relaxed meal, aim for Sunday daylight service or weekday early evenings.

Business casual is the recommended dress code. The dining style is Casual Elegant, so guests typically dress neatly, smart casual or business casual outfits are appropriate for evenings, especially when enjoying live music or a date night.

Choose based on mood: go Friday or Saturday for a lively, music-forward night with late hours; choose Sunday for a more relaxed daytime or early evening visit. Weeknights (Mon–Thu) can offer a quieter, intimate dining experience under the Casual Elegant setting.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. South Street

Make a reservation

A photo of Rex at the Royal restaurant

Rex at the Royal

4.6
$31 to $50
Southern
South Street

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
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