The Royal
$$ • Restaurant
Most Recent Reviews
The food here is TO DIE FOR. almost everything is gluten free and it was all slap your momma good. Get a coffee drink even if it’s dinner time.
The online ordering system isn’t labeled, but the online menu is, and they will bring you a separate physical GF menu in restaurant. Michelin star arepas and for good reason. I’ve had their breakfast and dinner — definitely go for dinner. Beef arepa is full of flavor, melt in your mouth tender. Drinks are small for the price
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More Reviews
This place is great. Once seated you either order via QR code at your table or at the bar. Servers can bring a physical menu if you ask. I mentioned Celiacs and was given a list of certain items I could have, including all arepas (server volunteered that they are made with certified GF arepa flour). The food was delicious. The rest of my party was a mixbag, picky eaters, no one else GF, and everyone loved what they ordered. They are cautious about cross-contact.
Great experience. Ask to see the cheat sheet menu to see what has cross-contamination. The beef arepa was delicious!
They have a coeliac menu! (it's a GF menu, but with dishes crossed out that could be contaminated). The food was absolutely delicious too, I had the palm heart arepa. The chef brought out our food and he was great.
Cool vibes and indoor and outdoor seating in hip neighborhood of DC. Food was excellent and GF menu extensive and once I told staff I had Celiac they were clearly knowledgeable. Ordering was confusing because I didn't tell them about GF right away (nor did they ask about allergies), so when I went to order on Toast app via QR it was not clear what was GF v not. Their menu online is also a little unclear because the little tiny astrisk by GF means cross contamination possible, but only figured that out after seeing paper GF menu (it's not listed online). The Toast app where you order has no info at all about GF, so that was also a little tricky. Should have told server when I arrived but it took a while before anyone came to help me which was a little odd. Will try to post Celiac/GF menu since that was key and the food is awesome. Would come back, esp now that I know what to do!
We went for lunch and ordered via toast tab at our table. I had to check the menu online to see what was marked as GF and then put a note about celiac. Food was outstanding and I feel no signs of cross contamination. For a michelin star restaurant it was also very affordable!
The employees are knowledgeable about ingredients and potential for cross contamination (even for my random uncommon allergies) and they are eager to help you find something great to eat! The food was amazing and had many gf options and simple modifications.
Incredible food and the staff was very knowledgeable about cross contamination, shared surfaces, etc. I’ll be coming back!
The Royal has really, really good food. Several dishes are gluten free, and others can be made to be so. (The arepas are SO good, and the fish is a favorite!) They are very responsive and helpful when questions are asked about dishes, & the app allows for special requests to be made for almost every dish. (Be sure to look at the menu on their website to find gluten free designations; the app that you order from at the restaurant doesn’t have them marked as well.)
Amazing experience! Have been many times for dine-in and take-out and haven’t gotten sick. Arepas are delish, as well as the rockfish dish!
Good food! They do ordering using your phone so there isn’t an easy way to ask about allergens - that said their menu online is marked and you can leave a note with your order. I had one of the arepas and really enjoyed it! I didn’t get sick and overall felt safe there so I’d recommend as long as you’re careful to use the online menu.
Ok first of all the Royal has long been a fave since before my gf days. I was sad to learn the fries aren’t gf but I spoke to someone in the kitchen who confirmed the arepas are fully fully safe. Their menus always have a great variety so you’ll still find something delicious that’s gf and the staff rock
