Alexandria, VA – The Royal Restaurant, 730 N. St. Asaph, will give you the Royal treatment during Alexandria Restaurant Week!  The Royal has reinvented itself in recent months thanks to General Manager Louis Matsikas and fine dining Executive Chef Tony Halloran. As GM Matsikas said, “This is not your parents’ Royal.”

Chef Tony brings a new, fresh, and exciting way to present your favorite dishes. Having had an opportunity to check out the offerings for RW, we must say that you are in for a really enjoyable meal whatever items you select! And, for $49 for two during Restaurant Week (August 20-29), the selections are extraordinary.

The RW menu provides a variety of choices to meet almost anyone’s dining requirements with a choice of six appetizers, six entrees, and four desserts.  Many of the items have been on the menu for years but with locally-sourced ingredients and Chef Tony’s touch, they have been refreshed, giving them a new look and a new vibrant taste.

Check out the wine and beer being offered too. The Greek Mythos beer or the Greek Kotsifali Syrah are both great accompaniments to your meal. The Royal also features a full bar menu.

Top Two Entrees?

If we had to pick the top two items, the 14 oz. bone-in pork chop with a bourbon glaze is an outstanding  choice. Served with a fresh peach compote and accompanied by mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable medley, it’s a real winner. The pork was moist and tender, and the glaze was just perfect. Tied for first choice is the sautéed Alaskan salmon served over a beurre blanc with a seasonal vegetable medley and garlic rice pilaf. Wow! Perfectly cooked salmon with crispy skin, a buttery lemon sauce, fresh veggies, and rice makes a picture-perfect entrée that fulfilled the promise of a satisfying bite. Talk about royal treatment!!!!

The other four entrees do not disappoint either. Vying for a spot on anyone’s dinner order is the 14 oz. Delmonico steak. We in Alexandria have been looking for a good steak at a price that won’t break the bank and the Royal delivers. Beautiful grill marks are enhanced with a demi-glace and the steak is topped with their herb butter. Sautéed green beans and horseradish-mashed potatoes complete the composition and are everything you want in side dishes.

Pasta Too?

Did you know that the Royal does pasta too? Try the shrimp scampi over linguini. You can tell that Chef Tony spent some time in Italian restaurants because this dish is textbook delicious. The linguine is served with a generous portion of shrimp and a white wine sauce finished with fresh parsley. Choose from a side salad, Caesar salad, or vegetable medley to round out the dish. Tender shrimp and al dente pasta are a love match for the sauce.

Comfort Food

Vegetarians rejoice. Chef Tony has created a beautiful arugula and mixed baby greens with strawberries, garden fresh cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese tossed with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Make it even better with a choice of salmon, shrimp, blackened chicken, or scallops wrapped in bacon. Last but certainly not least is one the Royal’s long-time favorites, stuffed peppers and tomatoes served with house made mashed potatoes. This is a dish that your grandma would put on the table and bring a smile to your face. This is ultimate comfort food.

Sweet Finish

Desserts are not an afterthought here. We’re talking royal treatment! The warm chocolate brownie with ice cream will make you remember how good chocolate and ice cream are together. The bread pudding is another heart-warming dish, reminiscent of days past. It’s a favorite at the Royal – if you’re lucky, it may include fresh berries along with the ice cream and sauce. FYI, the desserts looked so good we dived in before we remembered to take a picture.

So, don’t pass by the opportunity to have a fine dining experience at the Royal. It will definitely make you add it to your regular restaurant rotation.

All photos courtesy of JohnDC Photography for the Zebra Press.

RELATED: Menus and More: Alexandria Restaurant Week, August 20-29