Unbreaded

Royal Tavern Sandwiches Are Fit For A King (or Queen)

The wait at night for a table in the dimly lit Royal Tavern may turn away many, but for those who do stick around, a wealth of sandwiches awaits them. Hailed as having one of the best burgers in Philadelphia by several publications over the past few years, I was ashamed that I hadn’t made it out to Bella Vista sooner.

The Angus Burger is mesmerizing on paper: bacon, caramelized onions, smoked gouda, pickled longhots and chile mayonnaise on a sesame seed brioche bun but it isn’t until it is delivered to your table that your jaw truly drops. The thick hand-formed Angus is small in diameter but makes up for it in girth, incredibly tender and flavorful. The sweet gouda is complimented by the smokiness of two enormous slices of bacon and the slightly muted spice of the blackened longhots greatly enhances the meat while not masking it. It is too often that I encounter burgers adorned with adventurous toppings that overpower and steal the spotlight from the beef. The bun from Baker Street Bread is bulbous and baked to perfection, just slightly toasted by the Royal staff. If I had to pick five of the top burgers in Philadelphia right now, I couldn’t tell you exactly where it ranks, but this would certainly be on there.

Although Royal’s burger has received all of the press, it truly isn’t their signature sandwich. Ask any carnivore who frequents the restaurant to suggest a must have item and they will most likely point you towards the Meatloaf Sandwich (I hear the vegan offerings are incredible too). The thick cut slab of slow baked, marinated meat tastes exactly how I’d imagine my mom’s would, but unfortunately she doesn’t cook. As with the burger, the sandwich is kicked up another notch, topped off with provolone, caramelized onions, bacon and porcini mushroom ketchup. Piled on a giant ciabatta roll, you might want to share this one with a friend.

Don’t make the same mistake as me and hold out on Royal Tavern. Get over there and let us know what you think in the comments!

Get your sandwich on:

Royal Tavern
937 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Map)