Royal Cafe

Fresh cooked vegetables and pure Southern cooking at it’s finest. The building is old and the atmosphere is quaint, but the food is indescribably delicious. They get packed around lunch time and there maybe a wait, but it is worth waiting for.

The Royal is an institution in Columbus, my favorite «meat and three» establishment. This means that you pick out a meat (usually from a choose of three) and add three sides (usually from about 8 choices — typically butter peas, creamed potatoes, sliced tomatoes, green beans, sautéed squash, etc.). Then you get a choice between a cornbread muffin or fried cornbread (fried is the best). Then finally a choice of dessert (banana pudding is great!). All of this for under $ 10! Their menu changes daily, but they do have standard dishes on particular days. For instance, Thursdays are
turkey and dressing (my personal fave). My dad loves Fridays because that is country fried steak day. Regardless of the day you go, you are guaranteed to get amazing sides — my personal favorites are the creamed potatoes, fresh butter peas, and fried cornbread (hoe cakes). All of this is served to you on an old fashioned lunch tray. The food is made with love — you will see the owner back in the kitchen (she’s easily almost 90 years old). It’s a family owned business, which means that your patronage does a lot for the community.
Basically if you want true southern food, go here. I don’t live in Columbus anymore, but I make sure to visit this place every time I am home. It’s definitely a hole in the wall, but it is incredibly charming in it’s down to earth kind of way. Great people here!
Don’t forget this place is cash or check only! I also believe that they are only open for lunch.