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$75  + Tip/Tax
Tue, 10/6
5:15 PM & 7:45 PM
Rittenhouse Square

Rex at the Royal

Day 1: 5-Course Luxurious Lowcountry Tasting Series

Opened in 2021, this South Street establishment inspired by the culinary traditions of the American South nabbed a place on Eater’s 2025 List of “15 Top Philly Restaurants.” Located on the site of the historically significant Royal Theater, which opened in 1920 as a first-run cinema operated for and by Black Americans and later became a cultural hub that hosted live performances from Bessie Smith, Cab Calloway, and Fats Waller, the Rex offers up a menu designed to please. Here, diners find such signature dishes as crab fondue, trout roe deviled eggs, peach and tomato salad, skillet cornbread with honey butter, crawfish pot pie, hoppin’ john, shrimp & grits, and a killer banana cheesecake. “The menu highlights classic comfort foods with a combination of soul and polish,” says Philadelphia Inquirer, while Resy says that Rex at the Royal has “one of Philadelphia’s loveliest and most historic dining rooms.” Naturally, we’re excited to visit here and hope you’ll be able to join us!

About the Host:

Edwin De La Rosa

Executive Chef

Chef Edwin De La Rosa has spent his career in New England and Philadelphia kitchens, moving from Chef de Cuisine at Honeysuckle Provisions to Executive Chef at Middle Child Clubhouse to multi-unit culinary leadership at FCM Hospitality, where he oversaw a wide variety of concepts. A 2024 StarChefs Rising Star, he now leads Rex at the Royal as its Executive Chef, where his focus is to trace the Great Migration and the Southern coastal and Gullah Geechee traditions that Black cooks carried up north.

The Lineup

All courses will be individually plated. This menu will be Shellfish, Peanut, Soy & Mushroom Free. For a list of restrictions/allergies Chef is accommodating, click here.

  1. Buttermilk Biscuits

    house baked biscuits, sorghum butter, grape jelly

  2. Peach & Tomato Salad

    goat cheese, wild arugula, sorghum vinaigrette, sweet potato hay

  3. Collard & Smoked Turkey Hand Pie

    pot likker, pickled onion, hot sauce

  4. Blackened Catfish

    roasted pepper sauce, herbed rice, asparagus

  5. Butter Pecan Sundae

    sorghum caramel, spiced pecan praline, vanilla wafer

Rex at the Royal

1524 South St

Philadelphia, PA 19146

More Event Info

Dietary Restrictions Accommodation Policy:

Due to the large-format nature of this event, all accommodation requests must be Added To Your Profile, or Emailed To Us no later than 72 hours before the event. Requests submitted after this date will not be accommodated. Additionally, Rex at the Royal will only be accommodating certain dietary restrictions/food allergies, and they are unable to make menu adjustments based on distaste for specific ingredients/flavor profiles.

See below for guidance on whether or not they will be accommodating your restriction. Or, if your restriction is not represented below, Contact Us prior to booking tickets for guidance.

  • Vegetarians: There is Turkey in Course 3 and Chicken and Fish in Course 4. Substitutions will be provided.

  • Pescatarians: There is Turkey in Course 3 and Chicken in Course 4. Substitutions will be provided.

  • Gluten: There is Gluten in Course 1, Course 3, Course 5. Substitutions will not be provided.

  • Dairy:
    • Butter: Butter is in Course 1, Course 3, Course 4, Course 5. Substitutions will be provided
    • Milk/Cream: Milk/Cream is in Course 1, Course 4, Course 5. Substitutions will be provided
    • Cheese: Goat's Milk Cheese is in Course 2. Substitutions will be provided

  • Shellfish: This menu is shellfish-free.

  • Fish: There is Catfish in Course 4. Substitutions will be provided.

  • Eggs: There are Eggs in Course 1, Course 5. Substitutions will not be provided.

  • Peanuts: This menu is peanut-free.

  • Tree Nuts: There is Pecan in Course 5. Substitutions will be provided.

  • Alliums: There is Garlic (Raw) and Shallot (Raw) in Course 2, Garlic (Cooked) and Onion (Cooked) in Course 3 and Garlic (Cooked) and Onion (Cooked) in Course 4. Substitutions will be provided for Course 2 and 3 ONLY.

  • Mushrooms: This menu is mushroom-free.

  • Soy: This menu is soy-free.

Handicap Accessibility:

This restaurant is handicap accessible. If applicable however, Contact Us with your needs to ensure proper accommodations.

Have Additional Questions?

Check out Event FAQs or Contact Us for assistance.