Alexandria's Royal Restaurant Changes Owner, Seeks Outdoor Dining

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The century-old Royal Restaurant has changed ownership and is planning an outdoor

The family restaurant at 730 N. St. Asaph Street is now owned by Alexandria Restaurant Partners, according to a special use permit application for outdoor dining. Alexandria Restaurant Partners owns other Alexandria restaurants like Mia's Italian Kitchen, The Majestic, Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge, Theismann's Restaurant, Ada's on the River, and Barca Pier & Wine Bar.

The outdoor dining application calls for 60 covered outdoor seats and 30 uncovered seats. The outdoor area would be located in 10 of the existing parking spaces. The restaurant currently has 122 indoor seats and 23 surface parking spaces. According to a city staff report, the restaurant's parking requirement is already met with 12 spaces.

Alexandria Restaurant Partners seeks to have outdoor dining open from 10 a.m to 11 p.m. daily and set up speakers to provide background music "in compliance with the City's noise ordinance," according to the application. The city staff report indicates background music is permitted but not outdoor live entertainment.

City staff endorsed the outdoor dining proposal.

"The indoor restaurant has operated successfully as a neighborhood meeting spot since 1950, and the addition of outdoor dining would enhance the business’s favorable position within the neighborhood," the report reads.

Royal Restaurant has operated by the Pikrallidas and Euripides families since 1904, according to its website. The original location called Royal Café was located at 109 North Royal Street where the city square and fountains now stand and moved to 730 N. St. Asaph Street in 1964. The restaurant brands itself as Alexandria's original diner, serving up Italian, Greek and American food. The last owner, Charlie Euripides, died in 2022.

The Zebra reported that Alexandria Restaurant Partners intends to keep the iconic Alexandria restaurant's brand.