- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
198 reviews for Royal Clayton's
Review Highlights
"There's a pool table that was custom built for the place."
(in 28 reviews)
"Always on my quest to find amazing Fish & Chips."
(in 38 reviews)
"The Super F had the Bangers and Mash."
(in 11 reviews)
Loading...
198 reviews in English
-
Review from M.J. S.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
So sad they're leaving this location. I've always marveled at the space. I'm a sucker for high ceilings and wood floors. Wait. So, if Royal Clayton's is moving, the space is empty now, right? Great! I'M MOVING IN! :-]
Can't wait for the next incarnation, RC! Hope it's as good, or better than before! The Arts District misses you! -
Review from Stephanie P.
Playa Del Rey, CA
3/17/2011
Total Bummer that this place is closed. I can't wait until they re-open in a better spot downtown. It was a total diamond in the rough within Downtown. I enjoyed the pizza and beer here. Mmmm Pizza and Beer.
Til Next year! -
Review from Mary R.
9/8/2010
You can most definitely count me a fan of this pub in downtown LA. They pretty much won me over the day my friend moved into the Toy Factory Lofts, which reside in the upper stories of the same building.
Apparently, my friend had locked herself out of her apartment on moving day and wandered shoeless into the pub for a drink while she waited for the locksmith. She didn't have her wallet but promised to pay them back when she did.
Later that night, I came over to see her pad, and she and I hit up Royal Clayton's for more drinks and food. I ordered the chips and salsa and was won over on the spot. They were SO GOOD. The perfect amount of salty and crispy, yet the chips didn't taste as though they'd been fried in oil. They were most definitely fresh (not store bought, ew). The salsa was amazing too. I was surprised to get such a giant basket of chips, since they only cost $4.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the beer selection and the warm decor of the bar. The bar is dimly lit, but not too dark and something about it just feels like home (maybe the super friendly bar tenders?). On tap, there is a wide selection of good beers.
At the end of the night, my friend recounted her story to the bartender about how she owed them money for the drink she bought while shoeless and locked out. They told her not to worry about it- the drink was on them.
Welcome to the neighborhood. -
Review from Madelle L.
Glendale, CA
11/14/2010
Thought the interior design was pretty well put together.
But also thought they can expand or redo the happy hour menu a little.
Tip: get beer! I don't have high hopes for the cocktails after trying the uber-sweet margarita. And, nothing else too appealing (at least not for this miss lady).
Also played pool and was almost hitting people with the stick because it might be too close to some of the seats. But it's free so whatev.
I might still be goin back and give this place another chance. Really starting to like this area of Downtown. ;) -
Review from Eli B.
CA
Updated - 1/16/2011
Update again - that sale fell through. Who knows?
Just a note that RC is now closed. The business has been bought by the owner of Church and State across the street. Apparently it will stay a pub. No word yet on whether it will reopen under same name or a new one.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/5/2010
Solid English-style pub....that's English in all senses, including the fact that the food sucks.
Why… Read more »
-
-
Review from Rebecca R.
San Gabriel, CA
2/11/2011
This place has the best fish & chips I've had in LA so far.... That being said, the rest this restaurant has to offer leaves a lot to be desired.
My husband ordered three different types of draft beer (they have about 10 draft beers on tap) in an effort to find one that tasted decent and none of them were good.
The atmosphere was decent as was the service (the other patrons were friendly enough and the wait staff attentive).The menu selection was limited -
Review from Scot E.
Updated - 12/19/2010
Royal Clayton's is closed :(
I'm so sad. This was my favorite neighborhood bar.
I hear they will re-open next year in another spot downtown.
Sad loss for the Arts District.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/30/2010
My favorite neighborhood bar.
In the Arts District, where I live, I believe this is the best place to… Read more »
-
-
Review from Christina P.
Los Angeles, CA
11/20/2010
A slightly sketch ball area of town, good interior design, okay selection of beer, and a trivia night with formidable opponents - sign me up!
I liked the food we got, but it was nothing over-the-top special. I would not mind going here again anyway if it were convenient. 3 stars (2.5 but I'll round up because during my one experience my trivia team won. zing.) -
Review from KATHY S.
West Hollywood, CA
11/27/2010
Always on my quest to find amazing Fish & Chips..dedcided to try this place. The impession I got from this place before going was that it was a English Pub sort of place...not so..sure it had the decor..but the food...Horrible. The happy hour was good..2 dollar pabst..and 4 dollar guiness is a good deal for sure..but going back to the food...
Fish and Chips were 9.99 for Happy Hour..which would be a fantastic deal if it was good. Two large pieces with fries..but no good...gross..I hate to make a bad review ..I really do. The meal was served with a small side of ketchup ( the fries needed more) !! So bottom line if you come here for happy hour..stay away from the Fish..and you will love it. The place is in such a cool Industrail area....parking is cool. -
Review from Brian G.
4/26/2010
What's not to like? The downtown surroundings reminds me a little of my night time escapades through Dumbo in NYC. In the middle of this warehouse district are well some apportioned establishments like Royal Clayton's. Unless you live in the hood, it's not someplace you stumble upon - you make it a point to visit.
I can't speak much for the food other than having ordered some crispy fries. I did look around and see quite a few people actually eating full on meals close to 11pm so the food's gotta be pretty decent. Beer pours are generous - pus they have Smithwick's on tap! All around, quite a decent pub. The oil paintings of English nobility, random coat of arms, and the occasional knight statue in armor lend it some street cred as an English pub. It's the kind of place Harry Potter and his fellow Gryffindors would hang out once they graduated from Hogwarts. Seriously though, after a couple of pints at Royal Clayton's you may well believe you can summon a patronus with your car keys...er, your wand that is. -
Review from nina s.
Los Angeles, CA
5/4/2010
I've been here three times...
The first time for lunch with the boss and one of our sales reps... I had the shrimp wrap with a side of sweet potato fries.... I was impressed! DELISH!
The second time I went with co-workers to celebrate boss-man's bday... I had a mojito (which was sold to me on the basis that people wait long periods of time to have this specific bartender make them one).... EHHHH! I wouldn't have waited more than 5 minutes for it.... It was average! And I ordered a Long Island Tea... EHHH! Also, average!
The third time I went with my boytoy, as he met me for lunch, and it's near my work... He had the shrimp wrap after I recommended it, and I ordered a pizza... He said the wrap was just "ok" (not worth the $14) and my pizza tasted like circus/carnival pizza... DISGUSTING!
The decor is great! Very cool english pub, but the food and drinks are less than satisfactory.... I'll probably never go back here, again... EXCEPT to satisfy a sweet potato fries craving (cause those were pretty darn delish not gonna lie)!!! -
Review from Kevin F.
3/17/2010
Ok, when I do happy hours or bars, beers are beers, drinks are drinks. Well, maybe not for the last one, but sometimes its a spin of the wheel right? Get the right bartender anywhere, from high class joint to dive bar, and your day is golden. So often times what I look for in a spot is atmosphere, charisma, character, style, flash, flair.
Royal Clayton's got character indeed. This place is an English Pub and looks like an english pub. Paintings of British royalty; queens, kings, prince, princesses, a giant suit of armor, a coat of arms, its enough to make you say, "Bloody hell, you wank!"
Definitely a damn cool place, but its also the way out there by Church and State, so again, I'm not sure if I can get back there anytime soon. But still english pub that looks like an english pub, in downtown in the industrial district of all places!
Oh, and they have a great quote, "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder." Indeed!Listed in: Bars Downtown, Low key drinking spots
-
Review from Min T.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2010
3.5
Happy Hour every day! Woohoo, let's drink to that!
After a show at X Repertory Theatre up the street, we stopped in for the "best bloody marys." Now, I love a good bloody so I was up for the challenge. It was $8 and pretty damn good. But later I switched to Vodka gingers because well drinks are $4.
There are some snacks on the HH menu but I ended up ordering the pork sandwich under the specialties. It's almost like a pulled pork sandwich because of the sweet BBQ sauce but it's not pulled pork. Oh, those silly English. What's this? Bangers. As in sausage. Yep, my sandwich was sliced sausage. I asked for salad as my side and it came with a huge salad with cucumber and tomatoes. Yum.
We had a great time and I definitely want to go back. It's kind of funny though the people who frequent RC are definitely the anti- Church & State people. RC VS CS? Well, it's no contest. They're both good in their own ways.Listed in: Downtown LA, Whiskey & Such, Downtown Bars
-
Review from Ian B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/26/2007
Downtown's coolest local hang - very sexy, very cool, you can't believe it until you visit... and you still need to eat to believe it.
-Billards, Flatscreens, and great Filet Mignon? Hey, it works - I eat there once a week minimum.
Seriously, the food isn't what you think... the best pork chop and Filet - and totally affordable... $19 for a pork chop (should be $30) and $26 for Filet (should be $34), the burger rocks too... fun apps - but not for those on a diet... lots of heavy rich stuff.
Plus' Hip design, cool location under the Toy Loft Building, valet, open late, fun staff, feels like a cool soho spot to me.... love the church stain glass windows and the metal work. Dessert was really good too.
Minus' Downtown isn't supporting this place the way we could/should, I hope they can continue to do as good a job as there currently are.
Wine List - ok, could use some love from a good wine buyer.Listed in: Downtown Restaurants from the…
-
Review from Leo G.
Sylmar, CA
11/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
A hidden British Pub in Downtown Los Angeles with a vintage, dark interior. I love dark places, which has plasma television's for the soccer and football fans to enjoy. I ordered fish & chips, since it's a must in a British restaurant and was content with the size of the portions; three jumbo pieces of fish and crispy fries. Plus, 'Hoegaarden' beer on tap is hard to find and this place has it.
-Sundayat6pm -
Review from Allen P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2007
I would put this place on the map for a little first date action. It's more of a restaurant than a bar, its impossible to find, and after getting lost and going through skid row to get there, your sure to be guaranteed some action.
The Toy Design loft is super sweet and the RC interior is defiantly on the cool side. Other pros are free pool with nice sticks.
The down side is that I'm not sure who goes here. It seems to be young professionals and visualization render nerds or something like that. The vibe is a little tense and the whole downtown scene leaves something to be desired. Still this place is a good getaway if your sick of everything else and you have a subscription to Metropolis. -
Review from J. M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/20/2008
I liked the space...but that was about it.
Sis and Cos were in town, so I figured I checked to see if the Yelpers prefer Church & State or Royal Claytons; RC was the winner, and boy that was a mistake...or maybe they both suck?
We ordered the Cheshire Cheese Steak Rolls, the Cheese Burger, and the Mac & Cheese.
The Cheshire Cheese Steak Rolls are more like egg rolls with chewy steak and cheese that looks like Velveeta for $10....
The Mac & Cheese was litterally in a soup of cheese. Sis and Cos didn't mind it so much, but geez for $9.50, you figure they can do better. I have to make sis try the Chicken Lady's Mac & Cheese and then she will know what's good.
Now onto the worst part of the meal, the Cheeseburger. WOW, was it SALTY! I love salt. In fact I'll be shaking salt for a long time on my eggs. I'm also an off and on smoker, and when you smoke you destroy your tastebuds making a smoker add more salt to his/her food. I mentioned to my sis and cos that they put too much salt in the meat. My cos thought the salt was on the bun. My sis said that it was on the bun and in the meat. RC's cheeseburger was completely inedible and it cost $13.00 --I was totally raped. Sure, the cheeseburger came with fries (not bad) but for $13, I could have had a 25 Degrees' burger....
The service was eh. I think there was only one waiter on a Saturday night...I really get annoy when waiters pretend that they remember your order. The waiter was like, "yes, I have your order. you had the..." my cos finished his sentence.
The bottom line? ONLY FOR DRINKS and check out the space and play some pool (line might be long since it's free).Listed in: My burgers list...
-
Review from Shaun-mathieu S.
North Hollywood, CA
2/24/2010
Anne Bolyn was quite musically talented. In addition to a lovely singing voice, this charismatic Queen of England could play the lute, the harp, and the recorder. Her portrait is one of several royals that hang on the walls of Royal Claytons, an excellent English pub in the heart of the Arts Colony in Downtown Los Angeles. Her grumpy husband and other famous historical figures watch with envy as commoners enjoy a fresh brew. My noble palette has had several opportunites to dine here, and below are some of my favorites:
Bloody Mary - Flavorful and spicy as a King's Mistress, this decadence is outstanding. Heavily garnished with olives, lemons, and celery, I usually get two of these.
Kunde Cabernet - Their house cab, tasty and classic
Calamari - Bronzed baubles of squid served with two delicious sauces and shredded vegetables. Very savory.
Tower of London - Deadly and overpowering, this creation begins with a mound of soft, delicious fries and then an obelisk of beer-battered onion rings rising up from the potatoe'd mound. Impressive as the Tower of Babel. I love it.
Pepperoni Pizza - Cheese and pepperoni coalesce into an arranged marriage atop a kingdon of threadlike crust. The marinara sauce used is wellborn of delicious seasonings and tomatoes.
Sheppard's Pie - Not to be confused with the Benjamin Barker varieties, this pastry is a true delight, filled with vegetables, mashed potatoes and tender Angus beef. It also comes with a small salad. I tried dipping French Fries into it, and the mix was truly impressive. Good to share, or take half of it home.
Located in the Biscuit Lofts Buidling not far from XRT and Tony's, the pub also has a great pool table and Trivia (with prizes) every Monday Night. Their Happy Hour is also seven days a week! Street parking is prevalent on the surrounding avenues. I will be returning to this fine sovereignty sometime very soon! -
Review from Noreena M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2007
A hidden pub underneath the new Toy Lofts building. Clever siting, providing refuge and nourishment for the neighboring downtown artists; offering coffee and breakfast in the am, lunch in the noon to pm, and a casual hangout loungy digs in the eve.
Great concept but under delivered with the food / bar offerings and service. My aperitif, which was a PIMM'S CUP, was incorrectly prepared twice. First try, it was served in a martini glass w/ white vermouth...WRONG! Second try, it was served w/ a lemon wedge...WRONG! I had to tell the bartender how to serve and garnish the drink. Perhaps, she needs to go back to bartending school.
The food was nothing to prattle about. The FRIED CALAMARIS were over fried and bitter, the CHICKEN QUESADILLAS were nothing spectacular (Poquito Mas makes 'em better!), and the BBQ RIBS were overly sweet and boring.
They need to regroup and work on their menu and service. Otherwise, it's a dandy place to hangout, play pool, and chat with friends over a "misprepared" cocktail. -
Review from claudia g.
Los Angeles, CA
12/18/2008
Ya- know every time I come here my immediate reaction is to run. There is something with the decor that bugs me BUT every time I go- I stay--- for at least one drink that ultimately turns into 2 or 3....
Great beer selection, bartenders know how to shake or stir up a good cocktail and the food- I haven't tried but will consider it next time :)
The bartenders are dawm nice! I don't mean sticky sweet- but just quick to get you some booze, get you more as soon as you finish the first and then leave you alone! But not for too long- they always seem to know when you want "another" or "check please"...
I like this bar. Plus free pool tables for those of you who are into sticks and balls on green felt... -
Review from Sarah M.
6/13/2008
Re: Bad neighborhood
If you don't like it, go to the west side. Yes, the roads are bad and the streetlights sparse. Yes, there are big bad warehouses scattered round. But really, how much danger can you really be in walking literally 20 feet from your car to Royal Clayton's? I'll answer that: NONE.
Re: Sickness?
Last night, I was very aware of the dangers of salmonella running rampant, so I ordered a turkey burger with a fat slice of tomato. No vomiting 'er nothing. My domestic partner eats here almost every day for lunch break and has found himself energized and full of protein and other nutrients to get through the day.
Re: Awesome, English pub?
Yes! The decor/ambiance is great. I felt like I fell into a time/place warp. It isn't all kitschy and stupid like a theme restaurant. I would characterize it as legit.
Their "happy hour" is absolutely great. You can't get much better than $2-3-4 dollar beers and $5 small plates. Their Guinness on tap was a little flat, however, I enjoyed more than a fair share of Blue Moons. The service is great because the employees have character, and throw laughs and jokes all over the place.
My turkey burger was perhaps the best one I've had, especially 'cos it was served with a heaping mound of sweet potato fries (thick-cut, just the way I like them). I did chose something boring, sorry. There are interesting selections on the menu which I am excited to try next time.
We watched the Lakers game ( :[ ), played a round of pool, ate, drank, people-watched, and left into the scary, monster-filled neighborhood, luckily back to safety. -
Review from Roni R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2009
Every time I've been here, I've regretted it. Horrible -- I mean, HORRIBLE service. Whatever good things I've experienced I can't remember.
I'm not kidding, one day they asked us to leave by taking our food away from our table -- telling us they need the tables. When we told them that we weren't done w/our food, they got boxes and threw our food in the boxes, literally -- threw the food into a box and said, "you need to go."
We later found out that they had confused our party w/another party, but they didn't even tell us that -- they just told us we had to move, took our food away and handed us a bill. They didn't even apologize. -
Review from Jimmy C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2009
Royal Claytons is an English Pub located in the new trendy industrial area of Downtown Los Angeles. They feature British food in a dark spacious bar. Royal Clayton's English Pub, the full name, is an excellent destination drinking place for a group of friends.
We stumbled upon Royal Clayton's by accident. We were suppose to go to Church & State, just across the alley, but we, unfortunately, didn't make reservations. I admit, I was a bit disappointed . . .but I was pleasantly surprised about Royal Clayton's.
One would expect large pints of ale with . And its all true. . . and they have all that and more. Their menu features Shepard's pie, Banger's, and, of course, Fish & Chips (which I had to order). The Fish & Chips, though pricey at 15 bucks, had 3 large pieces of deep fried fish with french fries. I think the fish was tender with the batter crispy, but all too greasy. But I guess fried fish is suppose to be greasy when you wash it down with beer. English comfort food or I should say "bar food" is not exactly the best food either. I think English bar food is a bit bland, but filling, and needs its accompanied beer. Next time around, I'll try the Shepard's Pie.
This particular night, I had to have Guinness, which is Irish. I guess I could have picked some random English beer. I'm not sure why, but we also had a cheese plate. Nothing special there. . .
Anyways. . .
With no expectations at all - Royal Clayton's has me wanting to come back a 2nd time. -
Review from Miller S.
Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
2/19/2009 1 Check-in Here
Royal Clayton's has always been good for drinks, but a year ago, it wasn't so good for food. They really have turned it around! The menu is large and varied - everything from bangers and mash to ahi tuna wrap. If you've had a less-than-appealing experience in the past here, I strongly urge you to come back.
Let's start with the most important - RC's has the BEST fish and chips. The cod is beer battered, crisp and flaky. You can even get the cod in fish tacos, which is sinfully delicious. I recommend getting the fish with a caesar salad instead of fries. It's almost healthy.
They have several vegan soups. That's right. An english pub with vegan tortilla soup. The baja shrimp wrap is delicious. The calamari is yummy. Grains and Grills is a personal fave (I add tofu).
And, lastly, they have a great selection of beers on tap including Tetley's, which tastes exactly the way an English draught should.Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Lizzie S.
12/28/2008
I started going to Royal Claytons when they first opened, literally their first week. We ate there a couple times, had one great meal and one shabby meal, and partially because they were open before the neighborhood was developed it was always slow. Despite the cool vibe, we likes some peeps, so we stopped going.
We visited again last night and had a great time. Drinks were not too expensive, al the natives were incredibly friendly, i love the big tvs, and the pool table is free. Did you hear that? The pool table is FREE! I get to knock guys' balls around gently for FREE! -
Review from elizabeth c.
CA
12/7/2008
I have a well-documented dislike of peas. But, did y'all know that I have an equal, but not as well-documented, love of dumplings? Sadly, a dish popularly known as chicken and dumplings combines these two. Even more sadly, the two do not cancel each other out.
What makes me sit down to write this review for Royal Clayton's is the supreme sweetness of their chef. While I didn't meet this paragon of service, I want to extend my thanks for personally picking out each individual pea, thus rendering my dish exceedingly yummy, not to be marred by the mushy green blahness that I consider peas.
Without the peas, the chicken and dumplings is rich and creamy, the perfect comfort food for when the nights are long and dark and cold. The cream sauce stints on neither the cream nor the butter. The chicken chunks are hearty, moist and tender. The dumplings are perfect -- cheesy and soft with still a bit of a chew left on them. Washed down with a black and tan, the meal is enough to fatten you up for the winter. -
Review from Kyle B.
Austin, TX
12/18/2006
This is a very cool new spot, in a part of downtown that is just starting to get revitalized. For those brave souls who have led the charge into the renovating lofts of the Artists' District, Royal Clayton's is a pretty sweet local bar/restaurant to have as your own.
Very cool decor, nice selection of booze, and from what I tried, tasty and not-too-pricey good food.
UPDATE: Don't know how I forgot them, but the Philly Cheesesteak spring rolls are AWESOME. Don't visit Royal Clayton's without trying them out.Listed in: Downtown Goodness
-
Review from Amelia D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/15/2008
I agree with the totally random location comments. However, if you work in the warehouse district like I do, it's sort of nice to know you can get a decent drink without carrying your pink tear gas dispenser in your back pocket just in case.
I enjoyed this place. Unfortunately for those looking for food criticisms, I ordered the veggie burger, which is a Gardenburger (translation: it's exactly the same, everywhere). The sweet potato fries were phenomenal, though, and came to my table in copious quantities.
The gin and tonic I ordered was good, but slightly too weak for my taste. So for my second drink (that's about where I max out when I need to drive home and the sun's still out), I ordered a mint julep. amazing! Freshly crushed mint leaves, and plenty of it. Wonderful refreshment on a warmer evening after work.
The service is friendly, but don't expect to be blown out of the water. Personally, I enjoy being left to my own devices after I've ordered, unless the waiter notices that my drink looks a little low. In this sense, the waiter was very attentive.
The atmosphere is probably the reason I'll return : old warehouse-style furniture and dim lighting. Clean restroom. High ceilings. Hardwood floors. I love that stuff. If you're in the neighborhood, you should go. -
Review from Raymond F.
Pasadena, CA
2/20/2010
English pub, in historic district of LA
Inside is dark, but it works
Monday is Trivia night
Prices are fair -
Review from Elyse K.
CA
4/23/2007
We wandered in last Friday, early evening and were able to grab a tall bar table and relax from a crushing work week. We ordered a delicious bottle of Shiraz and a few plates from the appetizer menu. Quesadilla, Philly Spring Rolls and Buffalo Wings. All good, all a little better than your typical greasy bar food. Nothing extraordinary, but good.
Now that the food wasn't the star or the draw, i can write about the great space. The tables and chairs must have been scooped up from an old sewing house or other kind of factory. Check out the old bike chains and cranks below your table. I can picture a row of war-time women sitting upright cranking type-writers from these chairs. The interior is loft-y but with a warm leather and wood feel. There is a small side bar with a few flat screens, a pool table and ample barstools and tables. The front dining room is softly lit by candles and well placed fixtures.
The service was prompt (except for that damn filling of the water, not sure why that detail is most often missed) and she gave us the great wine recommendation after our Barbera bottle was not available.
The crowd was groups of downtowners and professionals straight off of work and a few girls enjoying girls night out.
I enjoyed my first visit and will be back for another bottle of wine and that might be it. I hear i have to try some of the entrees, so we'll see.Listed in: Downtown LA- you've come a…
-
Review from Victoria S.
Colorado Springs, CO
7/7/2008
HUGE portions. Very reasonable prices (particularly for LA).
Nice interior in this "gentrifying" warehouse district - a terrific find while poking around downtown LA! -
Review from Jacks S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/10/2010
More like 3 1/2 stars actually.
Mimosas at an English Pub??? Blasphemy you say! I say, your in L.A. and its Sunday morning- so leave me and my mimosa alone...Ok, so I woke up cranky that morning, but my mimosa at the Royal Clayton's turned it all around. The decor and layout is perfect and I must admit, the location made me feel like I was discovering something new and unique. The beer selection was also very good- is that Leffe beer? Ok, I am coming back here and trying the beer and the food- until next time, RC! -
Review from John G.
Sunland, CA
4/14/2007
The other reviews listed pretty much says it all.
It is a place to impress if you want something different (skid row junkie tour dream} and then a singke malt scotch to wake you up.
The food is good.We both had the flat iron steak. But the french onoin soup was to brothy and way to sweet Reasonabley priced evening.
Not big on Belgian beers but if you are then diffently do not miss this place as you will be rewarded. -
Review from Katy R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/11/2008
Not bad, not bad...definitely not a bad place to visit. The door, super heavy...I had a hard time pushing myself out. The Royal Pictures of English Queens on the walls makes me want to go home and study English Royal faces. I'm wondering if they have a portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine who ruled from 1122-1202....
At first, I was a little sketchy coming here. I was like, "Naw man..you got to be kidding me! This doesn't look safe for a lady..", but all you do is turn one little corner and you find yourself in uber- urban -yuppie ville.
And not to mention, I ate really good. They have an excellent menu for salads. I ordered the spinach and mushroom salad served in a big bowl. It was doused in walnuts, dressing, red onions, orange slices, spinach AND THEN, they topped it off with grilled chicken strips. Not bad. The Mushroom pizza was also really, really good. I thought the food was good, then again, I hadn't eaten in a few days.
The boys will hit on you..it was pub heaven.. -
Review from jose H.
Hancock Park, CA
1/23/2009
Last night I wanted to try something new.
I was like I am getting out of work early, why not go have a drink and get the weekend started. So I looked through some local bars in Koreatown but there wasn't anything that just stood out. But then I looked in the slums of Los Angeles and this is when I found Royal Claytons (RC).
First of all, when you are driving on your way to RC you can't and feel like "Am I going the right way". Now for those that know where the Greyhound station is in downtown los angeles, that is where it's located. So you can understand why I thought I was lost....but yet as soon as I made two turns on Mateo and 7th street it all changed.
As soon as you walk in it's very dim and covered with paintings from old British people. The first impression after seeing the paintings, I felt like I was back in the haunted house in Disneyland.
They have a good happy hour where they have draft beer for $2 to $3 dollars on most beers. They even have a metal stein where you can drink from. It roughly is the equivalence of 2 1/2 beers that is what the bartender told me. Had I know, I would have gotten one for myself, but I was already 4 beers in my system.
After a few drinks I wanted to play pool and I was worried I had to get change for a dollar...and I hardly ever carry cash. But then I saw a couple just start playing for FREE!!! I am a huge fan of FREE, so that made this place very awesome.
The Bartenders and management were very nice when I went yesterday and trust me I can't wait to go again and have myself a STEIN. -
Review from Luy T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/5/2009
Went here on a Monday night and they were having a Trivial Pursuit championship of some sort.
I had the burger ($14) and was very pleased with it, although it was a bit pricey for a pub.
Great beer and wine list, free pool and a really cool crowd.
Will be back for drinks for sure! -
Review from Jonathan T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 9/3/2009
After a particularly fruitful jam session (hmmm, that one just kinda came to fruition naturally, no pun intended yo!), my bandmate and i decided to roll out for a self-congratulatory pint or three of HH goodness at the R.C.
for some inexplicable reason, my bandmate became discombobulated while driving and decided in mid-stream that we should go to the Blue Dahlia instead for their HH. I was like,
'ummm, yea, i guess so if you wanna. whatevs. jus' do it quickly, cuz it's almost 7 and we're already razor thin on dilly-dally time to make the cut.'
so there he goes and pulls up...to....HUH?
Wha? WTF? Blue Dahlia is not on 1st St!
Dood that's the effin' Bordello, yo!
And. ummm. yea. they're CLOSED.
What the hell have you been smoking?
Aye. so Space Cadet (actually he's a Rocket Scientist--no bullshit!--)
peels out and makes a beeline for the TRUE Blue Dahlia, and as we sit at the traffic light with the pedestrian crosswalk counting down (please join in with me, remembering the chime for the blind chiming in the background):
'10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.'
'BLAAAAAH!' (that's me, making a buzzer sound like the one on Family Feud when you get three strikes).
'Ok, man, it's 7pm. You've officially Killed Happy Hour!!'
So he drives by the Dahlia and of course it's primarily a wine bar. It finally registers with him and he continues his herky jerky driving (sober all the while, just to clarify) right on by, careens onto Mateo and punches it down to 7th and Industrial and our little sliver of Wanna Be Lower Manhattan BioSphere-esque Social Experiement that is the Biscuit Loft Zone.
On one side of the street you've got leering pub smokers from the Royal C facing the yuppie, on a date, ritsy-titsy al fresco set. Both sides staring each other down with contempt (or so i perceive it in my dramatic little world)....
Luckily, I am one of those who can chameleonize myself and feel (almost) as equally comfortable in each bio-sphere environment. :O}
Anywhoozers, I digress...HEAVILY.
So, it's 7:07 when we walk in, and of course, the 'Computer' has turned off the HH spigot precisely at 7. So we are told by the waitron, with a fatalist 'look, we can't challenge the machines' nonchalance.
I glare at my bandmate-turned-session-break-drinking-buddy.
He compensates and placates by plunking down some plastic and ordering rounds.
'Yea, it's my fault.'
Sitting at the bar, it's a pleasant chill down from my Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of a few minutes earlier.
FOOD AND DRINKS!!!! FINALLY!
The Leffe Blond (Belgian) hits the spot, and goes REALLY well with their most excellent Mac and Cheese.
In fact, this is one of the only Mac and Cheeses i've had that still pleases the palate without some seminal components, such as the (up until now) ESSENTIAL cheese and breadcrumb Crust that must accompany the molten goodness magma-ing up from below.
this one's just molten magma, but a tasty, lightly spiced cheesy one it is!
i tried it without the fresh ground black pepper first (they give you a grinder for self-service), and it can stand on its own, and i like the addition of red and green bell peppers mixed on up in that magma mess.
the ground pepper does make it even better, i must say.
Meantime, while the Burger is no Hellman Burger (Pete's is the Downtown Burger Crown King, yo!), it was still pretty tender and Hella tasty (yes, i said, 'Hella!'), with Swiss, fresh tomatoes, non-wilty lettuce, pickles, and some pungent red onions that left no mistake on my breath. It being a Turkey Burger (you can choose Turkey, Beef, or Veggie), sure it's hard to compare Semi-Flightless Birds to Cows, but i'm sure the Beef one still wouldn't stand up to a Hellman.
Heeeellll No!
And the large steak fries were boss.
A fitting session break.
Now back to work.
Er. um
I mean.
PLAY!
DONE.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/15/2009
there's something percolating on the erstwhile moribund corner of Industrial and Mateo.
amid the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Cynthia G.
Hacienda Heights, CA
4/27/2009
Approaching this location was pretty sketchy because of it's surroundings. But once you get to the street, it's like a mini-New York. Lofts, bars, and restaurants will grace your presence.
This is a British bar which has a pool table oddly placed, flat screen tvs, and a separation for the restaurant side. The bar is big and all the staff is VERY friendly. I was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere and the good food. Drinks were insanely cheap. At the end, the kitchen also sent over a free cheese pizza to our table which was like a slice of heaven.
A definite good place to hang with friends! -
Review from Christopher S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2010
This place can be real hit or miss, but I'm basing this review off of a hit.
When you can get there early enough (before 9ish usually) on a Wednesday night and get their 10 dollar fish and chips, paired with a Kronenbourg 1664 on tap, the stars align and your belly does a dance of joy.
When you get there and they are closed cause they are filming a commercial inside, or you get there and its over-run with douchery, or when you get there and they have run out of fish and chips putting you in a situation to eat something less tasty and much more expensive, all the gas immediately expels itself from your body and all of downtown implodes. -
Review from Arturo G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/29/2010
Less sometimes is more and Royal Clayton's won't disappoint. You'll find the expected: an authentic decor, cool ambiance, a basic but well thought out selection of food and a great selection of beers (try the Leffe Blonde). Oh yes, an unexpected treat: $3 pints on Saturday nights...need I say more?
Cheers!
