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Roy's Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Hawaiian Restaurants Asian Fusion Hawaiian, Asian Fusion [Edit]
7760 W Sand Lake RdOrlando, FL 32819
Neighborhood: Dr. Phillips
(407) 352-4844
$36.95 for Winter Prix Fixe Menu
Winter Prix Fixe Menu. Three Amazing Courses, inspired by the Season just $36.95.
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Roy's Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The pineapple upside-down cake is out of this world."
(in 18 reviews)
"We ordered the melting hot chocolate souffle."
(in 7 reviews)
"...service was top notch, the prix fixe menu was a steal, and..."
(in 8 reviews)
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Francisco M.
Orlando, FL
1/11/2012 3 photos
Great Place! Its rare for me to give a place 5 stars but Roy's truly deserves it all the way around. The food was excellent and the service was top notch. We celebrated our Anniversary and they made us feel very special by something as simple as printing a custom made page for us and inserting it into the front page of the menu. Those are small details that separate a good restaurant from a great one. They definitely know that their custormer's are the number one priority.
We began with Roy's Canoe Appetizer For Two and it was delicious. It gives you a taste of all their best appetizers including the Lobster Potstickers that were my favorite. They were crunchy and the lobster was perfectly cooked, filled with flavor.
My wife ordered the Andouille Crusted Snapper and I am not a fan of fish but this Snapper tasted nothing like fish and I had more than a few bites. It was served with a spicy Beurre Blanc sauce that completed the dish.
I decided to go with the Filet Mignon and I was floored at how tender the meat was. It was melt in your mouth tender but I do like my meat medium rare. I have been to restaurants that specialize in meat and Roy's gives them a run for their money. The Macaroni Croquette's were good, not a lot of flavor but the meat made up for that and I was pretty full by that point.
Last but certainly not least, the Pineapple Upside Down Cake and the Chocolate Souffle, WOW! The Chocolate Souffle was amazing, the chocolate inside the souffle was completely melted and runny. It reminds me more of a Lava cake than a Souffle but whatever it was, its worth ordering. They serve it with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry sauce in the middle of both. For me, The Pineapple Upside Down Cake is the winner by far! I have never had one that delicious. Its clearly homemade and it will leave you wanting more. If I could order that everyday, I would be in heaven. The cake is moist and the flavor of the pineapple is very subtle.
Service was outstanding. They were very attentive to all our needs and had multiple waiters walking around all the time. We went on a Monday evening and it was packed so I knew I had picked the right place. We had doubts on some menu items and they quickly answered all our questions and accomodated our special requests. Overall, great experience and we will definitely be going back for more. Thank you Roy, for making our Anniversary a very memorable one! -
Review from Jerry B.
Leawood, KS
1/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went to Roy's looking for a mid-scale level restaurant in service and food quality. One of our party had eaten at a Roy's in another city and was a fan. Grilled pear salad was unimpressive in look and taste. I had the Ono, it was prepared okay, but flavor was nothing special. Upon the first bite I knew that I was going to be underwhelmed by the food quality. Nothing bad, just unimpressive in flavor. The other two in my party had different entree's but has similar impression.
Service was friendly and attentive, desserts were solid. We were hoping for something a little better, I would say this is less food quality than most people would want for the cost at this restaurant. -
Review from Melly M.
I wanted to check it out after reading the awesome reviews. But Meh, I've experienced better.
First of all, our waiter was always so slow every time we wanted to get something from him, and when it comes to getting the dessert, he asked two my friends for dessert options then just walked away!!? I mean Hello? What about me and the other person sitting there? Did we say we were going to skip dessert? I dunno if our waiter had something on his mind or what, but he was just not there himself, and I hope he is okay if there was something on his mind.
I'm usually a very NICE and REASONABLE person when it comes to servers, but it was a Thursday night, Roy's was not that busy at all, I dunno what was going on with the slowness and him spacing out.
I got the Sesame Kajiki (Blue Marlin) fish for my main entree, as a big fish fan, I was pretty disappointed in it, the Thai peanut sauce was good, but it wasn't enough for the tasteless fish.
And for dessert that I finally was able to get...the chocolate souffee that everyone's raving about, I wasn't just feeling it.
I had tons of fun with my friends, great company.
But the service and the food, they did not live up to expectations, sadly. -
Review from M M.
Jacksonville, FL
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Somewhere along the line, chain restaurants tried to look like neighborhood upscale eateries and for once, it worked. While it is always noisy, Roy's offers great food and great atmosphere for a date. Now, one reason I like it may be because I have three kids and I am not brave enough (or I am smart enough) to bring them.
I usually lean to various presentations of Ahi, but I have liked most, if not all, their seafood items. I have not tried any of their beef options. Recently I went and had the Roy's Trio, which was fabulous as it gave you samples of three different fish and three different presentations.
Again, so without kids, go and enjoy. -
Review from Ricardo M.
Hialeah, FL
1/27/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Everything is amazing. The ribs appetizer or the sushi are a great way to start. The Lakanilau sushi may be the best sushi I ever had. Every entree I've had has been amazing. My favorite is the butterfish. Can't get anything like it anywhere else. And for dessert, it's a toss up between the chocolate molten cake or the pineapple upside down cake. That's why I make sure to find a way to order both. Highly recommend.
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Review from Amanda H.
Orlando, FL
1/9/2012
I celebrated my 38th birthday at Roy's.
We had a wonderful meal- and they treated us so well for my birthday. Our food and service was truly wonderful.
For dessert we had the molten lava cake and the pineapple upside down cake with toffee sauce. Excellent! -
Review from Kaila J.
I absolutely love Roy's! This is my go to spot for a great dining experience. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your time here. I have had special occasions here and they add small details to make it special. I always order the butterfish. Hands down....this is the best butterfish I have ever had. The signature Roy's martini is phenomenal. A great way to experience all they have to offer is to try the prix fix menu. I can't say enough good things about this place. If you have room for dessert, the upside down pineapple cake is the best. It takes 45min to prepare, so order ahead of time! Enjoy!
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Review from Adam H.
Allston, MA
1/20/2012
I'm really just rating the happy hour. Good pale ale for $3 and tried all appetizers that go for $5 a piece along with Signature cocktails that we also good like the Hawaii martini and cucumber/lime-juice vodka drink. Of the apps, try the tuna roll, wagyu sliders and calamari first!!
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Review from David K.
Fellow Yelper's,
After reading some of the reviews posted on here, I was expecting much more from Roy's. Ah, starting a review off with a statement of disappointment is so refreshingly honest that I'm no longer rhetorically parched. But I digress...
I booked a reservation here on the great and reliable service provided by 'http://Opentable.com' for 2 on a week night. Needless to say this place was too busy for a Wednesday night, good for them though! It's great to see a place this packed, which can only be a reflection of the service, atmosphere and quality of food which they have to offer their patrons.
Upon arrival I used their complimentary valet service and walked into the restaurant and towards the hostess to inquire about my reservation. Greetings were exchanged, as well as a polite welcome by who I could only assume was the manager in charge that night, maybe the suit gave it away. Although they were prompt in their responses, there was a bit of a wait as our table had to be cleared. No big deal, even though I mentioned it here...(sarcastic grin).
My date and I quickly killed some time by chatting about the day's events. Due to the sound level in the restaurant, I felt like a geriatric during our conversation because I had to direct my left ear towards her mouth instead of looking at her, taking the statement, "I don't listen with my eyes" to a new level. All I needed was one of those invisible Aurolese phones (look it up losers - http://beckerexhibits....).
We were finally sat in a comfortable booth, where I quickly decided to move and sit next to my date so that I didn't have to sound like an auctioneer taking bids at a car show.
I was not too impressed by the lay out of the restaurant, it was very simple and quite crowded. I'm glad we were sat on a booth because the middle section where the tables are was about as crowded as a Hong Kong cafeteria during lunch time. Trying to talk over the rest of the restaurant killed any potential romance during the dinner since screaming isn't conducive to that, unless done in the bedroom.
We had two and a quarter servers, one who introduced the restaurant to us (no handshakes needed) and left as his shift ended, then a lovely young lady who took our orders and was with us until the end. The "quarter" server was a random one who stopped by our table to ask, well, suggest that I needed some Patron shots because I had my sleeves rolled up. I guess I should carry a Patron flask at work all the time based on his assessment. After politely turning him down, I kindly asked to have our wine glasses refilled, Sauvignon Blanc (I believe) and Pinot Grigio respectively.
Onto the food, I ordered the Brown Butter Seared Salmon (see my photo). The fish was flavorful, not the best salmon I have ever had but good enough to satisfy my taste buds. The accompanying Maple Cranberry Sausage & Warm Potato Salad with Stone Ground Mustard was very good as it gave the dish itself new flavorful dimensions that extended beyond the (captain obvious) fishiness of the salmon.
My date had the Lavender Mochi Seared U-10 Scallops that came with Truffled Asparagus & Mache Salad and it was Saffron Scented. The Scallop was good and very "melt-in-your-mouth", however I submit that Ocean Prime's (see my review) Scallops beat Roy's way out of the Ocean.
Overall my ratings are as follows:
Ambiance: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ergo, 3 total stars for Roy's.
Next time, I will definitely try their prix fixe menu. Sounds like a much better option and bang for your buck.
PS: My apologies to the Valet who came into the restaurant to hand me my keys since we were the last ones to leave and he had to close up shop. He took me by surprise and I forgot to tip him. Next time partner! I got four crisp George Washington FRNs with your name on it!
Mahalo and Aloha. -
Review from Cristina C.
Orlando, FL
It's hard to explain the love I have for Roy's. I imagine it's similar to the love a mother has for her child, but since I'm childless I can only compare it to the love I have for my cat.
It's immense.
Roy's is a classy Hawaiian fusion restaurant in the snooty Dr. Phillips area. Don't let that throw you off. Unlike a few other fine establishments in town (cough cough, Luma) the waiters are actually nice to you. Super nice. So nice that you'll want to take them home with you, so nice that sometimes you have three of them waiting on you and you wonder what you did to deserve such niceness in a town where strangers usually wish you harm.
On top of great service, they have great top-shelf drinks. The margarita, made with real lime juice and agave nectar instead of sweet and sour, always manages to get me tipsy after a few sips. I'm not sure how these miracle workers pull this off, but it's impressive.
The food is also fantastic. For an appetizer, they possess what I have dubbed The Best Sushi on the Planet: the Spicy Tuna Roll. It's a sushi roll that's fried tempura style then served with spicy sauce. It's orgasmic, and it's perfectly acceptable to jab your dining partner with a chopstick if they dare go for the last piece.
For entrees, I've had everything from steak to braised short-ribs to shrimp and grits. The portions aren't huge and everything has been phenomenal.
As many have mentioned, the Melting Chocolate Soufflé is a masterpiece. It is warm, gooey perfection. If you're too full after dinner to order this, do what you have to do in order to make room.
If you dine at Roy's, expect you'll have a pretty large bill at the end. I've never regretted this decision.Listed in: Good Food
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Review from daniel m.
Ocean City, NJ
10/15/2011
Ok. after spending a month in Hawaii, my expectaions were high. But, I have to say, the food was very good. Awsome gluten free options too. For not being that busy, it took a while for each course. Our server was not the best. Barely saw him, and was rude. Not ONCE said thank you, or your welcome.
order:
Figi apple salad
Crab stuffed shrimp
cherry stuffed pork loin
Chocolate souffle -
Review from Jen N.
My boyfriend and I went to Roy's to celebrate his birthday. I've been wanting to try it and finally had a good reason to go! I've also been wanting to check out some restaurants participating in Orlando's Magical Dining Month (http://www.visitorland...) so that was an added bonus to the night.
With the Magical Dining Month menu, Roy's offers a three-course meal including an appetizer, entree, and dessert. For the appetizer, we shared the lobster potstickers and spicy tuna sushi roll. Both appetizers were just okay, but I did like the potstickers a bit more. I chose the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi for my entree. The mahi mahi was very good and had a texture/taste similar to tuna. It also came with a side of asparagus and potatoes. Finally, dessert!! I've heard so much about the melting chocolate souffle and couldn't wait to try it. The souffle was rich, warm, filled with chocolate goodness and went perfectly with the vanilla bean ice cream.
In addition to the food, the service and ambiance was also great. I made a reservation for our dinner on OpenTable and was able to include a special message (celebrating a birthday) on the reservation page. To our surprise, as we opened our menus, Roy's included a special page wishing my boyfriend a happy birthday! I was so happy to see that they acknowledged my little note on my OpenTable reservation. Lots of kudos to Roy's! -
Review from tr y.
Chicago, IL
11/30/2011
WOW. we sat at the chefs table bar and had chelsea as a server. She helped taylor a sample menu to our taste and brought fantastic wines to accompany them. we used to go to seasons 52 religiously, but this place just changed the game. I recommend the trio, the lobster banana wrap appetizer, and the shutome. The upside down pineapple cake was insane good, get it with the cakebread....Oh you thik cake bread is over rated? shut up order it eat it and love it....all good things.
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Review from Zohaeb J.
Orlando, FL
8/5/2011
Just get the damned butterfish...
I can't do it. Every time I tell someone to come here I tell them they need to try the butterfish. It's the best thing to get at Roy's but I just can't seem to order it myself. The last two times I went I ordered the Ono, then a ribeye. I don't know what I was thinking ordering a ribeye at place where you should only order seafood. I even said "I'm ordering a butterfish entree!" before we got there.
I just can't seem to do it...
The first time I went I had the braised short ribs. It seems like every place you have braised short ribs it tastes the same. It's good, but it's deja vu. Back then I lacked seasoning in culinary indulgences so I'm excused for ordering the wrong stuff.
Since then I always had duo or trio of the different fish selections they had to offer. Butterfish was always one of them and I always enjoyed it the most, but it could never be my one and only. The shutome was very savory for someone who wants that meaty type of fish. If you don't like fish and you love chicken...order it. It's a gateway fish. You should probably like gorgonzola cheese as well.
I had the Ono dynamite style recently and it was good. Have it if you want something in between the steaky and flakey fish. The dynamite sauce is just spicy mayo. You know, the stuff girls douse their sushi rolls in.
And now...
Wait for it...
Butterfish
It was love at first bite. Her name was Black Cod with Miso at Nobu when I first had this dish. It danced on the line between liquid and solid. It's sweet taste melted on my palette.
Sublime...
Long distance relationships seldom last. There is no Nobu in Orlando so our relationship ended. So like any lost lover I found the closest thing. The manager informed me Chef Nobu and Roy worked on the recipe together. Butterfish and I went on our first date with the shutome as third wheel. I didn't get as much butterfish as I wanted because of that gorgonzola **** blocker. And for some damned reason I never did since. It wasn't the same as my first love. But it's all I've got. -
Review from Katarina M.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/26/2011
Food, service, ambiance. All 5 stars.
Food:
Appetizers: We started with Roy's Canoe for Two (we had 3 adults and one kid, and did just fine, enough for a small bite of everything for all) and then an order of calamari. Calamari is the best I've ever had. Just a little salt and pepper, done really well. The canoe has: vegetable spring rolls (nice and crispy), spicy tuna sushi (nice), shrimp cocktail (we switched that out by special request for the fried green tomatoes...pretty good, nothing to die for, was slightly disappointed given the reviews here), braised beef short ribs (meh nothing special), and lobster potstickers (good from the small bite I had). Then we also had crispy potato croquettes because my dad got the prix fixe menu, and they were the standout appetizer besides the calamari. Delicious, although I didn't care for the romesco underneath. Probably because it had fish in it. Oh! And they also bring out complementary spiced edamame (delicious), and a little plate of cheese quesadillas with apples, carrots, and celery if you have a kid at your table. Nice touch.
Entrees: I got the filet mignon, medium well. Wow. THE best steak I've ever had. So tender. Just looked at the menu, it said "five onion natural sauce." I couldn't place the sauce as I was eating it, but darn it was good. Came with vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, squash and haricots verts) and a crispy macaroni croquette. Macaroni was crispy indeed, but I wish it had been a little more flavorful. But overall, my plate was delicious. The kid in the party got the braised short ribs, which came with Yukon mashed potatoes and the same vegetables that came on my plate. The meat was delicious (it was boneless). Potatoes were good too. My dad got the prix fixe menu and had the cherry stuffed pork tenderloin roulade. It was delicious as well. Came with rice, pea tendrils (nice and salty, delicious), and 3 little sweet potato fries. Finally, my mom got the butterfish (technically the "Hawaiian style misoyaki butterfish"), as recommended by the Yelp reviews and also by the waiter. She loved it. It came with sticky rice, and Chinese cabbage.
Desserts: The chocolate molten souffle is delicious indeed. Although I'd have to say the pineapple upside down cake beat it for us. It had a nice little crispy top and just delicious with the caramel sauce it came with. Just wow. The kids' menu meal came with a little ice cream sundae. A tiny little scoop of ice cream over a super crispy/thin (clarification: not on purpose, not fancy, just overdone) chocolate chip cookie, with chocolate sauce and rainbow sprinkles. Was the only sad part of the meal for the kid at the table.
Service: Wow. I had high expectations after reading all the reviews, and they delivered. Every single person who works at that restaurant is friendly and professional, from the hostess table to the water boy (who was gorgeous by the way) to our waiter to the manager to the random waiter who came over and made our kid laugh. Just phenomenal people. Plus they're really good at what they do. Water was always filled, they emptied our edamame plates (without me noticing) when we were halfway through the bowl. They even had reading glasses!!! My dad was late to the table because he thought he'd left his glasses in the car, but when he got back to the table he mentioned that they weren't in the car, and the water boy heard and offered to go grab some! Apparently they have reading glasses and flashlights, etc.! Crazy. Food came out at a great pace and our entrees all came at the same time, as did our desserts. Just really well-run place. Oh and as other reviews have mentioned, they're great with kids, despite the fact it is a classier than average restaurant. (side note: as for the dress code on this place, I'd say you're fine as long as you're not in a tshirt. Our party was on average jeans/khakis and a nice shirt. There were other families, and also groups of co-workers it seemed.)
Ambiance: Wasn't as loud as I expected. We had a nice booth, and the place wasn't jam packed (on a Saturday night). We didn't have to shout across the table at all, as another reviewer had to. Was just fine. The place is nicely decorated.
Definitely will be coming back!
Oh, and the bill was $197 plus tip for the 4 of us (again, 3 adults, 1 kid). Well worth the price (I say, having not paid). Thanks mom and dad! :) -
Review from Brittany B.
Wilmington, NC
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I know a lot of Yelpers have reviewed this amazing restaurant but I can't not give them another 4 stars (double negative - gross!).
Service was great, food was EXCELLENT, and the restaurant was beautiful.
A few things, however, keep me from giving 5 stars including:
1. It's really loud in there and very hard to hear, even sitting at a 4 person table. Unless our server was standing next to me, I could hardly understand her.
2. The desserts were beautiful but not spectacular. The cheesecake was touted to be made of mascarpone cheese which usually means it is less sweet and dense than cheesecake made with cream cheese but this was just a normal, super thick and sweet cheesecake. Nothing special and a small portion. I wouldn't recommend it. Also, the Crème brûlée was a funky flavor that I didn't actually enjoy, although it had a super thick crunchy top that was yummy.
I would skip any dessert other than the souffle and pineapple upside down cake. If we had done that, I probably would have given Roy's 5 stars. -
Review from Simons C.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I returned to Roy's after a year or so since my last visit. At 9pm Saturday night, the restaurant was half full. I believe the food explains why. My food lacked the spark it once had. I wouldn't say it was bad but mediocre. However, the service was great.
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Review from Todd K.
5/31/2011
After spending the day listening to various presentations at a conference, a few friends and I went to Roy's for dinner. We were looking for something close to our hotel. I had remembered seeing that there was a nearby Roy's and figured that it would work for the four of us. The restaurant is located in a mall area with other restaurants (Panera, etc.) and stores/banks. There was plenty of parking. We didn't have a reservation but were seated right away. The waiter was helpful and the service was great. I ordered the Roy's Island Mai Tai which I thought was very tasty and potent but pretty expensive. We really liked the edamame which was spiced enough to give them a little kick.
Two of us ordered from their prix fixe menu. Since I do not care for seafood, I was pleased that they had non-seafood choices for the appetizers and entrees. I ordered the Wagyu beef potstickers, braised beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and the strawberry lime cheese cake for dessert. The potsticker was fantastic but left me wanting for more. The short ribs and the cheese cake were also very good. The others in our party really enjoyed their meals and we had a great time. -
Review from Hector K.
Orlando, FL
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome place! we have been here about 4 times and it never falls short to impress me with their great, tasty, and creative menu. The service is top notch and friendly, good cocktails, and prices are more than fair.
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Review from Lisa W.
I'm reviewing Roy's Happy Hour (Aloha Hour), though their dinner service would get the same rating. We chose a seat at the big group table, which was comfortable and also allowed up plenty of room for our goodies.
The Aloha Hour specials are $5 per item and include their full cocktail list (including their premium and signature drinks) and a nice selection of appetizers. We ordered just about every food item and were very impressed with everything we tried. Favorites in our group include the Calamari, the spicy tuna roll and the wagu beef sliders with sweet potato fries. I posted pics of the Happy Hour menu and their specialty drinks with their descriptions, along with a few of our apps and drinks.
The Salt and Pepper Calamari are the best calamari I have ever had in my life. This was the opinion of the group, as well. This substantial portion was dressed with a yummy brown sauce reminiscent of a Kung Pao sauce and sprinkled with chopped peanuts. But the part that sets this dish aside is the tenderness of the calamari rings, cooked perfectly and obviously top quality and very fresh. Best yet, all rings and no "little squids". Though fans of the "little squids" will be disappointed, everyone in our group was thrilled. Obviously we were not the only group amazed with this app, as every group at the communal table ordered atleast one portion of this awesome dish.
The Tempura Crusted Spicy Ahi Roll was delish. However, there wasn't much spice in the spicy Tuna, instead the sauce was in a light pool under the fanned out roll. Nice option for those who are a bit shy of spice. The rolls were delish, though. (yes, we ordered more than one!)
Wagyu Beef Sliders were also popular, served on an oblong plate with 2 sliders, 1 on each end, and a nice pile of sweet potato fries in the middle. Ravs for the tender and flavorful sliders...and the fries rocked. Those fries should be a separate special for those fries, which were a nice thickness, perfectly fried and dressed with flaked salt and what tasted like truffle oil. The Truffle was an amazing compliment to the sweet potato and something I'll be trying on my own in the future. YUM.
Crunchy Golden Lobster Potstickers were tasty, with a flavorful filling and a nice sauce. 3 were included in the order. Lobster California Roll was also good, a nice option for a cooked roll.
We ordered all of the signature drinks, the The Original Hawaiian Martini
packs a punch and lives up to the "martini" while still delivering a light pineapple taste. Very nice!
Roy's Island Mai Tai was very tasty, fruit was the prevalent taste but it was delicious.
The 1988 was the table favorite, made with ABSOLUT Ruby Red Vodka, SOHO Lychee Liqueur & Patrón Citrónge Liqueur. It was lightly fruity, refreshing and delish. A nice break from the norm, I will order this one straight off next time. SO GOOD!
With everything we ordered, you'd think we would be cringing at the bill. Not so, remember- $5 per item. Service was prompt, friendly and that of the finest of dining restaurants-a detail that is sometimes not carried over to a Happy Hour patron. We are already looking forward to coming back, so please save us a seat in the bar! -
Review from Marc A.
Wappingers Falls, NY
10/12/2011
Roy's is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Mind you, this is someone who's eaten at Morton's, Ruth Chrissy, Victoria and Alberts, Todd English and Bobby Flays restaurants. The customer service was also exceptional. Like the prior reviews, I recommend the pineapple upside down cake. a classic. Also, the drinks are strong but not overpowering. Tip: if you're looking to take that special someone out for an occasion like a Birthday or Anniversary; let them know While you're making reservations - they'll treat you like a VIP. Enjoy!
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Review from Jersey G.
Bergen County, NJ
11/15/2011 4 photos
Seriously from the service to the food there will not be any disappointment!
Butterfish
Lobster pot stickers
Ono
Chocolate Souffle
Bread pudding -
Review from John L.
Rohnert Park, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I took my office staff here for dinner and we had a great time. One of the best restaurant experances I have had in some time. I was so nice to have a real waiter for a change he knew his stuff was funny and engaging. But not overbearing and stayed away when he should. Great food and the fish was very very good. Well worth the money.
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Review from Stephanie W.
Davenport, FL
5/16/2011
I've been to Roy's for the past two years for my mom's birthday. Both times have been excellent. I don't care for seafood, so my choices are a bit limited, but have been good no matter what I get.
My family ordered appetizers. One was the fried green tomatoes with crab meat. I love fried green tomatoes, but wasn't sure about the crab. I tried it anyway. They were great!
This time for my entree, I got the filet mignon. The beef was so tender. Probably one of the best steaks I've had in a long time! I ate the whole thing. I was so full from it that I didn't even have any chocolate souffle. And theirs is amazing! -
Review from Michael S.
Land O' Lakes, FL
8/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Roy's is an awesome place to have a high class meal with impeccable service. The wait staff are professional and friendly, always willing to answer my stupid questions or give advice on what wine to buy, or which meal is the tastiest. I always appreciate when the staff is good enough to listen and make a good recommendation. The food is VERY VERY GOOD. The old standbys are the butterfish and the slow roasted braised ribs.
I took my brother and his new wife to Roy's in Orlando and we had an excellent meal. The appetizers (fried green tomatoes, cajun style and the braised rib pot stickers) were excellent, the wine recommendation spot on, and the meals very good (Butterfish, swordfish, braised ribs). You can't go wrong at Roy's folks. An added bonus to the Roy's in Orlando is the huge cigar shop next door. Have a great meal and hop on next door for an after dinner cigar and cocktail. WOW! -
Review from jim m.
Whippany, NJ
10/23/2011
Very good great service great wine selection and great deserts.....
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Review from miki s.
Orlando, FL
11/17/2011
Awesome service, great lobster roll, amazing tender tasty sliders and AWESOME DRINKS!!!!! GO GO GO GO get Roy'd at Aloha hour
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Review from Corinna W.
New York, NY
7/2/2011 7 photos
I had heard about the infamous Roy's Restaurant chain and finally decided to eat at the one in Orlando during Magical Dining Month last year.
The restaurant is really nice and very spacious. Service was decent for such a crowded place. I thought the food was ordinary; the only thing that was outstanding was the fried green tomatoes. I had wanted to try other certain items, but they had run out of those dishes, so I guess that's part of the reason why I wasn't as satisfied as some other Yelpers. All in all, I would come back to hopefully try other things on the menu. The dishes we ordered weren't great, but it wasn't bad either - the fried green tomatoes alone are worth a star.
Every place deserves a second chance. -
Review from Linda R.
New Smyrna Beach, FL
4/9/2011
Any good Chinese restaurant in Boston or New York would beat their forks off the table!
The service was excellent but you'll pay for it. -
Review from chris r.
2/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed the Edamame snack they give you when you sit down, it has some asian spices on it and they keep giving you more if you want.
Lobster Pot Stickers - good but not amazing -3 pieces at the bar for $5 during happy hour
Beet carpaccio salad with goat cheese and pecans - not enough goat cheese
seafood trio:
Tuna - rare, I didn't enjoy this
Butterfish with tangy sauce and cherry tomatoes - Excellent!
Salmon with sweet soy sauce - Loved the sauce
volcano cake - kinda good not as big a portion as I would have liked
Good experience overall -
Review from Tong J.
I've seen Roy's advertisement on airline magazines all the time and heard many positive reviews about it. But never made an effort to give it a chance. Until now ...
Roy's Orlando is conveniently located in the Sand Lake tourist area. The restaurant building resembles an island bungalow, sticks out like a sore thumb and complete with tiki torches out front. You can't miss it.
With the worst cold snap in 20 years, I felt a bit odd to be greeted "aloha" in Orlando, but I played along and pretended I was vacationing in Hawaii. Right from start, I was very pleased with the professionalism and attentiveness of the staff.
Everything on the menu looked and sounded amazing, it was difficult to make a decision. Thanks to our knowledgable and friendly server, we were able to pick 4 dishes for our mini trip to the Rainbow State.
Our Hawaiian Fusion journey began with Blackened Rock Shrimp & Red Bean Soup. This dish reminded me of Shrimp Gumbo, in a good way. The broth was tangy. The shrimp had smoky flavor (which I love) and was perfectly cooked. We found it slightly salty however.
The two entrées we ordered were: Roasted Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi with Lobster Butter Sauce and Andouille Crusted Opakapaka with Tempura Okra & Crystal Hot Sauce Beurre Blanc. Both fish were prepared well although the Mahi Mahi was a bit bland. My favorite out of the two was Andouille Crusted Opakapaka. The spicy Andouille crust complimented the delicate fish nicely. The tempura Okra was also divine!
Initially, nothing on the dessert menu caught my eye, but since it was my birthday dinner, I "forced" myself to pre order a popular sugar-rush dish (it takes 20 minutes to prepare), Pineapple Upside Down cake. Listen, skip the Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé and go with the Pineapple Upside Down cake. Once that puppy arrives be selfish and enjoy that scrumptious piece of heaven all by yourself.
I definitely would go back to Roy's again!Listed in: My Orlando Reviews
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Review from Dan S.
Winter Park, Orlando, FL
9/19/2011
The food here was fantastic but definitely not as good as authentic Hawaiian. Four star worthy, but the reason I'm giving 5 stars is for the service! We had the macadamia encrusted ahi based on reviews from Yelp and I didn't think it was as good as macadamia encrusted ono fish from Chuck's Steak and Seafood in Honolulu. Now for the service! We arrived at 7pm on a Friday without reservations and were seated immediately! The server was extremely prompt with the drinks, menus, and all three courses. A manager even came by and asked us how our meal was. We will definitely be back despite the high prices.
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Review from Miranda K.
San Jose, CA
FOOD- Portions were larger than expected, especially for these places that plate the food all fancy. Food was tasty, a tiny bit on the saltier side. TRY THE BUTTERFISH!! If we stayed one more day in Orlando, I would have gone back here just to eat the butterfish again. We ordered the Roy's Canoe Appetizer for Two (look for it in the picture section), and it had a good variety of yummy foods, from savory ribs to crispy sushi, with different flavors and sauces. We were getting pretty full from just the appetizers and the seasoned edamame they serve! The appetizer came out really fast, but the ribs could have been warmer.
AMBIANCE/SERVICE- Nice place for a fancier dinner. Dim, but not too dark, electronic candle at each table (sounds tacky, looks great!), friendly and super attentive staff. Our water glasses were always filled, and we were checked up upon regularly.
Location is easy to find and there's plenty of parking too. -
Review from Eric H.
Orlando, FL
5/8/2011
I had the Ahi Tuna. You could order it to taste, but I had it the way they suggested -- rare. It was nicely seared on the outside and virtually sushi-raw on the inside. It was served with two sauces... a mild, white cream sauce, and a beige mustard-based sauce. The white sauce was a respite from the intense steam-blast of the mustard sauce. Both were incredible, and my date laughed every time I experienced the wasabi-like effect of the mustard.
Our waiter was attentive without being overbearing. He knew the menu inside and out and was able to guide both my date and I in picking out a meal we would each enjoy. I cannot remember the Hawaiian name for her dish, but she had the swordfish, and she loved it.
For dessert, I had the souffle, and she had the creme brulee. I'm quite certain she was happy, but the chocolate souffle was incredible!!
Our total bill for the evening was $106, including a few beers. Entirely worth the price. -
Review from Marc G.
Orlando, FL
1/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I took my wife here for her Birthday and we had a WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!!!
It was my wife, my 3 yr old son and myself. I was a little apprehensive bringing a small child to a restaurant like this.
The staff was so friendly, accommodating and just GREAT!!
The gave my son some cars to play with and even gave him a cheese quesadilla on the house to keep him occupied. I guess they didnt think he would like the edame pods.
We had the Lobster Potstickers for appetizer and it was Awesome!!
We wanted more!!!
I had the Filet and my wife had a Chicken dish and we loved them both!!
The food was DELICIOUS!!! Cant say enough good things!!
You must have the Pineapple Upside Down Cake dessert, I am getting hungry just thinking about it!!! My wife had the Molten Lava Chocolate Cake and it was yummy too.
WE WILL DEFINITELY GO BACK!! IT IS A GREAT PLACE!! -
Review from Joe T.
Grosse Ile, MI
9/26/2011
This restaurant is exquisite. The service was great! The food was very fresh! The mango iced tea is wonderful, as well as the strawberry lemonade. The Hawaiian salt ribeye was very tender and well seasoned. This place is definitely five stars.
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Review from Tiffany D.
Vallejo, CA
11/20/2010
The fish was great!! I ve had hawaian food in Hawaii, so don't look for traditional hawaian throw down dishes.
If you're looking for Hawaiian fusion, this is your place! Highly recommend ordering seafood.
Note- if you have a birthday, they have a pleasant surprise when you walk in and check in with the host! -
Review from Titon D.
Orlando, FL
2/13/2011 6 photos
The word amazing stays short to how truly this restaurant can be Roys it truly amazing experiemce from the informative waiter until the end Roy Hawaiian fusion never dissapointed us. For all who hwbe badh the restaurant in regards to being overprice, if ypur use to going to fancy restaurant where the real food is at don't bash the food for the price, this is a truly classy restaurant and althogh I saw people walking in in jeans into the place and I was fine with it. This is truly a fancy restaurant for people with fancy palate, I'm an average joe not rich but on special occasions even I know. Like to splurge and this iw the type of restaurant to do so.
From our waiter all the way to desert it was outstanding my wife had the Mahi mahi with cruster mwcadamiw nuts and I had the Roys trio which bring three small portions of three diffirent types of fish Salmon, Ahi tuna, and Butterfish. Love them all three but my favorite which. Left wanting more wae the Butter fish whic I will next time order a large plate of.
The must do of the night is desert the chocolate souffle is a must and make sure you put qn order for it ahead of time if your waiter does not ask to do it for you, ours did since they make the chocolate souffle. On speaking with my wife of how awsome this restaurant was we hqve officially named it our favorite restaurant in the area and we will keep going back to Roys from now on. -
Review from Herm T.
Albany, GA
The ahi poke was fantastic. Everything else was good. I've never been to Hawaii but I would think there more than what Roys offered..I was expecting alot of fresh fish on the menu.. Maybe I should give them a second chance next we visit Orlando. We didn't make reservation so the wait was an hour. We sat at bar and eat appetizers and drank and few.. I understand that this place is a high priced but I don't see why? Nothing that special for me to rush back. The hostess and managers were very friendly. Gave us his card for future questions or reservations..
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Review from Frances F.
Orlando, FL
12/27/2010
My short and sweet review:
Easy parking = big fan
menu has something on it for everyone even if you don't like seafood
I found both the salad and main dish (swordfish) a bit too salty :-/
