Restaurant

The Royal Grocer & Co.

Name: The Royal Grocer & Co.
Address: 2118 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
Telephone: (773) 904-7805
Price range: value

American•Bucktown•value

The Royal Grocer & Co. is one of the best american restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Bucktown.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

The Royal Grocer & Co. is doing something the Bucktown bar scene quietly needs: a drinking spot that actually feeds you well. Not a kitchen banging out sad nachos as an afterthought, not a gastropub performing ambition at gastropub prices — just a casual room on N Damen with a dog-friendly patio, cold local drafts from Half Acre and Revolution, and a menu that reportedly earns your full attention. The origin story is a nice one: a Royal Blue Store occupied this corner back in 1928, and whoever opened this place in 2017 leaned into that history without overdoing it. The result reads as lived-in rather than designed, which is exactly what a neighborhood like Bucktown — still working out its identity between old Polish Damen and new-money construction — tends to want from a corner bar. The menu straddles American and Greek in a way that sounds like a confused pitch but comes across, by all accounts, as a confident one. The Pork Skewers land in souvlaki territory — chunks of pork and belly with house sauce, pickled onions, and tomato — and diners consistently describe ordering them as a snack and ending up treating them as a meal. The Royal Cheeseburger Slider is built around two beef patties, onion jam, comeback sauce, and pickles; at this price level, it's known for punching well above its weight. The Mezé Platter and Spinach Dip are positioned as table-starters, the kind of things that make sense when the patio fills up and you're in no particular hurry — which, by most accounts, is the correct way to be here. Practical reality: the patio is the whole point in summer, and dogs are welcome, which tells you everything about the intended vibe. Weekday evenings before 7 are your best shot at a table without negotiating. The move, based on what regulars report ordering, is pork skewers, a slider, and whatever Revolution seasonal is on draft — and the bill will likely shock you with its reasonableness.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

Bucktown dinner date night

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.0

328 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.0

Rating

Based on 328 reviews

Best used for

date night and dinner

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Bucktown · 2118 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA

Price

Good value

Google rating

9.0 from 328 reviews

Phone

(773) 904-7805

What to order

Signature dishes at The Royal Grocer & Co.

Spinach Dip

dill, feta, onion, with focaccia bread

Pork Skewers

Slagel pork shoulder & pork belly flame grilled skewers served with a mixed green salad

Mezé Platter

Pick one or three selections: Brandade (whipped salted cod, potatoes, garlic, olive oil), Spicy Feta (whipped feta with calabrian chilis, garlic, oregano), Tzatziki (Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon), or Hummus (chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon), served with carrots & pita

Green Salad

Romaine, arugula, shaved cucumber, red onion, scallions, fresh dill, parsley, & feta tossed in fresh greek dressing. Available with chicken, salmon, or steak

Royal Cheeseburger Slider

Slagel angus beef patty served with American cheese, onion jam, pickles, & comeback sauce on a brioche slider bun

Why go

What makes The Royal Grocer & Co. worth the move

The Royal Grocer & Co. works for date night in Bucktown because the room and the food both help the evening land. Spinach Dip and Pork Skewers also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 328 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.0 from 328 Google reviews

Best used for

date night and dinner

Style

American in Bucktown

Spend

Good value

Best for

Bucktown dinner date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.0 from 328 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Spinach Dip, Pork Skewers, Mezé Platter

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for The Royal Grocer & Co.

Google snapshot

9.0 from 328 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

Dhanteraz Indian Fusion occupies the former Savannah Supper Club space on West Roscoe Street, and the transformation matters: what was once a supper club is now one of Roscoe Village's most talked-about Indian kitchens, a BYOB spot where…

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 2118 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
Phone: (773) 904-7805
Price: value
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.0 (328 reviews)
Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Bucktown

Restaurants in Bucktown

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does The Royal Grocer & Co. serve?

The Royal Grocer & Co. is a American restaurant located in Bucktown, Chicago. The Royal Grocer & Co.

What is The Royal Grocer & Co. best for?

The Royal Grocer & Co. is best for bucktown, dinner, date night. The Royal Grocer & Co. works for date night in Bucktown because the room and the food both help the evening land. Spinach Dip and Pork Skewers also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 328 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at The Royal Grocer & Co.?

The Royal Grocer & Co. is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.0 from 328 reviews

What should I order at The Royal Grocer & Co.?

Start with Spinach Dip, Pork Skewers, Mezé Platter and Green Salad. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is The Royal Grocer & Co. worth visiting?

The Royal Grocer & Co. holds a 9.0 Google rating from 328 reviews. The Royal Grocer & Co. works for date night in Bucktown because the room and the food both help the evening land. Spinach Dip and Pork Skewers also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 328 Google reviews.

Where is The Royal Grocer & Co. located?

The Royal Grocer & Co. is located at 2118 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is The Royal Grocer & Co. good for a date night?

Yes — The Royal Grocer & Co. is tagged for date night dining. The Royal Grocer & Co. works for date night in Bucktown because the room and the food both help the evening land. Spinach Dip and Pork Skewers also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 328 Google reviews.

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