Royal East

Terrible. The pork was tough, fatty, and tasted very old. The szechuan style filet was a few deep fried chunks of some kind of white fish swimming in a sweet and sour soup. The shrimp dinner was tasteless, there were very few actual shrimp, and the rice seemed old as well...like the kind that sits in your fridge for a week and then heated. This used to be a great restaurant, what happened! more

\r I took five people for dinner at Royal East and was greatly disappointed by the attitude of the hostess and the waitress. We ordered a lobster cooked in butter and garlic sauce. It was dry and flavorless. We also ordered a fish dish for our American friend who preferred to have his own dish. Despite extensive explanation to the hostess who was fluent in English, she recommended a whole grey sole which cost $34 and was way too big for one person. \r Over all, we feel the service was geared to getting the guests to spend more, not to enjoy the food. \r I don't think I will take my guests to Royal East any more.\r \r MH K more

always tasty and fast more

The food was well cooked (not over done) and presentation was good. The service was excellent. Our waiter was attentive and polite. Appetisers were served first and time was given between courses (unlike most places that bring everything at once). There was no bad odours. Decor was alright, but the place looked clean. more

Best chinese within walking distance from MIT. My favorite dish is Schezuan Shredded Beef. more

Best chinese within walking distance from MIT. My favorite dish is Schezuan Shredded Beef. more

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. I have been going to the Royal East ever since it opened (and even before when it was Colleen's Peking Duck.) I eat there on average once or twice a week. I have NEVER seen a dead fish in the fish tanks. Occasionally I see a fish that is not actively swimming around, but to give the impression that there are dead fish in the tanks is absurd. \r \r This restaurant has phenomenal seafood dishes ranging from salt and pepper cooked live shrimp (when available) to traditionally prepared Alaskan King Crab. They get these items when in season and available, along with live scallops, live giant clam and more. They almost always have Dungeness Crab (delicious in the salt and ppper combination) and steamed sole with ginger and scallions, two tremenous dishes. Even their chicken wings are the best I have ever had.\r \r and, by the way, I have never experienced an unpleaant odor in the restaurant other than that time when one of my friends joined me after two hour of basketball practice.\r \r Pros: Great seafood, specials and the chicken wings are to die for! Cons: no dim sum, only a hot air hand dryer in the men's room, no paper towels more

Went there but did not make it all the way through the inner door to eat - there were dead and merserably dying fish in the tanks and the smell was outrageous. Can't comment on the food or service but I wouldn't order the fish! more

I have been going to Royal East for several years now and have never been disappointed. It has some of the most authentic and freshest Chinese food I've had around Boston. Try the specials for some of the best choices on the menu. Between two of us we often share two appetizers and one entree and eat wonderfully for under twenty bucks! Pros: Good atmostphere, affordable, fresh food, great for large groups. Cons: The menu mixes average quality selections with wonderful authentic ones. more

Royal East is really two different restaurants - Cantonese and American Chinese. The American Chinese food is inexpensive, the proportions large. If you like fried rice, egg rolls and stir fry join the throngs of MIT students and city workers for lunch. Good value, but nothing special. \r However, the Cantonese food is excellent, the best in Cambridge, and for some dishes, the best in Boston. The seafood is very fresh, lightly flavored and healthy. Recommended: Salt and pepper scallops, steamed fish with ginger and scallion, Dungeness crab with rice noodles, Chinese wine and egg whites. There are usually several seasonal vegetables. Call a day ahead and order barbecued squab, chef's special lamb chops or chef special flounder with Chinese ham. \r The perfect meal for two is salt and pepper scallops followed by a roast squab (ask for medium rare) and finished with steamed rice, vegetables and a bean curd dish. \r Most of the waiters have limited English, but they can recommend dishes and unlisted specials. If possible ask for suggestions from the owner, Otto Chan. He is a gastronome and tea man. Royal East is a favorite entertainment venue for a number of departments at MIT and Harvard. It has a short but well chosen wine list with many excellent values. This is a good place for banquets.\r And, by the way, the restaurant is very clean, quieter than Chinatown and has good background music. Pros: Fresh ingredients, real Cantonese cuisine, quiet, good wine list Cons: You have to know about Chinese food to order well more

It took me a few years to know the good food in Royal East. Really!!! Some food I like cannot be found there. Or they are done differently. I don't recommend eating fish there. Way too expensive compared to Chinatown. There are many delicious orders. Ask the waiter for recommendation. I had my wedding there. The food and service are the best. more

The food here is FAR from great. The food is FAR from a great value. I would rather pay a few extra dollars to have great food than be skimpy and eat horrible food at Royal East. THe food has little flavor and the decor looks tacky. Everything is also dirty, and cleanliness is one of the most important aspects of a restaurant. Royal East is a great place to waste your money. Spend the few extra bucks and go to a restaurant where you can actually enjoy a good meal. Pros: Cheap??? Cons: Dirty, Bad food more

not so good. little flavor beyond a pervading fishiness. decor ok more

Nothing too fancy here, just a restaurant with good food for a great value. The food is authentic(my friends from Hong Kong take their parents there) and the service is fast. What more could you ask for? Pros: cheap, fast, authentic more

Royal East has a great, cheap, filling lunch menu. Less then $5.00 gets you a soup and a good-sized tasty entree. Try their General Gau's chicken. Pros: taste, quantity, price Cons: service more