Food & Drink

Iconic Columbus restaurant plans reopening ‘for thousands of people asking.’

This photo from the Ledger-Enquirer’s 2020 visit to the Royal Cafe in Columbus shows the hamburger steak, fresh mustard greens, steamed cabbage, cream potatoes and blackberry cobbler.
This photo from the Ledger-Enquirer’s 2020 visit to the Royal Cafe in Columbus shows the hamburger steak, fresh mustard greens, steamed cabbage, cream potatoes and blackberry cobbler. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

A pillar of Columbus restaurant history is set to reopen.

Royal Cafe, 600 11th St, is expected to reopen, but the date hasn’t been disclosed. The announcement was made by the late owner Lila Mae Star’s great-grandson Quincy Brown in an Instagram post, celebrating his great-grandmother’s heavenly birthday.

“And for the thousands of people asking… with Lila’s Love and wishes, the grand reopening of the Royal Cafe is coming,” Brown wrote on the post. “From Columbus, Georgia to the rest of the world. We love you, Tut!”

Details on when the reopening will take place are unclear. Neither representatives of the Royal Cafe nor Quincy Brown responded to the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests to comment before publication.

This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM.

JP
Jordyn Paul-Slater
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Jordyn Paul-Slater is the business and engagement reporter at the Ledger-Enquirer. Her work has appeared in publications such as Reuters, Fast Company and The New York Observer. She completed her master’s degree in specialized journalism at the University of Southern California and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from George Washington University. 
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