Where: 7 W. Carrillo St., 966-5636, restaurantroy.com.
What: Late-night eats, lunchtime Soup Kitchen, wines by the glass, and cocktails in an artistically modern atmosphere downtown just off State Street.
How Much: Appetizers $7-$10, entrees $20-$30, Soup Kitchen $5.
The Dish: Roy serves suppertime comfort food to early-evening and late-night diners every day until midnight in a funky art gallery-like space. Red walls, dim lighting, and a fishhook-shaped bar delight a hip crowd that can enjoy one of the few late-night State Street eateries over a classic cocktail. Eclectic appetizers range from a light shrimp and scallop ceviche to a hearty “meat and potatoes” shepherd’s pie served with a beef demi-glace. All entrees come with fresh house baked bread, soup du jour, and a salad of mixed greens from the S.B. Farmers Market. Handmade pastas and raviolis are satisfying fillers, sauced and deliciously seasoned. Oven-roasted pork tenderloin is richly drizzled with an apple-port wine reduction, and the Harris Ranch rib-eye steak pops with a creamed horseradish kick. Visit during the week for a recession-proof lunch and enjoy $5 bowls of soup during the Soup Kitchen. A private room hosts small events of all types for parties of as many as 20 people.