Empire is one of those spots that feels upscale but still fun and approachable. Located in the Seaport, it has a trendy, modern vibe with dim lighting, sleek decor, and a lively atmosphere, definitely a good choice for a night out with friends, a birthday dinner, or even a date. The menu leans pan-Asian with a big focus on sushi, small plates, and shareable dishes. There's a lot of variety, so it's easy to order a mix of things for the table. The sushi is fresh and nicely presented, and the specialty rolls feel creative without being overcomplicated. The hot dishes are flavorful and come out well-timed, which makes sharing easy and enjoyable. We tried the Peking duck, which was flavorful and similar to other high-quality versions we've had in the past. The mapo tofu was also good, though not as numbing as we would've liked. Service is generally attentive and professional, and the staff handles larger tables and busy nights well. Overall, Empire is a solid Seaport go-to if you're looking for Asian food, cool ambiance, and a fun night out. read more

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Service was a 2 Star. Ambience: Awesome!! Reason: Highly Sensitive To start...It's a Fun Story to us being kicked out. We out & in at Empire Boston at the Marina. We a Big crew, we love fun and as a family we hang out together. Now, 2 of our fellows, kinda tipsy but not on the drunk scale. I know their rowdy limits. 2 cousins, male, head out to the washrooms, but just being cousins and having a blast, perhaps the 'security' bouncers got it wrong. Story is way funnier than typed. Matter of fact! we were out for our cousin's birthday!!! Just all laughs anyways :-) We good. So. These two fellas go to the washroom and all of a sudden, giant sharp bouncer, kinda AD's hieght shows up, behind K's perphral and is like... 'You guys gotta go!' K is like :what's up!' Just laughs man & P's like: What did we do??? right on his face looking up at the security while taking a leakMaaannnn!!! This was so hilarious and it happened at the washroom. Sh'ts funniest getting kicked out at a lounge. Make it funnier, some of our fam is at the rooftop, having a good time and all of a sudden getting called down to be booted out the lounge while us at the lounge are confused about what is going on!! How could it be man! All in all, we laughed about it at the street out the lounge tipsy for the night tracing our way back to the Marina to the yatch For the drinks...not the best in town. C'Mon MaNNN!! Really!!! Other wise, we laughed about'T Do better with fresh water laced drinks read more

I came here yesterday evening for my 36th Birthday with some friends. Intially I thought everything was going good! I was running behind with arriving for my reservation,but the hostess over the phone kindly moved it to 7pm! Fast forward I get there first impression the restaurant was beautiful! Then the hostess at first he seemed nice. We had our menus, had time to look over everything ordered drinks and appetizers. Then after a little while he came and we decided to order dinner. Everyone including myself ordered individually. The entrees arrived and for some reason one of my friends didn't get her entree! We were waiting for the hostess for about 10 minutes. Then one of my other friends waved him down and said we are waiting on an entree! My back was facing the open kitchen. However, my friend whose entree didn't arrive yet noticed the hostess spoke to someone to put in the order! Which means he never put it in intially! She then had to wait another 15 minutes and by that pointed she lost her appetite! I felt bad, but my friend said no it's your birthday don't worry. I was because as a birthday one of the best gifts is all your loved ones enjoying the experience! The fact it changed her mood it changed the vibe as well slightly. When he came we asked for to go containers. However, I had a pleasant surprise! My best friend whose entree unfortunately was missed. She made a beautiful chocolate covered strawberry arrangement in the letter A for my name! I got happy birthday sung then blew my candles! Ok now back to the bad service! My friend then tells me after the hostess steps away don't eat any because the owner said there would be a $3 per person fee!! The audacity! Why should there be a charge for ingredients, time and care your restaurant had NOTHING to do with! Afterwards she comes after the hostess and his lack of attention to detail and said " I'll waive the fee." We then get up after paying & went to another area to take pics. The the owner comes by and offered to take our pictures with my phone. I Intially thought it was a nice gesture! Nope! She was playing slick to inquiry about the tip! My friends and myself obviously disgusted they didn't give the minimum suggested tip of 18%! I mean why should we when a guest of mine had to wait over 15 minutes for an entree she ordered with the rest of us! I have never in my life seen an owner offer to take pictures to then ask for a tip increase! Frankly you all should be glad a tip was given! Also the food was just okay. Some of the appetizers were good, but not everyone enjoyed their food! Very disappointed! This was my birthday dinner and the service was not up to the standards you would expect from the Seaport! read more

I visited this restaurant yesterday for a birthday dinner, all 6 of our first experience here, and unfortunately, it will be our last. I left completely disappointed by the service and overall experience. While the ambiance is beautiful, that's where the positives end. The food was mediocre at best and certainly not worth the price. Red Flag #1: Upon arrival, I brought a strawberry arrangement for the birthday guest. Before we even got settled, I was immediately told that if we chose to eat it there, we would be charged $3 per person. This felt off-putting and set a negative tone from the start. Red Flag #2: Our table ordered appetizers followed by entrées. Everyone received their meals, except me. After waiting 15 minutes, I asked our waiter for an update. He appeared confused, rushed to the kitchen, and I watched him place the order at that moment. My meal had never been submitted with the rest of the table. It arrived about 20 minutes later, long after everyone else had finished eating. It was embarrassing, and I no longer had an appetite. I asked for it to be boxed to go. What made this worse was the complete lack of accountability, no apology from the waiter or manager, and no effort to correct the mistake, such as comping the meal. Red Flag #3: When they later brought out the strawberry arrangement, I reminded them we had been told we'd be charged. The manager then brought over plates and a dessert menu anyway. After overhearing us say we wouldn't eat it due to the fee, she returned and said she would "waive" the charge since she didn't realize it was for a birthday. By that point, the initial impression had already been made, and this gesture felt insincere rather than accommodating. Red Flag #4: After we paid, we moved to another area to take photos. The manager approached us, offered to take a group picture, and then awkwardly used that moment to push for additional money. She even questioned whether our dissatisfaction impacted the tip which it absolutely did. It came across as unprofessional and uncomfortable, especially after such a poor experience. It's extremely disappointing that a restaurant located in a tourist-heavy area operates this way. From start to finish, the experience for all six of us was frustrating and exhausting. I have never encountered such poor service at an establishment like this. We will not be returning. read more

December 2025 menu in my pics because wow that was way more expensive than we saw on other menu pics...and wayyy more expensive than LA sushi. It was pretty good but those prices are very high... This was my first time trying a crab Rangoon and I was pleasantly surprised. The items outside of sushi looked and smelled good in person. read more

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Loved the food here especially the spicy salmon rice bites!! Service was decent as well as the ambiance. read more

Empire - Spicy Salmon Rice Bites - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The sushi here is amazing, such great flavors and the lychee martini was amazing. I love the interior look of the restaurant and the server was incredibly kind and responsive to any needs. The bathroom is also gorgeous haha for the girls, great ambience. read more

Empire - Lychee Martini - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We went to Empire in Boston for their $25 AYCE deal and it was our first time there. The vibe is more upscale lounge, dim lighting, music, and a really energetic atmosphere. The food came out super quick and fresh, with small shareable plates that were perfect for trying a bit of everything. Some items were better than others, but overall great value for the price and a fun spot for a lively night out. read more

Empire - spicy tuna roll and Crispy Salmon* - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My boyfriend and I went to Empire last night (Wednesday July 22nd) for his birthday dinner and it was the worst dining experience we've had together. The hostess took a few minutes to find our reservation then the busser took a while to ask us what kind of water we wanted then when the waitress came, she didn't even introduce herself or ask us how we're doing (she's a hispanic looking woman with long black hair). She just asked if we wanted to do the all you can eat sushi and we said yes. After we got our sushi, we saw how small the portions were so we were trying to ask her if we could order more but she interrupted us and said we have to finish what we have first. When we ordered our second round, she rudely said "what's next?". My boyfriend ordered for us and she made him feel like he wasn't taking me into consideration while ordering because after he ordered for us, she looked at me and asked me if I wanted the spicy salmon rice bites since she said the crab rice bites my boyfriend for us ordered only has two pieces. When we paid, my boyfriend and I tipped less than 20% since her service was so bad (we're both servers so we do understand what it's like being a server) and she had the audacity to ask us if that's all we wanted to tip. Neither her nor the hostess wished my boyfriend a happy birthday either even though I put it in the notes section of my reservation. read more

Ok here's the honest truth about this place. Have eaten here twice and once stayed after hours when it turns into a club, The dining area is huge so you will always be able to get a table which is nice. The food is decent. I wasn't disappointed in anything we ordered. I will say I was a bit sticker shocked over the bill. Two adults and two kids the bill was over $400. I didn't get anything to crazy and ordered few drinks. Service was good until this large party cane in and they got a bit overwhelmed and I had to chase my waitress down. I'm not saying this is a skip but you've been informed. read more

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Went to Empire for a friend's birthday for drinks and dancing. We grabbed seats at the bar (6 of us), and while hanging out, a friend and I split a Shrimp Tempura Futo roll, super tasty! I also had a lychee martini, which was really refreshing. Our bar tender was very attentive and would always make sure we had a cup of water. The music was okay, but overall a fun night. read more

Empire - Shrimp Tempura Futo - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here for dinner to celebrate our friend's birthday. While the food was good, and our server, Saige, was amazing, we had a terrible experience with the manager/restaurant's ID policy. To order alcoholic drinks, they scanned our ID's through some machine they have and two of the five of our ID's came back as invalid (we are in our late 20's), so they wouldn't let my two friends order alcohol. I've never been to a restaurant that scans ID's in order for you to order alcohol and I will never return here after that experience. The place itself is quite spacious and has a nighttime ambiance. While I enjoyed the type of music they played (pop hits), it was so loud that I had to shout for my friends to hear me speak. Also, the restaurant turns into a nightclub around 11:30pm. Onto the food: - Wagyu truffle gyoza: These dumplings were very disappointing. I couldn't really tell that it was wagyu beef and the filling seemed to only be meat (I wished there was a hint of a veggie). Could not taste any truffle. 2/5 - Lychee spare ribs: This was one of the specials. The ribs were tasty, but the lychee flavor wasn't present. They tasted more like sweet and sour ribs, just less emphasis on the sour and more emphasis on the sweet. 4/5 - Teriyaki steak noodles: The dish was tasty but not worth the price. I expected the meat to be of higher quality than it was and I've had better noodles elsewhere. 3/5 - Fried ice cream: We had called ahead and asked if they did anything special for birthdays and were told that they do and would put a candle in the dessert but when it arrived, there was no candle. There was a "Happy Birthday" sign but it felt very underwhelming and made it awkward to sing HBD. The dessert itself was great. The fried ice cream ball had both chocolate and vanilla, and I especially loved the marshmallow on the bottom. 4/5 - Pad Thai: Good flavoring and the noodles were cooked well. I don't normally like pad thai because of the fishy taste, but this was not that fishy. 4/5 - Ferris wheel sushi cupcakes: The presentation of the cupcakes in an actual Ferris wheel is very cute. We really enjoyed these. 4/5 - Lychee Coconut No-Jito: I really enjoyed this mocktail. If you like coconut, I recommend this drink. Although I wish the lychee taste was stronger. 4/5 read more

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Had such a great meal here the other night!! First of all, the vibe and interior decoration is so nice! Everything feels so elevated! This is a great spot to get dressed up for a night out, maybe snap a few pics if you're feeling it! The food was also so delicious! It is a bit pricey, but nice for a splurge on a fun night out! They've got a large menu of great options including some super fun items like the sushi cupcake Ferris wheel! My favorites from the night was probably either the Tik tok chicken or the red chili wontons, but everything was honestly sooo good! We also got the chow foon with beef, truffle wagyu gyoza, scallion pancakes, red chili wontons and the iconic Ferris wheel sushi cupcakes and every bite was delicious! We honestly probably ordered too much food but it was worth trying it all!! The service was also so great! Staff was so nice and attentive throughout the meal. read more

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I came here for the Wednesday night ayce deal which entails a select menu for $25. Overall I think this is a pretty good deal, I certainly don't think the sushi is the best in the world, however, for a bottomless deal I certainly felt I got my moneys worth and was satisfied with the quality and flavor. The standouts from the ayce menu for me were the salmon and crab crispy rice bites, rock roll, and dragon roll. I also thought the drink menu had enticing options and we started with a delicious lychee martini. I would recommend getting in a reservation or arriving right at opening for seating as this place was PACKED on a Wednesday night. The inside ambiance is stunning, very moody, with an upscale Japanese restaurant feel. We did not have a reservation and sat at the first come first serve communal table, but still felt like we had our own privacy. Our server was super sweet and attentive to make sure we got multiple rounds of sushi in, we also did not feel rushed at all which I appreciated! read more

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Went for unlimited sushi, service was quick, sushi was great I would definitely go back! For sure make a reservation it gets busy read more

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We had such a lovely time here celebrating my birthday! We will be sure to return soon. Also want to shout out Nyasha for her kindness and excellent service! read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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"Chef Jim provided us an amazingly memorable experience. The artistry of the display, quality of food, ambience, attention to detail, and the charm and engagement made this one of the best family Christmas Eve dinner dinners we've had! Kudos to the chef the bartender and our gracious hosts." read more

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We had a surprise 30th bday for my daughter last night. Service was fantastic right from the time we got there. We arrived an hour early to decorate and they were so on board helping to make it a surprise! Hostess (maybe Mandy?) was so welcoming and helpful. Our waiter Ivan was fantastic. We had a private room and couldn't ask for a better room. Food was great and had the best time. Thank you Empire! read more

Our team came here for a work dinner last week. The atmosphere is quite nice. Interior design is great, lighting was fine. It was not too loud so we were able to have nice conversation without yelling at one another across the table. Our server was not terribly friendly. Not sure if it was because she had too many tables to take care of or if that was her normal demeanor. It was very clear that if we were not ready to order, then we were inconveniencing her. She was able to answer all of our questions about the menu which was great. After the food arrived, we only saw her once or twice more. The food leaves much to be desired. If panda express is a 10 then Empire is a solid 2. We all ordered the AYCE sushi and picked 2 rolls each. You would think the 2 rolls ordered would come to the person that ordered it, but no.... If there were 4 orders of 1 roll, all 4 orders came on 1 plate. The pieces were giant and really difficult to eat. It was also impossible to figure out what each roll was-- which was very disappointing, especially since some people ordered specific rolls due to their allergies. Again, not sure if it was the server who was not willing to be attentive or the kitchen doesn't care. Beer and wine were good. Non alcoholic drinks tasted great. Would any of us choose to go back? No, we would not. read more

I was invited for a work presentation dinner. The host was rude right off the bat when I walked in the door. Maybe she was having a bad day but it was the worst hospitality I've experienced in a while. The food that I ordered was not good. I ordered a sirloin with Asian noodles-the steak was ok but the noodles had zero flavor. The meal was basically steak on pasta noodles and it was a big let down to the flavors that I was expecting. The servers in the side room were pleasant and did a great job. Based on my meal here I would not come back to eat in the regular dining room. read more

The space is very spacious and clearly decorated in a thoughtful way meant to give a sense of an upscale experience. Unfortunately, that is the extent of my positive comments about Empire. Operational incompetence from the top down. Table not ready until 45 minutes after reservation time. Clearly inexperienced and unprofessional, borderline rude waitstaff. Forgotten entrees and drinks throughout the night. Some of the worst lo mein I have had for a laughable price of 31$ for noodles. Poorly stocked bathroom, out of paper towels despite a bathroom attendant. Would avoid at all costs read more

I can't believe this place only has 3 stars. Everything we tried was excellent, and we tried a lot of dishes. From sushi, to noodles, to burger and fries, it was all very good. Service was top tier, maybe even a little too attentive but our serger was very kind and gave good recommendations. Our drinks also were very good. The restaurant is lovely, but it was a little too cold, and loud. There was a large group there with children so naturally it'll be a little loud, but I think the music was a little too loud for me personally (background noise is very distracting for me). Don't sleep on this place and let the 3 stars deter you from coming here! read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I came here for a big birthday dinner. Empire definitely had good music and service. The ambience is very elegant and modern. I got the spicy tuna roll which is my go to for sushi. It was okay and fit the description. However due to the pricing and placement of the restaurant I was hoping for it to have an elevated taste but it was okay. I do have to say the drinks were delicious and have new flavor profiles that I haven't tried yet read more

Empire - Spicy Tuna - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was good! This was Wednesday night sushi deal. Service was a bit slow, although everyone friendly. Restaurant so cool read more

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Great for a group dinner and also turns into more of a night out vibe late on some nights. Drinks are a little overpriced for what they are but a great selection. The noodle dishes are huge; great value. The tuna tataki was just ok, small for the price. Servers were very attentive. There are better Asian food place in Boston for sure but this is a fun option for a group, plenty of energy. read more

Empire - Albacore tuna - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Expensive but I would recommend coming here for drinks, appetizers and sushi only. None of the mains/entrees were worth ordering. Would recommend: Blackened tuna/spicy salmon rice bites Wagyu sliders Lobster rangoons Jonah crab rangoons Chili pork wontons Tuna truffle sashimi Tataki belly flight read more

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Visited Empire last night to celebrate two of my friends' birthdays and the food is extremely mid. Don't get me wrong, none of the food we ordered was terrible but the food was nothing spectacular either. We ordered a couple apps to start, including the "spicy" avocado salad, salt and pepper wings, and fried calamari. The apps I would all rate 5/10. We also ordered a bunch of rolls which honestly were not bad, just nothing special. For the price of each roll, I would say they are not worth it at all and you could get the same rolls (& probably better quality & ingredients) for half the price from your local neighborhood sushi joint. 5/10 for their sushi rolls. I honestly was content with only having a bite of each dish we ordered because I did not want to waste space in my stomach. The only thing I would probably come back for is the lychee martini. Please do not make the mistake of ordering the pad thai. The pad thai they served was absolutely terrible. The noodles were soggy, bland, and too wet. We ended the dinner with two desserts, one triple chocolate cake and the coconut mango baked alaska. The coconut mango baked alaska tasted like passion fruit with no hints of mango or coconut, so it was super disappointing. The triple chocolate cake was mostly just fudge and no actual cake. Overall, Empire is a nice looking restaurant. I know that it does turn into a night club at night except on Sundays... but come on. The food should be a high priority and unfortunately is not great & is overpriced. Would not come back again. read more

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"The Bao Bun special was delicious! I hope that this special makes it to the regular menu. A delicious meal with large portions. Truly one of my favorite restaurants in the Seaport." read more

I feel bad writing this review, but this was such a disappointing experience that I feel people should know what they're getting into before coming here. My fiancé and I went here for the $25 deal, but it was absolutely not even worth the $50 we spent for the both of us. We had a reservation for 8:45. when we got there, we had to wait 20 mins, and the entire time we were checking in with the hostess, she said they were "preparing the table" and that we "needed to be patient". I'm not so sure we were any different from a walk-in to them. When they finally seated us, they asked us if we wanted tap water, bottled water, or sparkling water. You're telling me a $100+ restaurant doesn't have a water filter? We ordered the sparkling water which ended up being an extra $14. When we told our waitress we were trying the $25 deal, she handed us a tiny hand-sized card that had a few sushi rolls and appetizer-esque items on it, and continued to inform us that we would only be allowed to order 2 items per person at a time. The problem with this, is that each plate not only took a while to come out, but they were extremely small portions; even with them cramming as much of the order as they could onto one plate. The waitress herself wasn't even very attentive, so we would have to wait just to order as well. After just the first round that we ordered, it's 9:45 and the waitress informs us that it's last call, since the kitchen closes at 10:00. Um, do you see how kinda scammy that is?- We weren't seated for 20 mins after our reservation time, and weren't tended to in a timely fashion, nor were we able to order a portion that would keep us satisfied within our given time. Outside of feeling a bit ignored by our waitress, the staff themselves were also very dismissive- Our table's soy sauce was out when we arrived, and when we asked a staff member to refill it, she seemed to get frustrated with the request and stormed off. I will say it was busy in there, so I can understand feeling overwhelmed and like you're trying to juggle a lot in an environment like that. It just wasn't an encouraging feeling to not be treated with courtesy once during our time here. When she came back with the soy sauce, she slammed the dish on the table as though she had more pressing matters to attend to, and ignored my "thank you!". The food itself seemed like it lacked a lot of care- The crispy rice was stale and cold; the yellowtail roll was some strange slimy combination of red onions that really felt like a concoction bust; the salmon crispy rice was strangely very salty, etc. The restaurant itself was very pretty and well-designed. I really liked the atmosphere/overall vibe of the place. It also wasn't too loud, which was nice. Everything else, however, was a disappointment. It really felt like if you came for the $25, you were a nuisance to the restaurant. Unfortunately, we definitely won't be going back. read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

You're going to want to read this review before coming on Wednesday for the all you can eat sushi for $25. They do not advertise this, but you must book a reservation. On instagram they say it is "recommended" and on the phone when you call they say it is "recommended" but when you arrive they say no. We tried to do walk in all you can eat sushi twice and both times were denied because no tables were available for this. They were happy to seat us immediately for regular dinner though. Ha! How convenient. More notably, the sushi is not even good and anyone who has been here can agree. There are much better options in Boston. I recommend North End Sushi Co. because they have great deals and high quality sushi with great service for takeout. It is run by the nicest family and it's a great establishment to support. Empire will be out of business in a few years. read more

Unfortunately what I ate was not memorable. I lived in Boston for three years and didn't have the desire to return. IT WASNT BAD! ...The food was ok. Empire is the case of lots of fan fare that just doesn't hold through the menu. I think it is probably great for a little ambience & drinks maybe? Or maybe we didn't order the right items from the menu - I've had that happen before - the things that taste the worse...who knew all items on a menu are not created equal. Either way, proceed with caution, especially if you're seeking great Chinese-Asian-fusion food. read more

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This used to be my favorite place! The service here has really gone downhill. We waited at our table for 25 min after being seated, and the waiter was no where to be found, the other waiter offered to look for the person that's supposed to be attending to us and she couldn't find them. We decided to just go to the bar for a drink even though we were starving, they had 1 bartender on a Saturday night crowded by 100+ customer's. I WOULD AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST! My question is...Where is the management's team? Why would you mismanage and be so short staffed on a Saturday night? Are your employees not trained? read more

I loved this restaurant, even though it wasn't on my list, we got here by accident but I'm glad it work out well. The service was really good, the waiter was fantastic very friendly. The food was amazing, everything that we had was good, the portions were huge so it's worth your money. The restaurant is big, but feels comfortable. The restrooms were clean and well stocked. Overall next time I'm in Boston I should be back indeed. read more

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Can't make a simple drink. It was 35 defeees outside an I asked for a hot toddy, waitress didn't even know what the drink was. I asked the bartender and they said no as well. It's a simple drink for a winter season. read more

We enjoyed a late dinner at Empire after a movie at Alamo. The hamachi tasters were delish, ambiance was fun and service was top notch. read more

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Great ambiance and would recommend doing the Martini class again with Tito's. Light appetizers and two drinks that you learn to make! read more

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Ambiance was nice, but the service wasn't the best, which is weird considering that I was sitting at the bar and I could've sworn the bartender was ignoring me. Other than being ignored, it is a good place for drinks though. Cocktails were good. I recommend the Royal Akuma. I did enjoy the variety from the torched belly flight, and from the two way rangoons. read more

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I am unsure why this place is not highly rated. Yes all food in seaport area is overly expensive but I enjoyed Empire every time I have been. The blackened tuna rice bites were really good! Overall, I have always had a good experience. read more

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Food was amazing, my party was pescatarian but they had plenty of options to choose from. The waitress was super helpful and patient. Ambiance was trendy and turned into a club later at night. read more

Empire - I forgot what this was... but it was really good - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food, service and ambiance were all 5 stars for us. Saige took wonderful care of us and was very knowledgeable on the menu, she went above and beyond. read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts