Great atmosphere, great waiting staff. The food is NO GOOD. Came in as a walk in, got seated right away. At first glance I was excited about sitting at the chefs table and watching them prepare food. It was than that I noticed almost all the food was previously processed and bagged for quick service. I had the beef steamed buns. There was 75% more mushroom than beef even though I paid an extra $5 for beef instead of all mushroom. Also there was a bite that the beef was just tendon so I embarrassingly had to discard in my napkin. I had the duck as my main dish. Being from Seattle, and also traveling to Asia quite often I expected a certain standard of Duck. This dish fell short. The duck was not crispy, and super dry. There is a reason why they serve you the duck swimming in a juice of apple marinated onions and root. The purple potatoes were just there for looks and it also does not fit within the asian cuisine they are trying to achieve. Literally only hate half of my main and the rest I had to leave behind. If you are looking for imitation Chinese food it is here. But hey they have deep fried sushi so I'm guessing that must be a favorite amongst the tourists. Get a drink, have a fun hip environment but don't stay for the food read more

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HORRIBLE treatment of customers with reservations! My friends and I made a reservation a WEEK before. With less than an hour left until our reservation time, we were called and told that there was a leak and that they needed to cancel our reservation. We understood and asked if they were going to be closed all night, and we were told that they would open at 7. So we changed our reservation to 7. Then we all drove to the seaport for our reservation, including finding and paying for parking, and THE DOORS WERE STILL CLOSED and this SIGN was on the door. A PRIVATE EVENT!!!! So they cancelled our reservation and blew us off for a private event that they LIED about!!! We called them and the host said it was a leak and "didn't know who put the sign there" -- yeah okay, the sign with your restaurant's logo! Private party or leak, they were lying, and no one even bothered to call us to cancel the new reservation!!!! We didn't know until we drove there and were AT YOUR DOOR, and were fed LIES. Some customer service! Clearly don't care about lying to customers and wasting people's time! I usually recommended Empire to everyone, but not after this treatment! read more

Empire - Sign on the door. Some "leak" ... - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Sushi cupcakes are amazing and they Literally show up on a Ferris wheel. We went there a year ago food was amazing almost everything we got was good. We went with a very large party got a private room the decor was amazing it was hard to see menu due to dark ambience but that's what cellphone lights are for. All in all I would go back again as soon as we can. read more

Empire - SUSHI CUPCAKES AMAZING! - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Service - rude. The waitress honestly ruined the night with her attitude. Inconsiderate of gluten free allergies.

Food is great, ambience is incredible but wasn't too crazy about the service we were offered. We went here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We requested the server that the dessert be brought out with birthday candles but when the dessert came out our request was forgotten. Apparently the desserts came out without the knowledge of our server! The server apologized and asked us to place an order for another dessert so she could bring it out with the candles. It was confusing and weird but we decided to let go of this and have fun nonetheless but when the check arrived, we were charged for the dessert (part 2) which we really didn't need had our request for birthday candles were taken care of in the first place! Wasn't the best of dining experience and will not be going back. read more

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Top notch service, food and atmosphere !!!.. drinks are pretty good too!!!... will be back for sure!!..

Great ambience and decor - definitely has a fun vibe. Service was good and attentive. Food was disappointing and lacks flavor and authenticity. Would not recommend. read more

My daughter celebrated her 17th birthday here and every aspect was fantastic the food, the service, etc.!

We got take out for dinner last night and it was delicious!! I can't rate the actual restaurant but the service from the staff over the phone to the pick up was great! Very professional and very prepared to follow the pandemic's rules. Stanchions are outside 6-ft distance apart to keep customers safe. We ordered the scallion pancakes which were so good they didn't even make it to the dinner table, we devoured them right off the container as we played the rest. Spicy tuna sushi was fresh and delicious. The fried rice was tasty and a great portion. read more

Swanky interior and tasty food, but pricey. Empire is going for a high end pan-Asian restaurant vibe. Does the quality of the food take it to the next level or is it just a nicer, but also most expensive PF Chang's? I'm not sure, but I think an enjoyable meal is guaranteed. The steamed buns were packed with flavor. The seared Salmon bites were my favorite. They had lots of flavor and the rice was crispy, but retained a good sushi rice texture. I will definitely get those again when I return. I also enjoyed their truffle fries. Truffle aioli works much better than oil drizzled on the fries. It tastes better and doesn't stink up the restaurant. I was really disappointed with the sangria pitcher we ordered. It was so watered down and lacking in flavor that we should have probably returned it. I definitely want to come back and try more dishes. Great for a celebration dinner with a group of friends. read more

We didn't want to pay $10 entry fee at Scorpion Bar so we came here on a Friday night. Could. Not. Move. Getting a drink at the bar was like trying to buy a train ticket in Mumbai. Good luck. But on the plus side, it was lively. No one was dancing though and they blasted pop music from 10 years ago. Tons of thirsty looking guys on the prowl, consoling themselves with alcohol when romance doesn't appear on the menu. There were a good group of people still dining in the overly done Asian themed restaurant, gingerly balancing overpriced pieces of sushi rolls with their chopsticks. I have not eaten here but I venture to guess that it's not authentic. Stick to the drinks and bring your own girl. read more

The food was amazing. The drinks were amazing. we had a party of 7. We started with the twelve-piece potstickers and the twelve-piece two way rangoons. For dinner, we had 2 orders of juice rice (a large portion would have done one. as well as one sesame beef and one til too chicken. We also had drinks the golden Scorpion bowl and we just loved the frozen lychee. 10/10 recommend and will be back again. read more

First time eating there and the place was amazing . Very spacious. Very inviting. Great customer service. The drinks weren't the best. Mostly watered down. The food wasn't too good either. I like the chicken teriyaki. And dragon roll was a bit salty. And the spicy tuna was good. The vegetable roll was ok. Love the design of the interior but wouldn't recommend for a good eating read more

I went for the first time Halloween night for dinner/drinks and had a great time. First thing we noticed was the DJ was on point. Our server Tom was personable and had a really good knowledge of the menus. We ended up ordering his recommendations 2 Halloween themed drinks off the specials and the rangoons. Drinks were cool with mine having dry ice in cauldron, and hers was a margarita with blood orange juice in a shot syringe. Lobster rangoons were hands down the best I ever had. If you like spicy, I definitely recommend the red dragon maki. Overall the food was great and the service was better between our server and manager Pat coming over a couple times to check on us. We will be coming back and 10/10 recommend to someone looking for a fun night out. read more

3.5 stars for a good experience but weird set up. This place is definitely more a lounge than a dancing place. Came with a bunch of friends and met up with others. There's a big seating area for food but we hung around the bar area. Drinks are average for a city, not cheap. We got beers and a shot which was a healthy serving and not watered down. They had a DJ on a Fri night but there was not really a dance area other than the one we created. Otherwise, they have a bunch of sofas as well. Overall, I'd only come back with friends as there are other groups around (age around 20-30s) to mingle with. read more

My first time going to this restaurant was on Valentine's Day. They gave out roses and the DJ was amazing! I ordered the Korean steak with mashed potatoes(I'm not really sure the exact name of the meal) all I know is it was $43. We waited really long to get our meals, and the lighting was very dim, it's like you're in hollister. Since the DJ was playing the tunes the waiting didn't seem as long but it was still pretty long. My friend ordered another kind of their steak with fries and it tasted way better than mine, I think it was about $30. I ended up getting that instead. Our waiter barely attended to us, we had to ask other waiters to assist us because ours was nowhere to be found majority of the time. Overall this is a pretty nice restaurant, a little pricey but the steak was good, the second one I had at least, and the lobby is a great place to take pics for the gram! read more

Empire - $43 Korean Rubbed Sirloin - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I'll admit I was skeptical at first about how a night cluby restaurant would actually fare in the food department, but Empire did not disappoint. The service started out a little bit slow. The restaurant is huge and the servers seemed to be a little stretched as far as tables so that didn't exactly bother us. The food was great. The sushi was fresh and creative. Ordering dairy free and gluten free even vegan was not a problem here. They actually have a special menu. The server and the kitchen also took all allergies very seriously which anyone with an allergy knows is a huge relief. And to top it all off!! They have cocktails in frozen fruit cups... Empire for the win! read more

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Decided to eat here with two friends on Friday night and we had a great time. We didn't have a reservation but we were seated in about 10 minutes. I had the crispy salmon roll and it was delicious! There's a dj & dance area by the bar (similar to Earl's) which is nice. The service was okay. I'd definitely go again. read more

Empire - Crispy Salmon Roll - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This spacious, lounge style restaurant with an oriental flare also sports a full service bar. The interior decor is very elegant complete with ceiling calligraphy and gold and red accents. The menu features Asian inspired dishes including chicken stir-fry, Pad Thai and braised duck. The flavour is less authentic and more American-Asian fusion. The braised duck was good but would have liked a little more crisp to the skin and finer cut slices. The roasted potato base was a good complement to the bird. Portions are sizeable and so is the bill at about 30-45 for a main. Service on the Tuesday night was prompt but a little confusing with about 4 different servers coming to check in at different times. I'm sure it's usually a little more coordinated. read more

Empire - Braised duck. - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Having eaten at several sites in Boston as a team in town for networking and training, I've seen a wide range of service levels. Empire tops the charts in service. Not only was the food exceptional, but the service was beyond the best. Kaelan and EZ anticipated our needs, served with absolute professionalism, and made our visit the best experience in town. I appreciate good food and even better service. Empire, Kaelan, and EZ nailed the experience. Mad respect. read more

Ended up here by accident on a cold night. It's the opposite of what I normally like -- the place is ginormous and feels like a flashy, artificial casino or mega-mall: loud, tasteless, tacky, with horrible music, and inflated prices (which are to be expected in the area). Everything is gigantic -- from TV to plates and it's simply against my European sensibilities. Food was unremarkable, but didn't expect otherwise. If you like eating a bucket of noodles for $30 -- go ahead. On a positive note, the sushi seemed fresh, service was prompt and polite (especially the busboy was exceptionally polite and thoughtful), and early on in the evening the place was very clean. Could be good for groups or clubbers, but simply not my cup of tea. The ambiance is a a big turn off. read more

3.5 stars now. Almost exactly two years later, my company comes back to this place and virtually all that I wrote two years ago applies. Conversation is really hard with the sound of the music. I would continue to avoid the stock dim sum and the average sushi rolls. But the other food, brought to us this time, was actually very good to excellent, including the cream cheese fried won tons, the very tender skewers of teriyaki chicken and beef, and many of the Asian-themed heavy hors d'oeuvres brought to us were quite good. However, as before, the incessant music was enough to drive me out of there early. read more

Excellent visit Never dissatisfied , food and service was excellent Love the atmosphere and the manager was cordial read more

One of the BEST spots for sushi and cocktails in Boston's Seaport. We love stopping in on Wednesday for unlimited sushi - only $29 per person with 11 offerings, including Spicy Salmon Rice Bites which are normally between $15 and $30 per order. Great value! The staff is extremely professional and pleasant - we had a great waitress. We have probably been here 20+ times over the past year and every visit is always exceptional. We love the food, variety, cocktails, and atmosphere - it's so fun! Highly recommend for a night out in Boston's Seaport. read more

This place oozes sex. Everyone is dressed to the nines and the waitresses/waiters all look like models. I'll admit- it's a little intimidating because the ambience is so posh; it's definitely a place for a girls' night out, or for a date you're trying to impress. As for the food, the presentation was elegant. Yes, the food is overpriced for what it is, but you're really paying for the trendy atmosphere. It's not authentic Chinese food (that's what Chinatown is for), but I still think it tasted good for an Americanized swanky fusion restaurant. My complaints are that the pancake wrappings for the beef mooshu had holes in them, and they kept falling apart. They were not steamed properly. The food was also a tad too salty, but still flavorful. We ordered the wild sockeye salmon roll, which was delicious- there were flakes of crunchy onion on top with pieces of mango. In regards to the service- you would think the servers might be snooty since they work in an upscale restaurant, but it was just the opposite. Our waiter was incredibly professional and polite. He made our experience very enjoyable. I'll definitely come back. (Although probably not until after I graduate and have a job with a steady income). read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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For the price (around 8x per person), the overall quality was good IF we take out the food section. This is what you'd expect in a fusion style Asian restaurant. Chinese food ain't like Chinese food, and Sushis are American style. If this is what you like, go for it, I'm not a big fan of fusion style. BTW the chocolate ice cream cake was surprisingly good. Service was good, above par, nothing to complain, lived up to its $$$ standards. The environment was classy, a mix of western and Chinese style. Noise level is about what you'd expected from a mid-to-high end restaurant. I'd gave this restaurant a 4 star if we didn't consider the food, but since I really didn't like the food, it has a 3 star. Food 2.5/5 Environment 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Value 3/5 read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Empire definitely subscribes to the idea of bigger is better. The space is spectacularly large, with huge dining rooms, large private rooms and a large bar. It's so big that I couldn't even see all of the space, but the seemingly-endless walk to the bathroom will give you a good idea of the restaurant's sheer size. They managed to make the large dining rooms still feel warm and cozy, though. Of course, that comfort gets offset by the loud music. Apparently, Empire hosts DJ's on certain nights of the week. That's fine, but I'm not there to hit the club. I'm there for dinner. Their bigger is better concept applies to most of their dishes, as well, which our very friendly and attentive waitress pointed out (the service was one real plus of our visit). This, along with the space, hints to me that Empire is designed for larger groups. The food we tried was pretty ordinary, with nothing standing out. Their steamed buns fell apart because they were too stuffed, too dry, or a bit of both. We upgraded to the BBQ beef on the buns, but I really only tasted the mushrooms that dominated the dish, along with some cucumber and sprouts. They'd be better off offering the option of veggie OR BBQ beef buns instead of just adding the beef to the veggie buns. They even provided pickled veggies and peppers and more sauce on the side. Overkill. Since the bun didn't even hold up for a single bite, it quickly became an open-face bao. We also tried the corn rangoons and the scallion pancake. The scallion pancake was good, but expensive, considering it's literally a single scallion pancake (we usually get twice the portion for like $4 from most takeout/delivery places and they're usually just as good). I guess you pay for their three heaping portions of dipping options that you could never actually finish with only 6 cuts of pancake. Kind of an odd plating balance, really. The corn rangoons weren't what we expected. I had envisioned a tamale-inspired ("sweet corn roasted in the husk") filling in the middle, but it just tasted like your standard "crab" rangoon...with popcorn garnishing the bowl. I love crab rangoon, and these were good rangoons, but my expectations from the description certainly didn't match the dish. After being informed of the portion sizes, we played it safe and tried the "bowl" of Singapore Street Noodles. It was pretty good, but nothing that would make me rush back. The $25 price was fair for the amount of food, I guess, but it made me wish they'd have just served normal portions in the $12-15 noodle dish range so we could both try different noodles. We finished with the banana bread pudding with salted caramel ice cream, which for me was the highlight. It's seriously delicious, moist perfection. If you find yourself at Empire, definitely save room for the dessert, which is made by their in-house pastry chef. Overall, though, I can't rush to recommend Empire. Not in a city with so many great places to eat and explore. We don't mind dropping a lot of money on a meal, but for the quality of Empire's food, they'll have to really up their game to justify going somewhere that'll run 2 people $120. When you live equidistant to Chinatown, where the food is better and half the price, it's hard to justify Empire. Walk the 10 minutes over the channel and just go to Chinatown instead. If we want a nice date night atmosphere, the potential for a nice vibe is drowned out by the loud music and club scene Empire becomes in the evenings. It's an enormous identity crisis of a restaurant and with their prices, the food can't be so hit-or-miss. In the case of Empire, bigger certainly isn't better. In fact, it's that exact concept that takes away from Empire's potential as a good restaurant. read more

Empire is like a Quentin Tarantino movie. You really, really have to be in the mood for it to love it. Otherwise, you walk out confused, a hundred bucks poorer, and a weird craving to shoot off your left pinky toe. First, it's huge. Ginormous, which is only bad when it's empty, so you feel like you're dining in an Asian-style morgue. But when it's full, it's fun, like a Vegas casino lounge filled with plastic people dressed to the nines. Second, the cocktails, regardless of time of day, suck balls. Terribad. You know a place sucks when the best tasting cocktails are beer. Third, the Sushi is PURTY.... real purty.... and is hit or miss. It's either really interesting, or bizarrely mediocre, like your prom queen 20 years later that doesn't realize she peaked in highschool. It just tries too hard. Fourth, and the surprise, is the Chinese food, especially the noodle and rice dishes, which are superb! I'm a veteran and absolute expert on Chinese food around the world, Hong Kong, Vancouver, NYC, China (which sucks), Taiwan..... Empire really surprised, and surprised well..... on more than 2 occasions, so it wasn't blind luck. Trust me. You'll love it. It's the simplicity of the 'street' tastes that really grab you. Ok..... outside the food and restaurant semi-disaster on empty days, the social life really is quite something on a Saturday night. The crowd is a pleasant meat market filled with people in their late 20s to early 50s. The large size of the place enables sectioning so little clicks can claim and congregate in their respective fiefdoms. Eye candy? Holy cow the hostesses, waitresses, and bartenders....... probably the only reason outside of food that keeps me coming. I can't remember her name, but the one from North Dakota that moved to MA is a heart-stealer! I like it. Don't love it. Don't hate it. Empire is that necessary person you have to invite to all parties that just completes the place. Empire simply is a must-stop-by. read more

This place was way overrated in my opinion. Ridiculously expensive and bland food. I'm a fan of their sister restaurant, Red Lantern, but this joint is just a flop. My friend had called ahead to make a reservation, which we did, and when we arrived they sat us at the "bar area", which is basically sitting in the kitchen. And I mean that literally -- it's like you're front and center on a burner. I was nervous about sitting that close, to be honest. We asked if we could have a table but they said they wouldn't have one open for a while, but we were hungry so we resigned ourselves to the bar. Funnily enough, there was a table right behind us that sat empty for the duration of our stay, and several others in the general area. Not sure what their policies are, maybe they had to hold the tables or something, but still -- to make a reservation and then have to sit at the bar?! So the entire evening, we sat in front of flaming, steaming woks and had to shout to make ourselves heard. And it goes without saying that our hair and clothing was then saturated with the smell of oil and food for the remainder of said evening. Really not a fan. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive, but I thought the food was incredibly sub-par. I've had wayyyyy better food at tiny, local takeout restaurants. Above and beyond better. I ordered the Pad Thai and it was sour, there was no sweetness in it at all. I had to ask for duck sauce to doctor it and it still tasted bad. Again, I ate it out of hunger, but it was certainly not worth a fraction of its $23 price tag. E-yuck. I'm going to Treetop in Waltham. read more

The food was very mediocre and was overpriced for the portion sizes of the appetizers. The service was slow and our waitress didn't check in on our table as much as we would have liked her to. The atmosphere of the restaurant was good, however, this place is more reliant on the drinks and the atmosphere rather than the food. read more

I came here to grub but instead I found love. A truly mesmerizing place with more mesmerizing type of individuals. I walked in alone as I always do on Sundays to get my usual 6 piece Spicy Salmon Rice Bites but instead life bit me back when I was amazed by the looks of a delightful young woman with a soft spoken voice named Tiana. I started off writing this as a review of the meals which is always a delicacy to me but I ended up writing about the true Devine flavors of love that I discovered. I will always return but now instead of asking for a table for 1 I can finally ask for a table for 2. Thank you Empire for helping me be able to create my own empire. read more

Empire Asian Restaurant & Lounge (previously called Shrine) sits in a sweet, Summer spot on Fan Pier on the Boston Waterfront, which is what drew me in to try it on the hottest week of the Summer. I now return after every event I attend at the nearby ICA. ATMOSPHERE: Think Buddhakan BIG...Dungeon Doors & high ceilings. I love the gold leather couches and steel drum coffee table. Everything about the decor is "Livin' Large"...and I liked it. FOOD: Trendy Asian dishes such as Red Chili Shrimp with Thai Basil and Potato Chips, lobster scallion pancakes, a fish and chips roll, broiled barley miso chicken, chicken and mushroom dumplings and chicken fried rice. PRICES: For Boston Waterfront or Back Bay, they are reasonable. I shared a bowl of 20 dumplings in chicken broth for ONLY $20, and there were many menu options in the $11-$15 range. DRINKS: They offer "oversized" cocktails for four, like the Margarita Mayhem, served in a "hallowed" cantaloupe STAFF: Our waiter was patient and persistent in returning to refill our water, several times, plus a manager checked in with us. I also received several compliments on my dress from other staff too. THE DEAL: Empire has a DRESS CODE they describe as "business casual will be used as minimal guidelines... shorts and athletic are not permitted." read more

Food service Ambiance,excellent

Food has down graded from last year and the year before that. I tried the sushi and it has gone down hill. Although it has the fusion element. Masking fish with huge dolops of mayo is a cheap way of doing so. I also had the potstickers which were OK except again, a huge pile up of soy based sauce! They need to stop trying to make this asian cuisine overly Fusion. Sushi is pretty simple. Get good quality fish where you can taste it and you don't need high sodium sauce or mayo because that usually means you have a b-grade meat. If you are someone who REALLY knows sushi or even doesn't know about sushi fused or not, don't come here. The ambiance is still festive. If you want to lounge and have a drink, this is the place to do so. Our server was nice but because it was industrial night, all you can eat "sushi", she made it a point saying that we can't share. All of the sudden I felt like the restaurant police was going to come out if I don't abide by the rules. The sushi was edible but whatever you do, don't order the Idaho Sushi because it was completely crap! It was sushi with specs of sweet potato inside rice. What the hell is going on here? I have been to Empire many times before over the years. This was a very big disappointment. I'm getting the impression that they're not making any money simply because I'm now seeing the "poo poo" platter on the menu. This is when you know that the food quality is going down and the restaurant is in trouble and getting creatively desperate. read more

I've been here once for the "All you can eat sushi" on Monday nights and once on a regular night. The Monday special is fun and just $25 per person - if I remember correctly they have 5-8 rolls you can choose from and they will keep bringing them until you tell them to stop or can't finish. I LOVED the sweet potato roll which surprised me since I normally stick with seafood options. Beware: they itemize the bill so you WILL end up seeing how many rolls of sushi your table ate, even if you don't count. I've had great service both times and really enjoy the drink options. I would agree with other reviews that it is a little overpriced for what it is. read more

Empire - California Roll (with side of spicy mayo) $8 and Shrimp Tempura Futo Roll $9 - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The food and interior are on par with, or a complete rip off of, PF Chang. The specials that night included spareribs, which were good but overly sweet and spicy. The lo mein with Chicken was bland and just a little to greasy. Nothing here reached the level to anger or impress me; it was all just, 'meh.' read more

I'm going to preface my review by saying I really wanted to like this place. I really did. What's there not to like? Food sounds good, looks good, there is great service, and it's in my neighborhood. That said, I don't know if I'm itching to go back. Service wise--- perfect. Our waitress was uber attentive, knowledge and great. A+ there! That's why I'll stick with the 3 stars. Everything else though... A little less stellar. We had the steam buns, corn rangoon, scallion pancakes and Singapore Street Noodles. Nothing was bad, but nothing left me itching to get back here. Another thing- something gives off more of a nightclub sort of vibe here, which I am not a fan of. It seemed very prevalent amongst the crowds at least. Maybe it's because I'm more low key, and looking for a more chill vibe, I don't know. Hopefully I'll find out soon enough :) read more

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Came here for a friends birthday and reserved a table. *YES = steep prices *YES = another Asian fusion restaurant *YES = live DJ on the weekends *YES = on the weekends the restaurant turns into a bar/ dance floor *YES = friendly staff (shoutout to Kristie) *YES = spacious environment *YES = modern & young *YES = plenty of bathroom stalls I would say that Empire is a great place for a big party (8-10 people). Came here on a Saturday night & noticed that while there's a big area at the front for those interested in dancing & grabbing drinks at the bar... There's also a nice area in the back for those who are more fond of experiencing the traditional sit down service. The only con is that the prices are ridiculously steep for the quality of food & drinks. I'm not convinced that the food & drinks is worth the price. read more

Empire - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We visit Empire probably five to six times a year reliably. The atmosphere is very cool, like old-school, traditional Chinese meets nightclub. It's a great place for special occasions and to meet friends, or if you're like us and love the food, somewhere to throw into the rotation. We always order the sushi cupcakes, which are always on the special menu. They are absolutely *to die for* incredible. Really, you must order them. We also love the pad Thai, which is definitely a different version than your average local Thai restaurant. They describe it on the menu as a tamarind plum sauce. I don't know what they do to the stuff but we absolutely love it. It's a flavor I can't describe and that we haven't tasted elsewhere. Very unique and delicious. The sushi is a little bit hit or miss. I used to love their avocado maki with spicy mayo, but the past two times the rice has had that gummy over cooked texture that you get at lower-end takeout joints. A few times ago we got the lobster roll sushi and it was a little weird. Props for the gluten free menu! Just be sure to triple check that they bring you the right gluten free item. The mixed drinks are delicious but definitely on the juicier side rather than the alcohol side, so you can easily drink multiple, not feel anything, and rack up $60 each in just drinks before dessert. Its definitely a little pricey, but worth it for the flavors. We love Empire and take friends here all the time! Oh, and the Vertex parking lot just around the corner is a great option if you're driving into the Seaport. $17, I believe, on nights and weekends and it's right there. read more

Empire's interior is elaborate and intricate. Some parts of it look like a VIP porn set. All people were doing was talking and drinking, but I wouldn't have been surprised if people started making out in the lounge area. The highlight of our visit was the food. The spicy tuna roll and bass nigiri were so fresh, I didn't even touch the ginger or Wasabi and barely used the soy sauce. I'm still familiarizing myself with sushi so if I'm in a hurry, my go-to option is something with spicy mayo on it. The mayo on the spicy roll was eye-catching and delicious. There was a mysterious, crystalline crunch distributed throughout every bite. That was a nice surprise and it put the food over the top for me. Now for some good old-fashioned trashing and delinquency. I would have given Empire one more star if the staff was a little more diligent. Most of the bar was empty and there were two servers. That's a workable ratio but we couldn't get them to help us until they were good and ready. They spent every spare second talking about their social lives or what happened last night. But the food was so good, it didn't matter much. I left a larger tip than I would have liked because I had cash. I also couldn't be bothered finding a lasso to corral our waitress/bartender back to our seats to swipe my card. Then I got up and accidentally knocked my glass of iced water all over the bar and the check. Shards of glass lay on the pristine counter looking like the tips of icebergs. Suddenly, the bartenders' inattentiveness was an advantage. My girlfriend and I quickly got the cash away from the flash flood and made a beeline for the door, laughing. We felt like we had robbed a bank without getting busted. I'd go back but I'd sit in the dining area and try some entrees next time. But I can't guarantee I won't knock over another drink. read more

Empire - Lounge area. - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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