I think this place deserves ZERO stars. Went there tonight and had somebody try and steal my bag.... Empire management did NOTHING about it! Tried doing it to another first too and they turned a blind eye to it! The whole party wasn't even asked to leave!! TERRIBLE! Will never go back!!! read more

All style, no substance. We were seated at what was effectively a catering round table under a table cloth. The chairs were really uncomfortable, with cushions that slid around and were difficult to sit on. They were also catering chairs - you know, the ones that come in the basic package price when you have an event and are some kind of faux bamboo style. The table ordered several different kinds of food, and it was universally poor. Overcooked, over seasoned, and underwhelming. We stuck around for cocktails and they were absurdly watered down. In the lounge area, people are packed in and in spots must hover directly over low couches of people eating sushi, with server pushing through the crowd carrying plates of food. Very awkward. The music was pretty fun though. read more

We came to Empire for restaurant week - the only entrée that caught our eye was the miso black cod, which turned out to have an $8 additional charge, a detail that was not posted on the restaurant week website. We ended up spending $42+, making Empire one of the more unexpectedly expensive restaurant week options. The food was pretty good - we ordered the short rib baos, the tuna tostadas, and the pear salad. The salad was light and refreshing and the tuna tostadas were well-presented, though the portion - four bite-sized crackers topped with tuna - was a little on the small side. The baos were very savory and overall good, but the colors (pickle green, meat brown, and dark red chiles) were somewhat unappetizing and the pickles were a confusing garnish that made it a very heavy appetizer. Also, the bao shell was a little dried out and not as fluffy as I would have liked. The miso black cod entrée was undoubtedly the highlight of the night - served atop (too much) bok choy with an edamame garnish, the cod had a lot of flavor and the timing was perfect. The cod had a lot of bones, which my friend choked on, but we overall loved the combination of flavors and textures. The desserts were okay - the pumpkin rangoons were great and the coconut crème caramel was delicious, but the coconut macaroons were dry and rather tasteless. The service was a lot of fun - they hire a lot of really cute guys. Our waiter was attentive and not intrusive, while the people who cleared our plates were all willing to joke around and chime into our weird conversation topics. The drinks were mixed - for a place that looks like it should have a great bartender, they made a huge error. We ordered the pineapple mai-tai, which had liquid nitrogen AND ice cubes in it, so surprise surprise, our drink turned into alcoholic water ice. We waited the entire meal for our drink to thaw and it never completely did. However, my friend ordered some peach drink, which was strong, yet well-balanced. Overall, I thought this place was overpriced and clearly catered to a certain clientele - the restaurant had imposing decor and a lot of faux-Asian touches, creating a sleek but ornate club-like environment. But the quality of the food, and surprisingly, the quality of the drinks, was mixed, so even with the restaurant week prices, we felt like we'd overpaid for our experience. read more

I have not eaten here, but I have come in for drinks on various occasions and since my last visit i decided to add a review. Empire has potential to be a good place, but it can't quite get there. In my opinion it gets way to crowded in there, especially near the bar. You may say, well kid that's pretty much normal anywhere you go on a busy night. But the fact is the place is not crowded at all. The entire design of the bar was horribly added into the space provided. It takes way too long to get a drink in here and you constantly have people on top of one another trying to get one. Then a big table is situated right in front of the bar, which limits people from getting to the bar. These are just some of the issues with the layout. Empire, if you want I will draw up a nice layout for you for free. read more

My boyfriend & I sit in the bar and have apps and drinks at least once a month! The pot stickers are drool-worthy. We keep coming back for more! read more

Went to Empire last night at the Seaport for my wife's birthday knowing there were some off reviews about both the food and the service. However, the menu looked really interesting so we were up for giving it a try. A few things right off the bat. Empire has a dress code that some people have complained about. They aren't asking for you to be trendy, but just look nice. Most people looked "dressed for dinner". If you are coming in dressed for the beach or class, don't go here. Second, saw comments about arrogance by serving staff. I didn't see that at all. Our server was really nice and helpful and everyone else was too. Third, the food. Have to admit it was pretty hit and miss. First, we had the lobster scallion pie. If you hadn't told me there was lobster in it, I wouldn't have known it. They should really put more chunks of lobster in it. However, it was good as a scallion pancake, and the sauce was good as was the slaw. We had two rolls, the rock shrimp and the red dragon rolls. Both were delicious. Home runs. Finally, we had pad Thai and the Mu Shu Short Rib. The pad Thai was gloppy, and very heavy. I was really excited about the short rib but found it really disappointing. The short rib was cut in slices, and was not seasoned. If you ate an individual piece it had no flavor whatsoever. Cardboard. Would have thought we would get more of a braised flavorful short rib vs what was served. Many items come in two sizes and even the small portions were HUGE and more geared to parties of 4 plus. My wife really liked her lychee martini. I asked for both Balvenie and Oban single malts and they had neither! How can you aspire to be a high end fancy joint and only carry glenlivet and macallan! So, while the menu looked good, they really lacked execution. It was not cheap either! Based on all this, cannot recommend. read more

This is not a restaurant. This is a bar masquerading as a restaurant. We had tried to come on a Saturday night and didn't bother due to the loud LOUD music and huge trendy SCENE. We finally made it on a Sunday. It was very empty. Not a good sign. We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 entrees for 4 of us It was all mediocre with the exception of the Tuna Tartar which was awful. YUK. Tuna tartar doesn't need heavy mayo and chunks of pickles.UGH. My favorite dish and they destroyed it. Nothing left a memorable impression. Worst of all the special foie gras dumplings had no foie gras that I could taste. NONE. I even cut them in half to look. Nope, no foie gras i could see.. or taste. I guess they figure if they keep you drinking, you won't notice the food isn't so great To add insult to injury.. our Martini's were a skimpy pour. And as skimpy as they looked, when you removed the huge Lemon wedge, the martini's came 1/2 way up the glass. Cmon guys, if you are looking to sell booze at least give us a full glass. as for service, pleasant but honestly, when a dish is served with 3 sauces and your wait person has no idea what the sauces are...? Seriously? Empire was a HUGE disappointment. Won't be back. Actually, to the person who gave it 4 stars and called in a Pan-asian Hooters... You were correct. but I wouldn't give Hooters even one star! read more

Omg this place is so fun and I absolutely love the atmosphere. The food is delicious and whimsical definitely stop by on Monday nights for the unlimited sushi read more

Enormous windows flank the south and east sides of the restaurant with decorative shear drapes that would allow soft filtered light into this open airy space...EXCEPT THAT IT IS NOT OPEN DURING DAYLIGHT. What a shame you can only dine here after 4:30pm, at which time the decor just seems somewhat theatrical. The real value of this place would be daytime- on weekdays for the nearby financial firms to host clients, and on weekends all the yuppies to bring their kids and parents. Despite arriving at 5pm on a weekday during a snowstorm, the delusional host still asked if we had a reservation. We did not, yet were promptly seated in one of the 30 empty tables. Our server was curteous and friendly. Water refilled ad nauseum. Drinks delivered as ordered. The hot and sour soup was amazing, thick enough to have the consistently of hit jelly, with a tang to match. And a ribbon of hot sesame oil along the top. There are actually many vegetarian options, including a 10-piece sushi, which is unique. The Asian pear salad was horrible; not only because of the 1000% markup from the cost of ingredients but because the dressing was syrupy and overpowered the pear entirely. To boot, the raw napa cabbage caused painful flatulence all night. Traditional Chinese cuisine does not include many raw veggies, perhaps Empire should take this cue from tradition and cut the raw cabbage out of the menu. And for the love of God, open for lunch daily. read more

Trendy place, great lounge music and plenty of good looking people. The food is great and if you go with a couple of friends you have to try their Scorpion Bowl!! Super recommend! read more

A wonderful place to hold an event! Radius Bank recently hosted a phenomenal networking event featuring John Barros with BRA. I can't say enough about the chef, Mandy and the other servers who truly made the evening special with incredible hand-served appetizers and a personable, accommodating attitude. To anyone who wants to host an event with 5-star appeal (ambience, service, cuisine) this is the place to do it. read more

I wish I could leave less than a 1 star rating. Their management was TERRIBLE. After having spent over $300 for our meal, I was standing near the bar with 2 of my friends, minding our own business, when one of the bouncers escorted my friend (the only non-white male in the area) to the general manager, who then kicked him out of the restaurant. They could not give us an explanation as to why he was kicked out and they were getting very hostile with him. We tried to re-enter to see why he was kicked out for standing harmlessly at the bar, but they told us to leave their establishment and go away. What a waste of $300 and a spoiled night. I would highly recommend to STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. read more

First of all, I am blown away by the bad reviews. I've been to Empire a half dozen times and have always had an outstanding experience. And so it was on my last visit. One of my friends is moving back to NYC after 6 years in Boston. She's going back to a real city or so she says and our small group of friends will not be the same. But that is another story. Since she is leaving we decided to celebrate at Empire with dinner and then cocktails - ten of us in total. We all dressed up and had fantastic night of great food, nice music, and a beautiful atmosphere. What more could a girl ask for. The food was amazing and we tried everything. Standout were the tuna tartare, a special of noodles made from the skin of the tofu, a Korean steak, and some really outstanding sushi. For my money, this is the best place in Boston to dine and entertain. Its a beautiful space, the service is friendly and it is so New York....at least that's what I told Janet. read more

Rude manager! Rude waitress! Wouldn't recommend the place for a friend! Beside that they asked us to pay a minimum $50/person but then they closed early instead of closing 2 am (last minute decision as what they explained). Hint: most of the time I go there, their waitresses are horrible! read more

The food is nothing to write home about, but the drinks are pretty good and it's a fun atmosphere. Would definitely say that it's more than a little overpriced for what you're getting though. I'd recommend it for a stop either at the beginning or end of the night for a drink or two, nothing more. read more

In a nutshell, glorified and expensive Chinese food, anyway regardless, I got sick from the food shortly after having my meal...paid $$$ to get food poisoning. Not a great deal. read more

This review is for a cocktail reception - it was beautiful! We were in the long skinny room on the left side - the passed Hors d'oeuvre were the best I have ever had at a work function - well, except during the heyday of the Fidelity Christmas parties in the 80s! - cute little Chinese to go cartons with perfect noodles and chopsticks - Lobster Rangoon, crispy shrimp shumai, spring rolls, all kinds of meat on a stick, which made my husband very happy and truffle cake balls for a dessert treat - I will definitely have Empire at the top of the list for any event planning read more

Great food and great drinks. The staff is friendly and attentive. Always there before you need them. The chefs work hard to make sure every plate is beautiful. The decor is very spaciously arranged so you have plenty of room no matter the size of your group. The bar area is huge as well. read more

Go here frequently to sit in the lounge or bar. Drinks are good but expensive. Appetizers are decent, but again, expensive. If you're going there and hoping for "Asian" food, this is not the place. If you're hoping for '"Asian-influenced" good, and don't mind paying for it, I do recommend it. Items I recommend: tuna tartare, spicy salmon rice bites, Hawaiian style poke. read more

I love Empire! The food and service is great. Don't miss Industry Night on Mondays at 8pm - ALL YOU CAN EAT sushi for only $25!

I wish i didn't have to do this but i have never experience such awful service. I have been to this location several times and i have always enjoyed it. But this time was very different i was celebrating my birthday with my husband and friends and the waiter took forever to take our drink order and when he finally did come to the table never once did he introduce himself. another server was kind enough to help him taking the order since we had a large party after drink order was taken it took 15-20 minutes then he started taking app orders my husband and i asked for him to come back to us after everyone else placed their orders "He never came back to us" we looked around for a while to get his attention so we could place our order before the apps arrived but 20 minutes flew by apps were being dropped and we then had his attention to place the order. our apps arrived after everyone else had finished. so being upset and no longer in the mood we decided not to order entrees and just ask for the bill. we waited over 20 minutes for the check !!! Our waiters excuse was that different guest wanted to pay for certain items and she was unable to separate items ...why didn't she just drop the check first and mention it to us was out of my comprehension. I wish Saturday April 9,2016 never happened.You ruined a perfectly good happy gathering with friends due to lack of knowledge and common sense. I will no longer recommend this place for my employers/coworkers or friends. Thank you. read more

I think Empire has multiple personalities. On one hand, it's a trendy waterfront bar with solid appetizers and sushi, cocktail waitresses who practically wear lingerie, and a somewhat glamorous "scene", especially after hours. On the other hand, it's a generic Chinese restaurant that doesn't actually have a view of the water and feels cheesy and overpriced. It's very odd. I was excited to try Empire when it first opened. There was so much hype around it and I was really looking forward to what looked like a delicious menu and a very ornate ambiance. When you walk into the bar area there is a lot going on- an open kitchen, couches, very high ceilings with over the top decor, and of course the aforementioned cocktail waitresses who immediately take over the attention of any straight man (including my boyfriend). On our first visit we made the mistake of making dinner reservations instead of just coming in for the bar scene. We walked into the grand entrance and bar but were immediately escorted on a very long walk all the way to the back of the restaurant. It was here that I suddenly felt like I was 13 years old, out at the neighborhood Chinese restaurant with my family on Christmas Eve. The entire vibe of the restaurant transformed. Even the servers felt different back there. Like I said...it's quite odd. We shared a few generic dishes and all in all it was OK and over priced. Great dumplings though. So I learned the lesson the hard way that this is not really a date night dinner place but more of a trendy bar scene or a great place for a large group. I have been back a few times and with the exception of once having the worst cocktail of my life here (something with cucumber and sake that just did NOT work) it's definitely a fun scene for a night out, especially with girlfriends. read more

I have been here twice. Once in the bar with my nephew and his fiancee just for drinks and apps. The second time with spouse and dinner in the dining room. Really just a pesudo Asian restaurant. Big open footprint that has a restaurant here today but if the space wanted to be an office next week probably would have the same people working there. It is the kind of place you want to go with your friends to be seen. First how do you go into an Asian restaurant in Mass and they don't have Zombie drinks on the menu. I can go to ant Asian place in Mass and they all serve Zombies/Mai Tai/Fogcutters. Hot and sour soup was tasteless and not spicy at all. The noodle dishes which come in 2 sizes are lacking in any flavor or nuance. Plus the small size is big enough for 2 and the large size is big enough for six but they don't tell you that unless you ask. My wife and I could have just ordered one dish, they are that big. To top it off the waiter was very attentive at first but forgot us after the food came. I am not someone who rushes but when I am trying to order coffee and would like my table cleaned I do expect someone to come over at some point. I expressed my disappointment to the waiter who must have spoken to the manager because she came over. She wanted to take care of us by giving us dessert/coffee but time to go. All in all a good place to go for drinks in the bar and maybe apps but horrible place for dinner. read more

The service and level of disrespect at this place was unbelievable. We had a group for my younger sisters birthday- they brought the drinks out almost an hour after being there, we only had a half hour left to drink two large buckets of drinks which would have been impossible for four small girls to do and rather than apologizing for the slow service, delay and the waste of $200, the owner threw a $50 bill in my face and told me he did not care. He also was not wearing a mask in the midst of a pandemic which is a state law and made everyone around him feel uncomfortable even when asked to wear it. Ive never felt so disrespected and under appreciated at an institution after spending close to $600 at a place and $200 was completely wasted. My sisters birthday was completely ruined and it is safe to say I will never return here- clearly they don't appreciate their clients and don't respect the healthy and safety of others read more

While the place is much larger, I don't think Empire is as good as Red Lantern. The food is over priced, slightly under flavored. I only think it is worth it to come on Monday's for all you can eat sushi and the pupu platter. $25 for all those apps is an amazing deal. Service is slow, so make sure you have enough time to get your $'s worth for the sushi. read more

Loved it!!! The sushi is fantastic and the pad Thai was hands down the best I've ever had! The side are very average and way over priced. Also, what's up with $10 water???? We ordered 3 bottles of peligrino for $30! Yikes! The decor is very impressive. The service is good and the food is very good. Pricey of course as it is at the waterfront read more

Went 2 nights in a row...Friday and Saturday. Food: I recommend the Rangoons - both crab and lobster. Also, the Singapore Street Noodles, Red Dragon roll and Spicy Tuna roll were all OUTSTANDING! Drink: I'm with most people on this one whereas the specialty cocktails and martinis are delicious but, too sweet and not nearly enough booze in them for what they charge. I've tried many including the Mai Tai, Emperor's Mule, Sang's Sake Sangria, Hot Night in Bankok - all of which lack the "kick" that the price would otherwise dictate. The only drink I would recommend is the Thai Bengal Martini. Phenomenal. Atmosphere: A+++...absolutely gorgeous, full of energy, great music and great people watching. Service: food came out lightning quick both nights and very engaging wait-staff. Overall: A very fun and pleasant dining experience both nights. Going for just drinks next time in the lounge area. read more

Absolutely overprice. This place is fancy, good environment. Food is good actually but with those price why I have to pay more. For example....egg drop soup...that we can buy from any Chinese place for a few bucks....For empire, it is $7 or$9....NO i will not pay for this price. Their sushi is so-so...I would say the dish which are kind of ok would be fried rice. but again....why I have to pay more. read more

The food and atmosphere were great. One Kentucky burbon on ice however cost after tax almost the same as a sleve. If i could reccomend anything to the owners "upsell like that is acceptable for Woodford Reserve not Jim Beam" Also, please get some classyer ice. No one wants small cubes in a propper drink. Otherwise the best asian food ever. read more

Second visit to Empire - for drinks only tonight. Very attentive bar staff, bartender was making sure our drinks were fresh and water full. She was great A slower night but better than expected service. As for dinner a few weeks ago right after their hard opening, food was well prepared, right temperature and very good service. For those looking for a casual waterfront spot, probably not for you, but for those looking for really good food, service (if you are nice to them, they are nice to you) and a great vibe for a big space, this is your spot, I think it's only going to mature and get better. read more

The food is very good, yet pricey for pretty much just sushi or Thai food. I do think it's overrated. The best part of it it's the lounge after 1130 it's typically when it gets better and the music is actually REALLY good. The DJ plays a lot of variety (hip hop, Latin, house, TBs etc). The environment is overall fun and the people are mostly young (20's). It's one of those places that you should attend once in a while. read more

HOW ON EARTH DOES EMPIRE ONLY HAVE A 3-STAR RATING??!!?? I ate here last night and the experience was just incredible! It's located in the Seaport area which to me is the best part of town. The interior design is stunning. It looks like something you'd see in Vegas. The service was really fast and the waitress was just as friendly. And the food? Wow, the food was amazing. The table started with the BBQ beef steamed buns and the calamari. Both were great but the calamari stole the show. For my entree I had the spicy pork belly and tried some of the Korean steak. They were both cooked to perfection and they were both so good, it's hard to say which was better. The table shared the shrimp tempura roll and that was just as good as everything else. After drinks, the bill came out to around $200 which is pretty reasonable considering how much we ordered read more

Can't give any review on the food. Don't bother trying for walk in. Tried for dinner on Sunday evening for 6 person at around 6:30pm. Hostess said it would be half hour wait for table but that we could sit by lounge for same menu. We settled ourselves, then the waitress came and asked if my daughter was 21 and that unfortunately we could not sit at the lounge. By the way, there looked to be at least 3 open tables in the restaurant. So we left and had the most delicious dinner at Ocean Prime just a couple of blocks down. read more

Food was splendid. Decor and ambience were stellar. Music is just what it should be, classy but upbeat. A place without pretence.

Such a huge letdown after Drink!! They should probably have better bartenders who aren't showing their boobs a too much and know how to make real decent drinks! read more

This is a fabulous place no matter for daily dinner or event. Chic décor and great atmosphere. I am a Chinese with high standard of eating. I want to say that the food is fantastic, as well as the dessert! The service was attentive and prompt.  Had a nice conversation with the owner and the chef, we really enjoyed the time and definitely will come back with my friends soon. BTW, no worries about parking, there are many parking meters on the street and Empire rent the church parking space for customers. See, how sweet Empire is! read more

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Making a reservation at this place is pointless. I made a reservation for party of 7 for 8:30pm for my birthday. We showed up 5 minutes early and they said they would check on the table. We asked again at 8:45pm and they said another 5 minutes. We were finally seated at 9:15pm and then didn't see a server for another 10 minutes. read more

This is not a reflection on the waitstaff or food. Both were excellent. This a reflection on management. I had dinner at the restaurant with 3 colleagues, spent several hundred on food and drinks, and overall enjoyed the experience. We were in town for business, after leaving Boston I realized I had left my wallet behind at the restaurant. I called the restaurant and described the wallet - appearance, brand, types of credit cards and name on the cards. Because I am not local to Boston and had already left I asked them to ship the wallet to me and offered to pay for the shipping. They are refusing to do so, I'm surprised by the lack of willingness to rectify the situation. The managers name is Lexi read more

I love this place! We recently had dinner here with another couple for the first time. Loved it. Walking through the door is quite a chic and trendy experience in itself! This place is colossal, and offers every kind of seating one could possibly want! Cozy, or large group seating, bar seats, private dining rooms, etc...we chose to sit at the counter so we could watch the chefs perform their magic! (exceptionally clean!!) We tried a huge variety of of Apps...they were all plentiful, and FABULOUS! Some we especially loved were the Spicy Salmon bites, Short Rib Moo Shu, the Wagyu beef ,and best of all, Lobster/Scallop "Cupcakes"! I could go on and on, but everything was delicious, beautiful prepared, and presented. I thought I wouldn't like some of the dishes because Im not a huge fan of seafood, but everything was so fresh, and seasoned perfectly, I loved every bite! Even the dessert was over the top,...little donuts sprinkled with caramelized ginger, and served over ice cream! delicious !(I wish i got my own so I didn't have to share!! We can't wait to go back again, and try the other dishes!!! I highly recommend going here! read more

Mediocre food. High prices. Identity crisis. I went here for a business dinner and would not recommend it. Difficult to park. No validation. The food is expensive and sub-par. The venue is cool for like 10 minutes, until you realize you're not sure if you're in a restaurant, a bar, or a club (there is a bouncer, lol). read more