Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Empire

    3.3 (943 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Waitlist - Empire

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Empire Reservations

    Empire Photos

    Business Info

    EMPIRE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Casual
    Trendy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Empire

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lots of dining space downstairs
    Becca L.

    Great Naperville burger spot! Especially in warm weather when the rooftop is open and enjoyable with a river view. 5 stars for atmosphere and great vibes!! We've always had great service and there's plenty of seating though it does get busy at dinner time. The burgers here are good! Tasty, and a variety of interesting options, not the most memorably delicious burger ever but it's a really good solid burger option at a nice spot downtown. My favorite though is the Big Dipper burger which comes with an au jus- this is super tasty! My FAVE item is the burger cigar appetizer. This is a stand out for me! Now warning.. it is greasy. But in the best way!! The sauce is savory and a little sweet with a crispy wonton outside and gooey pimento cheese and burger filling-- definitely give it a try! For kiddos- there's high chairs and decent sized kids portions! Our little guy goes for the basic grilled cheese but there's also burger and chicken options.

    Yardbird Chicken Sandwich with side salad
    Karen S.

    We had lunch at Empire. We sat upstairs on the roof in the enclosed greenhouse area. It was 20 degrees outside but we were roasting in the sun. I probably would not choose a sun table again for that reason. They have a nice selection of local brews on tap. I had the Yardbird Chicken Sandwich with a side salad. The chicken was dipped in a buttermilk broth and cooked perfectly. The sauce on the chicken was sooo good. I ended up cutting it up because it was super messy and fell apart when I tried to lift it. The pretzel roll was just okay. Their menu is pretty limited - burgers, sandwiches, a few salads and they did have fish tacos. I would go back.

    Food Menu
    Randy P.

    Delicious burger option in downtown Naperville. We ordered a variety of bugers and it was all delicious. I recommend the doughnuts as it was nice and hot with the delicious cream dip. The ambience on the weekends is fantastic. The restaurant was very busy with our wait time about 20 minutes. Thanks

    Drinks for 3
    Matt W.

    Always fun! Beautiful night to be up top (Sep 16) and easy to get a seat at the bar. Great beer selection, great cocktails, and great service! I don't need anything else to have an awesome night (and YES, get the donuts- even if to "go" - they are spectacular).

    Audra M.

    We recently spent the day in Naperville and decided to hit a few places for small bites in order to try a few intriguing menu items. One place we wanted to try was Empire, for their "burger cigars." They are an angus and pimento cheese spring roll, which are very tasty. Also, our server treated us well. The interior is pretty cool, and the outdoor seating (I could see from outside) seemed neat. My two-star review comes from other issues with my time at Empire. I went to the restroom before eating, and in the accessible stall, huge drops of water were coming from a partially taped up pipe above the commode. It was extremely gross. They really should have done a better tape job and checked on it to see if the dripping was happening. When our burger cigars were served, the sauce, which I had requested to be on the side, was not on the side. The bottom of the three stacked "cigars" did not have much sauce on it, so I opted to just scrape off the minimal sauce instead of bringing it up to my server. The water served at the table was warm, not even a tad chilled, and the air-conditioning was either not on or not set at a comfortable temp. The textured water bottles served at the table are shaped much like wine bottles, so I wonder how well they are sanitized due to something else I witnessed. I watched a table being cleared. The table setup in the restaurant is they have appetizer plates already set up in the middle with napkin-wrapped silverware on top of them before patrons are seated. The person clearing the table left the unused small appetizer plates left there from the last guests. When the table was sprayed and wiped down, the guy held the plates in one hand and wiped the table down with a rag with the other hand. I feel it is very unacceptable to leave unused dishes on the table when guests have already sat there with said plates at the table. They could have been touched or coughed or sneezed on. This was so gross, which made me really get the ick from the fact I'd drank from their "wine bottle sized" water vessel. I doubt they care much about sanitation, given how they "reuse" the appetizer plates.

    The Sophia Loren ($16), a burger with fresh mozzarella, pesto, tomato, basil and balsamic glaze
    Eric S.

    NAPERVILLE STATE OF MIND Serving extraordinary burgers with an all-seasons top floor, Empire stands tall. Downtown Naperville is packed with all manner of places worthy of your Instagram feed, but I find myself drawn to Empire for a number of reasons. In addition to top notch food, the vibes at this restaurant along the river between Main St and Washington keep me coming back. Their cocktails always satisfy, especially their mules & mojitos. Try the root beer old fashioned! Draft list is big, they always have plenty of nice options on tap including local area brews. For apps, we love the poutine ($10): fries with cheese curds, gravy, bacon, and sour cream. Their burgers are 1/2 lb and come with a wide variety of toppings. The signature Empire burger ($16) has a 50/50 bacon patty, sunny side egg, cream cheese, spring mix, and maple bourbon syrup on a pretzel bun. It sounds chaotic, but don't knock it until you've tried it.....it's amazing! Last visit I ordered the Sophia Loren ($16), a burger with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, artichoke pesto, and balsamic glaze. It was tasty, though not the best choice here. I loved the patty melt ($16) with grilled onions, jalapenos and chipotle mayo on Texas toast. Their house chips are dusted with a unique sugar-salt seasoning. The Key West ($15) might be the best turkey burger in existence with chili garlic aioli, a pineapple ring and maple glaze. The Yardbird ($15) is another solid pick, a fried chicken sandwich with bourbon-tomato jam (!) and dill salsa. Crispy fish tacos (3 for $16) come with cilantro, avocado, radish slaw and jalapeno crema; those too, are aces. Bread = 5 Circuses = 4.5 Empire's fried doughnuts ($11) are legendary. These irresistible bites are rolled in cinnamon sugar and served warm along with crème anglaise dipping sauce. I'd say they're as good as, if not better than, the doughnuts at Next Whiskey Bar in Plainfield. In case all of that wasn't reason enough, Empire has the only retractable roof deck in the Chicago suburbs. I prefer the top floor because the ambiance is much more open and airy than the darker (and trendier) first floor. Also, they've got trivia on Monday nights. Last time my wife and I won 1st place and got $30 off our bill! * TL;DR * Across several visits I've come to expect delicious food and great vibes at this downtown Naperville restaurant. Service has rarely faltered and being able to enjoy the rooftop bar year-round is incredible (I've sat up there in the dead of winter, and although it's not shorts-and-T-shirt warm, the heaters go a long way towards comfort). Doughnuts are probably the best thing here, a must-order. Whether for a quick drink or long meal, Empire is very much worth your time. P.S. look for the quirky spiraling 'staircase to nowhere' inside! Call it an oddity or architectural easter egg, but every time I'm here I take a moment to appreciate its delightful weirdness.

    Ellen
    Ayad F.

    We were walking around Naperville and the weather was nice so we decided to visit this restaurant with a nice rooftop view. Tasty food. Great selections of drinks. Amazing service. Well maintained. I Strongly recommend visiting Naperville and trying out Empire.

    Soudary K.

    This bar and restaurant is located in downtown Naperville. I'm here on a business trip and this is where our group had dinner. If I live here, this would be the type of place that I would frequent. Our private dining area was upstairs with outside the patio over overlooking the river. They also had a full bar upstairs. We were treated to appetizers and drinks. Downstairs they had live music starting at 9pm. Staffs was attentive and made sure our drink orders were filled and appetizers kept coming out. Some of our group left after dinner but a few of us stayed till the very end. It was a fun time for all.

    Luigina L.

    A few gluten free options. Only fries and the caprese salad for vegetarian gluten free. But it was yummy. Had an old fashioned, it was ok. Was really loud so me and my friends had to yell to hear each other.

    Bar area - nice floor spacing.
    Brian P.

    My buddy and I met up to watch sports, have drinks, and share some burgers. Overall, we had a great experience and I absolutely plan to revisit this organization when I'm in the area. The burgers were FANTASTICALLY juicy. The fries were a bit plainer than I thought they would be, but not a turnoff. The prices are actually pretty reasonable as well considering it's in downtown Naperville. The only two annoyances we had is one of the bartenders kept putting our whiskey in liqueur glasses. We sent at least 2 drinks back. And the other thing was they don't have the FULL sport packages for the tvs in the sports bar (we were advised only local sports). No nba package. No nfl season pass. So they were unable to tune into the Celtics game - which was the very reason we went there. Sports bars should have sports tv packages.

    Jodi K.

    Had an amazing lunch at Empire. We sat in the inclosed atrium which was super cool. I live about 45 min from Naperville but I had some shopping to do and it was recommended by some friends. We had the Poutine and Burger Cigars for an app. We should have stopped there because they were sooo filling. Then my niece and I split the Chicken Sandwich special (Romaine Empire) which was perfect!!!! Our waiter was awesome and friendly! The manager stopped by to ask how everything was. Highly recommend!

    Ishani B.

    Spacious restaurant to go with a group to celebrate a special event. They have live performances and outdoor seating as well. The beer is sourced from across IL and keeps changing keeping the place interesting and the burgers never disappoint. To add to this if you are celebrating a special event then they give a bag of hot donuts!! Staff are knowledgeable and have good suggestions

    October BOM "The Fall Guy"
    Stephen B.

    Had a business lunch on Friday with one other person. I wish I remembered our server's name. She was the bartender covering the floor and was fantastic. She knew the menu inside and out and offered great recommendations. I went with the October BOM, "The Fall Guy," cooked to perfection and paired it with a Big Muddy Pumpkin Smasher. My colleague had the crispy fish tacos, which he orders every time. Great atmosphere for any occasion.

    Southwest salad

    See all

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bill M.
    2282
    1972
    4444

    2 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric S.
    2222
    1316
    4204

    1 year ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ayad F.
    268
    558
    1272

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luigina L.
    2
    238
    269

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jodi K.
    1
    105
    21

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Missi G.
    0
    149
    32

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Liz C.
    243
    10
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma
    0
    12
    9

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam B.
    746
    1223
    487

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of M M.
    0
    127
    41

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 24

    Empire Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Empire

    Is there a brunch menu?

    No brunch options. Not even specials on mimosas .

    Are dogs allowed in the outside dining area?

    Yes, our dog was with us when we ate there, and there was a dog at the table next to us.

    I want to go on a date for my anniversary with my fiancé but I have never been here and I would definitely love to go around 7:30/8 but is it busy at that time and how long is the wait for the patio?

    Typical burger joint 2 levels outside it get busy , but anniversary seems special to me , go to santo cielo , down the street , it's beautiful and made for a special occasion. Hope that helps cheers !

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Empire

    We saw an order of Burger Cigars go by and next time we come back, we are definitely ordering those, as well.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Two-Nine

    Two-Nine

    2.4
    (59 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Closed in, claustrophobic, and no room to move around in or even dance as your shoulder-to-shoulder…read morewith so many people trying to squeeze through or lounge around. This happens very often on weekends that it almost feels like a potential hazard waiting to happen.

    I went to club Two-Nine with friends on Friday, February 17 and will NEVER step foot in there…read moreagain. The bartender (I didn't catch his name, but had brown hair and facial hair was incredibly rude and disrespectful. I was waiting patiently to be served - not saying a word - and finally he came by me and raised his voice to me in a disrespectful tone saying that he is not serving me because he came by me twice and I wasn't paying attention. So, I waved to the other bartender who was female and she politely served me. I also found out that same male bartender kicked out two other friends of my friend I was with for no reason. Plus, when I reconciled my receipts the next day, I discovered that in my "not paying attention," they handed me two other receipts to sign which totaled about $80.00. (At the time, I thought maybe they were just helping each other out with ringing my order up) There's NO way I ordered that much, because it was SO crowded, I couldn't get served more than once, so that's why we left. So, basically I was robbed $80.00, because I wasn't "paying attention." Both receipts say "Potter's Place," even though we were upstairs at Two-Nine, and that's what it says on my credit card statement. Potter's Place was closed downstairs. I have one receipt that makes sense to what I normally order that says "Two-Nine". So on my credit card statement, I have one charge that says "Two-Nine," then two that say "Potter's Place." They scammed me. NEVER again.

    Photos
    Two-Nine
    Two-Nine
    Two-Nine

    See all

    Jackson Ave Pub

    Jackson Ave Pub

    4.4
    (520 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Most places had a long wait time for a Saturday, and this one didn't, which was a nice surprise. We…read moredid wait a little to get helped at first and the host wasn't around, but once we were seated things picked up. For drinks, I tried the lychee mojito -- it was strong but had really good flavor and was enjoyable. For an appetizer, we got the pretzels. They had a nice garlic seasoning on them and were pretty filling. These were good. For mains, we ordered the Hangover Burger, tenders, and the Bulleit Bourbon Burger. Everything was really delicious. My fries just needed a tad bit of salt, but the burger itself was cooked well (I asked for medium). The flavors were good, and the honey running down actually worked well with everything. Our waiter was also really good and provided solid service. Overall, a great experience -- will be back.

    Good bar food! Burgers were hearty and flavorful. When the burger was served, I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the sheer size of the burger. They were massive! Fries were as expected, nothing special. The Spicy Tater Tot appetizer was great. Not Terribly spicy, but had a nice heat and kick to them. Seating was limited. There were only a few tables available that could accommodate more than 4 people. The staff were friendly, helpful and attentive.

    Photos
    From my seat behind the bar. It's a low top table
    From my seat behind the bar. It's a low top table
    Jackson Avenue Pub Naperville, IL. Best Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, sides, appetizers, craft beer, cocktails, margaritas, wine
    Jackson Avenue Pub Naperville, IL. Best Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, sides, appetizers, craft beer, cocktails, margaritas, wine
    Jackson Avenue Pub Naperville, IL. Best Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, sides, appetizers, craft beer, cocktails, margaritas, wine

    See all

    Jackson Avenue Pub Naperville, IL. Best Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, sides, appetizers, craft beer, cocktails, margaritas, wine
    Altavida

    Altavida

    3.4
    (13 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Altavida is a new addition to the downtown Naperville area as they have only been open for 3 weeks…read more It has taken over The Craftsman building which offers three floors. Altavida's concepts for the three levels are Publico, Rumba, and Altura. Publico (1st Flr)- A South American fusion of food and drinks that will be rotating. The cocktails will be more tequila and mezcal based and food will be subtly rotated based on trends happening in South America. The food menu currently offers tapas, empanadas, ceviche, guacamoles, larger format meat/seafood entrees, and more. They will have a front of our bar as well as a back bar that will specialize in more coffees/coffee cocktails. Rumba (2nd Flr)- The entertainment floor! There is a separate bar on this floor that will specialize in more Rum based cocktails. Additionally, they will have a wine bar area with wines in tap. Lastly, they will have an open area for live music as well as dancing. Their hope is to have a mix of jazz, club music, salsa dancing options available. Altura (3rd Flr)- This floor is still under construction but will have a rooftop patio. The hope is that this space will be an event space both for public and private events. Back to my experience! My partner and I stopped in for a cocktail and to see what Altavida was about. Our first bartender was very nice but was still getting used to the drink recipes and was leaning on their cheat sheets. While we waited, another bartender kindly told us all about the restaurant and its focus on hospitality. Unfortunately, each bartender had a slightly different explanation of the restaurant's goal concepts which was confusing. We ended up ordering the El Toro and Vaquero (both mezcal drinks). Both were VERY spirit forward to the point that it may have needed better balance. Both drinks had a nice presentation with garnishes, color, and a skull feature at the bottom of the glass. Lastly, we saw many people walk up and look confused as there was no formal host stand. They didn't know if they should seat themselves or wait for someone. Overall, there still seems to be some kinks needing to be worked out as well as some conceptual editing. I feel they are trying to achieve too much and it ends up being confusing for staff and guests. I hope with time, Altavida is extremely successful in the Naperville area and I hope to circle back after some time passes.

    This place is a wonderful addition to DT Naperville! I was able to get a last minute dinner…read morereservation on a Friday night. I arrived at 6:30 and there were plenty of people already in the restaurant, but I was seated promptly. My server Richard came over to greet me right away. He went over the menu options and gave great recommendations. We put our order in pretty quickly because we've been to tapas restaurants before. I loved the modern decor and lively music being played. The place is truly colorful and has a very energetic vibe. The service was excellent. Everyone was extremely kind and happy to help. Edwin, the general manager was so friendly and accommodating by making sure that everything was to our liking. He is a gem. My husband and I ordered a few different tapas to share. We started with the empanadas and they were truly 10/10, highly recommend! We had the beef and chicken with the chimichurri sauce. We also tried the papas bravas and those were delicious as well. They are spicy and have a nice kick. The portion is pretty big and shareable. Last, we had chicken en mole. Omg, so good! They knocked it out of the park with this one. The presentation is very pleasing and the flavor is 10/10! I'm a hot sauce girly and even carry it in my bag just in case. The sauce they had in the dish was so good that I didn't even think about adding hot sauce! The rice and chicken along with the sauce is chef's kiss. I also tried the Brussels sprouts but they were my least favorite of everything. They should go back to the drawing board on that one. The drinks we had were solid. My husband had an espresso martini and dragonfruit margarita, while I had a mango margarita. All were good. Needless to say, I had an amazing evening at Altavida! The dancing on the second floor was also very fun and entertaining. I will definitely be a regular here!

    Photos
    Altavida
    Altavida
    Altavida

    See all

    Santo Cielo

    Santo Cielo

    4.0
    (356 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Let me start by saying this is the best dining experience in 2026 for me so far. Our attendant,…read moreMaria, was fantastic. She was very attentive and recommended some really good dishes. The venue was very nice at the top of a hotel with a very nice view of Naperville and the Riverwalk. Let's start with my favorite dishes. The mahi mahi ceviche, braised beef, and octopus dish was fantastic. The braised beef was cooked perfectly, ceviche was popping with flavor and the octopus was very fresh. We did get the skirt steak and branzino. The skirt steak was a little bit overcooked to my liking. The Branzino was perfectly cooked and crispy but the portion was small.. But the best thing was that dessert. We had some type of pudding cake that was soaked in eggnog with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it. It was fantastic. Best dessert in a long time. Definitely will be hitting this place up again

    Had dinner at Santa Cielo in Naperville and honestly it blew us away…read more We ordered the empanadas, shrimp tacos, hanger steak, pork shank, and a few cocktails and every single thing that came to the table was incredible. Not one miss. The empanadas were perfectly crisp and packed with flavor, the shrimp tacos were fresh and balanced, the hanger steak was cooked exactly right, and the pork shank was fall-apart tender and easily one of the best dishes we've had in a long time. The cocktails were just as good as the food, which says a lot. You can tell there's real attention to detail across the whole menu. On top of that, the space itself is beautiful. Really unique interior, great atmosphere, and an awesome view right over the river that makes the whole experience feel even more special. It's rare to go somewhere where the food, drinks, and atmosphere all hit this level. Santa Cielo absolutely delivered. One of the best dining experiences we've had in the suburbs and we'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Arroz con queso
    Arroz con queso
    Santo Cielo

    See all

    Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

    Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

    3.8
    (735 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Hugo's is an upscale seafood restaurant with an impressive selection of seafood dishes. I…read moreespecially appreciated the variety of options on the menu FOOD: We started with a dozen oysters, frog legs, crabmeat avocado, and escargot. Every appetizer was delicious. It was my first time trying frog legs, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them. They were served in a flavorful lemon butter sauce and tasted very similar to chicken. For my entrée, I ordered the swordfish special. It was fresh, flavorful, and not fishy at all. The fish was incredibly tender and cut like butter. My only complaint was that the portion size was a little small. For dessert, we ordered the crème brûlée, muddy bottom pie, and cheesecake. All three desserts were excellent, but the crème brûlée was the standout. The creamy custard paired perfectly with the crisp caramelized sugar topping. Overall, we had a great dining experience. The food was delicious, the service was attentive, and I would definitely return

    My husband and I visited this restaurant on a Friday night. The atmosphere was great when we walked…read morein. There was live music, which created a fun and lively vibe, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. However, the experience went downhill after we were seated. We waited almost 30mins before our server came to take our order. I understand that Friday nights can be busy, but guests should still be attended in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. Several of the mussels tasted spoiled, which was very disappointing!! The avocado in the crabmeat avocado appetizer was not fresh either (please see picture). There were shell fragments mixed in with the oysters. It honestly felt like they were not shucked properly in the kitchen. Finding shell pieces in oysters is not something I expect from a restaurant at this price point!! The one exception was the frog legs. They were incredibly tender, flavorful, and cooked beautifully with plenty of butter. That was definitely the highlight of the meal!! Overall, the atmosphere and live music were enjoyable, but the long wait, food quality issues, and high prices made this a disappointing dining experience.

    Photos
    Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
    With Shallots, Garlic, Jalepeno, Orange Juice, White Wine
    With Shallots, Garlic, Jalepeno, Orange Juice, White Wine
    Beer Battered Cod, Hand-Cut Fries, Tartar Sauce

    See all

    Beer Battered Cod, Hand-Cut Fries, Tartar Sauce
    Tapville Social - Naperville

    Tapville Social - Naperville

    3.6
    (459 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    The atmosphere was festive and upbeat. I went initially because I had a birthday coupon, but my…read morefriend and I were glad we went. Service was fast and friendly. Drinks were excellent, and we were very happily surprised with the quality of food. Actually went back a second time a week later! Try the drink flights!

    If you've been to Momento in the Chicago Loop, then you're familiar with the concept. I was…read moresurprised Tapville Social isn't owned by some large hospitality group, and is instead a locally-run, small-ish business. The drink concept is self-pour (except for cocktails). Beers, wines, and champagnes use an RFID card, and you pay by the ounce (or fraction thereof). The good news is you can try a bonafide sip of just about everything and anything without feeling bad. The bad news is that while the cost isn't high, if you're not careful, it adds up quickly. I truly did enjoy the variety, and especially loved that they have the special glassware, complete with bases, that you may pour yourself a flight. I also enjoyed seeing how everything was organized by category, so that you may find something more your speed rather than a recent brewery experience where I am looking for something that isn't an IPA. For food, I ordered the Brussels Sprouts. While not mind-blowing, these were above average. The sprouts were pretty well roasted (not quite perfect, but not bad), and I liked the sweet, savory, and acidic notes of the bacon, maple, cranberries, and balsamic. Everything was well-balanced and I happily cleared my plate. Next, especially for a place that is largely self-service, I want to recognize my server for being kind and attentive throughout the experience. In terms of value, I feel as though their prices are around average, given the area and the product, for I am sure the tech is not cheap! The vibe is something I can only describe as brewery-esque, with brick, metal, and wood. I am less concerned about the walls, though, what I do want to highlight is how clean everything was! With the amount of hands touching everything, this is no easy feat. Final verdict: Sometimes, especially on a warmer day, it's not about fancy whiskey or food, but about simple food and drink done well. Tapville Social is that place. There are more than enough beers that you're sure to find something you like, and solid food that you have something to wash down, and aren't drinking on an empty stomach.

    Photos
    Tapville Social - Naperville
    Coffee Flight
    Coffee Flight
    A freshly poured beer from our tapwall.

    See all

    A freshly poured beer from our tapwall.

    Empire - burgers - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...