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    Empire

    3.3 (940 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

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    EMPIRE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Empire

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    Food Menu - Menu from Empire restaurant in Naperville, IL, displaying sections for bites, sandwiches, greens, burgers, and sweets. Items include Empire Tots, Gronk Burger, The Empire burger, and fried donuts. The menu emphasizes ingredients and options such as certified Angus beef, gluten-free buns, and various toppings. The design is simple with clear categories and item descriptions, including prices and dietary notes.
    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 - A meal on a metal tray includes a burger with a pretzel bun, lettuce, cheese, and a beef patty, with a small container of ketchup. French fries are served in a bowl next to the burger, with ketchup in a small cup. A glass of beer and a glass of water are also visible on the table, which is made of dark wood, indicating an outdoor dining environment.
    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. - The photo depicts the interior of a bar or restaurant with a central curved counter, surrounded by bar stools. Hanging pendant lights illuminate the space, and two large TV screens display a scene with the label 'Ramy Brook.' Patrons are seated at tables and the bar, with some standing and walking in the background. The decor includes wooden paneling and shelves with bottles, creating a cozy yet lively atmosphere.
    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" - A detailed close-up of a gourmet burger featuring a beef patty topped with melted cheese, diced vegetables including corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers, and a shiny, toasted bun. The burger is presented on a metal tray, with a blurred background suggesting an outdoor dining setting.
    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.

    Two men wearing black Empire-branded shirts stand close together in a bar or restaurant with a dark, industrial-style interior. Behind them, a bar counter with bottles and two TV screens showing sports are visible. The table in front has glasses, a water pitcher, and a black bag. The setting appears lively with dim lighting and a festive atmosphere.

    Adrian, Julia and Ryguy are the best bartenders and managers here at Empire. They satisfied our Friday night and GNO to start off 2026! Looking for fun? they'll make sure you have a good time!

    Southwest salad

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    1 year ago

    Best burger I've ever had. Goat cheese, bacon... delicious. And the outdoor seating was a hit. Great beer options, too, with quick service.

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    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

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    Asadoras, though small , is easy to find in a strip mall, with ample parking. It was a long drive…read morefor me, but I love burgers, and this place has been in my "pending file" for quite awhile. The friendly daughter of this family owned business explained some of their top burgers to me and I went with the El Che burger, with cheddar and bacon sidewinder fries, and the delicious cucumber lemonade. Everything was delicious. So many choices - I'll be back again.

    Empire - burgers - Updated May 2026

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