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I write all of my reviews for meat lovers, omnivores (most people are), vegans, vegetarians and Celiacs (as well as people who eat gluten-free for any number of reasons). I shall start off with the average meat-eating omnivore. Options galore!!! Burgers, fries and appetizers for everybody! Vegetarians are delighted here as well Moving on to vegans such as myself... they offer a delicious and I mean SCRUMPTIOUS veggie burger that I would carry out or eat at a patio table anytime! One star off for the stink of cooking animal flesh which killed my appetite and the meaty appearance of everyone's burgers did as well. The star off is also due to their inability to provide any information at all about their French fries and the cooking oil used Vegetarians and those on diets did great with their salads and appetizers Celiacs only fair a very weak okay for the gluten-free options We came here as a large work group, and the service was EXCELLENT Atmosphere was not suitable - we would not return as a group. With all of the customers we could not hear one another speak. Add to that their overly loud music. The place was just TOO LOUD Look I offer the fairest Yelp reviews in all of the Yelp Universe 5-star food, 5-star service and 1-star atmosphere/ambience Sad to not return and I enjoy dining out and would not go through the Empire ordeal again. If I were ill, I would have my husband carryout a 3 meal enormous veggie burger from here and appreciate the yummy option xx Shelby 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.
Empire has a great atmosphere, especially if you can grab a spot on the rooftop. I visited on a sunny day and really enjoyed the view overlooking the river. I ordered the "Jane," which is a pretty standard burger with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. It was good overall and cooked well, but it wasn't anything especially memorable or the best burger I've had. One thing that surprised me was how limited the menu was considering how large the restaurant is. I expected a bit more variety. Overall, Empire is worth visiting for the atmosphere and rooftop experience, but the food itself was solid rather than outstanding.
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
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
1 year ago
This was a wonderful rooftop experience. Beautiful sunny day and the staff were all friendly and helpful. I liked that the music wasn't too loud and it was fantastic music too. The star of the meal for me was the fried donuts and poutine fries with cheese curds. Burger wasn't anything to shout about but still delicious. We will definitely be back !! Parking is easy with the ample options all over downtown Naperville read more
The service here is pretty terrible and the food is just okay. We were put on a waitlist and sat at the bar while we waited for a table. The bartenders were not very attentive and one of them actually took a menu while I was looking at it and pointing something out to my sister, who was next to me, and gave it to the young girls sitting next to us. When we were seated we were given water and then did not see the server for a while. When she came back, we ordered drinks and empire tots. The tots came out, but we were not given plates or silverware to eat them with. Someone came out with plates, but we did not have anything else. We waited for a bit- the tots getting cold- but nobody came afterward. We eventually had to go ask one of the many staff members idly congregated in the corner for silverware and napkins; when we were given them we were told they did not have any knives. Soon after, our server came back and we asked for knives. Miraculously she found them almost immediately. We placed our orders. The food came out and it was good enough, but not great. I can't find a reason to return aside from the fact that they have a rooftop patio, which might be nice on a sunny day before you realize you'd still have to deal with mediocre service at both the bar and the restaurant tables. read more
Always enjoy coming to Empire. You definitely need to go upstairs. Great atmosphere and ambiance. Place was busy tonight so I don't blame our waiter for not being around. I didn't have anything to drink but had their fried donuts. A must-have if you visit. Came here with a group of 5 total. Plenty of seating and nearby bathrooms. read more
3 years ago
Sat outside on the upper deck and just loved the food and drinks here along with the views. Theres a river too that the deck overlooks so it's a cute place with burgers and drinks. At night this areas becomes more lively as there are multiple bars with music and dancing in the area so it'a fun for a night out in the suburbs. Definitely recommend trying out empires burgers read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
My friend picked this place to come out for Happy Hour after work. Located in Naperville downtown. Two-level rooftop with a great view. The food menu was very simple and basic. Our server Georgia was nice and friendly. I ordered the fish tacos and a side order of fries. The food was average. Great place to come and enjoy the atmosphere. Prices were reasonable. I was very pleased with the service. I enjoyed my first dining experience here at Empire. read more
Even on a chilly day this place was packed! It's definitely a place to be at with a group of friends. They have an upstairs and downstairs area. I got the empire burger which I was a bit skeptical about because it had cream cheese on it but to my surprise it was amazing! The only problem I had here was the GF bun, which I know usually falls apart but it got soggy and wasn't able to hold onto the burger, kind of ate it like a salad after! I would return to try some of their drinks though, I was unable to this time! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Not a bad place to grab a burger and a beer. Good location with fair prices for the area. Service was hit or miss guy was nice enough but didn't make adjustments to order and we had to flag him down to get refill of water and beer/cocktails. Also be warned .50 for a side of ranch. Pro tip get the chips instead of fries. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Not being much of a burger person, I've passed by Empire a million times, but never ventured in. But after picking a hungry friend up at the train station at 10pm, I was low on options that didn't include a drive-thru window. Thankfully, Empire was open. It was more crowded than I expected for 10pm on a Thurs. We went upstairs and were immediately seated though. Service was very friendly and very efficient. We had our food quickly. I ordered a Jane burger. They cooked my burger to medium as I requested and the pretzel bun was good. Fries were good. The burger itself was pretty bland though. If a burger is seasoned well, you don't need condiments. This burger needed condiments. It wasn't a bad meal by any means, but it could have at least used more salt. Coming from a person who doesn't even own a salt shaker. While I had water, he ordered a whiskey sour. As we were leaving, he told me that his drink was pretty strong and he was glad he only ordered one. I read a review that complained about weak drinks, but in his opinion, the drinks aren't weak. My young daughter was so offended that I took him to a burger place without her. She made me promise her that I'd take her here soon as well. I can do that. I'd eat here again. read more
3 years ago
Food was 6/10, their caliente burger was one of the better ones I have tried- had lots of sauce. Was a little busier due to the holidays. Ambiance is nice, usually why I come here in the first place. Nice place to grab a drink read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Empire is your basic bar. Burgers, beers and bourbons. The covered roof deck is always a favorite spot because it's right on the Naper Walk. There's absolutely nothing that stands out about this place. The servers are fine. The burgers are fine. The music is fine. It's a completely forgettable bar... with good views. read more
4 years ago
Almost that time of year to get some refreshing drinks with friends! Had a blast on the rooftop of @empireburgerbar in Chi-Town! They had a great selection of beers in addition to cocktails, and also bites and sandwiches. For our cocktails, we ordered the Strawberry Mo-Tito, Tres Agaves Margarita, Painkiller, and Whiskey Sour - all were delicious and refreshing! One other tip is to make sure to make a reservation in advance if you don't want to sit at the bar, but otherwise it was a great time!! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
This place seems really popular. And it has a cool atmosphere. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the drinks or food. I tried both a Moscow mule and one of their cocktails- Bikini Bottom - and they both had the same weird aftertaste. I also tried The Ellen, which the first couple bits were fine but then it got really soggy - maybe from the cheese or something else? But I'd still be up to trying something new as the atmosphere is nice and their fries are good. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
WONDERFUL food and experience. The rooftop restaurant was awesome and the food was exceptional. 10/10 if you are looking for a burger!!! read more
Empire teases a pleasant, cozy, and somewhat boujee atmosphere. The ambiance is wonderful. The food however, is subpar at best. The burgers were flat and the condiments were sparce. We ordered old fashions and they were very sugary and weak yet expensive. I recommend this place for a drink and the pleasant vibe, but not for an exceptional dining experience. read more
2 years ago
Elevated bar food with delicious drinks. Cool spot to meet up after work with the perfect location along the river. read more
4 years ago
We came here as a group of 5 on a weekday for lunch. The vibe does not disappoint! Great open space with plentiful indoor and outdoor rooftop seating. A gem of a location. At Empire, the appetizers truly stand out. We devoured the Empire Tots, which are taters with bacon and cheese, in a remoulade sauce and topped with a fried egg. So delicious! The burgers are ok for the price point, with several options for the curious. "The Cartel" is a 50/50 Chorizo/Beef burger that picks up the spice. Other burgers fall short, such as "The Ellen", which is the vegan option with pre-made avocado spread. Overall a fun place to stop in for people watching, a relaxed environment, and satisfying appetizers! read more
Modern and unique setting. We were greeted immediately and given the start treatment right away. Food and beer menu were great. Our table really moved around the menu and all four of us were happy with our choices. Louie took good care of us and even helped us decide!! He was quick to check in on us and very genuine. What we ordered...... APPE: Tots MEALS: Fish tacos. Bbq beef brisket. Big Dipper burger Pork belly BLT DESSERT Fried donuts. Everything was delicious. Very great way to spend a meal with my sisters and my mom! We. Are very happy with our choice and would come again!! read more
2 years ago
Been coming to Empire for years, and it's always a great spot. Love being on the rooftop in the summer, came during a weekday afternoon with no wait and was able to get a table in the shade for hours. Great meal and drinks and love being downtown! read more
4 years ago
So this place looked so cute online and had good reviews..LIES‼ THE BURGER WAS INEDIBLE. It was extremely salty and the meat had a waxy consistency. Biting into it my friend and I both were disgusted. There's a saying "whenever you go to a restaurant order a burger because you can never mess up a burger," WELL EMPIRE CERTAINLY DID. The restaurant may look cool which is why I gave it one star however, the food was so foul I never want to dine there again. For being a $14 burger i should've skipped this place and gotten a Big Mac instead. Thought about throwing the burger into the river but I didn't want to disrupt the ecosystem with whatever poison was in it. Also I asked for a medium burger and it was beyond well done. No pink whatsoever. Bye. read more
I was told about Empire from a friend and I always love a good burger. Got in for a late lunch and grabbed a seat at the bar. I had the GOAT burger and really liked it. My only criticism was the pretzel bun. it didn't break the meal but I prefer a regular bun, but hey try everything. Food was good Service on the other hand was off. There wasn't a lot going on so maybe that was the reason but hey it was an experience. I wish that I would have taken advantage of the rooftop, but next time. Overall a good experience and may repeat when I am back in the area. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Good food and drink menu! I'll be back in the summer since they have a rooftop bar overlooking the river. Perfect spot for live music or to enjoy the summer breeze. Great alcohol list. I was really impressed with the cider I had (Shacksberry Sugar Shack is my new fav) read more
1 year ago
I can with family on a weekday so there was no wait and the food came out very quick. our waitress was attentive and friendly, and talked to us about the drink menu. I got the strawberry moj tito which was good but I felt it didn't have enough strawberry. I got the beyond vegan burger which was amazing and very filling. the Guacamole is fresh and a great addition to the burger. The fries, I feel plays a big role in whether or not I like a burger place. and these fries were perfect not too thin or thick with just enough potato. We finished the meal with the fried cheesecake which was absolutely delicious and a must get if you're eating here! (p.s my non vegetarian family rlly enjoyed their burgers too) read more
4 years ago
Came here to watch some football. Was warm out so sat on the rooftop with the roof open. Was one of the last times potentially this year. Ate the poutine fries. Very good! Also got the House of the Dragon drink. Nice smokey drink, delish. Highly recommend for those fans of smokey drinks like me! Service at the bar was great! read more
4 years ago
1 year ago
We checked this place out for a late night dinner. It was kind of confusing on where we were suppose to wait until our party was called. They told us to wait at the bar up stairs but it was extremely crowded and no where to stand. Some of the employees were talking to each other about how we were just in the way. It made us really like we were an inconvenience to them and it was rude. Finally someone helped us out as it was our first time there. A serve offered to get us a drink while we waited. We were seated before we could order anything. Our waiter ended up being the nice waiter who offered to get us a drink as the bar was so crowded. They have a nice rooftop patio and a fun atmosphere but it was just too packed. Once seated we ordered drinks and food all which were okay. The service was extremely slow and it was hard for us to get the check. We just sat there with empty plates for about 10-15 minutes before our waiter came over with the check. Overall, it was an okay experience. It is a fun place to go get a drink and maybe an appetizer but not worth the wait for the actual food. 3.5/5 stars read more
2 years ago
More info about Empire
48 W Chicago Ave
Naperville, IL 60540
Directions
(630) 355-9000
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http://www.empireburgerbar.com
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Ask the Community - Empire
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 !
Review Highlights - Empire
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