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    Empress Tavern

    3.9 (661 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican
    Closed 5:30 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Empress Tavern Photos

    EMPRESS TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Very loud
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Empress Tavern

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    Birria
    Malikah H.

    Came here for dinner and drinks before the crest for their Tuesday movie and we can't wait to return. The food and drinks were two different things places inside of one. The drinks were through the tavern and strong. Cheap and strong is the perfect combo. The plus is you can bring the drinks to the movie if you get a plastic cup. I ordered the carnitas tacos, and Mr Man ordered 8 piece birria dumplings. Definitely order the bigger order if you know what's good for ya....The server was so sweet and brought over a veggie street taco and it was so good!!!! The service at the restaurant was phenomenal. 20/10 . The vibe and ambiance was amazing especially for a Tuesday random event. Can't wait to return for a "cheap" date with Mr Man or friends

    Etouffee
    Krupa T.

    The food was delicious! They had an event where the servers were in training and they did a good job. We were glad we knew about that before dinner and all the diners were patient. The location is very cute and has a great vibe.

    Jefe and I giving sample tastes to Kristen.
    Michelangelo S.

    ALIENS Pregaming Stop #2! SITREP So, we left our new favorite stop the Ten Ten Room, but still had 40 minutes to kill before ALIENS started (killing us! Ha!). So we popped into here, one of our OLD favorites! LE LIBATIONS Thank god for the classics! I immediately zoned in on one of my favorite bourbon drinks, the OLD FASHIONED. Our bartender made it perfectly balanced, with my favorite orange bitters and slice of mandarin. The best part though?..... TAKE YOUR FAVORITE ALCOHOL DRINK WITH YOU TO THE MOVIE! There was no way I would want/could finish my drink before the start of the movie. Luckily, however, Empress Tavern sits below The Crest Theatre and is part of the same company-ownership: so enter the simple courtesy that people can actually take their drinks from the Empress Tavern and go into The Crest Theatre through the shared inside door. The best part of this arrangement - in terms of drinks - is that The Crest Theater only sells Beer & Wine, and limited at that. They MAY have some sort of premixed concoction also available, but usually it's some overly sweet abomination mixed with ingredients and alcohol you don't want. So bringing the EXACT alcohol-beverage you like from the Empress Tavern with you is a huge plus of this arrangement. THE LOWDOWN Literally, the best place to pregame before going into the Crest Theater with your favorite drink!

    Jessica V.

    What a cute hidden gem in the heart of downtown Sacramento. The underground vibe of the space adds to the feeling of being somewhere else. While I didn't have any food, the drinks were spectacular and service was quick. I had the "Some Gourmet Shit" which was a delicious, coffee-based cocktail. I will definitely be back to try more.

    Rachel K.

    I'm so sad I didn't visit Empress Tavern sooner! We heard about it while attending a show at the Crest Theater, but didn't think it would be the right spot for us with so many local restaurants. We hear rumblings of their great fries and being able to bring drinks/snacks from there into the show. Well, on our most recent visit to the Crest Theater, for Bob's This is Wild Tour, we decided to give it a chance and my mind was blown. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! The brick work, the wallpaper, the lighting- SO COOL! How could I doubt it. We were immediately won over and mystified. BUT WAIT- The Menus are so cute!! They're formatted like scripts and had some very fun options. We made it in before the rush of theater attendees and ordered at the bar. I got the "No Redneck is this Creative" ($14) with Terroir gin, hibiscus infused white vermouth, and benedictine. I forget what my husband ordered, but he got one on menu and one "surprise me" drink from the bartender. We all enjoyed out drinks. We each ordered the Wolfman Burger ($18) as well. It came with fries on the side and was a simple yet SUPER flavorful burger with two smashed patties, cheese, lettuce, pickles and special sauce. I would order this again and again- it was so good. I definitely paused before getting it at an $18 price point, but I'm hungry just thinking about it. The reason I give it four stars instead of five is that they get VERY busy around showtime and the staff does an amazing job, but it does get loud and cramped. Also, their hours are weird. We heard they weren't supposed to be open the day we stopped in, but opened specifically for the show (and they were BUSY). I feel like the food and drinks should make this spot a must visit, even when they don't have shows and I'm not sure if their limited/changing hours may be holding them back or might be giving people FOMO. Regardless, I'll 1000% be back for more.

    Blanche M.

    Recently visited because we were going to watch a show at the crest theatre. We ordered a few drinks and a few things from their menu. We loved their Mac and cheese--super cheesy if that's what you're in to. The fried Brussels sprouts were good but not super crunchy. All in all, cool ambiance. Loved how it connects to Crest.

    Ariane M.

    Came here to grab a drink and a bite to eat before seeing Nurse John at the Crest theater. What a great place, love the atmosphere. Very nice and attentive employees. We ordered the Brussel sprouts, shishito peppers, and the Mac & cheese. The Mac & cheese was my favorite.

    Old fashioned
    Jason S.

    It's not the same since the covid and they sold the name to the theater upstairs. The menu is really limited and the cocktail menu isn't the same. The atmosphere is really cool still except the tv plays basic cable for some reason??? We went there once and don't see a reason to go back. If you're looking for a cool bar/tavern with an elevated cocktail menu go elsewhere. The service was good though so I give them props for that. The bartenders were friendly, attentive, and engaging.

    Margarita
    Trixie G.

    Swanky spot in f downtown Sacramento. The ambience is fantastic. It's an old theater that was transformed into a beautiful bar. The drinks were cool. Bartenders were really cool as well. Enjoyed the bartender choice Margarita really enjoyed the food. Try out the appetizers, pork fries, and brussels sprouts check out the spot really funky they didn't enjoy myself. Totally recommend this place. Come check it out.

    Love the pour on my wine
    KC C.

    Empress Tavern has always been one of my favorite spots to dine. This place has a full bar, serves up tasty cocktails and small bites like fried chicken and mac and cheese. It wasn't too busy on our Friday visit at 6 pm, and surprised there was no happy hour menu. Still not a problem, we drank and ate! You order at the bar and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The fried chicken was crispy outside, juicy inside season with honey butter coriander cardamom spice. The mac and cheese was good however I would have preferred it to be a little creamier and favored. I also ordered a glass of Sauvignon blanc and the bartender topped it off to the rim it was spilling- thank you! It's a good spot for a chill evening out.

    Delicious drink, bingo, menu, seasonal drink
    V. C.

    Fun place with delicious food & drinks, and nice people running things. The "new" Empress is casual and fun, like a sports bar vibe without the sports. The bartenders are down to earth and friendly, the cocktails are simple yet delicious and the food is like tasty elevated bar food. Tonight was bingo night which was a lot of fun. I recommend following their IG for the most up to date info rather than rely on their Google page and website because the info on google/website is out of date. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and I plan to return soon!

    Margarita
    Mandeep S.

    First time here last night, before a show at Crest theater. The drinks are strong. The bar attendants are friendly and nice. Great atmosphere. Just FYI to my vegan friends. I was told they no longer serve vegan burger. I was disappointed about that.

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    3 months ago

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    Business owner information

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    Sam G.

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    3 months ago

    Very cool atmosphere for a girls night out! The perfect place for a February book club meeting

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Loved the cocktails!! such a pretty venue, had a great time with the book club at this place!

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    3 months ago

    Live music was awesome!! Affordable food/drinks and great atmosphere. Parking is tricky but super cool space!

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    3 months ago

    Such a great place the service and atmosphere are great. The staff is really nice and friendly. The Definitely would come back.

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    2 years ago

    The drinks were fantastic and our bartender was amazing! It's also such a cute place with great wallpaper and an elegant vibe.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - Empress Tavern

    Reservations - needed or recommended?group of 6 to 10?

    Hi Seyda, Great question! We don't require reservations, as we are not open like a regular… Read more

    When will you reopen?

    This is a different restaurant run by different people. The only thing that remained the same is the name for some reason.

    When are you guys opening up again for dining In? I miss the awesome food and the awesome service.

    Never. This is a different restaurant run by completely different people.

    Where is the wheelchair entrance?

    I'm not entirely sure, but you may be able to enter from the theater next door. I hope this is helpful!

    Any "secret menu" vegetarian entrees? I'm only seeing the ricotta gnocchi on the published menu.

    They had fried brussel sprouts and a couple of salads.

    Weekend happy hour?

    No..3-6pm weekdays

    What time is Happy Hour?

    M-F 3-6pm https://www.empresstavern.com/

    Is there a dress code or an expectation to dress in a certain level of fanciness?

    No. It's very casual.

    Is this place kid friendly for dinner?

    It's a huge bar with an underground feel. Food is good, but pricey. I have not seen children present when I've been there.

    Every time I seen this restaurant not sure how enter? Where is the entrance way to get into this Tavern Empress?

    Once you pass the Crest Theatre you'll see if there on your left. It can be a bit confusing. There's a couple of stairs down to a set of beautiful rounded off wooden doors and you take the stairs down to the right. Call them next time if you can't… Read more

    View All 14 Questions

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    Wife and I walked over to refuel after donating platelets this morning…read more Place is great with a wide variety of options to choose from. I got adventurous today, and ordered the Korean Fried Chicken, which eas served on white rice, with KimChi, Sliced Jalapeños, pickled cucumbers and shredded carrot, with 2 sunny side eggs. The chicken had a nice saucyness to it, that had a very slight heat to it. The breading was not over fried, chicken tender and juicy. All the veggies were fresh and packed full of flavor. Overall, the dish was a nice change of pace and quite delicious. My wife had the Prime Rib sandwich which came with au jus to dip, and fries. Her sandwich was tasty, nice proportions , but the au jus could have been richer. Service and ambiance is on point, with a vibrant bar area that has a wide variety of options from beer to mixed drnks and wine. Parking is available street side at meters, or in several lots or garages within short walking distance.

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