I like the feel and vibe I get from this place. I guess it's because it reminds a little bit of my hometown area in the San Francisco bay area. I've only been here twice because well it's a drive for me to try to come out more than once a week I would say, especially with gas prices these days. Each time that I've gone, I've been lucky as far as the lunch time crowd is concerned. I usually get whatever the special is and haven't been disappointed. Their salads are delicious. They put just the right amount of dressing that it doesn't destroy the flavors of the lettuce and the other ingredients they put on it. In this case it was turkey, avocado, pecans, portabello mushrooms, gorgonzola and tomatoes. Doesn't it just sound good! The soups and sandwiches are also good...I had a chance to steal a bite from my boyfriend's plate when he went to get more water. To top the meal off, I ordered one of their coffee drinks...Milky Way...it tastes just like a Milky Way and their coffee is good! Yummy!!! read more

I absolutely love this place. The food is delicious and the atmosphere always has a good vibe. My only ask would be that they consider having a couple of vegan dessert options. It's like torture walking down the line and seeing all the mouth watering cakes and cookies. I hope you guys will read this and consider adding some vegan friendly items to our tasty line of desserts. Thank you! :) read more

This place marks the development of me and my boyfriend's relationship. Let me take you back to Summer of 2009. My, now, boyfriend took me here on our first "date". I'm an easy girl to please, delicious food and a cozy atmosphere trumps a fancy, rigid restaurant. You make my belly happy you make me happy. I giggled inside as he pulled out my chair and I admired his chivalry. I don't really remember much about what I ate. Perhaps it was the transfer of my feelings of admiration I had for my date to my food. I ate away happily while gazing into his eyes, not paying a bit of attention to what I was eating. At the end of our meal, he walked me out of the restaurant sending jolts into my fingers and butterflies in my stomach as he tried to hold my hand. Fast forward to November 2010 and our second visit to Empire Cafe. The boyfriend orders his food, a chicken dish, and some water. I ordered a Salmon Risotto and we plan on how we are going to split the dishes. He pays for it and sits down immediately minding me to my own chair. The food comes and we eagerly stick our utensils into each other's plate to get a taste. We gaze lovingly at our own dish and enjoy all the flavors. I had a bellini which was slushie like but very tasty. The salmon had a fishy taste to it and the risotto was very rich. At the conclusion of our meal we walk out with his arm around my shoulders as he lets out a handsome burp and my only thought is "thank god it wasn't a fart". ahh, relationships. read more

I really like their set up with indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of food choices. I like the shrimp pasta and their pizzas. Always good.

Went there on saturday for breakfast. The service was terrible. I ordered toast with my breakfast and got it towards the very end when I was almost done. I didnt like the outdoor sitting arrangement. We went around 11:00AM , it was real busy and was hard to find a table. read more

This place is right around the corner from our house and in the middle of the coffee-house row on Montrose. During the summer, it is a great place to sit on the patio and watch people strolling down the street. In the winter, the inside is equally as cozy. The food here has never really disappointed. It has been consistently good. I had enjoyed the pastas, the sandwiches and the "Around the World Dips', which are delicious - especially the black bean dip. I love their pita - it is slightly crispy, but not crunchy - perfect for swiping dip up rather than just dipping. Parking might be a challenge during peak times, but we have also been able to find a spot in the back of the building. Then again, we rarely go anywhere during the peak hours, so plan accordingly - because parking in this area can be tricky. read more

I love this place for brunch on the weekends. The San Antonio Breakfast wrap is my go to choice, but when I am feeling a little crazy, I like to order the Italian toast. It can get quite busy, so it is a little better to go on off hours. Every once in a while I will pop in for lunch or dinner. My usual is the Nutty Chicken Pizza with wheat crust, or something off of the specials. They also have great salads, but I find their panini's a little too bready. Oh and I can't forget about cake! The toll house crunch is my favorite! My favorite part about this place is the laid back atmosphere...it is great for people watching, from the after church crowd, to the indie scenesters, to students studying, to random dudes making clay action figures. It's a very fun and inviting place. PS. Have you ever noticed that many of the paintings on the wall of pin-up women look more like drag queens? I guess it adds to the ambience! read more

We were driving around the area for some shopping on a Sunday, around brunch time. After consulting yelp on my iPhone and seeing some good reviews, we popped into Empire Cafe. The place was BUSY, usually a good sign. 4 STARS? OK, my frittata was acceptable though I couldn't figure out how it really differed from an omelet. Service was OK. The salad COULD have been good, but when its served on a hot plate its suddenly the worst salad ever because its now warm. Pan fried potatoes, as good as they looked, were rock hard, well at least some of them were. And the fruit I...I think that in order to soften up the rock hard non ripened fruit they took it to the back and beat the snot out of it. Then we were left with half hard, half bruised fruit that came in 3 different color choices. I had a very hard time not skewering it with my fork and taking it to the lady to ask them if this was really what they serve people. How disappointing. I was hoping for an Austin like experience... close, but Houston is no Austin. read more

Empire cafe was worth my drive to the mobtrose area. Easy Parking,clean atmosphere and most of all good food. The line was long for ordering food. However, the cashiers kept the line moving fast. I ordered the Italian toast (French toast) the edges (crust) was a little tough or over cooked but the middle of the toast was delicious, especially with the fresh fruit on top. I also ordered, red skin potatoes and turkey sausage patties, both were delicious. I gave empire cafe 4 stars because limited seating inside, (every table was taken) I had to sit outside (in 100 degree weather) which made me eat my food in a hurry so I can make it to some AC lol. read more

Empire Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Houston, Texas

"Back in the day when I was young I'm not a kid any more But some days I sit and wish they had good food again..." I have to say that Empire Cafe has taken a slow tumble down to "Meh" status in my book. I used to frequent Empire on the weekends for a great latte and breakfast/brunch. We turned on many a friend and family to this neighborhood gem. When we started getting feedback such as, "Are you sure this is the place you were talking about?" and "It's really not all that great" we had to go back and see why. After my last visit to this cafe, I have to admit the Empire is falling! They used to have a policy of not saving tables unless you have ordered and it was strictly enforced. That was not the case when we went there. I'm sorry, folks but it sucks to wait in line for 20 minutes, place your order, and then not be able to find somewhere to sit because Joe Schmo is saving seats for his posse that JUST got in line. And when the waiters say, "just wait for the next table," I can't help but be pissed! Now on to the food. Empire used to have very fresh fruit and all the accompanying sides were tasty. I normally got their Eggs Benedict Florentine with the side of fruit and cheddar hash brown potatoes. I got the same dish this last visit. The eggs benedict were good at first until I started to get the slightest hint on vinegar from the poached eggs. I don't know about you, but that is NOT appetizing! My side of fruit was not ripe and the hash was like eating cardboard! I threw some to a nearby bird and the damn bird wouldn't even eat it! Yuck! Thinking I was being too harsh, I looked over at my hubby. After seeing his dejected face, I asked what was wrong and apparently his omelette order was all wrong. By this point we were so aggravated that we didn't bother trying to have them fix it. But despite all this, I have to still give them props for speedy coffee prep and great lattes. Can I get an AMEN for my Almond Joy salvation? read more

On a beautiful day, there are few things better than perambulating Lower Westheimer and popping into the various shops and cafes. Empire Cafe has a huge patio facing the street, which is a big draw on such days, and although they have ample seating inside, they have a sign up exhorting patrons not to save seats outside before ordering, because that's what everyone's after. You'll line up inside to place your order at the register, where you're given a number flag, and your food will come out fairly quickly. This line is strategic, since you'll have to file past their tempting display case of decadent cakes. I was recently here with a few friends to enjoy the patio. It was late in the morning, but I was still hankering for breakfast. They have a good number of options for petit dejeuner, from classic eggs benedict to gussied up breakfast tacos. I've recently been addicted to feta cheese in the morning, as the sharp flavor wakes me up almost as well as coffee, which, incidentally, Empire Cafe also does well. So I elected to build my own omelette, and with my 5 choices approximated a Greek version: feta, ham, crimini mushrooms, spinach, and fresh tomato. The omelette was good, but I was a bit disappointed by the virtually non-existent feta. Hopefully it was just an oversight and not endemic. My companions opted for more lunch appropriate dishes, like the excellent thin crust pizza or rich pastas. I was ravenous on this particular day, and was able to help polish off the crispy, savory, yet subtle margherita pizza. When you need a break on a beautiful day, Empire Cafe damns the man and saves you a seat. read more

I went here based on a recommendation by a local while visiting Houston. The food was much better than I had expected, since it looks more like a coffee shop than a restaurant. I had the soup and salad special and a cup of tea (which comes with cookies) for under $10. The soup was ok, but the salad was surprisingly good. It included avocados, walnuts, mushrooms and some other tasty goodies that I can't remember. It was also very filling. The atmosphere in the evening seems kind of hip and fun, and the staff was very nice. Ordering was a little confusing. We ordered off of the daily specials menu and then later realized that someone else was looking at a more complete paper menu. Oh well, I was happy with what I had ordered. This place is a little loud with music, conversations, and tables close to one another. But I would probably come back here again and save room for dessert next time! read more

Came here for brunch with a group of friends on a rainy, cold day. The rainy day might have helped with the long lines everyone talks about and claiming a table for 8+ people. The atmosphere has a nice coffee house vibe and I can easily see it as being a great place to meet up friends for coffee. I ended up ordering the eggs benedict a la florentine & a milky way (espresso with caramel, hazelnut & chocolate syrup and cream). The eggs benedict was good, but not the best I've had. It wasn't anything special and didn't give me a wow factor. I also was not a fan of the milky way. The drink was too sweet for my taste. Overall this place has a nice atmosphere, but I wasn't impressed with the food. Definitely yummier brunch places in the Houston area I would visit over Empire Cafe. read more

One of my favorite cafes in Houston. The staff is always super nice, the ambience is warm and inviting, the decor is slightly unconventional, the neighborhood is cute, and you pay before you eat (I hate waiting for checks). I only eat the pastas here, and I pretty much always order the daily pasta specials. The dishes are simple, yet extremely flavorful. I prefer pastas with a light cream sauce or olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, broccoli, etc (not all together, but that might be interesting). I've yet to find an Italian restaurant in SF that serves pasta with such a diversity of flavors in each bite. I feel like a lot of the places are scheisty with their meats and veggies and extremely heavy on the sauce (Steps of Rome, anyone?). I'm knocking off one star because my FAVORITE dish (breaded, fried, then baked salmon served with fettucine alfredo, sauteed green beans and sweet onions) is no longer offered here. This used to be the Friday special, and I would religiously come here before every organic chemistry exam (which always fell on a Friday) to eat and get revved up. I always walked into the auditorium so freaking content while everyone else was freaking out, and I owe it to that deliciously moist salmon in a well-seasoned crust. I would even fly back to Houston on Fridays to get this dish, so imagine the heartbreak. Why does this always happen to me? This is the third restaurant that has taken my favorite item off their menus. It's like they hate me. :( read more

ate a late lunch here today with hubby and "that one". we both went for panini's and a cup of tomato basil soup. portabella mushrom/goat cheese/roasted yellow and red pepper for me and breaded chicken/bacon and swiss(featured special) for hubby. the panini's were decent, but the soup was really really good. silky smooth! the star of the meal was the Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream frosting....my my my!!! the cake is moist and flavorful and the frosting is not at all heavy and sugary like some buttercream frostings...like butta' baby!! the serving portion was generous, enough for the 3 of us to share and no one feel cheated(and i did not realize the cake was half off on monday(per Melissa M's review) until after the fact...SWEET! Good Java too!! will definitely return for a brunch visit..very interested in the eggs benedict! read more

Great neighborhood coffee and wine joint. I love coming here between 4 and 6, and it beats sitting in traffic. The food is great, and the dessert slices are huge. What I don't like about this place is their poor selection of wine. The patio can get very noisy, and I can sometimes take my friend's german shepherd there. read more

I have been going to Empire Cafe for over 10 years. It is a cozy coffee shop/cafe with great food, blended beverages, fast service, a covered patio (also dog-friendly), and its in a great location. Food has always been consistent and their desserts are amazing! Pros- Fast service, serve coffee and wine, mimosas, etc. Desserts and pastries are fabulous- 8 layer cakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, etc. Food is brought to your table after ordering at the counter. Dog-friendly patio. Cons- None, this is a Montrose area staple! read more

Empire Cafe - The eclectic decor behind the bar at Empire Cafe, love coffee shops that serve wine as well! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The breakfast here is easily worth 5 stars, SHOOT. I always get the Roma (toasted focaccia topped with pesto, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and your choice of egg) with poached eggs and am never sorry. So good. I also devour all of my little breakfast potatoes and portions of my fruit cup (I don't like melon....what can I say?). I can also attest to the awesomeness of the Roma because I like to eat off of the other plates at the table and mine is always the best, even when my friend gets the Northwestern breakfast that comes with smoked salmon (a huge weakness of mine). They serve little cookies with the coffee, which I don't drink, but, once again, I steal from other people's plates and really enjoy dipping the cookies into the coffee and eating them while I wait for our food to come. Also, if you ask nicely they'll give you extra cookies, which makes my friends happy because if they don't watch out I'll eat all of their cookies. I've had lunch here a couple of times and really liked it both times. I've had a couple of vegetable-ish soups, a salad with the ever delicious goat cheese on it, and some sandwich with avocado in it. Also, I have to mention the cake. Oh, the cake. So delicious and huge (just like everyone else has said). The only problem I have with Empire is that sometimes if you sit outside people let their kids run around and throw silverware at other patrons, which is kind of annoying. Plus, there is a creepy waiter there who touches my friend's back whenever he delivers the food to the table. Lastly, parking can be a bitch, especially on weekend mornings. In general though, I love Empire and really miss it now that I'm no longer in Houston. ------- ETA on 3/3/2008: I'm knocking off a star because when I came here in January during a brief visit home my food was kind of lukewarm and only OK, as was my girlfriend's. Boo, Empire Cafe. How is it that when I used to come in on the weekends during your busiest time you managed to provide me with delicious, HOT food and at 10 am on a Tuesday when there's hardly anyone else in the restaurant my meal was subpar??? I'm letting you keep 4 stars for now because I can still fondly recall all of the delightful meals we shared together, but you can't coast on the good old days forever, just FYI. read more

Breakfast review. Empire, as far as I am concerned, is the King of Breakfast. Whether you are a straight up get out of bed and eat at 8.00 sort of breakfast person or roll out of bed to make it to 11.30 brunch type breakfast person, you won't be disappointed. Empire has counter service only and lines can get long, but it moves pretty quickly. Eggs and carbs rule here. The specialty omelet selection is limited but you have a build your own option and they have some great pancakes. The Hunter and their Empire Benedict are two of my favorites on the menu. Their hash browns are bit unusual because they are baked with cheese. Good coffee. Empire also has one of the best patios in Houston. The front offers both covered and uncovered seating and there is a relatively unknown side patio that is almost never crowded. And the crowd is pretty eclectic. Young hipsters, River Oaks types, people coming in after a run. Just about everybody ends up here sooner or later. HINT: Empire usually has a couple of off-menu breakfast specials up by the cashier. Check them out before you get in line and look at the menu. Recommended. read more

Okay, after driving by this place for almost two years and being intrigued, I finally stepped in. The parking was not fun, but we lucked out with a spot in the back. The weather was a bit brisk, so we sat inside but I can see how the porch would be a great addition. Plus, I saw space heaters which would come in handy during the winter. I got myself a beer and split a margherita pizza with a friend. I'm not sure if the pizza was so good because it was at the end of a really long day, or if it was because it was really that delicious. There was just enough cheese and basil that it was fantastic and the tomatoes were wonderfully hot and juicy. The service was friendly, but a little short. It might have something to do with the fact that they were slammed with people and seemed a little understaffed. Nevertheless, our food was delivered promptly and with free wi-fi, this is sure to be one of my frequent haunts. read more

It looks like Empire Café has some really delicious food menu items; however, we only came to have a nice cup of java and enjoy the patio since the weather was so nice. We arrived right after the brunch/lunch hour rush on a Saturday around 2pm and there was no wait. We were quickly able to order two lattes just the way that we wanted and got them in no time. At first, I was worried that they had given us cold lattes because they were given to us in glasses, but that was just how they came. I thought their coffee was good, but not the best that I've had. I did enjoy the comfort of the shaded patio enough to return. The next time I'm in town, I will make it a point to order food! read more

Delicious food, usually great wifi, FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC CAKE, yummy coffee/espresso concoctions, and I've never had a problem finding parking?? Empire Cafe, you make working remotely or meeting up with co-workers a pure delight! Empire Cafe, we're going to be besties! read more

Good food selection and ample portions; always go home with at least a few leftovers. Desserts are especially good. Inside seating is ok but outside even better when the weather is good, even though you are close to the road. Dogs are welcome here but wish more of the dog owners were mindful of their pets behavior and how it affects other patrons and other dogs. read more

I've always love, and continue to love, Empire Cafe! The line can be long at times, but it's worth the wait. The coffee is good, the staff is personable, and the food is great! I'm usually a big carnivore, but I can't resist the salads that they throw together...when I visit Empire Cafe, I suddenly become a salad lover! I also recommend this place for breakfast/brunch. The lines are ridiculously long on Sundays, but a bit more tolerable on Saturday. The biggest dilemma I always have is eggs vs carbs. My favorite is certainly the pick-and-choose omelette menu they have...but they also have outstanding pancakes and Italian Toast! This is also a great place to plop down with a good book, enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine, and people-watch to your heart's delight. The only only ONLY thing they lack is wi-fi! read more

Went there after a movie for a quick bite. Really enjoyed the atmosphere. It was very easy going and relaxed. We sat outside although it was a little chilly (they had outdoor heaters) and enjoyed the sunny day. I ordered a bar b q chicken pizza, which was ok. I also ordered a French Vanilla Cappuchino, they didnt have any but she made something similar for me. Service was fast and friendly. One of the workers asked us a few times if we needed anything and made sure to remove our plates as soon as we were done. I think Empire Cafe is A-ok for a quick bite, you can just chat with friends and enjoy the good outdoor weather. read more

We were pulled in by the glimmer of a good looking patio--it was slightly hidden by some nice flora, but we saw potential on a beautiful Friday evening! There was a line to the door, but the two women at the register were taking orders pretty quickly! The wifey and I ordered ourselves a bottle of vino, the Mushroom Ripieno, and a large St Patrick pizza. The Bonterro Chardonnay is an organic wine from Cali, and has a lot of clean, fruity flavor. Definitely a good pick on a warm Friday evening. The woman forgot to bring us over a wine cooler, but it didn't last long enough to get warm anyways! I love portabella mushrooms, and this one came stuffed with crabmeat and roasted red peppers. The accompanying sauce was a bit mayonnaise-y but that didn't stop us from wiping the plate clean. The Patrick's pizza is sausage and spinach--two of my favorite toppings--and had some decent flavor. I'm on the lookout for GREAT pizza in Houston. While this wasn't great, the overall flavor was very good and I did enjoy the whole-wheat crust. This place is pretty close to home, so we'll definitely be back and I'm looking forward to a good breakfast here! read more

I really hate being the 1 reviewer out of 50 to give 2 stars, but this place is just okay. Sure, it's nice to sit outside on a Saturday morning, and it's cool saying, "I'll be at Empire Cafe tomorrow, see you there," but otherwise this is a normal breakfast-lunch restaurant located in a guppy area. I've been multiple times, and each time I left thinking that I ordered the wrong thing. This place is good enough to come every once in awhile, but definitely nothing to crave. read more

This place has it all- good food, desserts, coffee, wine, beer, and free wifi. Plenty of seating inside or outside- there's a covered patio, folks! They have their own parking lot! Although it's not a lot, it's sure one of the bigger ones in the Montrose area. I've been here during lunch and in the late evenings and I can always find a spot. The food quality is always consistently good. I've had their fish sandwiches and pastas and I have no complaints. I usually try to pick of their special of day menu. While their coffee drinks are innovative and sound appealing, coffee purists may not like their coffee drinks (unless you're just getting a plain espresso). I've had the milky way and I feel that it's just way too sweet for me. What I like about Empire is that there are multiple rooms that suit whatever mood you're in. There is the main dining room and outside patio dining area, and also the secluded back room and back outside patio if you're looking for a more quiet environment. Perfect place to chill and study. And how can I forget the main reason why I come here in the first place? Half price cake day! Every monday ya'll! Don't miss it! My friends and I used to drive all the way from the sharpstown area just to get some cake to bring back to class. read more

Empire believes that commercial coffee sucks. I concur. Sunday brunch is a little crazy and hectic - I personally wouldn't do it again (especially now that the Houston summer sauna has started). The food is good - freshly made, well presented. The drip coffee with refills is of a high standard. Carrot cake goes down well. read more

One bad day: My wife and I went to Empire for a Saturday brunch and the place was hopping, so someone thinks that the food is good. I won't be back. I ordered a special, eggs florentine, and am formulating a rule: never order hollandaise sauce from a restaurant you don't know. The sauce was sour and overpowered the rest of the dish. The hashbrowns were cold like the rest of the plate; the grease had already congealed. I thought I was eating leftovers. The coffee was nothing special. The staff wore "Corporate Coffee Sucks" on their t-shirts and I'm not a fan of Starbucks, either, but I'd prefer Starbucks over Empire's coffee any day. At least Starbucks uses clean dishes. Finally, the brunch volume overwhelmed the staff. I suspect that my plate had sat waiting for me for too long. The cashier was a bit put off that I greeted her asking how her day was. Plenty of people like Empire Cafe. I suspect I came on a bad day and ordered the wrong dish, but there are plenty of good restaurants in Houston -- I'm not trying Empire again. read more

Great food. I had a their self serve house coffee and their breakfast tacos. The tacos were filled chorizo, cheese, and egg with salsa on the side. They were good, but too cheesy and kind of heavy. The endless coffee was really good. They had several blends and "endless" is always great for heavy coffee drinkers like myself. They also came with two cookies, which would have been amazing if I had not dropped them on the floor. The cookies were placed inside the upside down coffee mug. When I flipped the mug over, the cookies ended up all over the floor. My friend was nice enough to give me one of his. It was quite good. $14 for brunch and difficulty parking and long wait were all cons to this place. The tacos were also only pretty good. Not omg blow me away good. read more

I truly do not understand all the hype for this place. I've been here 3 times and each time I have I've been horribly disappointed. I really wanted to like it, but the service and food is not what I was expecting. I understand the whole concept of counter service but there is never any rhyme or reason to it. The line just sort of meanders through the restaurant and it's annoying. The food comes out and it's cold which tells me the food has been sitting in the window for a while since these guys are walking around aimlessly looking for #'s on a table. Get more runners! I've had an omelet which was mediocre. Pancakes had potential except they were cold, My wife ordered a frittata and it looked like an omelet they screwed up. I guess technically it's an Italian omelet but come on. I will try it again, but for breakfast its dead to me. Lunch and Dinner maybe. read more

I live in houston...therefore I must review Empire Cafe. A few of my friends were wanting to check out some tattoo places and so we decided to meet up at Empire cafe. I have heard a lot about this place and so was excited to check it out. Its cool. It has a very Montrose flair to it. The large patio is inviting for a nice conversation and the food is very very good. I had the chicken salad and was not sure of what dressing to get. The girl at the counter recommended a creamy dressing (hmmm...completely slips my mind what it was) that was very good. The service was good even though the line was busy. We sat in the patio and its a very good atmosphere. There were a couple of families with young kids but overall the clientele was a young professional crowd. The music in the patio added to the ambiance. I would recommend this for a good first date first stop. The energy level is very low and if you're a person who is an excitement junkie then this will be a little bland. Bounce to a nearby bar like poison girl and you can infuse some of that pizazz into the equation. I definitely want to go back to try their cake and then I will add that to my review. read more

**Disclaimer: I have not actually eaten "real food" here, just coffee, tea, and cake.** In the never ending struggle of trying to come up with a "different" place to meet a friend for coffee, I think I've toured most of the java purveyors of the Montrose area, and this one meets all the criteria to warrant return visits. Empire cafe rates an E (for Exceeds Expectations) due to the following: -Ample parking (a private lot) -Half-Priced cake on Monday -Delicious cake the rest of the week too -Cookies served with coffees and teas. Afternoons leave empire cafe fairly quiet, with a few tables of newspaper reading patrons, or children freshly released from school looking for a snack and a nice place to avoid responsibility. Personally, I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, and the limited but snack worthy menu. And the cake. The cake is really great. Alright, I'm pretty much writing this review because of the cake. Can I serve this cake at my wedding? No, really, I'm serious. Typically I go in for the dark and decadent chocolate selections when choosing cake, but on this particular occasion I was opting for something a little "lighter" so I chose the Coconut cake. (Yes I realize there is probably no noticeable difference in Calories.) It was superb. The coconut flavor really permeated the entire slice of cake, not simply residing in the icing, but without adding too much chewy coconut texture. The cake was both fluffy and moist, and the frosting not overly sweetened, composing an absolutely irresistible dessert. Combined with a coffee, my afternoon munchies were all sorted. See you on Monday, Empire Cafe. read more

[Edit 3/1/13 OMG. I didn't know about happy hour until last night. $1 off boozes and a free app with purchase of boozes. *UCK YES. You get 5 stars.] New home meant finding a new coffee place. I'll miss you Black Hole, but hellllooooo Empire! Yeah, I've had to pass you over a couple times because the order line was coming out the door, ahem, slut. But the other day I found myself waiting in the ridiculously long line and I felt... fine. And still fine even waiting x amount of time for my to go order. In Kat terms, that means I like you. I've only been once for dinner. I had a sandwich. It was probably good, but I don't really remember. Breakfast, now that's where it's at! A tad more than I'd prefer to spend on breakfast, but I've not been let down and the portions are big enough to share. Aaand the food makes me feel better about eating. Typically my plate comes with eggs, spinach or potato and fruit. Factor in my Sugar Daddy and I've got a yummy balanced meal. I wish I could tell you guys the best time to come, but that's really difficult to determine. I used to think if I got in before 11 that I beat the mad rush for breakfast, but a couple weeks ago proved me wrong. My only complaints are: 1) No preferred seating available when it's busy. For example, we had lovely weather one recent weekend and there was not a table to be found outside. 2) Cold muffins and pastries?! Blech, warm that shiz up please! read more

I was wanting to try a new brunch place after going to the same establishment weekly and decided to give this place a go. I probably should not have gone here after my expectations shot up by other brunch places in LA because Empire Cafe was a little underwhelming to say the least. The parking was minimal with a couple of spots in the front of the building (caution: when parking here, be aware that there is oncoming traffic from both sides of the road. I literally saw and heard a little green car get wrecked by some SUV that was speeding right through. Lord help) and a couple off to the side. Obvi come during the slow times; that would probably be weekdays after brunch. I remember distinctly that I had ordered the mango hot tea and was quite excited to try it out as I am an avid mango fanatic. I was expecting a homemade brew but will tell you that seeing the barista just steep a bag of tea from a generic box that I could find at Walmart or any other retail store into hot water was surely disappointing. If I had known this beforehand, I would've just stuck to regular water. It also makes me wonder what other products are just store bought... I had already forgotten what I had ordered until I looked through my photos; that was how unmemorable the dish was. It had salmon and asparagus with some sort of sauce. Salmon was a little dry, and the sauce was a little too sweet for my taste buds. All in all, I guess I should've just stuck to my usual place. At least then I know I would've had my money's worth. read more

Empire Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Houston, Texas

Today, bleary-eyed, I came home after my trauma shift to take my girlfriend out to celebrate our one year together. We managed to get parking across the street, but the line was out the door at 3pm and Empire kept serving people who wouldn't have a table available. It was basically "thanks for your money, good luck finding a table" for everyone. No customer was told about the situation, wait time, nor table availability, so that's really poorly done. Even hospitals go on diversion when they're packed. Heck, Emergency Rooms now have billboards telling you the estimated wait time. I've been here several times before so I know it gets crowded, but it seems like they're just dropping the ball now with some disorganized management. Most times I've been the food was great, but check your lettuce on the Empire turkey club before you chomp. Anyway, their mixed coffee drinks are creative (think coffee with Amaretto, Frangelico, Chambord, etc), and the menu will satisfy anyone who's up for Italian, just a sandwich, a salad, or brunch. It's good for groups, and a nice change of setting. If you're a beer guy/girl, you'll find the selection limited and uninspired. Could use some nice Belgians and more variety. It's also not the best place for a date unless you get the less-cramped uncovered area around the back and it's not noisy. They have "Corporate coffee sucks" written on their coffee bar, which would make me think they're pretty cool if I was still a rebellious teenager. This is a casual place to for a bite and some coffee with Amaretto in it, especially if parking and seating is looking good. Service is dodgy and doesn't keep up with the volume of customers, but if you've got time to spare, this place is worth checking out. Maybe one day they'll enter 1995 and get little buzzing coasters for their packed restaurant. If you want something more intimate, check Boheme. Chelsea Grill has a great brunch and happy hour too. read more

Great little spot for brunch! Drinks a plenty and great coffee brew. Italian french toast and eggs Benedict were super to share! Definitely worth checking out when you're in Houston!! read more

I was severely disappointed with their Eggs Benedict. First, one of my biggest peeves is restaurants that use egg molds to poach their eggs. It not only looks horribly amateur (it's OK if kids do this at home... but come on, a restaurant specializing in egg dishes?), but a poached egg SHOULD NOT look like a shaped, flattened disc. Poached eggs, when done properly (i.e., in a pot and NOT A MOLD), have an ephemeral, whipped beauty all their own. In fact, the poached eggs at Empire were even overdone, despite using the cop-out silicone mold method. The bottom of the egg was cooked too long, so part of the yolk was already solidified. Second, their Canadian bacon is all wrong. Eggs Benedict shouldn't come with one giant slab of ham that encompasses both muffins. It makes it difficult to eat each muffin-ham-egg combo easily. Not only was their bacon awkwardly shaped, but it wasn't very good either. Third, their muffins were soggy, and not even toasted. Fourth, their hollandaise sauce was a watery abomination. When the benedict came out, I wasn't even sure if there was hollandaise on it - it was that weak. And I could barely taste it. One of the hallmarks of Eggs Benedict is the hollandaise sauce. There should be plenty of it, slathered and dripping over the eggs, and it should be high-quality and fresh. And then instead of a nice garnish such as two half-cut black olives or a bit of chopped scallion, there was this mushy diced tomato pile on top. Despite a very bad Eggs Benedict, at least they have a nice patio, and unlimited coffee refills (and the coffee is good). Just don't eat Eggs Benedict here! read more

Simply put, this is a local treasure. Whoever first thought of combining the joys of caffeination and intoxication within the same roof was a genius. Empire Cafe perfects that art, with truly amazing espresso-based drinks and great beer selections. So far, this is the best espresso I've had in Texas. The interplay between a cappuccino and a Chimay is pure poetry. In fact... Crema, foam, and ale swirling in my stomach breezy, quirky intoxication. Bonnie and Clyde Peanut butter and Jelly Siegfried and Roy Move over, you've got nothing On Cappuccino and Chimay. read more