Fantastic brunch spot we found in Houston, thanks to Yelp. I think all brunch food tastes about the same. Some eggs. Some toast. Some fruit. But what I really like about Empire Cafe is the outdoor patio space. For once, somebody got it right. There's plenty of indoor seating available, but there is TONS of outdoor seating on this patio. Not only that, but they have more seating around the side because the main area was pretty packed by the time we got here. Beautiful trees surrounding the patio and a very serene atmosphere. Plus, $6.95 for a PINT of mimosa. This was very sufficient and the next best thing to a bottomless option. read more

This place was found by my wife and I just driving around looking for breakfast. We saw the line coming out the door and thought "must be decent." .... it was not. We waited about 30 minutes to get to order. My wife had eggs benedict flourentine, and I had fruit with eggs over medium. My wife's poached eggs were really hard boiled and the spinach was old. My eggs were also hard boiled and the fruit was dry and tasteless. There were so many flies and birds that there a dedicated staff member for walking the patio and shewing them off. Not worth it even if there was zero wait. read more

Empire is definitely in the old-standby category for me. It's a great place to go when you either a) can't think of anywhere else to go or b) are with people who have a wide range of taste and/or dietary requirements. I tend to order from the daily specials a lot, although honestly, they could do without the demonstrative plates lined up on the counter by the register as they tend to be a bit down-at-heel by dinnertime. Not appetizing. I love that Empire makes it so easy to go with a healthy option- the egg white omelettes are great, and the build-your-own option means I can forgo cheese without having to be that girl who modifies her order half to death. The spicy BBQ salad dressing is fan-freaking-tastic. I love that entrees come with salad or soup, 'cause I usually need a little something extra. Service is usually on target but I've had a few instances where my food just never came, and the ordering system made it really hard and awkward to track it down. Also, definitely bypass the foccacia- ciabatta is the way to go if you get a sandwich. I'm partial to the eggplant/pesto combination, myself. Half of one paired with a cup of the minestrone makes for the perfect light lunch. read more

We ordered the Migas because on the menu it sounded delicious - chorizo and scrambled egg on a bed of tortillas topped with guacamole and sour cream (see pic). The flavors were a little dull despite the help of a little pico de gallo that was hidden underneath the guacamole. We also ordered a side of hash browns (see pic) which were crispy and delicious. read more

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Another great brunch place in the Montrose. Lots of al fresco seating especially in the shade - which is great during a humid and hot morning. The have great frittatas and bendidcts - while i didn't have any slices of cake - they are huge here. service is counter service. art work here is very interesting. read more

I've driven by this place plenty of times and always wanted to try it, however, it is only now that I finally got around to doing that. I came here on a Sunday night to enjoy a relaxing environment with a friend and also indulge in the delicious cake everyone has been raving about. After parking in the small lot behind the restaurant, I proceeded inside and was greeting not only by the large staff but by the yummy display of cake goodness. Before choosing my slice of cake, I looked over their menu to see what kind of coffees they offered but after a quick glance, opted to play it safe with a simple mocha. The coffee comes in a fairly large glass and alongside two biscuits. I thought the biscuits tasted a little like pancakes but I consider that to be a good thing. The cake I decided to go for was a dark chocolate cake with varying degrees of chocolatey deliciousness. It was more than enough to fulfill my sweet tooth and was the perfect size to feed two people. The slices can be a little expensive but I thought it was worth indulging. Overall, Empire Cafe offers a really nice, relaxing environment and can be the perfect place to go on a date or enjoy a slice of cake. I want to go back to try their food but until then, this will be my go-to cake destination. I'd say they are a step above Dessert Gallery but things can get a little pricey. If you're in the area, I would definitely recommend you check them out! read more

Took me forever to finally go here and now I frequent it a lot. I didn't know they had such a large selection of food. Very tasty soups and salads. The shrimp and pasta is killer and the desserts are murder.. I mean that in the best way. The staff is super nice. Spacious patio with a good view of westheimer. My only complaint is the itty bitty bathrooms. read more

I have this thing about brunch - I think it is the best meal of the day! What other time is it okay to order both a hamburger with a side of pancakes and not look out out-of-place? Everything I have been served at the Empire Cafe has been excellent: Pancakes - light and fluffy; some even come with blueberries, if you ask Omlettes - Personalized to your morning cravings Cinnamon Rolls - As big as your head with the sweetest icing Coffee - Pour your own, but each cup comes with two cookies for dipping If you are coming on a weekend, get there early. The restaurant is open seating and you have to order first, so you could be waiting in line for a while. The good news is that once you order and find a seat, the food comes fast so you can enjoy some food and good conversation with your friends. Or, if you want, say hi to guy on the porch reading a New York Times on Sunday. I am always there, except when I'm not. read more

One of my favorite places to have brunch on weekends. This place is what Montrose is all about - a quirky, unique, non-corporate cafe that serves good cup of joe. My favorite breakfast items here is the breakfast tacos, migas, and the traditional. I love this place 'cuz their always consistent. Avoid going during peak brunch times because it does get busy and there's usually a long line to place your order. I'm not a big fan of their cakes, it's just not up to par compared to other cafes in the area. They look good though. I don't get why they don't just add their "specials" to their regular menu. It's been the same "specials" for like 5 years now!! How about we come up with new specials? read more

I think it's really adorable and I have really tried to like it. I really like the the employees here and I think they are all really nice. The food however is lacking-from the pasta to the salads. If you want good food go to Brasil and the cakes are better, too. Try their carrot cake-it's in-house made with apple and three layered loveliness. I think people assume Brasil is just a coffee house but it's actually really lovely. Especially since they are connected to Domy books. You are probably saying-"this is turning into a review about brasil" But they are basically next door to each other and Empire always has this insane line for their food-which never seems worth it on the weekends. read more

We came here for breakfast two days in a row...for the cheddar hash browns! I love that I can get an egg white scramble that isn't greasy. The eggs were so fluffy and cooked perfectly. Coffee....cold brew was eh...but I'll forgive them since the hash browns are that good. read more

It's almost always packed on the weekends. There's a pretty large selection for brunch, but I'd say the food is only so-so. It's nice if you can nab a table outside on the patio. read more

I came to empire cafe bc I was at a cafe next to it and I was with my friends, so we came to check it out and.... BEST STRAWBERRY CAKE EVER. THAT IS ALL. Actually that is not all their hummingbird cake, their pasta, their chai tea, should I go on?? It's the bomb go try it, y'all won't regret. read more

The coffee is like crack! Everyone else's reviews can mention the food...I will only say - Do NOT drink this if you need to go to bed anytime soon! I had this coffee at 6pm and was wide, and I mean WIDE awake til 4am. It was fun - just be careful :) read more

The only reason I say A-OK was because I felt a bit sick after eating my entree. I had an omlette of sorts and a HUGE slice of cake. On Mondays they have cake specials. =D When I saw the size of the slice I was pretty darn excited. The omelette was delicious it had sausage and potatoes and spinach. it was great! I honestly hope it didn't make me sick. It was quite busy and the parking was small, I was lucky to get a space. I like the cafe itself, though. small and intimate but a lot of energy. There were some larger parties beyond us in the other room. Menu items had a description by them and the cakes were on display up in the front. read more

Corporate Coffee Sucks! Right? This will always stick in my mind when I think of Empire Cafe. My first visit was in 2004 and I remember seeing this plastered across every employee. I love it! As for Empire Cafe, the food is delicious! They have a very creative menu with satisfying items at really reasonable prices. The atmosphere is welcoming and there's a great view of bustling Westheimer if you sit outside. Coffee is always served with little sugar cookies, which, is so awesome! Who doesn't love cookies?! I can't really speak to the "quality of the coffee" because I'm a bit of a coffee snob. I typically prepare my own espresso at home; so, when out enjoying coffee socially --- I think of it as just that --- coffee with friends. I have never left here disappointed! read more

There is overflow parking on the weekends across the street. I arrived around 10:20AM on a Sunday morning, and despite the seemingly long line, ordered at the counter and had a table for 6 by 10:30AM. The food arrived about 7 minutes later. Although it may seem the place is packed, it's like the rodeo cook off where tables are constantly being turned over. Cheap, DELICIOUS food and drinks are to be had here. My mimosas were $6.75 each, which aren't a bad price, and the foccacia eggs ($7.75) were utterly scrumptious. The foccacia eggs were almost like a strata, but the bread was extremely hearty and crunchy (unlike a strata when bread is typically soaked in milk overnight). The eggs were lightly baked, about the consistency of a quiche. I watched the bartender pour the mimosa, and they contained all champagne and just a splash of orange juice - just the way it's supposed to be! read more

Got brunch here today. I got the eggs Benedict Florentine and blackberry sage tea. It was all delicious! A friend got the mimosa, which was strong and poured generously. Great atmosphere, fast service. It's the kind of place where you order up front and then they bring it to you. The whole place is really cute and the breakfast food is phenomenal. read more

I feel as if this is the place to go be seen after our experience during brunch here. We showed up around 11am on a Sunday with a group of 6, it took some creativity, but we managed to score a table big enough for us all inside. This place was extremely busy! The line stretched all through the restaurant from the cashier, out the door to the edge of the building. The walk up service was a bit hectic as well as all the people that seemed to think this was a daytime club fashion event. Once seated, the time we spent here was great. The food was phenomenal, the lattes and coffee we tried were excellent and the dessert we tried made me wet myself it was so good (although the name of everything escapes for some reason)! Portions were perfect seeing as I tend to be one of those people that eats everything on my plate (and at times others) to the point I hate myself for ever being hungry for the following hours of the day. Leaving here, I felt good and able to continue the rest of my Sunday. Given the option, I personally would choose to come at a much less busy time and try some of the other dishes. I will leave my Sundays to nursing hangovers in a less populated environment. read more

So I came here after probably a few years....and the food was fantastic! I honestly can't remember if I liked the food or not when I came here way back when, but during this visit the food was great. My friend and I came here for lunch on a Friday, and there were a lot of people here, but it didn't seem horribly crowded. Before we even looked at the menu we saw the specials that were displayed in the front. One of the specials was a salmon dish with vegetables and risotto. My friend and I both were drawn to it, and decided to get it before even looking at the rest of the menu. And boy, I'm sure glad we did. It was delicious!! The salmon was glazed with this yummy sauce and the vegetables were cooked just right. I would highly recommend getting this dish! The layout of this restaurant is really nice too. There are a couple of patios and a few different rooms inside too, so it didn't feel crowded. Since it was nice out when my friend and I went, we decided to hit up the patio. There were several people eating with their dogs next to them too...so if you've got a pet, this place is pet friendly! Overall, it was a good experience and I will definitely be returning to try some other items on the menu! read more

I like Empire Cafe. I've been here several times for breakfast and lunch. Good sandwiches, good eggs and pancakes. Their desserts are particularly excellent. They seem to all be fresh - notable experiences include their Oreo cheesecake, butterfinger cheesecake, and their chocolate chip cookies. They have garden outdoor seating that is very nice and peaceful even though you're sitting on busy Westheimer. Even better, you can bring your dog and you probably won't be the only one. I recommend this place for breakfast (great coffee) and desserts. read more

It wasn't anything special. Their coffee selection was good albeit a bit too sweet for my liking. It's a good place for your basic breakfast/brunch needs. The staff seemed stretched a bit too thin though - they seemed pretty stressed out at times. Great place to sit outside for brunch on a good day. read more

Empire Cafe is a fantastic place to eat brunch on Sunday morning. Just make sure you realize that the line moves a lot faster than it looks from the outside, and don't bring any guests/friends that don't like eggs. Almost every dish at Empire Cafe has eggs in it. The food tastes great, and you can get out of there with an entree and coffee for about $10. read more

I had been to this place for breakfast a few times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Most recently, it was crowded, we had many flies landing on our food, and my coffee mug had lipstick on it :(. Would still recommend, but I hope they step it up. read more

My family and I went there for brunch this weekend. I had the Mamma Mia frittata. It was amazing!!!! The gorgonzola takes it over the top. My boyfriend and sister had the breakfast quesadilla and both loved it. My brother-in-law had french toast and it looked delicious, too sweet for me though. I'd also recommend the mint lemonade. Lots of mint and super refreshing. The place needs a little sprucing up but the bathrooms are nice and clean. Overall the wait wasn't that long and there was plenty of seating. read more

I have been a regular at Empire for 9 years. Never have I had bad drinks, food or service. The manager, Cesar, and all the employees are great. Cesar helps the community by contributing coffee to the Westchester Academy for International Studies Family Fun Day. This place is a true jewel! read more

Everything is so delicious! First off I love their patio. Its secluded, lit at night, and well spaced out. Their breakfast is incredible. Take a bit of a risk on something you will most likely be suprised. I love their foccacia eggs. Its scrambled eggs, tomato, cheese, bacon and sauce, on foccacia bread. It has a brushetta type feel to it which makes it all the more delicious. Their omlettes are amazing, &&&Mimosas.. yes. Their chai latte is one of the best in town. Extra foamy please. For lunch/ dinner their pastas are pretty delicious. read more

Do you want to have the best cake in Houston...then head to Empire Cafe. I've been going there for over 10 years and the cake is still the best in town! They usually have 8 - 10 flavors to choose from and the selection varies day to day. This place is usually pretty busy, but there is plenty of seating inside and out.....don't let the long line at the counter deter you....it goes by quickly. This is also a great place to bring a date or your friends to have an intimate conversation. read more

Empire Cafe has the best mimosas in town. Why? Because they are generous in their size and they taste great. Their hibiscus-mint tea was delicious as well as the mixed greens talapia salad. Yum, Yum. This is the perfect place to kick back on a Sunday with friends. read more

This is a great place to go with friends or in my case-house guests. We went there during a busy Sunday for brunch. We knew that we might have to wait in line beforehand so didn't mind that. My omelet and coffee were great, but after I tried my friends' french toast, I wished that was what I ordered. We live in a huge city, so parking is usually an issue. People who complain about parking need that reality check. Parking here wasn't a problem though, and If it had been, I wouldn't have minded walking 1 or 2 blocks to the restaurant. I highly recommend taking visitors, in-laws or friends to Empire. It's fun and there's really good food. read more

Ught!! this place is the truth, I had the baked bread chicken sandwich, it was so goood! It comes with roasted seasoned potatoes, they were well seasoned. Plus they make a mean, margarita on the rocks. My friends got the buffalo chicken pizza it was lit!! I'll be back to sample some other things on the menu because the food was so good! The only thing I wish is that they had frozen margaritas! read more

I can't vouch for the breakfast or brunch, as I'm not usually out of bed at those times due to my current job, but the dinner here is always excellent. They do pasta well, and if i make it into town before they close, it's my dinner of choice. Extra star for the rosemary vinaigrette dressing that you can get on the house salad, as well. The coffee is excellent, too. And you really gotta love a coffee shop (which is the aspect that brought me here in the first place) where you can get decent shot of whiskey in your cappuccino. We eat outside here year round. In the winter, there are heaters on the patio so you'll stay pretty toasty. read more

Definitely a trendy place to have brunch on a Sunday. Right in the middle of Montrose. The food was great and the portion sizes were generous for the price. As for gluten free options there are quite a few. Though the menu does not out right say what is gluten free, if you use your knowledge you can pretty much tell what dishes are good to go and which are not. For a fast and easy: all the frittatas looked good to go. I had the Bella frittata and loved the mushrooms mixed in with the rest of the add-ins. Be prepared, the frittatas are not your typical ones, they make them in the "Italian style" so its is more of a mix of the usual frittata and an omelette. But an egg dish is an egg dish no matter what way you fry it. Good. What really stuck out to me were the roasted potatoes and boy, these were good. Normally, I won't eat the potatoes on the plate at a brunch place but Empire Cafe does them right. Next time I go, I will try out one of their special coffee drinks--for sure the hot item to get with all the different alcoholic add-ins. read more

I really find this food overrated and overpriced. It's all about location and people are willing to spend money on going to brunch here. The food wasn't terrible, just not that exciting. read more

Lovely place for breakfast or brunch with friends or family. I specially like their outside seating area.

Empire Cafe is a great place to sit, relax and have a great meal under the shade. It's in West Montrose, where Agora, Brasil, Poison Girl and the rest of those hipster joints are, but Empire Cafe's clientele is so diverse. When I went, there were suits, kids, college students, and - of course - the boys with blue sunglasses and skinny jeans. The food is great and moderately priced. They have lots of sandwiches, salads, desserts *and* daily lunch specials. I had a chicken/broccoli dish with pasta and grilled veggies. It really was high-end quality... but for $12. Delicious. Iced tea was great, too. You have GOT to sit on their outdoor patio. It's very big and covered by an awning and lots and lots of trees. At night, with the decorative lights, it looks so cool from Westheimer. Their coffee is great, as are their espresso drinks. I had the Milky Way, which - despite being five dollars - was really good. They have an extensive selection of beers, wines, mixed drinks and a hookah bar... plus they're open late, so it's a great late-night weekend hot spot. Free parking in the surprisingly big back lot (accessible on Elmen St.) and on parts of Westheimer and side streets. read more

This is one of my favorite cafes in the Montrose area. Not only do they have delicious food, but they have a great selection of choices. They have a fabulous patio, and a fairly nice staff. It's always clean and they have nice bathrooms. Their coffee is good, and that have some delicious iced teas. One of my favorite things at Empire is their deserts! Their cakes are so good, and they give you a huge slice when you order one. Probably the best margarita pizza in Montrose. read more

I hadn't been here in awhile because I haven't had a good experience the times that I used to go. The ladies wanted an inexpensive brunch that was baby friendly so we decided on this place on a Sunday. WRONG MOVE. Let me tell you it is very hard to find a table on a Sunday for 5 people and baby but that's expected from this type of establishment so it's one of those things you brush off. Line was long and out the door while waiting to order our food. Seriously though, it's not cheap. A fettuccine pasta dish and bloody mary later, I was out over $20... So much for an inexpensive lunch.. whatevers. NOW to the frustrating part and lack of stars... We hopped around to different tables until a bigger one cleared up since we were waiting for our food anyways. Fast forward, my gfs get there food.. finish it and yet, mine is nowhere to be found. Quite frustrating. When asked where my food was, the answer was always 'it's coming'. Anyhow food finally appears and it lacked so much flavor. Actually... it tasted weird so I didnt' even touch it. My gfs tried it and felt the same way. I guess I'll be taking another break from Empire again.... read more

Second time here. Was actually planning on going next door to Common Bond but after waiting 30 min in line and having them be out of 50% of the things we wanted... Ended up coming here...and glad we did! The Bloody Mary i had on my first visit was amazing, this time, just status quo. My wife had the Texas watermelon drink and she likes it both times. The Not Fried Chicken sandwich was very good...the jalapeño aioli was perfect and the (focaccia I think) bread was perfect, definitely getting that sandwich again. The line wasn't bad at at (1pm on a Sat), and the prices are very reasonable. We'll definitely be back. Food: 4.5 (they have great cakes too!) Drinks: 4 Atmosphere: 4 (good size covered patio) Service: 4 (it's take-a-number-to-your-seat style) Price: 5 Common bond has some great fresh breads and pastries, but avoid the wait and get some good food here...and full bar! read more

I wanted to give this place 3 stars but dat coffee game doe... 4 stars!! If you are a coffee fan this place is a must!! I had the cafe empire Benedict it was not so great. Opting to use a muffin over a biscuit or even the focaccia bread was not smart. You have a delicate egg on a hard to cut muffin... Kind of a fail. The Benedict flavor profile wasn't the greatest and overall it was bland. The cheddar hash brown was super disappointing. My fiancé had the focaccia eggs and those were delicious! That redeemed the restaurant a bit and the MILKY WAY ICED COFFEE rocked my world!! I'll be back... But I don't know when! read more