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    Empire Diner

    3.7 (410 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Empire Diner Takeout or Delivery

    Empire Diner Photos

    EMPIRE DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Empire Diner

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    Fish and chips
    Cynthia C.

    Stopped in here for a random dinner as I was walking by with some friends and it looked like a lively little diner. We were seated immediately outside and were served pretty quickly too. I got the fish and chips and it was pretty solid! The fish was flakey and soft with a crispy exterior and I appreciated the assortment of sauces that it came with. It was a solid dinner but not a place I'm dying to return to.

    Black cherry Cheesecake
    Tülin Y.

    I went there for my birthday dinner. It was like a last minute decision but I always wanted to try this place out so I was really happy. I had meatloaf and a glass of Sancerre. The food was delicious and our waiter was really nice. Also I had black cherry cheesecake and it was amazing. The interior was better than I expected. I will definitely go back

    New York Pastrami Sandwich
    Steph W.

    Cute restaurant, love the decor! Great wines/cocktail menu and food menu was good too. I had the pastrami sandwich, friends got ribeye and burger. We all enjoyed it! Also got raw oysters as appetizer, very fresh. The waiter was attentive, also brought us comp biscuit! Only downside was the price. I was shocked for the sandwich + shared appetizer, I paid $70.... That's wild to me. Otherwise I'd be back to try other stuff, prob in doses.

    Steak, Eggs, potatoes  w/chimichurri
    Dorje K.

    Had the Steak and eggs, simple, no issues. Steak was cooked right, eggs were solid, and the plate came out exactly how you expect it to. If you're in the Chelsea area and looking for a casual bite with all different options I totally recommend Empire!

    Rosemary peach Bellini
    Keke C.

    We sat outside which was fine, next time I'll sit inside. Only reason I took a star off is because the mustard on the salmon is messes up the dish so bad. They really need to not put that mustard, also says it's a sweet glaze sauce but none was on it. The fish itself had great taste and I loved the puréed cauliflower. The deviled eggs were good they gave 3 pieces which is basically an egg and a half for $9. The steak was the star of the show. I would go back to order that ! The server Nick was wonderful he was nice and patient.

    Pistachio Martini
    Nigel A.

    This place is a must visit. I used to stop by here 20 years ago, late night on my way home. Steak and Eggs and a Dos Equis. Accidentally came across this in my recent visit, and I had to try the Steak and Eggs once again. Still amazing.. The space and drink menu have been remodeled, but it still has the same good food. I like that the owner has kept the same iconic look to the building Sat on the second floor, which was spacious for Manhattan dining . Steak and Eggs with a pistachio martini. Left there impressed. Highly recommend revisiting

    Shani F.

    I had a small Meet Up for dinner on Thanksgiving after getting an email about Empire's holiday menu. I was lucky to get a same-week reservation but fortunately we were eating on the late side. The staff were very friendly and patient because we took a while to order. Once we did, our waiter brought out complimentary biscuits. A nice touch. My vegetarian friend, who loves the Diner, got the veggie burger and a margarita. I'd had a late afternoon Thanksgiving meal and opted for the Waldorf Salad, which was bountiful and really colourfully plated. I was really impressed since many dinner salads are too small and underwhelming. I hadn't been to the Empire Diner in years so I'm glad to have it back on my radar.

    Cavatelli, Smoked Pork Chop
    Jennifer T.

    We had a wonderful dinner there. It's been around for a while, it's so cozy in there, the pillows are a nice touch. The staff are super friendly and warm, and the food was solid. We had potato rosti, butter lettuce salad, cavatelli, and smoked pork. Everything was consistently pleasant. The biscuits too. I'm still thinking about that salad.

    Buttermilk Biscuits
    Paul J.

    On a wintry December morning, we stopped into the Empire Diner for an elevated experience. I love nothing more than a greasy spoon, and the Empire Diner moves the standard diner menu up a few notches. You can tell from the first bite of their Buttermilk Biscuits - scratch made, crispy brown with steaming, fluffy, feathery insides. Slathered in house butter, it's enough to warrant a return. But we also got the Waldorf Salad (arugula, radicchio, pears, grapes, candied walnuts, arugula, mizuna, & gorgonzola) and the Avocado Toast (avocado on sourdough filone, radish, cilantro, calabrian chili). We added poached eggs to each and left the diner with full bellies and a hankering for more biscuits. Definitely coming back again whenever we're in Chelsea. Totally recommend Empire Diner for anyone looking for good eats!

    Soup & Sandwich
    Marie P.

    An elevated grilled cheese and tomato soup!!! Super good- staff was so nice too! In one of the best locations in the city. I will definitely be back!

    Avocado Toast ($14)
    Ameya B.

    Random brunch walk-in with a 10 mins wait on Sat and this place is deceptively big. Sadly, big enough to have an impact on their service, which looked like a one time issue. Joshua took our order and we placed our entire order which included the green ($9) pressed juice which was refreshing, a $14 avocado toast which was consistent with one should expect, and $20 crispy chicken sandwich which was okay. Service was extremely slow unfortunately, and the place did not look like it was at capacity. The manager/owner however was personally visiting tables to apologize for the delay stating space issues in the kitchen. Ambiance looked pretty refreshing on the ground floor, and noise levels on the average end. Friendly servers, competitively priced menu, but sadly both, food and service failed to impress us during our visit. Will give it another try!

    Ribeye and Garlic Fries.
    Nicole S.

    This diner is small and reservations are a good idea. It's dimly lit for a more relaxed atmosphere. It's crowded, but the service was still good. The food was amazing. We had steaks with sides and loved them.

    Fish and chips
    Adam S.

    Long time listener, first time caller... Empire Diner reopened in 2017 under its current ownership, who also own the nearby Cafeteria restaurant. While cute inside and friendly service, we felt that the food and service were just not solid. Many of the price points are a bit high for the food quality and portion size. While we decided not to try any cocktails on this visit, we did try their Green juice, which was refreshing and delicious. While service was quick and friendly overall, our water glasses were consistently empty, and we had to flag down someone and specifically ask for more water on a few different occasions. As far as the food: We got the roast chicken: it was dry and flavorless. The accompanying salad was just lettuce and cheese, also flavorless and served without dressing. We also got soup and sandwich: The sandwich was mostly thick bread with cheese melted; however, the soup was delicious. And the fish and chips: Fish was perfectly fried and seasoned, as were the fries. Definitely the best of the three dishes we shared. We did come for brunch, and I'm not sure how the dinner menu differs.

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    4 months ago

    Got seated right away. Service was good, waited for a long time to get the food. Steak was definitely not fresh. Such a very sad experience

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    5 months ago

    one of the best veggie burgers ever. all the food was great and the outdoor seating is perfect

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    Empire Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Empire Diner

    What are your weekend hours?

    Hi Willi! We open every day, including weekends, 9am-11pm Our breakfast/brunch/all day menu is in… Read more

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    Banter

    4.4
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    Great spot to meet friends for brunch or get takeout! Numerous healthy options and delicious…read moredrinks. We got the Banter Bowl, which includes pickled carrot, cabbage, watermelon radish, cucumber, edamame, avocado, quinoa, and miso ponzu dressing. You have a choice of meats, so we chose the grilled chicken. Second, we ordered the falafel bowl that includes three falafels, pickled onions, avocado, cucumber, whipped garlic feta, kale salad, romesco, and Za'atar dressing that had a delicious flavor. However, our ultimate favorite had to be the Thai Crunch Wrap with sweet potato fries. It was fairly busy, and our drinks took a while to come, but the food arrived shortly after. The next time I'm back, I will be sure to reorder the Thai crunch wrap. If you have food allergies, they are extremely accommodating and have numerous vegan/vegetarian/GF.

    Wow so good! Lots of options for breakfast and lunch and my friend and I were able to walk in on a…read moreSunday morning and get immediately seated. The green juice was so refreshing and the fries were delicious and the aioli paired with it was perfection. Our waitress was so nice and gave us some amazing recommendations including the falafel wrap (they have a housemade edamame falafel) which was delicious and my friend argues it might be the best falafel wrap in the city. Pickled veggies, fresh falafel, the works. The waffle was also delicious and it had an addicting maple-butterscotch sauce that kept us coming back (I wish I ordered one just for myself it was that good). Can't wait to come back, Banter Brunch days will definitely be a part of my routine.

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    Take Care

    Take Care

    4.4
    (79 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    We ended up at Take Care mostly for convenience since it was attached to our hotel--but it turned…read moreout to be one of the most memorable meals of the trip. I ordered the burger, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it. It was cooked perfectly, incredibly juicy, and served on a soft, pillowy bun that brought everything together. Sometimes a simple dish done really well is all you need, and this absolutely delivered. It was an unexpected standout and a great reminder that some of the best bites come when you're not even planning for them.

    I visited this restaurant a couple of weeks ago while on vacation and unfortunately did not have a…read moregreat experience. The dining room was extremely hot, and there didn't appear to be any air conditioning, which made it uncomfortable throughout the meal. The food also took quite a while to arrive. I ordered a tequila mule, but it was lacking flavor and was underwhelming. For my entrée, I ordered the steak medium well, but it came out medium rare. Despite being undercooked, the steak was surprisingly tough and chewy, and it did not seem like a quality cut of meat considering the price. The waiter was friendly and provided good service, which was the highlight of the visit. However, due to the uncomfortable atmosphere, slow food service, disappointing drink, and poor-quality steak, I would not recommend dining here.

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    Cask

    Cask

    4.1
    (1.6k reviews)
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    Wednesday girl dinner is a must try. For $25, you get a martini, salad (Cesar or market), and fries…read more(truffle or regular). I got the market salad with grilled chicken which was very filling and packed with flavor. The grilled chicken was an add on so cost a little bit more than $25 but still an amazing deal. 10/10 recommend!

    Stopped into Cask Bar & Kitchen in Murray Hill for a casual dinner and loved the quirky, cozy vibe;…read moreit kind of feels like having dinner in your grandma's living room (in the best way possible). Think vintage wallpaper, little knick-knacks, and warm lighting. It's got character. I ordered the market salad with mixed greens, honeycrisp apples, goat cheese, candied pecans, and sherry vinaigrette. It was a hearty portion - super fresh and flavorful, and honestly more than I could finish (not a complaint!). I also ordered a Diet Pepsi with grenadine; they don't carry Diet Coke, which I almost docked a point for, but the mix was unexpectedly delicious. Highly recommend it. My date ordered the hanger steak and said it was absolutely amazing. Only hiccup: his first glass of wine he got came out hot... like, microwave-level warm. Fortunately, the server brought a new (cold) one and the rest of the meal was smooth sailing. Service was friendly, the vibe was homey and relaxed, and the food was solid across the board. Would definitely come back, especially for that salad and another round of grenadine magic.

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    Friedman's

    Friedman's

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    Had reservations for 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We got there about three…read moreminutes late, but they seated us within 5 minutes in a booth. It was our first time eating at a Friedman's location. It had a nice diner feel to it, with a mix of booths and tables. The brunch menu has a variety of breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and burgers, starters, and entrees (fish tacos, grain bowl, fried chicken). I like that several of the items are naturally gluten free, and some can be made gluten free by request. We decided to go with three breakfast items from the brunch menu: I got the shakshuka, my sister got the Nova Benny, and we got the lemon ricotta pancakes to share. All 3 dishes were great. The shashuka came with grilled ciabatta, perfect for dipping into the sunny side eggs and tomato sauce. My sister loved that the poached eggs and smoked salmon of the Nova Benny came on top of a crispy potato latke. The pancakes were fluffy and the lemon ricotta and lemon zest elevated their flavor. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he asked us if we had any allergies when he took our order. He came by several times to check on us and refill water. I would return to Friedman's when I'm in the Herald Square area, or check out one of their other locations in the city.

    Love the look of Friedman's. Nice dining room that they pack in comfortably. Came for an early…read morebreakfast and the dining room filled so fast that I was happy we got there early before the rush. I got myself delicious sunny side up eggs with the pastrami hash. I was impressed by the chunks of pastrami throughout. Very hearty and very delicious! My husband indulged in the Nova Benedict. They packed on the lox. He didn't even finish but found it amazingly delicious. Service was okay. Nothing too spectacular. I almost felt an inconvenience to the server but we didn't have a fussy order nor was it busy (we ordered before the rush). Maybe she was preparing for the rush. Lol either way, it wouldn't stop me from returning.

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    Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner

    Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner

    3.9
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    1.4 mi
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    Of all the food we enjoyed while in New York the pastrami sandwich from Sarge's is by far the…read moreabsolute best. I tell you that this sandwich was heavenly. It literally melted in your mouth. I've never tasted a better sandwich. The coleslaw was sweet perfection. And you can't go wrong with the pickles. You have to get a Dr. Browns soda to go with it. Chef's kiss!!!!!!

    The food is great... chicken noodle soup (or matzah ball), potato salad, pastrami sandwich,…read moreburgers, kasha bow ties, knish, corned beef, pickles, etc. everything is consistently good. It doesn't matter that I have been a loyal customer for over 30 years. I don't understand why the people at the register have zero customer service. They want you to hand over cash or credit card, without any questions or conversation, zero personality or kindness, and sometimes rude. On a recent visit, I wanted to check if their payment policy had changed (they charge a fee for credit cards on top of the bill)... I asked them if they still charge a fee for credit cards and their answer was "there are signs everywhere". While that might be the case, i didn't see the sign... I have vision issues and when I told them (with additional explanation) they didn't proceed to assist me. A couple overheard my exchange and said they have had issues in the past too. To anyone visiting from out of town: From this New Yorker, please know if you experience something similar at Sarge's it is not the norm ... most NYC restaurants, cafes, grab/go, coffee shops, bodegas will treat you kindly, without attitude. The guys behind the counter are amazing... work hard, helpful. Please tip them, if you have the means to do so.

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