I came to Empire Diner last weekend while I was staying nearby and wanted to stop in for breakfast and give it a try. First, I want to say that the staff was very nice and friendly, and the food I ordered tasted good. My main issue was simply the limited breakfast menu. I'm not saying the menu is bad--it just didn't have many of the traditional breakfast items that I personally enjoy. For example, they had grits, which I wanted, but they were already prepared with butter. I prefer my grits plain without butter, so I decided not to order them. They also didn't have traditional home fries. They offer roasted potatoes instead, which were good, but they weren't quite what I was expecting from a diner breakfast. I was also hoping for corned beef hash, but unfortunately they didn't have that either. I ended up ordering a two-egg breakfast with rye toast, bacon, and the roasted potatoes. Everything tasted great, and I really don't have any complaints about the quality of the food. For me, it really comes down to the menu selection. When I go out for a traditional diner breakfast, I like having options such as grits, corned beef hash, home fries, and other classic breakfast choices. The selection here just didn't have enough of what I personally look for. I probably wouldn't come back for breakfast because of that, but I also wouldn't give Empire Diner a bad review. The food I had was good, the staff was friendly, and the service was good. It simply wasn't the type of breakfast menu I was looking for. read more

Service the worst ! Trying to order 20 coffee for a meeting , to be hung up on acting to talk to the manager after person on the phone couldn't answer very simple questions Do better this place so difficult the last 6 months read more

Dined here multiple times last week while in Chelsea for work. Manager JP was so festive and fun, and made me feel very accepted on a buzzy Saturday night even though I was the only one in there with a child. He even promised to send me the playlist from that night :p Our server, Jordan, took great care of us too. Love their ginger shot! read more

Empire Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

This place was so good! Above and beyond our expectations, what made this diner so amazing is that they have vegan options! My mother and I really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and our sweet waiter! The only reason I am deducting a star is because the prices on the menu did not match the prices that they charged us. We should have been charged 16.99 for the breakfast and 14.99 for the burger my mom got but we were charged 20$ each. I didn't wanna complain this day because we had other arrangement we needed to go to but i would say to others just to be wary of the prices when checking out. Other than that we will definitely be coming back when we're in the area again! read more

The cutest old school looking diner. Randomly looking for a place to have a late lunch just before a snow store and Empire was luckily open. It has the look of one of those metal old school diners from the outside but it's surprisingly very large inside. There are 2 sides and an upstairs. Our waiter (whose man I didn't get) was really nice. The hot chocolate really hit the spot on a snow day. Steak was a tad chewy but it was seasoned well. The bread was perfectly toasted. It was a solid diner meal. read more

Empire Diner - Hot Chocolate - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

Empire Diner - Fish and chips - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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 read more

Empire Diner - Pistachio Martini - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

Empire Diner - New York Pastrami Sandwich - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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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! read more

Empire Diner - Steak, Eggs, potatoes w/chimichurri - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

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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. read more

Empire Diner - Cavatelli, Smoked Pork Chop - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

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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! read more

Empire Diner - Soup & Sandwich - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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! read more

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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 read more

Empire Diner - Black cherry Cheesecake - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Beautiful area and establishment. It's a diner, so it's vibey and has great service and staff. The food is far superior to many places that have diner in the name. I would love to come here on the brink of blacking out after the club when I have work the next day. Not that that happens. But if it did.... This is where I'd be. read more

A wonderful old school diner with classic dishes and great service. Our waitress Vicki was amazing!!!

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! read more

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On June 7, my family visited Empire Diner for dinner. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. I can't remember the gentleman's name; however, he was very attentive. He checked in often. He was polite and friendly. I ordered the King Salmon dish. It was tasty. I would visit again. read more

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. read more

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The Empire has seen better days. As a native NYer I can tell you it was never anything more than a convenient diner on the west side. The city is/was full of diners out in the boroughs that are far better. I gave it four stars, just because. It's really a two or three star restaurant. read more

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. read more

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Very cute place, particularly the upstairs. Servers are kind and attentive. Food wasn't outstanding, but would highly recommend trying the cheesecake because it was delicious read more

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There's a crowd for a reason! This place does not disappoint! The brunch is delicious!! They have indoor and outdoor seating. My friend and I were sat indoor. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Rustic but cozy Here's what I ordered - mimosa, nice and alcoholic - the buttermilk waffles! Wow you can taste the chai in the mascarpone crème. It wasn't overpowering with sweetness. Good balance!! And the pecan added nice texture. read more

Empire Diner - Buttermilk Waffle - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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I got food poisoning from here. Ordered the empire omelette with cheddar, mushrooms, and spinach.

We just love this place. Excellent foods & services and atmosphere, can't be any better! Had awesome burger lunch, and especially loved the truffle fries... that was so super good!! Shakes are must have, OMG those were great! Strongly recommend!! read more

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The food was really good, but thats it. Me and my company got two empire burgers, one impossible and one regular medium rare. The terrible thing about this place is the service. When we arrived, nobody was outside to seat us so we had to kind of hover inside to get some assistance(it was not busy whatsoever). Then we got seated and had three different waiters. The first one gave us some water and then we never heard from her again. She just kept passing by helping other people. 10 minutes later, we decided to flag down another waiter so we could place an order. She was nice enough to take our order and im thankful for her because she let us know we probably wont see her again since it's not her section. Our food came out but then our initial waiter told us we were leaving and then introduced us to our new waiter, which we saw two times, when he was introduced and when we were ready to pay. The funniest thing about the last waiter is he was expecting a tip after doing absolutely nothing. I would go here again for the food but the service was terrible! read more

Empire Diner - Empire Special Blend Burger, Impossible Burger - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is yummy! I've tried coming here a couple of times but have always been told the wait is 2+ hours long. However, I tried again at 3pm on a Sunday and there was no wait!! I ordered the steak and eggs and friend got the pastrami sandwich. Both were delicious!! The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce on top was a great addition. The eggs were also the right amount of salty and was simply delicious. The potatoes were just all right, but overall, the entire dish was great! The pastrami sandwich was so cheesy it was delicious. I will definitely come back again read more

Empire Diner - New York Pastrami Sandwich - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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We are regulars at 192 Books just a block over, and stopped in at Empire for lunch a few years ago. Every time we're in the city, we go back! Cute spot, cool air conditioning for the summertime, delicious food, great drinks, and a kind and attentive staff! The mac and cheese is a favorite! read more

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We stopped by on a Friday night around 9pm, so there was no wait, and there were many booths open. However, when we let the server know we were having dessert and not dinner, we were pointed towards the bar seating. It put a sour taste in my mouth instantly. My key lime pie and my husband's cookies were very good however nobody checked up on us, and I had to flag down a completely different server to get our check. Our server never came back after placing our food down. Ambience felt unwelcoming, after coming from a Michelin star dinner. read more

Empire Diner - Bar area - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Classic diner feel with elevated food and excellent food! We went for late night dinner and had the pastrami sandwich, chicken and waffles, the coconut cake and a sundae. Everything was very good and I highly recommending saving room for dessert! read more

If I could reasonably host my wedding here I would. Am I engaged? No. Do I even have a boyfriend? Also no. But this place makes me feel so safe and happy. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is the best I've had in the city (maiden lane also fire grilled cheese) but somehow the soup never gets cold???? It's amazing. I think every dining area has like 7+ windows and the vibe is just so relaxed. Not sure how people have rated it lower. Come to empire diner and get the grilled cheese + tomato soup read more

My friend and I were wandering around Chelsea and passed by Empire Diner. It looked very vibey with the outdoor seating and music playing (love all the Ava Max!). Service was a little slow but they were swamped for a 1:30 pm on a Sunday. What we ordered: - Wedge Salad ($16): I thought this was great and decently priced. It looks huge and overwhelming at first but when you cut it, everything was appropriately portioned. - Omelette ($18): my friend liked it The bathroom situation is weird. There's one on the first floor and another one upstairs. The line was taking soooo long for both so I ended up just leaving. read more

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Food 7/10 Loved the raspberry caramel espresso martini first of all. The food was solid diner food. Tbh my first diner experience, and I'm glad I got to experience this place. The food itself was good. Decent enough but not outstanding and a bit on the pricier side. I got the eggs benedict and my friend got the tomato soup and sandwich. Nothing out of the ordinary. Atmosphere 9/10 Really cool retro vibes. A lot of natural lighting Service 8/10 Nice and quite fast. read more

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Extremely Disappointed - Would Not Return This was my first--and definitely last--visit. I ordered the short rib meal, and it arrived cold. The watermelon drink I chose was essentially sparkling water with no trace of watermelon flavor. Service was lacking, with our waiter only coming by once or twice during the entire meal for a group of us. To make matters worse, the bill came to over $200 for what was truly one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. The final kicker? On the way out, there's a manager at the door giving your waiter a look for confirmation that you paid. They open the door like it's a courtesy, but it's clearly more of a security check. Overall, poor food, subpar service, and uncomfortable vibes. I recommend skipping this place entirely. read more

One a the best Diners in NYc and on the West Side be it on 20th Street as well...! I had last eaten there some 45-50 years ago But through the test a time... It will and can serve up the best diner made Hamburger this side of the Hudson River & By far..!. read more

Nice place. Got steak and eggs and pancakes - the steak and eggs were really unique, with a chimichurri-type sauce and potatoes. The steak was very juicy and enjoyable. The pancakes were also fantastic, with a really good portion to price ratio. Our server, Percy, was amazing. We came in and told them that we were in a rush, and they were extremely accommodating, helping us get out as soon as possible. Percy was also extremely personable and attentive. Very enjoyable spot! read more

What looks like a retro diner on the outside isn't the same as what you get on the inside, as Empire Diner houses trendy tables, lighting, and a large bar. Unlike what you might expect from a diner that serves breakfast/brunch food all day, Empire Diner has a dinner-specific menu with entrees priced between $22-38 each. The Waldorf salad was okay--the fruit and chicken was delicious, and the greens seemed fresh, but the dressing lacked flavor and just tasted like oil, which was disappointing (but the portion size was large, which was a plus). The daily special was a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich, which was good flavor, but got soggy pretty quickly. The service was friendly, but slow, especially because there weren't that many people in the restaurant. read more

Empire Diner - Daily Special: Turkey Sandwich with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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We walked by this place every single day and admired how adorable it looked each and every time. We were always on the move so we weren't able to stop in until our last day. We grabbed a seat outside and were promptly greeted by an amazing server. Despite it only being 9am, cocktails were had and they did not disappoint one bit. The Bloody Mary was dressed to perfection and A Berry Good Thyme was just what i needed to get my day started. The entire menu sounds delicious but The Empire Omelette blew me away, i am not exaggerating, this is the best omelette i have ever had. The boursin cheese is a game changer folks. Everything about this experience was *chef's kiss* read more

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This joint is amazing!! Food was excellent! Sat at the bar which is my fav place to dine,especially in a diner!! Had so much fun with bartender DAISY, who was awesome! Large portions of food!! Loved the experience in a hot atmosphere! read more

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