Empire Restaurant — Restaurant in Bengaluru

(Deserved 4, but earned 3 – here's why...)

We, a group of six young cousins, visited this restaurant in full-on fun mode, expecting good food and better service. What we got instead was a crash course on how not to treat customers — especially ones who look like they might not "order enough." Apparently, judging customers based on appearance is still in fashion here.

From the get-go, we felt like uninvited guests at someone else’s party. Zero follow-ups, painfully slow service, and a wait that felt like we were on an airport runway waiting for a delayed flight to nowhere.

The food journey (aka: the waiting game): We ordered one full mutton biryani and a full chicken kabab — quite reasonable for six people. Plates arrived swiftly (to fake us out, I guess), but surprise — after 10 minutes, we were informed, “Oops! Mutton ran is over. Only half portion available now. Want chicken tandoori biryani instead?” What choice did we have? Hunger was winning.

Another 10 minutes passed. The chicken kabab finally showed up. Tasty, sure — but we finished it in 5 minutes and went back to staring at the empty table. 15 more minutes later, they finally graced us with the mutton biryani. At this point, hunger had turned to hanger. Pro tip: Take notes from Meghana’s Koramangala branch — at least they know how to handle rush and hungry stomachs.

Trying to salvage the mood, we ordered popcorn chicken kabab and basa fillets. Another 20 minutes down the drain. By then, biryani was done, fingers were dry, spirits were low. Even the finger bowl and billing were slow. We had planned to order dessert — but their delays killed the vibe and our appetite.

Now for the actual food review (finally):

Mutton ran biriyani – 4.5/5 Loved it. Spicy, yes. Could use more flavour layers. But the mutton? Melting, juicy, delicious. Hands down the best part of the meal.

Chicken tandoori biryani – 3/5 Decent, but clearly living in the shadow of its mutton cousin. More “meh” than “wow.”

Chicken Kabab – 3.5/5 Crispy, tasty, not spicy. Not everyone loved it, but it did its job.

Popcorn chicken kabab – 3.5/5 Crispy and well done, served in good quantity — but apparently, dips are optional here. Because we got nothing.

Basa fillets – 4.5/5 Easily the surprise star of the evening. Served hot in banana leaf, red chili masala done right, and yes — dip was provided this time. But honestly, it didn’t need one. A must-try if you're into spicy fish.

Ambience & Pricing:

Ambience? Chef’s kiss. Lovely spot, very well done. Pricing? Slightly on the higher side — but acceptable for a one-time try. Service? If patience is your strength, you might enjoy the challenge.

Final Verdict: The food may impress, but the service will definitely test your mood. If you're planning to go, take a snack along — just in case time slows down again in...

HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE WITH EMPIRE RESTAURANT. I came in at 1.15am to order from easy bites, they were actually closing as there were cops who weren't allowing to serve customers as it was late and I understand the situation and asked to staffs if there was any other option, they insisted me to enter through back door and they'll serve me inside the dinning area. I entered dinning area roughly at 1.25am and there was a crowd at the time too. I waited untill the waiter attended me, he came to me at 1.40am I ordered from the easy bites menu(I was not given a menu btw), I also told him to check if they can get me that item from easy bites as out side they were closing up(he didn't bother that and just told he'll get it), after telling my order I don't think if he/they confirmed my order (he asked for my number but when I went on to say he just ignored and went off from my table, so I don't think if the order was confirmed), then I waited for sometime, I again called him regarding the update to my order, he came to me and told it'll be coming in sometime, then I asked him for the menu if I could order something else untill then he said no he wouldn't be giving the menu rather he went on to tell what all they have, he was behaving very bad so I was like leave it lets just wait for the order to come. After a while I even saw other people at their tables getting a menu, wonder what he was thinking and treated a customer like this. After some more time I told him to check on it, I don't think he went to check on the order. Then at 2.10am he comes walking towards me saying no it's not there, He comes walking towards me by telling this!!!!! Am I his friend?? Couldn't he come to me and tell, from a far distance he goes on to tell!!! I was very frustrated with it, he tells me that it's closed long back and can't get it. Then why did they kept me waiting I could have ordered something else gone somewhere else made me wait for so long atleast I would have tried somewhere else where I could have got some food atleast at that time. It was midnight and I was just expecting some good food and THIS IS HOW EMPIRE TREATS. He goes on to ask some worst of worst apologies, doesn't even mean what he did. They tried offering me to take something else and would deliver it to my table in under 10mins and why should I fall for it now. ALWAYS LOVED EMPIRE FOR AGES, NOT A GOOD WAY TO TREAT A CUSTOMER LIKE THIS AND AT THE VERY TIME. I need a response to this empire team or else I have my ways to...

I will talk only about this particular outlet in Church Street. One of the worst Empire Outlet in entire Bangalore. Pathetic service by the waiters and managers.

Firstly, they will keep on irritating you to order more for other dishes as well and literally they have started marketing inside the restaurant by selling some coconut pudding. Today it's 1st March 2025, I went their with my husband and friends for dinner. I ordered 4 Chicken Shawarma Roll - Rs 90 per roll and 2 fresh lime soda - Rs 100 each and 1 water bottle Rs 20. The bill should be somewhere in between 650 to 680 including tax. But the bill was Rs 950 to 970 I guess. And in the bill it was not mentioned as Chicken Shawarma Roll instead it's mentioned as Chicken Tawa Wrap.

So while taking the order the waiter only asked do you want the roll wrap in Kubos or Rumali Roti. We said Rumali Roti, that's it. But instead of giving Chicken Shawarma Roll they have given complete different thing and trying to loot people. We were so exhausted by that time so while having we didn't even notice what roll was actually because it was tasting like Shawarma Roll only. But once we got the bill it was mentioned as Chicken Tawa Wrap and upon asking for the reason they are adament in not accepting their fault , not even a sorry by the waiter who made the mistake, instead they are trying to make us fools by giving all nonsense reasons. In one side they are saying it's Shawarma Roll only but with different wrap and from a different menu so the price was high, whereas we ordered from the normal menu where it mentioned as Rs 90. Later when I got furious then they reduced only 160 Rs from the bill. Guys please beware of this kinda scam from this outlet. Pathetic service.

Last month I went their with my In-laws and I ordered 1 half chicken biriyani and one full chicken biriyani. Trust me it felt like I made the biggest mistake of my life by going their to have lunch. Nonstop, I repeat nonstop the waiters were asking us to order more for different things. The more I was saying no the more they were coming up with new items and asking to try once. When finally I said with bit loud voice that we don't want anything then they stopped irritating but they were hovering around our table. Then I acted rudely then finally they went away.

Worst worst worst services by the restaurant staffs. Uncultured, unprofessional and now they are becoming fraud too. Wil never ever visit this...