Empire Coffee of Bloomington — Restaurant in Bloomington

Empire Coffee is another business living in the discarded shell of a former Pizza Hut, like a small hermit crab moving into the former dwelling of its larger kin. It hasn't been there for very long, they're still kind of new.

So inside, it is mostly new stuff, and it is mostly clean: I will give it that - however there are also video slot machines in this building, and there is no attempt whatsoever made to separate the portions of the establishment that are dedicated to gambling versus the portions of the establishment that are dedicated to food service.

And the food service is really probably my biggest point of contention, both the "food" and the "service" parts.

So, first, there were (at least) three items missing from the menu. Not just a "oh we ran out of that item" situation either, like literally - one of the items they simply don't have anymore at all but it is still on the menu because apparently whoever runs the place hasn't bothered updating the menu to no longer include the item that they literally no longer serve, one of the items was actually validly 86ed for the day, they were also out of the stuff to make my friends original drink choice, and as a bonus - when she did order food, an item to be included with the food order in question was simply not included with the item we ordered even though it says quite clearly on the menu that said item does come with a 3 oz cup of soup (apparently for dipping) so...

Not a great vibe from the standpoint of preparedness, but sometimes these things happen. I get that. However...

When I tried ordering my item which wasn't on the menu anymore, I got a long and convoluted explanation instead of something short and to the point, my friend got the same sort of convoluted explanation for why she couldn't have her original drink choice, and there was no offer whatsoever to replace or accommodate her missing item - even though the menu quite clearly says that it comes with a 3 oz cup of soup.

When I asked why the menu hadn't been updated I was told by the cashier that it was somebody else's job to do that because he only got paid 16 bucks an hour.

Also, I ended up paying $4 for a cup of apple cider at this boutique coffee shop that was literally just poured from a plastic gallon jug that came from a local Kroger's. I'm not sure how to justify the cost since that's the going rate for a half gallon if I walk six blocks up the street and buy it myself, but I do know that I won't be buying another one.

I'm sure that this could have been a better experience if the employee behind the counter had simply offered a couple of less jarring explanations, and had a couple of seconds worth of discussion to manage some expectations beforehand while we were ordering, instead of passing the buck to somebody who literally isn't there.

Also, "Sorry, we're out of that, can I get you guys something else?" does a lot more heavy lifting than watching a dude try to make it someone else's fault, and then not offer any alternatives or to make anything right.

It's not going to be a problem for me, I'm never going back there, but for the rest of y'all?

Set a low bar for yourself vis a vis this experience and you'll be happier. The food quality wasn't bad or good but so much of the experience was jarring, and to be blunt the food quality is not good enough to survive that jarring...

The most incredible donut we have ever had. Us foodie kids dropped in on a weekend whim, randomly took the vegan apple cider donut and nearly a month later still rave about it, we must go back! No other humbled old restaurant turned java house has become such a heroic church for all things amazing, the espresso phenomenal. My friend's London Fog, my spiced honey latte, this is the aim of smug barista city slicks. Now easily my favorite caffeine spot in all Bloomington, second best coffee in Illinois after Zion in Peoria, may Empire rule over my taste buds for the rest of time. Staff was fun, atmosphere dark and a bit romantic, they took their smooth time pulling shots. They urged me to pick the spiced honey over the other seasonal brews ensuring I knew the good stuff is made in house too. I used to imagine finding the fountain of youth in some unusual post apocalyptic half slumber January midnight yet no plot twist twists so hard to get me laughing like drinking and eating such incredible fare from a...

The good:

The service here was good--the barista was friendly, she gave me my scone immediately and I got my drink pretty quickly. The atmosphere is super cute with eclectic seating options that gives it a cozy feel. The slot machines are very visible and very much clash with the vibes of the rest of the shop but it's not completely obnoxious.

The bad: The lavender vanilla scone however was the most disappointing thing. I know scones tend on the drier side but this scone was like a cracker on the ends and it didn't taste fresh, at all. Like it had been sitting in that case for a while.

The just "okay": The espresso is decent. I got a gingerbread latte with oat milk and added vanilla. It wasn't anything to write home about but it was warm and sweet and caffeinated.

Maybe I just caught them on an off day in terms of pastry. I'd definitely drink their coffee again and even give the pastry another shot since the reviews trend more in...