Empire Turkish Grill — Restaurant in Houston

We came here on a Thursday afternoon during spring break, and we were the only customers there which made us think that service would be great since they didn't have to take care of anyone else. The server was ok, he seemed rather bored, and the guy refilling our drinks was slow to notice when our glasses were empty. 2 stars for the bread, appetizers, and lamb sis (chunks). We ordered tabbouli, baba ghannouj, ezme, and the lebni as appetizers. I've always loved their lebni with a hint of dill and crunch of walnuts. The baba ghannouj was ok, nothing special. The tabbouli was good I actually enjoyed it even with their unorthodox addition of minced white onion. The ezme didn't taste like anything in particular, it was ok. For the main dishes we ordered: 1) the combo for 2 people with chicken chunks, ground lamb, gyro, and lamb chunks, 2) cicken chunks and filet mignon chunks, 3) lamb chops and lamb sis (chunks). The pickled red cabbage that was on all the dishes was a but sweet and didn't taste like anything else, really. The onion was bad on all our dishes. The chicken chunks were a little too salty and not flavorful, the gyro was actually flavorful, the lamb chunks were the best part of the whole meal, a little on the dry side but seasones very nicely. The lamb chops and filet mignon were the biggest disappointment. The lamb chops were superbly thin and not flavorful, and the filet mignon was so chewy. It's so sad to see such a good cut of meat get thrown away as a result of poor execution. The rice was pretty boring, I didn't even bother tasting it. This used to be a place I would choose over kesra anyday, but after today I doubt I'll be...

Wow, talk about authentic Turkish cuisine... Empire knows how to do it right! I've been here many times, but it's been a while since our last visit. We stopped for the lunch special which is a killer deal!! $12.95 for a Soup/Salad and an Entree. Plenty of food! This dish left me pleasantly satisfied.

I ordered the Green Salad (with added Feta!) to start. I'll admit, I really don't care much for cucumbers or red onions - very strong flavors IMO. However, the flavors of all of ingredients were so refreshing and absolutely delicious. My wife was looking at me funny because she knows I don't like either of those. That's how you know it was good. All ingredients of this salad were equally chopped, so every bite allowed for a perfect mixture of flavors

I also ordered the Adana Kebab. Holy smokes. This was beautifully laid on top of a bed of fluffy rice pilaf. The juices from the kabob mixed in with the rice, and boy was that a combo. The kabob was so tender, packed with flavor and had such a nice char that was kissed by the fire. Honestly, I didnt leave a single grain of rice left on the plate, it was that good. The accoutrement that was paired with the dish went together perfectly. The cabbage, the grilled peppers and tomatoes... Yum!

Also ordered a tea. Smooth and refreshing.

Whenever we're in the area, we try to stop at Empire. This place does not disappoint. Fair prices, quality food and such a nice environment. Check...

We eat here regularly and with good reason. In fact, the staff knows us and got really worried when my wife dined with an old high school friend who was in town (and I was out).

Food. Outstanding food. Great neighborhood service. Killer shepherd salad and lentil soup.

Service. Prompt. Friendly. Exactly what you would expect from a nicer place, just not the fancy uniforms or suits.

Environment. This is a cloth tablecloth/napkin environment. To the ire of my kids, I made them dress accordingly (ie - no basketball or windshorts). Exactly the type of place you would take a first date to impress without breaking the bank.

Summary 5 stars. Don't ruin it for me. Seating is limited and almost every night they have at least one large party keeping the staff busy.

For those who do not know me from my other reviews: I am not prone to hyperbole or drama. Eateries are judged by food, service and environment; in that order and in context with expectations. I like picking new places that have been panned badly by "local" guides to see why the fuss. If it is a place I go to regularly, I...