Empire Burgers + Brew — Restaurant in Naperville

Empire Burgers + Brew is a true gem located in the heart of Naperville. From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a world where rustic charm meets industrial chic. The ambiance is electric, with reclaimed wood accents, and an impressive bar that beckons you to pull up a stool and stay awhile. One of the highlights of Empire Burgers + Brew is the presence of a music stage, promising live performances that add an extra layer of excitement to your dining experience. Although I arrived late at night and missed out on the live entertainment, the stage itself hinted at the vibrant atmosphere that this establishment cultivates. I had the pleasure of indulging in the Gronk burger, featuring double C.A.B. patties, cheddar cheese, fried onion straws, applewood smoked bacon, all tucked between a pretzel bun and drizzled with beer BBQ sauce. Let me tell you, this burger was a sight to behold. It was a monstrosity of a creation, towering impressively on the plate. But it wasn't just its size that left me in awe; it was the explosion of flavors with every bite. The juicy patties, perfectly cooked, paired harmoniously with the sharpness of the cheddar cheese and the crunch of the fried onion straws. The applewood smoked bacon added a smoky richness, while the beer BBQ drizzle tied everything together with its sweet and tangy notes. And that pretzel bun? Pure perfection, adding a hint of saltiness and a satisfying chewiness to each mouthful. By the time I finished my meal, I was already planning my return visit. Not only to satisfy my craving for another Gronk burger but also to experience Empire in all its glory, complete with a live performance that I'm sure will only enhance an already unforgettable dining experience. If you're a carnivore looking for your next culinary adventure, look no further than Empire Burgers + Brew. Trust me, you won't be...

Drinks - 3.5/5 stars Food - 3/5 stars (what I actually got to eat, see story below) Service - 1/5 stars (see story below)

TLDR; Waiter put in the wrong toppings for my burger. Instead of having my burger remade - he had them scrape the avocado off and told me it was a different burger. Pictures attached.

I was out exploring downtown Naperville with my Wife and her family yesterday (Sunday, 5/21/23). After hours of walking, we decided to stop in at Empire to eat dinner (it was roughly 830ish).

We ordered drinks and food. The drinks were okay and came out promptly.

I ordered a burger with bacon and cheese only and their poutine appetizer. When everyone's food came out, the Waiter had a plate that had a burger with avocado and cheese on it. He brought it over to me and explained that he must have accidently put avocado instead of bacon. He asked me if I was allergic to avocado, to which I replied "No, but I do not like avocado. Please just make me a new one." He apologized and walked back to the kitchen. Moments later, he walked back up to our table and said "Sorry about that, I grabbed the wrong burger". After he walked away, I lifted my bun to see remnants of the avocado - mainly a green color on the underside of the top bun and on the cheese itself.

I'm not sure why he felt the need to lie to me about grabbing the wrong burger. I'm also not sure why they wouldn't just make me a new burger when they made the mistake (clearly evident by the fact that I did not have to tell him that it was wrong - he told me). This is especially frustrating because we had a $300 tab after the tip.

Empire should probably focus on training for customer service instead of being lazy. Overall, really disappointed with this visit and we will not...

I would only go back for a few select drinks, and our server Jane. She was amazing and super attentive! This place got my hopes up, but it was a complete let down. My first mistake was a whiskey sour.. on tap. There was no egg white in it at all, but then again it was a tap drink. Our table was very sticky when we sat down. The food was the biggest let down. Everything was extremely underseasoned, to no seasoning at all. We had the "tots" (they turned out more like latkes) which were super dense, and served with undercooked, snotty egg whites. The burger cigars were just ok. The burger meat was super greasy, and they were completely drowned in honey. They were sitting in a pool of it. My husband ordered the Sophia Loren, but with grilled chicken. No seasoning on the chicken, but by no means dry. The big dipper burger.. it was a grease bomb. I ordered it medium rare and it was medium well. It was so soaked with grease, but still had big pieces of fat left uncooked in it. You could tell it was oxidized, and it was burnt on the outside. I took one bite and my husband actually offered to switch with me. The grease just coated your mouth and made everything unpleasant. I would definitely come back for their my blue boy frozen cocktail, and it seemed the quality of the handmade drinks was so much better than their draft cocktails. There was a lot of staff standing around doing nothing, which brings me back to the sticky table. No one seemed to be paying attention to their tables, and the place seemed very dirty to have that many staff members. Would not recommend. Will not be back. 100+ dollars for two people to not be able to eat half the food is just...