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The Empire Grill
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Steakhouses Canadian (New), Steakhouses [Edit]
47 Clarence StOttawa, ON K1N 9K1
(613) 241-1343
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
14 reviews for The Empire Grill
14 reviews in English
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Review from Cindy H.
5/7/2012
Made a reservation for our group of 12 and was accommodated nicely.
Upon our arrival for brunch, our table was situated in its own private room which was had large windows looking onto Byward Market.
Our waitress was attentive without being overbearing, as it took a while for decisions to be made.
Everyone was impressed with the food quality. The classic breakfast ($10) was a generous portion and the strawberry-chocolate french toast tasted amazing ($13). Other highlights included the fluffy red-velvet pancakes, light Rocket Salad ($12) and the pulpy, freshly squeezed orange juice.
Service was great - food came out very quickly and the waitress had no issues with splitting orders and individual cheques.
I would return to the Empire Grill, as many Yelpers have great things to stay about the steaks! -
Review from Catherine M.
Halifax County, NS
3/28/2012
The Empire Grill is one of my favourite places to eat when I'm in Ottawa. It's in the Byward Market area, so it's normally an easy walk from wherever we are staying.
The decor is very modern and it's the kind of place you can go to really unwind after a long day.
I always order a steak at the Empire Grill. It is a steak house, after all, and honestly, their steaks are consistently very good and cooked to perfection.
On my last visit I started with the rocket salad, made with arugula, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette. It was light and fresh and a nice way to start my meal.
For my main I ordered the 8 ounce filet and we shared a broccolini in garlic olive oil and the black and white truffle mac and cheese.
The steak was cooked to perfection, medium and just as I like it. The broccolini was perfectly cooked and maintained some crispness without being undercooked. The truffle mac and cheese was the real star of the show, and I probably could have made a meal of that alone. Absolutely sinfully delicious. -
Review from Sandra M.
12/6/2011
On December 3rd, My husband and I made a reservation for the Empire Drill while visiting Ottawa for the weekend.
The decor/lighting is very appealing, the staff were courteous and attentive, also the music was at a reasonable level for conversations. The bathrooms (down a flight of steps) were clean and relatively modern.
The Martini/cocktails were well made. We quite enjoyed the ceasar. The bacon wrapped scallops and their sauce were delicious. The calamari was okay while not bad.
For our mains, we ordered the steak pasta which was tasty and heavy. The Asparagus was perfect 9not over done). The Bison burger was very over cooked (charred even) and tough. We have definitely had better. The braised pork belly, boar bacon, goat cheese and truffle Aioli toppings were amazing.
I also ordered a side of their black and white truffle mac and cheese. I was not wild about the penne pasta but the flavour was delicious. I only wish I'd had room to finish it all (or a microwave at the hotel for a snack later).
We had to pass on dessert as we had reached our limit. We were there closer to 2 hours, and we were not rushed near the end. Our waters were always full. The staff seemed to work well together which adds to an enjoyable experience. -
Review from Coy W.
9/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Came by last night for the first time even though I've admired their patio all summer. I can't help going to Stella's patio it's just so much more central. However I don't want to get off track.
We came here for a birthday dinner and I arrived a bit late. The hostess help me track down my table and had a good look around the place. The decor is very nice and the crowd is slightly older than most of the places that I've been to on Clarence.
It took some time to get my order through and I decided to go for the Angus burger.
The burger was good, a little overcooked but definitely good. It was pretty plain and I got a large order of fries. Not Baton Rouge size but still a generous portion. The price is in line with Eighteen price range on York St. It $17 for a burger and fries if you're wondering. It was one of my better meals on Clarence St.
I was told after Empire Grill is known for their steaks. One of the guys that had a steak didn't love it and thought it could have been a lot better. I will definitely try the steak but I don't like hearing about someone not loving something a restaurant is supposed to specialize in. A tip is to order your steak 1 level lower than how you want as all the steaks were overcooked at our table.
I found the service ok, not great but definitely not terrible. I probably won't be coming back during the winter but will come back again in the summer to sit on that patio of theirs. -
Review from Lani B.
11/25/2011
Hit this spot with a group of eight for dinner and drinks after work. We were seated promptly as we had reservations.
They were in the midst of changing their menu so when one of my friends tried to order a seafood dish, it was not available. Thought it was odd that they had chosen to stop serving items before they had their new menu for their patrons. Even a "disposable" print menu until they had new permanent ones made up would have been better. Took two tries before she could order a dish that they WERE serving. I don't remember what she ended up with, but I do remember that when we asked where the seafood had come from (Was it wild or farm-raised...was it sustainably fished?) she had no idea. For the prices of the dishes, I expect a knowledgeable waitstaff. Seems like they'd be a cut above the other By Market eateries if their waitstaff took time to know their menu and their foodstuffs. It's a small thing, but polish that I expect for these prices. Overall, service was friendly and prompt. Attentive staff, but not hovering annoyingly at your elbow for removes.
We had steaks, chicken, seafood, and the antipasto Empire Platter. Three bottles of great wine. Food was really good, but it was so loud and echo-y that I could hear no one in my party except for people to my immediate left and right.
So why three stars? If I'm paying that much for my meal, I want the whole package. I want staff that knows what is coming out of the kitchen, a setting where I can hear all the conversation, and menus that reflect what is available---on TOP of friendly service and great food. I've had meals that yummy for much less. Perhaps it's the location that's driving up prices, but not sure it's really worth it. -
Review from Chloe P.
Ottawa, ON
11/9/2010
I've eaten at five star hotel restaurants, so I've had several steaks in my lifetime but I can say I was certainly impressed with the Empire Grill. My steak was mouthwatering.
Yes, the decor is lovely, but the staff are welcoming and not pretentious. Great views of the Byward Market. I wouldn't reccommend bringing a young family here but it's a great place for a cozy dinner for two. -
Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
12/17/2010
The sprawling Byward Market patio brings in a lot of people in the summer and the cozy and warm atmosphere with large windows over the Market entice people in the winter.
I was brought in because the place was located close to a pub myself and two friends were headed to after some quiet drinks and appetizers.
We split some bruschetta and were OK with what we ordered. It certainly wasn't worth what we paid but we knew the place had a reputation as being a bit pricey so no one was really surprised. What was sort of annoying was that we were seated right near the kitchen and it was quite loud with lots of people coming and going all night.
The Empire Grill is one of those "be seen" places in Ottawa but really I don't know if it's worth it. In fact, the last time I was there a former premier was sitting at the table next to us. We didn't complain about our table being so close to the loud kitchen because we figured if he didn't complain we shouldn't either! -
Review from Mark W.
Vancouver, BC
10/7/2009
I had a great steak at the Empire Grill last night. I really liked the place. Everyone, especially our sweet waitress, was friendly.Someone at work recommended this place to my boss, who invited me, by the way. My boss ordered the New zealand lamb and said it was very good quality. We also got a couple of caesar salads and some sides of mushrooms and baked potatoes.
I would return but probably only if my boss was paying again. -
Review from Azim A.
Ottawa, ON
10/21/2008
The Empire Grill has only been around the capital city for about 10 years now, but it has swiftly cemented itself as the place to dine. Popular for high-powered business lunches during the week, and chic destinations for couples on the weekends, Empire Grill has a very elegant decor and an ambience that is modeled after contemporary New York City fine dining.
The food itself is quite good; though not out of this world. If you're eating in a group of 3 or more, do try the Mediterranean Platter, with roasted red pepper dip, tzatziki, basil salsa, white bean truffle dip and other sauces, served with grilled breads.
If you want your own dish, the New Zealand Rack of Lamb is worth checking out, and I'm not even usually a lamb fan. The Alberta Bison Strip Loin is splendid. The Caesar salad is decent though a bit dry, and the Empire Pasta is solid. The Brooklyn Pizza is disappointing, as the sauce lacks taste and the crust was burnt.
The service is professional and courteous, but its really the atmosphere and ambience that makes this worth the visit. You really do feel like you're eating in an upscale Manhattan restaurant. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
6/15/2009
This place is so prominently stationed in the market, it draws the walk by crowd all the time. I must admit, the patio is sweet during nice weather but the food is less than spectacular and pricer.
I had the burger, which was adequate, but you'd think they would at least shine on that. Great place to meet a big group but otherwise try other locations for dining. -
Review from K C.
Hudson, QC
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Atmosphere & decor is very cool, yet in the trendy environment staff are not pretentious at all; everyone was very friendly, joking around with us and the other tables in a way that's quite welcoming. The food and drinks are a little pricier than some other bars & restaurants in the area, but the experience & food is worth it. In the past we've gone for just drinks & appetizers and for full meals ... always good.
-
Review from Tyler D.
8/11/2011
SOLID place to get a drink and away from the busy bar scene. Very attractive talent. Didn't try the food but it's on the to do list.
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Review from Ashley B.
2/16/2010 3 photos
Empire is strictly mediocre. I'm getting a little tired of places that think they can charge ridiculous prices solely because of their decor. Yes, it's a nice room to sit in, BUT does that mean it's worth a $150 for a meal for two people?
The answer is no.
The food was uninspired and ordinary. To compare Empire to a true, quality steakhouse is an insult to everywhere else that takes their food seriously. My mashed potatoes tasted like they had come out of a box and the side of asparagus was completely flavorless.
I'm sure Ottawa has better to offer than somewhere that uses a blatant gimmick, their supposed New York style theme, to entice and persuade people into believing that they are worth anyone's time or money.
To add insult to injury, after paying the bill, the girl who had checked our coats had disappeared. We waited a couple of minutes, hoping someone would help but were completely ignored. In the end we had to go find our coats ourselves, with no help from the staff.
In summary, this place is LAME.
Go somewhere else and support an establishment that cares about its food and patrons. -
Review from Jason D.
Ottawa, ON
10/21/2008 1 photo
The Empire Grill may be located on the fringe of the Byward Market, but in terms of decor, ambience, hospitality and (most importantly) the food, it really is the centre of the district. Although there are other offerings on the menu (soup, pizza, pasta, etc.) you have to order the meat - my apologies to any veggies out there. The Empire Grill serves up juicy big hunks of meat. You can order sides (sweet potato fries, mushrooms...) but don't waste your energy chewing and digesting empty vitamins. Focus on the meat. I had a fillet and it literally melted in my mouth. Yes, the prices are a little higher than the average dinner out (my fillet was in the $30s) but, considering the location, the quality of the meal, the attentiveness of the staff and the overall feeling of lushness, I left believing I got what I paid for.
