Empire Tap Room
(650) 321-3030
651 Emerson St
Palo Alto,
CA
94301
37.4437
-122.1609
Neighborhood: University South
What People Are Saying About Empire Tap Room
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The best thing about the beloved Empire Grill, though, is its fabulous patio. It's hard to feel more blessed than you do dining on a warm day at one of the patio tables with friends, or even with business associates (that's how pleasant it is). A little trickling fountain and rustling greenery make it hard to believe you're in downtown Palo Alto.
The Food
To go with the well-chosen microbrews and imports on tap, the menu showcases unfussy dishes and assertive flavors that could be characterized as California cuisine with no pretention. It's not pub grub, but there are plenty of rib-sticking grilled meats, roasted new potatoes, and fried calamari. Small pizzas and steamed mussels make great shared snacks when drinking at the long Honduras mahogany bar or at one of the eight oversized booths.
User Reviews
ebruapak
June 15, 2008
Sitting on the patio is good but that is the only nice thing about that restaurant. I was there 6 years ago thinking the quality of the food changed, but not really! My soup was cold and the white wine was served at room temp. The mussels were tiny, needed a microscope. Certainly, I am not going there again! If you want to, then go on a full stomach and have a drink only.
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jannette111
August 09, 2007
Service here is horrendous!!!! They did not have our reservation for our party of six (which granted, sometimes happens). We waited almost an hour to get served *drinks* on a not-so-crowded Thursday night even after we politely asked if our drinks were on their way. The mediocre food was served over 1 1/2 hours later then our server informed my friend that the entree he had ordered was not available. My friend tried to speak to the manager who shrugged his shoulders and said that his waitstaff was inexperienced. I used to love this place for the outdoor patio and have been coming here for years. The service is so dismal, I refuse to ever set foot in this place again until management changes.
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Anonymous
August 09, 2007
I used to come to ETR frequently to enjoy the fabulous outdoor patio area. I've come to realize that the average food and poor unfriendly service is not worth the outdoor ambiance. On a recent weekday outing, our waitress was rude and impatient. Our drinks and food took over one hour to be served which was surprising since the restaurant was half full. I will not go here again due to the awful service.
read full reviewThe Details on Empire Tap Room
Belgian Brews:
Empire Tap Room is known to offer a goodly number of exotic Belgian beers.
More Beer:
Try a hand-crafted brew at the fabulous Gordon Biersch just down the street.
Dinner, Drinks and Movie:
Downtown Palo Alto is home to one of the area's best art theaters, the Aquarius.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Cash, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene
