Review The Empire Tavern - Auckland Central

Had breakfast here and they did not disappoint. The meal was delicious and coffee was well made. Service was also very friendly and prompt. I got the big breakfast and felt the serving was a good size and fulled me up well. Highly recommend this place!

Cosy and warm. Husband had the steak special. Done perfectly to his specs, tasty and tender. I had the bangers and mash special. A smaller portion size, a little bit more mash to go with the gravy, peas and sausages would have been good. Quite tasty. Came back for breakfast 2 mornings. Good coffee & bap deal. Omelette was also delicious. Friendly and fast service.

Small pub in a great central location. Nice atmosphere with dark timber and red leather studded booth seating. Enjoyed a prawn cocktail, but unfortunately I didn't have time for anything else on the menu. I walk past often and love the music they play.

Super underrated place in my opinion. Place has a cafe, massive bar with an upstairs rooftop area, and even a burger joint attached. Always come for the $25 Tiger Jugs (they are $50+ anywhere else on Ponsonby) Would recommend for some drinks as a pre-going out spot. Usually have some great deals on mixed drinks too if you’re into that.

An awesome, unassuming pub with some of the best food around. The service was great and the courtyard out back with a covered roof is a great place to get some fresh air but escape the rain

Lively atmosphere. The setup of the place was the best part. Service was good, food was ok. We ordered the $10 steak, fries and coleslaw with the purchase of a full priced drink. Margarita was average but the mango drink was awesome!

Amazing cafe in town. One of best food n customer service. If u follow me or read my review, price,customer service n food key to cafe business. How critics I can be. So this is highly recommended. Regularly here for great 5 dollars bacon n egg muffin with salad. Where can u get this kind of price. Have I mentioned large coffee only 3.5 dollars. Plus even it’s cheap but damn the food quality is amazingly great. Come n enjoy.

This is great pub food ans atmosphere with excellent service... can be loud but to be expected! Easy parking too (free after 6!)

Great service. Great atmosphere. Meals good value for money. Kitchen good delivery time

Had a wonderfully cooked eye fillet steak for $30. Great value. Really nice atmosphere and friendly staff

Excellent food, drink, atmosphere and service. He had bangers and mash with a glass of Murphy Ale. I had a lemonade and a garden salad (not pictured)

Consistently delicious menu and attentative, friendly service. Always a fave for meeting up with friends or business lunches. An icon of Auckland!

The food is absolutely fantastic. The staff is friendly but stretched to thin to properly serve customers.

Monday & Thursday Nights is $10 pizza night after 7pm, if you're keen and want some tasty pizza then I highly recommend "The Lady Killer" it seemed to be the favourite of the group. Atmosphere is nice, can get loud but it's a bar & bistro so what do you expect. Service and wait staff were helpful as well. It's a good after work place to meet if you're in the CBD.

Friendly staff. Great pub food. I had pork and fennel sausage with mash, peas and gravy. Delicious!

These guys were amazing. There for 12 hours as part of Day in Loo and was blown away with everyone. And thanks for letting us use the venue ♥️

The Empire!!!! a place with fantastic happy hour deals, great friendly staff, and beers from the gods.<br/>Want a big place to crack some cold ones with the boys on a Friday night - then Empire your boy. Music is aiite last night they played some old school bangers like darude sandstorm hahaha which deserves an A+<br/><br/>

Requested medium rare got well done...<br/>Steak was tough...<br/>Gave this feedback to waiter...<br/>Wasnt his fault...<br/>Just want to support local post-covid...

The happy hour deals are great, definitely worth making the most of. I had a veggie pizza which was enough to share and tasted really good! The steak deal seems great, but is definitely suited to the price. Chewy and tough which meant your small piece is even smaller with the amount you leave on the plate. Very spacious which is deceiving from outside.

Have walked by this place almost daily because of work. Finally got a chance to check this place out during a Pub quiz. There's a reason they've been around for a while because they're just just a good pub. Beers were great and the steak special was much better than expected! Overall pretty decent.

Great place to catch up with friends or have a fun date. Love the building it's in. My partner and friends love this place. The staff are always great a attentive. Steak is good and great price as well as the drinks.<br/>Would recommend!

Always wanted to come here since whenever, seen and go by this place countless times and finally got to dine in to try their scotch steak special and was delicious to the end, place is quite outdated but nice and cozy though.

Very friendly staff and cocktails over here are must try. They look beautiful and taste even better. I have tried few of their food options and it's okay for a vegetarian and amazing options for non-veg food.

I did not try any of the food or drinks. But my 1 star is for the misleading information given by the owner regarding an event planned. She took my money on the basis of the misleading information and told me 3 days before the event taking place. This led to me cancelling my event but also my large deposit not being refundable. I was tricked and cheated.

They have one of the best lunch deals in town!<br/><br/>My friends and I always have a great time every time we visit this restaurant. The price and quality of the food are unbeatable. The ambience is perfect for catching up with some mates. Highly recommended!<br/>

The Empire is a beautiful building, with amazing venue spaces. But it is filled with some of the worst staff ever. <br/>We had our work Function one year & the bouncer was taunting our guests, in a way that would get them to start a fight just so they can get “kicked out” <br/>Our food didn’t come all out, they just gave about 8 platters & that was it. When it was supposed to be $900 worth of food.<br/>The bar staff cut our party short when it was supposed to close at 1am, they cut us off at 11pm & told us to leave.<br/>I do not recommend for big groups as they cannot handle big groups as a staff collective. <br/>Their events manager is wonderful. She handles all the emails & she is great. But the manager on the floor needs an attitude fixing, & really just needs to work on her people skills.<br/>Very disappointed in their staff.

Sarah, the duty manager, was very rude.My partner and I went to the counter to order the “$10 steak” because she wanted to try it. We didn’t see any menu, we just straight up asked for the steak. We were not told there was no sharing. My partner asked for a fork because I wanted to try the coleslaw. she was muttering something my partner couldn’t understand. Then my partner saw the cutlery station and told Sarah that she found some fork, coz she thought she was getting some. Sarah, the manager grabbed it, literally grabbed it from my partner’s hand and snapped “NO SHARING”. We were shocked. She then went to the other table behind us and did a check back very sweetly and came over to our table, no hi, not asking how the food was, but scolded us straight away, in front of the other customers and said “I TOLD YOU GUYS THERE IS NO SHARING”. It was as if we owe her the meal. She came over to the table to scold us, as like children caught eating candy before dinner time. Imagine having a manager on a restaurant come over to your table JUST SO SHE CAN TELL YOU OFF AND NOTHING ELSE. It was just to scold us, as if we were stealing food, or begging for one for that matter. So I asked if it includes the chips, as I was just munching one, she said yes. We did not know. She could have said it professionally if it is beyond her people skills to say it nicely. We were wondering what got her really upset in the first place when we did not have any encounter with her aside from the fork. She didn’t even bother to ask how the meal was, nothing. We were just told off right away, with eye roll and hand gesture before she stormed off. She was really pissed. Is this the great customer service you were talking about? This is VERY HUMILIATING AND CONDESCENDING FOR A PAYING CUSTOMER.

Came here for lunch during work. Ordered the $10 steak. In the end it cost $19.50, an extra $3 for sauce and an extra $5 for a drink as you had to get a drink to get the $10 steak. Overall still a good deal for lunch. <br/>The steak was tender and went well with the sauce. The coleslaw was nothing special and the fries were not as crispy.

I've been there for a hot chocolate before which was sugar and milk and maybe the wrose hot chocolate I ever had. I've been there today again to have 10 dollar steak with my partner. I'm pregnant and asked for a welldone steak but it was medium rare. When I asked staff to make it well done they didn't apologize and were not happy with my request. They brought the same steak back burnt with cold fries many different sizes on side. I wasn't able to eat as it taste like burnt iron &very dry skin and asked for mushroom souce which they charged us for it. They advised with $10 steak we have to order drink for extra cost and asked if orange juce is natural orange juce and the lady said yes natural and fresh which was from bottle. For an expecting 20 dollar food we paid 38 dollar. Not sure how they have 4 star rank!

Nice place to dine and hangout with friends. <br/>Located in prime area , suitable for all kinds of events. We had beer and pizza and i must say pizza was worth enough. Very friendly staff and nice ambience overall. <br/>Enjoyed there service. Kudos.

Been here a few times for quiz night and watching sports etc. Good local pub, friendly staff. Pizza is not bad "lady killer" seem to be the crowd favourite here.

This place has a huge and beautiful courtyard that's suitable for after work drinks or in our case, a nice lunch out. Between the four of us, we shared two pizzas and the fried cauliflower and cheese. We had the lady killer which was the classic chicken and Brie one but the highlight of my meal would definitely be the mexican pizza. I loved the mince and cheese as well as generous servings of guacamole, sour cream and tomato salsa!

Nice pub with very friendly staff. Came here on Tuesday night for their quiz night which was very fun. Food is good too, you can even go and order some burgers from the place next door which are yummy.

Lovely place to dine at, although you get the hustle and bustle of the lunch time queues it's fair to say the atmosphere and ambience makes up for it. Excellent customer service and the setup of the restaurant is fun and unique. It makes a good venue for work gatherings and functions. Ordered the scotch fillet $10 special and a juicy jay - a non alcoholic beverage. The steak was undercooked to my liking and not the best steak ive eaten but I can't fault the juicy jay - it was delicious! Can't wait to come back again and possibly try other things on the menu.

I usually go here because of the pub quiz night but I have had meals here as well. Love the drinks but their wedges are not that great. Could be better.

Ordered 2 steaks with drinks. Got the drinks and never got the steaks. After 45 mins I went to ask. They tried to tell me they gave our steaks already. Really?? Eventually got them afterwards.<br/><br/>My friend's portion was significantly less than mine too? (chips)

Good bar for a couple of after work drinks. The food is pretty decent especially the pizza however I think it's extremely overpriced. One pizza and two bowls of fries were $51... $14 for each bowl of fries which I personally think is expensive for what you get. Beer is cheap on happy hour though only $19/jug.

Nice place overall , with a good mix of all the elements <br/>Food quality and portions are good, the pizza range is good. The steak on the offer is not that good but fit for the price , the pizzas are good, the chicken quesadilla are also good.<br/><br/>There is a noticeable variance in the food taste on different visits probably due to long opening hours.<br/><br/>Will go again

This place is usually packed like sardines and that's why I recommend you go in a little bit early for your lunch or dinner. for people who like to drink, I guess this place has a lot of options for you. The décor is pleasant and fresh. the food though is inconsistent sometimes. Would I go there again, my answer is maybe but I am not a big fan.

Good service the people are friendly they're usually pretty consistent only had undercooked steak 2 out of the 100s of times I've eaten here...definitely one of my favourite place for a cheap meal and a beer.

These guys have a $10 steak special if you buy an accompanying drink. The steak comes with chips and slaw. Portion sizes are generous and you can opt for sauces on your steak for $3.50 extra. Flavor wise it all was pretty decent but both times I ate here the steak was way too charred. Not sure if it's intentional but I feel the bitterness is way too overpowering even with sauce.

This place has up and downs but overall I really enjoy it!nice flat white+ croissant deal (breakfast time)and unbeatable $10 meals(for lunch).

The staff are very friendly and I treated well always feel like home.<br/><br/>The steak with drink is good value. The atmosphere of the place is also good, with a court yard feel.<br/>

The staff here..will keep haunting u and keep asking you if u are ready to order....poor customer service skill..bad attitude and  no mannerism..wont ever go there...food is boring and bland too...

I always go the empire for a nice meal and drink once every while. The service is great, the staff are friendly and welcoming, would totally recommend going there 😄👍👍 Even though sometimes it's busy and your meal may take a little longer to come, it is understand able and I think people shouldn't get upset about it being a little late.

Phoned earlier this month to make a booking for a work dinner, and was asked to email my enquiry through, which I happily did.<br/>Received an email response with attached menu options, and to confirm numbers & which menu we want by Wednesday 14th December, which I did.<br/>I called them on Wednesday, gave my name (Tai), date for dinner, the confirmed numbers and the chosen $30 menu option.<br/>Arrived on Friday 16th, nothing was set up, because apparently, I was supposed to EMAIL my damn reservation, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Because the email I received didn't state your bloody preference of how you wanted me to confirm my booking!!<br/>We were set up in the cafe area as a last resort, food arrived very late, or they didn't have enough of certain items. Few of my colleagues either had to leave as dessert took so long to arrive, or went to find where the staff were, to ask when our food was coming.<br/>We Rate 7 for the food, but rate a 1-3 for the communication between the duty manager and her staff. I was so angry that night, but I'm glad my colleagues were able to make the most of it and enjoy themselves.<br/>However, big ups to Sarah and the girls who did their best with our "so-called last minute" reservation.<br/>Whoever that guy was that I spoke to on Wednesday 16th Dec around 5.20pm to confirm my booking.... what happened man? Did you even tell Sharon that I called?<br/>I still have a copy of my complaint that I emailed to her last Saturday, still haven't received a response.<br/>Worst customer experience.

If I could rate this lower, I would. We booked a group lunch at 12pm. Our table wasn't ready & we were squeezed onto a much smaller table. We ordered our meals. A number of items they'd run out of. We waited.. and waited. We asked several times but kept being told it would arrive in 5 mins. We left at 1.15pm with no hint of food in sight & no offer of any more drinks. Yes they were busy, but they could've stopped taking orders, told us there would be a delay. No apology, nothing. Will not be back.

Monday & Thursday Nights is $10 pizza night after 7pm, if you're keen and want some tasty pizza then I highly recommend "The Lady Killer" it seemed to be the favourite of the group. Atmosphere is nice, can get loud but it's a bar & bistro so what do you expect. Service and wait staff were helpful as well. It's a good after work place to meet if you're in the CBD.

Lamb Salad here is life !<br/>And the $10 Steak meals are always a go to.<br/><br/>Really appreciate the Kizomba on Tuesday and  Forro on Wednesday nights.

Empire has a good reputation of being a 'go-to' lunch venue for our office located at Victoria Park. This is largely thanks to their $10 + a drink lunch deal.<br/><br/>I've been here twice and each time my medium rare has been delicious and cooked well. The staff here a very friendly and it's nice having semi-outdoor seating options. I recommend coming here with a group of colleagues to enjoy the ambiance and reasonable lunch offers. The only thing stopping me from rating it higher is that several of my colleagues have had a badly cooked steak which I must take into account.

We usually go here for work leaving drinks/lunches etc.<br/>They are famous of their steak deal. This place is justtttt good enough.<br/>The service is great but the food isnt that tasty esp for the price you pay.<br/><br/>Quality - 3/5<br/>Service- 4/5<br/>Taste 2.5/5<br/>Will I visit again? Unfortunately yes, its close to my work place so it became the hub for all work leaving drinks.<br/>

I visited The Empire Tavern on a Friday lunch with work colleagues and we had the popular steak and fries for $10. (Warning, in order to get the steak for $10 you need to ordera drink)<br/><br/>The atmosphere was great, lot's of people from nearby offices and lovely setup for sunny days.<br/><br/>Service was very friendly and attentive and we were sourced a table quite quick, even when the place was really packed.<br/><br/>Food was ok, best you can expect for a $10 steak and chips.<br/><br/>I will be back.

A group of us came here to have lunch and we had terrible service from the lady with the short hair. However, the other waiters and waitresses were kind and helpful.

The Empire is our regular lunch spot. You seriously can't go wrong with the $10 steak meals with any drink purchase. Staff are so lovely and are a definitely a lively bunch! The owners of the place are always smiling and welcoming!

Also was there in the weekend and ended up in A&E after a really bad fall in the bathrooms. Would not recommend in the rain! The bar staff just mopped the floor but it was immediately slippery again. Very poor response to what could have been a bad situation with the amount of people I saw falling over.

Came to The Empire for a private function.Didn't expect a slip and slide.Saw multiple people slide along the floor and fall over. Mentioned the situation to a passing waitress  - who ignored me and walked off.Disappointed is an understatement. Won't return until safety has been greatly improved.

This place was full to overflowing. We were able to find a small table at the back and our orders were taken really quickly. I ordered ribs and asked to swap the wedges for shoestring fries - some how that request was lost in the noise but was easily sorted out when it came time to pay. I was expecting our meals to take a while but they arrived surprisingly quickly. The ribs were tender and the fries good.

Thanks to Colin and the team for helping us to organise a fantastic hens party in the function room. All of the staff were great, we had such a fun night.

Came to the Empire for a work lunch today! Had a really great time. We were seated at the outdoor area and it was bustling. Really nice environment perfect for a hot Friday. I ordered the salmon fish cakes and they were delicious, light and fluffy. Added with an apple cider, the experience was perfect. Will be back again!!

We've just been to the empire for dinner, we've been in previously just for drinks. I have to say I like the empire the building is nice and drinks are good and not over priced but the food was really disappointing- I had the lamb burger the burger was homemade always a plus point but the menu said it came with wedges no wedges arrived but normal packet chips when mentioned the waiter was not helpful!<br/>My friend had the pizza it was soggy, the toppings (ham and chicken) were pre packed stuff! <br/>The food at $22 per meal is over priced for the standard.....the plus was we got a free drink which we had to ask for...as there was no compensation offered for our poor food!<br/>Would return for a drink but not the food...I think customer service could be improved!!

Fun local place to watch the rugby and have a drink. Had breakfast there when the rugby World Cup was on and it was delish. He steak meals for $10 are a great option too. Simple pub food done well.

Its easy to confuse the cafe with the Empire as they seem to be attached and you can eat the food from the cafe in the pub. But they are both good even though they seem to have separate kitchens.<br/>I had a  baguette that was stuffed full of ham and swiss cheese and it was outstanding, also tried the pizza, toasted cheese sandwich and a berry cake, the coffee is also great. <br/><br/>It has a great internal courtyard that is a real sun trap and lovely for a sheltered break at lunchtime.

This is where we go to for after work drinks. I have also been here during the day to have a croissant and coffee which were both nice. <br/><br/>For after work drinks, this place is a great place for it. I like the covered courtyard area at the back because it's quite spacious. There are two bars inside and at the back but sometimes only one has a bar person so the service can be slow if it's busy. <br/><br/>Drinks are standard price though it was around $10 for a tall glass of cider. I haven't tried their proper food yet but we have had some of the bar snack type food. The wedges and chips are good and comes in a big bowl. On a Friday night during happy hour, you also get free food. The waiters go around the tables offering different kinds of finger food. I think this is such a great service which makes us come back. They offer a range of sausage rolls, spring rolls, garlic bread, cocktail sausages etc so there's something for everyone.

Went here for a leaving party last night! This place is very much like a pub but has a nice area at the back for private functions. The service was decent and the food wasn't too bad. We ordered the salt and pepper squid, chunky fries (one with cheese and bacon) and the arancini balls. All were served fresh and pipping hot. My favourite dish was the squid - succulent and juicy with a really tasty coating. Some of the food is reasonably priced. They have a good range of drinks available but cocktails are abit pricey at $17 a pop, however they are a good size. The Peaches cocktail was delicious.

The Empire has the grooviest vibes when they have the live music thing goin' on in their sheltered outdoor area! This place is rad. I remember always feeling quite peaceful (it's the serene vibe!!) when my mornings started off here, even when it was busy. Luckily for me, I always happened to be there before the rush of customers. The staff were always friendly and the service was efficient. Maybe it was the way I always felt, walking out of empire: content!<br/><br/>The breakfast is simple but tasty. Nothing too fancy - yet, still enjoyable. I've been here for dinner too! The $10 scotch fillet deal? HOW CAN YOU SAY NO? Wine and steak on a Sunday cheap as chips = happy belly, happy heart, happy wallet. It was extremely satisfying and so delicious.

As the name suggests this place is as vast as any empire. A very convenient location makes it even more attractive. I have been here few times before for work drinks before the zomato days. So with a group of friends I went for lunch on a weekday.. it wasn't busy at all when we arrived. But it took a while to get the orders. Gradually the place got lot busier. Food was delivered rather quickly and tasted very pub food like. But yeah always a great spot for work party.<br/>Must try : scotch fillet for $10... OMG<br/>

I have been here a few times with a large group of people. The steak and drink special is awesome. The food comes out hot and fresh and super fast. Great service. lots of room for large groups of people. Nice indoor outdoor flow.

Lovely place to to get a cold pint and do an awesome $10 steak with chips & coleslaw. Always a firm favourite around our work. Friendly staff & great atmosphere!

Nephews 21st party. The bar food was very good. Seafood platters pizzas corn chips and strips of beef steak. A great venue with section of the bar divided off.

Went to The Empire for a charity auction, and was shouted all these mixed platters and what I'm guessing is a cheese pizzas.<br/><br/>I really liked these clams that I'm guessing we're baked in butter or cream- I think (actually I know) I ate most of them since the group I was with didn't eat seafood! <br/><br/>The cheese pizza was alright- it wasn't that tasty to be honest. Sort of flavourless. The steak that was with the platter looked really nice but was chewy. The pakora (the fried Indian onion stuff, I think I might have called it wrong) was tasty in small doses but not in big amounts. The chips were really thin that you used for the dip (my friends were the one who noticed but there's a good amount of cheese on that dip). The chicken skewers were good and not tough at all! I didn't try the mussels and fried fish though since I'm not a seafood fan apart from all the buttery creamy clams I ate ahahahaha! <br/><br/>All of it was very finger foody and although it was tasty it was not fulfilling... It's nibble food, but I guess that's what a platter is. I was seated in the deck/balcony place and it is very nice. Attentive waitstaff, it has a good atmosphere, but not really the food that I like (once again, apart from those clams).

I had a lunch the other day with two work mates at the Empire.  We all ordered the steak, chips and salad which, as long as accompanied by a drink, is $10.  The Empire offers a large expanse of comfortable seating, and the wait staff were attentive and professional.  The scotch fillet was cooked medium rare, perfectly to my request, and the accompanying chips and salad sufficient for a lunch.   I can recommend the Empire to all for a good value lunch.

We went for Friday pub lunch, I must say, big chaos everywhere, it seemed with inside vs outside bar. The beer was quite expensive and the food (steak/fries) good but not enough to make me happy. I liked the idea of a beergarden charme in the back and the interior up front. It's a one-off for me.

What a great place, great food, great location.<br/>I will be going to the Empire Tavern now on a regular basis. <br/>They have great food great service very nice staff, the seating out the back is orsum. <br/>Well done team keep up the great work.<br/>I can not wait to see you again.

My colleagues and I meet here regularly and the food and service is always fantastic its a really busy place during lunch times. The meals are great and really good value. Fish and chips is a favourite as is the the bacon factory.The makeover has definitely been a great idea.

Oh wow - how did we ever miss this pub in the city (and we just live several metres away). Visited today for the food and wow - very impressive for a wee pub tucked away in a busy corner of Victoria Street. The outdoor area was welcoming (and warm enough during winter), and the staff was very welcoming. The owner/manager was this friendly old chap who got us a table and popped by to see if we liked our food... and even stayed a while for a wee chat. You'd think most pubs in the city would be so busy they'd have no time for you and dish out the standard service, but not Empire. Good on you, guys.<br/><br/>We ordered the black pepper squid - omg, it was very well marinated and soft enough to literally melt in your mouth (most black pepper squid dishes we had were always either rubbery or lacked taste). The seafood chowder was equally as tasty.. and the $10 steak is definitely good value for money. Big chunk of meat - yum yum! Highly recommended!<br/><br/>If only I had space in my tummy for more food... we'd have ordered the desserts... :)

The Empire is the best "Pub" in the central city. Their new makeover is outstanding. The food is brilliant as well as the service. Every night has something different on too! I especially love the Open Mic Nights on Wednesdays.. :-D

Excellent staff awesome host Jan-marie. Food is equally awesome definitely be going back and recommend to everyone. The steak cooked exactly how I like it and service was fast and efficient. The outdoor garden was amazing to sit and eat our meal in.

Haven't been to The Empire for a while. Visited today and they made me feel like a long lost friend. It's still got the great welcoming atmosphere, staff are great and couldn't do enough for me.. Food and service is great. $10 steak great value. Will be back again soon, and will recommend to my friends. Cheers, guys.

I've had Empire's steak special a couple of times over the last couple months, always ordered a medium rare one with a pint. My first was literally the best steak I'd ever had. The second time the steak was so thick it ended up being a little less cooked than I'd have liked but it was still delicious and worth the $10 price.<br/><br/>The staff were very friendly, even asked how my steak was both times and I told them the same as above. They took the feedback well which was very reassuring.<br/><br/>The Empire has great live music, one of the few places in Auckland, and even though there could be more to keep me staying longer (e.g. a pool table or something), I'll definitely be back for more steak and music! 9/10

A great local establishment built in the heart of the Auckland CBD. Hosts Aucklands biggest outdoor garden bar. The service is impeccable and all staff are trained in the art of liquor handling. <br/>The Empire Tavern serves from a fully internal kitchen located in the garden bar. The menu ranges from finger food to a full scotch fillet plate. Topped off with a huge range of tap beer, ciders, wine and spirits. The Empire also hosts a range of events during the week with Aucklands Richest Quiz every Tuesday night from 6:30 and live music Wednesday to Saturday. Not to mention they also have 3 separate rooms for higher. All round my favorite place to relax, have great food, great beer and a good time.

Went there over the weekend for the special, they have a lamb shank meal for only $5 with any drink purchase. So I ordered a coke and got the special.<br/>Impressed! You could not even buy that yourself for that much and boy it was good!<br/>Love the look of the place, The Garden Bar is pretty open and a nice place to dine.<br/>Staff were great and friendly.<br/>Definitely be back and that special is a must!

I have been in there a few times now to get coffee in the mornings on the way to work, as a self confessed coffee connoisseur i can honestly say that the coffee is up to standard.<br/>The staff are really friendly and I like that they have remembered my usual order. Its a small thing but its the small things that make the biggest difference.<br/><br/>Yesterday I went there for the first time for lunch and ordered a "lady Killer" pizza - delicious. It was quite busy and the order arrived in a reasonable time frame.<br/><br/>The staff are very friendly and welcoming. <br/><br/>Love the new look with the renovations that have been done.<br/><br/>Will be back for sure. Well done Empire.

Seriously peeved. Decided to try out the $5 steak meal they were advertising. Arrived, sat down, and after about 10 minutes managed to get a waitress' attention.<br/><br/>For some reason, while we were waiting the waitress came up and told us to pay immediately, which was strange because at sit-down places you generally expect to pay afterwards. We'd soon find out why. <br/><br/>When the steak arrived, it wasn't the 250g advertised portion, but AT BEST around 120g. A table near us was served one more than twice the size. My steak in particular was burnt black all over on the outside and well-done beyond recognition, despite asking for medium rare. It was cut in half down the middle, clearly so someone could check its doneness, and despite this I was still served a far too overdone steak. The 'chef' kept staring out the service window to peek at our table, and upon making eye contact with me withdrew his head so fast behind the counter he hit his head.<br/><br/>Not worth the $5 (yes, literally) and I'm not going back.

Behind it's victorian 'Empiric' facade, The Empire has seen a lick of paint in recent times on the inside. It used to be a dark and dingy place on the corner of Nelson Street, but they've really lightened this place up! Wooden tables adorn the interior with a large bar enticing patrons of the busy street. It's a Monteith's pub, so you'll find all the usual beers from them on draught. <br/><br/>Where the Empire really comes into it's own is the almost hidden courtyard. Round to the east of the building there is a doorway which leads out into a fairly sizeable courtyard which is a veritable sun trap on a summers day. For the 'lobster-skinned' of us, you needn't worry, they have plenty of parasols and the like. I was impressed to see one such parasol table in said courtyard order a mini-keg, which looked to be around 4-5 pints of beer, complete with a tap and served in a bucket of ice. I wasn't drinking on the day I went to the Empire, which was a real shame, as this looked like a very tempting option to go for in the sun!<br/><br/>Food wise, the menu is on the better end of pub grade food. A good bunch of pizzas at a good size with generous toppings is always welcome, the steaks are prepared well and cooked the way you like. In fact, I think that the menu you see on these pages may be out of date, as they have some pretty nice entree options and burgers as well. Portions are big but yet still well presented.<br/><br/>Service was very attentive, however a little disorganised - we had the wrong order sent up and we had three different waiting staff come ask us if we were OK, even though we'd said we were waiting on someone, we still had a drink in our hand, anyway, I'm being picky, it was a good well presented pub, right in a great CBD location, which tried hard to please and the food was tasty.

The place is a big bar with a garden behind the room. We went there on a Sunday evening. The beef with chips was on special that day with a very good price and most customers ordered that one. I like the chicken wings there a lot. We can also watch tv there. The other room has music band to play music which attracts older people actually. When you finish the dinner there, you can still walk around the CBD and enjoyed the beautiful and peaceful view in Auckland.