The open kitchen provides the centerpiece for this new restaurant’s dramatic dining room—where diners enjoy Chef Kevin Long’s Imperial Chinese–meets–contemporary menu. His signature dishes—including Hawaiian-style tuna poke, barley miso chicken and his version of tom kha tala (Thai scallop soup)—represent pan-Asian fusion at its most delicious. The cocktail list is fun and flirty, with provocatively named signature cocktails on offer alongside traditional favorites like sake, mai tais and Singapore slings.
Continuing the design approach he began at Empire’s sister restaurants Red Lantern and Shrine in Foxwoods, Peter Niemitz provides an atmosphere of Eastern opulence. Bright turquoise, orange and gold accents offset screens and walls in intricate black patterns, raw wood tables and plush seating. Exotic Asian art abounds, with Japanese stone garden lanterns casting light and Chinese fu dog statues keeping watch over happy diners.
Empire Menu
Fried
Rangoons
RL lobster rangoons, Jonah crab rangoons,
sweet soy molasses and Chinese plum sauce
Red Chili Shrimp
Thai basil scallion, potato chips, pequin chili and garlic aïoli
Sashimi Tuna ‘Spring Roll’
asparagus, nori, gobo, avocado mousse
Lobster Scallion Pancake
pan fried with local lobster, coconut and lime crema, radicchio salad
‘Salt & Pepper’ Calamari
flash fried in the wok, bird chili, white pepper, cilantro, green papaya pickles
Empire Tempura Vegetables
seasonal market vegetables, white miso aioli,
citrus ponzu, steamed edamame
Hot Apps
Chicken & Mushroom Dumplings
seared or ‘in chicken broth,’ fried garlic soy
Warm Steamed Buns
stuffed with braised shiitake mushrooms, pea shoots, cucumber, serrano peppers
Chop Stick Chicken Teriyaki
green apple teriyaki, side of Holland chili sambal
Beef Teppanyaki on Cedar
skewered wagyu beef, cilantro and soy tare,
roasted cashews and cashew dipping sauce
Noodles & Rice
Traditional Pad Thai
chicken, egg, peanuts, tamarind, preserved plum
Singapore Street Noodles
madras curry, XO sauce, vegetables, shrimp, scallop, Char Sui Pork
Yaki Udon Noodles
choice of chicken or vegetable, Chinese vegetables, garlic black bean sauce
House Fried Rice
classic wok fried rice, pork, chicken, shrimp, sesame, fried egg
Stir Fried Red Jasmine Rice
summer squash, zucchini, rosemary oil, fried garlic and shallots
Empire Cocktail Menu
Martinis
Dancing Geisha
Grey Goose, Lillet Rosè, pomegranate, lime
Royal Saketini
Ketel One, Geikkekan Classic, house cucumber
Thai Bengal Martini
Stoli Citros, St Germain, Thai Basil, citrus
Ming’s Manhattan
Suntory Yamazaki, Martini Sweet, House Cherry, Chocolate Bitters
Lemongrass Gimlet
Hendricks, House Lemon-Grass, Fresh Lime
Black Widow
Hennessy Black, Pear Infused Sake, St Germain, Sambuca
Lychee Martini
Grey Goose Cherry Noir, Nagomi Lychee, Dry White
Hot Night in Bangkok
Avion Silver, Plum Infused Sake, passion fruit, Sriracha
Chinatown Express
Stoli Vanil, sake, espresso, Kahlua, Baileys
Cocktails
Classic Mai-Tai
Bacardi 8, Orgeat, Lime, Orange Curaco, Pineapple, Myers Dark
Madeline’s (White) Mai-Tai
Grey Goose, Campari, pineapple, lime, Grand Marnier
Empire Island Tea
Belvedere Lemon Tea, Bombay, Cazadores, Passion, cucumber, sour, cola
The Emperors’ Mule
Ketel One, House Lemongrass, Ginger Beer
Eastern Promises
Double Cross Vodka, cucumber, grapefruit, soda
Singapore Sling
Bombay, Cherry Heering, fresh citrus, pineapple
Suntory Fashion
Suntory Yamazaki, Bitters, House Cherry, orange
Opium Dream
Bacardi Select, Avion Silver, passion fruit, pineapple
Shanghai Doll
Bacardi Dragonberry, Thai Basil, Lime-aide
Suffering Bahstad
Bombay, Hennessy Black, House Lemongrass, Ginger Beer