One of the coolest atmospheres in Sacramento. Being under the historic Crest Theatre, Empress is really cool bunker of brick arches and gentle lighting. The cocktails are food are solid. I admittedly do miss the old menu from before the pandemic, but the new menu is very tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Eric Martinez
So I’ve wanting to check out this place,I’ve heard good things about it! Well let me save you the time. I walked and seated myself at a high table and I waited for 15-20 minutes, no greeting, no menu absolutely no one helped me at all!. It was a Friday night around 7:00pm they weren’t that busy at all! If you’re into being ignored then this is the place for you! Go anywhere else but here! I will absolutely Never come here again! I can’t even say worst customer service since I didn’t actually get to interact with anyone from the staff! Enter at your own risk!
AP D
An absolute NO. 0/10. This schedule is not working and neither is the service, menu or food quality. At all. Leave so a full time restaurant can fill the space.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Frank Yonemura
Had drinks before and during the DeRay Davis comedy show upstairs at the Crest theater, bar closed before the show was over. I didn't get to close out my tab and was over charged double, went back and the manager refunded what I was over charged. Thanks. I do have other events in the near future and like always I'll be at the Empress Tavern before every show.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
selina romero
We came mainly for the food we seen in the reviews (ribye steak and beef stroganoff). Upon entry the menus were stacked for customers to grab and order at the bar. The menu only has max 10-15 items. Completely different from what we thought. The lady stated they had bought the place last January so all the items on the reviews are no longer there. You have to get drink refills at the bar as there are no servers. Cheesburger was good but Alfredo was ok. I wouldnt come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Guillermo Medina
Really cool underground setting, Brooke really helped us out margaritas ? we're good as well food chx empanadas soo good we ordered
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
christopher Paris
Closed on Wednesday. Usually a very nice place, but it is often closed when the Crest has shows.
Akela Silkman
Enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful cocktails.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Nicholas Campbell
Well made cocktails, pleasant bar tenders. Counter only service, order with the bartenders. Limited food menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Debra D
We were told to seat ourselves and then order food and cocktails at the bar (no servers, only food runners). The two bar tenders working were not only expected to serve the bar patrons but also take food and drink orders for the entire restaurant. Attempting to order food and cocktails for our table, I waited (and waited) at the bar with no service or even any acknowledgment at all. We left.
I stopped for a quick bite and a couple drinks. Both were pleasantly delivered at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer Reynolds
We finally went back to empress now that it is reopened and the cocktails were pretty decent. The food menu looked sad so we decided to go somewhere else for dinner. The menu here used to be very upscale but now it’s just burgers and fries.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
B G
To Whom It May Concern:I went to your bar yesterday and I ordered food. Before the food arrived we noticed a rat in your kitchen which I recorded.I asked the manager to cancel the order as we were grossed out by the situation.The manager assured that we wouldn't be charged as the food never arrived and it was understandable due to the inconvenience.Upon checking my credit card statement, I noticed two charges from your venue, one for $8.70 and other for $1.74.I request that you immediately take action on this matter as it is unacceptable to charge a customer for a service that was neither fulfilled or authorized.I was also asked be the staff to hand my phone for the videos, which I refused to do. I was then asked to not post anything about this.Get back to me as soon as possible.
Luis Moreno
Great place. Food was great, drinks were great. Atmosphere was great. Tons of people when I went so the drinks went by lager, ipa, stout, pilsner. Place is known for signature drinks, but kind of hard to know what they are walking in blind. Overall, I'm a half glass full kind of guy so I had a good time at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Ator Yacoub
Food and drinks are good but I highly recommend avoiding until they are properly staffed.Food comes out slow and not coordinated.I once waited next to my friend for drinks. She was served then I waited another 20 minutes while others that popped up next to me after I was there was served then I gave up.
One of the coolest atmospheres in Sacramento. Being under the historic Crest Theatre, Empress is really cool bunker of brick arches and gentle lighting. The cocktails are food are solid. I admittedly do miss the old menu from before the pandemic, but the new menu is very tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
So I’ve wanting to check out this place,I’ve heard good things about it! Well let me save you the time. I walked and seated myself at a high table and I waited for 15-20 minutes, no greeting, no menu absolutely no one helped me at all!. It was a Friday night around 7:00pm they weren’t that busy at all! If you’re into being ignored then this is the place for you! Go anywhere else but here! I will absolutely Never come here again! I can’t even say worst customer service since I didn’t actually get to interact with anyone from the staff! Enter at your own risk!
An absolute NO. 0/10. This schedule is not working and neither is the service, menu or food quality. At all. Leave so a full time restaurant can fill the space.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Had drinks before and during the DeRay Davis comedy show upstairs at the Crest theater, bar closed before the show was over. I didn't get to close out my tab and was over charged double, went back and the manager refunded what I was over charged. Thanks. I do have other events in the near future and like always I'll be at the Empress Tavern before every show.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
We came mainly for the food we seen in the reviews (ribye steak and beef stroganoff). Upon entry the menus were stacked for customers to grab and order at the bar. The menu only has max 10-15 items. Completely different from what we thought. The lady stated they had bought the place last January so all the items on the reviews are no longer there. You have to get drink refills at the bar as there are no servers. Cheesburger was good but Alfredo was ok. I wouldnt come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Really cool underground setting, Brooke really helped us out margaritas ? we're good as well food chx empanadas soo good we ordered
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Closed on Wednesday. Usually a very nice place, but it is often closed when the Crest has shows.
Enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful cocktails.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Well made cocktails, pleasant bar tenders. Counter only service, order with the bartenders. Limited food menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We were told to seat ourselves and then order food and cocktails at the bar (no servers, only food runners). The two bar tenders working were not only expected to serve the bar patrons but also take food and drink orders for the entire restaurant. Attempting to order food and cocktails for our table, I waited (and waited) at the bar with no service or even any acknowledgment at all. We left.
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I stopped for a quick bite and a couple drinks. Both were pleasantly delivered at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We finally went back to empress now that it is reopened and the cocktails were pretty decent. The food menu looked sad so we decided to go somewhere else for dinner. The menu here used to be very upscale but now it’s just burgers and fries.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
To Whom It May Concern:I went to your bar yesterday and I ordered food. Before the food arrived we noticed a rat in your kitchen which I recorded.I asked the manager to cancel the order as we were grossed out by the situation.The manager assured that we wouldn't be charged as the food never arrived and it was understandable due to the inconvenience.Upon checking my credit card statement, I noticed two charges from your venue, one for $8.70 and other for $1.74.I request that you immediately take action on this matter as it is unacceptable to charge a customer for a service that was neither fulfilled or authorized.I was also asked be the staff to hand my phone for the videos, which I refused to do. I was then asked to not post anything about this.Get back to me as soon as possible.
Great place. Food was great, drinks were great. Atmosphere was great. Tons of people when I went so the drinks went by lager, ipa, stout, pilsner. Place is known for signature drinks, but kind of hard to know what they are walking in blind. Overall, I'm a half glass full kind of guy so I had a good time at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Food and drinks are good but I highly recommend avoiding until they are properly staffed.Food comes out slow and not coordinated.I once waited next to my friend for drinks. She was served then I waited another 20 minutes while others that popped up next to me after I was there was served then I gave up.