Published:
July 19, 2024
About Empire Hotel
Dine in
Delivery
Drive through
Service Options
Highlights
Bar games
Live music
Live performances
Sports
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Food
Food at bar
Hard liquor
Wine
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Map
Empire Hotel Reviews
Will never set foot in there again. "Greeted" by a sour looking man behind the bar, 'David' (who we later found out is the bistro manager!!). Asked if we could have a table for six. He grumpily replied that we really need to have booked but he would sit us tonight. There were two tables that were already seated and only one more become occupied in the time we were there! With so many more tables vacant that I couldn't count them all, so tragic we took so much room for them!! As we ordered he continued to be rude and abrupt only saying "Yep" or "What do you want?", for a 'Manager', hardly setting the standard for customer service. The soup was just water with globules of fat and corn (it was meant to be beef and veg, I think!). My chicken parmy was dry and lucky I got some moisture from the sauce. Pasta salad was not cooked enough and watery dressing lacking of flavour. So many reviews say good service and food, but we definitely saw no evidence of that. No wonder the dining room was dead, but please make sure to book! Or better yet, don't go.
- eddy rust
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
visited there for lunch on 29/09/20, menu looked good with good prices. Lady who took our order was very good and helpful. I ordered the Pork Belly. We were seated and had a very lovely bowl of Pork and Veg soup. Sadly my Pork belly was burnt on the bottom, meat very dry and crackle was average at best. Meal was left for about 4 minutes under warmer before we were served, unimpressed. However my friend had liver with bacon and mash and thoroughly enjoyed it, bit of a mixed lot, will go back again but will not order the Pork Belly.
- Phil Loveder
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Used to be my favourite pub for a Thursday night dinner. Great staff (especially David), complimentary home-made soup and great meals. Then new management. Indicated they were updating their menu, which when released was actually the old menu with a price hike and no soup. Now I'm not sure they serve food at all! Hopefully it will be back bigger and better soon!
- Jessica Pix
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Turned away a 37 year old female because I didn't have id how silly
- Clauds Jane
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
The service is amazing, friendly and extremely helpful. The young assistant manager Shane is on point with his customer service and was able to provide us with excellent service. We will definitely be coming back and we will be recommending your hotel to our friends and family
- Luana Siaosi
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
The service here was so great! I was that annoying customer that called up everyday for a week changing the amounts of people at our table from 10 to eventually 18. They catered well considering it's COVID19 and the restrictions. They didn't have the salad bar but gave each of us a complementary bowl of soup and plenty of salad for the table!
- sue reid
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
The girl on reception was fabulous. Excellent customer service all with a smile. The rooms were clean and comfortable. A good place to stay.
- Vicki Porter
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
The food and service was terrific. I chose Lamb Shanks with Potato Mash. I went with 19 other people and our sitting was fantastic. All of the meals served looked delicious and by all accounts everyone enjoyed their meals. A wonderful fresh salad, bread rolls and soup accompanied our meal. Every attention was paid to our time there.
Disability parking, entrance and toilet.
- Rebbecca Ritter
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
The best thing about it was the potatoes. The schnitzel was fresh, sure, but it was oily. My Hawaiian topping was cold and the pineapple slices were tiny. Tiny salad/veg/soup bar. Unhappy looking server. Clearly bought frozen chips. The chef may have been fantastic once upon a time but seems to have lost his passion.
- Barbara Whimpress
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Terrific Staff and Service. Good value. Food tasty and 3 choices on Melbourne Cup day. Well done chief and helpers. David is an asset to the Hotel. Thanks again for a great day. Barbara.
- Tijonay Charles
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
such an awesome venue, Julia in particular had made my experience worth the drive to kilburn with that bubbly personality and eagerness to provide great service, will definitely be back soon!
- steven cronin
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Started drinking there when I was 15yrs old. I was even santa 3 in a row. Haven't been for ages. Staff did a really great job.
- Claire Page
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Nice that they now have free soup with the meal, however they whisked it away before I had finished when they brought the main meals out. They were also too efficient when clearing away after the main meals. She asked if I had finished my meal but then she took my drink away too and that had clearly not been finished. The menu is good though and the meals were very nice. They do a great parmi with real tomatoes in the sauce.
- Dabbling Bandit (Bandit013)
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
My dad and I both absolutely love this place ☺️💙 the meals are a great price and a decent size. You get a bowl of soup before your meal and a bread roll 💙☺️ the staff are also lovely.
- T-REV
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
I would have given 4 stars but I didn't even get a win on the pokies. Use to be better but that hole area has gone down hill. I wouldn't make it my regular watering hole.
- Mr Monster
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
I’ve called the hotel two days in advance to make a booking, and was told it was all booked. However, when I called again to double-check today, I was informed that my booking was not actually confirmed. This caused a lot of inconvenience and frustration for my travel plans. While the manager(Alex) was helpful in trying to find a solution, unfortunately, she can’t find a solution. I was disappointed with the inconsistency in their booking process, and it caused me inconvenience during my trip. I hope the hotel can improve their booking system and ensure better communication with guests in the future."
- Jess Crouch
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
It’s normally great food and great service! But tonight was such an eye opener. An older lady near our table, said to the male employee, David, that she wasn’t feeling well and when he gave our food to the table, she started to vomit at her table. No help from the employees were given she was only helped from myself and my partner only. The employees didn’t care at all for the well-being of this lady regardless it being a usual thing. We ended up moving her away from the table to the exit for a taxi and returned to our table...her table was still covered in vomit!!! We didn’t think about finishing our food which we didn’t even touch! The audacity of the three staff members where casually talking and not bothering to clean the table or thank us for helping or offer anything to us! Such a poor management for someone’s wellbeing!!
- Jason Naffa
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
I recently visited the Empire hotel and was impressed by the warm ambiance, friendly staff, delicious drinks, and amazing food. Highly recommend for a great meal, drinks and some fun on the pool table with some mates.
- Craig Greenwood
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Had a great night of Karaoke with Margie and Graham, caught up with lots of old friends , great service, fair prices.
- Ben Stevenson
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Great salad bar... Seriously great selection at the salad bar. They must throw out a heap of leftovers at the end of the night because for some reason it's never very busy and they put loads of food out. I can honestly recommend this place on the salad bar alone, you wouldn't even need to touch your main meal if you didn't want to.
This place should be a lot busier, it's like a hidden gem.
- Kim Abe
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Great lunch specials. Service was lovely but terribly slow, only one til to take orders for the big line up while other staff stood around with nothing to do. Meals were a generous size and cooked well but very bland in flavour in the gravy and the schnitzel crumb. Nice fresh looking salad bar and nice soup.
- Dave Waples
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
First time visit for a meal first impressions were to turn around and leave, waited at the sign 'Wait to be seated' guy just walked past us like we weren't there. Finally were given a table to sit at, asked for a hard copy of lunchtime menu was told look at TV monitor over at bar but did bring us a copy.
Meal wasn't too bad Pork over cooked on bottom crackling spot on 🖒🖒🖒, good portion sizes.
- Elizabeth Irvin
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Enjoyed the grilled fish & salad . I was in a B/day group , i ordered early people that ordered after me as fish does not take long to cook people got steak & pork which take longer to cook cant work that 1 out thinking fish meal would be 1st as it does not take long to cook plus 2nd person to order so that is not good , over all it was good
- Stephen Jacobs
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Came to the Empire with a couple of friends last night ( Saturday the 21st of Jan ) The establishment was dead empty and it wasn't until I ordered a drink at the bar was I realised why. You Trainee who's name I didn't manage to get (round framed glasses) was extremely condescending borderline ignorant. I ordered a Canadian Club and soda with lime and honestly I didn't bother me the fact that the bar had no lime, but the fact that you bar man told me I his words I was lost I I think I was going to get lime.... Again it was no big deal that there wasn't lime. It was the response from your trainee bar man that left me with a terrible first impression. Then I was berated for standing at the bar area and not at the pokie bar. But the only reason I ordered at the Bar was because that's where your Trainee bar man was standing. It didn't end there. The way I was left feeling during that whole exchangae lto thanks to his patronizing demeanor didn't sit well with me for the remainder of my experience. The manager was friendly. The security was friendly and polite also. But the costomer service from your trainee was extremely inappropriate and off putting
- Nick Brisland
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Came down the other day for the first time, and was extremely pleased with the service of the staff, the pub was tidy and well kept, cant fault this place one bit! defiantly going to recommended this to my friends and family! 5/5 service
- Karlie S
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Budget but Rooms are clean and tidy. No food here though. I saw a review that said get longer shower curtains and I have to second that. Bathroom turns into a pool in an already small shower. Towels are thin and tiny and could do with replacing. The main access door got broken into one night which was alarming. Riff raff hang around the outside of the pub which can be a bit off putting. Rooms are accessed by stairs. Different things to weigh up.
- Brian Williams
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
Absolutely brilliant , staying for 2 nights and wouldn't hesitate to stay again , clean comfortable accommodation with staff that smile , the staff and management in the hotel are brilliant , just don't call the country folks , they will chase you .
Thank you
- Danny Smits
19 Fri 2024 at 11.25 am
5 buck pints all day every day, 3 of the best pool tables I've ever played on that are only a buck a game, fantastic staff and great customer's. Becoming my "local" yet it's a 20 minute drive. Great meals at decent prices. Love it!!
- Craig “Gnarly” Norley