Empire Rooftop @ Empire Hotel

Great views and a fun place. Best to arrive earlier in the evening it gets crowded

Tourists might like it but I would wish this even in them. It’s a bar. Period. Should downplay the food and view

The food, service and surroundings were terrific. The noise was at ear bleeding levels. I would enthusiastically recommend the Empire Rooftop to someone who wanted a great time where NO CONVERSATION was possible.

The service is amazing. The staff went above and beyond to accommodate us. Thanks!

The food is terrific -- small plates that you can make a meal of. Drinks are great, and about as expensive as you'd expect. Ambience is comfortable and welcoming.

But I've been here several times and the service has always been neglectful, at best. On my most recent trip, my date and I needed to flag down a server at every step of the way: from being noticed after being seated by the hostess to asking for the check and everything in between (ordering food, ordering a second round of drinks, asking for water three times). The server wasn't rude or dismissive -- just not paying attention. And it's been like that every time I have been here. If you're prepared to deal with that, then this is a great place. (And you can always sit at the bar -- the bartenders will pay attention to you from time to time.)

I couldn't get into any restaurant near Lincoln Center and I saw the Empire Rooftop was wide open. I wondered if there was something wrong. When I researched I saw that there was no dinner menu. But they had a lot of small plates and I figured my guest and I could make a meal.
Well, it was terrific.
We had 4 plates, Lobster tacos, flatbread, sliders and the loaded tots. Two people didn't quite finish. Fabulous.
Then , , ,
The hot fudge sundae. Great
I really recommend this place. It is not a restaurant, it is a very nice bar, but if that doesn't bother you, eat there.

Nice establishment but not much view and when seated at table people stretch and gawk over and beyond you to take pictures. Mushroom flatbread good, deviled eggs strange

Awesome time

Reunión familiar

The Empire Rooftop provides a lovely backdrop for a girly meal!
We went for brunch where the menu offered enough choice to suit any taste. Cocktails were well made and the food tasted nice, with portions on the larger side.
We would have liked the opportunity to sit outside but we were advised they were still setting up at the time we arrived. Maybe worth noting if you book for 11am.

I made a reservation several days ago, but couldn't get a table outside. Why am I going to rooftop if I have to stay inside...especially there was a big non used space although the beautiful weather.
Several tables were "reserved" Yes, I reserved too.
Inside is extremely noisy and I couldn't have a conversation with my friends.
Well, it is not a cool place for me, but it must be a nice noisy space for probably younger generations. I will not come back nor recommend to my friends.

Vacation in NY

Great atmosphere, great background music playing, went for brunch and was very quiet. Would recommend!

This place could be so much better. The views are spectacular but all drinks are served in a cheap paper cup and the food is yummy but a bit and fried side. The furniture could be so much better but again the views are amazing

Great place to enjoy spectacular views and enjoy the outdoors in the city.

The food was really amazing and the people were lovely!

Fantastic place to enjoy great company and a few cocktails

Great views. It wasn't too busy the evening I went so it was nice and quiet. I assume it can get a lot more packed and loud though. Cocktails were awesome, priced as you might expect (around $20 from what I remember) and very well done. Would definitely recommend the barrel aged old fashioned.

The food was good in taste but pricey for such a small portion. I don't eat a lot in volume so if it is small for me then it is too small for the average consumer. Addressing the food cost or portion would be my only suggestion.

The views were great and stretched.

Service was very attentive without being intrusive. Our server was wonderful and made an art of it. I can't remember her name but she was a black woman, slightly tall, slender, braids, and one of the best in NYC (I describe her appearance in case the restaurant reads these reviews for them to let her know that a customer was very impressed with her).

Overall a great experience and would definitely go back.

We liked it except the noise level which is overwhelming from too loud music and some rowdy clientele

This is an expensive arrangement, and you more or less serve yourself. We had to go to the bar and order drinks/food. We'd carry both back, unless the food wasn't ready - then it was brought to the table. The food is good, nothing special. However, we only did appetizers. So let's just say the food met our needs and requirements.

As a get-together and hangout on a rooftop spot, this can't really be beat by many places - all rooftops are expensive. But on a warm, sunny evening, and having the entire corner to ourselves it was worthwhile.

So, food and drink expensive, ambience and location excellent. Great views. Definitely worthwhile, but it's very dependent on what you're looking for.

Loved the view and the ambience from the 3 levels...I did not realize there were multiple levels and nooks and crannies. I did Brunch and cannot wait to go back to check out the night ambience! Oh the food, I loved the salmon and pastrami bagels and the flatbread dish.

“Jezz” was our server - she was outstanding.

Loved it here!!! Lovely food and drinks!

They have to learn how to do a good cocktail
M

Food was not good , no much to choose, and that is not what we expected

Great service and food and music! Would definitely come back and recommend to friends.

One of our top three highlights, ”doing New York” for a week. Thanks!

#blackout2019

This was a great casual night out with girlfriends with wonderful view of the city. The food was amazing! DJ set up later in the evening added a good touch.

Poor service and modest food selection. Basically a hotel pool and some tables.

Service was just awful. We had a table and we waited at least 45 minutes between drinks. The rooftop itself is very cool but for the prices the service should be much better!

The service was abysmal, the drinks were overpriced and underwhelming, there was a mix-up with our bill then it took forever for it to be corrected. This was a very poor experience. It's important to note that this was not the main restaurant but the rooftop area. Poorly managed.

This is one of the few rooftops that let me make reservations for a small party. I chose this place because it was expected to rain and it has a large covered area with great views. One of the members of my party is in a wheelchair and she had no issues with the location.

It is a great outdoor/rooftop spot for a gorgeous pre-summer afternoon cocktail and snack.
The food, cocktails and service outside were surprisingly good, as we went specifically for the outdoor view, which was quite sweet.
The noise level outside was chiller than it was inside.
The staff was quite professional, polite, fast, and efficient!
The only drawback for us was the 99.999% millennial //tourist customer base. I should have realized we'd be the oldest, or only locals in the joint, but we were well taken care of. I'd go back, and I'd bring some more over 40's with me.

Whereas the service and food was great, it was way too loud and the music was turned up so far, it caused everyone to talk even louder. We had to leave to find another place just to talk and visit.

Portions EXTREMELY small. Service was soso, young adults staff and they lack attention to detail.

Lovely ambience and evening - pricy drinks and food but good portions - overall expensive but good eve

Bad service. After 30 min of confusing service, orders delivered wrongly and no attention we left for another place. The rooftop view is good.

Fair in all areas

Amazing, amazing sunset views! Food is wonderful. Service is a little slow but very friendly. Noise level
Too high to hold a conversation. Overall, I highly recommend it for an amazing rooftop experience.