The Empire at 138

Name: The Empire at 138
Address: 138 South Washington St, Tiffin, OH, United States, 44883
Telephone: (419) 448-7733
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

747 Reviews

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

Empire at 138, named in part for the building’s original name “Empire Block” and its street address at
138 S. Washington St., is an everyday hub of activity to eat, drink and congregate over real wholesome food and ingredients.
Part local neighborhood hangout, part fine dining restaurant, we develop heirloom recipes based on family and friends' favorites, using as many locally raised and farmed, organic, and hormone free products as are in season and meet our quality standards.
Menus change regularly based on seasonal availability. We offer fine dining, cocktails, wines, interesting beers, and signature coffee.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 28, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(419) 448-7733

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Wed, Thu 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–9:15 pm
Phone number
(419) 448-7733
Website
http://theempirerestauranttiffin.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Chris Demith
Private party facilities
Private banquet room available for both personal and corporate customers. Call 419-448-7733 and ask for an event coordinator to plan for your next meeting.
Private party contact
Michael Pinkston: (419) 618-0311

Location
138 South Washington St Tiffin, OH 44883
Neighborhood
Tiffin
Cross street
Madison Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Artisan Meat & Cheese Board$17.95
A selection of artisanal meats and cheeses curated for The Empire. Served with house made preserves and a selection of crackers
Roasted Cauliflower Dip$9.95
Roasted cauliflower and roasted garlic pureed with Ohio white cheddar. Served with pita chips
Crab Cakes$16.95
A trio of delicious house-made crab cakes served with The Empire signature sauces
The Empire Trio$9.95
A trifecta of guacamole, hummus and romesco. Served with pita chips or veggies
Mussels Marinara$12.95
Fresh Mussels tossed in a zesty Arrabbiata sauce, and a drizzle of white wine served with garlic bread

Flatbreads

Roasted Mushroom and Gouda Cream Flatbread$13.95
Woodland mushrooms, sweet onions, and garlic roasted nestled in a decadent creamy cheese sauce atop a crispy flatbread. Topped with slivered green onions
Caprese Burrata Flatbread$13.95
Fresh burrata cheese melted onto crispy flatbread with heirloom tomatoes, pesto and fresh basil leaves
Roasted Duck Flatbread$14.95
Oven baked flatbread with a delicious fig sauce, caramelized onion, roasted duck, topped with goat cheese
Mediterranean Flatbread$13.95
Artichokes, spinach, pancetta flatbread on a creamy cheese sauce and finished with feta cheese

Sea

Seared Norwegian Salmon$27.95
Pan seared Norwegian Salmon topped with a tomato chutney, served over basmati rice and vegetables
Sea Scallops$28.95
Pan seared, served over wild grains with vegetables topped with a creamy lobster sauce
Shrimp Scampi$26.95
Lightly dusted large shrimp sauteed in our beurre blanc sauce with garlic, tomatoes and basil served in a bed of our angel hair pasta

Soups

Lion Bowl French Onion Soup
Slow roasted Vidalia onions simmered in beef stock and topped with puff pastry croutons and melted Gruyere cheese
- Cup$6.95
- Bowl$9.95
Seafood Bisque
Fresh seafood pureed in a creamy lobster base topped with fresh herbs
- Cup$8.95
- Bowl$11.95
Tomato Basil Soup
Slow cooked Roma tomatoes with fresh diced basil, onion and celery and a touch of heavy cream
- Cup$5.95
- Bowl$8.95

Salads

Add: Chicken $4.95, Steak $9.95, Shrimp $9.95, Salmon $7.95

Winter Chopped Salad$10.95
Hearty baby kale with roasted root vegetables, dried cranberries, walnuts and onion tossed in balsamic Dijon tahini dressing
Classic Cobb Salad$13.95
Grilled chicken breast, avocado, bacon, tomato, onion, gorgonzola with house-made buttermilk ranch dressing
The Empire Grilled Caesar Salad
Charred baby romaine, bacon, shaved Parmesan, red onion and Caesar dressing
- Small$6.95
- Large$9.95
House Salad
A fresh artisanal blend of greens topped with red onion, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles and roasted walnuts. Lightly dressed in a raspberry vinaigrette
- Small$5.95
- Large$8.95

Entrée

All entrées include warm bread and a house salad

Land

Filet Mignon
Center cut by hand filet accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables
- MP
Stacked Prime Sirloin$31.95
Grilled center cut prime sirloin sitting atop a marinated grilled portabella mushroom, grilled tomato with goat cheese and mashed potatoes. Finished with a demi glaze and served with seasonal vegetables
Chicken Piccatta$17.95
Tender chicken breast sautéed in a lemon, garlic butter sauce with capers. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables
The Empire Burger$13.95
Half pound ground Black Angus burger grilled topped with Ohio white cheddar and house-made bacon onion relish on a soft brioche bun. Served with fries
- Herbed Chicken Breast$12.95
- Chipotle Black Bean Burger$12.95
Pork Madallions$25.95
Grilled tender pork medallions with a sweet and spicy plum sauce served with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables

Pasta

Add: Chicken $4.95, Steak $9 95, Shrimp $9.95, Salmon $7.95

Seafood Arrabbiata$28.95
Scallops, shrimp, and mussels tossed with fresh linguine in a zesty tomato basil sauce
Spagehetti and Meatballs$21.95
Spaghetti tossed in a fresh tomato basil sauce topped with three large veal and sausage meatballs topped with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Linguini Vongole$24.95
Linguine with sauteed garlic, shallots, and little neck clams tossed in a white wine butter sauce
Empire Mac N Cheese$16.95
A delicious bake of penne and four cheeses topped with crispy breadcrumbs and fresh herbs
Ginger Rice Bowl$14.95
Sauteed seasonal vegetables over organic brown rice tossed with sesame ginger spice sauce

Sides

Garlic Mashed Potatoes$6.95
Roasted Seasonal Vegetables$5.95
Risotto$7.95
Parmesan Truffle Fries$4.95
Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta$6.95

What 747 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Best Ambiance
Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Good for Groups
Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Neighborhood Gem
Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Romantic
Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Special Occasion
Toledo / Northwest Ohio
Vibrant Bar Scene
Toledo
Best Overall
Toledo
Best Food
Toledo
Best Service
Toledo
Best Ambiance
Toledo
Best Value
Toledo
Good for Groups
Toledo
Romantic
Toledo
Special Occasion
Toledo
Vibrant Bar Scene

Sort by

Filters

DN
DonaldN
Toledo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We always enjoy The Empire, but the buffet for Mother's Day was spectacular.
JH
JodyH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really great food, great service. Went on a Friday and there was a pianist for ambiance. Very enjoyable evening.
BA
BradA
Columbus
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
Everything was great - server could have been better - never came back to ask if we needed more drinks or if we needed anything else. Just dropped off the bill and collected the money.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
The restaurant is lovely, and the service was excellent. My friend and I were disappointed with the chicken picatta, but our husbands enjoyed their steak and pork medallions.
c
clevelander55
Jackson Hole
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner with Family. This was my third visit to Empire over the past 5 years or so. It is consistently good food with reasonable prices (especially compared to Cleveland restaurants) and a decent bar! Dinner comes with a salad (the $2 upcharge for the Caesar was well worth it... amazing!). Food was fresh, well prepared and service was excellent. Well worth the stop if in Tiffin!
BA
BradA
Columbus
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Easter- Amy H. Was our server and she did an excellent job. Food was delicious.
LK
LaurenceK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our experience couldn't have been better. Cory's service was spot on. The food / presentation was excellent. The pianist and atmosphere were perfect and more than met our expectations for the evening.
BC
BobbyC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall2food2service3ambience2
The venue was beautiful and the live piano music was wonderful. However, it was ~45 degrees outside and they were running the A/C. We, and the table next to us, almost left because it was so cold. The food was hit or miss. The cauliflower dip was amazing, but my seafood bisque was less than room temperature and tasted like canned tuna. My wife's meal (chicken piccata) was good but my steak was underdone and was missing the grilled portebella cap that made it a "double stack" meal (which is why I bought it). The sides were good, but they must have received a discount on garlic that night because they were VERY generous with it. It was quite difficult to carry on a conversation because the room was very loud. The service was very attentive but quite slow. The all-around experience was mediocre. I do not always like to judge a restaurant on our first visit because they may have had an "off" night. But, seeing that we drove an hour to get there, we will probably not be back.
MD
MalindaD
Columbus
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Interesting old building downtown, service was fantastic. Entrees were both really good and the cheesecake was amazing.
PH
PatrickH
Toledo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Chef came to our table to discuss gluten free options! Service was outstanding.
TD
TevinD
Toledo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The desert took a long time to come out. Food was great and was overall a great service.
RS
RobinS
Columbus
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall4food5service2ambience5
The sea scallops were awesome. But we had to wait an hour for our food. Maybe not enough staff?
HH
HeatherH
Toledo
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall5food5service3ambience5
We had a great time and the food was great as always. We only saw our server once during our meal, but she was very busy so we completely understood why. We will always recommend the Empire to anyone looking for a Great Meal!
AM
AndreaM
Toledo
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
Food, drinks and ambiance were fabulous. Service could have been better. No one greeted us for at least 15 min. Our waitress misinformed us about the buffet plates. We requested bread and didn't get it for about 1/2 an hour. Drink refills was more ice than drink. We will definitely dine there again.
CM
CherylM
Cleveland
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service here is always great. Had an early dinner on a Wednesday, and it was very quiet, with few patrons at that time. One of my favorite places in eat in northwest Ohio!
ES
ElaineS
Cleveland
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 1, 2022
overall2food2service3ambience5
Place was great, food was not so great. Need to put more on the menu.
BM
BethM
Toledo
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a fabulous time and can't wait to go back. Our server, Amy was fantastic. The food was wonderful and the ambiance was an unexpected bonus. The gentleman playing the grand piano was such a treat! It was a very special evening and we will definitely be back.
CC
CarolynC
Toledo
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the menu!
SH
SusanH
Charleston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
We selected a busy night to meet friends for 5:45 dinner. There was a large family group with little kids seated next to us so the noise level was a LOT higher than norm. Our table of 4 arrived by 5:20 was seated by 5:30, ordered dinner well before 6 but never got served until 6:50. We had to scramble to make our 7:30 show at The Ritz! Beverages, soups, salads & entrees were delish & prices very reasonable. Our table side server was great & very attentive.
ML
MLBJO
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 25, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience5
We enjoy going to the Empire. Great ambience. My food was great but my wifes wasn't as good. Was a little disappointed since we always enjoy making the trip to Tiffin for a great meal. We're hoping it was just the night. We did feel rushed but possibly we had a fairly new waitress that was trying to hard. I hope that next time we won't feel as rushed and let us enjoy and eat each course we order before getting the next. I really don't enjoy getting another course before I finish the previous. Anyway, I'm hoping for the best the next time since we really enjoy ambience of the place and most times good food and drink. They had piano music for the first time we were there and that was great, really enjoyed that.
M
Matt
Toledo
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall3food2service5ambience3
Ok food. Not worth the money. Atmosphere was really nice. Had a steak it was nothing special. First time probably will go back to give them another try.
JW
JessicaW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I had dinner with a friend and we both enjoyed our food and the overall experience. We will definitely be going back.
DR
DonnaReleve
Detroit
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience3
Valentine’s dinner. The piano player was just ok Our server was great!!! Food was delicious.
SH
SHAWSMACK
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience1
To start off we were in the back room which has to be 10 degrees colder than the front room. We were seated almost immediately, so that is a positive. It took quite some time for the server to come to our table. We ordered the drinks and the Roasted Cauliflower Dip. The dip was above average and came in a timely manner. My grilled caesar salad was great as usual. Our dinners took a while before we received them. We watched several tables get their food before us even though we watched them be seated. This was due to the server not coming back to our table for a while to get our order. We both ordered the specials for Valentines Day. I had the Tarragon Pappardelle Pasta & Grilled Lobster Tail. There was very little lobster and the whole dish was completely bland. I had to keep adding salt for flavor. My wife had the Beef Wellington. She was never asked how it should be prepared so we assumed medium-rare. When she cut into it the beef was completely well done. She ate about 1/3 of it. I attempted a piece and I had to chew it for a while to get it down. It was not good to say the least. The bread was alright and the butter for the bread had good flavor. We each had a dessert. I had the creme brulee, excellent but small. She had the lava cake with ice cream. The cake was good but the ice cream was clearly not quality. All in all the experience was not a pleasant one. We left a near 20% tip even though we feel the server did not deserve it as getting drink refills was a chore as well. So for the night we spent $150 and definitely felt we got a raw deal.
HH
HeatherH
Toledo
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was absolutely delicious and the service was top notch! We go to the Empire often and never have a bad experience. Some how the Chef at the restaruant makes everything you eat taste like the best meal you have ever had every single time we go! Can't say enough good things about the food....and the Chocolate Raspberry Martini's are amazing too! Lol!
WI
WINELOVER
Cleveland
8 reviews
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience4
Very disappointing meal. Our waiter was very slow and unattentive, the place was not busy either. We ordered drinks and the duck flatbread which was good. We did not know we could have soup or salad with our entree, the menu only indicated salad. We ordered 1 "cup" French onion soup and 1 cup seafood bisque. It was more like a quarter cup of soup. The French onion "cup" could only hold 2 croutons. Way overpriced. When our dinner finally came I ordered the stacked strip steak for $32 and my son the filet mignon at market price. The only difference between his dinner and min was I had a goat cheese portabella mushroom under my steak and he was charged $41 for his. The scallops my husband ordered were cooked well but only had 3 for $30+ charge. The salmon for our other guest was cooked nicely. Mine came with garlic mashed potatoes and there was so much garlic in them I was unable to eat them. The carrots were slivers and over cooked. Our meals looked the size of a children's meal. The best thing on the table was the bread, which I am sure they didn't make. The cut 2 slices of Italian bread in half for the 4 of us. We had to ask for more. Our water was never refilled unless we asked and then there was still a wait for this to be done. We decided to take an order of creme brulee home. When we went to eat it later there were no fresh berries as described on the menu, just a sad little vanilla pudding in the corner of the box. We spent with tip $250.00 for a special night out and were thoroughly disappointed.
J
Jack
Jacksonville
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Here I thought Tuesday experience might change from weekend dining. It was spectacular! We brought 2 friends and they were equally in awe. The food, service, and atmosphere were top notch as always. Will always come back!
TS
TSarka
Cleveland
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Another great meal and night out at The Empire just like every time before. My favorite restaurant
TJ
TiffinJ
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on January 11, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience4
The food was mediocre and overpriced considering the portion sizes. I have been disappointed with my dining experience the last few times I have been there. Our server was very good, but the service was very slow-expect dinner to take a couple of hours.
J
Jones
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 9, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience5
Long wait for food. Staff nice but you could tell they were very busy running around trying to get everybody their items to their tables And my food was OK. We have been there a few other times and it was much better but still probably one of the nicest places in Tiffin,OH
BH
BethH
Toledo
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and delicious meal. Enjoyed the pianist who played during the evening!
S
Steph
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 5, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Food was good, service was great. Sharon was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Tried new things and everything we tried was great.
DJ
DuaneJ
Philadelphia
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 4, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
Unfortunately out of too many items on the menu and the bar.
b
beth
Columbus
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food cooked perfectly. Everything came out in a timely manner. Staff was very friendly
PA
PaigeA
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 30, 2021
overall3food2service3ambience5
Our server was great and nice, but felt like she was gone most of the night. We had a wait time of an hour for our food. I ordered a burger and fries. The burger was cold and the bun was so hard that I couldn’t eat it. The fries were so salty and I wasn’t able to eat them. My husband ordered clams, which had sand in them and clearly weren’t washed. This was the worst experience we’ve had at the Empire, which is disappointing! It was not worth the $80 that we spent.
BC
BobC
Toledo
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 30, 2021
overall4food5service4ambience4
Everything was good except for the length of time to get our meals.
n
nancyc
New York Area
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2021
overall4food4service3ambience5
Started out well but had several communication problems with the waitress, and then there must have been a problem in the kitchen or again waitress/kitchen communication because we waited and waited after the salads for our entrees. We finally had to ask another waitress what the holdup was. It would have been much better had our waitress just told us there was a problem. Avoiding us and not explaining was a bit disappointing. Only one or our party of 4 was disappointed with their entrée of scallops, saying it was way too salty, she couldn't eat the last one.
G
General
Toledo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 29, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have been to the Empire a few times before and it never disappoints! Food is always great and the service is fantastic. Nice to have such a high class restaurant in the area!
A
Anonymous
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 23, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very nice place. Best place in Tiffin…. Great food. Great date place.
MC
MarkC
Toledo
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 23, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
All 4 if our dinners were great. Appetizers consumed immediately.

FAQs

The Empire at 138 offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (419) 448-7733.

The Empire at 138 is rated 4.5 stars by 747 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 28, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(419) 448-7733

138 South Washington St Tiffin, OH 44883

Additional information

Cross street
Madison Street
Neighborhood
Tiffin
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Wed, Thu 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–9:15 pm
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Chris Demith
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://theempirerestauranttiffin.com/
Phone number
(419) 448-7733
Private party facilities
Private banquet room available for both personal and corporate customers. Call 419-448-7733 and ask for an event coordinator to plan for your next meeting.
Private party contact
Michael Pinkston: (419) 618-0311

The Empire at 138

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Sea Scallops

Chicken Piccatta

Seafood Bisque

Starters

Artisan Meat & Cheese Board$17.95

Roasted Cauliflower Dip$9.95

Crab Cakes$16.95

The Empire Trio$9.95

Mussels Marinara$12.95

Flatbreads

Roasted Mushroom and Gouda Cream Flatbread$13.95

Caprese Burrata Flatbread$13.95

Roasted Duck Flatbread$14.95

Mediterranean Flatbread$13.95

Sea

Seared Norwegian Salmon$27.95

Sea Scallops$28.95

Shrimp Scampi$26.95

Soups

Lion Bowl French Onion Soup

Seafood Bisque

Tomato Basil Soup

Salads

Winter Chopped Salad$10.95

Classic Cobb Salad$13.95

The Empire Grilled Caesar Salad

House Salad

Entrée

Land

Filet Mignon

Stacked Prime Sirloin$31.95

Chicken Piccatta$17.95

The Empire Burger$13.95

Pork Madallions$25.95

Pasta

Seafood Arrabbiata$28.95

Spagehetti and Meatballs$21.95

Linguini Vongole$24.95

Empire Mac N Cheese$16.95

Ginger Rice Bowl$14.95

Sides

Garlic Mashed Potatoes$6.95

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables$5.95

Risotto$7.95

Parmesan Truffle Fries$4.95

Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta$6.95

Overall ratings and reviews

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FAQs

Does The Empire at 138 offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Empire at 138 restaurant rated?

Is The Empire at 138 currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information