The Empress by Boon

The Empress by Boon reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. J

   Jason VIP

   Chicago2 reviews

   1.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   The food is really bad for the price. Any decent Chinese restaurant in Bay Area is better than here. The presentation is a Michelin wannabe but not nearly as refined as it should be. Menu is greasy and worn out. It’s like a fake Rolex that merely got the looks from afar. The interior design is the only thing that is good. Anybody with sufficient experience with Chinese food would agree. The restaurant won’t last long unless they turn it into something else. (The first dish with crab meat and caviar is really bad, it even got tiny shells in it that might damage your teeth) it is a joke. Don’t go there just because those don’t know anything about Chinese food tell you to go. If you really wanna check it out. Go for drinks only. Honestly as someone who travels the world and have tried so many Michelin Starred and other restaurants, this experience is among the worst when it comes to the food quality.
   

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2. A

   Ari VIP

   San Francisco4 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 5

   Every dish was outstanding, service was exceedingly slow and felt disorganized.
   

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3. B

   Brian VIP

   San Francisco9 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 5

   Our third time visiting Empress was by far our worst experience. While the food quality was good, service was horrible and incredibly slow. Our meal took 3.5 hours! When we sat down there was a dirty glass on the table, and we asked for a replacement. We were told it was just from the heat of the dishwasher and didn't need to be replaced. Dishes were slow to be serviced - we had to hand items to passing wait staff to clear our own the table. Overall, it was incredibly disappointing. If I'm going to spend $1100 on dinner for 4 people, I expect higher quality service. It is unlikely that we will return for a fourth visit.
   

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4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Francisco1 review

   2.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Quality of the food was not great, especially for the cost. Service was good, the place is nice, but for a prix fixe meal for 2 that is > $300 you expect better than bland Chinese takeout food. A few dishes were delicious, most were bland and massively under-seasoned. A few were just terrible. I would not return or recommend it to anyone. The view from one room (not all) is incredible, but sipping mediocre cocktails over poor quality takeout is not worth it.
   

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5. O

   Ornella VIP

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 3, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was an amazing experience with GREAT food. I might seem little in the beginning, but it ends up being too much food by the end of the unending courses !
   

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6. D

   Daniel VIP

   Monterrey24 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 3, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excelente servicio, gran vista y la comida deliciosa
   

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7. J

   James

   Los Angeles35 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 26, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We enjoyed our visit. The food was very good, the ambience is very cool, and the views as night falls are are a page out of the book of SF iconic.
   

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8. B

   Bob VIP

   San Francisco78 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 17, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What a great experience! Our server Nat was amazing - helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. And the food was remarkable - each course had balanced flavors and textures made all the more amazing by virtue of the chef accommodating our group vegetarian with creative and delicious off menu substitutions. Will definitely be back!!
   

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9. S

   Squeak VIP

   San Francisco17 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on April 13, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   I had been to this restaurant during its opening and it was great and I was excited to come back. However, it did not meet the mark. I’m ok paying for the pre-fix. But the service needs to match the level of cuisine and quality the restaurant is trying to exude. Champagne was spilled, the description of the foods brought out was curt and harsh, and plates were cleared before everyone was done. In addition, the ambiance is beautiful at night, but it’s very lackluster in the daylight (7pm still has sunlight). The furniture has nicks and scratches, decor feels out and outdated, and the bar and longe was so empty. I wish they would change the menu to make it more accessible and fill up the restaurant. And also if they want the level of a pre-fixed menu, they need to up the service and ambiance to match.
   

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10. E

    Emmie

    San Francisco6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    Would highly suggest dining when the restaurant first opens if at all possible, because you get the most undivided attention, and you can actually have a conversation. Once a couple of other parties arrived, the noise level was ridiculously loud to the point where we couldn't hear each other. The food was quite good, and generally unique and worthy of the somewhat steep price tag. We were especially impressed by the chefs' ability to tailor the prix fixe menu to our multiple and varied food allergies. Truly above and beyond service. Unlike other prix-fixe restaurants that tend to skimp and just take away food from those who have allergies, the Empress chefs went above and beyond to accommodate us, to the point where they provided an almost entirely vegan menu for one member of our party, and the substitutions were NOT just an afterthought. They were just as good, and in some instances, more plentiful than the conventional options.
    

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