Latest Reviews
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A lovely small restaurant with a delicious selection of small meze style dishes. A great place to come with a group of friends as the all you can eat …
Jamie Mackenzie
Empires Cafe
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Like the atmosphere (laid back)..like the food. Only downside? Portion size really. It's quite big. And because you order in sets, I can never go in b…
Michelle Jones
Empires Cafe
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The last time I went to empire was years ago, before their refit. I enjoyed the food but couldn't enjoy myself because of how cold it was. Post refit,…
Sarah Mackenzie
Empires Cafe
About
Empires Cafe is open for Casual Dining. Empires Cafe serves Mediterranean dishes. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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indoor seatingno takeawayReviews
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6 Reviews on “Empires Cafe”
A lovely small restaurant with a delicious selection of small meze style dishes. A great place to come with a group of friends as the all you can eat selection for groups of 4 or more will certainly have you full by the end of the night. They have a BYOB policy so you can bring plenty of your own drinks to go with the meal, which is reasonably priced as well. Definitely worth going to and if you do go with a group of friends then try book out the upstairs area.
Like the atmosphere (laid back)..like the food. Only downside? Portion size really. It’s quite big. And because you order in sets, I can never go in by myself no matter my craving.
The last time I went to empire was years ago, before their refit. I enjoyed the food but couldn’t enjoy myself because of how cold it was. Post refit, it is brilliant. Loads of veggie/vegan options for me but enough meat to satisfy the other half.The service provided by the two girls was genuine and friendly, and they kept a good (but not intrusive) eye on us for whenever we might run out of water/bread.They ran live music half way through out meal which was fitting and not too loud. Will defo be going back!!If you’re hungry.. Go for the 5 piece mezze.. We got one each (big eaters) and we were pleasantly stuffed
A great restaurant for Turkish food fans. Three of us went and each had a set menu of 5 mezzes, which allowed us to taste almost everything on the menu. Each dish was delicious and the portions are big enough so you can share, but small enough that you don’t fill yourself up on one thing. I’d definitely recommend request sitting upstairs, which is a secluded area and has cushioned benches to sit on. The whole restaurant has a great feel to it and is decorated in traditional Turkish style. underthescottishrain.blogspot.com
Small, friendly, idiosyncratic and very Turkish. We had a great meal.
A Turkish Gem. A SMALL ENTRANCE ON ST MARY’S STREET REVEALS THIS COSY, NARROW RESTAURANT. THE INTERIOR HAS WOODEN FLOORS, WALLS AND FURNITURE, TRADITIONAL TURKISH TEXTILES AND CERAMICS ADORN THE WALLS AND ORBS OF COLOURFUL LIGHT GLOW FROM NUMEROUS LAMPS. THERE IS A MEZZANINE FLOOR WITH SURROUND SEATING FOR DINERS OR PRIVATE PARTIES UP TO SIXTEEN. IT IS SO ATMPOSPHERIC THAT WHEN MR BITE AND I OCCUPY THE WINDOW BOOTH ONE FRIDAY EVENING I IMAGINE A BLUE BOSPHORUS OUTSIDE RATHER THAN THE DARK, EDINBURGH STREET.The menu comprises of meze (3.95 each, served with pitta and salad) a few main dishes such as moussaka, teas and desserts. It is BYOB with corkage of 3 for wine and 50p for beer. We order meze whilst Osman, the affable owner, explains to us that it is traditionally food to be eaten whilst drinking. Our choices are spread on the table and I am entranced by the feast of colour and texture. There are two dips: tarator i.e. crushed walnuts, lemon, virgin olive oil and spices, and haydani, char-grilled aubergines, whizzed with garlic, lemon, oil and spices. Also sucuk, Turkish garlic sausage which has the richness of chorizo but is softer and easier to chew; gul borek, a fresh spinach-filled filo; kiremit, beef and herb meatballs in a rich, tomato sauce and hellim, slow-grilled Cypriot goats milk cheese and, some zingy artichokes. I am hard-pressed to pick a favourite but love the feta peppers, slices of red and yellow spread with a paste of mashed feta, chilli flakes and dill.Predominant in the meze dishes is the mix of fresh, fragrant herbs, virgin olive oil, lemon, garlic and various spices. The salty and the sour, the hot and the cool, mix to excite the palate. A modest Osman confides that this is very simple food but created with the very best ingredients. For example, the virgin olive oil comes direct from a small olive grove in Crete and it is unique; almost lime green in colour, aromatic, grassy, floral and very light.I can’t think of a better place for socializing. Empires encourages, chat, grazing and relaxation. Just add wine and the live world music and you are virtually on holiday.