For the frequent visitor, this review should serve as a reminder to dine here again at the earliest. For the uninitiated, this review should help you realize what you’ve been missing. It is, therefore, with immense pride and satisfaction that I present to you this issue’s review
of the restaurant - The Empire chain of hotels..”

There is nothing on this menu that should be missed. It is always best to start with their specialty, Chicken Shawarma- an Arabic fast food favorite, succulent meat and vegetables in a creamy chick pea paste, wrapped in “Khubbus”, the Arabic bread. It is delicious, filling
and an easy option for a pick-me-up. If eating within the restaurant is what you have in mind, then there is an exhaustive menu to help you make a choice. If you’re stopping for a quick snack, I recommend you try the Kheema Dosa- it manages to hit the spot, but I warn you, you might want to order one more after you’re done with the first one. Or try the Chicken Curry Dosa, a dosa with two types of chicken curry, one spicy, the other, subtly flavored with coconut milk, both very pleasing to the taste buds.

If you’re visiting for lunch or dinner, the choice of dishes is so tempting, that you’re often left confused as to what it is you want to eat. Empire is known for its excellent cooking of non-vegetarian food. Therefore, the chicken will always be very tender and the mutton nearly always falls off the bone, as it is cooked so well. Make sure you try the classic favorite, Butter Chicken. I don’t think I can describe the excellence of the dish, but that should be enough to tell you how good it is. Other chicken items that deserve a mention are the Kadhai Chicken, Mughlai Chicken, Hyderabadi Chicken and of course, the Chicken Chettinad.

The mutton dishes are also named in a similar manner and taste just as good. A big favorite is
the Rogan Josh, cooked to perfection. All the gravy items can be accompanied by their quite long list of rice items (plain rice, ghee rice, and jeera rice to name a few) or breads (rotis, naans, parathas, etc.) The Ceylon Paratha deserves a special mention. It is light, fluffy and make for a good accompaniment with any of the gravy items.

The biryanis served by this chain are also very poplar and very delicious. The Chicken and Mutton biryanis should both be sampled. You’ll be licking your fingers till the lemon bowl is placed in front of you! If you’re feeling particularly hungry but don’t want to order too many dishes, try their meals. They’ve got mini meals that are not so mini and executive meals for
those with a larger-than-usual appetite. These are your regular thalis, but Empire style. So you’ll get quite a lot of chicken items, and each one is very, very yummy. These thalis make for filling meals and get a definite thumbs-up.

And for the finale, I’ve left their special secret weapon- the tandoori section. Be it Tandoori Chicken, Grilled Chicken or Chicken Kababs, their tandoori dishes are what make these restaurants so popular. Marinated well and cooked till smoking hot, items from their tandoor have to be tasted to be believed. I suggest you take advantage of the rainy weather and
enjoy the downpour from within the restaurant, while gorging on one of their tandoori dishes. The feeling, I guarantee you, is of total sublimity, and I have a feeling you’ll thank me for it!

Located throughout the city, Empire’s most popular branches are at Indiranagar, Jayanagar, Shivajinagar and Church Street. It isn’t difficult to find the restaurants either, as most of them have become landmarks within the vicinity of their venue.
The prices are reasonable. You also get the option of ordering a full or half version of any dish, thereby saving you from the guilt of having wasted some of it, because the portions are very generous. The waiters are also friendly and helpful and only add to the pleasing
atmosphere. So, if you’ve already been here, visit again, it’s always a good place
to eat at. If you haven’t been here, what are you waiting for? Head to nearest branch today and have yourself a merry mealtime!