The Empress

I came here during breakfast hours wanting the lamb with green eggs after seeing it on Unilocal,but unfortunately, it was served only during lunch. The place was nearly empty but I decided to try it anyways.
First impression: the service was great. I don’t know what it would be like if the place was full but my waiter had a very professional and had a warm and welcoming personality.
I had a cup of coffee and the «hot plate» from the breakfast menu as recommended and it did not disappoint. The item was a combination of Cajun potatoes with pulled pork over a yellow sauce (unknown to me but really good) with eggs (sunny side up) over everything. The seasoning was perfectly balanced and the meat was very tender and juicy. The quality of the food is very good and and the ambiance of the restaurant is modern, classy, and welcoming.
Overall, this place is now serving one my favorite breakfast item!

I just noticed Via Unilocal,it appears they’ve closed:(. That is terribly disappointing. I hope they just changed names and or opened elsewhere.

Swing and a miss. Did not live up to the other reviews. Service was so-​so even though we were the only table — the staff was having a great time on the other side of the restaurant, we weren’t.
Food was cold, dry, and tasted odd. Serving was small. They only serve wine and beer. I walked away unhappy, can’t even drive buy without having food-​fear flashback.

We probably showed up at 9:30 on a Friday or Saturday night. Based on other, positive reviews, I think this was a bad call. I felt like the waitress wished we weren’t there, and the food was unmemorable — perhaps the cook/​chef didn’t want to be there either? I’m glad we just got small plates, otherwise I would have paid even more for a disappointing experience.
I might go back at a more «acceptable» hour.

Absolutely divine! I’ve come here a dozen times just to fall in love with this place again and again. Their staff are super friendly and their gluten-​free options are perfect. You can even buy gluten-​free loaves of fresh baked bread, just give them a little time to make them of course. This place can’t get any better. I can’t wait to try their gluten-​free pizza and beer night!

Oh hello there!
I’ve been to The Empress a few times. Each time I’ve been impressed. My wife has to eat gluten-​free, so that was our immediate draw. Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten-​free.
My wife loves the gluten-​free biscuits. Last Sunday when we went for brunch, she ordered some biscuits to go after we finished our meal, and the owner gave them to us for free. She said to call if we ever want to drop by for biscuits, and she’ll make sure to set aside a few fresh ones. This made me happy. That owner is a nice person.
Let’s see. I’ve had the steak sandwich. It’s awesome. The steak and mushroom and onion is perfectly cooked. It’s the type of sandwich that America was built upon. I love America, and I love this sandwich. (Take that, cows!)
I don’t remember what my wife has ordered every time. Once she ordered a breakfast crêpe, and it was really quite good. She made a couple of yum sounds while eating which led me to believe the food was quite enjoyable.
Last time we went, the waitress spilled cream all over the table, but it was an accident. It was good for a laugh, but we didn’t let it ruin our good time. I actually kind of like the artistic way the cream ran over the table top, coating everything in its path. We had brunch. My wife ordered the eggs benedict, and she was disappointed. The egg was just too underpoached. It was a mess of yolk and watery egg-​poaching fluid that flooded the plate. Her potatoes and gluten-​free biscuits (mentioned aforedly) were most excellent. I ordered the huevos rancheros, and they were like a delicious bomb. The corncake was a little heavy, but the whole dish had great flavor.
I like the location of The Empress. I like their food. If you’re looking for good gluten-​free or dairy-​free or vegan food, then you should find a way to get to The Empress and eat some food there. I bet you’ll like it.

I’ve wanted to try The Empress for a while, and I’m so glad we finally got the chance.
Stopped in here for Sunday brunch, and I have to say, the space just feels so clean and inviting. We started with the yogurt parfait. I think I could have done without it… there wasn’t very much yogurt, and between the two chunks of strawberry buried underneath the dense, dense yogurt and what seemed like two whole bars of crumbled granola, it just wasn’t worth the stomach space in my opinion. The breakfast crêpe and eggs benedict were much tastier. The portions are great for sharing between two people.
This was a lovely place to hang out and have some breakfast grub, with none of the greasy spoon diner feeling.

This place. THIS PLACE.
UNF. I can’t say enough good things. I’ve been here several times before, but went here today and decided it was finally time to give it a good Unilocal review. Nay, a SUPERIOR Unilocal review. The owners are super kind, very passionate, and very helpful. Just make the time to talk to them and they’ll want to talk to you.
Everything in this place is locally sourced. You can get most everything gluten free, vegetarian, pescetarian or vegan. It’s awesome. A good friend (my brunch buddy) and I were pleasantly surprised to discover their $ 20 mimosa pitcher special. It yields about 4 – 5 mimosas per person, which ensures you’ll really enjoy your brunch. I mean, the brunch is superior whilst sober, but who doesn’t love $ 20 mimosas?
I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict, which was practically perfect in every way. The salmon is PERFECTLY house-​cured and served over biscuits (excellently made) and eggs perfectly poached and a delectable hollandaise. My dining companion got the loaded breakfast crêpe and a cappuccino and was very happy with his choices, too. Yes, the portions are smaller than you’re probably used to, but they’re still filling and definitely worth the money.
Just get yourself over there. They just won a Travel Channel commercial so they’re going to get a ton more popular. Seriously, you won’t regret it.

I finally visited Empress for lunch just a few weeks ago after months of telling myself I needed to check it out. The food was fantastic, but their recent addition of outdoor tables and chairs has officially made it my new favorite restaurant. I had one of the most incredibly delicious and affordable dinners there about two weeks ago. The service was wonderful, the food was gourmet and the outdoor seating made the night seem slightly magical. I highly recommend taking an evening to check this place out.
My ONE caveat is that if you’re visiting for lunch — it’s definitely not the quickest place ever. That being said, it’s because your meal is being made to order with some serious love and attention.

Absolutely love the food here — portion is good, atmosphere is amazing, but the taste is incredible. I’m fortunate to not have food allergies or sensitivities, but if you eat with anyone who does, The Empress staff will accommodate you.

Let me start by saying: absolutely go now. I am offering my highest recommendation for The Empress. It’s a great restaurant for anyone who likes great food, and a great choice for a dinner date with someone who can hold a conversation.
The Empress was unexpectedly amazing. We come from a big city, traveled a bit and have visited quite a few fancy restaurants in our lifetime, but let me tell you, the food at the Empress is as good as the best we’ve had anywhere the world. I don’t know where the chef learned how to prepare food and what the underlying philosophy may be, but every single thing we’ve had had a unique an awesome twist and was a huge hit. The dishes were sophisticated, delicious, well-​presented and memorable.
I took my wife out for a dinner date there on Friday night. The music was at a low enough volume to support a good conversation, and all the drinks were custom-​mixed with fresh ingredients and pieces of fruit and berries as evidence. For most dishes, you could specify a vegetarian or a gluten-​free option, and then the dish could be adjusted.
The desert (a mini-​brick of chocolate pâté) was very good; it featured the best-​mixed custom chocolate I’ve had in a long time.
Some things to be aware of. The décor is modest, but nonetheless cozy. The food portions are «right-​sized:» not enough for two people, but not too small. You will not be full unless you have a full-​course meal, but that is to be expected at a good restaurant offering quality over quantity.
This place deserves to be very popular: my mind could not reconcile the contrast between the dinner experience and the level of patronage on a Friday night.
This place is almost too good for Richmond, it would do very well even if situated in the food mecca neighborhoods of New York, SF or Boston.
We’ll be back :)

Hold on to your socks folks because this place will surely knock them off.
My mom is gluten free, my sister and I are vegetarian and my father is the most southern meat and potatoes man you can find yet we can all say the same thing about this restaurant: AMAZEBALLS.
The food here is so creative. The menu choices are numerous and mouth watering and change with the seasons. And everything is so glamorous when it arrives in front of you. It looks to good to eat, but once the smell wafts up into your nostrils that won’t be a problem and you will dig right in and devour every last morsel on your plate. Trust me. I am so glad i live within walking distance to this establishment because i can’t get enough of it.
They are also the most gluten conscience place I have ever eaten (because the owner and the head chef both have the gluten allergy so they understand).
I wish i could give them more than 5 stars. STOP HERE.

Great place for Vegans, Vegetarians, Gluten-​Free, or Meat-​eaters! This place has it all. The fresh lemonade was great, and the appetizer to get is the Vegetable Plate. Even if you are not vegetarian this is a MUST try! The way they grill these veggies gives them a smoky flavor and the perfect texture. The garlic hummus it’s served with is amazing. Everyone in our group loved their entrees as well. I am a quiche lover and I will say I have had better quiche in Richmond (Rev it Up, Crossroads, Ellewood Thompson), so I will skip the quiche next time. However I will definitely be returning to The Empress to try something new.

I had the pleasure of having brunch at the Empress last weekend and I have to say it was one of the Best brunches I have had recently. Sometimes a food specialty restaurant is great for the people going there specifically for it but less than stellar for unrestricted eaters. In the Empress that is NOT the case. All the food on the table was spectacular and the fact that half our party was ordering Gluten Free and enjoying a wide selection made the morning even better.
I had eggs Benedict (not gluten free) and wow, was it good. I loved the biscuit and bacon as opposed to the more traditional version. It was plenty of food and the onion hash served with it had a nice kick to it. I also tried one of the homemade lemonades with basil, i ordered it «sparkling» and didn’t realize that meant with champagne. (and i thought in was a drinker. Smh.) However it was huge and awesome, had I not been driving 7 hours immediately after breakfast I would have had kept drinking them all morning.
One of the gluten free dishes that stands out was the French toast that was ordered. The bread was so good that I couldn’t tell the difference and the peanut butter sauce was perfect and no additional syrup was needed, in addition when asked about the bread they mentioned it was made in house and that we could order a loaf and get it the next day.
All in all a killer brunch!

What a terrific meal. During my travels throughout central and southern Virginia, I think my evening at Empress resulted in the best food I ate on the whole trip. You think you’d find a restaurant like this somewhere like Old Town Alexandria or Adams Morgan, but nope, it’s on boring and lame Broad Street in Richmond. Perhaps Empress will be an anchor to gentrification of the area.
Empress is designed by and for those with celiac disease or other food allergies. The owners both «suffer» from celiac and decided to make a restaurant to cater to the gluten-​free crowd, and boy have they succeeded. I was impressed by the entire menu, gluten-​free or not. I don’t suffer from celiac, but my dining partner does, and while I’m accustomed to finding lame chain restaurants that have a few mediocre gluten-​free items, Empress swings for the fence by providing loads of delicious, gluten-​free food. Celiac patrons no longer have to feel like they are relegated to eating «wannabe» food.
I had the lamb chops with horseradish polenta and roasted grape tomatoes. It was outstanding. Also, it was hot, not just tepidly warm, which is something lost on so many restaurants. I remember those of us in our party all commenting on how the food was perfectly hot, just as it should be. The lamb was deliciously seasoned and cooked, as was everything else.
For dessert? Chocolate soup with nutmeg and cayenne pepper served with grilled fruit. My only complaint here is that strawberries come on the plate and are not grilled at all (Grilling strawberries would be disastrous.) The pineapple and pears were good, as well, though I strongly recommend swapping something out in favor of grilled peaches or some sort of pitted fruit, which lend themselves best to grilling. Terrific meal, gluten-​free or not.
Service was very attentive, and the menu is quite clear on the gluten or allergen situation with each dish. I’ve never been to another restaurant that is so well organized and prepared to serve a gluten-​free crowd. I intend to return the next time I’m in Richmond.

Had a great brunch today at the Empress and we’ll definitely be back, maybe for dinner next time. Portion sizes are smaller and you probably won’t be walking out with to-​go boxes – and I prefer this because some food is disappointing the second time after a trip to the microwave.
My wife ordered the loaded breakfast crêpe and I had the fresh challah french toast. We both enjoyed our meals (and each others meals) but neither meal was a must-​have – we will try other things for our next visit.
Since I wasn’t in a hurry, I describe the service as laid back. It’s a little on the slow side, you are definitely not hurried out!

Empress has a great brunch menu! For a place that prides itself on having local, seasonal ingredients I was surprised to see asparagus on the menu in the middle of winter. Prices are reasonable and they actually have real people sized portions! Even the brunch food was plated with an eye to presentation (as I think shows in my photos of the food) and for once in my life I didn’t have to ask for a box to take food home. Thank God someone understands portion size. The food was really great.
The menu is marked with «gluten free» and «vegetarian» next to most dishes. It’s in green when the dish is already one or the other and red when it isn’t but can be requested to be. I requested my eggs benedict vegetarian but they came out with the bacon still on. I just removed the bacon, I mean, what else are you going to do, right? but it does make me a little nervous, if I had Celiac or something I don’t think I’d trust them with the «ask to have it gluten free» after that.
Atmosphere is really nice, mimosas are generous. 3 stars instead of 4 because the waitress was really out of it. Got bacon on my vegetarian eggs benedict, forgot to bring syrup for the french toast after saying she was going to and I swear she said, «Sorry to keep you waiting» to almost every table. Service in general seemed pretty slow. I found myself thinking, «I just ordered poached eggs on a biscuit, what’s taking so long?» When I saw how pretty the food was I kinda understood.
I’d like to go back. I anticipate bumping it up a star or even two in future visits.

I wanted to write a quick update as I’ve visited Empress twice for early morning breakfasts. It’s nice to have a place that opens at 6:30 a.m. and isn’t a diner. Empress is a step above. The menu is simple but nice: you’ll find crepes, breakfast sandwiches, quiche and other, nicer breakfast fare.
Both times I’ve gone for the pancetta panini: egg, colby jack cheese and pancetta are pressed into sourdough bread. It’s a simple but tasty way to start the day. The sammy doesn’t come with any sides, but this is fine for me as I like to keep my early morning weekday eats on the lighter side.
On my most recent visit, my friend got the breakfast biscuit, and it just may have been the cutest thing ever. For $ 4 she got two cute little homemade biscuits topped with cheese, egg and little bacon criss-​crosses. So cute!
The coffee comes in pretty white cups and is accompanied by cute little sugar cubes. I kind of wish they’d put some splenda on the table for us non-​sugar drinkers, but I love the look of the dainty little sugar cubes.
The only other minor quibble: morning service here can be a little slow, so I’d think twice if you’re hurry. But, maybe if you let the servers know, they’ll speed it up. This is the perfect place to linger with a cup of coffee and an early morning snack, though.

Gluten-​free paradise! Food’s great, ethos is great, and it is allllllllll optional. I was able to get whole-​grain focaccia while my gal got G-​F crepes.
Open late for dessert, Empress is the first restaurant to compete seriously with black sheep or B-​on-​B for welterweight champ in Americana.

Nice clean space, bigger than I thought it would be. Nice art on the walls.
Love the brunch until 5pm.
Brunch meal was very good but not 5 stars. The green eggs and lamb was pretty tasty, but the lamb was too salty, otherwise seasoned well and very very tender! The prices are good for the quality but the portion sizes are fairly small. We had a second lunch afterwards.
Definitely coming back to taste more of the menu. There is a small parking lot next to the restaurant.