As someone who loves the occasional “breakfast for dinner,” it’s sad that there aren’t many small, independent restaurants that serve . But one longtime Houston restaurant still caters to those who find themselves craving an evening plate of pancakes. And it’s not IHOP or Denny’s.
Empire Café, nestled at 1732 Westheimer Rd., has been a Montrose mainstay for over 30 years. The restaurant opened in 1994 and was designed to have a “neighborhood feel with international flair.” Its massive space and equally massive menu blends the feel of a European coffeehouse with good ol’ fashioned Texas hospitality.
When you walk in, you’ll notice Empire Café has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It’s sprawling front and back patios make it the kind of place where you can read a book over a cup of Texas pecan coffee or have a beer hangout with friends.
Empire Café’s menu spans the globe—from pizza and pasta to sandwiches and their bestselling breakfast plates. You can get a taste of the Middle East with shakshouka, baked eggs in a spicy tomato stew with feta, dukkah and cilantro served with pita chips. There’s an Italian version of French toast made with rustic Italian bread topped with mixed berries.
You’ll also find traditional and not-so-traditional Texas fare. Empire Café’s huevos rancheros are made with eggs, housemade salsa ranchera, black beans, roasted corn, avocado and corn chips. It’s pretty classic, but Empire puts its own spin on chicken and waffles with roasted corn, applewood smoked bacon, spinach, smoked gouda cheese, crispy chicken and sriracha aioli.
And when a craving hits just for a classic comfort meal, you can always count on Empire Café’s croissant breakfast sandwich, omelets, avocado toast and acai bowls that you can enjoy from sun up to sun down.