For dining places in the metro that are inspired by other countries, consistency is important. Being influenced by another cuisine and culture and playing with that concept in the Philippines can be quite a challenge— people end up expecting more, even when they know that their expectations might not match reality. Empire Deli & Restaurant lives up to expectations. The place screams New York City, with its culinary creations and urban neighborhood diner feel. Although it is relatively new in the scene, Empire Deli has already attracted guests and loyal patrons, a clear indication that consistency is present.
Interior designer Macie Lorenzo took inspiration from the diners in the Big Apple. Empire Deli’s interiors lean toward the bare side, featuring exposed beams and brick walls. Large chalkboards occupy most of the walls, serving as menu and announcement boards. Spanning one wall of the restaurant is a mural depicting the Statue of Liberty and countless skyscrapers reflecting the vibrancy of NYC. Opposite is a tufted turquoise banquette that runs the whole width of the restaurant on one side. Wooden chairs and tables complete the intentionally unfinished look.
Chef Mike Tinsay came up with a modern American menu that anyone can enjoy, at any time of the day. These include all- day breakfast, appetizers, soups and salads, pastas, sandwiches and the main courses. Empire Deli takes pride in their bestsellers, unique in their own ways. Their gourmet sandwiches, for one, has a twist you can’t find in similar places. The Empire 50/50 is a half-ground beef, half-bacon burger patty combination, while their Broadway Brisket can be enjoyed in two ways: dipping only the patty or the entire sandwich in the special sauce.
Their frequent visitors are the employees in the Taguig area. Its laidback atmosphere attracts the employees not only during lunch breaks but also after-office hours. They even have an Atomic Wing challenge where two challengers have to eat 15 pieces of spicy chicken wings each in five minutes. The winner makes it to their Hall-of-Fame list and doesn’t pay a cent while the loser pays for all the chicken wings.
Chef Mike describes the restaurant as a “casual” place that anyone can visit, and as more and more residential areas sprout up in the neighborhood, he expects more families to check out and enjoy Empire Deli as well.
