From across the Black Glass
April 2010
In 1976, Rocky was released, Borg defeated Nastase at Wimbledon, the U.S. Navy tested the Tomahawk Cruise Missile, the Toronto Blue Jays were created, the Washington Metro Subway opened, Tienanmen Square was covered in the blood of students, Mao Tse Dong died, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic, the Entebbe Raid was staged, and String Theory was first postulated.
Somehow Wikipedia does not mention that the Empire Diner also opened that year.
This year, 2010, the Empire Diner closes.
Despite our best efforts, we will be leaving our home in Chelsea in mid-May and will say Aloha to our customers and other friends.
The owners of the Empire, Renate and Mitchell, are looking for new and exciting places on which to open new, exciting Empire Diners here in Gotham and in cities around the world! We are actively seeking suggestions on cities, sites, neighborhoods, and nations in which to open them. If you are in the know on these things, or are a potential investor, operator and/or are acquainted with such a person, please contact us via this web site. A full meal for 4 if your lead pans out!
Come by and say Aloha to us before we close, seeing you again will help us smile through our tears.!
From across the Black Glass
February 2010
The snows have come yet again to Gotham - a dusting of white covers the crags of frozen slush, day - time melt drops to night - time freezing and black ice lurks, waiting to chortle at ruined coats and twisted limbs. The Big Town has had its fill of winter-whether caused by El Nino or a Canadian Front. It doesn’t matter if The Farmers’ Almanac or Falwell’s Minions are actually correct - We are Tired of this Nonsense!
Even the sight of the long-legged size 2s here for another Fashion Week does not sufficiently warm our hearts, but here are a couple of things that will…
This week Pitchers and Catchers report across what passes these days for a Sun Belt!
AND
This week the Demented Elves in our basement start work on planning the Diner’s Spring Menu!
As surely as Crocuses and Forsythia, these are signs Persephone stirs and will soon grace the Earth to re-awaken and burst forth in her Verdant Fecund Glory!
Dream your fevered dreams of Salads and Snacks, or join us now for a plate of The Empire’s World-Class Meatloaf and Mashed that might put Grandma’s to shame. We are still here, an oasis of warmth, conviviality and anti-freezes of all stripes.
Join Us!
The best is yet to come!
From across the Black Glass
December 2009
Merry Christmas, and a strange one it is this year-the weather is unsettled, the economy is unsettled, the Copenhagen Climate Change Talks are unsettled and worst of all the stores put up their Xmas decorations the day after Halloween!
We gave our cave-dwelling elves the task of developing a suitable Burger Special for this special time of year-something to evoke the Spirit of the Season. The Biggest, (and meanest), came up with what is sure to be a Holiday Classic to rank with “Grandma Got run over by a Reindeer”, those dogs barking “Jingle Bells”, and Rankin & Bass’s unending stream of mind-numbing stop action films.
With the popularity of GPS devices, he figured there was no longer a need for that nose so bright, so we at the Empire Diner proudly present
The Rudolph Burger
Ground, mildly spicy Venison
Topped with Barbecue Sauce
and served on a lovely Egg Twist Roll.
Cajun Fries complete the feast,
and you don’t have to wear an orange vest
or strap it across your Fender to enjoy it.
Come on down and have one and we’ll let you join in any reindeer games.
From across the Black Glass
November 2009
This Thanksgiving, come on down to The Diner for a real feast.
Our Annual Harvest Festival Meal consists of:
Corn Chowder
Roast Turkey (all white meat this year)
Sausage-Cornbread Stuffing
Giblet Gravy
Pureed Yams
Broccoli
Fresh Cranberry Relish
Apple/or/Pumpkin Pie
Coffee/or/Tea
If your family is far away, or you'd rather avoid another bout of long-held grudges and Uncle Bernie getting plastered on hard cider and telling you about what Woodstock was REALLY like, or you just don't want to cook, we have the plates, the chairs and the food lovingly prepared in our kitchens by Surviving Pilgrims and their Indigenous American Helpmates.
All this, you don't have to wash the dishes afterwards, and it'll only set you back 20 bucks! So join us, and tell your Family you're washing your hair that night, or rearranging your sock drawer.
From across the Black Glass
September 2009
The end is near for the wettest Summer in recent memory; the cool nights have allowed us to sleep without the AC; early-morning dog-walkers actually need jackets or sweaters; recent games at the Stadium have taken on the slight chill that Yankee fans see as their annual birthright.
Autumn, and its Sweet Melancholy sidle up to us. This is Gotham at its finest! Crisp, cool, not-too-humid, and the kids are back in school! All we need is the late-lamented, soulfully pungent aroma of burning leaves- a smell those school kids will probably never know.
What they can know, and you can, too, is the latest Empire Burger Rebels Specials-The Salmon Burger leaves you feeling Omega-Charged, the returning Hawaiian Burger hints of the warmth we almost knew this year, and the Chicken Fajita Burger echoes one of the things that New York is best at- the Fusion of Tastes and Cultures.
While Burgers are usually best with a cold beer, come in and try one with a glass of Red Wine. Sip from your glass in the flicker of candle light, eat your Burger, and look sadly onto 10th Ave., knowing that warm weather is going---and so are the short skirts we've grown to admire.
From across the Black Glass
August 2009
As the Summer of '09 becomes, finally, a true New York Summer, (Hazy, Hot, Humid ), the A.C. at The Diner beckons you all to a respite from the growing nuttiness of our nation--
Ah, well. At least the Empire has heard the collective Vox Populi and extended the current set of Burger Weeks Specials. These, the most widely-sought Special Burgers we've ever produced, consist of the
Buffalo Chicken Burger
Pesto Burger
Black Bean Burger.
All will be available for a limited time set to end on the 21st of August, (just in time for the Pennant Races to begin), and to be replaced soon thereafter by a new set of Burger Weeks Specials now being developed by our Mad Geniuses whom we keep chained in the basement.
Come in and have a Great Burger and a cold Brew and maybe, just maybe, things will seem better in the morning.
From across the Black Glass
July 2009
All is again right in the world!
The Yankees are battling for first with those upstart kid brothers from Boston, the rains have slowed, so Gotham can stop doing its Seattle impersonation, and The Empire Diner has a new set of three Burger Weeks Specials.
Our Black Bean Burger is a meatless wonder-full of flavor and really satisfying for even this unrepentant carnivore; The Pesto Burger, topped with a slab of Melted Provolone, vanquishes the heartiest appetite; The Buffalo Chicken Burger returns, triumphant, to the huzzahs of the Famished Multitude!
Speaking of the Natural Order of the Universe- the NY Post is at it again with an out-of-context snapshot that gives the impression that Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy are a couple of Construction Workers ogling the fannies of under-age girls.
Now we don’t care much if the leaders of two of the Biggest Economies do what men do all the time, that is between them and their respective Knock-Out Spouses. The problem we have is that it just ain’t so!
Take the couple of keystrokes needed to find the VIDEO of the alleged Booty Gaze and you’ll see the President of this Republic turning his head as he helps a different young woman down a step. Hardly the impression left by the still photo that the Post ran on its Front Page. This is the same “Newspaper” that ran that outrageous carton of a Just-Killed Simian and two cops saying, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
What was on the mind of the Gallic Prez is anyone’s guess, but we hear his current wife is kinda cute.
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
From across the Black Glass
June 2009
And the rains came.
For another day this June, rain falls in Gotham. Mold forms on the walls of the C train, (no surprise there), my wife's tomato plants are decidedly squishy, and our dog has hardly had a full day of play in more than three weeks. Forget the Noah jokes, friends, this is really getting annoying and we have yet to see what is sure to be a bumper crop of skeeters later this summer. If this weather is a harbinger of Climate Change, a Canary-in-a-Kayak, I am ready to look for a Prius. We can only hope the Sponge of Heaven over the North East has been wrung nearly dry.
On the positive, did you wipe the condensation off your flat panel long enough to see USA defeat Egypt Three-Nil in the Confederations Cup? Did you care enough to watch it in Spanish-on Univision? Do you care at all?
Whether the USA Soccer team, the Mets, Yanks, or Mir Hossein Mousavi emerge victorious, we at The Diner are preparing a new round of Heroically Delicious Burger Weeks Specials. There will be one Meatless, one returning Poultry, and one of Beef. All will be worth your while and a few bucks, all go wonderfully well with beer or wine, and all will be available in a couple of weeks.
Stay dry and we hope to see you on 22nd and Tenth real soon.
Here Comes Summer
Late May 2009
Spring is two-thirds gone, and the famous New York Humidity is waiting to enfold us like in a steamy down comforter, leaving us feeling like those Pork Buns on Mott Street.
Peter Minuit purchased the island of Mana-Hata in May of 1626 from the Cañar-see People. One can imagine the Cañar-see after the sale, rowing up the Hudson in their canoes laughing their butts off because they’d sold the Island during the short-lived beauty of Spring, and also because the land belonged to another tribe! Sometimes Legacy is Destiny.
Here at the Diner we are busily checking our A/C system so we can offer you the comfort of Climate Control while you munch on our Burger Week Specials or anything else on our Spring-Summer Menu.
While the Hawaiian Chicken Burger is our personal favorite for late Spring, both the Negimaki and Bayou Burgers have much to commend them. Maybe you’d like to jump the Seasonal Gun just a tad and have a Backyard BBQ Sandwich, or celebrate the return of our Sesame Noodles (with Grilled Shrimp or Chicken Cutlet if you’re more than a bit peckish.) Whatever you are in the mood for, we probably have it or something pretty darned close-remember our full bar is open as many hours as the City allows.
We would also like to send a special Shout-Out to the Bowdoin Girl who is graduating this coming weekend. With this economy in shambles we say, “Welcome Home, Sarah.”
Another Spring Greetings
Late April 2009
Wow! Was that really a pair of 90 degree days in April? To have that much sun, that much warmth, and that little humidity in Our Fair City was a cause for Celebration and Jubilation! Many of our friends, new and old, did just that in visiting our humble Diner’s Garden Cafe on 10th Ave.
Welcome Back. Good to feed you again.
Wow! Was that really a Jet Liner escorted by 2 F-16s buzzing our downtown area? When our Chef gets a call from his son in mid-day, it is a surprise; when he tells of a low-flying trio over Staten Island where no planes ever cast a shadow that is a shock!
What hare-brained, money wasting, Dr. Strangelove-worshiping bureaucrat thought it would be a good idea to traumatize a city of 8 Million for A PHOTO-OP??????
And then, he tells our Police Commissioner NOT TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF THE MOST JET-SKITTISH CITY ON THE CONTINENT! All at a cost of $328,835!!!
We here are in full support, more-or-less, of our new President. He has, perhaps, the toughest set of problems to face an incoming Commander-In-Chief since Washington first put on his Black Velvet Breeches and Silver-Buckled Pumps, but this was NUTS, and it goes back to his people.
Come on, Denizens of the Beltway, think just a little bit.
When you’ve calmed down, or even while still agitated, come over to W 23rd and try one of our latest Burger Weeks specials.
Coming very soon to the Empire Diner nearest you.
Spring Greetings Redux
March 2009
Now that Spring might be willing to stay, it's time to spruce up your wardrobe with a few, (or a bunch), of additions from our Empire Diner Boutique. Just look down and to your right and click on "Boutique and Merchandise" to see all the fashionable, elegant, and downright goofy stuff you can buy. We especially like the Dog T-Shirt- always a hit in Chelsea, and many of our Primate-Style Garments come in sleek, Gone-To-the-Gym sizes as well as some for the rest of us, the Tote Bags to supplement your WNYC/PBS models, and the Pinstripe Yankee Cap suitable for showing support for the Bombers without re-financing your home to buy tickets. Impress your Friends!, Confound your Enemies !! Be the First Kid on Your Block!!!---Whip out that credit card and do your part to stimulate the Economy!!!!
On the subject of Economy and Appetite Stimulation-starting March 16,
The Diner is initiating a "Come and Get It" Deal for our Chelsea Neighborhood on Mondays and Tuesdays. See our “Menu and Food Specials” button to download our Retro-Eats Flyer.
We hope to see you there, preferably wearing your Empire Diner Apparel.
Spring Greetings
March 2009
Spring might just have stopped playing Hide-and-Seek with Gotham. All the signs of hope and promise are present; There are early buds on the willow trees, Crocuses are gently heralding rebirth, Forsythia has been sighted, albeit still greenish, on the slopes of Fort Green Park, A-Rod is still causing us to gnash our teeth, and the Empire Diner has put up the Outdoor Café. Could warm breezes and short skirts be far behind? (Oh wait, the short skirts never really left our lanes and boulevards.)
The Staff, Management and Ownership of the Diner all join in welcoming You to yet another Spring, and to the renewed sense of Hope and Possibility it brings. We also promise to not serve Green Beer on the 17th.
From Across the Black Glass
January 2009
We had our bit of warmth and diversion during Fashion Week; now we remember what February in Gotham really is - There are Robins falling, naïve, bright, scarlet, and freeze-dried on 10th Ave, Taxis plot, awaiting the chance to splash the gutters’ stream onto your legs and into your shoes, Sleet defies the Laws of Physics and falls horizontally,
In much of our country, some mourn, this month, the 200th Birthdays of both Darwin and Lincoln.
BUT-
Even A-Rod’s clay feet and tracked skin cannot completely dim the approaching glow of Spring Training; there are buds on the willow trees, more light and light it grows each time we emerge, blinking and ursine, from the evening-rush C train. The Promise and Hope and Change we long for might take longer and be more ambiguous than Persephone’s return, but sometimes only faith can sustain us.
From Across the Black Glass
January 2009
We are already tired of snow, while some predict a major storm in March, for Pete's sake!,
The Giants looked terrible in their ONLY playoff game,
The markets continue to tumble,
We have to watch for falling brokers when walking downtown.
Even Joe Torre is trashing the Yankees, BUT - There is a way to brighten your mood by saving a little cash --- Go back to the main Web Page and click on "The Secret Phrase".
And to celebrate St. Valentine's Day, and generate some heat, we suggest you bring your Significant Other to the Diner on that day. We are offering Heart-Shaped Ravioli in a Cream and Fresh Herb Sauce and a South-Western favorite - Steak and Oysters.
Add a bottle of wine and cut to the visual metaphor of your choice.
From Across the Black Glass
January 2009
True Winter has arrived in Gotham. Every street corner is a wind tunnel, every nose is runny, there is less room on every subway car because of the bulky coats we all wear, and the ascent to ground level is slippery and slushy.
There are, however, true heroes, and true miracles. Because Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III was able to glide a 47-ton Airbus to a safe landing on our frigid Hudson River, there are 155 people alive tonight. Our city still flinches at the very whisper of a jet incident. We thank Captain Sullenberger for bringing tearful smiles to our faces.
On a slightly less exciting note, we ask you to recall any Empire-related stories and click on the "contact and the book" button to tell us about it. (and maybe have your story appear in our forthcoming book).
From the Owners' Desk
January 2009
A collective sigh of relief is in order-We have survived Holiday Season in Gotham!
We can now look forward to the ever-increasing shower of pine needles being ground into our floors and carpets, the specter of yet another Plum Pudding fossilizing on our shelves, and the grim reality of True Winter. But wait! All is not as grey and grim as Cormac McCarthy would have us believe - A new day IS dawning on January 20th, the Giants are STILL Super Bowl Champions, and the Empire Diner is still the 24-hour Lode-Star of warmth, light, conviviality and victuals (and spirits) on the otherwise-frigid corner of 22nd and 10th.
A Long Winter does extend before us, but we’ll be just fine.
We are, after all, New Yorkers.
Web Musings from the Kitchen
December 08
The leaves are gone, the wind-blown snows are just over the horizon, and the madding crowds jostle and elbow for supposed bargains. It’s Holiday Season in New York!
Celebrate Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Christmas/Whatever-Else with a Brew and a Burger at our place. We’ve got three new Burger Weeks Specials coming out soon:
The Santorini
with Spinach, Feta, and Garlicky Mayonnaise.
The Sicilian Pork Burger
with fresh herbs and a hint of spicy warmth to battle the Winter Chill.
The Chicken-Brie Holiday Burger
with our Festive Cranberry-Nut Chutney.
All are designed to entice you to The Empire, and take you away from the pressures of the End-of-Year Wackiness all New Yorkers love to hate. Come on in, before the Lovely Pristine Snows turn to Slush.
And at this time and always, our Sincere Best Wishes from All of Us to All of You!
Winter returns
December 08
Winter returns to Gotham- temperatures drop, icy winds howl, snow falls, and still, in a language that transcends differences, that Art Deco Jewel Box on Tenth Avenue beckons, providing comfort to thousands from around the snow globe.
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Plate o' Plenty
November 08
Halloween, which is a warm-up for the Holiday Season, was a great night here at the Diner; the energy was high and costumes were clever and funny. The next Holiday to remind you why you moved away from your family is Thanksgiving. If you can avoid flying/driving back home, or if you’ve made peace with them and they don’t want to cook, bring them to the Diner. We’re having our traditional Plate o’ Plenty here:
Corn Chowder
Roast Turkey (all white meat this year)
Sausage-Cornbread Stuffing
Giblet Gravy
Pureed Yams
Broccoli
Fresh Cranberry Relish
Apple pie /or/Pumpkin Pie
Coffee/or/Tea
And all for 20 bucks!
That low price might allow for some early Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzza shopping.
Post-Election
November 08
The Elections are over, the people have spoken, and the country might have regained its collective senses. Come back to your senses or leave them entirely by spending a couple of hours at our full bar. It’s “Country First” for Bourbon or Brooklyn Lager drinkers, there is Beck’s for the Deutschophiles, and every country and his allies is making pretty good Vodka these days.
We congratulate the President-elect and wish him and his administration all wisdom and luck in the coming struggles. We suggest appointing a new head of the National Endowment for the Arts-either Tina Fey or Chelsea’s own Blair Brown.
Vote!!!
November 08
Most importantly, Tuesday Nov. 4th is Election Day.
Please Vote - The stakes have rarely been higher.
From the Executive Chef´s Desk
November 08
The Marathon, to be run on Sunday November 2nd, brings thousands of skinny people to our Fair City. Some are coming to the Diner where they're carbing up on Macaroni & Cheese, Cajun Penne, garlicky Linguine with Smoked Salmon and Watercress, or Cold Sesame Noodles with Grilled Shrimp or Grilled Chicken, all to prepare for the joy of aching feet, burning muscles and running 26.22 miles through the streets of New York. I suggest any of those dishes with a glass or two of chilled white wine or a couple of brews from our nifty beer list.
Beers also go well with the latest Burger Week entries - Come in starting Nov. 6th for a Hawaiian Burger or a Curried Sweet Potato Burger, or my son's favorite, a Buffalo Chicken Burger. All are pretty good, gosh darn it!
With the Autumn chill in the air, we are brewing more of our delicious and satisfying soups, many of them Vegetarian, and are even now getting ready to harvest the chickens needed for Antonia's Chicken Soup.
Sprint TV Ad
October 08
Sprint, the nation-wide telecommunications company, joined other major businesses and recently shot a television ad at the Diner. The ad was a beautiful black and white promo and was featured on this year's Emmy awards.
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From the Executive Chef´s Desk
October 08
The last of the three Presidential Debates is history and we hope you gathered around your TV or radio or computer or ipod to hear what the two worthy Senators plan for the difficult times we all face. Here at the Empire Diner we strive to maintain a strictly neutral stance on all political issues, but we do promise to not serve any half-baked Moose Au Jus any time soon; we would love to have Tina Fey over; (or even Katie Couric, for that matter), and will Never refer to any customer as “That One”. Only a handful of days remain until we gather to choose our next leader, why not spend a couple of them at the Empire Diner. If you come in for a Burger and a Beer, or a Salad with lots of Arugula, whether you are a former State Trooper or a recanted '60s radical, we have food and beverage to energize your core.
Our select group of advisers is busily planning our Fall-Winter Menu, and many are lobbying for the next rendition of Burger Weeks.
As usual, our Fabulous Set Director has decked out the Diner for Halloween. Come in and try our Special Cocktail- 'The Ghost in the Graveyard'
Post Season
October 08
The Yankees and Mets have ended their seasons, two ballparks are dark forever, and an era in New York sports has come to an end. Console yourself with a bottle of wine, a Blue Plate special, or a Burger or a plate of our remarkable Pasta.
Fashion Week is over
October 08
Fashion Week is over, and while the City is slightly less beautiful now, the absence of those super-slim models means you can feel less guilty about stopping in to the Empire Diner for a great meal, a fine beverage and our always-exciting atmosphere. If you are feeling really adventurous, try one, or more, of our latest Burger Week specials-The Toscano continues to impress burger eaters who get a boot out out of a zesty riff on the traditional beef burger, the poultry-tarians might want to sink their teeth into our Satay which features freshly-ground chicken breast and spicy Peanut-Sesame sauce. Those wanting to not eat meat will enjoy the succulence of our Portobello Burger-on a seven-grain roll.
Empire Diner Burger Weeks
September 08
Empire Diner Burger Weeks started on August 12.
The Empire Diner is expanding its famous Burger Menu, with new and exciting variations on our classics. On a monthly basis we will present the newest Empire Diner Burger innovations.
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What´s the Weather
like today?
Basic Information
Have a look to the forecast of
wundergrund.com |
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Fashion Week
September 08
Don´t forget to visit New York City from Sept 5 to Sept 12. Fashion Week is in town and the Empire Diner is as always a destination for the world´s fashionistas.
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Empire at the Movies
September 08
This week the Empire Diner was the scene of another promising major motion picture to be released in 09. Watch this space for further developments.
Back to School
September 08
It´s back to school!
Parents enjoy your new freedom, with a cocktail
and a meal at the Empire Diner.
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