Empire Empire

Not every restaurant has a concept but Empire Empire does. It describes itself as “an ode to the disco era” but, really, this Notting Hill restaurant has ordered a shandy and loosened its tie at the office party. There’s a jukebox playing ‘70s Bollywood music and the ‘quirky’ facade of a photo booth, sadly, hides nothing more than a small service kitchen. Some disappointed customers will be bizarrely met with a member of staff holding a Polaroid camera at their table, while everyone will get the same pleasant but unspectacular Punjabi food. Specials like a lobster biryani mimic the photo booth's theoretical fun but prove underwhelming, while classics like butter chicken satisfy rather than stun. For well-heeled residents it can be a conservatively fun night out, but most people will want to find their kicks elsewhere.