Empress Palace - Calgary

The restaurant advertised that they open at 11:00 am. We called and confirmed this, and they said we could come in at 11:00 am. However, when we arrived at 11:3... read more The restaurant advertised that they open at 11:00 am. We called and confirmed this, and they said we could come in at 11:00 am. However, when we arrived at 11:30 am, they informed us that their chef had not yet arrived. This was a total waste of time.

My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The servers were inattentive and unenthusiastic when taking my order. The pakoras were not good, and they ke... read more My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. The servers were inattentive and unenthusiastic when taking my order. The pakoras were not good, and they kept placing the food on the other side of the table, making it inconvenient for me to reach. The lamb biryani lacked flavor and was mostly rice. The butter chicken and garlic naan took 45 minutes to arrive, despite being quick dishes to prepare. Overall, the service was slow and the atmosphere was not welcoming. I have worked at a top Indian restaurant and have not tipped $0 in years. The prices were also high. I recommend going to Spice Hut in the NE for better quality Indian food at a more affordable price.

This restaurant was excellent in the past, but in the last year (2023) it has significantly declined. The food quality has decreased, with fatty chicken, excess... read more This restaurant was excellent in the past, but in the last year (2023) it has significantly declined. The food quality has decreased, with fatty chicken, excessive oil, and separated sauces being common issues. The portions are also smaller than other Indian restaurants, with a rice order not being enough for one person. After being disappointed three times in a row with different menu items, I have decided not to return.

Don't be swayed by negative reviews about the service - my experience at this restaurant has always been fantastic. The Indian food here is top-notch, with perf... read more Don't be swayed by negative reviews about the service - my experience at this restaurant has always been fantastic. The Indian food here is top-notch, with perfectly balanced spices. I've been here six times and have never had a complaint about the food. Trust me, you should definitely give this place a try if you enjoy spicy dishes.

We love this place. We've only ever ordered takeout and we do our own brown basmati rice at home. We order about 10 things each time to ensure plenty of leftove... read more We love this place. We've only ever ordered takeout and we do our own brown basmati rice at home. We order about 10 things each time to ensure plenty of leftovers. Our favourites are butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, dal makhni, dal fry, channa masala, chicken tikka masala, kadai lamb, buna gosht, chicken vepedu, beef coconut fry, beef curry. Make sure you ask for spicy if you like it hot our kids can eat the vindaloo otherwise.