I look forward to this opening so I get an idea of their Norman location.

Just to expand on the post by Urbanized concerning the Norman location and if you travel this way. The original location on Main migrated west a mile or two sometime back. There is a second location on Robinson as well. I think they also have a larger bake operation that is not a retail outlet located on Berry that would be a supplier possibly to the satellite operations. I enjoy their weekend brunch at the main location and with the lines at the new JAM located in town, it is more convenient if you are averse to long waiting times to be seated.

The new home of Empire opens tomorrow (Thursday).

The Gazette has the full story here: https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/oven-fresh/Content?oid=4501065


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire092218a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire092218b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire092618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire092618bs.jpg

It looks like they did a really good job maintaining the look and feel of the old place, which is definitely wise. That's one of the biggest reasons customers love the place.

Who is the "Smith" randomly quoted in paragraph 11 and after? Is that supposed to be Cope?

EDIT: Okay. Apparently it's Kyle Smith, who is introduced later in the article. I guess the writer moved his paragraphs around and forgot to introduce him with the first quotation, which was confusing.

Looks fantastic!

Wow. That building turned out great!

I already like this place way more than the old location.

Plus, service and speed should be greatly improved.

This is a fantastic addition to the Plaza district! Maybe I'll go to Empire again soon. I don't really go anymore because the wait is typically so long to get a seat. It will be interesting to see how this affects Oak and Oar. Typically Oak and Oar is where I go to have a couple of drinks waiting on a seat for Empire.

I've always liked Empire, but I will miss sitting on the sidewalk.

I've always liked Empire, but I will miss sitting on the sidewalk.

Yeah I wish this incorporated more outdoor seating in front of the building.

This is a fantastic addition to the Plaza district! Maybe I'll go to Empire again soon. I don't really go anymore because the wait is typically so long to get a seat. It will be interesting to see how this affects Oak and Oar. Typically Oak and Oar is where I go to have a couple of drinks waiting on a seat for Empire.

Just a heads up, Empire is on the NoWait app, its not fool proof but it certainly helps getting a seat a lot quicker. Often times we wait about 10-15 minutes after we check in with the host, but that is way better than the normal hour or so.

good for them, happy for them, and love the food.

this location will lose some of empire's garage band underground divey vibe though. That's ok I guess, it's part of growing up

Yeah, I realize this set up is better for servers and creates more space, but I actually like places that are really cramped. There is an intimacy to them that reminds me of larger cities where there is often not room for expansion. It'll be interesting to see how this changes the feel.

We went to the new Empire last night after the Lake Street Dive concert and they were pretty crowded at 10:30-11:00. The food was the same as expected and the space was really nice. It definitely has a different feel, and part of that is just the newness. I'll always like the original better... it had a more hole-in-the-wall gritty feel, but it will be nice to be able to get in easier and get your food faster at the new location.

^^^ Also a very nice smile from the final pic. :)

Quick, great story on Empire: My family from Long Island was in town for the Holidays the day after Christmas through January 2nd. They usually stay with my cousin in Edmond and had their usual places they go: Johnnies, Poblano, Hideaway, some of their favorites to eat at while they are in town. On the night of the OU-Bama game, my cousin wanted to pick up pizza and offered Sussy's or Nomad's, both of which have closed. I live in Crestwood and brought up Empire, but they said getting my other cousin who has a broken foot down and around the plaza district would be too difficult, so I offered to pick it up. My cousin's husband was born and raised in the Bronx, so the guy knows pizza, to say the least. He said Empire was the best pizza he has had in Oklahoma and in NYC would be well above average.

Im not sure who follows Barstool Sports, but the president of the company does Pizza Reviews daily and its a pretty big deal online. He is based out of NYC, but came to OKC because he is big in to horse racing. He went to Empire for a review and gave it a pretty high score and he is very tough on Pizza Places.

So it Jives with what your Cousins Husband saying.

^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeM1eWpwYms

Quick, great story on Empire: My family from Long Island was in town for the Holidays the day after Christmas through January 2nd. They usually stay with my cousin in Edmond and had their usual places they go: Johnnies, Poblano, Hideaway, some of their favorites to eat at while they are in town. On the night of the OU-Bama game, my cousin wanted to pick up pizza and offered Sussy's or Nomad's, both of which have closed. I live in Crestwood and brought up Empire, but they said getting my other cousin who has a broken foot down and around the plaza district would be too difficult, so I offered to pick it up. My cousin's husband was born and raised in the Bronx, so the guy knows pizza, to say the least. He said Empire was the best pizza he has had in Oklahoma and in NYC would be well above average.

Self-proclaimed pizza snob from NJ/NYC here. Concur. It's a bit doughier than most NYC pizza (especially the crust), though I happen to like that. It really ranks high up there for me, and other than some of the most obscure toppings is pretty close to NYC pizza.

Barstool gave it like a 6-7 didn't they? I think they grabbed a pie that's more undercooked than the others. From what I've read though empire is known for undercooking pizza? I have yet to have one as such.

Barstool gave it like a 6-7 didn't they? I think they grabbed a pie that's more undercooked than the others. From what I've read though empire is known for undercooking pizza? I have yet to have one as such.

I believe it was a 7.6

Anything above 7.5 is considered really good. Most Pizza is typically in the 6.0s

Getting above a 8.0 is rare and anything above a 9.0 is basically unheard of.

Barstool gave it like a 6-7 didn't they? I think they grabbed a pie that's more undercooked than the others. From what I've read though empire is known for undercooking pizza? I have yet to have one as such.


Also, I always ask for “extra crispy” from Empire because it is a little undercooked, but its made that way purposefuly and pretty good that way in its own right.

Also, I always ask for “extra crispy” from Empire because it is a little undercooked, but its made that way purposefuly and pretty good that way in its own right.

Thanks, now I know the secret, had it twice and thought it was just OK, but we like crispier pizza in general, have to order it that way next time (I guess they can make slices "extra crispy" too, hope so anyway).

Also, I always ask for “extra crispy” from Empire because it is a little undercooked, but its made that way purposefuly and pretty good that way in its own right.

Thanks for the tip =)

I thought maybe this was the reason this thread was bumped. But since no one has mentioned it, I think they are still looking for leads on who/where the pink elephant has been taken to.

I thought maybe this was the reason this thread was bumped. But since no one has mentioned it, I think they are still looking for leads on who/where the pink elephant has been taken to.

After it was stolen the first time (not sure how many times this incident makes), why didn't they put a GPS tracker inside it or secure it with something massive, rivet to the concrete, etc. To be fair, I have no idea how it was currently secured, so maybe they did do something and a smarter mouse figured out their trap and got away with it.

Somewhere it was mentioned that city ordinance prohibited them from securing it to the ground.

^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeM1eWpwYms

I don't have any idea who those people are but I really want to punch them in the face.

I don't have any idea who those people are but I really want to punch them in the face.

Barstool is pretty douchey.

Let me remind everyone about the downsides of 1) having an awesome place like Empire and 2) living within walking distance. It is just too damn easy to go out for beer and pepperoni pizza at 11 PM, and I am way too old for that.

I don't have any idea who those people are but I really want to punch them in the face.

Barstool definitely is not for everybody. Extremely douchey and inappropriate. I really can’t stand them outside of Pizza reviews, but I’m a giant sucker for Pizza and its by far the most robust Pizza media in the world lol.

Saw on LocalitesOKC Insta that Empire is opening a location next to Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa!

They will kill it there, it's a cool area with Prairie and the other bars/restaurants in proximity to Cain's, which has shows almost daily.

Empire is taking over the old Slapfish space in Nichols Hills Plaza.

Will be counter service and will be called "Empire Slice Shop" vs. "Empire Slice House".

They are closing Easy E in the Plaza.

They will do well there, no doubts. A local, VERY well-known brand in a prime location.

Empire is taking over the old Slapfish space in Nichols Hills Plaza.

Will be counter service and will be called "Empire Slice Shop" vs. "Empire Slice House".

They are closing Easy E in the Plaza.

Good location for them. Love their pizza, glad they are embracing the north quarter.

Empire is taking over the old Slapfish space in Nichols Hills Plaza.

Will be counter service and will be called "Empire Slice Shop" vs. "Empire Slice House".

They are closing Easy E in the Plaza.

wow really surprising Easy E is closing

at one time all of their to go business was run out of that shop

wow really surprising Easy E is closing

at one time all of their to go business was run out of that shop

When they moved into the new location, they greatly expanded their oven capacity.

Makes sense. And I'm sure with Covid they've figured out how to optimize their to go/carry out slice business in the new space. Probably no need for both. I'm excited for some more options - someone could do something really cool with the slice shop space and especially the covered patio.

News 9 ran this story and clearly cited OKCTalk as the source (brfore likely doing some of their own diligence).

this is how media should run....

Saw the sign is up in the Nichols Hills plaza location.

They will be opening in mid-August; 2 or 3 weeks from now.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire073020a.jpg

right next to great clips, going to be a dream for some

Empire Slice Shop opened today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire090120a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire090120b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire090120e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire090120c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/empire090120d.jpg

I see a slice-n-clip combo in our future

$3.75 for one slice? I can't tell from the photo but it better be a LARGE slice for that price.

$3.75 for one slice? I can't tell from the photo but it better be a LARGE slice for that price.

It's quite large. More than enough for one person.

I typically order 2 slices, and that is more than enough.

$3.75 for one slice? I can't tell from the photo but it better be a LARGE slice for that price.

That's a standard sized to-go box (probably 8"x8"), if you need a reference. I believe they're 20-inch pizzas

You get probably ~40% more food from Domino's for the same price, but the quality of empire is substantially higher - and it's local, so that' s an added bonus.

That slice was the Foghorn Leghorn and was delicious.

They have great crust.

I bet this location outperforms the OG, great addition to the area. Hopefully they will be able to expand a big bar area into the neighboring space if/when it goes out.

That slice was the Foghorn Leghorn and was delicious.

They have great crust.

Tastes good, just wish it wasn't so floppy. And yeah, I know, that's the way NY-style is, but with a slice that big, it's horrible to handle. At least Gusto's floppy crust pizzas are smaller and easier to eat (although we get them to do it a bit longer to get it crisped up in the middle).

Is there a drive thru?

What is going in the plaza slice house location?

Is there a drive thru?

What is going in the plaza slice house location?

No drive thru.

Do you mean the restaurant on old Easy E space? The restaurant is still doing carry-out only but that should soon change. Easy E will eventually host another concept by the same group.

That slice was the Foghorn Leghorn and was delicious.

They have great crust.

Is that the one that is sweet and hot?. If so it’s darn good.

No drive thru.

Do you mean the restaurant on old Easy E space? The restaurant is still doing carry-out only but that should soon change. Easy E will eventually host another concept by the same group.

Yeah, easy e, thought they were closed already

Yeah, easy e, thought they were closed already

Empire Slice House (the original in the Plaza) is doing carryout only.

Easy E is closed and they are considering a new concept for that space.

Tastes good, just wish it wasn't so floppy. And yeah, I know, that's the way NY-style is, but with a slice that big, it's horrible to handle. At least Gusto's floppy crust pizzas are smaller and easier to eat (although we get them to do it a bit longer to get it crisped up in the middle).

Folding it helps. ;)

Folding it helps. ;)
The fold is the proper method.

I don't know if this video has been posted here but this guy has a long series of pizza reviews and he's hardcore on his ratings.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeM1eWpwYms

The fold is the proper method.

Yeah, I know and do that, but still just prefer a crispier crust in general. Wife hasn't ever had them, so it'll be interesting to see what she thinks, we're probably going to get some slices in a week or so.