Restaurant Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 5pm-12am
Thursday: 5pm-11pm
Friday: 11am-2am
Saturday: 10am-2am
Sunday: 9am-2pm
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 5pm-12am
Thursday: 5pm-11pm
Friday: 11am-2am
Saturday: 10am-2am
Sunday: 9am-2pm
E S T 2 0 2 1
E M P I R E S Q U A R E
65 PUBLIC SQUARE
WATERTOWN, NY
315-777-4114
E M P I R E S Q U A R E
65 PUBLIC SQUARE
WATERTOWN, NY
315-777-4114
SOUTHERN FUSION FOODCome on in, y'all! If you want a unique dining experience, you've come to the right place. Our menu is inspired by our staff's southern roots and repackaged for the Empire State. Bring your friends and family to sample our southern cooking and enjoy the ambiance, or dine solo at our bar and hear about the rich history of our building.
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNERStart off with a Southern staple, fried green tomatoes, and finish with our legendary Chicken and Waffle! Wash it all down with a specialty cocktail or choose from many mocktails. Don't forget to check out our specials board for all the events, happenings, and specials!
DOWNTOWN DINING ON THE SQUAREEnjoy a beautiful view of Downtown Watertown through our brand new windows. The fountain in the center of the square, called Rebecca and the Geese, lights up in technicolor at night! It's a view you won't want to miss.
Show your support for us by shopping our branded shirts, hats, and more! If you wear your merch in to eat with us, we will give you 10% off your meal. Thanks so much for being a part of our team! Buy Empire Merch!
HISTORY ON DISPLAYOur building, built in the 1850s, has quite a lot of history! If you stop in when we aren't too busy, you might be lucky enough to get a tour of all the artifacts we have found.... and you might even get to take a peek into our sub basement, where we have found old bottles from Prohibition hidden in the walls. We try to pay homage to the history and spirit of our building in every way we can! 1805
Watertown Settlers donate land to create public square
1812
Building in current location visible on maps: 17 Public Square
1849
Clark Wilson purchases 17 Public Square
1851-1855
Current building is constructed, with two levels underground that are a part of Watertown's underground tunnel network. Next door is the Woodruff Hotel. The Wilsons and the Woodruffs agree for $1 to share the wall & right of way to Anthony Street.
1869
Clark Wilson is lost at sea without a will. Deed to the building is left to his wife and two daughters.
1882
First record of a business at our location: DC Middelton & Co. - a shoe store. See the wall behind our couch for an image of this shop, as well as a piece of the original awning and business trading cards!
1882-1917
Our 3rd floor is a meeting place for notable clubs: IOGT (International Order of Good Templars, founded in Utica in 1851), which encouraged abstaining from alcohol and drugs; and The Odd Fellows, which promoted friendship, love, and truth.
1918-1921
The John Felber Restaurant marks the opening of the first restaurant in this building.
1920
Frank Empsall purchases 65 Public Square from Abi Dewey (Née Clark). She had owned the property for 51 years following the death of her mother and sister. Thanks to New York State's Married Women's Property Act of 1848 she was allowed to regain control of the property without being required to transfer ownership to her husband.
1924-1934
House of Gee, the North Country's first Chinese American restaurant, opens on our 2nd floor.
1935-1959
Greeks move into the Square and purchase our building. Nikolas and Martha Pappas run The Tavern. The old Garland pizza oven was converted to natural gas and used in the kitchen.
1940
A kitchen fire destroys the back of the restaurant. Along with kitchen renovations, the Pappas family moved the original bathrooms from the basement to the main level.
1960-1963
A brief foreshadow: The Empire restaurant opens.
1965-1989
Richard Fiaschetti opens Enrico's, a classic Italian trattoria. The fiberglass art in the back as well as the Garland stove and flattop are from this era.
1989-2005
Todd LaVere opens an iconic American sports bar: Kegler's. Dart leagues and billiard tables were staples of this decade.
2005-Present
The current owner, Vonnette Monteith, buys 65 Public Square while she is stationed at Fort Drum. She leases to a variety of eateries... from a Mexican restaurant to a Carribean café.
2015
Vonnette retires as a Lieutenent Colonial out of Fort Knox and settles her family in Louisville, Kentucky.
2020
Vonnette graduates from Sullivan Culinary and Hospitality management school.
2021
Vonnette brings a longtime friend of her eldest daughters to Watertown from Manhattan. Sarah and Vonnette completely renovate, design the food and drink menus, and open the doors in September, under the name Empire Square.
Our kitchen benefits from Vonnette's culinary training, family recipes, and local ingredients. Everything is fresh and made to order - if you want a modification, just ask. We can almost always accommodate! Vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies to gluten and more can be sure to find something delicious on our menu! Our prohibition era bar is revived by Sarah's expertise in cocktail history, unique ingredients, and bartending techniques. Writer of Empire's "Cocktail Bible", Sarah will make just about anything you can dream of.
Watertown Settlers donate land to create public square
1812
Building in current location visible on maps: 17 Public Square
1849
Clark Wilson purchases 17 Public Square
1851-1855
Current building is constructed, with two levels underground that are a part of Watertown's underground tunnel network. Next door is the Woodruff Hotel. The Wilsons and the Woodruffs agree for $1 to share the wall & right of way to Anthony Street.
1869
Clark Wilson is lost at sea without a will. Deed to the building is left to his wife and two daughters.
1882
First record of a business at our location: DC Middelton & Co. - a shoe store. See the wall behind our couch for an image of this shop, as well as a piece of the original awning and business trading cards!
1882-1917
Our 3rd floor is a meeting place for notable clubs: IOGT (International Order of Good Templars, founded in Utica in 1851), which encouraged abstaining from alcohol and drugs; and The Odd Fellows, which promoted friendship, love, and truth.
1918-1921
The John Felber Restaurant marks the opening of the first restaurant in this building.
1920
Frank Empsall purchases 65 Public Square from Abi Dewey (Née Clark). She had owned the property for 51 years following the death of her mother and sister. Thanks to New York State's Married Women's Property Act of 1848 she was allowed to regain control of the property without being required to transfer ownership to her husband.
1924-1934
House of Gee, the North Country's first Chinese American restaurant, opens on our 2nd floor.
1935-1959
Greeks move into the Square and purchase our building. Nikolas and Martha Pappas run The Tavern. The old Garland pizza oven was converted to natural gas and used in the kitchen.
1940
A kitchen fire destroys the back of the restaurant. Along with kitchen renovations, the Pappas family moved the original bathrooms from the basement to the main level.
1960-1963
A brief foreshadow: The Empire restaurant opens.
1965-1989
Richard Fiaschetti opens Enrico's, a classic Italian trattoria. The fiberglass art in the back as well as the Garland stove and flattop are from this era.
1989-2005
Todd LaVere opens an iconic American sports bar: Kegler's. Dart leagues and billiard tables were staples of this decade.
2005-Present
The current owner, Vonnette Monteith, buys 65 Public Square while she is stationed at Fort Drum. She leases to a variety of eateries... from a Mexican restaurant to a Carribean café.
2015
Vonnette retires as a Lieutenent Colonial out of Fort Knox and settles her family in Louisville, Kentucky.
2020
Vonnette graduates from Sullivan Culinary and Hospitality management school.
2021
Vonnette brings a longtime friend of her eldest daughters to Watertown from Manhattan. Sarah and Vonnette completely renovate, design the food and drink menus, and open the doors in September, under the name Empire Square.
Our kitchen benefits from Vonnette's culinary training, family recipes, and local ingredients. Everything is fresh and made to order - if you want a modification, just ask. We can almost always accommodate! Vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies to gluten and more can be sure to find something delicious on our menu! Our prohibition era bar is revived by Sarah's expertise in cocktail history, unique ingredients, and bartending techniques. Writer of Empire's "Cocktail Bible", Sarah will make just about anything you can dream of.