Location, Location, Location!
If you need to be close to the Lincoln Centre, this is the hotel for you, as it's just across the road. If not, give the Empire a wide berth. The location is fantastic, but the hotel itself is terrible. I have given it three stars, which should have been two, were it not so convenient for the Met Opera. 
Our small room and under-par shower had virtually no wardrobe, drawer or storage space. The room was clearly designed for (business) men, by other men. No thought given to women, wanting to hang up long dresses, for example. 
The hotel is so gloomy, not only in our room, but in public areas, that you have difficulty finding lift buttons. My partner and I were not alone to complain about this; many people remarked on it, including young people in their twenties. 
Hygiene is so-so. Some days, you get a bathmat, on other days, you don't. The view from our room was of a messy inner courtyard, with other bedroom windows looking into ours. No wonder they like to keep the blinds drawn right through the day. The hotel, in one of the guides, is described as Deluxe. You could have fooled me!
One evening, as we switched on the light, a huge cockroach was scuttling around the shower. All credit to the Empire staff who came to remove it pronto! 
Would we stay again? Despite everything, yes we would. Because location, location, location matters not just with real estate, but with hotels, too. There's nowhere quite as convenient if you have tickets to the Met or other concert venues at the Lincoln Centre.