Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern

What an all around amazing night at Second Empire! Our family gathered there to celebrate our son's wedding. The personal service the bride and groom received was way beyond expectations. Everyone made them feel so special! From start to finish, the evening was exceptional. The food was so yummy and there were even options for those in our group, myself included, who were vegan/vegetarian. And it wasn't just a salad. Just ask the server! Ours was well versed in what the chef could prepare for us. The presentation of the food to our party of 13 was also super cool...they brought out all of the entrees at once! Also there is an elevator to help those with mobility issues. Thanks to everyone for helping to make this special day even more special!

Undoubtedly One of the Best Restaurants in the Raleigh-Durham Area ---- After moving to the area earlier this year, I have had the opportunity to eat at dozens of local culinary establishments in search of the best food experience. I believe we have a winner! Having traveled to over 69 countries, 33 states, and 6 continents, I have had the opportunity to dine at some of the world's best restaurants with some of its finest chefs. The Second Empire takes staple classics found around the world. It adds its own unique flair, flavor profile, and combination of ingredients to elevate the entire experience to a truly elevated level. ---- From the charming old-school house atmosphere with its unique décor, a warm family environment, and elegant ambiance, to attentive and informative staff, and exemplary food, they have truly elevated the entire patron experience. ---- We started with the Crispy Point Judith Calamari, a lesson in balance and texture to learn. Each bite boasted a lightly breaded outside with a soft, sweetly tender calamari within. The creamy roasted pineapple garnish added a subtropical sweetness, elevating the course far beyond a fried starter-like experience to one of refined flavors. ---- The Classic "330" French Onion Soup was a sophisticated, yet reassuring, take on the classic without the typical beef broth. This is only the second time in the US that I have had the opportunity to enjoy a truly authentic French onion soup, where the broth is made from the main ingredient, not beef-flavored broth. This chef truly demonstrates the classic French training that creates masterpieces. Rich, sweet depth was added to the rich broth by caramelized Spanish onions, and Gruyère melted into a rich, nutty layer over toasted herb croutons. Every bite was packed with both heartiness and subtlety, demonstrating that great ingredients, when cooked well, can create deep satisfaction. ---- The Grilled Beeler Farms Pork Rack Chop*- Beautifully browned and seared, the pork rack chop easily stood out on its own. Cooked to perfection, juicy and tender, it was complemented with a creamy, rich ricotta cheese and grain mustard polenta, providing a great balance of subtle tanginess and creaminess to the dish. Added to this blended mix of baby kale, curried Brussels sprouts, bacon, and cabbage salad was a dish that offered a mix of savory, bitter, and smoky flavors. The addition of the ginger-raisin cider vinaigrette jus created a crisp, sweet, and spicy balance, which harmonized the entire dish. ---- The Pennsylvania Five-Spiced Duck Breast* was a culinary exercise in precision and global influence. Seared to a precise medium-rare, the duck's rich, gamey flavor was complemented by the Provençal hominy and eggplant, as well as the creamy zucchini and mozzarella. The braised Napa cabbage and elote salad provided texture and freshness, while the ancho chili roasted pineapple sauce added a hint of sweetness and heat, but not enough to overpower, instead highlighting the duck. The dish was in balance, being both complex and comforting, which made it unique. ---- Lastly, there was a 7-ounce filet special. Unfortunately, since it's a special, I don't have the lengthy combination of ingredients that made up this perfect dish. However, the preparation and execution were flawless, with the main staple – the filet— seared to a perfect crust with a juicy and tender texture that melts in your mouth with every bite. The culinary sophistication, achieved by combining all the ingredients, creates an elevated view of a classic meal. ---- Overall – I can’t say anything else. It is by far one of the best restaurants in the area. I would not only recommend this restaurant to anyone without hesitation, but I would challenge local restaurants to learn a lesson from this restaurant's impeccable overall customer experience and culinary execution.

We celebrated our anniversary here and everyone was so nice and professional. My husband has unique food allergies and they were overly accommodating. It was very enjoyable! Shoutout to Destiny and Gabriel!

Been to Second Empire 10 times, we brought a coupe for the first time who had never been, made reservations a month ahead. Unfortunately this was by far a let down experience, was left waiting at the hostess podium alone for more time then felt necessary after the hostess said ok and bailed. We were seated in the tavern area downstairs ( which is fine we’ve been down there several times, but usually for short notice reservations) w got sat next to a table with 3 toddlers… not what I was expecting for this restaurant, we have kids and get it but we don’t get many times to go out without kids and especially at second Empire we weren’t expecting to be seated next to 3 toddlers. They were mostly fine but clearly (as toddlers do) made the atmosphere significantly louder. Amplified by the downstairs close quarters. All this wouldn’t haven’t warranted anything other than a 5 star as we have children and get it. However it stacked on top of the less than stellar experience we expected regarding the waiter who told us many times he was swamped and would get back to us, and once the food came out it sealed the deal on this review. My wife and father had the Filet which was tough and tasted like paper, my swordfish tasted WAY too salty. As I mentioned above we are HUGE fans of 2nd empire and that’s on top of going to all the best Raleigh locations, but this was a severe disappointment for what we were expecting. I fully understand that the expectations are skewed by expectations but 2nd empire always lived empire ALWAYS lived up to the hype we made it out to be. And everyone we brought loved it… but this?! I can unequivocally say we probably won’t be bringing new patrons in or refer it. For info, the dinner for 4 + wine was over $600 + tip.

Ya. Epic dinner at the bar, solo business traveler. Mescal cocktail, Foie gras, duck breast salad, octopus. Great experience.

The service was impeccable. Waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and the history of the restaurant.

Ambiance is on the fancier side with white table cloths and an emphasis on fine dining. The menu is varied with each dish being very complex with lots of flavors going on at once, borderline overly so. However, they are all in balance so everything still tasted good.

I will note that seafood Paella was more of a jambalaya with Latin flavor profiles. But was still tasty.

Definitely worth going at least once to experience the ambiance and the chef’s menu.

The lamb is exceptional, drinks fun and staff very attentive

The best restaurant ever if you wanna have excellent service and food. We have been coming here a lot until we have decided to hold our wedding here as well. We used three separate rooms and we don’t mind because our priority is to have excellent service and choices of gourmet food to our guests. We even have 5 choices for each guest’s entree and an open bar. Their prices we found out is reasonable than any other wedding venue we check in the Raleigh area. We still celebrate special occasions and what not wi the empire. All our out of town friends are always impressed with their quality of food and service but half of the cost if this were in big cities like NYC. Go and visit, they will not disappoint.

We recently made a reservation to celebrate our son’s engagement to a wonderful woman. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were delayed on arriving on time. The staff was extremely accommodating in providing us seating even though we arrived almost an hour past our reservation.
I can’t say enough about the service, the food, and the atmosphere. This is our favorite restaurant by far in the area. Our server was a joy, the wait staff very professional, and the food is as good as it gets. Thank.you Second Empire for making our special night so special!

Wow! I can't explain the level of customer service and hospitality shown by the staff at Second Empire! Along with the exceptional service the food was amazing as well. Between the fresh salad, the perfectly seasoned calamari, the extremely flavorful entrees, and the magnificent dessert I was beyond thrilled that I chose this place to celebrate my favorite person's birthday. I just can't say enough about the fabulous staff and the impeccable service.

The turbot was fantastic! The service, as always, was excellent!

A first class dining experience. Love the ambience of this historic home; it was turned into a fine dining experience. Chef brought great flavors and our server brought them to life in his detailed descriptions! Great team and a night that made memories.

I recently had the pleasure to dine at Second Empire. The food was so delicious. I had the swordfish which was cooked to perfection and was enhanced by the sauces and sides. At the waiter’s suggestion, I ordered wine that was complimentary and wonderful. The waitstaff was professional, knowledgeable and fun. The setting was beautiful. I look forward to dining there again and highly recommend it!

My husband and I were traveling to Raleigh and booked a reservation at this restaurant a day or two before. During our travel they tried to call me to confirm our reservation, and we could not answer- because we were traveling. They ‘unconfirmed’ our reservation, but we would have been there. We had no desire to reconfirm, and ended up going somewhere else that didn’t treat us that way.

Seriously one of the best restaurants in Raleigh, N.C., this is a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. There’s a rich history behind this restaurant, and the chef takes great pride in his cooking and establishment. Although there is no official dress code, it’s recommended to wear at least business casual attire—avoid showing up in jeans and sneakers.

Our waiter, Sam, was phenomenal and well-spoken, and I appreciated the history of the house that was shared with us. The waitstaff is knowledgeable about both the history of the venue and the menu, enhancing the dining experience. The food is cooked to perfection and beautifully plated.

Give yourself enough time to enjoy all the courses; plan for 2-3 hours. Everything is served at a relaxed pace, from drinks to the first course, entrée, and dessert.

We were seated later than our reservation time and had to wait in the basement, but we believe this was intentional to encourage patrons to enjoy the space and purchase drinks before their meal.

The menu is extremely gluten-free friendly, and the chef makes every effort to accommodate those with allergens.

The setting is perfect for an anniversary or a romantic date night. If you're looking for something more intimate, consider booking the Raleigh or Capital rooms downstairs. The main dining room and atrium are also nice but tend to have a more family or business-oriented atmosphere.

Thank you for a great experience!

Dietary restrictions: Extremely gluten free friendly.

Parking: Private parking lot for patrons.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Empire Seafood Paella, Creme Brulee