My first time dining for my husband 50th birthday. Our waitress Destinee was amazing. She provided us with a detailed history of the house where the restaurant is operating out of built in 1879. Destinee made wonderful food recommendations and made our celebration a memorable one. The food was delicious from first course lump crab salad to quail. Our main course dishes were beautiful plated with French influences. Also I have to add their chef is one of the best in the area. We can't wait until our next special celebration. Thanks again!
Will Smith
I guess this business is not concerned about customer service or reviews!! Salmon not fresh at all!! My daughter had a hair in her sweet tea. My daughter's hair was up and it was not hers!! We had her tea and her food on the bill. Not what anyone would expect from this restaurant!! We have been here before food and service where great. Customer service and food quality are nessary for fine dining!! We will not be coming back!! Attitude of service goes along way and food flavors and quality as well! But when it's not there its just not there!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Irena J.
My favorite restaurant in Raleigh that serves healthy and delicious food every time! Superb chef!
L Rich
Had the best experience. Destiny service was without question the most phenomenal and knowledgeable.Would recommend Second Empire to anyone who wants to have a very romantic or fun experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Roasted New Bedford Sea Scallops, French Onion Soup
Tammy Butcher
Always a fabulous experience from the service to the historic building to the fantastic food. You can't go wrong here. Pictured is The Wilbur (craft cocktail), ribeye, bone in pork chop, and their charcuterie board.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaitlyn K.
What we ate: * Quail app: this was disappointing. It had like 2 bites of meat on it. The veggies it came with were the star of this dish. Not worth the price for the portion IMO * Pork belly app: very tasty, we enjoyed this * Lamb: asked for medium rare but it was rare rare. A little underwhelming * Steak: perfectly cooked, really delicious! * Bread Pudding: so good, really enjoyed it * Espresso dessert: good, but the bread pudding was better The service: Started out strong. The level of detail our server recited on the specials was highly impressive. Service was great until it wasn't. Our server forgot about us for a while and attended to the larger table next to us even though we ordered and finished our meals first. We waited and waited to order another drink and to hear about desserts. I feel like they were favored because they had a birthday in their party. The restaurant itself is beautiful. I'll be back, but I'll be getting the steak next time and will probably get the French onion soup.
Ashley Visconti
I wanted to let you know that I updated my review from five stars to one star. The first time we dined at your restaurant, we had an amazing experience and absolutely loved it. However, during our recent visit, we were disappointed to learn that Foie gras was being served as a special. This dish is something that we personally find to be a form of extreme animal abuse, and it really affected our overall dining experience. We were left feeling very disturbed by this discovery, and unfortunately, we have decided that we will not be returning to eat at your restaurant again.
Clyde Wootton
Top notch food and serviceDietary restrictions: They are very good to work with customers who have allergies or diet restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Second Empire Key Lime Pie
Isaiah Byrd
My girlfriend and I came here unexpectedly on Saturday last week. We tried to go to another restaurant and they had a 1+hour wait so we came here as a last resort. Not only did they have a dedicated parking lot downtown, they got us seated within 5 minutes of arrival. The tables weren't mid either. They came with folded napkins, candles, and flower arrangements. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal. I found myself often admiring the service I was witnessing at OTHER tables. Overall I'd highly reccomend this restraunt for a date night or anyone trying to impress their guests.
Service and food was amazing! Updating post. I will still rate it a 5 star, but we went again 2 weeks later. We noticed both times that they need to get the timing of desserts down. Both times we ordered coffee and dessert, our coffee came out long before our dessert. We finished our coffee before, and I mean well before our dessert arrived.
Excellent service. We were seated within a minute of arriving for our 8pm appointment. The staff were courteous, knowledgeable, and overall pleasant. The food was delicious. We sampled the 7 cheese course and were very pleased with the options. We didn't finish the tray and took the rest of it home. Of course, they boxed the leftovers for us. We had the French onion soup starter and it was rich, cheesy, and very heavy. Perfect for French onion soup. For main courses, we had the lamb rack and the duck breast. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and the vegetable pairing was superb. The duck, however, was a little underwhelming. There was a mishap with the order and the wrong entree was brought out initially, but the staff quickly prepared and brought my original order of duck. As a result, the duck fat was too chewy and was a bit difficult to eat, possibly needing a bit more time to render. However, the cook on the duck meat was great. Medium rare, tender, and juicy, paired excellently with the carrot and vegetable side. The flavors were great, but more sauce would have been appropriate. The timing of each course was also done well. Each course was brought out in a proper manner. Had the duck been prepared with as much time as the lamb, I'm certain it would have been perfect. But, these things happen. The ambiance was exceptional. Quiet, cozy, and intimate, they create an amazing atmosphere for personal celebrations. We were just two, but I never had to speak up to be heard among the rest of the patrons dining around us. Again, the staff were excellent. The small details about service were just as important as the large expectations. I noticed a waiter drop a menu and quickly discarded it, using a new menu for the table instead of that one that hit the floor. These details matter, and I was glad to see this level of service. Lastly, the building was historical and gorgeous. The woodworking, brickwork, effigies, and use of mirrors exuded excellence. I will certainly visit again, and recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for an elevated, private experience.
_ Ezra
Contunues to be one of the best premium dining experience in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee
Omar Askar
Absolutely amazing place and atmosphere! The passion comes through in the food and service! Amazing chef Daniel always comes through! Special shoutout to Wyatt and Will for the amazing service and attention to detail! Best place in Raleigh for an intimate romantic experience. You can always tell when a team cares about what they do! Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
mark waeltermann
Hands down the best food service and atmosphere we have ever experienced! We recommend downstairs at the bar! Don’t bother hitting on Whitney she loves me? it’s mark Whitney miss you we’re trying to come back
Darrell Annas
This restaurant is awesome. The staff are so welcoming, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! The food is beyond anything you can imagine. Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Souffle, Pan Roasted New Bedford Sea Scallops, Creme Brulee, Charcuterie Board, Quail, Lamb Rack
My first time dining for my husband 50th birthday. Our waitress Destinee was amazing. She provided us with a detailed history of the house where the restaurant is operating out of built in 1879. Destinee made wonderful food recommendations and made our celebration a memorable one. The food was delicious from first course lump crab salad to quail. Our main course dishes were beautiful plated with French influences. Also I have to add their chef is one of the best in the area. We can't wait until our next special celebration. Thanks again!
I guess this business is not concerned about customer service or reviews!! Salmon not fresh at all!! My daughter had a hair in her sweet tea. My daughter's hair was up and it was not hers!! We had her tea and her food on the bill. Not what anyone would expect from this restaurant!! We have been here before food and service where great. Customer service and food quality are nessary for fine dining!! We will not be coming back!! Attitude of service goes along way and food flavors and quality as well! But when it's not there its just not there!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
My favorite restaurant in Raleigh that serves healthy and delicious food every time! Superb chef!
Had the best experience. Destiny service was without question the most phenomenal and knowledgeable.Would recommend Second Empire to anyone who wants to have a very romantic or fun experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Roasted New Bedford Sea Scallops, French Onion Soup
Always a fabulous experience from the service to the historic building to the fantastic food. You can't go wrong here. Pictured is The Wilbur (craft cocktail), ribeye, bone in pork chop, and their charcuterie board.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What we ate: * Quail app: this was disappointing. It had like 2 bites of meat on it. The veggies it came with were the star of this dish. Not worth the price for the portion IMO * Pork belly app: very tasty, we enjoyed this * Lamb: asked for medium rare but it was rare rare. A little underwhelming * Steak: perfectly cooked, really delicious! * Bread Pudding: so good, really enjoyed it * Espresso dessert: good, but the bread pudding was better The service: Started out strong. The level of detail our server recited on the specials was highly impressive. Service was great until it wasn't. Our server forgot about us for a while and attended to the larger table next to us even though we ordered and finished our meals first. We waited and waited to order another drink and to hear about desserts. I feel like they were favored because they had a birthday in their party. The restaurant itself is beautiful. I'll be back, but I'll be getting the steak next time and will probably get the French onion soup.
I wanted to let you know that I updated my review from five stars to one star. The first time we dined at your restaurant, we had an amazing experience and absolutely loved it. However, during our recent visit, we were disappointed to learn that Foie gras was being served as a special. This dish is something that we personally find to be a form of extreme animal abuse, and it really affected our overall dining experience. We were left feeling very disturbed by this discovery, and unfortunately, we have decided that we will not be returning to eat at your restaurant again.
Top notch food and serviceDietary restrictions: They are very good to work with customers who have allergies or diet restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Second Empire Key Lime Pie
My girlfriend and I came here unexpectedly on Saturday last week. We tried to go to another restaurant and they had a 1+hour wait so we came here as a last resort. Not only did they have a dedicated parking lot downtown, they got us seated within 5 minutes of arrival. The tables weren't mid either. They came with folded napkins, candles, and flower arrangements. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal. I found myself often admiring the service I was witnessing at OTHER tables. Overall I'd highly reccomend this restraunt for a date night or anyone trying to impress their guests.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Empire Seafood Paella, Quail, Pan Roasted Empire Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Salmon Fillet
Service and food was amazing! Updating post. I will still rate it a 5 star, but we went again 2 weeks later. We noticed both times that they need to get the timing of desserts down. Both times we ordered coffee and dessert, our coffee came out long before our dessert. We finished our coffee before, and I mean well before our dessert arrived.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent service. We were seated within a minute of arriving for our 8pm appointment. The staff were courteous, knowledgeable, and overall pleasant. The food was delicious. We sampled the 7 cheese course and were very pleased with the options. We didn't finish the tray and took the rest of it home. Of course, they boxed the leftovers for us. We had the French onion soup starter and it was rich, cheesy, and very heavy. Perfect for French onion soup. For main courses, we had the lamb rack and the duck breast. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and the vegetable pairing was superb. The duck, however, was a little underwhelming. There was a mishap with the order and the wrong entree was brought out initially, but the staff quickly prepared and brought my original order of duck. As a result, the duck fat was too chewy and was a bit difficult to eat, possibly needing a bit more time to render. However, the cook on the duck meat was great. Medium rare, tender, and juicy, paired excellently with the carrot and vegetable side. The flavors were great, but more sauce would have been appropriate. The timing of each course was also done well. Each course was brought out in a proper manner. Had the duck been prepared with as much time as the lamb, I'm certain it would have been perfect. But, these things happen. The ambiance was exceptional. Quiet, cozy, and intimate, they create an amazing atmosphere for personal celebrations. We were just two, but I never had to speak up to be heard among the rest of the patrons dining around us. Again, the staff were excellent. The small details about service were just as important as the large expectations. I noticed a waiter drop a menu and quickly discarded it, using a new menu for the table instead of that one that hit the floor. These details matter, and I was glad to see this level of service. Lastly, the building was historical and gorgeous. The woodworking, brickwork, effigies, and use of mirrors exuded excellence. I will certainly visit again, and recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for an elevated, private experience.
Contunues to be one of the best premium dining experience in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee
Absolutely amazing place and atmosphere! The passion comes through in the food and service! Amazing chef Daniel always comes through! Special shoutout to Wyatt and Will for the amazing service and attention to detail! Best place in Raleigh for an intimate romantic experience. You can always tell when a team cares about what they do! Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hands down the best food service and atmosphere we have ever experienced! We recommend downstairs at the bar! Don’t bother hitting on Whitney she loves me? it’s mark Whitney miss you we’re trying to come back
This restaurant is awesome. The staff are so welcoming, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! The food is beyond anything you can imagine. Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Souffle, Pan Roasted New Bedford Sea Scallops, Creme Brulee, Charcuterie Board, Quail, Lamb Rack