Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern — Restaurant in Raleigh

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...

Food was amazing, service was far from it!

UPDATE

See response below from restaurant.

To restaurant:

Sorry, I won't be giving out my info for all to see but I can tell you that we were there for my girlfriend's birthday and our anniversary(August 25th).

I'm sure you can figure it out.

I also sent you a lengthy email, describing our experience in response to your follow up email but never received any reply so here it is... copied and pasted.

Things didn't go quite as planned yesterday evening...

We get there and are walked to what was not a perimeter table per days in advance request, so we tried another room only to find that it was so loud that we could barely hear each other, much less the server.

We were kindly moved back into the atrium and sat in the middle of the room. With this, came a new server that was very unattentive and impersonal. We refilled our own wine twice and never received a check back after receiving either course. We just didn't feel like a priority but it seemed as if everyone else around us did.

We both got the same exact thing (I know) so I didn't understand what happened next. My pork came out very undercooked so I wanted to send it back but couldn't because I couldn't find anyone without getting out of my seat. The server finally came and when told that my food was not to my liking, she never apologized but only offered to "bring that up for me" temp wise. Seriously?

When I received my food 30 minutes later, it was delicious and the chef did right by re-firing the entire dish for me. (Saw him after dinner and complimented him; he agreed that it was very undercooked as well but never apologized nor did anyone else). The server just ended up coming back to the table only to ask "is that better?" like when a mother puts a cold rag on her sick child's forehead.

Regardless, we were happy with all of the food, please make no mistake about that.

We then waited a good while for our table to be cleared and offered dessert. When she brought the menus we had already decided to take key lime to go because our meal had already settled in. Not to mention, I called in and made sure that everyone knew it was her birthday and it was our anniversary.

I was only looking for her birthday to be recognized somehow since I heard that you all pride yourselves on that. The key lime pie came out 25 minutes later and the server assistant simply said "and happy birthday". They also scribbled it inside the box.

Besides the food being great, the experience made me regret spending our special night there. It was just ironic that we had heard so many good things and were so excited only to find that none of it was true besides the food. She later divulged that she was waiting for people to come out and make a big todo because she had heard about Empire doing that for people's birthdays.

I really hope that this is taken as constructively as possible. I can't even imagine if they were more than two people at our table.

Seems to be a common theme in the reviews. Kudos to the back of the house!

Sincerely,

Former server assistant, server, and...

The service at Second Empire in Raleigh, NC, was absolutely top-notch, and my husband and I had an amazing time celebrating his birthday there. Now, let me tell you, I'd been dying to try this place for ages, but you know how it goes - you don't want to dine at the most romantic restaurant in Raleigh alone. So finally, my husband became the worthy companion I needed!

Of course, being the ultimate procrastinator, I thought of booking the chef's table last minute - only to find out it's fully booked until next year! Talk about "you snooze, you lose" in the world of good food! Nevertheless, we opted for regular seating, and Second Empire did not disappoint.

The best part? When we checked in, they handed us personalized menu for my husband’s bday - a sweet touch that made my husband feel extra special on his big day. The servers were on point, sharing their vast knowledge of the menu and the restaurant's history, which added a nice touch of elegance to the whole experience.

Now, let's talk about the food - the Grilled Tiger Prawn & Australian Octopus and the off-menu foie gras were nothing short of spectacular. Seriously, that foie gras was so good it should have ordered a double.

While my husband's Ribeye was seasoned to perfection, my duck breast was feeling a bit "ducky" that night and ended up a tad dry.

Dessert time - My husband devoured the Sweet Potato Cherry Bread Pudding while I savored the Espresso Semifreddo like it was a caffeinated masterpiece. We couldn’t decide which one was more divine!

But here's the kicker - I was originally torn between Second Empire and Heron for our celebration. The deciding factor? Heron had a dress code. I can’t be bothered with the idea of strict attire rules (but if that’s your jam, then you do you!) when all I want to do is savor a delicious meal. So, Second Empire it was, it won us over with its scrumptious offerings and relaxed dress code.

Despite the dim lighting wreaking havoc on our picture-taking ambitions, the impeccable service and delicious dishes made it an unforgettable night. We're already plotting our grand return - this time, I'll set an alarm for that elusive chef's table reservation, no...