Raleigh Restaurant
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern - (919) 829-3663
Description, Map, Review & Recommendations
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is a downtown Raleigh restaurant set in the Historic Dodd-Hinsdale House. The house was built in 1879 in the Victorian Second Empire style - ergo the name.
(I'm embarrassed to admit when I first heard of Second Empire I thought it was a Chinese restaurant. "Second Empire" sounded like "Ming Dynasty" to me. I had to see it to understand!)
The home was opened in 1997 as Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern after extensive restoration. The home is beautiful and still has its original exterior, heart pine flooring, masonry walls, doors and windows.
This Raleigh restaurant is a "special occasion" restaurant. The atmosphere is lovely, the food is exquisite, and the service is stellar.
There are two ways to dine here - the main restaurant or the downstairs Tavern. The Tavern is a little less formal than upstairs and a little less pricey but also very lovely.
The main dinner menu changes seasonally and uses the freshest seasonal ingredients. This menu is offered in the more formal dining rooms upstairs. The Tavern Menu is a little more light and casual. It's available only in the Tavern.
The service at Second Empire is always top-shelf. Your wine and water glass will always be full and should you need to step away from the table you will find your napkin neatly folded over your chair when you return. I love that!
Dinner is never rushed. You can easily spend two or three hours enjoying your meal.
The cheese tray is a great way to start and the chocolate souffle is to die for at the end (order the souffle when you order your meal - it takes some time.) Both the lamb and the quail are our favorites if they are on the menu - but it is all done well. You really can't go wrong.
The food is rich and complex and the presentation is beautiful. It is a special occasion just to eat at Second Empire.
Whatever your occasion to celebrate - do it at Second Empire and you will make it a wonderful memory. One note - make sure you have a reservation.
Other Raleigh Restaurants we like include Herons at the Umstead, The Angus Barn near the airport, and Saint Jacques in North Raleigh.
If you have questions about dining in Raleigh or any North Raleigh Homes
Email Us or Call Us Today at 919-280-2726
Driving Directions: Second Empire is located at 330 Hillsborough Street at the corner of Hillsborough and Harrington Street in Raleigh. Take Capital Blvd., which is U.S. Highway # 1, south into downtown. Once in the downtown area, Capital Blvd. will become Dawson Street. Turn right on Hillsborough St. at the Clarion Hotel. Second Empire is one block on the right.
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