Second Empire
330 Hillsborough St. (N. Harrington St.) 
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Raleigh, NC 27603
919-829-3663 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
second-empire.com
Second Empire Restaurant is one of GAYOT's 2013
Hot 10 Raleigh/Durham Restaurants|
Cuisine
Open
Lunch Tues.-Fri., Dinner Tues.-Sat.Features
- Romantic setting
- Private room(s)
- Full bar
- Reservations suggested
- Outdoor dining
- Parking lot
- Casual dressy
Wine
Great Wine List* Click here for rating key
 Second Empire Restaurant Review: The restored 1879 Second Empire Victorian mansion that houses the restaurant may be the most elegant restaurant setting in the city. Such details as an ornate hand-carved staircase and white linen-draped tables set with Christofle and Villeroy & Boch set high expectations, and chef Daniel Schurr lives up to them. His menu changes frequently, offering such lavish starters as smoked Key West shrimp risotto with corn and mushrooms or a veal cheek and root vegetable terrine. Richness imbues the main dishes as well. Consider the grilled bison strip loin with butternut squash compote or rack of lamb with Stilton cheese-and-grits soufflé. Southern touches crop up here and there: fried Georgia quail with sweet potato purée. Dinner for two will set you back $150 or more, depending on how much the first-rate wine list inspires you to extravagance. If you prefer a more low-key (and less expensive) experience, head down to the basement, where the less formal Tavern offers simpler fare ranging from homemade meatloaf to crab cakes. |
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RESTAURANT AWARDS 2013
Check out the 2013 edition of GAYOT's Annual Restaurant Issue, which features the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S., Rising Chefs and more.
