Definitely one of the top 3 restaurants around Raleigh. The marvelous house was full of history, which the hostess enthusiastically recounted, as well as beautiful artworks many of which were from local artists’ hands. Everything we ordered was superbly executed which leads one to believe this to be true with regard to every other item on the menu. Surely the shrimp, pork belly, scallop etc were savory and of great texture. And speaking of the entree one could hardly expect a fillet of trout or veal chop more juicy and tender than what we’re offered here. Yet equally or even more laudable were the sides - orange scented wild rice, saffron risotto etc etc. Dazzling, but enjoy! And the dreamy perfect chocolate soufflé (which is a rare find nowadays) to finish. What a night!

The most incredible and memorable experience. My partner took my family and I here for my birthday and surprised me with dinner at the Chef's table in the kitchen. The food and staff are absolutely incredible and delivered an amazing experiencing that still has me smiling a week later. It was a 5-star experience all the way. Despite their incredible talents, everyone was so humble and kind, and they took such excellent care of us. I cannot say enough positive things about this restaurant. It's a true gem!

Delicious food and great service! My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary. Each plate was not only appealing, but also delectable! The servers went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our anniversary dinner from their well wishes to taking a picture for us. Excellent experience and I would definitely go again!

After having a sub-par experience at a "steakhouse" the night before, it was refreshing to be served exactly what I ordered and how I ordered it. My steak was done to perfection, my calamari was tender and my fellow diners enjoyed their food as well. Bonus points are being given as well, because the first question the waiter asked was if there were any food allergies and restrictions. And he worked with the ones I told him I had. Not only did he give me other options I could sub out instead of the items that would make me I'll, but he made it seem effortless. Kudos to Matt and Oliver for taking such good care of us all.

Destiny, our server, had some great recommendations. The food was delicious. The drinks were perfect. I wish I could have toured the house too. It's a beautiful location. They even decrumb the table for you (bonus points for that). Very fancy, but the staff make you feel right at home!

We really had a very special intimate 30th anniversary dinner here. First our take home menus were printed at the top with a congratulatory message and signed by the chef which really set a nice mood for the meal. Everything we ordered was scrumptious. I like to cook and finding meals that I cannot deconstruct into components but are complex and delicious. The service was also on point neither asking us every minute if we need something but still attentive.

Perfect for couples or dinner party hidden gem in the heart of Raleigh. This place is one of a kind, and big shout out to Whitney + John, their service is impeccable, their attention + genuine conversations at the bar helps create this experience every time very enjoyable! Parking can be tricky, but that’s everywhere in downtown Raleigh these days. Highly recommend the short rib, French onion soup, duck, all desserts, both liquid and food. Wine list is extensive as well, pretty easy to navigate through. John + Whitney offer plenty of recommendations to pair with your dish too.

Beautiful restaurant, very elegantly laid out and appointed, and they're definitely working hard to be a 5-star dining experience. However I can't give them five stars, for a couple of reasons. The food for our party was mostly excellent, but my $65 filet mignon was somehow dry and mealy, despite being cooked to medium perfectly. I've never had anything quite like it, but it was quite unpleasant to eat and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. Also, I found the service annoying at times. Our waiter, who was otherwise quite knowledgeable and helpful, turned up at our table, interrupted our conversation, then proceeded to spend fully 5 minutes explaining the specials... barely any of which we could recall, because it was too much all at once.

We went to Second Empire to celebrate! There was a convenient pay-to-park lot right across the street. We reserved a table ahead of time, and the staff was prompt. Our waiter let us know he is in the last stages of shadowing another employee and he did a really good job! The atmosphere was intimate and light. We really enjoyed all three courses. The desserts were really fun and the menu is pretty well-rounded. I would recommend Second Empire for a nice, high-end feeling time.

From the moment we walked in the door every part of our evening was fantastic! The restaurant is beautiful, staff was the best of the best. Our server was Destiny and her knowledge of the menu and location was impressive. She made wonderful suggestions and she did not disappoint. We will be bringing out of state friends and clients in the future! 10 out of 10!

Invited by friends for the Chef’s Table experience - it truly delivered! Chef de Cuisine Daniel Schurr prepared an amazing menu and we had the opportunity to explore the kitchen for a one of a kind behind the scenes experience. Highly recommend the Chefs Table for the experience. The food and wine pairings were perfection and well worth it! But if you don’t need the full experience, the menu and ambience by themselves are worth the trip! 10 out of 10 would recommend! Check out my instagram @_slimmpickins_ for more reviews

Was here to photograph an intimate wedding of around d 40 people. Staff was very attentive and food was great! Wonderful atmosphere and everyone enjoyed the evening. Had the filet mignon and it was perfectly cooked and flavorful.

Absolutely fantastic evening! Good drinks, great service and amazing food! The lamb and duck were cooked perfectly, the crème brûlée and the chess pie were so delicious. Somewhere we will definitely take family and friends next time we’re back in North Carolina

We had Destiny as our server last night. She was excellent. Our table wanted for nothing! She was friendly but most importantly professional and very knowledgeable about the menu. I am gluten free, she was able to help with any questions I had! My gluten free dessert was incredible. The bar downstairs has a Speakeasy feel to it. Our drinks were amazing and the younger man who served us was so helpful!! Was able to make great drink recommendations. Our group had a blast! Start to finish top notch service.

One of the best places in Raleigh to celebrate an anniversary or have a romantic dinner. Beautiful environment, delicious food, and excellent service. We started our meals with the shrimp arancini (the portion was only two but they were a good size each), the pork chop and scallops for entrees and finished by splitting the key lime pie. Everything was excellent and we were both quite full.

One of the best restaurants in all of Raleigh! Was able to surprise my wife with a classy night for our anniversary. We both loved every moment of this special night and enjoyed the beautiful ambience of the restaurant. Definitely going back for more!

My wife and I decided to give this place a try for our 13 anniversary. It did not disappoint! They didn't have a table available (call for reservations) but we decided to sit at the bar and order our food. The atmosphere was amazing. The bar kind of feels like a little speak easy. We started with the Foie gras and it was mind blowing! My wife ordered the wet aged filet mignon which was also amazing. I ordered the duck breast. Let's just say we will definitely be coming back time and time again!

Pricey but phenomenal. The complexity of these dishes is consistently second to none, as is the service. It’s not an experience you’ll easily forget!

We have been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint! Our waiter Wyatt did a great job explaining the nights specials and made sure the whole evening went smoothly! We tried the foie gras appetizer and the shrimp and goat cheese arancini both were amazing. Then for mains, we had the duck breast and one of the steaks, So good. But the star for us was the chocolate soufflé for dessert. 12/10 experience for us.

Oh. My. WOW!!!!! If you have not been to this restaurant, you need to make reservations and go! It is rare that I am this impressed with a restaurant. And this place deserves all the accolades! Amazing service, very unique venue, and the food was top notch more than five stars. It was a 10 star! Great explanations of all the foods, insanely helpful staff, never had to ask for a thing, from the wine to the bread to the appetizers to the entrees to the desserts, we simply cannot say enough about how great this place was. And for everything that we got, to be able to go in there and have a wonderful 2-hour experience for around $200, you just cannot find this at a lot of places. Definitely worth the money! Seriously. You need to just go! I said you need to go!

Service was great. The servers were very attentive and we loved it. The French onion soup and salmon carpaccio was really great first courses. The ribeye was good. The seafood paella was not worth it because even though there were mussels and scallops, it was also filled with dry salmon and a white fish and was unappetizing. Desserts were worth it. Other than the paella we loved our dinner.