We recently dined at the Second Empire to celebrate our first wedding anniversary... and sure, there might be other restaurants in the Raleigh area with better service, or, even perhaps better food, but probably none that exhibit BOTH qualities so well... the balance of service and food quality / presentation was excellent at the Second Empire. Dinner was truly a fine dining experience without the pretentiousness typically associated with such venues. The food: the better half ordered the duck breast for the first course, I had the foie gras, which was incredible. Entrees: the lady ordered the Bluefin tuna, U.S.D.A. "prime" steak for me, which was perfectly grilled to medium, with a dark pink center. Chocolate souffle can only be described as "awesome". The portions were generous, which was a pleasant surprise. The service: the wait staff was courteous, prompt, well-rehearsed and knowledgable. They never interrupted our conversation, which of course is important to maintaining a romantic setting. We were also congratulated by all the wait staff for our "milestone", which although a small gesture, added a very nice touch to our evening. We look forward to dining at the Second Empire again for future occasions.
Pros: Service, presentation, ambience
Cons: no glaring "cons"
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