Second Empire Restaurant

What Second Empire Restaurant does

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is a privately held, family-owned fine dining establishment operating from the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House at 330 Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Opened on September 9, 1997, by the Reynolds family after a multi-year restoration of the 1879 Second Empire Victorian residence, the restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Schurr in a 3,000 square foot kitchen. The venue has 250 seats distributed across main dining rooms, an exposed-brick tavern, a glassed atrium, and four private dining rooms (Pine Room up to 40, Raleigh and Capitol Rooms up to 25 each, Atrium up to 50), and operates dinner service Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 pm.

The core offering is the main dining room and a premium five-course Chef's Table experience for 2–4 guests dining inside the kitchen, supplemented by four private dining rooms, full-service wedding and special-event planning coordinated by General Manager Ashley Dyson, an award-winning 250+ label wine program (Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1999), and a tavern with a lighter menu and cocktail program. Pricing is published and a la carte with entrees ranging from $32 (Bell & Evans chicken) to $67 (Black Angus ribeye) and desserts from $6 to $16, with gift certificates sold through the Heartland HRPOS platform.

Revenue is generated entirely through on-premise dining and event services at the single Raleigh location, with no franchising, multi-site operations, or institutional ownership disclosed. Reservations are taken by phone and via OpenTable; the company also runs the annual Second Empire 5K Classic benefiting Trinity Academy. Customer segments center on fine dining patrons in the Raleigh–Durham market, wedding and rehearsal dinner parties, and corporate event clients, with no named enterprise customers or contractual revenue streams disclosed.

Name

Second Empire Restaurant

Legal name

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern

Website

https://second-empire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is a family-owned fine dining restaurant in the historic 1879 Dodd-Hinsdale House in downtown Raleigh, NC, serving contemporary American cuisine, private events, weddings, and a Chef's Table experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

Keywords

• Fine dining services
• Contemporary American cuisine
• Private event hosting
• Wedding reception venue
• Wine program

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Revenue from food and beverage sales at the main restaurant, tavern, and atrium dining areas. Menu features contemporary American cuisine with seasonal changes.
2. Private Dining and Events: Revenue from private dining rooms (Pine Room, Raleigh Room, Capitol Room, Atrium), weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate gatherings, and special events.
3. Chef's Table Experience: Premium five-course dining experience for 2-4 guests dining exclusively in the kitchen with Chef Daniel Schurr, featuring wine pairings. Three menu options available: classic tasting, pescatarian, and vegetarian.
4. Wine Sales: Extensive wine program with over 250 labels in the climate-controlled wine cellar. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient since 1999.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern operates a fine dining restaurant in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House (1879) in downtown Raleigh, NC, serving Contemporary American Cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Schurr in a 3,000 square foot kitchen. The restaurant offers multiple distinct dining environments including main dining rooms, a tavern, an atrium, four private dining rooms, and a Chef's Table experience, and hosts weddings, corporate events, and special occasions. The venue seats 250 guests total and is complemented by an award-winning wine program with 250+ labels in a climate-controlled cellar.

Product overview

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern operates as a unified fine dining destination centered at the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House in downtown Raleigh, NC. The core product is the main restaurant dining experience offering Contemporary American Cuisine, supplemented by The Tavern for casual bar dining and lighter fare. Additional revenue streams include private dining rooms (Pine Room, Raleigh Room, Capitol Room, Atrium), the Chef's Table experience, wedding and special event services, and a seasonal dinner and dessert menu program. The restaurant seats 250 total guests across multiple venues and has maintained continuous recognition including AAA Four Diamond Award since 2004, DiRoNA Award since 2005, and Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1999.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Restaurant Dining Fine dining experience in the restored Dodd-Hinsdale House (circa 1879) featuring Contemporary American Cuisine with seasonal menus created by Executive Chef Daniel Schurr. Features wide arched passages, fireplaces, 14-foot ceilings, and abundant windows; seats up to 50 per dining room.
• The Tavern Casual bar and dining area in an exposed brick cellar offering creative cocktails, local beers, boutique wines, and a lighter menu compared to the main dining room. Includes a new lounge area for cocktails.
• Private Dining Rooms Four private dining spaces: The Pine Room (upstairs, seats up to 40, NC pine paneling, French doors to back porch), The Raleigh Room and Capitol Room (downstairs in Tavern, each seats up to 25, exposed brick), and The Atrium (seats up to 50, glassed space). Audio-visual and wireless internet available in all rooms.
• Chef's Table Exclusive dining experience for 2 to 4 people in the kitchen with Executive Chef Daniel Schurr and staff. Features a five-course menu with wine pairings. Three menu options: classic tasting (seasonal dishes), pescatarian, and vegetarian. Available Tuesday-Friday at 6pm.
• Wedding Services Full wedding event planning including rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. Offers assistance with photography, flowers, entertainment, food, and service coordination. Located in the Historic Dodd-Hinsdale House for elegant wedding settings.
• Special Events Custom special dining experiences for corporate gatherings, business events, and special occasions. Managed by Special Events Coordinator Ashley Dyson with menu design and planning assistance.
• Main Dinner Menu Seasonally changing Contemporary American Cuisine menu featuring dishes such as swordfish, Scottish salmon, sea scallops, seafood paella, Bell & Evans chicken, Australian lamb rack, pork rib chop, Pennsylvania duck breast, and Black Angus ribeye steak. Entrees priced $32-$67.
• Dessert Menu Selection of French-style ice creams, non-dairy sorbets, and pastries prepared daily by Pastry Chef Amber Atkins. Includes signature items like Goat Cheese Cheesecake, Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, Chocolate Pistachio Torte, Empire Chocolate Souffle, and Key Lime Pie. Priced $6-$16.
• Wine Program Award-winning wine selection housed in a climate-controlled wine cellar with over 250 labels. Recipient of Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 8 consecutive years (1999-2006) and continued recognition thereafter. Wine pairings available with Chef's Table experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2025: Ranked #3 in the United States for Fine Dining
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trinity AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2020The Second Empire 5K Classic benefits Trinity Academy, a classical Christian school with 380 students (TK-12th grade) on a 38-acre campus. The race is the primary annual fundraiser for the school, with proceeds supporting the school's mission of cultural transforming, Christian worldview education.
• Second Empire Grand Prix SeriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2020The Second Empire 5K Classic is the 6th race in the Second Empire Grand Prix Series, a network of competitive and non-competitive races that pool operational funds and sponsorships to maximize charitable proceeds to benefiting organizations.
• Inside-Out SportsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2020Packet pickup location and sponsor for the 5K race. Provides gift cards for race awards and supports the charity event.
• MyLapsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2020Sports timing technology provider for the Second Empire 5K Classic race events.
• JCM TelecomminorOthers · 25 April 2020Fiber optic experts and event sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic.
• Johnson LexusminorOthers · 25 April 2020Automotive sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic charity race.
• Performance Food Service - HickoryminorOthers · 25 April 2020Food service provider and event sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic.
• Inland SeafoodminorOthers · 25 April 2020Seafood supplier and event sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic.
• Empire DistributorsminorOthers · 25 April 2020Distribution company and event sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic.
• Mutual Distributing Company, Inc.minorOthers · 25 April 2020Distributing company and event sponsor for the Second Empire 5K Classic.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Commander's Palace: Iconic destination fine dining restaurant in New Orleans' Garden District. Comparable award pedigree, comparable historic building, comparable chef-driven contemporary cuisine, and comparable wedding/private event business.
• The Fearrington House Restaurant: AAA Five Diamond destination fine dining restaurant at the Fearrington Inn in Pittsboro, NC, also in the Triangle region. Comparable historic setting, comparable prix-fixe/seasonal tasting menu structure, and similar destination-event positioning.
• McCrady's Tavern & Restaurant: Historic fine dining destination restaurant in Charleston, SC operating out of a restored 18th-century building. Comparable historic venue positioning, comparable upscale contemporary Southern cuisine, and comparable wedding/private event vertical.
• Herons at The Umstead Hotel: Forbes Five-Star/AAA Five Diamond fine dining restaurant at The Umstead Hotel in Cary, NC, just minutes from Second Empire. Comparable upscale contemporary American concept, similar affluent Triangle-area clientele, and similar wine program investment.
• The Inn at Little Washington: Legendary destination fine dining restaurant in Washington, VA housed in a restored historic inn. Closest analog to Second Empire's combination of historic property, AAA Five Diamond recognition, destination events, and Chef's Table-style exclusivity.
• Husk Restaurant: Chef-driven upscale Southern cuisine restaurant in Charleston and other cities. Comparable contemporary American cuisine positioning with strong wine and seasonal ingredient programs, comparable award reputation, and comparable experiential dining format.
• Angus Barn: Iconic upscale steakhouse in Raleigh, NC operating for over 60 years. Most directly comparable fine dining competitor in Second Empire's home market, with comparable pricing, similar award reputation, and similar destination dining positioning.

Broad incumbents

• The Capital Grille: National upscale steakhouse chain with private dining and wine program focus. Comparable premium pricing tier and event catering vertical but lacks the historic venue and chef-driven differentiation that define Second Empire.
• Ruth's Chris Steak House: Largest national upscale steakhouse chain with comparable entree price points and extensive private dining for events. Far broader geographic footprint but operates in the same premium dining/eating-out space as Second Empire.

Regional players

• Nancy Green's Classic Southern Cuisine: Upscale Southern cuisine destination restaurant in Raleigh. Comparable regional fine dining positioning and Triangle market exposure but more Southern-cuisine-focused rather than Second Empire's Contemporary American format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SecondEmpireRestaurant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-empire-restaurant-and-tavern

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Second Empire Restaurant