No photos yet
About this vendor
Located in the elegantly restored Dodd-Hinsdale House (circa 1879), Second Empire combines history, atmosphere and gourmet cuisine to form an unforgettable venue for your wedding ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner or bridal shower. It is truly the ultimate dining experience in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Reception Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Wireless Internet
Settings
- Ballroom
- Historic Venue
- Restaurant
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
- Food & Catering
- Service Staff
Popular with couples like you
Check out our featured vendors.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
4.9
out of 5.09 reviews
Second Empire was a fairytale setting for our wedding reception. The manor is so beautiful on the inside, we barely even had to have flowers on the tables to create the most romant...
ic reception ever! We had around 100 guests who all enjoyed a sit-down dinner in the 4 main rooms on the main floor. Our 5 piece band played in the back room (with the green carpet) and the small size of the room made it feel like the dance floor was packed all night! I felt like Miss Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice as I dined with my new husband at our "Sweetheart Table", surrounded by our loved ones and Victorian era style. And of course, the food was amazing. If you've ever eaten at Second Empire, you know that the food is always flawless. Wonderful alternative to "ballroom reception" syndrome. Highly recommend!
My in-laws hosted our rehearsal dinner here, and it was absolutely amazing! I don't know all of the details, but from everything I heard they were easy to work with and flexible wi...
th deadlines and appointments as my in-laws were planning the dinner from another state.
The night of the dinner was just fabulous. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, and the staff was incredibly friendly and experienced. They knew everyone's name almost immediately, and they were great about checking in on us if we wanted another drink or needed anything else. The food was just delicious, and I would highly highly recommend this place.
Beautiful house and great service. It can be very pricey though...
we had our ceremony and reception at second empire. it was beautiful and the staff were amazing.
We had our rehearsal dinner at Second Empire downstairs in the tavern in the Capitol Room. It was such a great time, everyone was so impressed by the atmosphere, dining experience...
and the servers - just THE BEST dinner and evening.
We also had our reception at Second Empire in the upstairs dining rooms with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Again, all of my guests just raved on and on about the service, the wonderfully impressive interior decor, the porch and food. After the reception, we had a horse and carriage pick us up out front and all the guests gathered out to give us a happy Southern send off. It was absolutely the perfect day!
A second wedding for both of us, we wanted an intimate location for our small wedding (about 45 people). We had our ceremony in the East dining room, and while it was very tightly...
packed for that large a group, it was beautiful...no other decorations needed, just the room itself. Our reception was located downstairs in the atrium, preceeded by hors d'ouvres and drinks at the downstairs bar. The food was incredible--everyone raved about it. And the service was exceptional. We had absolutely no complaints. While it can be rather pricey (especially if you select the open bar option), if treating your guests and making them comfortable is a priority, you cannot do better than this.
I enjoyed my wedding at Second Empire. The food was fantastic; the cake was delicious and gorgeous; the venue is breathtaking. On the day of my event, the staff was very profession...
al and accomodating. My only complaint is that it is very difficult to get feedback in the form of responses to emails and returned phone calls prior to your big day, so you'll have to be very patient in contacting them and getting very clear responses to your questions.
Apart from being one of the most beautiful venues in Raleigh, the food was fantastic and the atmosphere was very classy. We booked 9 months in advance for a wedding of 80 guests. ...
We utilized the entire first floor (not the lower tavern), for a sit down dinner and space for a dance floor. Tracy was fantastic to work with and had worked with many of our other vendors before which was great. We also had Second Empire make our cake which turned out above expectations. The location is very desirable, as our ceremony was at Peace College and only a short drive away, we also used a trolley service to transport guests to the beautiful front entrance of the restaurant. A Clarion hotel is located right beside Second Empire which was IDEAL for older guests, or those unable to drive home! :) There is ample parking, restroom facilities and use of outdoor space (for smokers). All the staff were extremely accommodating of our guests and attended to our every need. Would HIGHLY recommend Second Empire as a reception location
Beautiful place, professional and personable servers, fabulous food and presentation, great wedding cake and presentation. Wound up being more expensive than we thought- charged fo...
r drinks like soda and tea with meal and big gratuity price. Fair sound system and tech.
Contact
330 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC
Second Empire Restaurant And Tavern