Second Empire

Reserve

Second Empire Review

Wood paneling, muted lighting, and well-spaced tables make for a calming and elegant dining experience in this restored 1879 historic house. The menu, which changes seasonally, has a regional flavor; the food is intricately styled so that colors, textures, and tastes fuse. For an entrée you might order pan-roasted sea scallops served with grits and applewood-smoked bacon, or five-spiced duck confit with green lentils and orzo. A brick tavern on the lower level has a less expensive menu that includes braised lamb shank and grilled trout.