Second Empire Ranked Among Best Restaurants
The Raleigh restaurant secured the number 12 spot on the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards list.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Dining Out
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Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern in Raleigh has earned the number 12 ranking on the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best list. This is the second consecutive year the restaurant has received the honor.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the restaurant's sustained performance and appeal to diners. It serves as a benchmark for local excellence, as the award honors fewer than 1% of all listings on the platform.
Second Empire is located at 330 Hillsborough Street in a restored Victorian-era home. The restaurant has served customers for nearly three decades.
The players
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
A long-standing dining establishment in Raleigh known for its location in a restored Victorian-era home.
Ristorante Paoletti
A restaurant based in Highlands, North Carolina, that achieved the number 1 ranking on the Tripadvisor list.
The details
Located in a historic Victorian-era home, the restaurant maintains its status by analyzing high volumes of customer reviews and ratings. It remains one of only two North Carolina dining establishments to appear on the list, alongside Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands.
Timeline
Sept. 15, 2026: Second Empire received the Travelers' Choice Award.
Culture Shift
This recognition follows a pattern set by the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best list, which highlights businesses that maintain high consumer favorability ratings over time. Such honors reflect a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing crowd-sourced data as a primary indicator of quality.
As one of the highest-rated dining spots in the city, residents may experience longer wait times and higher demand for reservations. Local diners should consider booking tables further in advance to accommodate the increased traffic following this national recognition.
The takeaway
Maintaining consistent service quality for nearly three decades remains a key factor in earning top-tier hospitality honors. Diners can use these national rankings as reliable indicators for discovering high-quality local experiences.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, browse the Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News&Observer.
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