Just dined at Second Empire for Valentines Day for the first time. This is truly an excellent place for a special occasion. The old house is beautiful and works surprisingly well as a restaurant. I wish I had more time to explore the house, but with so many people bustling around we felt like we were in the way. The staff were all very formal, from their uniforms to their mannerisms. Our server was a little soft-spoken but did a fine job. The menu offerings were not as extravagant as I expected, very traditional offerings like prime rib, striped bass, scallops, salmon etc. I had the salmon and crab cake which was presented in a way I did not expect, with the salmon wrapped around the crab cake, and puff pastry wrapped around the outside, reminded me of a cinnamon roll. The reduction made with Newcastle ale was surprisingly sweet and added a ton of flavor to the dish. My only complaint is the salmon was a little dry and not the freshest salmon I've ever had. My husband's prime filet was tender and flavorful. We ordered a key lime pie for dessert, easily the best key lime pie I've ever eaten, very smooth with the perfect amount of tartness. I was not disappointed, this is an experience you must try at least once if you live in the area.
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