Over the years, I have eaten at Second Street many times over. My family has been regular guests of the California Hotel for 3 generations. Since the Fremont is a Boyd property, we will mosey on over to Second Street for dinner every now and then.
I will say that for steaks and prime rib, the Redwood in the Cal is superior, but I find that the menu at Second Street is a tad more progressive. I can always find something a little different than what I ate the night before.