Poole's
Specialties: Poole's specializes in modern interpretations of comfort food classics, with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients. The historic space retains lovingly restored elements of its history in the form of the iconic double horseshoe bar with original formica finishes and red banquettes. Established in 1945. The original Poole's Pie Shop opened its doors in 1945, becoming one of the first dining destinations in Raleigh. Soon, patrons were clamoring for more than just sweets, with "chicken slick," sandwiches and a daily "hot plate" adorning the menu by the early 1950s. As the line continued to wrap around the block, Poole's Pies became Poole's Luncheonette, and a legendary downtown hotspot was born. In 2007, Chef Ashley Christensen lovingly restored the bones of the original restaurant, including the iconic double horseshoe bar and red leather banquettes. Her opening menu, hand-written on oversized blackboards, featured comfort food classics elevated by fresh local ingredients. Nearly fifteen years later--with two James Beard Awards in tow--Poole's has fully returned to its role as a Raleigh classic, a restaurant as essential as it is beloved by the locals and visitors who queue up for its modern Southern cooking in a nostalgic setting.
#American (New)
Delivery
During 24hours
Payment
Bonnie Krueger Dearing
Dec 30, 2024
Absolutely fantastic experience. I was in town for work and a coworker recommended checking out Poole’s. Wonderful service, and the food was just magical. The pickle Caesar salad was so delicious, and the short rib pasta was a savory delight. If you’re looking for a nice place for a special occasion (or just looking for a really good meal), definitely check out Poole’s.
Julia Arellano Ushler
Mar 29, 2025
Beautiful venue. We were celebrating my return to normalcy after surviving a 12 hour surgery, and Hallie had endless thoughtfulness & patience. We ordered the Tuna Tartar (5 out of 5), Pimento Cheese (5 out of 5), Pickled Juice Cesar (5 out of 5), Mac & Cheese (5 out of 5), Pork Loin (5 out of 5), Hangar Steak (4.5 out of 5) and the Shrimp Rigatoni (3.5 out of 5). Hallie brought out a toast of N/A champagne for us to cheers to my health. An experience like no other. They remembered the kindness.
Renée CS
Apr 24, 2025
The macaroni au gratin lives up to the hype! It's maybe the best restaurant mac I've ever had. The roast lilly den half chicken is good, too.
Lipstick Revolt
Apr 29, 2025
I loved this place. Food is on the pricier side but my husband and I really enjoyed ourselves. The flank steak was really good, even though I don’t usually go for flank this was cooked very well. The sweet potatoes were also very good. I enjoyed the appetizer as well which was like a tuna kimchi crudo, although I do think they could’ve punched up the kimchi flavor. My husband loved the catfish he got and we both were in love with the mac and cheese. The dessert was also delicious, chocolate hazelnut cheesecake with a toasted marshmallow on top was oh so good. That and the bourbon caramel went together so nice. My advice try to leave room for dessert.
Kimmiechanga
May 30, 2025
My husband brought me here for my birthday last month after I read a lovely blog post about it. The service was great and I enjoyed each of our dishes and they brought out a birthday candle. Fast forward to the night of the Teddy Swims's concert and there was an hour wait at another restaurant. We were able to get into Poole's last minute without a reservation and it made the night even better! I was also able to get a potato side substitution on my entree because squash hurts my stomach.
Poole's in the Cafes/Restaurants category
Address: 426 S McDowell St,Raleigh, NC 27601
Working hours:
Payment: cash
Pickup: order storage 24 hours
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