428 South McDowell St

Delicious! I had the coffee braised short rib rigatoni and it did not disappoint! The brussel sprouts were sooo yummy. They had the most delicious mushrooms mixed in and weren't oily at all. Lobster doughnuts were alright - unique but not very much lobster. My partner also had the avocado vinaigrette and it was SO good. Honestly wish I got that for myself. The waitress and staff were so accommodating to the allergies in our group. They were so kind. The new Poole's inside dining area was very nice too!

We went back to a local favorite, Poole's diner, in their new expanded location! I appreciate the extra space here and better lighting. The service was also much better this time around, in terms of timing between food service. The menu had some awesome upgrades that we were so excited to try. We started with the lobster donuts, which were light and fluffy, fried to perfection, and had a generous amount of lobster. The pickle juice caesar is a classic that we got again - this time the pickle juice was a lot more prevalent which I loved. The marinated avocado salad was also delicious, with great crunch from the nuts, funkiness from the blue cheese, and nicely ripe pears. For the entrees, we split the short rib rigatoni & mussels + shrimp. The short rib was cooked to perfection - fell apart at the touch of the fork, and the juniper jus that coated the pasta had a phenomenal savory flavor. The mussels and shrimp were in a delicious garlicky, buttery broth that paired nicely with the turnips and seafood. We paired dinner with another Poole's classic - the macaroni au gratin. It was superb per usual - the small macaroni noodles sop up the delicious white cheese sauce perfectly, and the breadcrumb crust on top was deliciously crunchy and buttery. For dessert, we couldn't choose and ended up getting all 3 options. The peanut butter banana pie tasted like a Reese's pb cup, though I didn't get much banana flavor. The apple cobbler had a delicious brown sugar crunch. The maple praline pots de crème was incredibly soft, smooth, and had the perfect amount of maple flavor. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of their menu items! Fingers crossed pizza is added back! 8.5/10 s *Maine Lobster Donuts w/ smoked tomato-tarragon aioli *Pickle Juice Caesar salad *Marinated Avocado salad w/ pear, buttermilk blue, marcona almonds, & maple-dijon vinaigrette *Mussels & Shrimp w/ white acres peas, roasted tomatoes, & Hakurei turnips *Coffee-Roasted Short Rib Rigatoni w/ charred onion, candy roaster squash, juniper jus, & fried rosemary *Macaroni Au Gratin *Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pie *Apple Cobbler *Maple Praline Pots De Crème

I have gone to this spot twice, the first time I was disappointed and just figured it was a bad night so thought I would give it another try, this idea of it was exciting, the reality of it is average and overpriced. 1) If you arrive early for your reservation there is no place to have a drink, you can order one and sit on a chair by the host stand but for "high end" restaurant this makes no sense, especially since the chairs are uncomfortable and right by the door. 2) My last visit, I arrived on time for my 7:30 reservation. We were seated and told that they were 86'd on a number of their items. When we did finally get our food, at 8:45, bear in mind our reservation was 7:30, it was disappointing. The short rib was fine but slightly over cooked and nothing special, the chicken ($32) under cooked. The Mac and Cheese was fine and they push that as their signature dish but it okay and expensive ($18). 3) I should add that while we were waiting for our dinner the women next to us leaned over and told us NOT to order the Pork ($36), she said it was terrible, and so we did not. The ambiance is nice, other than not having a place to have a cocktail before dinner. I gave it two tries and I am not going back. I would not recommend.

When you walked in you can tell this is going to be a great place. Make sure you get reservations! We started off with drinks, I got the El Diablo because I'm a tequila guy. It was very good! Also tried the Stone Fence, a great winter drink. On to the appetizers, a MUST are the NC Blue Crab Doughnuts, they are Amazing! Also got the Pimento Cheese with Crostinis, also good. And you need to get the Baguette! Salads... we got 2 the Bibb Lettuce with 24 month Parm on top, they load it on, sooo good! Then we were curious about the Pickle Juice Caesar, sounds crazy, and it was CRAZY Good! Those are both a must have! Mains we got the Rosemary & fennel Roasted Pork Loin, this is a must. Also got the Roast Lilly Den Half Chicken, very good. Sides - Macaroni Au Gratin, MUST have! Soooo good! Brussels Sprouts, I don't touch them, but the rest of the table loved them. If you live in Raleigh you need to try this place, if you are visiting put this on your list. Look for the new addition soon!

Absolutely amazing experience. The food was delicious as always. The staff were so polite and accommodating. I can't eat dairy so they were very eager to figure out which items on the menu I could have and what modifications they could make to the dish. They checked with the chef on multiple occasions and really made it a point to make me feel heard. They expanded next door from their original location and the new place is very nice. More updated and modern than the old place but still have some older touches. Will absolutely return again!

Great for a well rounded, southern dining experience! Highly recommend doing a family style ordering for a table and get multiple apps and an entire or two depending on the size of your party because there's so many good options to choose from. Not only that but the food has an incredible range for it being southern dining with a light, seasonal heirloom tomato bruschetta (seasonal item in September) to classic heavier staples like the au-gratin Mac and cheese. Service was great as well as they made sure to bring out all the courses in an ordered and timely manor. This allowed for an enjoyable experience that didn't feel rushed like when restaurants bring out apps 6 minutes before your entire. They are intentional in you enjoying your time and all the food you get. Highly recommend for good southern cooking. Especially if you have out of town guests that may be looking for some good southern dining

Best restaurant in town for sure! This is our go to spot for date night. We can't wait for the horseshoe to come back but we love the bar area of the new space! The food is top notch and the cocktails are delicious, inventive and balanced! The manager is the sweetest young lady and she always greets us and makes us feel super welcomed which we really appreciate! An extra perk that my husband particularly likes is the parking lot right across the street. Poole's provided validation for guests who park there! It is so easy and stress free! Definitely try Poole's! I rarely take pictures of my food, but I did take one of my beet and goat cheese salad that was fantastic!!!

I've been coming here for years, but last night's experience was something special. The food is always great.. The staff is so warm, and we had the chance to meet Ashley, who took a moment to chat and thank us for being there--such a kind gesture. The brussels sprouts were phenomenal. The mac & cheese is to die for, there is simply nothing bad on the menu. This photo is of the handmade Gnocchi which was the best Gnocchi I've ever had.

So many wonderful southern classics and consistently great food and a fun atmosphere....can be a little loud but that's part of the charm...

Visited Poole's diner first night in town. I've been recommended this place a number of times and was excited to try! Had the baguette, beet salad, brown butter carrots and the chicken and mashed potatoes dish. Everything was good but it wasn't great, nothing to write home about. Service was excellent I will say that, the ambience and overall vibe was cool and it seemed pretty trendy in there. Hated that the menus are written in chalk all over the wall. Probably wouldn't be on my list of places to return but had a decent meal.

I will say 4-4.5 stars for this place. This is definitely a fancy place that you need to make reservations to guarantee a seat. Luckily they do vouch for your parking and we were seated promptly for our reservation. We did like their pimento cheese appetizer, but wish they'd bring the fried saltines back instead of the crostini. The baguette and butter was alright, nothing too special. We also got a couple cocktails, as well as the half-roasted chicken and the macaroni au gratin. It's definitely worth coming for the signature macaroni. The sauce on the roasted chicken and the mashed potatoes were very tasty, but I'm unsure if half a chicken is worth $32. Overall, this is more of a fancy date night spot and the food is delicious. If we go again, we will have to try their other unique dishes like the pickle Caesar salad and the short rib pot pie.

The food was pretty good. We came here on Valentine's Day for dinner. They had steak frites on the menu but ran out. It looked delicious though. We ended up with short rib pot pie and baked chicken. The pot pie was delicious, the chicken was just ok. The sides were delicious and the staff were super nice. It was an enjoyable experience.

While stopping through Raleigh in decided to check out pooles as I have heard great things! It did not disappoint. We had a 9 o'clock reservation and were seated promptly! Our service was great and the atmosphere is the diner vibe you would expect! With elevated dishes that you wouldn't expect at a diner! The Mac and cheese is a must try and the fried okra is a great starter! A definite must try when in the Raleigh area

Poole's has become an iconic institution in downtown Raleigh and doesn't disappoint. Housed in an old diner, the vibe is one of an active, high energy diner. Ashley Christensen's modern interpretation of Southern comfort food is amazing. We started with the Bibb lettuce salad which was amazing! Our entree was the Royal with cheese which is an off-menu item only offered on Sundays. Sides included Brussels sprouts and the do-not-miss mac and chess au gratin. The four of us split the salad and sides and we shared two Royals. Service was spot on. Attentive, knowledgeable, and very personable. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience.

Had an amazing dinner here for moms birthday. The staff was very nice and explained that you have to take photos of the menu yourself and they had no paper menus. Service was excellent and the food was very very good. It was a bit loud in there but I think it was people having a good time. Fine dining with casual atmosphere! Make sure to book your table a whole week in advance Get the Panna Cotta dessert!

Very disappointed, ordered scallops, three baby scallops size of a quarter for $39. I should've sent them back.Macaroni and cheese is always good. I should've stuck with that.

We went here for a work dinner with a client. At first I thought it was a diner but I was wrong, it was just diner themed. The food and the prices where a different level than the decor. They have that stupid rule about everyone in your party being present before they seat. We had 4 of 5 and a reservation but had to wait. Finally I showed that the 5th person was down the street and they had too many incomplete parties taking up the waiting space so we were sat. The menu is on chalk boards around the restaurant. That was the only instruction we received so we had to get up, look around and take pictures to realize that the two boards on the left and the two boards in the front said the same thing. Neither could be completely viewed from where we were so the pictures came in handy. They are also particular about how you order. You cannot order without everyone being there even if it is just appetizers and you can't order from certain menus out of order. This might help with some efficiency but we were there for 3 hours so I am not seeing it. When we could finally order we were so hungry. We started with pimento cheese and fried crackers. Yes they literally fried saltine crackers. Some people liked it, I thought it added calories and fat without adding flavor. The pimento cheese was strong, not to my taste but we did eat it all. We then could order the beet salad, Bibb lettuces and macaroni au gratin. The beet salad tasted just like it sounds, like beets. So if you like beets then it is very good. What it comes with is very complimentary to the flavors. The Bibb Lettuce was my favorite. The lettuce is very soft and buttery, almost melts in your mouth kind of flavor, and the cheese and dressing add just enough flavor. The macaroni was talked up quite a bit so there were high expectations. The noodles were so very tiny and very al dente. Almost not cooked enough. We ate one serving of it between 5 of us. For the main course three people got the Hanger done three different temperatures and they all said they were correct and delicious. One person got the balanzoni which is a pasta with cheese and she said it was good. I had the halibut, which was prepared well. What it came with seemed more like a soup with a little sliver of potato tiny square of squash. The fish was prepared well. I am more about the sides myself but honestly by the time the mains came I was getting pretty full. Of course you can't walk away from a work paid for dinner without dessert even if you can only take a bite. We got the panna cota and the chocolate cake. The panna cota was sweet and light, I loved the oatmeal thin cookie it came with. I had one nibble of the cake and it was very rich and strong in flavor. It was good, but I could only do one small bite. Last comes the bill. We did order a lot of food, but when I compare what we got with how much we spent, I probably wouldn't come back. I am glad to have the experience and even more happy to be reimbursed for it. I will probably try to find some Bibb lettuce, at least one thing new that I am happy I tried.

I knew Poole's had amazing reviews, but I was honestly shocked HOW good the food was. We snagged an early reservation before a concert at Red Hat. Started with some cocktails and the bread with butter. We're from NJ and I was truly SHOOK by how good the bread was, haha. We also got the watermelon salad which was delish. For dinner, my husband had the pork tenderloin and I had the chicken. Both were absolutely amazing. My husband said that his meal was the best meal he ever had. It's decently pricey for how casual it is, but that speaks to the quality of the food. Next time, we'll definitely sit at the counter.

We have had brunch at Poole's many times and always enjoyed it. This was our first time for lunch with their full menu. This time our service was poor. Our original waiter disappeared and after flagging down another had a new one that was good. Ambiance is always nice. Food was excellent but my entree was lukewarm and the fries were way over salted for me. Prices, like all restaurants, when up and the steaks have gotten smaller. Still love all of Ashley Christensen's restaurants in Raleigh and we will continue to support her creative and tasty menu items, but our last trip was a little disappointing.

This place is always highly recommended from friends. I'd say if you like southern-ish foods with a twist, it's a good night out. In my opinion the best thing I've had on the menu is the Mac and cheese.

We came to Poole's for the first time tonight and had the best experience. The food was delicious (we had the pimiento cheese, pickle Caesar, crab donuts, short rib rigatoni, macaroni, and the ginger ice cream), and the service was even better! Our server went above and beyond to make our experience fantastic!!

A couple of foodies from California visit Raleigh looking for a fun food experience. Turns out Pooles was just the place. Lucky us. A small jammed packed restaurant with a noise level like a 777 taking off doesn't seem to bother the crowd one bit as they drink excellent cocktails and wait for their creative food. As you might expect the noise levels increase as the alcohol gets consumed and louder voices prevail. The food--the menu is posted on the wall and selections are lovely. Local fish, local Meat, a great small variety that makes choosing difficult. Every other dish coming out of the kitchen seems to be chicken. We had one and it was superb. Also tried the fish stew-- very delicate in a tasty but not heavy "jus" vs pasty tomato sauce. Also brined pork- it's served sliced vs as chop- it was tender and delicious. Deserts are interesting- we had panna cotta and chocolate slice cake. To die for. Last/ I must mention the Mac and Cheese-one of a kind. Definitely a share for 4. Don't even think about trying to finish it solo.

Overall, a whelming experience at best. The decor is low lit and somewhat old fancy, but kind of makes it hard to see anything. There wasn't too much space, so don't plan on taking too many things with you and get ready to overhear conversations if you happen to come in at a crowded time. Service is standard and friendly, but nothing mind blowing from my experience. Patte and pasta tasted decent, but at this price point - I am expecting not only much better quality, but also a greater quantity as well. I'm starting to feel that I'm doing this review a disservice since I did not get any drinks, so do take that into consideration.

There are tons of reviews here, so I will mostly supplement or respond to them. 1. Many reviews say Poole's is loud. We found Poole's to be no more or less loud than your typical restaurant. Having said that, we were there from 5:30 to 7:15, and the restaurant was around 75% full; perhaps things get louder later in the evening. 2. The Mac and cheese comes in a huge serving: easily enough for two. 3. Many reviews complain that the food took 45 minutes or more to appear. Our first course appeared promptly (within 10 minutes), with what we considered adequate spacing between the courses. 4. One review mentioned that there is a certain way you have to place your order. We didn't find that to be the case at all. The restaurant had no issue, e.g., with bringing the Mac and cheese as an appetizer rather than a side dish to the main course. 5. It is true what reviewers say about the menus. Depending on where you are sitting, you may not be able to see a menu easily. 6. It is also true that the parking lot beside the restaurant is paid parking. Then again, you are in the middle of a downtown, so that should not come as a surprise. 7. I recommend a table rather than the counter--unless you don't mind being elbow to elbow with strangers. The stools at the counter are stationary and close together.

Played the Resy notifications game and got a Saturday night res for our party of six. I tried: + Clover leaf cocktail - great + Pop quiz cocktail - great + Tuna carpaccio - great + Heirloom tomatoes - these were over sauced, which detracted from the tomatoes a bit, but they were still tasty + Mixed lettuces - highlight #1 + Cider braised pork cheeks - decent, small plates were more exciting + Macaroni au gratin - highlight #2 + Chicken liver pate - highlight #3 + Half chicken - whipped potatoes were amazing + Chocolate hazelnut pot de creme - great + Coconut cheesecake - possibly the best thing I ate + Strawberry hand pies - also perfect Definitely will be back, as they seem to rotate their menu a lot. Service was great!

A staple of downtown Raleigh. When in doubt, make a res at Poole's. We sat counterside for dinner - really fun experience. The bartenders are fun to watch. While I only took pics of the wine and our salads, everything was wonderful. I had the beet salad - IMHO perfect summer salad. The tomato salad was also delightful. The cornbread was on point. We ordered the lamb and soft shell crab. After dinner we had the strawberry handpies. I am pretty sure I ate an entire week's worth of calories but it was well worth it. If you haven't been here, do yourself a favor and go!

If you go here, you should order the hanger steak, the blistered peppers and the mushroom medley. You should make a reservation and you should ask for Hallie to be your server. Meal and ambiance were exceptional (duh) but hallie's kindness and knowledge were unsurpassed. She did an amazing job answering questions and explaining the menu as first time guests. She made the experience A+! We will definitely be back!

So disappointing. We saw this on a list of the top 18 restaurants to try in Raleigh and then again on another list of local favorites you must try. Here's a true review - don't waste your hard earned money here. 1. It is VERY noisy 2. The food is extremely overpriced. Sides range from $11-$18 (excluding $4 for bread and butter) 3. It took over 50 minutes to get our order - beet salad - tasted like canned beets topped with yummy goodness - fried okra - the batter was SO thick and flavorless - grilled okra - they brought this out since we didn't enjoy the fried okra; let's just say they must've spilled the salt container on this dish, inedible - braised greens - fine, but not $11 good - mac and cheese - it was good, definitely enjoyed the crusty cheese on top - 10 oz steak - very nicely cooked $42 This was the first $100+ meal I've regretted eating.

Finally made it to an AC restaurant. As expected super casual yet busy on a Saturday night. Glad the menu was limited, and to be honest, I would have been happy with just the apps we ordered. Started with the beet salad, sooo good with shaved crudite and tahini. Then came the oysters, slightly warm topped with smoked tomato. Also tried the artichoke tomato tart with Gruyère, a little rich after the first two dishes. Opted for the macaroni au gratin, because why not? And husband had the pork cheeks with gnocchi and charred cabbage. So of course we had to get the baguette to soak up the braising sauce, which blew any chance of us ordering desert. Plus we tried 2 cocktails, a concoction named Hemingway and a gin based drink with strawberry infused aperol. An incredibly satisfying meal and overall memorable dining experience.

Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 3 Been here at least 3-4 times in 2014 since my hotel's just a block away. Overall, food was pretty average and not particularly memorable.

I get to Raleigh occasionally and this place is home. Everything is good. Especially the staff, food and ambiance. But especially the food because ya gotta eat. But the staff? Really really cool. And the vibe makes ya happy. I had the roast Lilly den half chicken and gawd...so good. No picture because I dug in and forgot. Oh and the whipped corn soup. Please do this one. Your momma will be proud.

Wow! We ordered almost everything on the board and ate family style. It was all delicious! My favorites were the seared ahi tuna, the braised greens, braised short ribs, Brussel sprouts, roasted beets and avocado salad. Others also raved about the ravioli and Mac-n-cheese. Seriously everything was delicious. Hope to come back when I return to Raleigh. Abs it was very affordable

Wow! When I got there the place was packed with only our reservation booth and about 4 other small tables at 8:15 on a Monday night and stayed that way until we left around 9:55. The atmosphere is unique with everything ordered from the chalk board menus (that change regularly). The waitress was extremely friendly and shared all of her favorites as she walked us thru the current menu. The food was delicious. The drinks were a little smaller than I expected and I'll likely get a glass of red wine should I return (it's a 35-40 min drive from home so not a quick go-to spot). the food photos will speak for themselves. But everything was really tasty!

Food was fantastic. Granddaughter said the mac and cheese was off the charts. I agree! Definitely a must for downtown Raleigh dining! Service is a 10, too!

Fantastic trip to Poole's. There is a parking lot across the street from the restaurant - park here and they will validate your parking! Menu is on the walls like an old school diner. Everything we had was delicious but the half chicken was the standout. Food arrived quickly and service was great. Wish I lived in the area so I could visit again!

Stopped at this restaurant and it did not disappoint. If you're a vegetarian your options are really only salads or the butternut squash ravioli, but don't let this deter you from coming. The butternut squash ravioli was the best ravioli I've ever had. It was rich and creamy with the perfect mix of mushroom and sweetness from the squash. The marinated avocado salad was delicious as well. I don't usually like blue cheese but it was very mild in this dish. The people I was with ordered the pot pie which they said was great. The service was also great and everyone was extremely friendly. Would 100% recommend.

We enjoyed the crab doughnuts, beets, Mac and cheese along with cocktails and beers. The Mac and cheese was a little heavy for us so we'll probably sample more of the small plates in there future. The service was excellent.

Great mocktails and of course the food is amazing. Don't skip the palmetto cheese app. Our favorite restaurant in Raleigh!

The worst service I've ever experienced and we didn't get a chance to seat down to eat. The manager named Nikki practically told us as soon as we walked through the door she didn't want us there. All because we made two separate reservations for a party of 4. We were so shocked and appalled of the manager's attitude and her choice of words that we walked away feeling disrespected and discriminated against, considering we were a group of black people. We frequently eat at restaurants across the country and spend quite a bit of money, however Poole's restaurants and any of the Ashley Christensen's affiliated restaurants will never see a dime of any of our money. And we will ask our entire network of people not to support them as well. Hopefully Nikki can remember her owns restaurant's motto: KINDNESS Side note: when you filter these reviews by 1 star you will see other people expressing the same discriminatory and rude behavior. Run away and stay away from this place.

Always a pleasure to dine at Poole's. Our bartender Allen had great suggestions that lead into a top notch meal. Look forward to returning soon.

The service was excellent, food takes a while before coming out. The food is for sharing because it's a lot. Inside is not very luxurious, but the food is excellent. The menu changes quite often I would not see the menu off yawls photo, thinking all of those foods are still there as we went there and lots of the dishes we saw on yelp or not on the menu.

Nice surprise as our concert ended earlier.enjoyed great snacks and dessert. Definitely going. Back for dinner. Great service too. Think you

Delicious food; attentive, courteous, and prompt service; and delightful ambience every time I have visited!

Three scallops for $39? Dry fried catfish. I was super excited to try this place but massively overrated. The Macaroni au Gratin was good but the mains... overpriced.

AC's first restaurant...a must visit in Raleigh. It's a diner type restaurant where the menu is written on chalk boards around the restaurant and half the dining is countertop dining. The place does get busy and loud. The food is outstanding and what's especially impressive is how often the menu changes. I think the only item that never goes away is the famous Mac and cheese. I would recommend ordering a few appetizers, salads and veggies and maybe sharing an entree. Try to save room for dessert! It's hard to mention specific food items since the menu is always changing to focus on fresh local ingredients. Their bread (baguette) is worth ordering, as they spent years perfecting it. It's served with some really high quality butter that spreads like perfection.

Our visit didn't start well, however Alan (server) made up for it. when we arrived, the restraunt was empty and we were sat with the glare of the Sun in one if our eyes. I politely asked to move... they offered a high top table with the same issue. I declined, then they proceeded to offer us 2 bar seats ~ the 2 on the end where one seat is cut short with a shelf. mind you the poor server had to go and ask the manager each time, control an issue? So, we were specifically told to sit in the 2 inside seats where a small bar shelf effect your space. wow, There was nobody else seated in the 12 bar stool area, no one. I'm fact the restraunt was maybe filled a fourth. Alan was our server and he was fantastic! The food was spectacular, drinks as well. To the manager standing at the entry in charge of seating/ambiance, I hope you choose to put more effort into the comfort of your patrons in the future. *Note: directly after we moved management sat another couple ar the same original table. They stood up and left. Then management sat a 3rd group...needless to say the situation was comical.

Went back there, going 5 stars now, everything was wonderful. Started with a Sazerac, one of the best I've had. All the food items our friends and us ordered were fantastic. Cheese and onion tart, WOW, what a great flavor. They have a great bread service they charge for--its worth it! Beet salad was very delicious, even to our friend who hates beets! Short ribs, tasty and tender. Chicken, juicy with a nicely flavored sauce. Mac and cheese is always spectacular. Chicken cake for desert, very, very good.

I visited while in town for a conference. I made a reservation online for one and was sat at the diner bar with stools. If you need back support you might want to call for a reservation. I ordered the Royale which is only available on Sundays. Its like an open faced giant meatball with melted cheese and au jus. I wasn't over the moon with the Royale but maybe it would've been better if I could have shared it with someone. It was a lot for one person. I also ordered the NC corn which was delicious. The staff brought out a mini mac and cheese since I was from out of town. This was tasty and a very nice surprise! The service was amazing. The hostess wrote out several suggestions for restaurants for me to try while I'm in town. The prices were a little more than what I was anticipating but everything had good flavor.

Be mindful of the pay-to-park. I was ticketed for parking at this restaurant while I dined. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd have to pay to park at a business I was enjoying. The Mac and cheese was good but was the most expensive I will ever have after the ticket.