Everyone must come here! The service was amazing. Our server was wonderful and helped guide us with options since it was our first visit.
We started with the pimento cheese, and it was delicious, but I feel like having it with the French bread crouton was good… but another option could have been better.
We then went with the butternut squash ravioli and the hanger steak. These dishes were delicious, but the star of the show was really the mac & cheese. I have never had mac & cheese like this in my life. It is the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever eaten. I have children, so I feel like I’ve eaten every mac & cheese at every restaurant that we’ve ever gone to, in some form or fashion. Yes, I am saying that I am a mac & cheese expert and this one takes the cake!
North Carolina Horticulturist
+5
I have been a fan of Poole’s since the day it opened and I am lucky to have had some amazing experiences there over the years. Last night we took my in-laws to eat when they came to town, and it was absolutely exceptional. So good, that I decided to write my first hometown restaurant review.
Shannon, our server, was fantastic. She gave us time to talk and enjoy a cocktail before ordering, and she paid close attention to our cadence and paced our order out like clockwork.
The food was some of the best I have eaten in awhile, and the best meal I’ve had at Poole’s in recent memory. It’s always good, but this was truly amazing. The pimento cheese started us off, then the onion, Benton’s bacon, and Gruyère tart sent us into orbit. The blistered peppers were made with “scotts bonnet” peppers if I recall, not the raging “scotch bonnet”. With just a slight amount of heat that fades quickly, the taste paired perfectly with the white acre pea hummus.
We shared the marinated avocado, bibb lettuce, and crudités salad. The latter was new for me and had a very nice contrast of tonnato and sardines with crudités over toasted dark bread. It was a mouthful of goodness and had sharply contrasting elements of clean pure vegetal and bold umami.
The mains and sides were fantastic. My coffee rubbed pork loin was served over a bed of succotash inspired peas, tomatoes, and pork in a nice broth. I crushed it. The marinated roast chicken had perfect skin texture for those who like to start on the outside as I do. The bird was moist and tender throughout and the portion was hearty enough to share and take home leftovers. The butternut squash ravioli was so good that my mother in law actually finished her entree for what might have been the first time since I have known her. The Mac was of course a rockstar, the mushroom
medley was savory and sumptuous, the fried potato salad carried its mustard dressing perfectly, and the braised garlicky greens balanced it all out.
We shared the 3 options from the dessert menu, and we all had a favorite. I favored the apple crisp with peanut putter ice cream, but the panna cota and the chocolate ganache cake were both epic.
It was truly a perfect night of dining out with what I’d call pre-pandemic hospitality and service. This team always rocks, but things are really dialed in at Poole’s Diner right now!
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I’ve heard so much h about Poole’s diner, esp their mac’n cheese. So, on date night with my mom, we decided to finally give it a try.
I’m scoring Poole’s a 4 mostly because of the atmosphere and the wait staff. When I think of “diner”, something else comes to mind and this place def was not it…it was better as far as ascetics go.
My food, enh, I could take or leave it. I wanted the flank steak but was informed that they only served it medium rare or medium. I am not one for red/ bloody meat, so I passed and went with the Roastlilly Half Chicken. My mom ordered the Pan-Seared Flounder. Oh, and we got the Mac as well. It was a lot of food and we definitely had leftovers. My mom said the flounder tasted better than it looked, but she was put off by the sea of green that the flounder laid upon. The chicken, I heard is an original to the restaurant … I’ll just leave that alone.
The wait staff was very attentive and extremely helpful. Our waitress, Danielle, was really nice as well.
Things no one told me:
-No sweet tea, but you can get hot tea
-Soda/pop is by the can
-No Apple Pay but very accommodating
All in all, I think it’s a great spot but we probably won’t return.
Man, was this place an absolute treat! During a recent business trip to Raleigh, my colleague said we had to check out Poole's, and I'm so thankful we did. We enjoyed much of their menu during our visit. Favorites included the cobbler, the corn dish, and the watermelon salad. If you're a foodie, this place is an absolute must!
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I'm pretty sure one of my dreams of a throwback heaven was designed like POOLE'S. The diner has the classic retro look still in lock and the close atmosphere of seating gives that amazing close community vibe we've grown to take for granted. The giant overhead chalk board has all the drinks listed from beer wine and cocktails! It was hard to see from the far end of the restaurant with it being dimly lit but nothing a quick walk up to the front won't fix.
The staff is all in sync with helping make sure you have an amazing experience from start to finish. Every time any worker passed by us they refilled, cleared, prepped or brought us out something. Made us feel like royalty. They also knew what to recommend for dietary restrictions and drink pairings.
It probably goes without saying but the food was immaculate. I can't remember how often theh said the menu rotates but it's worth coming back. Mac N cheese is ungodly good. Crispy top layer and flavorful bottom. The romaine salad with aged parmesano cheese and homemade dressing had me drooling. I also got the half chicken and mash and barely finished my plate (so filling). I had never seen pork cheeks and it was delicious to sample from my friends plate.
Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town!
I've been here twice and both times we ordered a ton of food, and both times there wasn't anything we ordered that wasn't excellent. Flavors are all on point, some of my favorites being the mac and cheese and the braised short rib. Food is 4.5 stars, service 4, atmosphere 3. The walls lack decor which I think would help add to soundproofing-- the place is very loud when filled, reverb off the walls. Only other complain is that baguette needs to be ordered rather than brought to the table for free, which I wouldn't mind if it was actually good (it's not, only the very center of each peice is soft, the rest being over-crisped dust). Overall this place is probably closer 4 star, but given Raleigh isn't loaded with other places where the food is great across the whole menu, I'll bump it up to a 5.
Excellent meal all around. Had the lump crab on crushed fava beans with fried saltines as an appetizer, which was a larger portion than expected. Shared the ravioli, braised carrots and greens for dinner. All was delectable and filling for 2 hungry travelers/adventurers. Finished with 2 desserts— the chocolate cake with malted ice cream and the peanut butter banana tart— fantastic!!
Awesome food and experience. It had been a long time since being here and it's as good as ever.
It was a cold Friday Night. We had not been to Poole’s diner in ages. Made reservations a few weeks in advance. Upon arrival we couldn’t find parking, but luckily they have their own lot where they validate for up to 3.5 hours.
When we came in were sat at the bar in the front.
They have a huge list of beer and wine. Their cocktail selection is small. I got the old fashioned. Which was not great, they put a orange slice inside.
The food itself is amazing. They have a good menu with some rotating items. We got caviar to start which was very tasty. Almost like smoked fished dip.
Their short ribs are very juicy and tender. And to top it off we got the famous Mac and Cheese. It is quite large for 2 people. So plan on taking it home. I do wish they offered a smaller bowl of it.
Overall Poole’s is a great restaurant. I highly recommend going here, just be sure you have reservations.
Very cool place -old diner setup with original counter and stools. Food is original recipes and excellent. The service was outstanding. This was our second visit in 10 months and the menu items change a bit which is great. We had green Italian raviolies with baguette and a nice hazy IPA beer. I would rate it. 10 out of 10.
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