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Poole's Diner, Raleigh, NC

Poole's Diner

4.8 (377)
$31 to $50
American
428 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Make a booking

A photo of Poole's Diner restaurant

Poole's Diner

4.8
$31 to $50
American
Raleigh

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 38 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
Poole’s is a modern diner with reimagined comfort food. It originally opened as Poole’s Pie Shop in 1945, and since then has been a staple of Raleigh's food scene where generations of locals have gathered to dine, celebrate, and rub elbows.

Since 2007, Poole’s has been under the stewardship of chef Ashley Christensen and her team, who have honored the spirit of the diner’s comfort food roots while elevating the culinary experience with an emphasis on seasonal, locally produced ingredients and attention to detail. The dedication to warm hospitality, exceptional flavors, and creative cooking has earned her two James Beard Foundation awards.

Poole’s has grown over the years, expanding from the original footprint at 426 S. McDowell into the building next door. Guests can enjoy dinner seven nights a week at the original Double Horseshoe counter or the Main Dining Room. For a quick drink or snack, the lounge is the perfect place.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (919) 832-4477
  • Website
    http://www.poolesdowntowndiner.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ashley Christensen
  • Private party facilities
    Host your next private event in one of Raleigh's most iconic and beloved spaces! Our semi-private dining room is located in the original Poole's space and seats up to 46 guests.
  • Private party contact
    Jessie Casey - Senior Sales Manager: (919) 601-8990

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

This menu from Poole's Diner.

View menu on restaurant's website

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Poole's Diner.

4.8

4.8
(377)
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    American

  • Raleigh

    Innovative

  • Raleigh

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Poole's Diner is a standout dining destination in Raleigh, offering a "delicious and perfect meal" experience. Renowned for its "amazing service," the restaurant boasts a dynamic seasonal menu featuring farm-to-table ingredients. Guests rave about the "macaroni au gratin" and "tomato pie," while the vibrant atmosphere and attentive staff make each visit memorable.
377 Reviews

  1. STEPHEN

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and the service were wonderful. Great atmosphere and experience

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  2. Ken

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the restaurant. Long time clients. Service this last time was uncharacteristically poor, and no communication about what was going on a la saying sorry for the wait, or just checked and it will be right out, or whatever. Happened with drinks, main course and drink reorder.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Donald

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was excellent, as always. We had the mussels and chicken liver pate and shared the pickle juice Caesar salad. Loved every bite of everything. Wine is on the expensive side. Service by Cal was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Ron

    New York City64 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious rainbow trout, mac and cheese and bananas foster. Service excellent

    Is this helpful?

  5. John Gold

    Chicago / Illinois128 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great night at Poole’s! Hanna for her graciousness and Cate for a terrific table service. Onion Tart a must starter and anything you choice afterwards will be a home run. Nobody does vegetables better than the Poole’s kitchen.

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  6. Elizabeth

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was fantastic and the service was excellent! Will definitely visit again.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Roseanney Gold

    Los Angeles17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Vey good service and very good macaroni au gratin with crispy fried cheesy top, good wagyu burger (Sunday only) and broccolini . Everything was very flavorful and well portioned. Macaroni was really shared among 3 people and Wagyu burger plenty for 2 to share if they are not terribly hungry. Food service took awhile for a busy Sunday evening but our server was very attentive. Also had a delicious espresso martini .

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  8. Susan

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful evening. Service was impeccable and so was the food!

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  9. James

    Charlotte1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Absolutely amazing food, beverage and ambiance. Very suprised that this restaurant is only Michelin recommended and not have a least one star. The menu rotating with the seasons is delightful especially knowing that alot of their ingredients are farm to fork as that doesn't exist much out here. As for the service; that was the best part. Our server, Sarah Michael was phenomenal and always moving, best service I've ever received and had amazing knowledge of the menu and everything that goes into it all. I definitely and easily will come back for small plates and even large dinners. It was all worth it.

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  10. Nick Gold

    Oklahoma1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Truly incredible. I was so impressed!! What a well thought out space too

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (919) 832-4477
  • Website
    http://www.poolesdowntowndiner.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ashley Christensen
  • Private party facilities
    Host your next private event in one of Raleigh's most iconic and beloved spaces! Our semi-private dining room is located in the original Poole's space and seats up to 46 guests.
  • Private party contact
    Jessie Casey - Senior Sales Manager: (919) 601-8990

FAQs

Yes, many guests recommend Poole's for date night and anniversaries, praising attentive service, a curated wine list, and a warm, celebratory atmosphere.

Poole’s blends nostalgic diner charm with an elevated dining room: the original Double Horseshoe counter, the Main Dining Room, and a lounge each offer a different feel, and guests call the overall vibe cozy, nostalgic, and current.

Smart casual is the guide, think polished but relaxed; many guests treat Poole’s as a date-night or anniversary spot, so a neat, slightly dressed-up look fits right in.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
  4. Raleigh
  5. Raleigh

Make a booking

A photo of Poole's Diner restaurant

Poole's Diner

4.8
$31 to $50
American
Raleigh

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 38 times today
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