I live in Raleigh & was curious to try this restaurant which has been mentioned in Gourmet magazine. We went on a Saturday night around 7:30 which might have been the first mistake: the place was packed to the gills and headache-inducing loud. (And loud restaurants don't usually bother me). The hostess seemed mostly to be "working" somewhere in the... more

I went to eat with 5 other people and all of us seemed to agree. The atmosphere was pretentious and the food was quite disappointing for the price of each item. None of the dishes were extraordinary like the pricing would indicate. With the price paid for our meal, we would have expected to receive better than average service. Unfortunately,... more

I highly recommend for anyone to try Poole's Diner. The wait is a pretty long time, but it is very worth the wait! The food was some of the best that I have ever had and I am a very picky eater. I ordered the pimento cheese appetizer which was out of this world, the 10 oz Royale for my... more

Wow. Would I recommend this place? Yes, once, as long as you know you are paying a premium for it. One entree (fancy hamburger) three sides (french fries ($8!), mac and cheese (best stuff), and squash) and 3 beers for $70, including tax and tip. While everything was great, I don't know if it was worth $70. A conundrum. Nice... more

My husband and I enjoyed this place so much we went a second time in the same weekend. We were impressed with the creative dishes and eclectic scene. The mac & cheese is fantastic! This restaurant attracts ALL types of people. The menu is written on chalk boards. Seating is very cozy and you might even have a conversation with... more

This is a great restaurant if you would enjoy spending $85 (tip included) for a small portion of bib lettuce to start, and an entree of 3 medium scallops with a tablespoon of vegetables, no dessert. By the way, did I mention $3 for bread and a sediment ladened glass of wine? The food tasted great, what little there was... more

it was our 1st visit - won't be our last. yes, it's loud but it really feels alive and vibrant. ashley's food is great. more

Poole’s is pretty small and it was packed on our outing. Not a place to go if you are in a hurry, but the food is probably some of the best in Raleigh and definitely worth the wait. Everyone in our group enjoyed everything served. Diner atmosphere is really unique as well, with the menus written on chalk boards. Poole’s... more

The acoustics (maybe the tin ceiling) make the restaurant really loud. We had to yell at our table of 4. It took a long time to get seated due to the crowd and their no reservation policy. The food came out very slowly and all mixed up as was said in a previous review. It wasn't by any means special... more