Acclaimed Raleigh restaurant Poole’s Diner is expanding. Here are the details.
The famous double horseshoe bar isn’t going anywhere, but major changes are in the works at Poole’s Diner.
The flagship restaurant of Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen plans to shift its main dining room next door into the former Poole’side Pies.
Christensen announced the move Friday in a social media post.
“I have to tell you all, this is a dream come true for me as a chef, and as an employer,” Christensen said in the post. “I am SO proud of all that this scrappy little diner has achieved and experienced in the last 16 years (the building, our #badass team, our community), and now it’s time (to) open this baby up full speed. I hold this opportunity (and all of the responsibility that comes with it), very very high. I’ve never been prouder or more excited to be a business owner, and most importantly an employer, in Downtown Raleigh NC.”
Poole’s Diner is possibly Raleigh’s most famous restaurant. The space dates back to the 1950s, and under Christensen has been the catalyst for Raleigh’s modern culinary scene since opening in 2007. Serving a seasonally changing menu written in chalk each night, Poole’s version of the modern Southern diner has earned two James Beard awards for Christensen, including Outstanding Chef in 2019.
Christensen closed Poole’side Pies, her Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria, at the end of 2023 after a four year run that was largely impacted by the COVID pandemic. At the time of the closing, Christensen said a new concept would move into the space, which her hospitality group AC Restaurants purchased in 2018.
Expanding into Poole’side Pies will mean a larger dining room for the famously tight Poole’s Diner. It will also mean a larger kitchen and Christensen plans to use the Poole’side pizza ovens for wood-fire cooking.
Poole’s Diner plans to bring back its popular weekend brunch, which has been suspended since the pandemic. The restaurant will also expand to seven days a week.
This story was originally published January 26, 2024 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Acclaimed Raleigh restaurant Poole’s Diner is expanding. Here are the details.."
