Poole's

The original Poole’s Pie Shop opened its doors in 1945, becoming one of the first dining destinations in Raleigh. In 2007, Chef Ashley Christensen lovingly restored the bones of the original restaurant, including the iconic double horseshoe bar and red leather banquettes. Her menu, hand-written on oversized blackboards, featured comfort food classics elevated by fresh local ingredients. Seventeen years later—with two James Beard Awards in tow—Poole’s has fully returned to its role as a Raleigh classic, a restaurant as essential as it is beloved by the locals and visitors who queue up for its modern Southern cooking in a nostalgic setting.