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Poole’s Diner Up For Sale, But Still Serving Good Food

By chris on January 6, 2007

My wife and I had dinner at Poole’s Diner a couple of nights ago for the first time since the departure of manager Liz Masnik (now the owner of The Borough) some time ago.  We had heard several negative things just after that period of change for the restaurant so it kinda fell off our list for a while.  Luckily, we decided to give it another chance…

To our surprise, we were greeted with a “For Sale” sign in the window of the restaurant.  Fortunately, they were still open and serving their full menu.  We talked to our server about the sign and apparently they had just received their first offer that day.  Those particular potential buyers would intend to keep the restaurant and menu the same, which would be a good thing in my opinion.  If the new owners can just keep things going until mid-2008 (when the Convention Center construction is scheduled to be complete) I think that location will at the very least return to it’s previous viability, and more likely become quite successful.

Anyway, we very much enjoyed our dinner.  They still have their Red Pepper Lime Soup which is far and away the absolute best soup I have ever had.  My mouth is watering as I write this and I am tempted to hop in the car and go get a bowl of it right now (they serve food late on the weekends).  They also still have the Martha Stewart salad, which my wife and I love to share.  Its combination of goat cheese, walnuts, and cranberries is so tasty and well constructed.

Usually for my meal I get the Ann Landers Meatloaf, but this time I went for the Egg and Cheese Sandwich (one of my guilty pleasures in life) which was very good.  Sure, I know this is an easy one to make, but still… very good.  My wife had her usual Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich was as wonderful as usual (I schmoozed her into letting me have a bite or two).

Service was attentive, but since there were only a few folks eating there at the time, I cannot say if they really have that part managed or not.  But, our experience was very good overall and my fingers are going to stay crossed that whoever buys the place doesn’t try to change things up too terribly much.  We need to keep places that have that kind of character mixed with consistently good food.

Those of you who had a bad experience during the transition need to give it another chance.  Those of you who haven’t tried it, give it a whirl.  There really aren’t many other places like it in our wonderful city.  Enjoy!

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  • KRock
    VERTIGO IS THE PEOPLE.
    As everyone does, a BAR/DINER/HOME has good days and bad.
    EVEN some of the Diner's patrons have BAD days.
    Trust if you didn't like the service...you weren't supposed to.
    VERTIGO is my family. I know I'll be back for cocktails regardless of ownership. There is a piece of me that "belongs" at the Vertigo like nowhere else in town. I can sit at the left tit and reminisce:*dancing to Bowie & Queen to summons customers to the empty building *Thursday night limbo contests & lost bets re:the number of live after 5 patrons to leave their coolers *j passing out in the men's room *balls to the bar..anyone??? *what ever happened to the foliage pages? (miss you).
    See you there WHENEVER I can
  • Cobra
    Here's to hoping Ashley won't turn this place into another over-priced yuppiefest like Vin and Raleigh Times (yeah, yeah, they're just fantastic, I know). Old school Vertigo fans, who wouldn't bring their kids to a BAR, know what I'm talking about. If they rip out the counter there, can you imagine a worse move in a place with an existing asset as fantastic as that?
    I hate to see it go! It was my favorite bar here. First the old Stingray, now this.
    R.I.P. Vertigo
  • Chad Foley
    foliage missing the hobart.
    still soft underneath
    stare through air eyes spangle lux one
    sitting still moving still staring outlooking
    sleep peels lips never spill
    leaves never leave
    thank googulimoogily.
    Swearword swordfisticuffs
    that soup is just heavy cream and pucacious obchucktion when I smell roses
    lime juice that is.
    qotsa, verbena, chocolate weasel, mother, duck in my pants, sweat box, $400/month - $70 bar tab, Tommy at burger king walking the drive through, Evan out of his element, Athena, ffwd, Michael J. Fox as Sous Chef, many things before me, no pot until we're closed, pretty girls leg up in the booth, puking on kim chee, Tool kinda sucks chris, but Styx rocks. richard's chicking pie, girls like it too (what a day that was), nipple rings on Ashley, letting Pierre beat me in arm wrestling, saving Kara my true love from riff raff on the street, Sean and I serving drunk at 10am brunch (top 5 regret of all time), nasty catfish quesadilla's, Todd in outer space somewhere in LA, Flaming Kessari cheese, Snowed in truck drivers eating $26 catfish and missing the late night menu w/ $6 bbq sandwiches by 5 min, learning how to tiny dice, knife skills, rice benchmarks, how to cut an onion, Wustoff, Jer grows up, scrubbies in the salad (only once), Ashley hiring 2 skinny james north raleigh freako, Theakstons, Mike, Heather Herring, Beckman et al, Patty, Helen, Amanda, Susan's baaad novels failures, John Edwards, ice storm chorizo saved my life, Perino, bad metal, Sneed scamming Chapel Hill wannabe DJ chicks, dropping love notes in Amanda's purse, did I say bad metal? Jim D. must have inherited too much money, Bud Light? rednecks in the kitchen, internet ideas years ahead of there time, too much booze to execute, "what's wrong with that dude", Kenneth requisite splits on bar, Kings got a liquor licsense, sh*t! Sweaty, EDD (Extra dirty dude), #10 cans, comradery like noneother, cliques, affairs, love, burnt biscuits. So young, so pure...
    Greased Lightening!
    Wella wella well
  • Lea
    It was closed this past Friday night.
    Even though our last several experiences there weren't good, I still hated to see it all dark. Sad. Here's hoping for a resurgence.
    - L
  • al
    Someone told me last night was the last night Poole's would be open.
  • k
    I've got a soft spot in my heart for Poole's for many reasons including good service (Hannah, Rush, Miranda and of course, Courtney), great food, and a gin & tonic poured and Joe Strummer cued up on the stereo every time I walked in. I haven't been lately due for a few reasons (nothing personal) but for well over a year, I've been a regular every Monday night with a group of friends and we were consistently well taken care of. I hope it survives the unending construction and new ownership as it reminds me all too well of another place dear to my heart: The Rathskeller on Hillsborough St. I worked there for almost 5 years (and spent many off duty hours), met my closest friends and husband and still miss it dearly (not the working there part!). The Rat got some bad inspections, too and then quickly vanished. There was talk of saving it but sadly nothing came of it. Hopefully Poole's will not have the same fate.
    My friends and I are forever thankful for the love and support they showed us "craft ladies."
  • sandstrom
    I love this place great food good people good times running a resturant is hard work you cant always having everything running smoothly at the same time.
  • Will Reynolds
    I have been a fan of Poole's since it opened. I started coming because they made great bourbon milkshakes and the rest of the food was always steller. The atmosphere and the attitude was always unique and never boring.
    I wasn't able to eat out much this past summer but the few times I came in during the "transition period" I found that the menu was constantly in flux. There were a few new items that showed up then disappeared. They were always very good though. I wish they still had those Rosemary queso fries...
    I hope the new owners will bring more consistency in the menu but overall this place has been and will continue to be one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh.
  • selmisha
    A great Raleigh spot with great food, excellent service and the best space in town. I used to go every Friday but I have not been able to make it out recently.. maybe this Friday. If there are new owners we may as well worry the hell out of Susan and Richard while we can :)
  • Randy
    Many people don't know the history, but here it is:
    In 1943 retired railroad worker, John Poole built Poole's Pie Shop at 426 S. McDowell St., Raleigh. During the Halcyon days of the 1950's he expanded the business and added a restaurant, calling it Poole's Luncheonette. The luncheonette closed in 1992. In 1993 Susan Goetcheus and Evan Lightner carefully renovated the building keeping much of the classic decor and opened Vertigo Diner. After 10 years the restaurant was in need of renovation and in 2004 Pooles Diner opened. This renovation returned the building much closer to a 1940's decor and created a menu to match.
    I love this place. Always have, I first went back when it was vertigo, and i still continue to go (although less frequently than I'd like). I feel like its suffering from the construction more than anything, and I hope this landmark lives on.
    The atmosphere is like no other that you can find in the city limits. And its the only place i know of where you can order a Sandwich and substitute the fries with a Salad without being charged anything extra.
    Give it a try.
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