Acclaimed Poole’s Diner in Raleigh Announces Exciting Expansion
TL/DR –
Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen is expanding her flagship restaurant, Poole’s Diner, into the space of the former Poole’side Pies in Raleigh. The expansion will provide a larger dining room and kitchen, with the original Poole’s Diner space closing in March for renovations before reopening in the spring. The popular weekend brunch will be returning after being suspended due to the pandemic, and the restaurant will expand to seven days a week.
Ashley Christensen Announces Expansion of Poole’s Diner in Downtown Raleigh
Renowned chef Ashley Christensen is expanding her flagship restaurant, Poole’s Diner, in Downtown Raleigh. The expansion plan includes moving the main dining room into the former Poole’side Pies, a next-door space formerly occupied by her Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria. The announcement was made through a heartfelt social media post by the James Beard award-winning chef.
Christensen expressed immense joy and pride regarding the expansion, stating that it’s a dream come true and an exciting step forward for the business. She also expressed her passion about being a business owner and employer in Downtown Raleigh.
Poole’s Diner, established in the 1950s, is possibly Raleigh’s most famous restaurant. It has been a pivotal part of Raleigh’s modern culinary scene since it was reopened by Christensen in 2007. The diner’s innovative take on the modern Southern diner has fetched Christensen two James Beard awards, including Outstanding Chef in 2019.
Christensen closed Poole’side Pies, at the end of 2023, after a four-year run heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic. At the time of the closure, Christensen mentioned a new concept would move into the space, which was purchased by her hospitality group, AC Restaurants, in 2018. Find more information in this News Observer article.
The expansion will provide a larger dining room for the famously compact Poole’s Diner, along with a larger kitchen. Christensen also plans to use the pizza ovens from Poole’side Pies for wood-fire cooking. The original Poole’s Diner space will undergo renovations starting in March, reopening later in the spring with a somewhat different role.
As an added bonus for patrons, Poole’s Diner plans to bring back its popular weekend brunch, which had been suspended due to the pandemic. Furthermore, the restaurant will extend its operations to seven days a week.
—
Read More US News; North Carolina News