Picture a jazz lounge mixed with a dimly-lit retro diner, complete with red leather banquettes and a handwritten chalkboard menu. That’s Poole’s Diner, and it’s one of the best and most famous restaurants in Raleigh. Grab one of those booths for a double date or to impress the in-laws, and always order the gooey macaroni au gratin and any iteration of the restaurant’s steamed mussels. The entrees really set Poole’s apart, including dishes like a roasted snapper with summer squash, cherry tomatoes, and a basil-driven cold pistou sauce.

photo credit: Kaitlyn Goalen