UPDATE: Word is they open at 5 pm TODAY, Tuesday, Aug. 16th.
Chef Ashley Christensen of Raleigh's Poole's Diner plans to open her latest restaurant this week. At an invite-only event Friday at Beasley's Chicken + Honey, Christensen said she planned to open as early as TOMORROW, Tuesday, Aug. 16. So you might want to swing by the corner of South Wilmington and East Martin streets in downtown Raleigh to see if that has come true. (Disclaimer: Restaurant openings can be delayed. So be patient.)
Christensen added that she hoped to open Chuck's, the burger joint next door, about two weeks later and Fox Liquor Bar, the basement bar, during the weekend of the Hopscotch Music Festival from Sept. 8-11.
I attended Friday's menu tasting event. The fried chicken was moist and juicy. The macaroni-and-cheese was divine. It reminded me of potatoes Dauphinoise. There also was fresh sliced tomatoes, delicious collards and potato salad. Although I couldn't taste them, the desserts looked interesting. I'm so ready to go back again.
[Ethical disclaimer: The N&O requires me to pay for my food. I cannot accept free food at restaurants. So my technique when chefs I know send out free food and with this buffet of free food is to add money to the tip. We were charged a little more than $6 for my husband's beer and my tea. I added a $20 tip.]
