Peak City Grill & Bar, Apex, NC

The Peak City Grill and Bar is located at 126 N. Salem Street, Apex, NC, in Historic Downtown Apex. Just next door to Fire Station One. Parking is provided by the owner between the restaurant and fire station. Don't park in this lot to go to other restaurants and shops or risk a glare and comment from the owner. Contact the restaurant for reservations or availability at 919-303-8001.

If you are looking for a high-end steak style restaurant in the immediate area this is it. Offers a variety of sandwiches and full course meals and a full service bar. The site was a local downtown hardware store in the early 1900s and was renovated by the current owner to open the restaurant.

The menu covers a broad choice of food and varies somewhat to reflect the current season. Expect a selection of steaks, fish, seafood full course dinners and sandwiches of all types. Enjoy the bar with friends or go for the full dining experience. Prices reflect the diverse foods offered and dining for two will generally run in the $50-60 range or higher with drinks.

The food is very good and service generally what you would expect in a similar restaurant. Be prepared for occasional blasting of train horns since the site is only a hundred feet from the tracks. Surrounded by shops and businesses in the historic downtown district dating back to the 1870s era when Apex was a train centric rural community.

The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot is a truly unique dining experience. Upon arrival you will be greeted by the hostess and taken to your private table for two or a larger table if you are having a party. Your waiter/waitress arrives quickly with a cheerful greeting and describes the various choices for dining. Selections range from a simple cheese fondue and dessert to full four course dinners with a variety of meats and seafood along with fruits and breads, followed by a special fondue dessert. Vegetarian selections are also offered.

In their own words "Fondue is a fun and interactive dining experience - and for more than three decades, The Melting Pot has defined the niche across the American dining scene."


A typical four course "fondue feast" meal would include your choice of fondue cooking mixes, beverages including wine, mixed drinks and/or other beverages, a selection of fruits and breads followed by a tray of meats or veggies followed by fondue dessert. A typical loaded selection would include all of the following:

Filet Mignon Medallion
Balsamic-Marinated Sirloin
Garlic and Herb Chicken
Citrus Pork Tenderloin
White Shrimp
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Roasted Red Pepper Rigatoni
Fresh Vegetables

At The Melting Pot, fondue truly becomes a memorable four-course dining experience where patrons can dip into something different - and discover all the ingredients for a unique dining experience including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service, fine wines and signature fondue dinners.

Plan on spending from $30 to $100 for two depending on how hungry you are. Make reservations in advance time since the restaurant is always crowded!

The Hungry Farmer - Clinton, North Carolina

For some of the best seafood and country cooking around take a short drive to Clinton, NC, and check out The Hungry Farmer. Fresh shrimp, oysters, scallops and additional seafood selections are always available along with steaks and chicken.

This has long been a favorite meeting spot in the Clinton area. Don't be surprised if a local farmer walks over and strikes up a conversation while you are dining. Newly renovated due to a fire in 2006, the small secluded country restaurant is located between the corn and tobacco fields at 2474 Isaac Weeks Road. Look for a red brick building that looks like a country house by the side of the road. Be sure to take along your NC map!

Some of the favorites are:

Baby shrimp, hush puppies, 2 sides - $7.50, 9.00
Sea scallops, hush puppies, 2 sides - $9.00, 11.00
Pan broiled flounder, hush puppies, 2 sides - $9.00, 11.00
Hamburger steak with peppers and onions, 2 sides - $6.50
Home made chicken pastry, 2 sides (Sunday only)

Location:

2474 Isaac Weeks Road, Clinton, NC

Hours:

Thursday - Saturday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday Lunch - 11:20 AM - 2:30 PM

Telephone:

910 533-3220

Head on over and satisfy your appetite!

Ruth's Chris - Cary NC

What a treat! We bought ourselves a Ruth's Chris gift certificate some time back and kept it for a special occasion. On our recent anniversary we decided to check the restaurant out.

We highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion. The food is outstanding and service is right on target for a fine dining establishment!

Here's how their website describes their fare...

Welcome to Ruth's Chris Steak House. When you visit Ruth's Chris, you soon understand that this is no ordinary restaurant. From the U.S. Prime steaks, broiled to perfection at 1800 degrees, to the expertly executed seafood, New Orleans-inspired appetizers, unforgettable desserts and award winning wine list, this is a steakhouse to which others aspire. We invite you to explore our website. Take your time to get to know us. Visit the site often to make online reservations and order Ruth's Chris Gift Cards for family and friends, clients and colleagues. Follow the sizzle.

We were greeted at the door and our coats were immediately taken to the coat room. Next, we were escorted by the hostess to a small dining area with a half dozen tables and seated. Since this was our first visit we didn't notice one of the napkins rolled around the silverware was black. We later discovered this was a signal to the waiter.

For dinner my wife chose a fillet and I selected a ribeye steak. As you can imagine, the steaks were cooked to perfection and lived up to the reputation of the restaurant. Ruth's Chris food is truly a step above similar offerings at other fine establishments.

After dinner we ordered coffee and asked for the dessert menu and waited patiently for the waiter to return. The coffee arrived quickly and we were looking forward to seeing the list of desserts we had seen occasionally passing our table on a sample tray. Minutes later we realized he had not returned and started looking around for him. Suddenly he arrived with a healthy slice-for-two of dark chocolate cake covered with dark chocolate icing and sprinkled with little chocolate drop morsels. Wow! To our surprise this treat was provided by the restaurant for our anniversary dessert!

Needless to say, dining at Ruth's Chris was a grand experience and we now look forward to planning another visit on a special occasion to have dinner prepared to perfection and enjoy royal treatment!