APEX, N.C. — No matter what your craving, you can have a great meal in the Peak City without paying peak prices.
Start on Salem Street, the main drag anchored by two of the top choices.
Anna's Pizzeria makes dough worth the drive from anywhere in the Triangle. This top-notch, casual Italian place gets so crowded on weekends that takeout is served from a side entrance. In addition to creatively-topped pizza pies – bacon and tomato and chicken Caesar are two choices – you can get calzone, garlic knots and pasta specialties. Anna's has a second location in Fuquay-Varina.
At the opposite end of the street and the spectrum is Apex's best destination restaurant,
Peak City Grill & Bar. There you will find inspired daily lunch and dinner specials – a recent feature was honey Sriracha glazed pork tacos – and live musical entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. The menu is so varied – from lamb, boar and grilled-to-order steaks and chops to trout and meatless options – that there is something sure to please ever palate.
Peak City Grill is closed on Sundays with the occasional brunch.
The other date-night option in Apex is Daniel's, where a dark and cozy dining room serves up fresh sauces and pasta. Here, too, are hand-tossed pizzas, but Daniel's has a more up-market ambition. Choose from standard cheese or lobster ravioli or get a kick from the Southwest mixture of beans, corn and cheese served with black bean salsa.
And finally, authentic, inexpensive Mexican food is where Apex has an edge over other local communities.
Indulge as early as 7 a.m. on weekdays for the Mesa Fresca drive-through breakfast. Burritos bursting with egg, meat and cheese come paired with hashbrowns and a soda for less than $5. Dinner burritos start at $4.50!
Mesa Fresca also has tacos, quesadillas and some twists on the standard burgers and hot dogs. You are guaranteed to fill up without emptying your wallet.
By dinner time, the parking lot at unassuming
Tacos Mexico is packed with fans who know better than to judge by the blocky exterior. Inside, the dining room is crowded with Spanish speakers, a sure sign of authenticity.
Tuck in to tacos, tortas, fajitas and a long list of especialidades that range from the "Speedy Gonzales," a quick lunch of taco, enchilada, rice and beans, to the spicy 7-seafood soup.
