Peak City Grill & Bar - A Tasteful Splurge in Cary/Apex

When Steve Adams decided to open Peak City Grill & Bar in downtown historic Apex, he was confident that people in Apex and Cary were willing to spend money to get fine food and drink. He was right. The restaurant has a strong, local following, as well as steady traffic from as far away as Chapel Hill, Durham and North Raleigh.

Adams attributes his success to positive word of mouth advertising and what he likes to call the “Cheers” effect – “Where everybody knows your name.” Customers are greeted like family and their suggestions are taken seriously. Recommend a dish and you may just see it on the menu next time you visit.

Adams wisely preserved and restored much of the interior, from the tin ceiling to the brick walls, giving warmth to the setting and a sense of history. Snuggle up in a cozy booth crafted from 100-year-old church pews purchased from a church in Warrenton, which have been sanded and stained in a warm paprika.

Chef Franz Propst, formerly Executive Chef at Fosters in Cameron Village, has designed an eclectic menu that riffs at times on Asian, Italian and Deep South. The appetizer selection is refreshingly unique, with everything from homemade potato chips with crumbled bleu cheese, sweet red pepper jelly and gorgonzola sauce, to crispy fried chicken livers with red onion marmalade and Tabasco aioli. The Asian influence is felt in the “Black & White” Carolina rock shrimp, referring to the black and white sesame seeds that coat the shrimp; the dish is served with sweet chili sauce and Asian rice noodles.

The double-cut stuffed veal chop, bursting with proscuitto, basil and mozzarella, is served atop creamy polenta with a mushroom Marsala demi glace. The pan-seared Wahoo fillet pays tribute to the south, with its accompaniment of hopping john, collards and country ham jus.

Steak lovers can personalize their entrée; the steak comes with your choice of four rubs and crusts and six sauces. All steaks are topped with the Grill’s signature compound butter.

The extensive granite bar features authentic cocktails, including the once fashionable Sidecar and Brandy Alexander, which appeal to the older set as well as retro lovers. From well over 120 wines on the wine list (many available by the glass) to rotating micro brew beers--the bar is a dynamic feature of the Peak City experience.