Apex Restaurant Review - Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

June 9, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The New Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex!

Doherty's Irish Pub, Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Doherty’s Irish Pub, Apex- NC Triangle Dining

What can you say when you’ve got a local chain that opens up a second location? That’s the story with Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex. The original Doherty’s is located deep in Cary but I was sort of excited about the new location since it was much closer to work. And since I was impressed with Doherty’s #1, I couldn’t resist a visit to the new Doherty’s in Apex and it met all my expectations which is pretty good news…

Inside of Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Inside of Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

The new Doherty’s in Apex has a lot of similarities to the original which makes sense, why mess up a good formula? Located in a small strip plaza off of Apex Peakway, it’s got a very similar layout to the original. U-shaped bar in main room, casual booths and high-boys, side-room with more of a restaurant feel. Inside there is a pub-like feel if not as pronounced as say, the Hibernian.

Dining side-room at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Dining side-room at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

Sitting down we’re immediately greeted and have drink orders taken. The menu looks to be the same, my table mate orders up their popular famous fish and chips, I go with a brisket sandwich. I love Doherty’s Irish egg rolls but pass on the appetizer since it’s a quick lunch! Doherty’s in Apex has only been open a couple of months but it’s already got some customers which is great to see.

Brisket sandwich at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Brisket sandwich at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

It doesn’t take long for our food, maybe 10 minutes which is perfect for a quicker lunch service. My brisket sandwich is quite good: tender beef layered with onions, cheddar and horseradish sauce. Paired with some potato chips made in-house, yum! My friend fish and chips look wonderful, served in “newspaper” and with a side of beans, he pronounces it possibly the best fish and chips he’s ever had in his life, high praise. So it looks like the new Doherty’s in Apex hasn’t missed a beat when it comes to its food.

Fish and chips at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining — Fish and chips at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex- NC Triangle Dining

Over the course of the meal, our drinks are filled quickly and we get asked several times how our meal is. So I’m not sure if they might have sniffed out that I’m a blogger and Yelper but we got a lot of attention over lunch. Fact is, Doherty’s did a great job service-wise which I also experienced in Cary. So the magic formula for Doherty’s lives on in its Apex location. Above-average pub fare with excellent service in a slightly casual, Irish-pub like setting. For a lot of people that will work perfectly, just don’t expect the over the top Irish pub experience you might get in an old-school pub. And that’s plenty good for me if you’ve got your expectations in check. So congratulations Doherty’s on getting your new location up and running so well. Bon appetit and slainte…

Doherty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

5490 Apex Peakway

Apex, NC 27502

919.387.4100

Location on Google maps

June 22, 2012 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Skipper’s Fish Fry, Apex- Classic Fried Seafood and More

Skippers Fish Fry in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Here fishy-fishy-fishy… So I’m in Apex during the work-day and that craving hits for some fried seafood. Nothing like taking something totally healthy and making it really unhealthy but delicious, hello deep fryer! Skipper’s Fish Fry is a very casual quick-food seafood spot. Pull it out of the ocean, dip it in some batter and then the deep-fryer, it’s probably on Skipper’s menu. From fried flounder to shrimp, scallops to clam strips and more. It’s a counter order type place with no table service. My plate of large fried shrimp with slaw and fries was about $10.50 or so, and I wanted to see how it would compare to my fried seafood takeout favorite up on Capital Boulevard (Saltwater Seafood and Fry Shack).

Counter at Skippers Fish Fry in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Ten minutes later I’ve got a little cardboard tray full of well-browned fried shrimp and a nice heaping of fries along with some puppies. Out in the attached dining room there are mostly senior citizens enjoying their mid-day meal in a nautical motif space. Skipper’s does a nice job with their seafood, a medium thick, golden batter with some density.

The seafood is definitely fresh, portion sizes were about average which sorta surprises me. I’ve gotten used to big heaping platters of fried seafood and sides, that’s not the case here. The slaw was decent, very finely chopped and a bit sweet. What can I say but if you’re in the mood for some fried seafood, Skipper’s does a decent job. But I think you’ll get more food in most other places, which may be a good thing if you’re watching your health and waistline. Fried seafood is always pretty decent and that’s sort of what I think of Skipper’s: sorta decent.

Skipper’s Fish Fry

1001 East Williams Street

Apex, NC 27502

919.303.2400

Menu at Skipper’s Fish Fry

Location on Google Maps

Save

October 13, 2013 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

Hwy 55 Burgers in Apex for Beefy, Greasy Deliciousness!

Front of Hwy 55 in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Have you ever been hit by an overwhelming desire for a big ol’ greasy cheeseburger?! Well yeah, it’s not always the wisest feeling to cave into but sometimes ya gotta do it. Usually Five Guys in Cary would be my dealer of choice. A quick check on Yelp and it looks like there’s a Hwy 55 down the street in Apex. Previously known as Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers, the re-naming hasn’t changed the concept or food that much. So off to Hwy 55 we go, via Route 1 to a busy little strip in Apex that has quite a few interesting spots to eat at.

Counter at Hwy 55 in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

As soon as we step into Hwy 55 we’re greeted enthusiastically by the staff which is nice. The interior is all diner like in whites and chromes, stool seating by the main counter. A quick scan around the dining room and EVERY single person in there is a dude so yeah, I’m hoping they do a good burger! The menu at Hwy 55 is pretty simple: burgers, grill sandwiches, chicken tenders, cheesesteaks, probably not more than 20 or so items to choose from. Which is fine if they do it well! You can upgrade your sandwich with a drink, fries, specialty side (onion rings, salad, chili-cheese or gravy fries) or specialty drink (shakes, orangeade, lemonade) for anywhere from $2 – $5. I order up the John Boy & Billy BBQ burger along with some chili-cheese fries! It’s hard holding back when you’re eating at a place like this. Understand that the standard burger at Hwy 55 is over 1/3 of a pound and you know you’re going to be eating big!

Burger at Hwy 55 in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Ten minutes later our food comes out, I’ve got a nicely stacked burger and a side plate of fries. The burger is a solid piece of work: irregular patty (hand-formed) nicely grilled, well-melted American cheese along with some wavy bacon and an onion ring! The John Boy is tasty with a broad range of meat, crispy and cheesy on top of a soft bun. And it’s plenty of food, not sure how my friend Dennis downs a double without falling into food coma. The chili-cheese fries at Hwy 55 were also decent but the chili could have used a bit more heft and taste. Service was solid overall but they were probably a bit under-staffed for the busy lunch crowd.

Chili-cheese fries at Hwy 55 in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

So while it may be a chain, this Apex location of Hwy 55 does a very solid burger at a decent price (under $10 with a diet coke). I know there’s a burger renaissance happening in the Triangle but there’s nothing wrong with going non-frou-frou basic burgers. Apparently there used to be an Andy’s challenge which meant downing a 50 oz burger with 4 toppings, fries and drink but it’s no longer offered at this location. The owner told a funny story about some college kids who came in for the challenge but just didn’t quite finish, ending in an abrupt and messy dining room accident. And that’s a shame cause the burgers here are pretty darn good at Hwy 55, bon appetit!

Hwy 55 Burgers

802 Perry Road

Apex, NC 27502

919.303.3533

Hwy 55 menu

Location on Google maps

Save

February 9, 2013 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

First Take: Mamma Mia in Apex for Down-Home, Family Italian

Front of Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, thatsa Mamma Mia’s! Yeah, it’s a little cheesy but let’s face it, old-school Italian can walk that fine line between tasty and cheesy. And yes, Mamma Mia’s is an old-school, red sauce type of Italian place in a strip mall but it works just fine as a family-friendly Italian eatery for the locals. I’ve been waiting to try this place for a while but note, they no longer serve the lunch buffet. Inside Mamma Mia’s the place is a bit bare, just some green tiled floors, humble furniture and two partially divided dining rooms.

Dining room at Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

The lunch menu was really basic, from $6 – $10 with most of the dishes being some sort of basic pasta, sauce, baked or otherwise and a salad. I ordered up some baked lasagna but passed on the bread and salad given it’s holiday recovery time!

Pizza at Mamma Mia in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

The food takes about 10 minutes, my friend’s pizza comes out first and it looks decent. Pretty thin crust, nice smattering of melted cheese, a solid rendition of NY thin-crust pizza. My baked lasagna is a long and high slice of layered cheesy deliciousness! A rich meat sauce and I picked up some butter from probably the ricotta. The marinara sauce is decent here too. I have made quite a few lasagnas in my time and the version at Mamma Mia’s is very good. Service is good, courteous and attentive. While the inside of Mamma Mia isn’t much to speak of, the food here is decent. Especially for an area where you’re more likely to get bland chain restaurants so rock on Mamma Mia’s! Your name may be a bit cheesy but sometimes that’s a really good thing for pizza and lasagna, right?

Mamma Mia!

708 Laura Duncan Road

Apex, NC 27502

919.363.2228

Location on Google maps

Save

August 19, 2018 by Ron Wen 8 Comments

First Take: Classic Italian Eats in Apex at Daniel’s Restaurant

Front of Daniel's in Apex, NC Triangle Dining — Front of Daniel’s in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Italian is about as all-American as Mexican and Chinese food given the ethnic make-up of this country! Out on Route 55 in Apex down the road from Beaver Creek Commons is the hidden gem, Daniel’s Italian Restaurant. From the outside Daniel’s is a bit unassuming and sprawls. I’d have to guess that it used to be a smaller spot that just expanded over time due to popularity. Next to the front entrance is a small garden patio complete with bubbling fountain, I’m sure it would be great in nice weather with a glass of vino. Inside, Daniel’s is pretty old school with a dark muted interior, staff all dressed in black. The place was busy for a Tuesday lunch which is always a good sign, we grabbed a table near the end of the dining room.

Dining area at Daniel's in Apex, NC Triangle Dining — Dining area at Daniel’s in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Focaccia and marinara sauce at Daniel's in Apex, NC Triangle Dining — Focaccia and marinara sauce at Daniel’s in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

The lunch menu at Daniel’s has about 10 pasta choices, some pizzas and salads. Nothing too amazingly different in terms of pasta, most have the option of adding chicken or shrimp. I order up some arancini ($8) as a starter and then go with the Penne alla Casa (house penne, $10) which is tomato cream sauce with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. A basket of lovely focaccia is placed on the table with a small bowl of marinara sauce for dipping, yum! I’m sensing carbo overload, ETA one hour. The focaccia is decent but what makes it is the sauce. The marinara is bright and full of crushed tomato flavor. Shortly thereafter our plate of arancini comes out. Three well-browned risotto balls stuffed with cheese and pancetta. A nice version with some density and flavor, the pancetta is a nice addition. They’re also served with the same tasty marinara sauce underneath.

Arancini at Daniel's in Apex, NC Triangle Dining — Arancini at Daniel’s in Apex, NC Triangle Dining

Next my pasta dish comes out and it’s a large portion of al dente pasta with flecks of parsley, pieces of pungent sun-dried tomatoes, sauteed chicken and spinach. I don’t think Daniel’s does home-made pasta but they use a good-quality commercial version that’s cooked just right. Paired with the creamy sauce and tasty chicken and veggies, it’s an excellent meal and I save some to take home. Otherwise it would be lights out at work for the afternoon! Our server for the meal is a young lady named Jillian and she does an excellent job pacing the meal and checking in on us. She even notices when she’s late picking up our check due to a large party behind us which is very self-aware. So I have to say that service at Daniel’s seems excellent if this young lady is that well-trained!

All in all while I don’t always crave Italian, Daniel’s is a great choice if you’re in the hood. Pasta is usually always a sure thing but the food here takes it to an even higher level especially if you like garlic. Tie in the excellent service, reasonable prices for lunch and good ambiance and you’ve got yourself a winner! Rock on Daniel’s, there’s obviously some very good reasons why you have been successful over the years and I hope to get back soon…

Daniel’s

1430 NC Highway 55 W

Apex, NC 27523

919.303.1006

Location on Google maps

Save

The New Doherty’s Irish Pub in Apex!