Peak City Grill - A Disappointment

Thanks Rick. We wanted to try that place but now we know to avoid it. You saved us a few bucks :-).

well, make your own decision. Just don't go expecting something like Harrisons or the Bass Lake Draft House.

The Peak City Grill is not a "bar and grill"

I'm hoping the Beaver Creek Ale House that is allegedly coming to Apex is run by the same people that run the Bass Lake Draft House and Harrison's.

Sorry you had such a bad experience - my husband and I visited there about 2-3 weeks after they opened and had a wonderful time! They were packed and so we ended up sitting at the bar to eat which was great because we got to watch the game on the TV's they had there. Our service was good considering there were tons of people trying to get drinks while waiting for tables. We got the wing appet which was HUGE - way too much for one person! I had the basic salad with balsamic - YUMMY! - and my hubby had the fries which he thought were great. I'M GLAD it isn't just another burger joint - there are too many of those in Holly Springs and Apex!!!! I'm happy there is a bit of a nicer restaurant FINALLY for those young couples that don't want to have 20 crying toddlers around them on a Friday night like at Bass Lake! We enjoyed the menu so much we are taking friends there tomorrow night from out of town. Cris - don't base your opinion of this place on one person's bad experience! I suggest giving it a chance and hopefully they gain some more experience (in service and crab cake portions) as time goes by.

I enjoy Peak City as well. I have been about 5 times, for brunch, lunch and dinner. I can understand that the food is a little steep for the location, but I was so excited to see something so nice come closer to home. It's tough to run from FV to Downtown Raleigh for a nice meal on the weekends. I love the food, and though the service has been slow once or twice, I have faith the kinks will get worked out. It definitely beats the boring chain restaraunt that Cary has. I would definitely recommend giving it a try. Go for the beef medallions or the tuna. Bread pudding is a great dessert as well.

Rick,
I experiened the same this past Saturday evening, horrible service and terrible food. The Chicken Medallion, which we were told was marinated turned out to be just 2 chicken breast that were dry as a bone & no taste.

They had run out of the Appetizer & Entree Special by 8:30PM. When we received the cracker bread with our salad, we were told that also had run out. That explains why it was broken small pieces in a basket.

I had ordered the Merlot & receive a short pour twice on the wine, but the worst was my second glass of Merlot was served colder than the bottle of beer my daughter's boyfriend was drinking.

Finally, to top the evening off, the waitress never offered us coffee or dessert. She just gave us our check.

Being in the food service industry for over 30+ years I think I know something about good food & customer service. I can forgive a bad meal, that happens, but the lack of service and how issues are addressed is unforgiveable.

The General Manager who was there the whole time, should pay more attention to the operation than he did that night. He spend more time at the bar watching the football game. Finally, I emailed him immediately that evening at the posted email address and he has yet to respond!!! Now I understand why the service is soooooooooo bad, they follow their leader.

We nicknamed it Puke City Grill based on our experience!!

Ouch!

I'm sorry many of you are disappointed. I've been twice now and had truly great experiences. On my dinner trip I enjoyed my steak so much that tried recreating it at home. My lunch trip was also very delicious. FOr thos looking for a bar experience go elsewhere. Peak City is a classic grill with a great atmosphere for suburban dining.

I had a great time there, Beer was great, especially the Oatmeal Stout! I don't go to a bar and grill expecting great food in the first place. I think people expect too much from a Bar and Grill, not a place I would bring kids to in the first place, take them to Chuck E Cheese they will have a better time anyway....

That's ridiculous. I can take my daughter to the Angus Barn or the Capitol City Chophouse, and she'd be fine, and I'd get a good meal and great service at those restaurants. The PROFESSIONAL wait staff tat those restaurants always treat us well - with or without our daughter.

You may not expect great food from a bar and grill, but this is a grill and bar. With their menu selection and prices, if they don't have great food *AND* great service, they won't last.

Oatmeal Stout? Yuck =) Gimme a good wheat ale!

It's good to know that some people didn't get horrible service like we did.

You sound like a total asshole. Glad you're staying away from the PCG!

Please explain to me what part of anything I said makes you think that. I'd wager it's because I've stated opinions that you don't like (which actually says more about you than me).

Quit whining! Apex finally got a restaurant and an atmosphere worth going to. Most restaurants around here and Raleigh want to charge a New York Price for poor service and poor quality of food. I commend Steve for the breathe of fresh air. If you want a cheap overdone burger, then go to McD's. As for the alehouse, poor service, poor food, and a smoke filled atmosphere. This isn't a place for the typical NC cheap hick that wants to complain all the time. Get a life beyond greasy fried food. Maybe it's time to get educated on quality, not quantity.

I'm well educated on quality of food. I know a good steak when I eat one. Whether it be the 6 oz filet or 12oz filet at Sullivans, those are good steaks. Granted, Sullivans is FAR more expensive, but the Capitol City Chophouse is not significantly more expensive, and their service has always been fabulous.

I've had better steaks at the Outback Steakhouse than I got at the Peak City Grille. And lord knows I can grill my own steak s better.

And I can think of very few instances where I've had poorer service.

Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.

I have eaten at Peak City twice and I have mixed feelings about the place. The first time the steak was great, especially for the price. The service was good both times, and the atmosphere was exceptional both times as well. The second time we went we had to wait about 40 minutes for our food but the food was still better than say outback or lonestar. I reccomend trying the place, it is not your mainstream upscale dining facility but it is overall a warm, welcoming experience.

Apex finally has a decent restaurant and you would rather have a burger and beer joint? No, it's not a sports grill but it's fabulous to have a nice restaurant so close by. I've been there about six times and have loved the food with each visit.

No, I'd rather have a decent restaurant with great service. Heck, even good service. We got terrible service when we were there, and if the service had been good, I could've dealt with the fact that my steak was nowhere near "great", and that I was annoyed that I didn't have room to cut my steak because they jammed it on top of a bowl of french fries or mashed potatoes.

But the fact is, the service sucked, and that just made everything else intolerable.

I recently had an absolutely awful experience at Peak City Grill and Bar. So...I decided to do a google search and see what others had to say. I then came across this blog and read each entry. The beauty of this country is that we have "choices" and can say what we want pretty much. I have to agree with Rick Root and tell you that the place is horrible! I had an old business client in from Kansas so we decided to try it for the first time. First of all...with a menu like that and the prices like that it's out of place. This town has a LOT of families with multiple children. We don't really need an upper end restaurant such as this in the first place. Since that's what their after then fine...put some darn cushions on the bench seats at the booths...not just woood! This place is trying to be a dining establishment not an eating establishment! The lights were up a bit and they have candles on the tables! Silly! My friend chomped down on a walnut shell in his salad! I found an ice cube in my vanilla ice cream on top of a very burnt apple cobbler! Service was below average. The waitress knew these things were out of control mostly so I said don't bother telling anyone really. I dismissed it as being new and they have some kinks to work out! Instead the GM comes over (he might be around 25) and gives me his card with the following on the back (1) APPITIZER and his initials. He can't even spell the word!! Anyhow, not important I know! Beyond that, when I inquired about the owner I learned that they have ZERO restaurant experience and refuse to make rounds to customers and speak with them! The only reason Peak City will last is because we have no other quality choices! Someone will step up to the plate and be VERY successful...you watch! Thanks Rick for your forum!! Money does NOT grow on trees in my backyard!!

I stopped reading your comment when I read this:

"leave your stupid kid at home"

That's uncalled for.

I take my little girl to a lot of places, including restaurants FAR better than the Peak City Grill, like the Capital City Chophouse. The service there is stellar every time we go, WITH OR WITHOUT kids.

And the chophouse calimari suits 4 people very well. That's not called "nachos". Most of the macaroni Grill appetizers suit 4 people too. I don't think they serve "nachos" there either.

btw I deleted the previous comment. The original poster may feel free to repost without referring to my daughter in a derogatory manner.

Dear Rick, I have been to the Peak City Grill at least 10 times and have been very pleased. Every guest we take from out of town has enjoyed it as well. We especially enjoy that the portions are not huge like in most American restaurants, but smaller with much more attention paid to details and quality. ONe last comment, it is now February and the place is still packed every weekend - this speaks for itself.

Numerous people have posted here about the portion size.

I do not have a problem with the portion size of the meal I was served. I do have a problem with the appetizer that wasn't enough to serve 4 people.

I only mentioned the smallness of the crabcake appetizer because - if we'd ordered *THAT* as our appetizer, I also would've been disappointed.

The fact that it is still packed does say something.

Tt says that there are a lot of people who've had enable experiences there.

That does not invalidate my point - that I received poor service. And that's my biggest beef with The Peak City Grill.

But thank you for commenting.

A lot of good feedback in this open forum, both positive and negative. I have not heard any thoughts on Sunday brunch or late night entertainment. I have been to the restaurant for appetizers with clients, so I have not experienced a full service dining experience, but wanted some feedback that will allow me to make a decision to bring my family there. Any information would be helpful....

KSI

They use to have a nice buffet brunch there but changed it last week! The price was right ( $14.00 ) and had a great variety of food - omlettes, carved beef, waffles, grits, then some pastry and fruit. We went in last week to find they changed it over to some fancy eggs benedict menu, pancakes that are NOT pancakes, not a kid friendly menu at all and then had to wait almost 40 minutes for eggs!! I was given the excuse it "was the first day" for the cooks to prepare it. I may give it another chance in a couple of weeks but I didn't care for the menu.
The best value for the money on that menu was a combination dish for only $ 8.00. The prices are all different for everything and I was not happy with it. I can go to Briggs or Perkins for this type of brunch. I thought the bufft was unique.
As for the entertainment, it is different all the time but I will say it is very loud. The acoustics are terrible in there. One of the musicians is my daughter's band instructor at the middle school and he plays the flute some nights.
It's hard to say if it is a bar and grill, or a family dining place. Maybe you'll enmjoy it. You have to wait a long time for a table and food on the weekend. Try going during the week.
They lost my business for brunch.

>> It's hard to say if it is a bar and grill, or a family dining place

I don't think it's either. It's an upscale restaurant with apparently average to inconsistent service and no interest in being a "family dining place". More power to them, if they wanna be upscale, let them be upscale, but a truly good restaurant can be upscale AND family friendly. I've never had a problem taking my little girl to Capital City Chophouse or the Angus Barn. We even took her to this cool little place in Cary called Vespa. The food was great, the menu was fancy, the prices were "appropriate", the SERVICE was great. Even with our toddler in tow.

I like breakfast buffets. The one they do at Tir na Nog in downtown raleigh is fantastic.

Margaret-
Thanks for your feedback on Sunday Brunch, it is unfortunate when volume goes up that quality and standards go down. It is an internal issue that should have been diagnosed prior to the new menu, but I am sure they will adapt and execute at higher levels as time goes on - I just hope their image is not too tarnished through the process.

Rick-
You seem to have a sharp sense of the restaurant business, perhaps it is time for you to relocate from the backseat to the frontseat, you will probably be very successful if you could execute your opinions. Let me know when you go public.....

KSI

If I did, I'd open up "Rick's Coney Island"... like Cloos Coney Island in Raleigh, except a little bigger with a fuller menu and a diner style breakfast menu. There's this place called Uptown Coney Island in Ann Arbor that packed 'em in for breakfast on weekends (and did fairly weel on weekdays too for the coffee and newspaper crowd)

Alternatively, a good sports pub would be fun and could be successful if the menu was right, a fox and hound type of place. It'd be family friendly and we'd have 50 cent hot dog nights to get people in the door on slow nights. Loss Leader, you know.

Both take investment and an incredible risk, neither of which i'm capable of at this point in my life.

Hey redneck. Stick to Chili's or TGI Fridays. Maybe you won't be so disappointed.

"Hey redneck"?? Nice. You got anything intelligent to say? Cuz there's been plenty of legitimate discussion and counterpoints here, and yours isn't one of them.

I too just had dinner at PSG and after reading all these comment, I thought that perhaps I would offer my experience or at least refer to the areas that I found to be out of character with other restaurants that I have and will continue to dine at.
First of all I too was surprised by its appearances, from the outside it appears much different that it is on the inside. I mean no disrespect, but nothing else in Apex looks like that, so I suppose I mean to say it's hard to be prepared. Now this isn't to say it's a bad thing but it certainly catches you off guard especially given the presence of "Bar and Grill" in the name. However I saw the Bar and the Grill so, enough with that???.
I dropped my wife at the door while I parked the car, with my daughter, when I got to the hostess, and asked where I might be able to find my wife, she looked at me with a blank stare and did not seem to comprehend what I wanted, finally after giving what I felt was a fairly adequate description of my wife, who had only been there perhaps a minute before I walked in, she remembered that she had seated her upstairs (they weren?t even busy). So we traipsed upstairs and were sat at a very nice table with a linen table cloth and candles on the table, with folded linen napkins on each plate.
When I relayed the ordeal of finding the table to my wife, she laughed and said that the hostess told here that she would go find me.
As I stated the table was very nice, there was a wine menu on the table; well I should say there was a very nice folder on the table, but no wine menu inside. The actual dinner menu was fine, I didn?t find that the prices were too out of hand, perhaps a little higher (dollar or two) when compared with comparable places for comparable menu items. I order the Cedar Plank Salmon and my wife had the Beef Medallions (on recommendation).
I tried to order a beer but apparently I didn?t realize how complicated that was, I would have to assume that they have allot to offer, however our waitress seemed a bit too overwhelmed by the question ?What do you have on tap ?? for me to find out.
Dinner was a little delayed but it was dinner time so I excuse them for that. When our meal did arrive it was very well prepared, the presentation was excellent. However I think that the portion size and price associated with the Cedar Plank Salmon seemed a little out of tolerance. I have had Salmon prepared on a Cedar plank at allot of restaurants, it is a particular favorite of mine, now granted I am not familiar with the gowning rate of Tasmanian salmon but I would venture a bet that $24.00 dollars for 4? long 1.5 inch wide piece is a bit steep. So I might suggest that if you?re going to order the salmon for dinner, don?t skip lunch.
Now I would also mention that luckily enough we did not suffer the plight of the table next to us that was seated almost immediately after I found my wife at her table. They order shortly after us, however we had finished our meal and paid and they were still waiting for their meal to come from the kitchen, the hostess did apologies and bring them an appetizer, but you still had to feel sorry for those folks, I am sure the would have an interesting story to tell as well.

I went to PCG for the first time last week. I had no idea it was there and that it had been open for the past 8 months or so - sad as I live so close by.

I just ran across your review today and had a complete opposite experience. Attentive wait staff, good food, reasonalbe wait times, etc. Basically a complete opposite.

Like any restaurant - your mileage may vary, but I've already recommended it to a friend and plan to go back again.

I made reservations in the private dining room three weeks ago for an intimate celebration with family for Mother's Day and my son's college graduation. I was required to sign an agreement and leave a credit card number to guarantee my reservation. Upon arriving at the restaurant at the correct time, I was informed the private dining room was occupied and the party there had just received their meal and that it would be about 20 minutes before the room would be available. Now I ask you - who can eat a meal in 20 minutes? What about clean up and set up from this party? Twenty minutes? I hardly think so! I was informed by a person who said it was "his restaurant" that the restaurant was closed, indicating he was doing us a big favor in allowing us to be there even though I had made reservations. Anyway, to make my point, I don't think I will go back to this restaurant even though my previous two visits were pleasant. I never did get the private dining room and the service was poor (not the waiter's fault but because they were switching the kitchen from brunch to dinner). I was not even offered compensation for this inconvenience.

wow, that would really suck. Thanks for sharing!

My wife and a neighbor have been there a couple of times for appetizers and been very pleased. I'm going for the first time tonight with a party of 5; after some of the negative reviews, I'm guardedly optimistic, bordering on ambivalent. I'll give a full report tomorrow.

Even if the experience is great, I'm sorely tempted to give the manager a sucker-punch to the throat for TK's experience. There's no excuse for that kind of cavalier dismissiveness.

I couldn't agree more. The worst restaurant experience ever and also the worst general customer service to date. This included both the waiter and the owner, both full of excuses for why things were wrong, but never an apology. We entered the place a 7pm on a Thursday night. Sat at the bar and had a drink until the table was ready. Was seated at 7:30. Got our glass of wine from the waiter by 8, app by 8:30 and wrong dinners at 9:30. At this point I said no thanks and walked out. (But still had to pay for the wine and no apologies, just excuses).

The waiter was by the table, literally 100 hundred times with why things were slow, or bad, or why I didn't get the right drink I ordered, etc. But each time making an excuse, never did clear our table. The owner when brought to his attention said, well the waiter just got back from a 3 week holiday and just must be a little off tonight.

We would never ever go back. I never walked out on a restaurant in the past, and will never step foot in the door again. Look for their door to close in about another 3 years when it is time to renew their business loan.....

I'am retired,and love the southern town of Apex. I have owned several resturants in Europe. I really like the Apex City Grill. Resturants are like a football team. "ON any given Sunday". People make boo boos ,so get over it you winny ass yankees!

I appreciate the thoughtful responses of the people providing details enough to make an informed decision on whether to try this restaurant.
Calling people "winny ass yankees" is not informative in the least.
If you like this establishment, please state the reasons and provide SOME information as to why.
People are looking for a critique stating what you liked and didn't like.
Based on the more thoughtful responses here, and after looking over the menu...I am choosing to pass on visiting this restaurant.

I am a bartender at a restaurant in the Apex, Cary, Holly Springs area, so I am very well educated in the food service industry. I have also been to the Peak City Grille a number of times, and I've had very good experiences, and I've also had very bad experiences. I would suggest if anyone is interested in this place, try it out for yourselves. And give it more than one try. You can never gauge the quality of a restaurant on one experience. Each person has a different opinion of service and food quality. Personally, I had more bad experiences than good, but that is my opinion. And as for whiny ass Yankees, this is a forum to give out general comments on an experience at a restaurant. That was uncalled for and insulting. It has no place on a restaurant review site.

One word...one number...... BISTRO 64

Winny [sic] Yankee here...

I thought the service has been totally extreme - extremely HORRIBLE on 2 occasions, extremely WONDERFUL on one.

The food isn't all that wonderful - and again is VERY hit or miss in our experience. We've had at all three times full meals with appetizers, drinks, etc and at least 6 people at each dinner. We've also had brunch once.

And over all, we won't be going back. If PCG is having a good day - it's a worthwhile place that we're glad to have in Apex. But if PCG is having a bad day - honey, look out! And my experience has been that the owner doesn't really get too worked up about customer service.

Pretentious - and no one I know is going back.

Sorry!

Judging by the dates of the posts, PCG has had ample time to work out the kinks and bugs - but it appears they are doomed to repeat their mistakes for an eternity, rather than learn from them!

A group of three couples dined there shortly after the restaurant opened. Drinks were late and wrong. Getting a second beer from my waiter was not in the cards. I actually left my loft seat and went down to the bar to get my own! The meals were poorly prepared and half of them should have been sent back. Some people are more timid and feel that they should eat whatever is placed before them rather than cause a disturbance. I am not of that ilk. When one orders a well-done steak it should not be bleeding from every pore. Our meals were beyond late - in fact my wife never did receive hers. Graciously they did not charge us for the lost plate. She did gets plenty of crackers and a free dessert for her patience though.
The (appropriately named) wait staff had been amply schooled on excuses with out actual apologies. You must commend PCG on that.

The restaurant itself was very attractive but I do hope they have removed at least one table from the loft since my last visit. Getting accidently elbowed in the head by the person behind you does not make for a pleasant dining experience.

While it potentially could be a shining beacon to attract people to downtown Apex, it may require some additional work. I would hope that the owners are aware of this site. My experience has shown me that more people vote with their feet than their voices. Instead of offering constructive criticism they just don't go back. For each negative comment voiced, there are probably 50 to 1 who couldn't be bothered and would just move on.

I really don't know what any of you naysayers are talking about. The staff especially Marci and Cindy couldn't be friendlier or more helpful. The menu is interesting and I have had most everything on the menu and it was fabulous. There is also an extensive quality wine list. I recently moved here from the New York City area and most recently the Hamptons so when it comes to dining out, I'm spoiled. The prices compared to downtown are not out of line for the food and service that you get at PCG. Everyone I talk to loves the place. I have never heard one complaint except on this website. Strange.

I've read complaints on the apexnc.com message boards too.. and positives.

My wife, 19-year old daughter, and I have been to Peak City twice for dinner, and my wife has taken friends there for lunch once or twice. We've had nothing but positive experiences there: great food, nice presentation, nice atmosphere, excellent service. It isn't cheap, and I wouldn't expect it to be, but I do consider the price comparable to other restaurants of this class. I would recommend that folks give it a try and form their own opinions. It appears that rickroot took his experience very personally and has been on a mission of vendetta ever since. Go with an open mind and a positive attitude and see what you think. And try the Di Arie Zinfandel...wow!

Vendetta? I posted this review... and from time to time defended myself and added additional objective comments.. like the one above, where i mentioned that I've read both complaints and positive comments about the restaurant.

I make no attempt to sway people. I just published an honest account of my experience with the restaurant.

I've never posted to one of these and tonight will be my second time going to Peak City Grill, but I have to just say... I see this restaurant being more of a "Girls Night Out", "Date Night" or "Take a client out for a drink" type place. It doesn't seem like a family friendly place to me and I would not take my son there. We (the girls) sat out on the patio for a few hours and enjoyed drinks and appetizers and had a very nice time and enjoyed an evening away from home. That is how I would describe it. I wouldn't say it is "family friendly". Drinks were good. Food was good. Service was good. I really can't complain. I will be very attentive this evening to see how things go, after reading this Blog. I have recommended this place to others. I think opinions are nice and I enjoy someone else's, as long as they keep it mature.

Dear "Peak City Fan",

Feel free to repost your comment without the personal attack on me.

My wife went to Peake City Grille last night with friends and the were all very disappointed with the experience. One of the girls had been there previously and warned them about it, however they went hoping for the best. Small portions, bad food and bad service were what they ended up with. She said that she would not go back there ever.

My wife and I have been going to PCG since it opened and also have followed your blog with amusement. It always amazes me how diverse this area is - from PhDs to Rednecks and everything in between. For all of you that are new to the area and want to know if you should give PCG a try - here is my advice:

If you think watching NASCAR and drinking a 12 pack of Miller Genuine Draft is a great way to spend a Saturday - you most definitely will not like PCG.

However, if you are educated, well traveled and do not go out to dinner with the expectation that you leave the restaurant so stuffed you can barely walk - then you will likely enjoy PCG.

One last comment. My father's job in the food industry takes him all over the world, spending a few months every year in Europe. When he is in town he always asks me to make reservations at PCG. Also, I would like to point out that, going on three years now, the place is still packed most every weekend while there have been at least three restaurants go out of business across the street - enough said.

i appreciate the comments.

Let me summarize your comment:

- You'll like Peak City Grill if you're a redneck.
- You will like it if you're well educated.

Making such a black and white statement takes you out of the well educated category.

People like and dislike restaurants for many reasons. Plenty of "rednecks" might enjoy a high class meal at the Capital City Chophouse, or the Fearrington Inn, or Another Thyme.

At the same time, many "well educated" people might enjoy a trip to Char Grill, or Cloos Coney Island. Or even Karl's Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor, a restaurant whose slogan is "Cheaper Than Food".

Redneck, Well Educated, or Well Educated Redneck..

Try it and make your own decision. And then feel free to state your opinion here.

Are there seriously adults making comments like this on this blog? I'm in high school and I know more mature (younger)people. Come on, guys, if you don't agree with him than don't and get over it. And Rick about one of your comments... "I'm well educated on quality of food." Okay, where'd you go for that.. sign me up!!! I want to know how your mouth is more attuned for fine dining than the rest of us. Seriously, I get what your saying- and it sounds like a terrible experience... but comments like that won't really do anything besides make you sound conceited. Plus, if you are sure of your opinions, why bother trying to convince people who have had a different experience?

As far as Peak City, it's pretty hit or miss. It is expensive, and if you have a bad experience than that seems all the more apparent. I can't remember having any really bad service, but I can't remember having any awesome service either. The food quality hasn't ever been bad for me, but I'm not doubting that it was for others.

Regarding the well educated comment, you've misread. I was responding to someone who suggested it was time for me to get educated on food quality. I was, in no way, suggesting that my mouth is more finely tuned than anyone elses. The statement AFTER I said I'm well educated on food quality says it all. I know what a good steak tastes like.

Your satirical question of where I got such an education, while silly, is easily answered. Over the course of ones life, if you are a steak enthusiast, you eat a lot of steak from a lot of different places. Compare the steak you get at Golden Corral or Perkins to one you might get at the Angus Barn or the Chop House.

I'm certainly not trying to convince anyone who has had a GOOD experience that they are wrong. In fact if you read all of my comments you'll see many times where I suggest that people WILL have different experiences, some bad and some good. Like you say, hit or miss.

I don't know if it's hit or miss or not since I haven't been back, and my wife hasn't suggested going back either.

But based on the responses here, that seems reasonable - that it is hit or miss. People obviously have good experiences and bad experiences. Mine was just bad.

My wife and I tried Peak City Grill for the first time last night. We got there at 9pm and the downstairs was mostly empty. 10 minutes after being seated, someone (not our waitress) finally took our drink orders. Another 5-10 minutes go by and our waitress finally shows up. She took our order and that was the last time she stopped at our table until 10minutes after we were done eating. She took our plates and left without bothering to ask if we wanted any dessert - which we did up to the point where she left for another 5 minutes.

Apparently making tables for the next day was more important than waiting on current customers, which is amazing considering that at that time we were one of 3 tables left downstairs.

On to the food:

There was some mention of "bread" above and though there were several baskets at other tables which I presume contained bread, we were never brought or offered any. This was highly annoying considering how long we sat before seeing our waitress and getting our drinks (water). Perhaps this was a good thing as our drinks were never refilled.

Apparently arriving at 9pm means there's not a chance of getting a special, so I ordered their "Supreme Chicken" and my wife ordered the trout. The chicken was barely more than a split chicken breast on top of some corn ($24). The trout was slightly more impressive looking ($24). For those that have never been, soup or salad and any sides are extra ($4-$6), so we decided to skip those since we weren't super hungry.

The trout was good and was a decent size piece for one person. The chicken was also good up to the point where it started turning pink and then was raw (translucent). Needless to say that will be the last thing I ever eat from there. I considered complaining, but there was no one to complain to for at least 5 minutes, at which point I was just ready to leave.

I'll normally let a few things slide when a place is very busy, but this was a joke. I've never written a bad review of any restaurant until now. If you go, I hope you have a better experience than we did.

undercooked chicken? IT's a shame you didn't seek out the manager. It would've been interesting to see if they comped the whole meal.

I found a small piece of plastic in my soup at carabbas once, and we told the manager, who comped the entire table... we were having a large family dinner.. there were 8 of us there. He also insisted that we all have dessert.

I almost wish I found plastic in my soup more often!

I have eaten at PCG several times, with varying combinations of friends, and we have never had a problem at all. I do respect that you did not have a good experience, but I have a strong objection to this part of the critique,"First of all, I was disappointed at how "fancy" the menu was. Bar and Grill restaurants (or Grill and Bar restaurants) should have burgers, at the very least."

Are you kidding me?! This was the most inane criticism of a restaurant I have ever heard. Obviously, by running this website, you have web access. If you haven't been to a non-chain place before, use the web and find out about it first! Or, do the analog-era thing when you get there and look at the menu before being seated. To gripe about this particular aspect of your visit is childish. I never eat somewhere new without at giving a passing glance at the menu. If I skip that step, it is my own fault if the type of restaurant it turns out to be isn't what I expected.

That doesn't excuse the bad service and/or food, but don't let you anger over those things color all of your thinking. That part of your bad experience was on you, not them.

Now you want GOOD service, hit up Ciao Osteria across the street!

http://www.rickroot.com/blog/1/2008/07/Ciao-Osteria--A-Fine-Downtown-Apex-Restaurant.cfm

My family and I just went to the Easter Sunday brunch buffet. Half of the buffet was emptied out of food, and never got restocked. Prime rib was sliced as thin as sandwich meat. We paid over $20 and felt like it was worth $8.95. Lots of low priced items, grits, potatoes, muffins...well what was not already emptied! Could have done better at any other restaurant for a fraction of the price! There were no busboys, so hostesses were cleaning tables, at a very slow pace...we waited almost 30 minutes for a table when we had a reservation. This place really falls apart when they get busy. I'm sure they made a lot of money on Easter Sunday, but they should feel terrible for how they really ripped people off.

That's disappointing to have to wait a half hour for a table when you have a reservation.

Your comment reminded me... My wife and I finally made a second trip to the Peak City Grill a few weeks ago, 3-1/2 years after our first disappointing visit.

This time, it was a week night and it was not crowded. The services was good this time, albiet a little slow. I enjoyed the "shrimp hushpuppies". I went for the "all you can eat ribs" and only had one plate - mostly because the ribs were somewhat disappointing.... they were cooked okay but they seemed like they had a lot of fat and gristle.