As we drove up, I saw the dark overhang, the concrete benches, the cursive logo, and I could tell it was an Italian restaurant that wasn't built last week! We entered on a Saturday afternoon to the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Perry Como, which I always enjoy, it just sets the mood in these kinds of restaurants. Only one other table was occupied at the time. We were seated promptly, and I liked the tables had a full layer of wine corks arranged underneath the glass. For starters, we got the grilled portabella mushroom filled with spinach pesto, roasted red peppers, and topped with mozzarella cheese and herbed bread crumbs in a pool of sweet balsamic vinaigrette. I really enjoyed the texture of the bread crumbs, they added a nice counter to the balsamic, which I felt was a little too sweet for my taste. The mushroom was cooked nicely, and now I'm thinking about making some spinach pesto in my kitchen. The bowl of mussels was another highlight. I don't know how many we got, but it had to be well over a pound. They come with either marinara sauce or a garlic white wine broth; we went with the latter, and it was a stellar decision. Can't ever have enough garlic! And throw in some of their homemade focaccia for dipping...well that's good living. We also split a Tuscan salad with romaine and radicchio, salami, chick peas, banana peppers, red onion, tomato, Romano cheese and homemade croutons then drizzled with a balsamic reduction (I omitted the olives). I asked for some regular Italian dressing and it helped, their balsamic was just too assertive for my taste. Oh and for my check in, I got 50% off dessert. I opted for the pumpkin cheesecake. Good spice, really creamy. Maybe a little whipped cream would have taken it over the top. I'm pretty picky with Italian restaurants, but this one was a fine experience, and that was just during lunch with a limited menu. read more

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I came to Daniel's on a Saturday afternoon and the establishment was simple and very much a traditional looking Italian restaurant both on the inside and outside. My friends and I each got an entree to try and I love how big the portions are for each dish and all of them were delicious! I got the lasagna since I saw it was a popular item and it was simple yet delicious, no complaints really! It was the first time I tried chicken and mushroom with Marsala cream sauce and it was decent. The salmon sauce was surprisingly light and refreshing as well. Not pictured but one of the BEST Tres Leche Cake I've never had! It was moist, not too sweet, and perfect after the surprising not too heavy pasta meal. Highly recommend this place! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Lasagna, Chicken And Mushrooms In A Marsala Cream Sauce, Salmon In A Dill Cream Sauce - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Got some gluten free pizza here and was pretty happy with the results. It tasted just like a normal pizza, so on that end I would say they did a good job. The size was pretty small though, so definitely order 1 pizza per person if you plan on sharing. read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

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First time we have been here. Luc our server was excellent!!! He made the entire experience worth while. I had the chicken and mushrooms in Marsala sauce. While the sauce was excellent, the chicken slices were too done and chewy. My wife had the lasagna and she thought it was good. We had to travel a distance to get there. The dessert was the highlight of the meal with teramisu and strawberry shortcake. The atmosphere was great, the service was excellent and the food was good read more

Take it from the Apex OG here! Great food service and atmosphere. We dine in, get take out and even use for catering large groups at home. read more

My partner and I drive by this place all the time and we never checked it out, until last weekend. I made reservation for dinner for Friday night. When we got there, the parking lot was absolutely packed. I had drive around the lot twice and eventually found an empty spot. Once we walked in, we realized how big it actually is from the inside because from the outside, it is very unassuming. We got seated pretty much right away with our reservation. We ordered a Seafood Bisque, a small garden salad, Veal Cannelloni, and Seafood Fra Diavlo. After we ordered, the bread was brought out with marinara sauce. I have to say, the bread was out of this world. It was perfectly seasoned, soft and warm. The Veal dish had a sweetness to it but it was not overpowering the dish at all. It was velvety and rich. The Seafood fra Diavlo was also very tasty and has a bit of a kick. The ambiance of the place was very warm and inviting. Overall, we would definitely be back in the future! I'll certainly be back just for the bread if I could! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Seafood Bisque and Garden Salad - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

We really prefer to try new places, but when one is as consistent and as good as Daniel's, when we're in town, we go here. The. service is always impeccable and the food from the wine to dessert is always tasty. The prices are very fair and you truly get what you pay for. And, we always have lunch the next day because their servings are plentiful! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - This is one of the best things I've ever eaten! - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Great lasagna and bread with marinara sauce. Loved it The owner or supervisor stopped by to check on us and the service was outstanding. Highly recommend. Make sure to make reservations and be prepared to find alternative parking as this place is popular. read more

Met a friend for lunch here since it was close to where we needed to be later, and what a lovely find! The interior is dark, yet comfortably lit, with tables scattered throughout. There's enough room between them that you don't feel you're in the same conversation, but a good many two- and four-tops. There's a bar just on the right as you enter where you can also order food. My dining partner has health concerns and we had seen a review on another site that showed an outdoor area, which is why we chose it, but that area is now enclosed. It's not usually open for lunch, but one of the hosts (maybe the manager/owner?) kindly offered to put us out there, so my friend would not be exposed to as many germs. Briana (hopefully I spelled your name correctly!) served us with a smile and almost instant service, even while she held down other areas as well. The food was fantastic! Once we ordered, Briana brought out house-made focaccia with a small bowl of bruschetta which rivaled anything I had while in Italy. For our meals, I chose the Penne and goat cheese and shrimp ($13) and my friend chose the Eggplant Parmesan ($12). Both came out quite hot in just a few minutes. Both were delicious. The eggplant was crispy on the breading but not too bready, and thick enough to taste the eggplant. My penne had a sauce with sun dried tomatoes, onions, roasted red peppers, and Kalamata olives with the shrimp, covered with a generous portion of chèvre. It was a lot, but I finished it, and we had room to spare to split the wonderful house-made tiramisu. All in all, a fantastic lunch! My friend lives very close, and says she will definitely come back. I'll probably return as well, even from Durham. The prices were not bad for the quality of the food, and the atmosphere plus the service made it quite a bargain. Try them out - you won't be disappointed! I wish I could give them a sixth star! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Exterior - large parking lot. - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Came for lunch on a not crowded day - Free warm bread with a tomato sauce was great (and they gave us extra for free to bring home!) - calamari was excellent, great quality calamari and well fried with a nice tomato sauce - seafood fra diavlo had lots of good quality seafood, mild still had good spice - shrimp primavera was good but pretty plain - chicken Parm was apparently good I'm not too familiar with Italian food, but overall they had good quality food with big portions. Waiter was very attentive. Seems like a good place for both casual and nicer dining. 4.5 stars and we would come again read more

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I'd never been to Daniel's Restaurant before but was looking forward to my dinner and it turned out to be a great restaurant with delicious food. The parking lot was packed so that is always a good sign. From the moment I entered the door, the aromas in the restaurant were making me hungry. I had some rough days prior so I went with this dish I need for a pick me up, Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. The portion was large that I have enough leftover for another dinner. I am kind of fussy with Alfredo sauce and liked that this was creamy and flavorful but not too heavy. The menu is huge and the wine list needs its own binder. Service was friendly and attentive. I will be adding this restaurant to my list of favorites. read more

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I continue to recommend Daniel's restaurant for a nice Italian dinner. Daniel's has excellent customer service, flavorful, rich entrees, gluten-free options, and delicious appetizers and desserts. During my most recent visit, I ordered the penne alla casa. We started off with wine and bread. The bread is delicious on its own and even better with the accompanying sauce. Even being a larger party, service was quick and our waiter checked in on us often. We all enjoyed the entrees we ordered. The penne alla casa with shrimp was rich and filling. I took half of it home to finish at a future meal. I tried the mushroom ravioli and it was incredible. We finished off the meal with zeppolis. The zeppolis were delicious and came with chocolate and raspberry dipping sauce. Overall, we had another positive experience here and recommend this restaurant to others! read more

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Very good food and service. Next to one of the best Italian restaurants that I've tried in the area. The bread is delicious. The meatballs are cooked to perfection and taste fresh with real ingredients, not that processed stuff. The Greek salad was also delicious. The chicken Parmesan is the best I have tasted in a long time. The chicken parm paired well with fettucini alfredo, which is my favorite. My family enjoyed the calamari and cheese sticks as well. This is the go-to restaurant on my list. read more

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Nice place, service is decent but the food is sorely lacking. There's some pretty good Italian restaurants in the area but this isn't one of them. I had the pizza special, the crust was sad and it had barely any toppings. My mom had the chicken parm and somehow the chicken was tough. Not a fan of their red sauce either. The best part of the meal was the Caesar salad. Only been there twice, once 10 years ago and then tonight, but there won't be a third time. read more

What do you get when you cross excellent service, with great meals and epic portions, and a reasonable price ?....Daniels. Go there ...now

I rarely get to Apex and now I'm regretting it. I'd heard good things about Daniel's for quite a while but never made it over. I finally had lunch there today. The restaurant is dark, "atmospheric," if you will. The music is old school and many of the customers seemed to be, too. No matter. The food is spot on. It's a NY style red sauce joint in the best sense. And that red sauce is seriously good. A small cup comes out with the relatively forgettable focaccia. You can ignore the focaccia and just take a spoon to the chunky, garlicky, bright sauce. It IS that good. More of the same sauce under the arrancini. The arrancini are a little on the small side but utterly crisp, cheesy, and delicious. Eat the sauce separately as it overwhelms the rice a bit. More sauce love. The lemon sauce on the oddly spelled Chicken Franchaise (sic). Lemony, buttery, and studded with just the right amount of garlic chunks. The chicken was tender, the pasta was not cooked to mush, and the francese sauce was served over the linguine without my having to ask. Good service, good food, good value. This ex-Brooklyn gal is a happy camper. read more

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Was looking for a lunch spot before taking my grandson to an indoor playground. My son saw this spot so we gave it a try. They don't really have a lunch menu, it's a full menu. However, the food was amazing. There marinara sauce was delicious. We had the fresh mozzarella as an appetizer. Wood fired pizza, Chick Parm and Daniel Alfredo pasta, all excellent. The focaccia bread served to the table was fresh out of the oven and just wonderful. Ambiance is traditional Italian with art, music and aroma. Our server was attentive, friendly and warm. Definitely will be on my return list. read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Consistency since I arrived in 1999. I remember when Daniel himself used to manage daily. Good guy too. Always friendly. Today they have a new crew but the menu is still what most people expect from an Italian restaurant. All the dishes are great (Pasta, Chicken, Veal, Beef) and a reasonably priced selections of wines by the glass too. With Inflation running so hot, I can't get to all my favorites as much as I would like to, but this is on my short list. I can always expect it to be great! And the bar adds a nice Ambiance for a pre dinner libation. read more

This was a holiday weekend so of course, like a good daughter I took my mom out to dinner. We both wanted to come here to Daniel's as we knew we would be guaranteed *excellent* Italian food. I called up and tried to get reservations for a 'normal' dinner time of 6 however the only spot they had was 4:30. Okaaay, a little early for dinner but hey, we wanted the best. We show up and no sooner are we seated at our table when we get our first wonderful surprise; Mateo! The best part is he remembered us! We were overjoyed and knew that we were in great hands. Mum started off with a spicy crab soup that came in a gigantic bowl. She ate every bit of it exclaiming it was the best crab soup she'd ever had. I started with a small Caesar salad as I wanted to save room for the main event. The salad part was ok but the dressing was amazing. Next up for Mum was a Frutti de Mar. Again in another gigantic bowl. Shrimp, clams and mussels with linguini in a light sauce. I got Chicken and Mushrooms in a creamy Marsala sauce. YUM! The new 'try' this time around was a discovery that they sold half bottles of wine. Think about this, you would probably get 2 glasses of wine with dinner for about $9/glass right? How about an additional glass for the same price? It is a really great deal. For the rest of this review, I would like to dedicate to Mateo. Seriously. Servers like him are such a joy and so rare. He enjoys his job and enjoys having fun with the customers. He makes wonderful suggestions and can honestly tell you what is good. He is very quick to bring what you need but also knows when to take it easy so you enjoy your time. I can't wait till the next time we get to drive out to Daniel's. Seriously. This is a gem of a place that if you aren't familiar with, do you not like great Italian food????? read more

Soooooo, My ex Co-Worker and I FINALLY meet up, AFTER a long awaited...VERY MUCH NEEDED...dinner...On our way, elsewhere...She decides that we are NOT TOO FAR from Daniel's...We said, "Let's Go!" I asked her to call, FIRST...because the ONE time that I picked up after work, it was crowded, and said to her that it was probably crowded, while on our way! Long story SHORT! We were told that we would be able to dine, upon arrival! No Prob! Even thought "I" was skeptical! We get there...Place is Packed! The THREE OR FOUR...Young people asked, if we would mind, sitting at "the bar?" Yes! I do mind...She didn't! Then, WE WERE TOLD, that IF a table is found...AS LONG AS WE ARE FINISHED at 7:30 (I suppose the NEXT statements were, we will try to find seating) My ears were still on 7:30! How MANY ppl WT ppl ARE told THIS...Obviously, we are BLACK! Mind you! NOW, WE HAVE AUDIENCE, looking to see WHAT is going to happen! WE LEFT! I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I NEVER GO NEAR THIS RESTAURANT AGAIN! NEITHER MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY, ALSO! Wish I could give ZERO STARS!!!! read more

Just okay - service was fine, food was underwhelming and not at all seasoned. For the price and quality, I don't think I would come back. Olive Garden is honestly better (in both taste and price). The tiramisu we got was good, however. read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Great Italian restaurant that we went to while visiting NC on business. Their gluten free pizza was really good. The one thing I will say is service was a bit slow but they were a bit busy and we had a larger party so that could've been why. We really enjoyed our time here with good food and a great wine list too! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Gluten free pizza - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Meals we ordered were far too garlicky and after consumption made us both nauseous with stomach cramps!

I've been here twice and this place doesn't disappoint! Absolutely delicious! The food is authentic Italian. The portion sizes are fairly large so I always take some to go. If you're looking for a good Italian place in the area, that's also reasonably priced, I highly recommend this place! read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

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Variety is great. Value is terrific. Service is attentive and not intrusive. You can tell this place is good by just the crowd that comes. read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Frutti Di Mare - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Great food & drinks, great service. Parking is sometimes a challenge but so worth it!

Been passing Daniel's since I moved to this area and I finally had a chance to stop in for lunch. I was warmly greeted as I stepped inside and sent to a table. It took a while for the waitress to come to my table and I thought I was being ignored, however this was not the case as I found out that she was the only waitress for the entire section that had about six tables. She made her way over to me and took my order. I decided to get the lasagna that was a lunch special. A part of the lunch special was their fresh bread and a choice of salad. I went with their garden salad that came with a choice of dressing. I got their creamy vinaigrette that was delicious. What was even more delicious was their lasagna! Omg! Every bite was just so good-- a generous portion of fresh ricotta cheese, Beef, lasagna, all topped with marinara sauce. Oh wow! This is some of the best lasagna I have tried state side! Even better was the price of just $10--and this is every day that they have a rotating lunch special! Such a great deal for great food! Go! read more

I've been here twice, once with girlfriends and today with my husband and son. My first time here was amazing from service to food and drinks. The first time I had ordered "pasta ala vodka" and it was fantastic. My friend ordered the southern ravioli (which had a hint of spice) and tasted so yummy. Today I brought my family and I was slightly disappointed with the service. Our server today seemed like she was in a bit if a rush. As soon as she sat down she asked what we wanted to drink, when we clearly had JUST sat down, so I asked for a few minutes to look at the menu. Then once we ordered our meals and drinks, the meals came first and drink took a while. And when we were still working on our food she asked about boxes (which was strange because we were still eating...), anyway I told her how many boxes I may need. Finally at the end when I asked her for our check, she asked for a few more mins and disappeared. I had to request a different server for our bill due to our restless son. Anyway today, food was still great and drinks were good as usual but service could've been better. - southwest ravioli: yummy (we knew because I had it before) - margarita pizza: was a little dry and not as warm as I thought it would be. I had higher expectations with the taste so this was just alright for me - kids marinara pasta and chicken tenders: this was basic and good - chocolate gelato: son loved this! - crème brûlée: this was fantastic! Loved this in read more

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The ambience was great! The restaurant was very busy but the server was amazing! The food exceeded our expectations. 5/5!

I went back here recently and gave them another try. OMG! I ordered the chicken marsala. The chicken was paper, thin and so overcooked it had the consistency of shoe leather. In addition the marsala sauce was so salty. You couldn't even eat it. I sent it back. I didn't dare try anything else I really wish they could get it together. read more

I have been going to Daniel's for many years. I always found the food and service to be great. However, this evening I was horrified by the unprofessional manager, Seth. He abruptly came to our table and was extremely rude stating we had caused him to have to cancel other reservations due to conversing after dinner. His approach was very disrespectful, overbearing and unwelcoming. My friend and I are reasonable and would have taken his request better if his approach was respectful. I would highly recommend training in how to engage with customers. Daniel's lost two customers because of Seth's unprofessionalism. read more

This the premiere Italian resturant in Apex and a top 5 in the triangle. They also have a very brisk curbside take-out area and catering business. The portions are gigantic and anything from the salad to meal could easily be split between 2 people. The complimentary foccia bread is delicious. I cannot stress just how good this food is and no matter how much you order. eat, or take home, dessert is a must. like everything here, they are homemade. The only con is the tables are very close and there is no outdoor seating. read more

Daniel's Restaurant - homemade cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Overall, we had a good experience. The service and the staff were great. We ordered the calamari, pizza, veal cannelloni, and scallops with risotto. The cannelloni was too cheesy for me, but my husband liked it. We all loved the calamari and the pizza. The special was the scallops with risotto and the risotto was too mushy. It's possible they don't make this regularly or they were having an off night. Risotto should be creamy pearls of rice not mushy and starchy feeling. It also had a mango sauce that made everything too sweet. I won't be ordering risotto again. I would give this place another try, but I would order their most popular dish instead. read more

Came for my moms birthday today, as her and my father frequent the place it was my first time. Ordered the calamari, so good! Mom got the applied pie martini was SO good.. then I got the penne lala casa with chicken it was a generous portion. Free bread service with marinara. The marinara is really tasty. All my family enjoyed their meals. I'm not Italian, but I've had several cuisines and can say you probably won't leave disappointed read more

Daniel's Restaurant - Bread service - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

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For the life of me I don't get why so many of my friends rave about Daniel's. Don't get me wrong the food is not bad, it's just meh. Really, nothing to write home about. I have eaten here several times, not by choice, and have been underwhelmed each time. Lately, my daughter had her baby shower catered by them (against my advice) and the food was bland. There are more authentic Italian restaurants within driving distance, but if generic, I guess this is what Italian food tastes like, is you're palate, you will get a nice sized portion of Medigan food. read more

Very very generous servings! Our Server Luc served our party of 10 in a professional and knowledgeable manner. He definitely made our evening special. The food is spectacular and plentiful. Our dinner was served Hot and Fresh! The Manager worked to give us a private setting for our Group of 10. I highly recommend Daniel's for a great experience. read more

The food was delicious and the server was phenomenal! They give a LOT of food too! Everything is homemade, especially the sauce. read more

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Consistently great foods. Good portion. Good value. I should also try different dishes but I always end up ordering 3-4 my favorite dishes.

Me and my sister ordered take-out from this restaurant. It was my first time getting food from this establishment and my sister told me it was really good. We ordered the pear salad with feta, calamari, penne Alla Vodka with blacken chicken, and Cajun shrimp pasta. The dinner came with bread and marinara sauce. First the bread was really good. The calamari was crispy, fresh, and absolutely delicious! I loved the breading and it was probably one of the best calamari I have ever had in my life. The pear salad with the feta, grape, candied pecans, and spring mix greens dressed with the raspberry vinaigrette WAS absolutely delicious! The salad normally comes with bleu cheese, but the feta was a great substitution. The shrimp Cajun pasta needed a little more salt and I think they should take out the black bean salsa. Overall, it was a good dish and the shrimp was really good, very slightly over-cooked, but good. The penne Alla vodka with the blacked chicken was absolutely delicious and I really like that dish. Overall, it was a good meal and would totally recommend this place for an Italian option. read more

Our server was great but the host staff was quite young and a bit flustered. Still very nice. The bread they bring to the table is delicious. The calamari was a bit smelly. The best dish by far was the Penne alla Vodka. Many of us wish we had ordered that. Cheese ravioli was also delicious. I ordered the Franchiase chicken and it lacked flavor. My son really enjoyed the pepperoni pizza. The crème brûlée was also delicious. The strawberry shortcake was ok but some of the strawberries were past their prime unfortunately. When we go back I'm definitely getting the Vodka pasta and not sharing. read more