Warm and welcoming service. Food is exceptional. Upscale atmosphere. Superb lighting. Gorgeous flatware and dishes. Has lamb lasagna. Focaccia bread is divine! Highly recommend! read more

We ate at the bar and ordered the charcuterie board. It came with only two salamis and two cheeses with two pieces of toast for $25. We were still hungry so we ordered the prosciutto and melon. Horrible A few pieces of prosciutto and a few pieces of melon. We the ordered the short rib filled pasta. Horrible. All cheese and no short rib. So we switched it for rigatoni with bolognese . It was tasteless and watery. Nothing like the picture on the website. So we then tried the cannoli. Again, awful. A dried shell and the cream had no flavor. I won't be going back again $122 later and it was awful read more

Nice date night spot. Focaccia was a really nice starter, which we followed with Rigatoni Bolognese and Short Rib entree. The short rib was the star of the show. The rigatoni was a tiny bit bland. I had wine and my husband had a cocktail, both were really good. read more

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I'm still dreaming of these cocktails. I wanted to try something new for my Birthday dinner and it was Restaurant Week in Apex= win-win situation! We haven't tried many restaurants in Apex so I had to heard of Serafina Ristorante. The cocktails were just divine. I started with the No. 152, which has gin, strawberry-basil, lemon, and vermouth. What a lovely and delicate combination. My husband got the No. 198, which has mezcal. It would be difficult to choose a favorite. I'm also not a fan of ice so I'd recommend skipping the ice, which I did for the next drink. Later we got the No. 043 that has lavender, honey, lemon, and white grape. I think this was my least favorite. For dinner, I went with the restaurant week pear and fig salad and rigatoni bolognese. My only complaint was that the salad was a little salty for my taste. Otherwise, everything was delicious and fresh. My husband opted for the roasted chicken, which was the star of the show. This chicken elevated the whole meal. It was roasted perfectly and had so many wonderful flavors like fig and apples. I was jealous of his meal, but he let me have a few bites. My only complaint is that it was small. For dessert I had the panna cotta and my husband had the cannolis. Again, I was jealous of his, but I helped him eat them. The chocolate cannoli was the best. The panna cotta was also nice, light, and fresh. The restaurant and bar itself was pretty inside with nice decor and a warm vibe. We had a great experience for my Birthday dinner and I'd definitely visit again! read more

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Loved the fancy ambiance and the welcoming and attentive staff. They have a nice exclusive table in a little room which is perfect for a bigger group (which we were) . I got the Rigatoni Bolognese, it was a very generous portion, the pasta was cooked to perfection but the meat was a little salty to my taste . read more

Serafina Ristorante - Rigatoni Bolognese (very generous portion) - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Our server Katy was amazing! Food was great and so were the vibes! I would come back again!

This was my first time at Serafina's and the food was delicious. Started our meal off with a focaccia plate. The bread was nicely baked and came with a flavored butter and honey. For my entrée, I had the Rigatoni Bolognese which was rather flavorful. The portion size was enough for that meal with no left overs. My husband had the Short Rib Agrodolce which he enjoyed. Ended up taking the lemon cheesecake to go and that was also delicious. It was a traditional denser cheesecake and the lemon curd was tart and yummy. As for the atmosphere and staff... the restaurant was not busy when we went. It has a nice and cozy atmosphere. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. I would definitely eat here again. read more

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Serafina is a great addition to Downtown Apex. My husband and I dined in for dinner and sat at the bar so we could watch football. For drinks I started off with a beer then had a glass of red wine. I liked the drink selections; however, the pours of wine are way overpriced for most options. To start, the focaccia plate is a must. It came with a delicious butter and honey to top it with. For our entrees it was the gorgonzola gnocchi for me and the rigatoni bolognese for him. Both were solid options. This spot has been a few things over the years so I am hoping that Serafina is here to stay. read more

We got to experience Serafina during their restaurant week! 1. As soon as we entered, we were greeted warmly 2. Our server, Isabelle, was soooo sweet and made us feel very comfortable 3. The food was AMAZINGGGG 4. We appreciate the level of care and dedication the staff provided us today. It was everything we could have wanted and more. Thank you for creating such a nice ambiance and experience for us during restaurant week! read more

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We attended Serafina's inaugural wine dinner, the facility spacious and comfortable. The service was friendly and attentive. We were greeted with a glass of prosecco while waiting for the event to begin. As befitting a special event, the chef came out to describe each of the 4 courses in detail before each arrived, and the owner described each wine pairing. The wine pours were generous, but were paired with relatively small portions. Together with no bread on the table, this left a number at our table unexpectedly quite buzzed. The pace of the meal was rather slow, extending the affair to 2.5 hours, including significant gaps between courses. The wine and courses came out staggered, so the pairings were less obvious. The food was a bit uneven, as one prosciutto and melon was out with only 1 tiny curl of melon, another with 4, the melon rather bitter from bountiful rind; one duck breast came out delightfully rare, another came out well done. The braised lamb cannoli was completely delicious, although the form factor left us chuckling. Overall an enjoyable evening with good food and wine, but they have some fine tuning to do before the next one. read more

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The food here was nothing short of amazing! Our party of four began with a Focaccia plate and Arancini Genovese. The bread was soft and beautifully seasoned with a serving of butter and preserves. Two in the party had the Tagliettelle, a slightly spicy lemony sauce with nice pieces of scallop throughout the dish. Pork Saltimboca did not disappoint, the double cut pork chop cooked perfectly, moist and delicious! The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, or a celebration or just any reason to eat a delicious meal! Staff is warm and friendly! Give this local hidden gem a chance, businesses in downtown Apex need our support right now due to a lengthy construction project. Again , the food and ambiance are worth the effort! read more

Serafina Ristorante - Focaccia Plate Arancini Genovese Lasagna Tagliatelle Pork Saltimbocca House Cannoli - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Went for dinner tonight. The food was good, and the menu is smaller. I do wish the entrees had more to it as I got the steak and it came with 5 potatoes. The steak was good and cooked perfectly. I also had the cheesecake for dessert which was very good but again on the smaller side read more

Serafina Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

What a beautiful, charming, delicious neighborhood spot! Loved the short rig agnolotti and the tuna crudo. The eggplant lasagna was really good and a sizable portion (and the eggplant was not overdone which was great). The Sparici Landini Bardolino is a chilled red!!! which we've been hunting around town for. The bar has TVs + the table service has plenty of seating because there is also a mezzanine (upstairs) -- so dont be intimidated that they dont take reservations at the moment (but they will take reservations late August apparently). There is also at least two private dining rooms that we saw and a really large round table by the open kitchen, so probably great for large groups. We didnt try the cocktails (we opted for wine) but the drinks looked beautiful. Would recommend for date night and there is an outdoor covered patio too! read more

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I was super excited to try Serafina and I LOVE Italian food. However my overall experience doesn't have been wanting to come back for more. I went with a group of friends, none of our dishes came out warm even the focaccia. The focaccia did taste delicious though... My entree was the short rib ravioli. It was straight salt, I couldn't taste any other flavors. Lastly, I still had wine in my glass and the server swooped it up and didn't ask if I was finished. The ambiance wasn't as elegant as I hoped it would be. I have heard great things about having brunch here so I will come back to try brunch and give an updated review when I do. read more

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Stopped in for bunch Sunday afternoon on a whim. Our server was attentive and patient with a few gabby girls. I was shocked there was no wait, but was happy we were able to sit right down. We opted to share some wine, they happily let us taste before chosing. Two of us tried the eggs Benedict and one the egg sandwich. We devoured our food. It was all delicious and I have been thinking about the eggs Benedict since I left. We all agreed we would happily come back. This was our second trip in and both experiences have been very positive. read more

just shared an anniversary dinner with my husband at Serifina. we were exited to see a traditional Italian ristorante. We shared the burrata (antipasti), bolognese (primi) and tiramisu (dolci) and my husband order the filet and I ordered the short rib (secondi). All were delicious. The stand out for me was the short rib. I would order it and recommend it, the gremolata was lick the plate delicious. my husband was most impressed with the bolognese. I also ordered the No 32 cocktail for dessert. It is oddly specific for me (almond, lemon, cherry and cream - all of my favorite flavors at once)! I strongly encourage you to to try it. It was the perfect combination of sophisticate, approachable and delicious. read more

SO much delicious! I had the Bolognese and it was incredibly fresh and flavorful & great portion size. Bryan, the GM was a delight and spoiled us during a celebratory lunch! I can't wait to come back. This is my new favorite place!! read more

First thing - i do not understand the negative comments. This place, wait staff, management and food were amazing. We ordered the cacio e pepe, gnocchi and the monkfish and all were exceptional. We will be back read more

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This was a great experience. Booked this reservation a month out for Valentine's Day. Prior to our dinner, I reached out and spoke with the owner about getting a good table. She was able to get us a table on the mezzanine inside, overlooking the kitchen and the main dining room. This table was very intimate and much more secluded from the rest of the people. This already was fantastic. The food was incredible as well. We got the burrata and tuna to start, and then the lobster ravioli and gnocchi. We loved everything! Service was good as well. Overall a great experience all around. Would definitely recommend for a date night. Will come back! read more

Serafina Ristorante - Lobster Ravioli and Gnocch - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

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I'm from NY, and finding good Italian food has not been easy. I'm so happy I found this gem!! I came here on a date for Valentines' Day and everything was superb! The service was 10/10 and the food was delicious! Sawyer was our server and she was so sweet and super attentive. Would definitely recommend! read more

Serafina Ristorante - Lobster Ravioli and Monkfish - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

The lasagna was sooo good. I usually put salt on everything to bring out the flavor and did not have to for this - it was spot on with the seasoning and the pesto topping added a lightness to it. Not to mention, the sweet pea ricotta - divine. The tartare was also excellent - the sweet pepper drops added a hint of spiciness that blended so well with the meat. And finally, the lemon cheesecake was fluffy and not super dense, the crust was more like pastry and the lemon curd with thyme was a welcome sauce to layer onto each bite. I can't wait to go again and try the rest of the dishes. My only constructive comment is that the lasagna was more lukewarm than hot. read more

My wife and I stopped by for a late lunch a few weeks ago and had a great experience. We were welcomed by Bryan, the GM, and Sawyer took terrific care of us throughout our visit. The steak sandwich, salad, cannoli, and Peroni were all excellent. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we were hoping for. Even with the construction going on along Salem Street, we chose to sit outside and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was relaxed, the service was friendly, and it turned into a perfect afternoon lunch. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommend! read more

Our meal and service were excellent tonight! The Rigatoni and Filet were great. Awesome old building in downtown Apex! Thanks James! read more

Whenever we come here we always start with the focaccia and a glass of wine at the bar. It's such a beautiful space! read more

Serafina Ristorante - Red Wine - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

Two of us had the short rib rigatoni bolognese and found it underwhelming, lacking any flavor intensity. A third had their unusual lasagna and enjoyed it. The manager recommended their most expensive Amarone that turned out to a little above plonk. All in all, Serafina looks pretty upscale, but doesn't live up to its appearance. read more

The food was amazing, and the service was excellent. Our server was attentive and knew the menu inside and out. Every dish arrived beautifully plated and tasted even better than it looked--bold, fresh flavors and generous portions throughout. The atmosphere was warm and lively without making conversation a struggle. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommended. read more

This will now be our go to special occasion restaurant. The entire experience was amazing. We wanted an intimate experience so we asked to sit upstairs. It was perfect. Server had great suggestions on wine and entrees. Our food was excellent... pricey but worth it!!! read more

The swordfish was amazing! The pasta was okay. I should have stuck with my original choice of cacio de Pepe but I had the special which was good. I'd go back as I'm glad it's no longer Peak read more

Perfect spot for ladies lunch out! Steak sandwich and flat iron salad both amazing with wine! read more

Serafina Ristorante - White wine & friends - Italian Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

my wife and I came in because we haven't been to downtown Apex in a while. Our waitress, Sawyer was amazing. She explained the menu and drink menu to us. Food was great and service was spot on. Looking forward to returning. read more

Love that this location is open. Had dinner at the bar - great service, limited menu, still tweaking their offerings. Though it was Italian- not really reflected with current menu. We'll give it a bit of time and try again. read more

The monk fish was excellent as was the tuna. We loved the focaccia bread. The tiramisu and mango sorbet topped off the meal in an excellent way. read more

We went the other night The staff was pleasant and the cocktails were very good Unfortunately, the food is subpar at best The Bronzino fish had to be sent back. It was so salty. The lasagna dish was dry and the sauce tasted like Hunt's tomato sauce The bolognese was a Brown sauce very uninspired If this place is gonna make it, they definitely need to change the menu and the chef read more

This Italian restaurant is located at where the Peak on Salem restaurant was. Lunch was good- nothing extraordinary that will make us book a table anytime soon if we are wanting to really have a delicious Italian meal. We had Panzanella salad, Bolognese, Chicken Milanese w/ a side of Cacio e Pepe. It's good but I'd say that it is lacking that "over the top" taste compared to other Italian restaurants within the Triangle that we have tried. We had great service though. read more

The meal was fabulous! Hot, Fresh, and plentiful. The Short Rib Agnolotti and Rigatoni Bolognese were our choices and did not disappoint. The welcome from Peggy was warm and inviting. She insured we were comfortable and made us feel welcome. Since they are new, my only complaint was we felt rushed. Over time I feel they will back off and allow you to relax and enjoy the experience. Will definitely return as the Food, Staff, and atmosphere was great! read more

We have added Serafina to one of top places to dine. The ambiance speaks for itself, dark wood bar and kinda moody vibe. The food is wonderful. We are working our way through the menu but our favorites so far are the Tartare di Manzo and the Burrata are our favorite appetizers. Who am I kidding ... add the Focaccia plate as well. For entrees we love the Bolognese, the Cacio de Pepe and the Short Rib. If you love gelato then they always have a rotating flavor and we just had the Salted Caramel and WOW, we poured an espresso over it for the perfect affogato. Happy to add this gem to our list! read more

Wonderful dinner! The hostess sat us at her favorite table. The beef short ribs were delicious. The service was excellent. Jackson took great care to make sure everything was perfect on our anniversary. It was a great place to celebrate! Don't let the construction outside deter you from coming. We parked at the depot. It is a very short walk and well worth it! read more

5 star lunch. Caren was a fabulous server and bartender. Flat iron steak was delicious. Very tasty snd tender. We love a little of their yummy fig dressing as an additional side. Cappuccinos and gelato for yummy dessert. read more

A beautiful place in downtown Apex. The Panzanella salad and Cacio e Pepe were delicious! The staff and service were excellent! We will be back and highly recommend! read more

Serafina Ristorante - Downtown Apex, NC Opening Night Review July 30, 2025 Too Long, Didn't Read (TL;DR): Beautifully designed upscale Italian restaurant with thoughtful food, friendly staff, and an atmosphere that lives up to the name Serafina. While vegan and gluten-free diners may need to ask extra questions, our overall experience on opening night was exceptional. Highlights: the Burrata Tiepida, Lasagna, and the Tiramisu. Free parking available nearby. A welcome addition to downtown Apex. -- Full Review: My wife and I had dinner at Serafina Ristorante tonight on their opening night, and it's safe to say downtown Apex has a new gem. Located in a walkable strip with plenty of free parking in front and behind the building, Serafina makes an elegant first impression with its celestial-inspired theme: white, gold, and black accents, softly lit paintings, and an intimate, elevated ambiance. Food: Appetizer: Burrata Tiepida - Warm burrata, lemon-spiced honey, and herb ciabatta. This was a hit. The burrata was just cooler than room temperature, as it should be, and the lemon-spiced honey paired perfectly. The ciabatta tasted freshly baked and lightly toasted. Simple, but elevated. Entrees: Lasagna - Whipped herb ricotta, tomato sauce, and layers of fried eggplant. My wife loved it. It struck the right balance of structure and moisture. It held its shape without being dry or greasy. Rigatoni Bolognese - Braised pork and beef ragu, fruity olive oil, and Pecorino. The flavors were layered and savory with hints of carrot and onion. However, the temperature could have been hotter. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. Desserts: Lemon Cheesecake - Olive oil, thyme, and lemon curd. A creative twist on a classic. Refreshing and subtle. Tiramisu - The standout. Soft, rich mascarpone mousse and perfectly soaked ladyfingers. Tasted fresh and made in-house. Drinks: No. 091 - Vodka, Drambuie, hazelnut, chocolate (my wife's choice) No. 032 - Amaretto, vanilla bean, lemon, cream, cherry (mine) We enjoyed the flavor profiles and appreciated the unique number-based naming convention. It was fun and mysterious. Service and Atmosphere: Our server, Erika, was warm, knowledgeable, and welcoming. We learned that staff were trained to taste the full menu, which is something every restaurant should do. It showed in the confidence of the recommendations. The theme of "Serafina" (angelic and serene) is carried through consistently, from branding to tableware. There's a quiet elegance here that feels upscale without being stiff. The lighting and decor invite you to settle in and savor. Dietary Considerations: Currently, there are no clearly labeled vegan or gluten-free options on the menu. Dietary restrictions will require clarification with staff. Hopefully, future iterations of the menu address this more explicitly. Final Thoughts: Serafina Ristorante brings something special to downtown Apex. It's a restaurant that takes food and experience seriously without losing its warmth. Whether for a date night or celebratory dinner, it's worth visiting. We'll be back soon, especially for the tiramisu. read more

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