Food & Drink · Restaurants
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
About
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
Tucked into a century-old brick building on North Salem Street, Scratch Kitchen & Taproom has become one of historic downtown Apex’s most beloved gathering spots. The name is a promise, and the kitchen keeps it: nearly everything that leaves the pass is made in-house, from the stone-ground cheese grits to the sauces, dressings and desserts. Pair that cooking with a wall of local craft taps and the kind of warm Southern hospitality Apex is known for, and you have a restaurant that feels equally right for a quick weeknight dinner, a leisurely weekend meal or a celebration with a table full of friends.
Made From Scratch, Start to Finish
When Jeff and Meredith Kromenhoek opened Scratch in September 2018, the concept was refreshingly simple: cook real food, from scratch, with care. Jeff spent two decades running restaurants in the U.S. Virgin Islands before bringing that hospitality to North Carolina, partnering with the family behind The Mason Jar Tavern and Mason Jar Lager Company. Together they built a kitchen that leans into the details — house-made components, seasonal produce and a philosophy of putting a unique spin on the familiar. It is comfort food cooked the long way, and the difference shows on the plate. Just as importantly, the owners set out to be a positive part of the community and a genuine go-to for a great meal.
Southern Roots, Global Accents
The menu is Southern at heart but well-traveled, weaving comfort-food traditions together with Asian and international influences. The tempura shrimp and grits is a signature — crisp shrimp over creamy stone-ground cheese grits — while the Korean-inspired bibimbap bowl arrives with marinated ribeye, seasoned vegetables and a farm egg. Elsewhere you will find a reimagined BLT stacked with candied bacon, smoked green tomatoes and kimchi mayo, General Tso cauliflower, a tuna poke bowl and a truffle lobster mac and cheese built on a lobster-bisque base rather than cream. It is playful, generous cooking that rewards repeat visits and second helpings.
A Taproom Worth Lingering In
True to its name, Scratch takes its beverages seriously. Nearly two dozen taps pour a rotating lineup that leans local, with beers from Triangle-area breweries such as Bond Brothers Beer Company, Southern Peak Brewery and Four Saints Brewing Company, alongside a thoughtful selection of bourbons and whiskeys. Whether you are waiting on a table or settling in for the whole evening, the bar is an easy place to sample something new and toast the neighborhood. The taproom side gives the room an easy, sociable energy that keeps regulars coming back.
A Room With History
Scratch occupies the historic Tobacco and Mule Exchange building, and the space wears its age beautifully. Exposed brick, wide-plank floors and vintage touches — including a wagon-wheel chandelier — give the dining room real character, while a covered patio adds a few dozen more seats for warm evenings. The setting is a fitting anchor for Salem Street, the walkable heart of one of the Triangle’s best-preserved small-town downtowns, where you can pair dinner with a wander past locally owned shops and galleries.
Planning Your Visit
Scratch is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant does not take reservations; instead, it runs a convenient text-based waitlist, so on busier evenings you can add your name at the host stand and explore Salem Street or grab a beer at the bar until your table is ready. Independent, locally owned and firmly rooted in its community, Scratch Kitchen & Taproom is well worth the short trip to Apex — and, more often than not, well worth the wait.