At long last, Apex has a bona fide family-owned deli. Let’s just say it’s worth visiting early and often.
Located at the new Sweetwater Town Center off Highway 64 in Apex, Fratelli’s Delicatessen features New York- and Chicago-style breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more. The counter-service eatery opened in September 2024.
Owners Dave and Shannon Thomas hail from the Windy City and the Empire State, respectively.
“I’m from Long Island, but we met in Chicago, and we were both accustomed to having delis on every corner,” says Shannon. “When we moved down here, there were days when we would say, ‘I want a bacon, egg and cheese’ or, ‘I could go for an Italian beef.’ We couldn’t find those around here, so that’s when we decided to open our own place.”
Inspired by family matriarch and Shannon’s late grandmother Margaret Saudo, affectionally known as Nan, Dave and Shannon wanted to capture the spirit of togetherness for which Nan was known. The couple teamed up with several other family members in the new venture, including Nan’s great-grandsons RJ and Tyler Cancel, who are siblings (“fratelli” means “brothers” in Italian).
Fratelli’s is conveniently situated in the new Sweetwater Town Center development off Highway 64 in Apex.
“Nan lived to be 99, and she was the cornerstone of the family,” Shannon explains, pointing to her grandmother’s cherished lasagna pan displayed near the deli’s entrance. “Sundays were always the big day for gathering at her house for food and family time.”
Speaking of food, popular hot sandwiches at Fratelli’s include a meatball parm crowned with melted provolone and mozzarella and a signature marinara; piled-high pastrami on rye with spicy brown mustard; and a Reuben with house-braised corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing.
Don’t ignore the Little Italy panini encompassing a crispy chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, roasted tomato, and balsamic aioli served on ciabatta bread.
When it comes to cold selections, we highly recommend the Berserker, which involves rare roast beef, cheddar, arugula, roasted tomato, red onion, and horseradish sauce on a kaiser roll. Another surefire winner is the Italian loaded with Genoa salami, pepperoni, capicola, tavern ham, provolone, red onion, and herbed aioli, plus olive oil and red wine vinegar for good measure.
If you prefer a smaller or more budget-friendly portion, more than 20 sandwiches are available in two sizes.
“We source our bread from La Farm and Neomonde, and we’ve partnered with New York Bagel & Deli in Cary for bagels,” Dave says.
Want a New York or Chicago hot dog? Fratelli’s offers both types loaded with all the requisite toppings.
Owners Dave and Shannon Thomas (seated) talk with two satisfied guests who just finished their lunch.
Much of the menu has gluten-free options.
“I can’t eat gluten, so I know how important it is to have safe choices,” Shannon reveals.
“Other members of our family also have dietary restrictions,” Dave adds. “We have a dedicated station to prepare the gluten-free items, so we take it very seriously.”
The restaurant also serves an extensive selection of breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and bowls — all day, every day.
“Since many of our items are made to order, there’s no reason we shouldn’t offer breakfast anytime,” says Shannon.
For a spot-on New York–style experience, order a classic BECSPK sandwich, which melds bacon, egg, cheese, salt, pepper, and ketchup on a kaiser roll. Trust us: It’s fire.
“The Hungry Man is the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever eaten,” declares Frank, a native New Yorker and regular Fratelli’s customer. The Hungry Man stacks three eggs, three slices of American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, sausage, and ham on a kaiser roll.
The hearty Fratelli’s Trio, available as a bowl or burrito, brims with scrambled eggs, ham, applewood smoked bacon, pork sausage, sauteed onions and peppers, cheddar jack cheese, and breakfast potatoes.
The cherished lasagna pan that belonged to Nan, the family matriarch who lived to be 99.
Salads also get plenty of love here, with choices including antipasto, Caesar, Cobb, and Greek. There’s also a pick-your-own salad station that includes toppings like black olives, hard-boiled eggs, and pepperoncini.
“We have all kinds of salads: egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, pasta salad, macaroni salad, and more,” lists Dave. “Our Long Island potato salad is dynamite and takes two days to make. The potatoes are brined and sliced thin, and there’s a lot of love that goes into the recipe.”
Front-and-center display cases showcase tempting desserts like tiramisu, cheesecake, and Italian cookies, plus Boar’s Head cold cuts and cheeses to take home and enjoy later.
An easily accessible grab-and-go section provides fresh and frozen delicacies like baked ziti and lasagna. Curated jars of gourmet provisions such as lemon-basil pesto, serrano ham–stuffed olives, and black garlic hot sauce also are available.
“We’re trying to make things as convenient and family friendly as possible,” says Dave.
As for beverages, locally sourced java comes from nearby small-batch roaster Peak City Coffee. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are available, including Bloody Marys, mimosas, and champagne.
“We have eight rotating local beers on draft, including Southern Peak Brewery, Wicked Weed, and Burial,” Dave adds. “Vicious Fishes is doing an exclusive collaboration with us called Inferno, which is an Italian pilsner.”
If you plan to eat in, go early, as seating in the dining room is limited. An outdoor patio offers room for about 50 guests.
fratellisdeli.com
@FratellisDeliApex
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