Hwy 55 of Clayton, NC — Restaurant in Clayton

Cheers to PIPER! I was six years old when I moved to Clayton, North Carolina in 1976. I was a spunky child with curly golden-orange hair and a passion for caring for animals. Being a veterinarian was my life goal, and it came true. I have worked at the animal hospital for 27 years now. While I was there, I met my husband Ricky Deans. We made love on a warm Tuesday night in the summer of 2005 among the crickets and I fell pregnant with a boy: Ricardo.

Ricardo was the golden child— not that he had much competition, because he was an ONLY child, but nonetheless, he was a precious one. Got all A’s, in NHS, honor roll, all of that stuff. I loved my dear sweet Ricardo more than anything else in the world. Me and Ricardo would often take trips to Highway 55 ever since this 40/42 location opened when he was a little boy. He had the same orange hair and freckles I did when I was his age, and we would always get chocolate and strawberry milkshakes with extra whipped cream and a cherry. It was our staple— every Saturday, and on some lazy days when I didn’t feel like cooking a casserole, it was just me and Ricardo at highway 55.

He became fascinated with vintage cars— so much so that, during a trip to Arizona’s Vintage Car Show, he was struck and killed at the ripe age of 22 by a light blue 1956 Toyota Corolla.

After that, my husband and I fell apart. What was once a loving marriage quickly turned into two people who wanted absolutely nothing to do with each other— and, to be honest, it broke my heart. Last Wednesday evening, our 46 year-long marriage came to an end when he accused me of cheating on him with a young intern at my vet company, Eric. What he didn’t know is that I was aware of his 2 month-long affair with a 26 year old Hooters employee named Angela.

Things got heated. He pulled out my blonde extensions and spilled paint purposefully on my leopard print designer bag. I smashed his $6,000 watch and spat on his clothes with red food dye in my mouth. Lampshades were thrown, rugs were tossed over our apartment balcony, and I still can’t find my hamster.

After that, he left the apartment. I sat there for hours, wondering what to do, when finally, I thought about who brought me the most happiness in times like these: Ricardo.

And then I thought about Highway 55.

Just minutes later, I was sitting in the red leather booths and sipping on a chocolate milkshake. Every sip of the sweet milky liquid reminded me of the fruits of my life, the sweet taste of my husband’s poetic love, the bitterness when he left, like a rotten pomegranate. God, I needed another milkshake.

I raised my hand for a waitress to come over, and it was a different one than who served me.

She gave me a chocolate milkshake, and then another, and then a strawberry one. I didn’t mind spending the money— it’s not like I had a family to feed anymore.

As I looked around me at all of the other happy families eating— high school students with their little siblings, newlyweds still relishing in their early (happier) days, tiny children and babies playing with the small cardboard cars their kid’s meals came in… I thought more and more about who I have become, and who I was meant to be.

I finally decided that I want to adopt a child. Maybe from a foreign country, maybe not. I do not want to be alone, and I had made up my mind; I will not.

Thank you, Piper, for being a fantastic waitress that night. Piper is the...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Highway 55 in Clayton, NC, and I must say it was an exceptional experience, thanks in large part to our fantastic waitress, Piper.

From the moment we were seated, Piper went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was top-notch. Her warm and friendly demeanor immediately made us feel welcome, setting a positive tone for the entire meal.

Piper's knowledge of the menu was impressive. She guided us through the extensive options, providing recommendations that perfectly suited our tastes. Her attention to detail was evident as she made certain each dish was prepared to our liking.

What truly stood out, however, was Piper's impeccable timing and attentiveness. Our drinks were never empty, and she anticipated our needs before we even had to ask. It's rare to find a waitress so in tune with her customers, and Piper's genuine care for our enjoyment was truly appreciated.

Highway 55 itself had a great ambiance, but it was Piper who turned a good meal into a memorable experience. Her professionalism, coupled with a delightful personality, added a special touch to our visit. It's evident that she takes pride in her work, and it made all the difference.

In a world where good service can be hard to come by, Piper at Highway 55 is a shining example of excellence. I left the restaurant not only satisfied with the delicious food but also with a newfound appreciation for outstanding customer service. If you find yourself at Highway 55 in Clayton, NC, do yourself a favor and ask for Piper—you won't be...

I’ve been to this location now multiple times and when I tell you this place is trying to skimp on every single food item they serve I’m not lying! First it was a cheesesteak that was so thin we asked them to add more meat and the waitstaff told us they had been instructed to start making them smaller! But we all know those prices didn’t go down, in fact it’s more expensive. The next thing was the milkshakes. Basically all milk and when I say they maybe blended up one Oreo I’m not lying about to that either. So I actually turned around went back and asked them if they could please give me a regular milkshake. I left with the same thing I got the 1st time but they just basically handed back my same milkshake with more whipped cream on top. I’m so disappointed with this location bc I love this chain and the one in knightdale is still on point BUT it’s much further from my house. I’m not the type of person who usually write bad reviews but this place is being GREEDY and taking advantage of their customers at this point. They should be embarrassed to serve this chains food the way they are bc it gives them a bad name. I’ve eaten at enough of these locations to know what size and quality my food from here should be and this isn’t it! Now I have to go home and crush up my own Oreos to add to my milked down milk shake with one cookie. I hope someone that can make a difference in this...