The Arden community kicked off this month with the launch of a brand-new restaurant. The Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen opened Aug. 1 on Brevard Road. The eatery serves breakfast and lunch and features fresh baked goods, including cakes, cupcakes, pies, cinnamon monkey bread, cookies, scones, muffins, brownies, biscotti and more.
Owner Jill Wasilewski, who previously worked as a pastry chef in Washington, D.C., says she has been floored by the amount of support she has received from local residents. “I’ve had people come in to congratulate me and to tell me they were happy to see a new business go up that isn’t a chain,” she says.
The restaurant, housed in a former private residence built in 1939, can seat up to 28 guests, with additional outdoor seating available. Works by local artist Darcy Wade adorn the walls. “It’s very open and airy and casual inside,” says Wasilewski.
Breakfast items include a Southern skillet (cheddar cheese grits, two eggs, bacon and toast), a frittata (roasted red peppers, mushrooms, shredded Parmesan cheese and bacon) and a cinnamon bun skillet, which Wasilewski describes as “sinfully delicious.”
Highlights of the lunch menu include a homemade meatball sub, a “grown-up grilled cheese” called the Franklin and a caprese panini. Drink options include fresh-squeezed orange juice and lemonade, fresh fruit smoothies and French press and regular drip coffee.
“Our strong point is our baked goods,” says Wasilewski. “We have two trained pastry cooks. We do custom cakes, cupcakes and wedding cakes.”
Ivory Road is at 1854 Brevard Road, Arden. Store hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Breakfast is served 7-11 a.m.; lunch is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For additional information, visit ivoryroadavl.com.
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