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Meet downtown Cary’s next great gathering place.
The last missing piece of downtown Cary has clicked into place. With Lloyd’s Full Service’s August opening, the historic 1950s filling station introduced a neighborhood gathering spot locals have long craved—bringing chef-driven comfort food and vibrancy to the town’s otherwise quiet main intersection.
“We felt like adding a cheerful destination to that corner would help connect all the elements of downtown Cary that are really popping right now,” says Craig Spitzer, owner of Lloyd’s operating partner Early Bird Night Owl—which also operates The Mayton, Peck & Plume, The Durham Hotel and soon-to-open The Gables—pointing to Downtown Cary Park, the area around Bond Brothers and momentum building up toward The Walk Up bar.
Despite the area’s growing restaurant scene, Lloyd’s fills a different niche: casual enough for a weeknight hot dog (an ode to the glizzies once served at the former Ashworth’s across the street), yet thoughtful enough for housemade linguine with clams. The menu mixes familiar favorites with reimagined twists, from steak and farmers market-inspired sides to salt and vinegar fish fry, fresh salads and a slew of seasonal starters. Lunch and weekend brunch will round out the approachable offerings down the line.
That balance starts in the kitchen. Executive chef Dennis Bernard spent more than two decades honing his craft in Chicago at acclaimed restaurants like The Publican, Big Star and Michelin-starred Blackbird, before bringing his craft to Cary: family-friendly, healthful, approachable food that never feels ordinary and appeals to everyone—at a reasonable price point to boot. He’s joined by GM David Clore, whose six years leading operations for M Restaurants lend equal emphasis to warm, thoughtful hospitality.
A covered three-season patio canopy, vintage-inspired interiors and thoughtful cocktails round out the experience. Altogether, Lloyd’s aims to be a beacon in downtown Cary, notes Spitzer, drawing inspiration from an early advertisement describing the station as “the cheerful-looking place on the corner”—a spirit the team hopes to revive.
“We love that downtown Cary has so many great restaurants,” adds Spitzer, “and we hope to add to that landscape and offer another reason for people to come explore.” For a downtown in the midst of reinvention, Lloyd’s is poised to become more than just a place to go out to eat—but the welcoming front porch connecting all the momentum happening just beyond its doors. @lloydsfullservice
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