As lunch time neared people began coming into Park Avenue Grill steadily. Some ordered lunch, some were having a late breakfast and others an early dinner.

“We serve breakfast lunch and dinner all day long,” Cat Sobral, Park Avenue Grill co-manager, said. “It was little slow at first but it’s been picking up a little bit every day. We already have some people we can consider regulars and the word-of-mouth has been the biggest thing so far.”

The restaurant has been open for a little more than three weeks at 416 Park Ave. in the Elks building and, Sobral said, the lunch time rush has steadily increased.

“We just want people to know we are here,” she said. “We also want people to know that we are not private and that we are open to the public.”

Head cook and co-manager Brittanie Sizemore cited some reasons people should choose Park Avenue Grill. She said the menu selection and quality of food along with offering breakfast lunch and dinner all day and a family friendly atmosphere is what draws customers in.

“We make our food to order,” Sizemore said. “Our burgers are patted out as they’re ordered. Everything is fresh; everything is home cooked. We don’t make things out of mixes. We are family friendly. We have good prices and good quality food. No one wants to believe we don’t sell frozen burgers.”

Being located inside the same building is the extent of the restaurant’s association with the Elks, Sobral said.

“So many people don’t know that and we are not associated with the bar,” she said. “We have done kids’ parties here and we blocked the door to the bar so there was no access to it.”

Before owner Felix Reyes opened Park Avenue Grill he insisted on what Sobral called a “much-needed” transformation. The interior repainted, the carpet cleaned and new tables and chairs were brought in.

“We pretty much did anything and everything we could to make the inside look better and look good,” Sobral said. “When people come in here and see this they are like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t believe this is the same place.’”

Aesthetics aside, it’s still all about the food to Sobral and Sizemore.

“If we can get the people in here to try the food,” Sobral said, “they will understand. I haven’t tried one thing that I haven’t liked. The food is just phenomenal.”

Popular items not on the menu include fried green beans, deep fried banana peppers, baked spaghetti and half-baked chicken.

Delivery is available in Ironton and sometimes Coal Grove and Russell, Ky., if employees are available. Plans are in the works for theme nights, cookouts on the balcony and the unveiling of daily specials.

Park Avenue Grill is open seven days a week. Hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday.