Skylark Cafe is a charming historic craftsman style house that has been lovingly updated to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience in the Ozark Mountains.
Our story began 17 years ago, here’s a bit of our journey.
Leslie, Arkansas
The Beginning
2009
After growing up working in her parents’ cafe and swearing she would never run a restaurant, Joy purchased 401 High street in 2009 at the age of 20.
Skylark came about as a glimmer of light suggested in a dark time by her sister. The original intention was to open a bookstore called “Our House,” that could also offer a cup of soup or a sandwich as an incentive to get people in the door. But like all great things, the idea evolved as time went on, and the place became Skylark Cafe, a full-service restaurant still changing today. It officially opened in December of ‘09 after a summer of ripping up carpet, flooring, walls, ceilings, and painting just about everything with help from just about everyone.
Joy’s career in front of house came to an end about a week after opening, when she realized that she was too much of a control freak to let other people run the kitchen of her restaurant. Thus, she worked her first kitchen shift which coincidentally never ended.
She credits her mom, grandma, and Vicki Lewis (who grew up in the house and later sold it to her) for surviving the early years with what must’ve been inherited cooking skills, good tastebuds, tenacity, and a whole lot of help.
Joy and Denver met when they were hired by a manager named Sergio to wait tables at a restaurant called Carino’s off 1-35 in Austin about a month apart in early 2008.
Joy was serving as an intern for a non-profit dedicated to at-risk children and Denver was beginning his education at le Cordon Bleu Culinary School.
After culinary school Denver worked in various kitchens all over the US, from Vail, Colorado, to Oklahoma City, to a brief stint with his own BBQ truck- all while Joy was working her never-ending kitchen shift back in Leslie.
In 2014, after 8 years of friendship, Denver and Joy eloped on the beach in Florida and moved back to Austin, while Joy’s sister, Sara, took over Skylark.
While in Austin, Denver worked at the Westin Hotel and Joy worked at Sandra Bullock’s (now closed) Bess Bistro.
After a year of honeymooning, eating, cooking, and serving- all of the best things Austin had to offer- they decided to come back to Arkansas and bring some of their most loved experiences and flavors with them.
Austin, Texas
The Honeymoon
2014
Leslie, Arkansas
Growing the Family
2016-present
Their son Oliver was born on February 24 2016, and later their daughter, Isla Kay, was born on September 24 2017.
After two kids, Joy and Denver decided they wanted to expand their business as well, so in August of 2018 they opened Oliver’s Bistro on Main Street in Mountain View.
They spent two years investing in that lovely space, featuring European-influenced menu items and ambiance inspired by the upscale effortlessness of Bess Bistro.
When COVID-19 struck America, it took a toll on small businesses in particular, and Joy and Denver took 3 months to reconsider their business ventures. They decided that the best path was to streamline, and put all their efforts into Skylark and their family.
After two years of being short staffed and spread thin, they combined their wonderful teams of amazing people and expanded Skylark’s seating and service into what it is today.