<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0TAJgV_19Fpc4dN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0TAJgV_19Fpc4dN00" width="1000" height="562" ><figcaption>Neutral Ground Lounge’s design draws inspiration from New Orleans’ Garden District. Photos: Lily Hernandez</figcaption></figure>Neutral Ground, a new restaurant and lounge from Arcadia local Kevin Ehret, has opened its doors at The Marilyn. The concept has been years in the making, shaped by his cooking career both in the neighborhood and in New Orleans, North Carolina, and Hawaii.“I have always loved the idea of a true neighborhood lounge,” Ehret said. “A place that feels elevated but comfortable, where people can slow down, enjoy themselves, and feel genuinely taken care of.”Ehret said seasonality and hospitality are central to the lounge’s philosophy.“I learned to cook while working in Asheville, North Carolina, where farms and producers were part of everyday life,” he said. “That mindset still shapes how we cook today.”The menu focuses on shareable dishes that shift throughout the year as fresh ingredients become available.“If an ingredient is no longer at its peak, it comes off the menu,” Ehret said. “We would rather change a dish than push something past its moment.”Local agriculture, especially during Arizona’s cooler months, plays a significant role in what guests see on the menu right now, including bright citrus-forward dishes.“Our food is designed as small, shareable plates that feel clean and approachable,” he said. “The dishes are meant to be fun and familiar, often presented in a slightly unexpected way.”The wine and cocktail programs follow the same mindset, focusing on familiar grapes, spirits, and flavor profiles while introducing guests to producers or regions they may not already know. Drinks are meant to be enjoyable and easygoing, pairing naturally with conversation and connection.“The goal is to create food and drinks that pair naturally with conversation, connection, and the neighborhood,” Ehret said. “We take our craft of food, drink, and hospitality very seriously, but not ourselves.”Design inspiration for the space draws from New Orleans, particularly the Garden District, where “spaces feel layered, warm, and timeless,” according to Ehret. He worked with designer Cindy Louie of Go Studio Go to bring that feeling to life.“The goal was to create something that feels like an escape without being formal, a place that feels intentional and welcoming,” he said.Ehret is the sole owner of Neutral Ground Lounge, a project he has been developing for more than 15 years. Opening in Arcadia holds personal meaning.“I grew up from my middle through high school years about two miles away,” he said. “After spending years cooking and working in restaurants around the country, it is meaningful to return and build something unique in a neighborhood I know well.”</div></body>

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Neutral Ground, a new restaurant and lounge from Arcadia local Kevin Ehret, has opened its doors at The Marilyn. The concept has been years in the making, shaped by his cooking career both in the neighborhood and in New Orleans, North Carolina, and Hawaii. “I have always loved the idea...

A lounge that prides itself on its local roots

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Neutral Ground, a new restaurant and lounge from Arcadia local Kevin Ehret, has opened its doors at The Marilyn. The concept has been years in the making, 

A lounge that prides itself on its local roots

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