Just Baked

Just Baked in Surf City is now serving your favorite meal. Sure, owners Michelle and Bud Taylor may not know what everybody's favorite meal is, so they decided to start serving all three - or four of them, if you count dessert as a meal.

Like many local restaurant owners, Bud moved away and tried another career and then returned to what he knew best in the place he knew best.

"I grew up here just across the bridge. Michelle is from the west coast. No one's ever from here," laughed Bud.

Bud and Michelle, who is originally from California, spent time living in areas near Raleigh and Charlotte. Although they were both graphic designers, food has always been a passion for both of them.

"I ran restaurants for eight or ten years. Then I took seven or eight years off. Then here I am again!" said Bud.

The couple had a dream to build a bakery in Surf City selling muffins, pies, croissants and cakes to locals and tourists with a sweet tooth. Two years ago, the dream came true, but that was only step one. Adding a restaurant to the business was always another goal.

"When we moved back, we wanted to do this, but capital was a problem. So we started a bakeshop. We said, ‘In two years we'll open a restaurant.' Then, two years later, we actually did it," said Bud.

The owners of Just Baked, which is now a bakeshop and restaurant, definitely know who does what when it comes to running the business. Michelle, with her passion for desserts and expertise in cake design, makes the big decisions on the bakery side of the building, while the restaurant's needs are usually covered by Bud.

Bud also has a sense of humor when he recalls how running a restaurant requires learning the hard way. Years back, he accidentally did himself a major disservice.

"One Friday night at another restaurant, I fired all the dishwashers. Big mistake! Never fire all the dishwashers. The other managers and I had to be dishwashers. You learn quickly," laughed Bud.

Michelle and Bud also seem to have their media duties settled, as well. While Michelle would rather have Bud speak to the Advertiser, he is quick to mention all that she does well. Bud also laughed when he mentioned that while Michelle does most of the hiring, he has to do most of the firing. He then joked that she is known as "The Nice One."

"Being the boss as not nearly as easy as you'd think. I should do a pod cast called "Don't You Wanna Own a Restaurant?" We have been working hundred hour weeks. We have about 25 on the staff, but we're still hiring," said Bud.

The Just Baked Bakery Cafe has been functioning as a full restaurant since early June. The new sign just went up in the parking lot, but many people think it is still just a bakery.

"It gets busy on the food side, but the baking side has been absolutely out of control. We recommend desserts each night and we always have a cake of the day," said Bud.

Bud says that Just Baked lunches focus on soups, salads and sandwiches. Much of the produce is organic and local.

"A lot of our cheeses we get locally. We also have local clams, fish and other seafood," Bud explained.

While Bud is proud of all of the dishes on the menu, when asked for recommendations he said to try the Pepper Crusted Rib-Eye Steak, the Low Country Clam Bake and the Cornmeal Crusted Oysters.

"We try to find really good beef - the freshest. We also try to do lighter things," said Bud.

And keeping with the name - Just Baked - Bud said, "We don‘t really do fried stuff. The only thing we fry is the homemade potato chips."

Just Baked Bakery Café is located at 205 South Topsail Drive in Surf City. It is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with an extra hour to dine on Friday and Saturday nights.