Two Graces, a new casual, yet refined, restaurant is opening soon at 6001 Central Avenue. The restaurant was previously home to the nationally recognized Reading Room, which closed their doors in 2019. The uniquely designed restaurant boasts a spacious al fresco dining experience and fresh ingredients sourced from an on-site garden filled with herbs and vegetables.

The layout of Two Graces puts an emphasis on outdoor dining by offering various “rooms" in which to enjoy a hearty meal in the beautiful Florida sunshine. Plants, flowers, herbs, and vegetables will envelop the guests as they dine, a scene that could’ve easily been lifted out of The Secret Garden.

The outdoor area, which can seat up to 100 guests, is shaded by an enormous live oak tree and an open-air pavilion equipped with fans, perfect for those balmy summer nights. On chillier evenings, there will be heaters scattered throughout.

Around 50 seats are available in the indoor dining room. Those who frequented the Reading Room will notice the interior has largely stayed the same. The most noticeable difference is an incredible new mural created by local artist Alli Arnold that covers the back wall.

Once diners find a cozy spot either indoors or outdoors, it’s time to take a look at Two Grace’s menu. Some of the selections may look familiar since Two Graces co-owners, Chef Marlin Kaplan and Lisa Masterson, are also the owners of Grace, a similar restaurant located on St. Pete Beach. In fact, much of the inspiration for Two Graces came from Grace.

“We wanted to keep with the integrity of Grace’s menu while adding a new twist at Two Graces,” said Kaplan.

For instance, the cocktails on Grace’s drink menu are all named after dogs. At Two Graces, all ten signature cocktails are named after birds and flowers. In addition to cocktails, Two Graces offers ten local drafts. But perhaps the most unique aspect of the drink offerings is the 60 organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wine options. No other restaurant in St. Pete has such a selection, according to Kaplan.

Highlighting the appetizers are Crispy Brussels Sprouts, which are cooked with chestnuts and grapes, roasted shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs. The Taco Verde is another option Kaplan is excited about, bringing a new meaning to Taco Tuesday with roasted celery root, pickled red onions, date BBQ, lemon aioli, and poached cabbage leaves in place of the traditional corn or flour tortilla shell.

The entrée menu also offers some unique flavors such as a roasted baby pumpkin stuffed with pumpkin risotto and parmesan tuile. Two Graces also has an 8oz filet mignon with an herbed breadcrumb crust which is complemented by an artichoke bacon and potato torte.

For seafood lovers, the Pistachio Crusted Florida Grouper is cooked in quinoa flour and roasted in the pizza oven along with a bell pepper stuffed with orzo and quinoa.

Two Grace’s menu also keeps many of the favorites from Grace, including fresh pasta and roasted chicken served in a clay pot. Kaplan is even utilizing the wood burning pizza oven left behind by the Reading Room. Four pizzas will be on the menu.

Finish the night off with some dessert. Among the list of treats is the cookies and milk which comes with three assorted macarons and a mini vanilla milkshake served in a small milk jug.

Marlin Kaplan emphasizes that fresh ingredients are the focus of every menu item at Two Graces. And it doesn’t get fresher when the garden is on-site. Items like lettuce, turnips, arugula, kale, mustard greens, squash, and an assortment of herbs have been planted for the Fall by Two Graces’ gardener Maggie Jensen.

“Fifty to sixty percent of the items on our menu utilize the food from the garden,” adds Kaplan.

Kaplan and Masterson have over 30 years of experience in the restaurant business and have collectively owned 10 restaurants. With the success of Grace, they wanted to bring their concept of fresh and flavorful dining in a comfortable setting to another neighborhood in St. Pete. And although initial plans were to open in 2020, Kaplan is pleased to see the finish line in sight.

“With COVID, many of our plans were delayed, but after a year of waiting, we are only a few details away from opening our doors,” Kaplan commented with excitement.

With the Fall making its way to St. Pete, Two Graces is sure to be a popular outdoor dining option in west St. Pete. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to not to miss the grand opening announcement.