Throughout Australia, the all-day cafe is an essential part of the culture, beloved for its breezy, light-filled space serving great coffee, food and “everyone knows your name” hospitality.
When Sydney-born musician Henry Roberts arrived in NYC in 2011, he couldn’t find anything like it. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Within three years, Roberts, also an avid home cook, opened his first Aussie-style cafe, Two Hands, in Nolita (north of Little Italy.) New Yorkers quickly embraced the place not only for its delectable “brekkie” bowls and superb espresso-based drinks but for its light-hearted, community-driven spirit.
“We started small and learned as we went,” Henry says. “If you are passionate enough, New York has a certain energy that empowers you. And I said, ‘why not!’”
Eight years and six neighborhood shops later, the Two Hands founder is bringing his distinctive Aussie “good vibes good food” to the Paseo South Gulch development on 8th Avenue. Coming to Nashville was a natural move. Roberts’ wife Tara is originally from Murfreesboro. While she attended graduate school in Sydney, she didn’t meet Henry until she moved to Manhattan. (She worked at the original Two Hands location.) The couple tied the knot in Nashville in 2016 and have recently relocated here to raise their two sons. Music City is home.
“In 2020, we opened our first cafe outside of New York, in Austin. We wanted to test the market. It’s been very successful, and gave us the incentive to come here,” Henry says. “Finding the right location was surprisingly easy because I’d go to Carter Vintage Guitars and we’d shop at the Antiques Mall, so we knew the stretch very well.”
“When the developer presented us with the project, we knew it would work,” adds Tara. “We were wanting a slower pace to raise our boys. We had already been living part-time on our farm in the Hudson Valley to get out of the city.”
There, the Roberts humanely raise lamb, beef, and pigs, and the farm supplies their restaurants. Henry is quick to note that his concept is not cookie-cutter. Each location has its individual personality, but you can expect beachy, coastal-inspired interiors. Designer Sarah Carpenter has fashioned the Nashville café in hues of white-washed brick, sand and ocean blue. The menu exemplifies modern Australian fare and boasts an exceptional coffee program (Two Hands has a proprietary blend, which they roast in their Brooklyn location), local beers, natural wines, and cocktails.
“We focus on nutritious, flavor-packed foods,” Henry says. “We have some of our staples on our all-day menu along with some new dishes, and dinner will offer several small and shareable plates.” Tara adds, “We have a lot of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.”
One of those not-to-be-missed staples is the gluten-free Banana Walnut Bread with espresso mascarpone and toasted buckwheat, a menu fave from Day 1. Avocado toast may be a bit overdone these days, but the Two Hands version—smashed avo with pepitas, sesame, pickled shallots, and chilies on sourdough—remains a solid choice, delicious on its own, or capped with a poached egg.
The Brassicas Bowl, a salad of shaved kale, Brussels sprouts, and charred broccolini, is boosted with the house hummus, soft egg, and a generous wedge of avocado; the whole shebang is then showered with assorted seeds and chili pepper for heat. Of course, you can customize it by adding a protein, like the pulled chicken or grilled salmon filet. In the early days, Henry did much of the cooking. Now, Two Hands’ culinary director, Barney Hannagan, oversees the menu design and execution. Word is that his Lamb Barbacoa, tender braised shoulder that is finished carnitas-style and served with white hominy purée, packs soul-satisfaction.
The Roberts are excited to open their doors to Nashville diners and welcome them for a taste of Two Hands. “There’s a real synergy between Aussie and Southern hospitality,” Henry says. “We look forward to hosting you for a bite and a chat.”
(606 8th Ave. S., Ste. 400; twohandshospitality.com)