First Look: Grace Meat & Three in The Grove

By Catherine Klene // September 6, 2017

Chef Rick Lewis is bringing his southern food to The Grove. Grace Meat & Three will open Wed., Sept. 13 at 4270 Manchester Ave., in the former home of Sweetie Pie’s at The Mangrove.

As The Scoop reported in June, Lewis left his role as executive chef of Southern to open his own project with wife Elisa Lewis. Grace will offer a traditional “meat and three” menu featuring mains and rotating seasonal sides like greens, biscuits and mac and cheese.

“It’s all the things we’ve learned over the years coming to fruition here,” Rick said.

Elisa designed the 4,000-square-foot space with finds from rummage sales and items they’d collected over the years like old mattress springs that were turned into living wall decor with succulents and Spanish moss. The space will seat 100, and features a community table and bar stools designed by Goebel & Co.

Place your order at the counter, then grab a seat and wait for runners to drop off cafeteria trays laden with comfort food. Pick from mains like sweet tea-brined turkey legs, catfish bites or fried chicken, then pick two or three sides. Sandwiches including Rick Lewis’ famous house-made fried bologna and a burger are available, as well as a handful of salads and sharable starters.

Nonalcoholic beverages are self-serve, but customers can pick up canned and bottled beer, a few local draft options and a small selection of cocktails like ice picks, mint juleps and bloody marys at the bar.

Grace will start with lunch service Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with dinner service soon to follow. Here’s a first look at the newest project from Rick and Elisa Lewis.

Catherine Klene is managing editor, digital at Sauce Magazine.