Hollywood to the Gulch: Tara Roberts of Two Hands Restaurant

Can you tell us a bit about your career trajectory? What brought you to Nashville?

I went to film school at USC (the University of Southern California) and started out as an assistant in Hollywood, then moved to Sydney for grad school to study creative writing. After that, I moved to New York City and met my husband, Henry, just before he opened the first Two Hands café in 2014. I had worked in hospitality for years while I was studying and writing, so I started helping out in the café the first week it opened, and I’ve been a part of it ever since.

What inspired Two Hands, and how has the concept evolved as you’ve opened new locations?

Initially, Henry envisioned Two Hands as a bright, welcoming café that would serve delicious coffee and fresh food like he grew up with in Sydney. The first location, in NYC’s Nolita neighborhood, was small and simple, but New Yorkers connected with it. The second location was a full-scale restaurant in Tribeca with dinner and a bar. Since then, we’ve expanded to two more locations in NYC, one in Austin, and our new restaurant in Nashville.

The concept has evolved organically. A lot of menu items are available in multiple locations, and we aim for consistency in the quality of the food, drinks, service, and overall experience. But each restaurant is different. We don’t want to churn out cookie-cutter versions of the same thing. The goal is for the design and menu of each restaurant to reflect the best possible version of Two Hands in that community.

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If we could try only one dish on the menu, what should it be?

I think you’d have to try the banana walnut bread with espresso mascarpone. It’s been on our menu since the beginning, and the flavor and texture are unreal. You have to try it to understand.

Word on the street is you’ve authored several books. Can you tell us about them?

Yes! My middle-grade books Eden’s Wish and Eden’s Escape were published by Disney-Hyperion. They’re about a genie who escapes her lamp because she wants to be a regular girl and her adventures on Earth.

What’s next on the horizon?

Three new Two Hands locations in the next two years! We’ll be opening in Franklin, Denver, and Dallas.

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When you aren’t dining at your own restaurant, where are your favorite spots to eat and drink in Nashville?

Lou, Folk, or Once Upon a Time in France for a nice dinner out. Dozen for lunch and a baguette to bring home. Otaku Ramen for a casual meal or takeout. Old Glory, the wine bar at Urban Cowboy, or good old Robert’s Western World for drinks.

What do you do for self-care?

Go for a walk and listen to a book on Audible.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

I love fiction and always have, but between work and running after our two toddler sons, it works best to listen to books on the go. I am currently listening to a collection of short stories by Lauren Groff.