I cannot resist a play on words here: Grace delivers on its moniker and is the embodiment of elegance and grace. Focused on homestyle cooking in a light and airy setting, it is all comfort and charm. However, the food is much better and a little more stylized than what I have come to expect in my own home.
Both times I have visited Grace I have done so in their upstairs private room, which can be booked for both cocktail receptions and private dining. I have been lucky enough to experience the former and the latter, and was dually impressed. If you commit to a minimum spend of $1000 you too can book the private room which boasts a communal lounge area, its own bar and the appropriate setup for either cocktails or sit-down dinner.
At dinner we feasted on a pumpkin-squash cream soup, tender bison steak, rosemary roasted potatoes and an assortment of roasted green vegetables, aptly followed by an apple pie (called something more fanciful). It was all served up "family-style" and shared amongst the group, adding to the communal atmosphere. It was such a charming experience in a city sometimes lacking in such character.
I'll be back for a deux-a-deux more intimate dining experience.