Can I use the words “elegant, gourmet, and affordable” all in the same sentence without inviting questioning glances? That’s how people are describing our “Saturday Suppers” that are quickly becoming a date night tradition in Metro Atlanta.

We serve your choice of a first course, main entrée, and freshly crafted dessert for just $29 each Saturday. While many restaurants “up” their weekend prices, we’ve brought them down so you can enjoy a night out on the town in the luxury you deserve without feeling guilty about your spending.

At these low prices, we’ve found people are inviting their friends and turn date night into a double date or even small party. Who haven’t you seen in awhile? Wouldn’t it be great to put together a gathering before the end of summer?

Additionally, I’ve noticed a surge in our after meal to-go orders which I attribute to the evening deals we’ve got going on. Our famous pumpkin bread regularly follows people home, as do our desserts. Sometimes they’re boxed up for a late night treat, other times for friends and family. I’m always pleased as a chef to know that even after a full meal, people still crave my food enough to order some to go!

Have you been to grace 1720 lately? Are you looking for something new? We’d love to invite you to join us for Saturday Supper or any one of our daily meals. You’ll enjoy a different special every night—-from half-price wine Tuesdays to live music Fridays. Please visit our events page for a complete listing.

I hope I’ll soon find you using “elegant” and “affordable” in the same sentence when referring to your time spent with grace 1720!

They’re fascinating to watch…

So beautiful to look at…

You want to engage them and capture their attention but it’s usually against the “rules.”

They’re generally found across the continent or the world, but you can see them by purchasing admittance or a ticket.

They’re tough to get close to unless you go through their “handlers.”

No. They are not those rare, beautiful, and exotic animals at the zoo, but you’re close.

They’re the celebrities who dine with us at Grace. I’m not sure how they find us. Is it Zagat’s top ratings? Word of mouth? Magazine reviews? The Internet? I’m always pleasantly surprised when we see just how far Grace 1720 reaches beyond our intimate Norcross neighborhood.

I know our guests have come to look around a bit expectantly in hopes of catching a glimpse of the celebrities who dine with us. We really appreciate that people find it fun to come here and “star gaze,” yet they observe the social rules of etiquette and allow our famous guests to dine peaceably. It makes it a comfortable experience for everyone.

And after dinner we notice the celebs appear gracious with our guests, often greeting them or shaking hands. It’s just one more way our name emanates throughout the restaurant. From our servers to our regular customers, first time diners to iconic guests, we appreciate the grace and dignity everyone displays in what could turn into a picture-taking, autograph-seeking barrage.

So thank you for your patronage—and thank you for helping our recognizable guests enjoy a comfortable, intimate experience at Grace.

Have you ever encountered a celebrity in an unexpected place? What did you do? How did the celebrity act toward you?

Whew! It feels like after every Fourth of July, the summer clock just speeds right up. Before we know it the kids will be back to school and we’ll be celebrating that last summer hurrah.

I’ve had such a wonderful time experimenting with our fresh, local produce in the kitchen this summer. Have you been in? If not, here are a few summer specials we designed for our guests.

We crafted a succulent Salmon Burger with tomato, lettuce, avocado, and lime to blend summertime taste with a heart-healthy choice. You’d never go back to plain ol’ tuna salad after experiencing our tender Ahi Tuna Melt with Swiss cheese and freshly sliced tomatoes on multi-grain bread. Now that’s a tuna sandwich done right!

Since I personally shop for our ingredients and am often inspired by the fresh offerings in our local marts, I cannot post our daily specials far in advance. While some chef’s specials revolve around what needs to be used up in the kitchen and they’re trying to push certain dishes out the door, our specials are designed solely based on what’s fresh coming in the door. I know you’ll taste that distinction.

And guess what? Since our customers (and I) were on a healthy, light, a fresh food kick this summer, I’m going all out with the fish and seafood specialty dishes. Watch for even more creative ways to capture the essence of summer on your dinner plate at Grace. I think one of my favorite marriages of flavor was the Pan Seared Red Grouper with Sautéed French Green Beans, Baby Tomatoes, and Roasted Golden Beets and Citrus Buerre Blanc. Now that’s a mouthful of words and a mouthful of flavor.

What special are you missing today? What would you like to see me cook up with fresh summertime victuals? I’d love to be inspired by your ideas.

Until next time,

What are you hungry for? And what does summer taste like to you?

Father’s Day is just a few days away! Don’t get caught on Sunday with impossible lines, frazzled servers, and mediocre food. You can count on Grace 1720 to provide a comfortable and attentive atmosphere for dad and your whole family.

We are still accepting reservations for our sumptuous Father’s Day Brunch. We’re serving from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and feature some terrific and hearty steaks for dad, cooked to perfection and served in an exquisite presentation.

Why have dad lift a finger on his special day? Let him tend to the lawn or assemble that grill another day. For now, it’s all about him and we have the perfect brunch planned just for him.

Enjoy our Grand Marnier French Toast, Pulled Pork, Poblano & White Cheddar Chili Hash and Eggs, and our sumptuous Crab Cake Benedict along with our pumpkin streusel, chocolate and banana breads, or head into our lunch fare with a Grilled White Marble Pork Chop or Shrimp Salad Wrap served with Sweet Potato Chips.

We’ll whet his appetite for one of the tantalizing steaks I’ve selected especially for our Father’s Day brunch. I’m confident the select cuts of meat and careful preparation will make Grace’s steak’s rival the most well known steakhouses in Atlanta. And guess what else we’ve got? All of those things you hate to cook at home but that he loves to eat including our Seared Salmon Fillet, Smoked Salmon Scramble, and Vegetarian Strozzapretti Pasta in white wine butter sauce. And we’ll be serving up plenty of our famous one pound seasoned Angus burgers on Sunday! I am careful to select the finest ingredients and cook using natural flavors that meld together to create fabulous taste so you’ll never feel guilty or see a plate laden with heavy sauces or artificial ingredients to disguise your food. We create delicious meals you can feel good about eating!

You may have guessed that we are not a chain restaurant by any stretch of the imagination. We work hard to make your experience extraordinary and one that others simply can’t duplicate.

Hungry yet? Imagine how you’ll feel on Sunday when you get a look at those lines. Bypass the hassles and call us for a reservation. After hours? Make your reservation online here. We look forward to serving you and helping dad celebrate his special day!

Goodness gracious! What we’ve been experiencing here at Grace 1720 as of late has trumped my wildest expectations. When I conceived of this one-of-a-kind suburban Atlanta restaurant, I dreamt of offering people a setting for everyday enjoyment as well as for those once in a lifetime celebrations.

I spent months planning the finest of details for our elegant, serene, and breathtaking spaces (our main dining room, garden patio, private Chef’s Table, and Upper Room). They are truly perfect for bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, and engagement parties, but I didn’t immediately recognize the allure our venue would hold for the actual wedding ceremonies themselves!

We’ve just hosted another spectacular wedding here, with a couple exchanging their vows in our Upper Room. We have yet another wedding ceremony arranged for a few weeks from now and can’t wait to see the look on their guests’ faces when they see the spectacular garden we’ve created on the patio. Streaming lights, an outdoor fireplace, two water fountains, and beautiful bride on her father’s arm–I am almost beyond words. Just imagine creating your dream and watching it fulfill other people’s dreams at the same time. It’s thrilling!

And the best part? Grace won’t be some elusive, out of the way place for these couples. We’ll be able to help them celebrate their anniversaries and host future events such as their baby shower and children’s dedications, or simply be that place they escape when neither spouse feels like cooking but would like to enjoy a relaxing, delicious meal together.

It’s moving to think that Grace signifies the beginning of these couple’s lives together. We can offer our wedding couples a private venue in any one of our four areas of the main restaurant, or a colossal celebration catered over at our venue partner, Grace Manor.

Where were you married? Have you ever revisited the place you held your ceremony? If you had it to do over again, would you choose the same place?

If we can help you host a special event, please contact our host or hostess (678) 421-1720.

Don’t you hate it when you plan an evening out or opt to try something new and you’re disappointed with the results? We know that whether you dine out all the time or it’s that special, rare occasion, you want the experience to be delectable when you sit down to your meal, unwind, and enjoy someone else’s culinary talents.

At Grace 1720, we work hard to serve exceptional food and provide attentive service on a consistent basis, not just depending on who’s in the kitchen or waiting tables on any given day. An establishment’s fine food and service should never be a lottery for its guests.

That’s why we also provide a lot of online resources to make your dining experience with us a pleasant one. You’ll find photos of the interior and exterior of our restaurant and a complete menu from appetizers and children’s dishes to delectable entrees, desserts, and a complete wine list. And when I say complete, I mean complete! Not only do we list our menu, we describe our dishes in great detail and list every price so you are never surprised or disappointed when you get here.

You’ll find a section featuring of our daily promotions and even the local write-ups and reviews so you’ll know what the local chatter is all about. You can even plan your next date, girl’s lunch, or business meeting using our easy online reservation system. Grace also offers you links to virtually tour Grace Manor, that perfect place for weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and special occasions. As their exclusive caterers with a birds eye view of many of the occasions hosted there, I can tell you their exquisite venue is everything you’ve heard about it and more.

We want you to know exactly what you can expect from Grace and we want to meet those expectations every time you dine with us. We hope the next time you’re looking for a stunning backdrop, attentive service, and delicious food, that we can expect you!

Have you ever been disappointed by a dining experience? Did it cause you to be leery of selecting a new restaurant your next time out? I’d love to hear from you!

Grace 1720 is coming up on a milestone this year as we approach our seventh year in business. Even after being located in The Forum in Norcross all this time, we are still amazed when people arrive at Grace and wonder if we’re a new restaurant. I think it’s a testament to the timeless design of the space and the fact that it still looks as fresh and pristine as the day we opened our doors, seven years ago this October. I’m already thinking ahead at what a fête we’ll have to celebrate that special anniversary!

Anticipating our big anniversary reminds me of the dedication it takes to achieve an important goal and how special it is when those we love share in our momentous occasions. Okay—-and the recent luncheon and dinner bookings in honor of Norcross’ high school and Gwinnett Tech’s graduates serve as a touching reminder as well!

We share something with these graduates. Grace opened its doors when this year’s high school graduates were in fifth grade! Like them, we’ve found ourselves—grown into whom and what we are supposed to be and worked hard when no one else was watching. Sure, we’ve even experienced societal pressures in business the same way kids experience their own peer pressure. Who should we be? Can we stretch our limits and break out of the mould? But we’ve stayed true to our vision and our guests, surviving the competition, and surviving the economic changes. Grace 1720 came out its own entity—vital, learned, and brimming with friendships we just know are meant to last a lifetime, just as this year’s graduates have.

Our staff knows what it feels like to cross the finish line of a major goal, and we’re happy to welcome your family and join you in celebrating your child’s graduation.

There’s still time to plan your Graduate’s Dinner with us. We have an entire upper floor that can accommodate your extended family and friends in a private setting, or a special room with our chef’s table that seats up to ten people. Reservations are appreciated, but as always we’ll graciously welcome walk-ins any time the mood strikes you to join us.

How are you celebrating with your graduate this year?

Do you have a special day you look forward to each week? Perhaps it’s watching American Idol every Tuesday or attending your child’s baseball games on Friday nights. Maybe it’s church and then brunch with the family each Sunday.

There’s something to be said for those regular rituals and the comfort they bring to our lives. That’s why we’ve developed a special event for every day of the week at Grace 1720. Once you find the night that fits you perfectly, we hope you’ll anticipate your evening at Grace 1720 as a regular part of your week. And once we come to expect your arrival, we can make it all the more special for you!

What best suits your needs? Live music? A traditional supper? Sampling a new wine? Dining fabulously on a budget? We have a night for all of them!

Join us on Monday to order any entrée off our menu for an amazing $17.20.

On Tuesday you’ll enjoy half off all bottles of wine with your entrée.

Wednesday’s Ladies’ APPreciation means all ladies’ appetizers are half off and special international wines are only $5 a glass!

On Thursdays our guests experience magnificent lobster at a special price. We’re pleased that the freshness and quality of our lobsters as well as our careful method in preparing them reminds our guests of the fare they experience when eating lobster seaside in their favorite coastal town.

Each Friday features LIVE entertainment from some of Atlanta’s most talented artists and singers/songwriters, from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday is our newest “special event” with Saturday Supper, featuring a first course, entrée, and dessert, all for only $29.

And Sunday is our Mimosa Brunch. Bring the family in to enjoy sumptuous cuisine including our Banana Pancakes and delicious Mimosas! We accept reservations online or by phone for Sunday Brunch as we know the after-church crowds can get a little thick and the waits long around Norcross. We’re pleased to offer extra seating on our patio, at our chef’s table, or, for larger groups—our upper level.

So what do you want your new favorite day of the week to be and how can we help make it special? We look forward to seeing you then!

What impressions has your mother made on your life? As both a mother and a daughter, I have had an opportunity to view motherhood from both sides of the coin and it has made me appreciate my own mother all the more.

My mom has impacted me in many ways, one in which Grace 1720’s guests get to experience when they dine with us. The scrumptious pumpkin bread we serve in our breadbasket is my mother’s own special recipe. I’m so blown away by this bread I have to serve it to everyone who comes in. And you would not believe the loaves that fly out of here on a daily basis, though the bread is not even listed on our menu!

Now perhaps you don’t have a tangible daily reminder of your mom the way I do when I whip up her pumpkin bread for our guests, but I’ll bet you have some terrific stories about something you do each day that stems from a skill or talent your mother fostered in you.

We’d love to hear what your mom means to you, what everyday things remind you of her, and what you do as a mom to carry on any special traditions for your own kids. Please share your stories with us and bring her in to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 9, 2010. We promise to treat her to an extraordinary meal, and we are offering a special menu in honor of the day.

Barbara DiJames is a mother, daughter, and chef at Grace 1720. Her son is her favorite taste-tester when Barbara crafts her new recipes.

Ah, it’s wedding season! I love to decorate our private rooms for bridal showers, bridesmaid’s luncheons, rehearsal dinners, and even the wedding ceremony itself! We just had another exquisite couple celebrate the big day by having their wedding reception in Grace’s Upper Room. When we have a bride in our midst, selecting Grace on her special day, it touches my heart every time!

We’ve found a niche that engaged couples really tend to appreciate. Grace offers five incredible venues for them to host intimate gatherings to lavish affairs in celebration of their marriage. It takes a lot of the burden and planning off of the bride when one place will coordinate her bridal luncheon, wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, and even honeymoon night! We are especially pleased to see our couples come back with baby showers and anniversary celebrations, with Grace 1720 serving as the hallmark for their special occasions. We work with people to pair the perfect offerings for their events, reserving specific spaces or the entire restaurant for their use. We have four spaces at Grace 1720 at The Forum in Norcross, and one at Grace Manor on the River that people love to use:

Grace’s Main Dining Room

Our main dining room is breathtaking…open, spacious, and inviting, with spectacular views from any seat. Reserve the whole room by itself or in conjunction with other spaces.

Grace’s Outdoor Patio

Grace’s patio is a beautifully crafted outdoor venue with a stone water fountain and fireplace, lavish greenery, and dazzling overhead lanterns. Reserve the whole patio for your event and be whisked away to the European countryside or somewhere in Napa Valley for an enriching experience.

Grace’s Chef’s Table

An intimate room that seats ten, the Chef’s Table is a private space adjacent to the main dining room. Use it to treat the girls after a day of bridesmaid and wedding dress shopping or to share the news of your engagement with your future in-laws!

Grace’s Upper Room

The chapel-like space above Grace has been host to many wedding events. We work with each couple to stage the area to suit their wedding arrangements. It’s perfect for rehearsal dinners, bridesmaid luncheons, and receptions. We even had one couple hold their ceremony in the Upper Room and then host the reception on our main level.

Grace Manor on the River

Grace 1720 restaurant is the exclusive caterer for Grace Manor on the River, one of the premier Atlanta Wedding Venues. It boasts expansive indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, including a large patio to stage a band or D.J., outdoor fireplace, and stunning backdrops for wedding photos. Inside, you’ll find exquisite décor, a wine cellar, and private accommodations. Arrive to your wedding or reception with flair using Grace Manor’s helicopter pad. Couples often choose to begin their honeymoon at Grace Manor as well, with overnight packages designed to pamper and enchant the newly married couple.

With five amazing venues couples can mix and match to accommodate their wedding plans, Grace has become the hallmark of excellence for Atlanta-area brides. What can we do to fulfill your dreams?