“If you use your two hands to make something, it means you care,” says Giles Russell, explaining the name—and philosophy—of Two Hands, which he founded with Henry Roberts (both of whom live in the area). When they opened the original on Mott, in June of 2014, they were the only employees for a while. “We were making every coffee at first.”

At Mott Street, the two Australians wanted to bring the country’s café culture to New York City: It serves just breakfast, lunch, and coffee, at least for now. The new Tribeca restaurant is all of that and more. It’s a little bigger (around 50 seats), and dinner will be available starting March 14 (with a different menu from the all-day one). “The menu is a better reflection of food culture in Australia at the moment,” says Russell. Chef Frankie Cox, who is from Melbourne, most recently worked at Navy on Sullivan Street—a restaurant that bears more than a passing resemblance to Two Hands. “These are meant to be light meals,” says Russell. “Fresh and vegetable-focused. Nourishing.”

The emphasis is squarely on food, but the restaurant will stay open for two hours after the kitchen closes, and Russell and Roberts are hopeful that people will continue to hang out. Another Australian, Aaron Shuffleworth, has designed a cocktail list with around 10 proprietary drinks alongside the classics.

The founders also designed the space—a thorough revamp of what had been the Mexican restaurant Burro Borracho—because they couldn’t imagine handing over something so important to someone else. (One reason they don’t offer delivery is because they can’t ensure that your meal will live up to Two Hands standards. You can place a takeout order at the restaurant’s coffee counter, but you can’t call it in because there’s no phone.) With pale wood and whitewashed brick, the room has some of the vibe of the Two Hands on Mott, but it’s more grown-up, as befits the “older sibling.” The dyed concrete floor, inspired by the Bronte Baths, a seaside pool in Sydney, is particularly stunning. “Our goal was to create a place where you might sit down with one person, and after they leave, someone else you know comes over, and you sit for a while with them,” says Russell. “We want you to feel at home.”

Two Hands Restaurant & Bar is at 251 Church (between Franklin and Leonard); twohandsnyc.com.

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