The 3 Graces Taverna great place for good food

MIRAMAR BEACH – Miramar Beach has been fortunate recently to see good casual restaurant options increase.

Last month I reviewed Sushimoto, offering wonderful Japanese fare. This time it is the 3 Graces Taverna in the Market Shops at Sandestin (Lillie’s at Pig’s Alley is another new place, and has amazing tri-tip barbecue).

3 Graces is in the space where Kitchenique (now at City Market) had been. The interior is completely changed, with a dining room filled with repurposed tables and booths. Cases at the front of the restaurant show off an array of pastries and desserts.

The breakfast menu includes omelets, blintzes, and a breakfast sandwich. The Mediterranean Breakfast features half a toasted bagel with sautéed spinach, roasted tomato a poached egg, and Feta cheese.

Lunch and dinner menus are the same except for three entrees that are served only for dinner. It is worth an evening trip to 3 Graces to try the braised lamb shank. The meat was tender and full of flavor. It was served with sliced potatoes that were roasted, and excellent grilled vegetables.

A grilled chicken entrée and cheese manicotti are the other items available only at dinner.

The menu has two sampler dishes that allow you to try a variety of items. The sample spread plate was my favorite thing on the menu. Generous servings of garlicky hummus, tangy tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber), and baba ganoush (eggplant) were served with wedges of warm pita. It is a good appetizer to share, but I could easily make it a meal.

The Taverna Greek sampler platter comes with a spanakopita (spinach pie), tiropita (cheese pie), and two large meat and rice-filled dolmathes. It is completed with a choice of moussaka or pastitsio (both of which are also available as entrees).

Moussaka features eggplant, potato, ground beef and béchamel sauce layered and baked. Pastitsio is similar, but with pasta instead of eggplant and potato. Both versions were good.

3 Graces offers several sandwiches, including meatballs and red sauce in a pita, a variety of panini (chicken, spinach, mushroom or vegetable), a muffaletta, a Feta cheeseburger, and gyros with either beef and lamb or chicken.

Pizzas are also on the menu. Choose from a six-inch pita pizza topped with Feta, spinach and roasted garlic, or with pesto and grilled vegetables. Or go for the 16-inch pizza in Greek, Italian, Hawaiian or pepperoni versions.

3 Graces has several entrée salads, and all are available with a choice of chicken, gyro meat or shrimp. The Greek salad is tossed with a house made Greek dressing.

For a twist on a classic the Mediterranean Cobb salad features grilled chicken, tomatoes, artichokes, diced egg, and kalamata olives.

Be sure to check the specials board for good food and good value. On our evening visit, the specials were a shrimp and pasta dish, and eggplant parmesan. Children can choose from cheese pizza, fish sticks, hamburger, chicken fingers, and spaghetti.

All desserts are made onsite. When we visited, choices were chocolate walnut squares, German chocolate cake, Kahlua torte (chocolate cake outside and fudgy ganache inside) and bread pudding. White chocolate truffles with dried cranberries and nuts were delicious and pretty. There were also chocolate truffles with orange.

Beer and wine by the glass or bottle are offered. While I have never been a fan of Greek wines, the Naoussa Boutari was a good match for our lamb shank. It had pronounced fruit, and soft tannins. It was also good with the Kahlua torte.

We also enjoyed the Musette, non-alcoholic sparkling fruit drinks from France. A large bottle served three of us amply.

3 Graces is a family restaurant both in its management, and its attitude. It is a great option for good food that is affordable.

No need to wait for a special occasion to dine at 3 Graces, just take your appetite and get ready for a good meal.

QuickBites

Restaurant: The 3 Graces Taverna

Location: The Market Shops at Sandestin, 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 9, Miramar Beach

Telephone: 424-6004

Hours: Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Handicap accessibility: good

Children’s menu: yes

Reservations: Not necessary

Price range: Lunch and Dinner, $3.50 - $24.50

Breakfast, $1.75 - $6.50

Children’s Menu, $4.99

Payment: Major credit cards