T2 BISTRO & Wine Bar is located on Sanibel Island. Its owners, Joe Archambault and Roseanne Giordani, opened this restaurant to be a bit unique from their original success - Trader's. Both are located on Periwinkle Way, but if you haven’t checked out T2 yet, it’ll be sure to keep you coming back!

We were able to catch up with Roseanne Giordani and chat about how T2 came to be, its unique features and so much more!

What is T2 Bistro & Wine Bar? How would you describe it to a friend?

T2 Bistro is a bit of modern Florida flair here on Sanibel Island. Our original restaurant, also located on Periwinkle Way, TRADERS, is more "Hemingway Olde Florida" and T2 is more "Flamingos and 50's" Florida.

When and why did you start the restaurant?

My sister, Lisa Marie Giordani is an art director from New York. She was staying with me during the Summer of 2017 and we both needed a creative outlet to keep us from getting too much sun. Together with my business partner, Joe Archambault from Traders, we put T2 together with the capiz shell lighting, a beautiful custom-made wood bar, flamingo wallpaper, and exquisite bird prints on the wall. It was a lot of fun! There is interesting decor to enjoy looking at inside the restaurant. Plus, the outdoor seating in the Village Shops is amazing. Our delightful collection of tables have colorful umbrellas and are surrounded by beautiful potted plants with the occasional pink flamingo sculpture peeking about. It's quite lovely. Plus, our customers can bring their pet fido's to take in the fresh air, too.

What's something you wish people knew about your restaurant?

The quality of food is outstanding. The wine list and menu are well thought out and the food is gently prepared. We are quite mindful of our ingredients and our servers love taking orders and presenting the food. We have the best staff and it shows in the T2 customer overall dining experience.

Personally speaking, what is your favorite thing about your restaurant?

Sitting either inside the restaurant or outside on the patio with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a couple of friends sharing a wild mushroom/caramelized onion flatbread and our delicious Caesar salad made with romaine lettuce and some very tender baby kale.

What's the biggest compliment you've received?

Our biggest compliment besides the food is that the atmosphere is transformative in a very fun, light-hearted way. You feel a sense of escape.

What is your most popular dish?

We usually have six different types of flatbreads, made with select ingredients such as prosciutto and fine mozzarella. Our fish tacos are amazing. But the lamb burger is our giant juicy hit!

What's one of your most memorable moments while working there?

Just before we opened in January of 2018, the Island had its luminary celebration the month before in December. That night we served complimentary food/drinks to all of our guests, and with the luminary lights and music playing, the evening was absolutely magical.

We wanted a high-quality, all-day menu allowing our customers to drop in anytime to enjoy good food and good conversation in a very special atmosphere.

Why did you choose to be in Sanibel?

We absolutely love Sanibel. The original Traders has been on the Island since 1998. We have a very loyal following and wanted to give our customers and the island another place to dine; one that is smaller though and a bit more intimate.

Do you have any upcoming events, specials, or new products/services that people should know about?

T2 Bistro is located in the Village Shops. We have so many wonderful neighbors there with a great selection of shops, offices, and services. We often team up with Maureen at Watson Macrae Gallery and Rebecca at MacIntosh Books + Paper to provide food during their events. It's super fun for us to be included in the festivities.

For more information and to check out their menu, visit their website today!