Top Chef All-Stars runner-up Mike Isabella has left his post as the executive chef of Zaytinya in favor of opening his first restaurant, Graffiato. The 5,000-square-foot, bilevel space opened on June 23 in Chinatown, serving a menu of Italian food made with locally sourced ingredients and accompanying cocktails.
The industrial-style space features exposed brick walls and wooden booths on both floors. The first level can seat 21 in its dining area with an additional 13 at the main bar. The steel-covered wood oven is the centerpiece of the space, surrounded by a cinder-block pizza bar with seating for 11.
The second floor is home to a ham bar serving cured meats and fresh mozzarella, with seats for six. An additional 89 guests can be seated amid the wooden four-tops and booths. The floor can also be booked for private receptions for 125.
The menu is formatted for shared dining, with a selection of small plates, personal pizzas, platters of ham and local cheeses, and hand-cut pasta. Graffiato also offers drinks from local sources like DC Brau Brewing, Flying Dog Brewing, and Port City Brewing, and ventures into new territory by offering Montelvini Prosecco served on tap. The restaurant's house red wine is bottled at Breaux Vineyards in nearby Purcellville, Virginia.
