Italian restaurant Baffi, from the chefs previously associated with former Ponce City Market restaurant Brezza Cucina, opened today in West Midtown.
Among several restaurants in the Indigo Road Hospitality Group portfolio, Donetto closed in March after lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Baffi, which comes from celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman and executive chef Andrew Cacioppo, translates to “mustache,” a nod to Waxman’s New York City restaurant Barbuto, which means “bearded”.
Cacioppo, who in addition to overseeing the kitchen at Brezza Cucina, has worked at the now-shuttered Craft in Buckhead and The Optimist in West Midtown, serves as the restaurant’s executive chef, “melding Waxman’s Italian-Californian cooking style with his experience and knowledge of Southern ingredients,” according to a press release.
The open kitchen is anchored by a wood-burning hearth made by local grill maker Chris Demant. Dishes on the menu include wood-seared shrimp salad with winter greens, spicy aioli and focaccia; cast iron sunburst trout with braised greens and meyer lemon salsa; and Waxman’s JW Roasted Chicken, on offer at many of his restaurants over the years. Other choices include fresh and dried pastas, pizzas and a variety of shareable dishes.
On the beverage side, beverage and service director Don Pirone offers a menu of “classic and creative cocktails” as well as wines and beers from Italy and beyond.
The space was designed by local architect Sara Hawker, who used whites, light woods and buttery yellows as design elements. The restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows, and a 1,750-square-foot dining room with a bar with white Parisian tile and an oak top. A side room can be closed off for private dining, and outdoor dining is available on a 1,000-square-foot patio with a firepit.
Brezza Cucina, owned by Waxman, shuttered at Ponce City Market in June, with plans to reopen in a new space. The eatery was among the first wave of restaurants to open in Ponce City Market in 2015 and serves dishes with Italian and American influences including gnocchi, roasted fish, pizzas and kale salad.
Part of the Stockyards redevelopment project, Baffi is adjacent to chef Nick Leahy’s Aix and Tin Tin, which recently transformed into Nick’s Westside.
The restaurant is adhering to several COVID-19 protocols, including limited seating, masks required for staff and for patrons when not seated at their tables and one-use menus.
Baffi is open 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. The full menu is also available for takeout.
976 Brady Ave. SW, Atlanta. 404-724-9700.
Scroll down to see the full menu for Baffi:
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