Choice Brunch: Mike Isabella's Graffiato
Top Chef's Mike Isabella is always on his toes, changing up menus and trying new ideas. The latest addition to Chinatown’s Italian-inspired Graffiato is weekend brunch, which comes complete with several creative cocktails from head mixologist Taha Ismail.
Just launched last weekend, brunch service runs on both Saturday and Sunday from noon–3 PM, and the food choices run the gamut of sweet and savory options, sure to make you forget any pain from the evening prior. Try the meatballs, served with creamy polenta ($10) or the apple calzone with whipped marscapone cheese ($12).
Whatever you choose to munch on, enliven your afternoon (read: morning) with a $10 specialty cocktail. The Bloody Mary is served with olives and a cube of mozzarella cheese; the Bellini is jazzed up with blood orange puree; and the Traveling Riverside Blues sees blueberry infused grappa meet local sparkling wine and grapefruit juice, for that extra wake-up punch.
If you’re feeling even more adventurous (and don’t have early evening plans), the barrel-aged negroni the bar has been crafting is ready to pour: Catoctin Creek gin, Campari and Carpano come together for a supremely smooth sip.