Chef Jonathan Waxman describes Baffi, his new Westside cafe, as “Italian-Californian-Georgian”
Courtesy of Ken Goodman
James Beard Award-winner and chef Jonathan Waxman, operator of the a short while ago shuttered Brezza Cucina at Ponce City Market place, is generating his future mark on Atlanta with the opening of Baffi on January 5. The new restaurant, which he describes as Italian-Californian-Georgian, requires over the Stockyards room previously dwelling to Donetto (976 Brady Avenue). Baffi will be led by a similar workforce as Brezza Cucina—which shut in June—spearheaded by executive chef Andrew Cacioppo.
Courtesy of Jen Davidson
The menu will attribute signature Waxman objects, these as roasted rooster with salsa verde, and pizzas and pastas that resemble those people from Brezza. New items like wooden-seared shrimp salad with spicy aioli and wintertime greens wooden-roasted gulf oysters with brown butter black pepper sauce and marscarpone grits, demonstrate off Baffi’s Southern facet.
Support and beverage director Don Pirone is compiling a concise bar menu with vintage and seasonal cocktails, like Negronis and margaritas on faucet, and an “eclectic but user-friendly” list of Italian and American wines, Waxman claims.
Courtesy of Jen Davidson
Courtesy of Ken Goodman
“I wished to continue the [Brezza] brand name and experienced all these fantastic individuals who worked for me for several many years,” Waxman claims. “I like the Donetto space. It’s in a funky element of city, warehouse-y, and throughout from Miller Union. (I just like Steven Satterfield.) It experienced a major outdoor space and a wood-burning oven.”
Waxman says a person of the important reasons Brezza Cucina closed is simply because a deficiency of outdoor room manufactured it unsustainable in a Covid-19 natural environment. As a final result, Baffi will function an elevated patio with a hearth pit and 35 to 40 seats.
Courtesy of Ken Goodman
His team has lightened up the Donetto inside with a palette of white, light wood, and buttery yellow. Like at Brezza, the bar characteristics an oak leading and is accented by white Parisian tile. Expansive ground-to-ceiling home windows are intended to enable in the sun.
What’s in the name? Baffi is Italian for “mustache.” Waxman’s famed New York Metropolis cafe Barbuto is termed these types of soon after the Italian term for “bearded.” Waxman made a decision to continue to keep the topic likely in Atlanta.
Perspective the full menu beneath. (Faucet to enlarge.)