Following yesterday’s Sunday brunch service, Graffiti Social Kitchen (1261 W. 76th St.) closed its doors. The restaurant, operated by Brian Okin and Adam Bostwick, took over the former Reddstone space in Detroit Shoreway just under three years ago. The reasons behind the closure are two-fold, the owner says.

“Winter is a slow season over there, so we saw that coming,” explains Okin. “But I seriously believe in our meatball concept. I don’t want to be the guy who spreads himself so thin that I don’t do it right – and it just makes sense to do it right now.”

This time last year Okin, in partnership with Stefan Was, announced plans to launch Polpetta at Porco, a meatball-themed concept that operates within the four walls of Porco Lounge and Tiki Room. The team greatly improved the small bar kitchen to accommodate the new concept. From the start, the aim was to establish proof of concept and grow from there.

“Obviously, the Porco kitchen is small and the focus there isn’t the food,” Okin adds. “It was a way to test and perfect the concept for future brick-and-mortar locations. With Cork and Cleaver and Dinner in the Dark, we couldn’t physically be at Porco that often. We want to change that as we move forward with that concept.”

Plans already are in the works to open that brick-and-mortar location, notes Okin, which might happen in the coming weeks or months.

The timing also corresponds with Cork and Cleaver’s busiest time of year, Okin explains, as that suburban eatery picks up in the cooler months as residents tend to stay closer to home.

This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2017.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

6 replies on “Graffiti Social Kitchen in the Battery Park Neighborhood is Closed”

  4. No, bring Snicker’s back! It lasted the longest! What’s going into that space now? Anything?

    First time I ever ate on the patio was when I was visiting rom Chicago and my wife-to-be took us there, to celebrate her birthday. Sky turned extremely dark, and then a sickly green. We heard sirens. Had to bail, and dash for home like bats out of hell. Saw a funnel near the airport.

    Turned out to be the date that NE Ohio set a record for the most tornadoes in a single calendar day…twelve.. You can look it up: July 12, 1992. Record still stands. Made me feel right at home. Just like being in Illinois.

    Always remembered that day when we ate on that wonderful patio space, no matter what the weather.. I hope it comes back by next summer (the patio, not the storms).

    Chuckles the Clown

  5. As a neighborhood we are sorry to see Graffiti close. Brian and Adam were good neighbors and ran an excellent business that was both an asset to and respectful of the neighborhood. Reddstone was neither. Entertainment venues do not belong in close proximity to residences. We hope that a similar high end restaurant to Graffiti will be more successful.

    Thanks to Brian and Adam.

    Jim

  6. Too small a venue for indoor music. That was proven on Dyngus Day a few years back. Too close to nearby residences for outdoor music.

    Hope it remains strictly a restaurant, for the neighbors’ sake, at least. With a quiet patio for drinks and good food and good conversation…it was one of the best in the city for all that. Would a jazz trio be okay?

    Chuckles the Clown

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