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The erstwhile Graffit has switched names, but its stunning space remains the same. A visual tour.
When we first started prepping this story, this sleek Spanish spot right off Lincoln Center was called Graffit. Now, it's called Gastroarte—that's what a lawsuit will do, lobbed by sweet-savory savant Jehangir Mehta, who owns the similarly named Graffiti.
All's peachy in graffiti-ness land now. And while the name might have changed, the space itself remains the same. Good thing: It's quite the visual stunner. Chef-owner Jesus Nunez tricked out the downstairs space of an unassuming brownstone to reflect one of his first loves: you guessed it—graffiti. Nunez was a graffiti artist in his native Spain, and he's now channeled his love of design and colors onto the plate, with dishes that belie an avant-garde spirit.
With the help of architect Garrett Singer and the firm Aerial Design & Build, he's created a space that purposefully complements his intricate dishes. How? Nunez invited the design team to his home, where he served 20 plates to serve a design inspiration.
The end result is seen in three rooms, each representing one of Nunez’ culinary creations, and each a melange of color, texture. classic Colonial detailing and clean lines. “I wanted to mix old and new, the elegant and the underground,” he says. He clearly got what he wanted.
By Linnea Covington; photos by Noah Fecks
Gastroarte (141 W. 69th St., 646-692-8762)
