Italian Graffiti’s chef draws inspiration from his grandmother’s kitchen
December 19, 2022
Source:
The Salt Lake Tribune
Stefene Russell
Chef Marc Marrone had a plan, to open his Italian restaurant — Italian Graffiti Modern Osteria — in Las Vegas in 2019.
Instead, he opened it last month in Salt Lake City, at 156 S. 400 West in The Gateway.
Marrone said he’s not sorry.
“It really turned out to be a blessing that it ended up here in Utah,” he said. “The more time I spent here, and the more I sourced our products, I realized how great a state it is for agriculture. It has some of the best produce I’ve ever had, anywhere.”
Italian Graffiti is the newest project by Marrone and Reed Slobusky, co-owners of Nice Hospitality. (They also own HallPass food hall — also located at The Gateway — and Snowmobile Pizza, 877 S. 200 West in Salt Lake City.)
Adding to the sense of drama is an open kitchen, living green walls and live trees hung with flowers and gold baubles. The leather booths and wood walls and furniture give it a woodsy, old world European feel. That combination of old and new is reflected in the menu, which is based on generations-old dishes handed down through Marrone’s family.
