Renato Poliafito

Renato Poliafito is a James Beard-nominated restaurateur, pastry chef, cookbook author, designer, and entrepreneur based in Brooklyn, NY. After a career in graphic design and advertising, he pivoted his career to food, training as a barista to learn more about the industry and eventually became interested in opening a bakery and co?ee shop. In 2005, Renato opened the Red Hook flagship location of Baked, which kicked o? a culinary renaissance in the waterfront neighborhood, resulting in several cookbooks, a line of mixes, granola, bakeware and a location in Tokyo. After more than a decade at Baked, Renato decided to embark on a new project and opened Ciao, Gloria in Prospect Heights in 2019, a daytime café and neighborhood bakery steeped in his Italian-American upbringing and heritage. He is also the author of Dolci!: American Baking with an Italian Accent, his first solo cookbook featuring Italian and “Italian American-ish” cakes, cookies, pies and pastries for any occasion. Pasta Night opened in 2024 and is Renato’s homage to his childhood summers in Sicily in the 1980’s. They o?er delicious house made pastas and more like Nonna used to make. Come for the pasta but stay for vibe, the art on the walls, the Italo disco, the slammin’ cocktails and friendly faces all around. Pasta Night offers an aperitivo with Italian cocktails and bites, nightly dinners and weekend brunch.