Sitting on the outdoor patio in a shade of trees overlooking Lake Erie, one can relax at Graffiti: A Social Kitchen. He or she can enjoy an array of delectable foods such as the Graffiti Burger, a hamburger with fried green tomato, banana catsup, frisee, pickled banana pepper and goat cheese; or the Burrito, including short rib, black beans, red rice, crispy onion, manchego and salsa.

Ron and Nancy Auletta, parents of Revere High School junior Caitlyn Auletta, opened Graffiti alongside Brian and Mandy Okin in mid-February 2015. The Okins, who also own Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen in Broadview Heights sought to open another restaurant. Ron and Nancy Auletta offered to co-own the new restaurant, Graffiti: A Social Kitchen.

Ron Auletta explained how he and his wife grew interested in the restaurant business.

“[Nancy and I] were never interested in owning a restaurant before. We starting going to Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen in Broadview Heights a few years ago. We loved the food so much that we were there quite often and became friends with the owners Brian Okin and his brother-in-law Adam Bostwick. They had mentioned the possibility of opening a second restaurant and we told them we would be interested in co-owning it,” he said.

“Brian and I spent a year looking around Cleveland for a spot to open up. We landed on Battery Park which is a [gentrified] neighborhood with a lot of history, as EverReady Battery was located in this area for decades. Now the neighborhood is very hip with a lot of young professionals and empty nesters living in a real cool place located pretty close to downtown Cleveland and Edgewater Park. The neighborhood is also home to many young and up-and-coming artists with studios throughout the area. These local artists did most all the decor in the restaurant. It took about four months from the time we leased the space to being open. My wife Nancy came up with the name Graffiti,” he said.

“The bar is from an old cruise ship and the ceiling on the first floor is stamped tin; however, there was a lot of work to be done. The upstairs was a mess; heating had to be installed, a new ceiling was needed and the windows were ancient and did not even close all the way. The windows were replaced by beautiful stained glass windows done by a local artist. Cork & Cleaver has a penny top bar and Brian wanted to have Graffiti’s bar topped with nickels. I was involved in that project-gluing down nickels and applying the [epoxy] seal. It had to be poured, leveled and dried just right,” she said.

Nancy Auletta also explained the most rewarding part of owning a restaurant.

“The most rewarding part of having our own restaurant is on a night when the place is hopping and people are having fun and loving the food. The best part of Graffiti is the awesome food. Adam is the chef and comes up with very creative dishes,” she said.

Caitlyn Auletta, daughter of Ron and Nancy, voiced her opinion of the restaurant’s food as well.

“The food is very good. It puts a creative twist on your classic American foods,” she said.

Caitlyn explained that she especially enjoys the Sunday brunch because of its cool atmosphere. The brunch attracts families with children who receive candy as a special treat for visiting the restaurant.

Graffiti’s most popular entrees include the Monte Cristo and the Burrito. Details of the menu can be found at www.graffitisocialkitchen.com. The restaurant is located at 1261 W 76th Street, Cleveland, OH 44102.