Ryan Braun’s new restaurant promises the ambiance of an ancient tomb

The people behind Ryan Braun’s downtown restaurant announced yesterday that the bistro will reopen before Brewers opening day this spring with a new look, menu, and name, Ryan Braun’s Graffito. Graffito? According to Mike Polaski of SURG Group, the Milwaukee restaurant company that bought the restaurant in 2010, “the word ‘graffito’ can be traced back to ancient Rome, where markings were left in tombs and catacombs, leaving lasting impressions of the culture from that era. We felt Ryan Braun’s Graffito will give dinners an indication of the ambience and menu they can expect at the restaurant.”

So, if we’re following Polaski correctly, Ryan Braun’s Graffito will boast the cozy confines and warm atmosphere of an ancient place where corpses were kept. Nice! OnMilwaukee.com has further details on the new eatery:

Executive Chef Dominic Zumpano’s menu will showcase a wide range of Italian cuisine and feature the best available artisan products, as well as locally raised cattle and grown produce. Zumpano’s kitchen will produce homemade breads, pastas, sauces and seasonings and SURG pastry chef Kurt Fogel will create a dessert menu exclusive to RBG, according to the release.

The restaurant has also undergone an interior redesign with exposed brick, distressed woods and other materials. The restaurant’s popular patio should reopen by May, the [SURG Group press] release said.