ABOUT CIAO, GLORIA

MAKING AND BAKING IN PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN SINCE 2019

Renato Poliafito, the former co-owner and co-founder of Red Hook’s iconic bakeshop BAKED brings you Ciao, Gloria, a welcoming coffee shop, neighborhood bakery and daytime café steeped in Renato’s Italian American upbringing.

At Ciao you’ll find a menu of sweet treats, savory sandwiches and expertly prepared coffees, teas and sodas. Italian delights like freshly baked biscotti, pistachio crema croissants, powdery amaretti cookies and Neapolitan tri-color bars share the stage with chocolate chunk cookies, cocoa brownies, layer cakes and pie thanks to Renato’s long history making American dessert classics. On the savory side, expect satisfying breakfast dishes like CIao’s seasonal fruit compote-dolloped yogurt parfait, a sweet or spicy ricotta toast and egg sandwiches layered with fluffy frittata, Calabrian chili-spiked aioli, crispy prosciutto and mashed avocado on the bakery’s homemade brioche. For lunch, Ciao offers a stellar selection ranging from fresh, hearty salads and grain bowls to a lineup of original sandwiches, including the focaccia based Italo Disco Club, a signature take on a house classic, named one of the best sandwiches in New York City by Timeout New York, and much more. 

Ciao, Gloria is located at 550 Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Come BY and say “Ciao”

Renato Poliafito

Co-founder and former co-owner of Red Hook’s Baked, Renato Poliafito is getting back in touch with his Italian-American roots with Ciao, Gloria. Renato began his career as a Graphic Designer and Creative Director in New York City, before trading his laptop for an apron. Baked formed the foundation of a renaissance in Brooklyn’s waterfront Red Hook neighborhood over the past decade, and the several cookbooks he co-authored earned him the industries top accolades as well as international acclaim, culminating in a line of mixes, granola, bakeware, the opening of a location in Tokyo and several James Beard nominations. Now, Renato is drawing inspiration from those things he loves most - his Brooklyn home, Italian café bar culture, Japanese design, Copenhagen’s minimalist aesthetic and California’s sun filled coffee shops for Ciao, Gloria.

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Valerie Figueroa

Valerie Figueroa Ortiz, a Puerto Rican native, started her career in Boston, where she attended culinary school and worked in an eclectic mix of kitchens. After spending several years in Boston advancing her practical knowledge in a wide range of cuisines, she moved to Brooklyn. She started working at BAKED, where she first became acquainted with Renato's extraordinary pastries. After that experience, Valerie then spent a number of years in management looking for the ideal fit to match her enthusiasm for and expertise in making pastries. In November 2022, met Renato and joined the team at Ciao,Gloria as the kitchen manager/pastry chef. Her excitement for creating incredible treats has grown exponentially since then, and she is thrilled to be working with all the wonderful people at the Italian American cafe and what the future holds for Ciao, Gloria

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