The Vine Hospitality Group, owners of this chic Italian newcomer near San Jose City Hall, wisely launched brunch service soon after Rollati opened. After all, hundreds of residents live in the Miro Towers above the restaurant, and downtown hasn’t traditionally offered many weekend brunch options for the pre-theater crowd, museum-goers, festival attendees and special-occasion celebrants. Especially not one with a wine cellar and bar this impressive.

The menu combines brunch specialties with a selection of popular antipasti, pastas, pizzas and salads from the dinner and lunch menus.

Start with one of the shareable appetizers for the table such as Fried Mozzarella ($10), Classic Meatballs ($16) or a Prosciutto di Parma platter with burrata ($25). That prosciutto stars in the Eggs Florentine entree ($22), a hollandaise-draped benedict with perfectly poached eggs and, of course, spinach. Creamy Yukon Gold potatoes come on the side. French toast becomes Italian Toast ($18) when a sweet, battered batard is stuffed with Nutella.

The “lunchier” offerings on the brunch menu include a Breakfast Pie ($21) that tops pizza with fontina, pancetta and fried egg and a Chicken di Parma sandwich ($18). If you haven’t had a chance to try the restaurant’s unusual “Thousand”-Layer Lasagna, this is a good opportunity; it’s $24 with marina or $32 with short rib ragu.

The Blood Orange Garibaldi ($15) is a good brunch libation, along with the Nutty Italian ($15), a bourbon, Frangelico and coffee concoction.

Details >> The restaurant, open daily for midday meals and dinner, serves weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 181 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose; www.rollatiristorante.com