EVEN though Washington suffered its own terrorist attack, one of its trendiest eateries is in a New York state of mind.

Cafe Milano was never known as a daytime destination until its owner, Franco Nuschese, offered a prix-fixe brunch to help New York City’s firefighters.

It was an instant sellout.

“We had to do two separate seatings,” he said, noting the overwhelming response from his regular customers – many of whom he’d never seen in the light of day.

The Georgetown restaurant raised nearly $30,000 last weekend to help the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund. Now, Nuschese says he’ll do the fund-raiser monthly through the end of the year to benefit the families of Gotham’s fallen rescuers.

* Giuseppe Cipriani has just signed a lease for a large, three-story townhouse in east Midtown. Sources say he plans to open a baking operation and catering facility in the building that once housed Le Club, a playground for the rich and famous, on East 58th Street near the Queensboro Bridge.

The owner of the property, Shamsher Wadud, added more than $1 million in improvements to the building before opening the site’s last incarnation, Landmark Club, which closed after only a year in operation.

* The biggest piece to the Gray Kunz puzzle has just been added. According to insiders, Daniel Boulud will be his partner in the top-secret restaurant Kunz is planning to open just north of Union Square Park. Boulud had no comment. Stay tuned.

* Drew Nieporent is making the best of trying circumstances. While cars are not allowed south of Canal Street, he has found off-duty police officers to drive his customers to his TriBeCa restaurants.

* Here’s something new – Mexican sushi.

Roberto Ruggeri, owner of Bice, Salute and Medi, will open a place blending the flavors and spices of the Southwest and Mexico with traditional Japanese cuisine. He is about to lease space in Times Square.