Fabio Trabocchi’s Sfoglina Is Now Open

A year in the making, chef Fabio Trabocchi and his wife, Maria Trabocchi, open their newest pasta-focused home to the public today.

The Van Ness restaurant is the fourth D.C. location from the pair, and sits the farthest north at 4445 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Sfoglina’s prices are a bit lower than fare found at some sister spots like the seafood-heavy Fiola Mare on the Georgetown waterfront. “Nibbles” such as spicy 'nduja salami are $6, small plates like spicy charred octopus and burrata are $13, and classic handmade pasta dishes (ricotta tortelloni, spaghetti chitarrarun) are $22, while a three-person pasta tasting is about $60. It’s not all about the carbs, however; other mains include black bass and rosemary roasted maitake.

Seasonal specials, such as pumpkin triangoli with amaretti and sage, also take up a section in the menu. For booze, find a dozen wines by the glass, 80 to 90 by the bottle, and a handful of $12 cocktails. The word “sfoglia” means “large sheets of pasta” in Italian, and “sfoglina” refers to a female pasta-making matriarch using traditional techniques.

A custom table with a rolling pin is present, and another authentic machine in Sfoglina’s kitchen slices dough into rectangular shapes for some orders, notes The Washington Post. Other Italian details pervade the decor, with custom wall fabrics and lighting shades hand-made in Santarcangelo di Romagna utilizing 17th century methods and tools.

Status: Certified open; 4445 Connecticut Ave. NW; website.