This Is Not a Drill: Aperto Is Now Open

Chef Luigi Diotauti has opened his second restaurant in D.C. — Foggy's Bottom's Aperto (Diotauti opened Al Tiramisu, in Dupont Circle, in 1996.) Like Diotauti's previous eatery, Aperto focuses on Italian dishes.

The menu is pasta-heavy — squid ink fettuccine, cacio e pepe, noodles infused with olive tapenade — as well as cured cheeses and meats, plus meaty main dishes (lamb chops, grilled octopus, portherhouse steak.) Drink-wise, there are plenty of both classic and Italian cocktails like the Negroni, plus other themed bevvies. There's also a lunch special: $25 for a three-course take-out meal.

Aperto was designed by 17/27 Design Studio and features tiled brown marble floors, understated chandeliers and white tablecloths. The vibe is homey but elegant. The design echoes the restaurant's name — which, in Italian, means "open" — with airy spaces. There are also two semi-private rooms, which can accommodate 10-25 people.

For now, Aperto is open for lunch each weekday and dinner daily, with a brunch service to begin in fall.

Aperto, 2013 I St. NW, website