On September 4, restaurateur Ashok Bajaj opened the 140-seat Italian eatery Bibiana Osteria Enoteca downtown, adding to his stable of venues that includes Oval Room, Bombay Club, 701, and Rasika. Inspired by contemporary Milanese design, Bibiana has interior accents of dark wood, art glass, black leather, and silver-toned metals. Photo murals of Italian landmarks and street scenes decorate the walls.
Just inside the door, there is a colorful 12-seat bar with mirrored panels and openings for peeks at the kitchen. Opposite are two lounge areas with seating for 24 on white leather banquettes and mustard-colored hassocks. To the left is the 65-seat main dining room, which has a 10-seat semiprivate space concealed behind floor-to-ceiling steel bead curtains. A cream-colored 48-seat private dining room with massive windows offers city views.
Manning the kitchen is executive chef Nicholas Stefanelli, formally of four-star Maestro in Tysons Corner, who prepares specialty pizza and modern northern Italian fare such as roasted branzino and calamari with crushed potatoes and squid ink vinaigrette.
