Diners at Retrobottega will make a meal out of small plates known as cicchetti. Think of them as the Italian version of Spanish tapas. The restaurant from Al Volo partners Rolando Frias and Matteo Catalani should open in Adams Morgan this summer. Al Volo’s third partner, Daniele Catalani, will not be involved in this project, according to Frias.

The restaurant is going into the former Libertine and Rosario space at 2435 18th St. NW. They’re hoping to seat 60 people inside and another 24 people outside, and are renovating the space to showcase an open kitchen. They plan to offer lunch and dinner, plus a late night happy hour with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Frias says the restaurant was inspired by many small cicchetterias he and Catalani visited on a trip to Venice, Italy. The food and drink menus are still being finalized.

Washingtonians know Catalani and Frias from the growing number of restaurants under the Al Volo umbrella, including Osteria Al Volo up the street in Adams Morgan, as well as the Al Volo Trattoria & Bar in Cleveland Park, Pizzeria Al Volo downtown, and the Al Volo stand in Union Market.

Retrobottega, 2435 18th St. NW