Potenza’s rabbit and truffle stuffed tortelloni with white asparagus sauce.

Word to the wise: when you make your first visit to Potenza, avoid the compulsion to fill up on the bread. It’s a feat that will not be easy, as that basket full of impeccably fresh focaccia, perfectly crunchy grissini and whatever else just came out of the oven stares you down, wafting its delicious aromas at you. But there are other things to look forward to at the latest restaurant from the creators of Zola and the new Zola Wine & Kitchen, which opened last month at the corner of 15th and H St. NW.

Potenza founder Dan Mesches and his partner, Ralph Rosenberg, have taken a formerly disjointed retail space and converted it into a warm, inviting restaurant that is as versatile as it is professional. The place could serve just as well for a quick bite before the theater as for a family dinner or a long, lingering meal to celebrate a special occasion. They’ve also covered all their bases, complementing the restaurant with an adjacent wine shop and an in-house bakery available for carryout. Potenza’s rustic Italian fare is complemented by a host of signature cocktails—try the capriani, a mix of grappa, muddled grapes and limes—and Italian wines chosen by wine and spirits director Elli Benchimol, a Zola veteran.

Potenza’s menu, which was designed by Executive Chef Bryan Moscatello, is full of dishes inspired by the creators’ visit to Tuscany. It brings a hearty, home-cooked feeling Italian cuisine the neighborhood, paired with the baking prowess of Breadline creator Mark Furstenberg, which explains the yummy bread basket. The warmly but not overly lit dining room is casual without being chintzy, with aged tile, rich wood floors and black and white photo portraits of the likes of Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne Gina Lollobrigida lining the walls.