When Alex Figura and Spencer White opened Dio Mio in the River North Art District nearly eight years ago, they did most of the construction work themselves.
“We’re definitely not construction people at all, so there were just some things that were, to be honest, a little goofy,” Figura laughed. “We really wanted to give it a refresh and do it the right way this time.”
The duo temporarily closed their small pasta and Italian small-plates restaurant at 3264 Larimer St. last month for some renovations and menu updates. They reopened today, Thursday, Feb. 8, with a new look and some new appetizers, pastas and entrees.
“When we originally opened, we really did want to approach the menu the way we are now with this refresh, but we just didn’t have the asset,” Figura said. “At the time, it was just Spencer and I kind of doing everything from cooking the food to running it, and we tried a similar menu to what we have now, but it just didn’t make sense.”
The chefs, who also own Redeemer Pizza, a few blocks away at 2705 Larimer St., swapped out some of their larger apps for smaller, more affordable bites, like smoked sweet potato croquettes ($4 each) or a savory smoked salmon cannoli ($4.50), so guests can try a wider variety.
They’ve kept staple handmade pastas, including cacio e pepe and spaghetti and meatballs, but added a new squid ink fettuccine and smoked ricotta agnolotti. Or diners can take a peek at Dio Mio’s new shareable selection and split larger entrees like a pinwheel lasagna, chicken parmesan or whole fried pork tenderloin between two.
The refresh had “nothing to do with” the Michelin Guide’s recent recognition of Dio Mio as one of 26 recommended restaurants in Colorado, Figura added.
“That was a great recommendation. We were honestly very surprised by it. When we opened, we never thought that would ever really happen to us. But this refresh was planned months and months out,” he said. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a while, and it just felt like the time was right, especially since we had Redeemer to help support our staff.”
For the new happy hour menu, available from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, drinks, like a mezcal Moscow mule or a Montenegro daiquiri, are $9; small bites are $6; and a plate of cacio e pepe or spaghetti is $12.
As for the interior changes, led by local architect Kevin Nguyen of REGULAR Architecture, the restaurant added 14 seats, including booths, wooden booths, for a total of 55. The bar has been expanded to keep up with the ever-growing wine program. And a new mural dons the wall, as one of many new aesthetic updates, including new lights, hanging fixtures and a more permanent host stand. “Hopefully we’ll get to the kitchen later this year,” Figura said.
