A lot can happen in a week. Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, the decade-old Italian darling by Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s Ashok Bajaj, shuttered for a complete makeover at the end of August. A crew of 20 worked just a handful of days (and nights) to transform the 140-seat restaurant and outdoor patio into Modena, a completely revised “Italian-influenced” eatery with a menu nodding to, but not limited by, its classic Italian predecessor.

It’s become a trend for D.C. restaurateurs to change up their concepts when business lags or when they’re ready for a refresh, especially for Bajaj. Over the last few years, he’s transformed three of the group’s dining rooms—Ardeo, Bardeo, and NoPa Kitchen, all serving American cuisine—into Indian street kitchen Bindaas, Israeli restaurant Sababa, and the Mediterranean-influenced Olivia. As Bajaj told DCist last month, Modena has the most in common with its forerunner of any of his revamps, but is through and through a new restaurant.