I had heard about it and I always think about trying it whenever I drive past.

So when my girlfriend invited me to dinner at Bernini Honolulu, a new contemporary Italian restaurant that opened in April near Ala Moana Center, I didn’t hesitate.

In fact, I already knew what I wanted to order.

Bernini Honolulu isn’t your ordinary Italian restaurant. Its chef is Kengo Matsumoto, who got his chops in northern Italy before opening three restaurants in Tokyo. Bernini is his first eatery in Hawaii.

It’s pretty evident by just looking at its menu that Bernini serves its signature brand of Italian fare: fresh sea urchin spaghetti, king crab atop linguine with a tomato cream sauce, penne with swordfish and an oregano tomato sauce and the Vongole Bianco (shown) consisting of fresh clams in a white wine sauce.

And if you love authentic Italian-style pizza, Bernini won’t disappoint, offering 18 different varieties of pie all cooked in a WoodStone pizza oven.

Here’s what we ate:

Inside the restaurant

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From the outside, it looks a little like a high-end furniture boutique. And that's not a bad thing. It's stylish and modern — and those black chairs are exceptionally comfortable.

Bernini Honolulu, 1218 Waimanu St., Honolulu. Hours: 5:30-11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday. Phone: (808) 591-8400