The tuna panini, at Undici in Rumson. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Here’s a zesty lunch that conveys the bite of summer.

It’s  the “sette,” or number seven, on the panini menu at Undici (“eleven”) at 11 West River Road in Rumson.

A sturdily built yet somehow light combination, the sette layers Italian tuna in olive oil, fresh arugula, hot peppers and black olive tapenade, which are hot-pressed in house-made wood-oven pizza bread.

The peppers and arugula liven up the tuna without overwhelming it. An almost-as-zingy salad of arugula and red onion might seem redundant but struck us as a well-chosen complement.

PieHole enjoyed its panini, which goes for $15, while seated in the shade of the outdoor dining out front with a nice cold beer. Or two. The meal made for a pleasant way to offset the summer heat without retreating to the easy escape of air conditioning.