Really fresh authentic Italian, not everything on the menu is pasta doused in cream sauce or marinara. They offer specials every day that often consist of fish. I've never had anything I didn't love. Everything is very flavorful, nothing bland or unseasoned. Staff is super friendly and efficient, I think it's family run. Very quaint atmosphere even though during lunch it can become quite crowded. I've never been here for dinner, lunches aren't too pricey depending on what you get. Usually specials are slightly cheaper and an average menu item will run you $10 - $12. read more

Was in search of a family owned Italian restaurant and hit the jackpot here! They're only open Thurs-Sat (unless there are bigger events going on in the area other days of the week) but it's worth the trip out to try this little gem. The decor is light, fresh and elegant but casual enough for a simple night out with friends. The food was phenomenal and the pricing is very reasonable. They even let us know they could special make or customize any of their dishes to our liking. The service was great as well which really makes a place in my opinion. Will definitely be back! read more

Perbacco - Amazing seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

reasonable prices for sit down meal downtown. support local, small business

Is it possible to give less than 1 star? My wife and I were supposed to meet friends here the night before the Houston marathon. They got there a few minutes before us (5pm) and we were a block away. Hostess told them they had to be out by 6. My wife and I show up literally a few minutes later, and the hostess goes off on a rant about how she hates this *F-bomb* day (the day before the marathon), how these runners come in expecting miracles, and then SHE'S called rude. Here's a clue ma'am: you're called rude because you were rude. Needless to say, my wife and I didn't stay to eat, and won't try to go back. read more

I read many of the negative reviews and all I can say is we enjoyed our time here! Grilled lamb chops, cheese ravioli with crab meat, eggplant pasta, cannelloni, Italian beer and wine! Did we wait? Yes! We stood outside and visited and enjoyed the company of friends. They set up our table for 7 and it was crowded. In 20 min it was almost empty as everyone left for the show. Service was quick and friendly. We definitely would recommend this place to our friends. read more

Perbacco - Setting up a crane outside! Awesome to watch the set up process. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've eaten here several times before shows at the Hobby Center. The atmosphere is very quaint and often you have the owner waiting on your table. Good wine selection and yummy appetizers. I usually order a fish entree and am never disappointed. You can actually eat healthy here! Tried several of their desserts and liked them all. They can be prompt if you are in a hurry for the show if you let them know, or they can be relaxed and let you relax if you are not in a hurry. Always enjoyed my dining experiences here. read more

Good for fast pre-theater, but otherwise just ok tasting food. The menu is good and they try. But the pasta was overcooked(soggy), shrimp just ok. Cut up bread with butter pads in packets. Caesar salad lettuce was so large, needed a lot of of cutting to eat. Everything needs to be cranked up a notch to get higher stars. Service was fast. read more

Best Italian food restaurant I've been to to date! Everything is fresh, and that bread was amazing! If you're downtown and feel like being a part of the high life, go to perbacco! No doubt homestyle with a ton of class! read more

Absolutely WONDERFUL little restaurant, family owned. I knew I would like it when the waitress said "If you don't see what you want on the menu, just tell me what you want. If we have the ingredients, we can make it for you". I saw a chicken dish that i asked if it could be made with a piccata sauce. Absolutely, and it was delicious. The Caprese Salad was nice and plentiful. Overall, a great find downtown. The owner, his brother and almost every other employee came by to say hi, and asked how things were. Very rare by today's standards. Anytime I'm downtown for a play at the theater, his will be my go to place. read more

Awesome place in downtown with glass windows with fancy feel and amazing family service. My friend and I both wanted dishes off the menu and the lady/cook who took our order made exactly what we wanted. The food was delicious and we felt so happy to discover this place. I will definitely be coming back for more. Even though the menu is small, order anything you can think of. Prices are very very reasonable too! read more

Amazing! If you want REAL Italian food, this is the place to go!!!! Great service and amazing food! Gluten allergy friendly! DON'T forgot to order dessert!!!! Best Tiramisu in town! read more

Perbacco - Amazing Pasta! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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One of the best hidden gems in Houston. We stopped in for dinner on Friday and were impressed with the service and food. They do cater to the theatre crowd, but we weren't seeing a show. Food was out quickly, but not quick enough to make you feel rushed. We both had the specials, and they were very accommodating to make something extra special for my boyfriend. Dessert was also great. I had probably the best Italian cream cake I've ever had. Theirs was light and didn't taste of pure sugar like most Italian cream cakes I've had. It seemed to be a popular choice across the restaurant, and I can see why. It was our first time here but definitely won't be our last. read more

THE WORST! The older lady who takes the orders is such an angry woman and snaps at everything you order, say, do, even breathe. She will low key verbally assault you. Not worth it. Not sure why she is still around/not sure why she's so unhappy, but I'll never go back there again. The kitchen forgot to add my vegetables to my order and I went up to her to let her know and she screamed at me "ILL GET THEM." No haha! Not getting any of my money. read more

We were looking for an Italian restaurant that makes a good eggplant parmesan and liked the location so tried it. It is small with great ambiance and service. The food was delicious and the price affordable. Next time we go to theater district will return. We also tried Crepes de Pollo and a seafood dish and all were pleased. read more

Perbacco is a great casual choice for excellent Italian food before a show in the Theater District. Located across the SE corner of Jones Hall, it is an easy walk to any venue. Three blocks from Hobby Center. We had a group of ten. When made the reservation, the hostess asked what time the show started to make sure we could eat and pay in time to walk to the Hobby Center. Cassie, our server, provided excellent menu and wine recommendations. Service was great and the entrees were enjoyed by the entire table. Entrees come with a small side salad. Next time I will order an appetizer. Can't say enough good things about the food AND service. This is a great option for dinner before a show! read more

Very cozy little Italian restaurant with very nice owners, great linguini Capri and all pasta dishes- the fish is always healthy and fresh

I eat here for lunch about every couple of weeks. I always get the trout, it is fantastic. nicely done with technique that allows you to appreciate the fish. It is a bit pricey for me to eat often though. Comes with a salad, grilled veggies and some good bread. All good. read more

I only ever go for lunch during the week, so take that for what it's worth. For the price, you're not going to find a better meal Downtown. Fantastic Italian restaurant and you get your food quickly. My only advice, go early and don't go with a huge party. It's a small restaurant. Seating is limited. read more

We came for the first time a few weeks ago and absolutely LOVED this hidden gem! I can't believe we hadn't been sooner! the wine and the pasta were INCREDIBLE, we can't wait to come back! read more

Per back is a charming Italian eatery nested under the towering office buildings of downtown Houston. Late night I called to make sure that if we ate there that my extremely picky eater of a 6 year old could be fed. The woman who answers (may be the owner) was charming, understanding, and extremely welcoming. They quickly whipped up something for my little one and when he ate it he said "best tasting spaghetti ever". Likely my son will one day dust off being so picky and could very well become a chef. If you are looking for genuine Italian downtown Houston it's a great place for food and clearly they aim to please. Thank you!!!! read more

linguine and clams were so good. this linguine and clams was in olive oil with herbs. food was high quality.

Nice spot. Very reasonable prices. Great food. Perfect place to go before a show in the theatre district. Quite small so call ahead

I work downtown and I called ahead and made reservations for my group and myself. We are a group of more than 10. When we got there and told the woman how many people...she was in shock and really expressed her emotions and kinda made me and a few others feel unwelcome. I felt like you shouldn't unwelcome any guest no matter the size of the group. Business is business. The food was wonderful but spoiled it a bit due to the attitude of some of the employees. Mainly the cashier. Also there is a time limit. No one likes to be rushed while eating. I understand the reasoning but its the principal. read more

Perbacco - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

As a frequent visitor to Italy to visit family. This is a gem in the business district. You are blessed. Evening hours should be added

Really good food and great service. Perfect location if you're going to anything in the theatre district. The food was fresh and simple. Reminded me of being in Italy. Service was very friendly. Portions were ample. I'd come back. They forgot our salads, but offered us free espresso as a make good. read more

All their dishes are great, everything I have tried: Gnocchi, Losbster Ravoili, and Chicken Marsala. You will want to eat yourself into a food coma with their amazing bread and oil with fresh herbs they provide. The place is small and quaint. Provides an amazing experience and excellent food! I will be going back for my pasta craving multiple times. read more

I LOVE the seafood ravioli here! After my first time I could not get enough of this place. The food is very fresh and well seasoned. Hands down one of my favorite Places to eat in Houston. read more

Perbacco - Amazing seafood ravioli - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

What a gem! Parking was a pain, but the dining was so worth it. The wine and food were wonderful. I had the linguine pescatore. The tiramisu was amazing! The service was great and the owner very friendly. Will definitely be back! Highly recommend. read more

This little place is perfect before a show. You show up and park on the street for free after 6pm. The service is good and the food is excellent. When you're done with dinner, you can walk right over to most of the downtown theaters (Jones Hall, the Alley, the Wortham...). I find the eggplant parmesan to be tasty - bubbling hot with just the right amount of cheese and sauce. My husband likes the linguine del mare. The owner seems very accommodating if you have dietary preferences, too. Warning: the olive oil dipping sauce for the bread is super garlicy...I personally liked it, but go easy on it if it's date night! read more

Without a doubt, this unassuming downtown restaurant consistently serves up the very best Italian food in Houston. Right across from Jones Hall, this restaurant is popular with artists between rehearsals and audience members in the evenings before concerts and theatrical events. Open for a casual lunch and a very nice dinner seating, the food and service are first-class EVERY time. Vito, the owner, is a perfectionist and makes sure everything that reaches the table is perfect. Favorite dishes of mine are the Seafood Ravioli in Pink Sauce. This is the best homemade ravoli anywhere! All the fish specials are outstanding, including the Mahi Mahi with cherry tomatoes and capers served atop a perfectly done pasta. At Perbaccco, a side of veggies is a study in perfection as well. Green beans, broccoli and zuccini all cooked so that each is the perfect doneness! My goal now is to try each item on the menu at least once. I'm about halfway there! Sidenote: Vito has a beautiful wine selection that he will pair with your meal and he serves up the best cup of Cappuccino in town too! At dinner service, the waitstaff is exceptional - I always leave feeling like I was treated like a king. I've heard other diners make that same remark as they leave the restaurant too! read more

This place is amazing. The food is truly authentic. I went to Italy this year and I felt like I was back there! A must go to.

Great lunch for a quick business meeting. Only negative to that is the inability to make lunch reservations, but for a 12:30 on a Wednesday, we had no troubles getting seated. You order at the register, and they bring dishes to you - quickly. Food tasted great. Got the pasta with spinach and chicken. read more

I just came back from eating at Perbacco and the food is amazing. From the outside with all the construction being done to the building, you could not tell that there is a restaurant hidden beneath the scalpels and beams. I ordered the chicken crepes and it was delicious. Perbacco is a order at the counter and a server will deliver your food to your table. The size of Perbacco is pretty small but the food is well worth it in its weight. A must for casual lunches!!!!! read more

Friendly, unassuming atmosphere. Pleasant staff & reasonably good food. The lasagna was really cheesy - more than I like, and I like a lot of cheese! I wish it was hotter, spicy-wise. It was PLENTY hot, temperature-wise. It was bubbling from the time it was dropped off, and for a good 5 mins! My wife really enjoyed her salmon. I'd give my meal a 3, my wife's a 4... so an overall 4, cause I like to round up :) (the missus outranks me every time) The wine was good also. Reasonably priced: $50 for the two of us, one glass wine apiece, no appetizers or desserts, or coffee. Oh, I almost forgot - the olive oil marination for the bread was excellent!! Ciao! read more

Two stars for the politeness of the staff and manager. I clearly ordered the wrong custom dish...I spit it out into my napkin. Something tasted freezer burned and watery cream sauce with no flavor. Staff unsure of which pastas are made in house. Wine recommendation was nice though. Left without eating...bummer. read more

I had higher aspirations for this place. It's directly across from Jones Performance Hall, making it the perfect place off the beaten path to grab a bite before a show. It's a cute little simple place and was cozy on a Friday night. Nice waitstaff and good service. The food wasn't incredible, and for that I was a little bummed. Bread and dipping sauce was good enough, good red sauce but the eggplant dish I got (ps, eggplant is a fave and so many people do it right) was essentially a cheese glob. I like cheese and all, but the eggplant got lost in there. Still, if I was going to Jones Hall again, I'd probably give the place a try again and just try something completely different. I just wanted to like it more than I did, you know? read more

Made reservations for 7:15, we were around 4 or 5 minutes late (which has never affected my experience at any other restaurant before with that window of time). We expressed we had reservations and they seated the couple that had walked in before us without reservations, telling us to wait a few minutes (it was a Saturday night and the place only had a few tables seated as well). Kinda weird right off the bat. Customer service was mediocre. The food came out quickly overall starting off with salads. The dressings were definitely Kraft ranch dressing and the blue cheese was the Kraft Poppyseed variety, which was pretty alarming. My girlfriend thought the ravioli with bourbon sauce was okay at best and my linguini alla vongole was okay but the clams just didn't come through with that much flavor in the sauce, although I thought the flavor was decent otherwise. All in all not a great dining experience, having been spoiled with great Italian food in the past. read more

Time visited: 6:00 pm on Friday Company: 6 friends Situation: Enjoying a classy dinner before seeing a play at Abbey Theatre Cost: $50.00 Tip: Can't remember, prob standard $10 Breakdown/Verdict: Oooo I loooooove this place! Getting there at 6 was definately a good idea because it got busy fast, we also had a reservation so that was helpful. We also had an extra person show up but they weren't put off by us needing to borrow a chair from another table. Most entrees are between $17 and $20 and for the most part your basic seafood and pasta combos. They had a few vegetarian options two were odered: pope's hat something or another and the eggplant lasagna, all got two tumbs up. We also ordered desert (~$6) and coffee (~$4). The chocolate triple cake was extremely decadant and went in a flash. The atmosphere is flawless and never too loud. It's light and airy and great for anything: a first date, before a show, for an excuse to get a little dressy. If you do go before a show like we did, you can find a spot on the street and just walk to where ever your show is and avoid the whole underground parking disaster. This will definately be a staple in my book. read more

This is one of my favorite Italian places in Houston. Despite the high ceiling, hard surfaces, and loud atmosphere, I still enjoy coming here. The food is always freshly prepared with high-quality ingredients. I'm especially fond of the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (garlic, olive oil and mushrooms), $10.95 at lunch. read more

This restaurant offers a great lunch service with fairly quick service with a good meal. It's fairly crowded when I've been so plan accordingly. read more