Nice little hidden gem in the heart of Houston with real Italian food! Do yourself a favor and try it out,

I'm updating my review from 5 stars to 3. The hostess and lady who initially took our order was incredibly rude and left a REALLY bad taste in my mouth. The salad was a lot smaller than the last time we came and was mostly iceberg. The seafood pasta we ordered (the special) contained gritty scallops and overcooked lobster. They need a better wine by the glass list -Cavit wine should not cost $7 a glass since it costs $7 a bottle. Quite disappointed since this place has wowed us in the past. read more

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This is by far the best Italian food I've found in Houston. Authentic brothers from Capri, food is incredible and should cost way more than it does. Small large windows all glass walls and just incredible. I can't say enough. PLEASE GO HERE you'll be more than happy. Oh and the desert... hahahahahahaha unreal read more

Tasty, sophisticated menu, great wine selection. Friendly, laid back service, pleasant ambience with moderate noise level. Great for date night or small to medium groups. 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.

Absolutely delicious! Every dish was amazing and not too heavy either. Enjoyed it very much.

Nice atmosphere and staff is so friendly and attentive. Hubby and I tried the specials. I got the lamb chops and grilled veggies. Both were cooked to perfection! He got the seafood special: lobster, shrimp and scallops in a spicy marinara sauce. Excellent! We finished with cappuccinos and a zabiogne. Don't think that is spelled right. Basically a strawberry custard. Excellent! So was the cappuccino. We will definitely be back! read more

There's always good and bad wrapped up in a three star experience so bear with me. They have earned the benefit of the doubt to let ALL of the good things go first. These are good things, which made me consider giving foursies up until fork went into mouth: - super friendly lady at the counter you order your food from - very polite and helpful busboys - clean tables and chairs - you walk out of the federal courthouse and have hot food in your mouth a few minutes later. You cannot beat that kind of proximity and speed for hot food if you are in the courthouse. Bombay Pizza, Treebeards, Guadalajara del Centro, and my other downtown favorites are a further walk (some, like GDC, a much further walk) and are really just not options on some days if you have places to see, things to be, and people to do. - they have eggplant parmesan - a sit down lunch is $11 plus tax/tip (I consider that to be reasonable - not extravagant like a lunch at Quattro) - Josephine's has not existed in quite some time so it is time to try other places - their hours correctly show up on the yelp app so you know they are open for lunch - buy a lunch entree and get a free salad. The salad flavorings are posted readily viewable. However with caesar I am honestly not sure why you would even want to know what else they offer because caesar is the bestest. The actual salad portion is rather small. But take into consideration it is a "lunch portion" and the entire meal costs $11 so it's not like you are at the all-you-can-eat buffet where quantity always trumps quality. The dressing is rather spartan so it is prepared traditionally as a salad, not as an American behemoth loosely resembling something once healthy. No croutons - thank the flying spaghetti monster! I hate croutons with a passion. All in all, as a side caesar salad, this works. These are the bad things which are why they get three stars: - this place is super loud. One should not need to shout and read lips during a civilised sit down business-formal lunch. This place was so loud I felt like the obnoxious voices were just bouncing around the walls getting louder on each reverberation, especially for the windbag sycophants in the corner whose conversation I heard better than the hateful things I was saying about them in my mind. It's that loud at lunch. - there are many different ways to do eggplant parmesan. So I am being charitable in saying that this version of eggplant parmesan is the least favorite I have ever eaten. I am not the biggest fan of cheese. I typically pan cheese on reviews of cheeseburger places so that's the kind of cheese-hatin' Marina-and-the-Diamonds-level-primadonna bitch I can be about cheese. This was literally like a bucket of melted mozzarella cheese with a tiny bit of eggplant and a ladle of sauce thrown in the bucket of cheese just to give it some texture and colour. I just didn't understand it at first. It is literally like 95% of the gondola shaped dish is cheese. You have to conduct an archaeological expedition through the cheese to hit the first piece of eggplant. Josephine's version of eggplant had a very thin layer of cheese and that is why it was perf. Even Birraporetti's which fails at everything managed not to make it a bucket of cheese. Buca di Beppa adds in more cheese than Josephine's ever did but it still pales in comparison to what you get here. - Not to be entirely negative, if you love cheese and want to fill up a bowl and dig around in it like on a scavenger's hunt for a tiny bit of eggplant and a little bit of sauce, then you will like this. - They do have other things on the menu of course. Just eggplant parmesan is my favie, I typically consider it to be the best dish ever derived directly from the suckling nectar of the gods that when they get mad they shoot bees at you, but they're not robotic bees, so you at least get some honey out of those bee bullets shot at you. Because of the location, friendly service, and that the menu has other things on it I would definitely come back. I will just try another dish that does NOT come with any cheese on it just to be on the safe side though. If you are picky when it comes to cheese (the film Old School tie-in I have been waiting for: *in Vince Vaugn's exaggerated and annoying voice* "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese") then just be warned on the eggplant parmesan. In all other respects, prepare for a pleasant (albeit loud) business casual or business formal lunch mere footsteps away from the federal courthouse. read more

Dissatisfied with the lunch I brought from home, I went across the street from to meet a friend at Perbacco's. It was right before the noon rush, so we quickly moved to the counter and ordered from the laminated menus before us. My date had her usual lasagna and I decided to try something new - the straw & hay chicken. We both took our salads, grabbed a few slices of bread (complete with balsamic vinegar and olive oil) and took a seat against the wall. The salads was drowned in an Italian dressing that tasted too much like garlic, but I did not come here for the salad. Our entrees arrived about 10 minutes after we ordered them, both quite hot. The green and white pastas was topped with a spicy tomato sauce and chunks of grilled chicken. Everything had a great flavor, and I was quite sad to see I ate it all without thinking to savor each bites. My date's lasagna sat in an oval ceramic, crowned with bubbling cheese. The viscosity of the filling was not quite runny, not totally solid nut utterly delicious. I only got one forkful away from the dish before being scolded. The lunch rush can certainly pack the place, but if you work downtown this should be on your list of places to have lunch away from your desk. read more

I love a place that's even fun to say. Just try it... I'll wait. Perbacco. See, now wasn't that fun? I told you so. And I can't take credit: this one was a recommendation. I'm a recently transplanted suburbia-dweller with a fancy new downtown gig and I'm COMPLETELY out of my element. Parking - ACK! I'd rather starve, so my requirements for lunch downtown are within-walking-distance. How do you spot the best headhunter in town? She not only hooks you up with a fabulous new gig, but she gives lunch recommendation when you just can't eat another Salata in the tunnel. I arrived to find my one of my lunch companions already seated at a white linen table-clothed table near the windows - perfect for spotting our third and some great people watching. Situated on a downtown corner, I've driven by Perbacco countless times and never noticed, but boy did I notice the heavenly smell of pasta when I arrived. For a nice yet-still-quick lunch, you can't beat Perbacco. Lunch is clearly primetime - the place was packed by noon. The delightful server brought our drinks, and we placed our orders at the counter - where your pasta special comes with a salad. And trust me on this, you must get the feta vinaigrette. I mopped up the extra dressing with a slice or two of the soft, warm bread they brought to the table. A few minutes later, my pasta primavera arrives - with my requested whole wheat pasta! Bless Perbacco, for those of us who really should be sticking to our diets, whole wheat pasta is like manna from heaven. And I must say, as wonderfully fresh and well-balanced as my primavera was, I sat there coveting the alfredo covered tortellini to my right ... must come back and try it. In & out, 45 minutes, 3 lunches for less than $40 and a delicious meal had by all. If you can beat that in downtown Houston, give me the name of the place - I'm trying it next. read more

Great lunch specials and the service is fast. Restaurant overall is managed well - Servers have a very professional presence and demeanor, restaurant setup is neat, clean, and orderly. A very quiet and presentably spot for small business meetings/lunches. read more

Love this place! Such a fun little restaurant with an intimate atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly and they can make anything to your liking! The flavors are phenomenal. I especially like the seafood pasta dishes with diablo sauce. And the fresh strawberry dessert is to-die-for. Finish it all off with coffee and it's the perfect meal! And ask about the giant pictures on the wall! They are actual pictures of some of the people who work there. read more

Initial impressions only, I need to go back a few more times to give a final impression. The lunch service is a little confusing as you walk up to the counter to order, but there isn't really a designated area to go to. When ordering the salad dressing, I cannot recommend the feta dressing. It tasted funky and was weak, IMHO. The decorations are spare, but nice. I liked the layout and watching the world go by. The bread and olive oil were serve yourself. The bread was wonderful. The olive oil bottles are not marked, so I don't know what I got, but the oil was delicious. It would be nice to have more herbs to mix in. When I was there, only black pepper was available. The baked pasta dishes are huge and my friend who had it said that it was wonderful. He ate the whole darned thing. My pasta with clams was wonderful. I chose to have just the clams with olive oil and garlic. It was the right choice. I could taste briney clams and the garlic was just right. I will definitely go back and try more dishes. So far, I'm happy with the food and think it gives a good mid-level choice for Italian lunch. read more

One of my first was working in a Modern Italian joint where we made everything from scratch... we cultured our own starters, made our own pastas, rolled our own gnocchi, cured our own meats, etc etc. I'm a carb-head. Meaning both the love of my life and the bane of my glutinous existence are caaarrrbbbsss. That being said, I'd like to think I've both cooked and/or tasted every Italian staple out there. I always say the best way to judge the quality of an italian joint is to try their lasagna. Anyone can make pasta and swirl it in butter... anyone can make bread... but lasagna is an art form in & of itself. The service was rushed a bit lacking, but I dig it, it kinda ran at the pace that you'd expect a true Italian place to be. The owner and his significant other were the ones manning the floor, and they were very quick and to-the-point. No BS, order your food, enjoy it, tada. The entrees came with a salad. I'll have to knock them a little bit for presentation: The salad mix wasn't fresh, very easily identified as spring mix with some romaine bits in there. The salad dressing was over salted for my taste, but it wasn't horrible, so I scarfed it down anyway. The tomato... was a slice of a regular ole' red tomato, cut in half, and placed on opposite sides of the plate from each other.... really? If you're not going to use cherry tomatoes, at least dice the bland sandwich-grade tomato a bit. Meh, whatever, I was ready for my lasagna, though I was in low spirits after seeing that salad. The lasagna came out... hot 'n bubbly... oh so cheesy... GUYS. guys. this was the best lasagna I've ever had. So much so that I had to force myself to stop eating it halfway through so I could nibble on it later that evening and enjoy the majesty all over again. The meat was so tender, and although the pasta clearly wasn't homemade I gave zero fudgesickles because all I wanted to do was bathe in that dish. It was clearly a blend of beef, pork, and I'd even venture to say something a little gamier such as veal. My mother ordered the Gnocchi di Gorgonzola, which was simple yet great. The gnocchi was so tender to the point that one might even think they're a tad underdone, but no, they were perfect. The sauce was VERY heavy on the gorgonzola, and there wasn't much else to it. I'd like to think some roasted garlic, blistered cherry tomatoes or basil chiffonade would've helped round out that dish. If you're a gorgonzola love, TRY THIS. I woke up the next morning & my mom had eaten the rest of my lasagna. Because even though she was full on rich gnocchi, she wanted that damn lasagna. I don't blame her. I've only been back home for 2 days now & I've already dream of it thrice. Lesson here? Eat their lasagna. Do it. And be prepared to hate any other lasagna you'll ever have. read more

Perbacco - A religious experience in a bowl. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Have been here a few times, both in the mad lunch hour crush and outside of it. Here's my thoughts: Decor/Ambiance 4: It's one small room with high ceilings, modern decor , high-decked and white linen decked tables that feels upscale w/out the upscale prices. At lunch hour the little counter that you order from and pick up your drinks can get a little crowded and the whole place with all those packed in table can be pretty noisy (difficult to hear your tablemates). But, if you come before or after the crowd, or even better in the evening when you can sip some wine leisurely with the meal --- to me, it feels just like an authentic family run trattatoria in Italy. Food/Value 4: I pretty much always go for the trout now, but the pasta I've had has always been good. Everything has that homemade, just for you feel. For less than $15 you can get that addictive fresh bread and pesto sauce, a good salad and entree w/sides. Service 4: Food comes quickly and servers and bus boys are helpful and attentive. Bottom Line: Another good spot to add to your Downtown list for a little taste of Italy. Best if you can do so when you can savor the food, the service and a bottle of wine outside of the lunch hour to get the true ambiance of Italy. read more

I've eaten here a time or two in the past, always at dinner, usually when I was downtown in the theater district to see a performance. With the bright lighting, big glass windows floor to ceiling which look out on (and in from) those soulless downtown corporate streets, and stark metal tables and chairs, this place is more a diner than a fine dining establishment, but I never judge a place by ambiance (until AFTER I've sampled the food) and though not stunning, I've always been satisfied by the meals I've had here, and gratified by the owner's willingness to negotiate on preparation for some of the dishes that I like to order, but "modified." All this is prologue to the statement that I'd ordinarily give this place about three stars. But.... Recently, I was seeking a pre-theatre dining experience on a special occasion with a special someone. The location was right, the cuisine (Italian, and, as the owner will be at some pains to tell you if you speak to him, "authentic Italian,") was something I knew would be a hit with my dining companion, so I called to make a reservation (it's what people with even basic beginner couth do). I told the woman who answered the phone what day I planned to come (Saturday May 1st) and what time (12:30). She said "Oh you don't need a reservation for lunch. We only take reservations for big groups." OK, it's your business, run it how you want. I did what I was supposed to do as a polite customer who wanted a guaranteed seat. So we show up. On time. We find the window lettering clearly stating that lunch is served Monday - Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And we find the place locked up tighter than a drum. On a Saturday. At 12:30. After we &%#$@*! CALLED AHEAD. Thoroughly, unacceptably unprofessional. I've enjoyed the food here before, but I'm dinging them for having Saturday hours posted which they don't honor, and for not having the remedial snap to figure that out and say something when I called ahead for the reservation and gave them day, date and time over the phone. You pooched my ANNIVERSARY, Paisans. Fuggeddaboudit. El Rauncho Grande read more

Having walked by this place a hundred times, I finally decided to check it out. It deserves about 3.5 stars, but I will round up to 4. Perbacco is a great "fast casual" sit down restaurant in downtown Houston. Overall, the food is above average for downtown food and is pretty reasonably priced. For $15, I got tortellini stuffed with beef and veal, salad, bread and an ice tea. The salad was very unimpressive and just tasted like a basic salad in a bag with an italian vinagrette dressing. The tortellini, which came in a large serving size, was above average in my opinion. The service was really good and the guy was quick at clearing empty plates from the tables and refilling my drink. Definitely a solid alternative to the fast food downtown whenever you are craving italian. read more

We had 4 in our party, and ordered 4 different entrees. They were all delicious. I got the linguini Capri and asked for them to hold the cherry tomatoes and add mushrooms. No problem. Another person had a more involved special request. No problem I got the profiteroles for dessert and they reminded me of ones I got in Italy. This is our new go to restaurant when we eat downtown. read more

Wow! Am I glad we found this place. I ordered the linguine frutti di mare. The owner informed me that they were out of mussels, so he asked if I wanted just clams or if I wanted some mixed seafood. I asked for the mixed seafood. I think I lucked out that they didn't have mussels! What I got was perfectly cooked pasta in a delicate but garlicky sauce packed with clams, scallops, shrimp, and fish. It was simply delicious.We rounded out the meal with some tiramisu which was fantastic. The service was also great. The owner works the room well, making sure everything is going smoothly. He even noticed that I dabbing at some sauce I managed to get on my shirt and brought over a Tide To Go pen so I could clean it up. This was the epitome of good Italian food: Simple ingredients cooked with care. We will definitely be back. read more

Walked in and needed a reservation. However, there was a table open for me and my two friends to eat at! We sat down had great service, and had a fantastic meal! The sauce in my pasta tasted amazing! Super happy with our service, the hospitality, and the food! Overall 10/10 read more

Each time I walk past Perbacco on my way to a rehearsal or concert at Jones Hall, I look at the little fishbowl restaurant with cheery pale-blue walls and remember that I've been meaning to try it. Before last weekend's performance of Mahler's 8th Symphony, I finally made time for a pre-concert dinner. Unfortunately, not enough time to try a variety of courses! For our quick dinner, I had orrechiette in a chunky eggplant and tomato sauce topped with fresh basil and melty chunks of fresh mozzarella - tasty, and big enough that I took half home (though admittedly, I filled up on bread dipped in their signature oil and vinegar with big garlic chunks). My friend had ravioli filled with, if I remember correctly, crab, and topped with a butter sauce. I thought the sauce was a little watery/sweaty, but he seemed happy enough with his choice. The entrees came with a salad, and I can't say I enjoyed mine: while the parmesan dressing was nice, the wilty iceberg and mealy tomato did not impress. The stars here are more for atmosphere - not to mention the friendly, attentive service - than the food. While the setting was fresh, the food was decidedly old-school. read more

Showed up for lunch at 1:30 on a Saturday, and they were closed. I'm disappointed. Waste of my time. Maybe call first to see if they felt like opening. read more

Perbacco - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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

Amazingly delicious Italian food. Only open for lunch during the beginning of the week, but worth planning your itinerary to partake! At lunchtime it is crowded, but tables turnover quickly. They have a very efficient system. I got the daily special of portobello mushroom ravioli with shrimp...divine! Comes with a side salad and help yourself to Italian bread. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the mushroom filling had a silky texture and was perfectly seasoned. The shrimp were large and plentiful. Very reasonable for the quality and portion size. read more

Perbacco - Portobello mushroom ravioli with shrimp. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I LOVE this place. Been coming here for years since it's about a block from my office. Very much missed it during COVID. They have a great little small restaurant feel and the food is terrific. They now serve breakfast tacos!!!!! How great is that? I know, I know...not typical of an italian restaurant. But this is Texas, and you can never go wrong with breakfast tacos. Will be coming here EVERY SINGLE MORNING now when I'm in the office. My favorite lunch/dinner dish is the manicotti. Pasta tastes homemade and the sauce is homemade also. Just....delicious!!! But honestly, I've never tried something on the menu that I didn't end up loving :) read more

So it seems my experience to Perbacco was not as amazing as most others who have written reviews here. It wasn't a bad experience - it just wasn't anything exceptional - and I am not at excited about going back. My cousin and I decided to check this place out for lunch. We walked in, and even though all the tables were full - it seemed that the tables were turning fast enough, where by by the time you place your order, usually a seat opens up. The Lunch deal includes bread and salad, both of which were quite decent, although nothing to write home about. I ordered the crepes which although looked amazing were quite bland. Sadly, they remained bland despite my efforts of adding almost any spice I could find. It may have been my South Asian upbringing which has made me somewhat immune to weaker tastes - but I simply was craving some Sriracha or Tabasco. My cousin had a similar experience (although I don't know if it would be fair to say hers was as unflavourful as mine). She did say her pasta was al dente and she expected better from an Italian place. The Bottom Line: If the food had more flavour - it would have been a great experience - but given the blandness, there is little that would have me excited to go back. That being said - I don't think I'd be opposed to going back, just would look for something that may excite the palates more. read more

Great Italian food place tucked into the heart of downtown. Excellent service. The bread us crunchy, the chianti is delicious and the eggplant is to die for. A definite recommendation for lunch. read more

Perbacco - Pretty nice wine selection! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

My first time Perbacco and it did not disappoint. Its small dining room and warm service reminds of the small restaurants in Italy. It's such a wonderful break from the large chain Italian places around Houston. I especially appreciated their help with the wine selected, she was so helpful and didn't try to sell me on the most expensive wine on the menu as other places might. On to the most important part, the food was absolutely on point. My beef Tortellini was so delish, the cream sauce was perfect. I did not leave a single tortellini behind! Such a great find! read more

Perbacco - Mango Sorbet - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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small, quiet Italian Restaurant. When the owners are cooking and waiting on you, it has to be good. All dishes are made from scratch, and the bread with olive oil and herbs is addictive. Penne Contadina and the Rissoto were excellent. Small wine list, but selections were great at great prices. Would return again when back in town. read more

I lived a year in Italy and so I'm relatively fussy about my Italian food. What a treat to stumble into Perbacco last week. The owner was patient and kind around my rusty Italian, and even suggested to my husband to have the gnocchi with gorgonzola (the gnocchi on the menu was listed with tomato sauce), which was out of this world. It's my husband's favorite dish and we've never had better. My risotto with seafood was likewise fabulous, and was made just how I like it. Can't recommend this restaurant enough, from the warmth to the excellent food. A definite win. read more

Fenomenale! OMG! Terrific Italian restaurant in the theatre district of downtown Houston. Food was great! Service not rushed. That's a good thing. For me. But I saw them hurry it up when people were getting ready to go to the show. Whenever in Houston I WILL go for a great meal. Love it! Love it! Love it! read more

This place may have weird hours but it is fan-bloody-tastic! Went there on a romantic dinner date (whatever you may want to call it) and we had awesome service, super fresh food, and great wine. This restaurant has been around a long time and the owner is very proud of it (he will tell you because he pretty much talks to every customer). Great pastas, risottos, and their bread dip is insanely yummy. Great place if you live downtown, if not park somewhere and walk. Well worth it. read more

I'd rate this place 3.5. While the food tasted okay, the portions were small. The mussel pasta I ordered had mussels that were the size of nickels. The sauce was just too watery and I had to eat a lot of bread to really fill up. Establishment itself is very nice but small and there's very limited seating since they take reservations. Just know that this place is not in the tunnels, it's on the street level at the corner of the pennzoil building. read more

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Best real Italian restaurant in town. I love the food and the friendly familiar atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anybody... ..plus it is inexpensive! Dimenticavo, sono italiana. Almost forgot to mention that I'm Italian. read more

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

At the recommendation of a coworker at the time I took a girl here for our first date. It worked out perfectly: the venue doesn't have a really large sign or even any indication at all really that it's a restaurant. This was great because it felt like an exclusive place that's mostly spread by word of mouth. The menu was great and very straightforward, though I've long forgotten what I actually had that night. The best part is the size; it's a very small, almost cafe like space, making for a very intimate setting. We were seated next to the large windows so we had a spectacular view of downtown nightlife as we dined. I would recommend calling ahead for a reservation on the weekends as it is apparently a popular before and after dining spot for people attending the nearby theaters. I'd like to think it wasn't ENTIRELY due to this awesome place, but that girl and I are now married! Thanks Perbacco! I'd really recommend this place if you're looking for a non-cliched first date location, or maybe for an anniversary even. 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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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

We had lunch at Perbacco, and it was OK. Nothing I really loved but not bad either. I appreciated how they had indulgent pastas, along with healthy, grilled options, but the healthy options were a bit boring. My chicken breast was literally just that--a (slightly oily) chicken breast with a side of veggies. A solid option but not my favorite spot for lunch. read more