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From Citysearch.com

Urban sophistication meets rustic tradition at this Northern Italian restaurant in the heart of the Financial District.

The Scene
A steel sign bearing the restaurant's name (an Italian expression that loosely translates to ''wow'') welcomes diners into this befittingly striking eatery. Soaring ceilings with blond-wood accents and a sleek, marble-topped bar add modern appeal to the 6,000-square-foot, historic warehouse space, which retains its 1912 brick wall. Partially carpeted flooring softens the din from the exhibition kitchen in back, where an eight-seat chef's table resides nearby. Well-versed servers easily transition between power-lunching daytime diners and the more languorous evening crowd: a mix of silver-haired society folk, small groups conducting business after five and well-dressed 30-something couples.

The Food
The seasonal menu takes diners on a culinary tour through Piedmont by way of Liguria and Provence. An array of meltingly tender crudo and house-cured salumi are simply plated to showcase the fresh flavors. Other highlights include the gorgonzola-butter-dressed ribeye and handmade, filled pastas, which are taken to new levels with the ricotta-and-chard-stuffed pansotti in a mouth-watering walnut-butter sauce.

Opentable Reservations

Sleek and modern with one foot firmly in the Old World is the feeling at Perbacco. The restaurant boasts a brick wall original to the historic 1913 Hind building, with other touches such as a bar top and floor tiles made from white Carrara marble. With 16 seats at the bar and 7 more intimate tables, Perbacco creates an atmosphere for a glass of wine or a light bite. Perbacco also features 2 dining rooms, one on the main floor and a smaller one on the Mezzanine, which has the added allure of serving as "theater", with windows to watch all the action in the kitchen below. Chef Staffan Terje strives to cook the finest food reflecting the Italian regions of Piemonte and Liguria. Handcrafted, house-made salami, prosciutto and other meats are featured at the salumi bar. Filled pastas, a tradition in Piemonte, range from the traditional ravioli to the more exotic agnolotti. Main courses feature traditional dishes such as Bollito Misto and milk-braised pork shoulder with Savoy cabbage.

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