On the ground floor of the City National Bank building, a mixture of local dishes and old flavors made with fresh, top-quality ingredients, in a sleek,updated version of traditional white-tablecloth surroundings, attracts a steady stream of business people on expense accounts, with a goodly contingent of locals celebrating special occasions or stopping in for a drink. The menu draws from various regions of Italy and gives them a contemporary spin— goat cheese ravioli in a silky saffron cream sauce with poppy seeds; or roasted salmon with fennel aioli and olive oil foam, cooked to perfection and served with unerring efficiency. The bar, which turns out an impressive lineup of unique cocktails, has its own innovative menu of small plates and thin-crust pizzas. Get a look at the custom-designed glass wine room and the exhibition kitchen occupying a former bank vault (used only for private parties).

-Christine Delsol