Casa Lever

Photo: Whitney Cox

Casa Lever, a trendy, Milanese-focused restaurant from the gents behind Sant Ambroeus, opened in the former Lever House last night, and here's everything you need to know about its big debut.

The Food: Manhattan Italian via Milano

The Design: Moderno Midtown, with a cool collection of Warhols on the wall, a classy glass and marble bar, comfortable group nooks with wine rack partitions and contempo chandeliers

Sample Dishes: Seared scallops with black truffle and shaved white asparagus ($18); paccheri pasta with red snapper ragout, cherry tomato and baby artichoke ($26); traditional baked veal Milanese ($44)

Sample Dessert: Hazelnut sponge, hazelnut wafer, gianduia ($10)

Photo: Whitney Cox

Sample Drinks: Brandy Smash (brandy, mint sprigs and homemade simple syrup, $12); Positano Breeze (Strega, Cointreau, orange and cranberry juice, $12)

The Crowd: Expense-account types (or those who used to have them) with jackets but no ties; Madison Avenue shopper spillover; models who'd look comfortable on Milano runways; high-profile neighbors like Julian Niccolini

The Tunes: Jazzy, from bossa nova to Jamiroquai

After-work Attraction: A bar menu featuring mini-burgers ($14), veal and mozzarella meatballs ($8), and potato, prosciutto and mozzarella croquettes ($8)

The Deets: 390 Park Avenue; 212-888-2700

– Kathleen Squires