How many times will you see Il Mercato in the same category as Eastside Mario’s? Very possibly just this once. It’s weird, but it’s also nice to know we live in a city where your number one pick for Italian is a formal restaurant, and the second best, according to you, is Italian in a more casual environment. Though Il Mercato doesn’t offer you a bottomless bowl of salad, you get fantastic pasta with gourmet ingredients.
Runner-up: Eastside Mario’s, 1650 Bedford Row, 422-7100
