What should you know?

A predictable menu with a little bit of everything you would expect in a bustling Italian restaurant: pizza, pasta, meat, seafood. Il Mulino New York was perfect for conventioneers—but there aren’t many left—so adventurous eaters may want to go elsewhere.

What’s it like inside?

A spin-off of the acclaimed Manhattan restaurant, Il Mulino takes an upscale-casual, downtown New York approach to Italian cuisine, with family-style platters for sharing. Tables are dark wood, and an open kitchen creates a bustle. You can request private dining in one of the smaller rooms.

What are the specialties?

The cuisine focuses on Italy’s Abruzzo region, with hearty pastas and big cuts of meat. Try the spaghetti carbonara or the veal saltimbocca. Risottos are well made; spaghetti with baby shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and calamari is well made but overpriced.