Il Mercato -  Bedford,

We were here for a birthday celebration with family. The restaurant is popular, so you should make a reservation ahead of time, just to be sure. It is very nicely decorated, with very friendly and attentive service. The menu has a broad variety of Italian dishes. Everyone at our table enjoyed their choices very tasty. The bruschetta and bread were very nice too. But... A couple of things were disappointing. I had the scallops, which were delicious. But the meal came with a total of three scallops. Three. That's it. Sure, they were large and plump, but three? Really? I had to check with someone else who ordered the same dish, and yes, she had only three scallops too. Never seen that in a restaurant before. Second, I mentioned we were there for a birthday celebration. We were asked on the phone when we made our reservation if we were celebrating a special event, so we told them. The waiter seemed aware of our celebration. But I would have hoped for some kind of recognition, like a free dessert or appetizer or drink, or something. Maybe one scallop. Nothing. Why did they even bother to ask if they weren't going to do anything special? Too bad when a couple of small things leave a disappointing impression.

We used to go here a lot because the food and service is good. But lately the cost has skyrocketed and the portions for some dishes seem smaller. Now it is special occasions only. Be prepared to dig deep into your wallet or bag. Beef tenderloin with two sprigs of broccoli and a few tiny potatoes for $50. Most appetizers are $15, as are most desserts. The least expensive bottle of wine is about $45. After tax and tip, you lookimg be looking at close to $140/person.

Last night, we had Marissa as our server at the restaurant. However, when it came time to pay the bill, the only tip option available was 25%, which we were not happy with. We have decided not to return to this restaurant in the future.

The restaurant is excessively noisy with thumping music playing. It was hard to hear words over the booming sound. The server offered me a choice between a 5 or 8oz glass of wine, but only the 5 oz was listed on the menu. When I inquired about the price of an 8 oz glass, the server mentioned it would be 4 or 5 more dollars and noted that it didn't really matter since I would likely finish the whole bottle. The food was average tasting and pricey. Perhaps sitting outside would be less noisy, but with many other restaurant options available, I would suggest trying somewhere else.

This restaurant is a safe bet. The food and service have been consistently excellent for the past 15 years, with a great Italian menu at reasonable prices. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.