Admittedly, Il Fornaio comes off a bit stuffy. But don’t let the spiral staircase, classical music, and overwhelming number of graying women in pantsuits put you off. This Italian restaurant inside Pacific Place is well worth a visit during happy hour on weekdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It features $3 beer, $4 house wine, and - here’s where it gets very attractive – a free, all-you-can antipasti buffet. The spread varies, as it’s based on the chef’s whim of the day, but usually includes chicken wings, crostini, pasta salad, marinated olives, and an assortment of cheese. If you’re too self-conscious to make multiple trips to the buffet table, you can also order off a $5 menu of more substantial dishes like pizza, polenta, and calamari. But really, order another glass of wine and loosen up. It’s the uninhibited who make out like bandits in this scenario. ERIKA HOBART
