his gorgeous, popular, downtown Italian joint aggravates my claustrophobia, elevating it from slight irritation to full-blown psychosis. As the Italian expands my stomach to belt-pushing levels, the picturesque, Tuscan-inspired courtyard for which the restaurant is named seems to get tighter. My foibles aside, Il Cortile has one of the coolest atmospheres in the city and the food is on par with the ambiance.