Pasta Pronto is famous for its mango tart. Its buttery pastry crust is filled with a thin layer of cream, topped with sliced fresh mangos. It costs $24. (photo/alandeckerphoto.com)

Yes, I know the name Pasta Pronto makes it sound like a fast food restaurant. Even worse, it’s located, of all places, in a strip mall. But if you’re willing to be a bit adventurous, you’re going to have one of the best casual dining experiences in the city.

Be prepared that for the time being, Pasta Pronto is nothing to look at. You enter what looks like a small retail space with a counter and a deli case. You then walk along a bare wall (except for an occasional bus tub) to an adjoining box-shaped dining room (obviously an expansion) where square tables are lined up checkerboard style filling the room. Yellow walls with sparse ornamentation meet a linoleum floor and acoustic tile ceiling. Not a great start, but remember, you’re here for the food (and so is everybody else — the place is always packed).

The basic menu is the same at lunch and dinner with a nightly special sheet. The only differences are portion size and price.

Share any of the entrée-sized salads for a great starter. The “Shrimp Salad” ($13.95) is one of my favorites. Grilled tiger shrimp are served over slightly warm spinach that has been tossed with garlic and olive oil. The “Spinach Salad” ($9.95) is another great choice. Baby spinach is lolled in balsamic vinaigrette with tender cooked red potatoes, grilled vegetables and black-eyed peas.

A unique and popular Pasta Pronto offering is the “Caesar Salad Rigatoni” ($7.95 lunch only). A side of warm rigatoni tossed in olive oil and fresh parsley accompanies the traditional Caesar. Let the dressings combine and eat a little bite of each at the same time; it’s an unusually delicious combination.

A great selection of sandwiches will tempt you. My two favorites are the “Caprese”($6.95) and the “Prosciutto Parma, Provolone and Basil” ($7.95). All sandwiches are served on delicious housemade white rolls (an old Portuguese recipe passed on from the former owners) and served with tossed greens.

I liked these two sandwiches so much that I used to order one of them every time I went to Pasta Pronto. Not anymore.

My new favorites at lunch are the “Chicken Piccata” ($9.95) and the “Shitake Ravioli” ($9.95). Five ounces of chicken breast, pounded thin and sautéed in garlic, white wine, butter and capers is served with the most decadent buttery spinach-mashed potatoes. You must try them. The housemade ravioli is served wearing a lovely Pinot Noir cream sauce. It is accompanied by grilled vegetables and a wonderful fresh-baked white roll. (Really, the rolls are killer.)

Several inviting fresh fish selections are offered. At dinner I choose either the “Grilled Swordfish” ($16.95), served with mango salsa, grilled vegetables and sautéed spinach or the “Linguini with Smoked Trout” ($16.95).

Speaking of mango, Pasta Pronto is justifiably famous for its housemade mango tart ($24). A buttery pastry crust is filled with a thin layer of cream, topped with sliced fresh mangos and covered with a light glaze. They sell oodles of these things. On Thanksgiving, I ordered two dozen of their fabulous white rolls to have with my dinner (told people I made them myself, but that’s another story) and when I arrived to pick them up, there was a line of women out the door picking up mango tarts. The new owner, Marianne Zagara who bought Pasta Pronto in August, later told me that they sold more than 60 mango tarts that day.

Pasta Pronto is a down-to-earth eatery with excellent, high-quality food. Zagara plans to improve the interior of the restaurant and add an outdoor eating area. One area she won’t have to worry about is the food. It’s darn near perfect.

— Terryl Gavre