Famished Girl
INO Cafe & Wine Bar, West Village
If you’re new to the city (or just visiting) and the idea of dining out alone gives you vertigo, INO, the cozy but chic eight-table Italian panino cafe & wine bar, is warm and inviting. Conceived by owners Jason and Jennifer Denton while at a friends wedding in Italy, the couple was mesmerized by the simplicity of many of the paninoteca’s classic offerings of savory panini, tramezzinni (tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off), bruschetta and robust Italian wines. Also influenced by famous chef, Mario Batali, Jason Denton believes in serving authentic and tantalizing cuisine accompanied by the very best Italian wine.
Sample many of the bite-sized brushcetta (for a mere $2!) and create your own tasty menu of butternut squash, walnut oil and asiago or asparagus, truffle oil and parmesan. Personally, I adore the soppressata, fontina and rucola panini (fontina is a creamy, thick cheese, a staple in Italian cooking paired with the delicately-sliced salami) as well as the three cheese: crotonese, cacio, grana and truffle oil. The fresh ingredients are complimented by thin, crusty ciabatta from the nearby Blue Ribbon Bakery.
The atmosphere reminds me of the cafes in Paris and Rome, free of pretension, energetic and filled with frenetic conversations. It’s surprising how little they obsess over table turns. Dozens of magazines are piled by the windowsill and outlets are provided for laptop computers - translation: you can stay as long as you like, and trust me, you want to. The wine list is outstanding, showcasing the finest from all Central, Southern & Northern Italy (also the islands) and prices range from $29-$90/bottle with delicate merlots to more complex, medium-full bodied cabernets and pinot noirs. The whites range from the sweet dolcetto to the crisp, dry blancs.
Pop in for a quick drink after a full day of sightseeing and Soho boutique shopping or cruise in for a relaxing afternoon of reading, munching and relaxing.
TIP: Bring cash ladies, INO does not accept credit cards.
INO
21 Bedford St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 989-5769
Cross Street: Between Houston Street and Downing Street
Subway: 1/9 to Houston St
