In Vino Wine Bar in East Village

I decided to try this place because of the many great reviews my friends have given it. I am always looking for solid, well priced Italian food – Italian food is one of the cuisines that doesn’t require a lot of money for high quality. In Vino is a pretty small space, which makes it tough to get a table without a wait during prime hours. Reservations are only taken on the weekends until 7:30pm. The only dish that I thought was actual memorable was the porcini mushroom ravioli with a truffle cream sauce, which was perfectly filling – not too heavy, but loaded with mushroom flavor. I also ordered the meatball appetizer – three large meatballs served straight out of the oven in a ceramic dish and piled with a dense, rich tomato sauce, which was slightly too heavy to cover a meat dish too heavy itself. The meatballs were flavorful, but they lacked that crusty outside that made me fall in love with my mom’s meatballs in the first place. The special salad with sweet potatoes and beets was doused with WAY too much oil, turning a seemingly light appetizer into a greasy plate of mixed root vegetables. And lastly, the shrimp pappardelle pasta with cherry tomatoes was tasty, but nothing to write home about. I added salt to every bite, and the shrimp was slightly overcooked. An extra vegetable or a light sauce would have given this dish much more depth.
In Vino is known for it’s wine list, and being far from a wine connoiseur, I am not a good judge of whether the menu is as amazing as everyone claims. However, it was undoubtedly really long and had a substantial list of affordable wines by the glass.
The service was great – very friendly, accommodating, and patient, and the place itself (despite the constant draft of cold air) was warm, dimly lit, intimate, and inviting. Definitely a great date spot with its down to earth feel and cozy environment, just make sure to bring an extra sweater or two or it may make your meal unenjoyable.
I think I need to give this place another shot before I judge it’s quality appropriately, but overall based off of one visit I would definitely give it another try but with lowered expectations.

Address: 214 East 4th street btwn Ave A and B
Website: www.invino-ny.com