In Vino

A friend brought us here for dinner and we absolutely loved it. It took close to an hour to get a table for 4, but we had a great time talking at the bar and enjoying a nice bottle of wine. All the food was amazing, from the apps to desert. Wine list was expansive and included a lot of reasonably priced bottles. Staff was aweome, even though they had a LES pace (hippy slow). Would def recommend.

I went based on a friends recommendation and the reviews. I was very disappointed with the food. There is far better Italian food in NYC. Maybe this is good for the LES hood, but there is far better, authentic Italian in midtown, Village, UWS, UES, Brooklyn, Tribeca. Porcini ravioli was similar to something I had in a Nebraska "Italian" restaurant. I can only guess that the folks who highly rate this restaurant haven't been to Italy. Not worth it at any price, and it wasn't even cheap. I won't be back.

Went for dinner on 1/25/09. They did a great job setting up the interior to look like an old wine cellar. However, rarely does one or two raw light bulbs create the best possible lighting and that would be my only criticism of this place - poor lighting. The exposes bulbs harsh out the light and something softer or more candles would really go far here. The food was excellent. Our recommended wine was lovely as well. We had a brushetta to start which was well done and the spicy papardelle w/shrimp was perfect. Other members of our party had the lasagna (great) and porcini ravioli (great). A desert of tiramisu and creme brulee was devoured quite easily thus speaking to their scrumptiousness. The prices are very fair, and I've certainly paid more for a lesser product elsewhere. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice bottle or two and a well-priced and tasty meal.

I had my birthday dinner here a couple years ago and came back to this page to look at the menu, hoping to return. I feel bad about the poor reviews since my first time there was lovely, and one of my fondest birthday dinners, ever. A friend was running very late, so the waiter made conversation with my and my other friend... he was nice and attentive but not cloying. We didn't get entrees, just various antipasti - the carpaccio was amazing and the cheese board just the right amount. The meatballs were a bit salty (and I'm a saltoholic, so that's saying something) though - as other diners have noticed. They must like their salt. The wine [select]ion is great and the atmosphere, when I was there (on a Friday night) was warm and friendly and bustling but not too loud or crowded. Maybe I got lucky... but I want to go back and hopefully trip #2 will be just as good if not better.

Went to In Vino early on a weekday evening, tried the porcini ravioli and the lamb/veal lasagne. The ravioli is a really rich dish, coated in a creamy white sauce, but really - the flavors could have been more subtle - most things drenched in butter and cream taste glorious. The lasagne was delicious but was mush in a bowl. I like lasagne with a little crunch. Minor points of preference I guess, so I gave it 4 stars for having the right ingredients and doing a nice job anyway.

Holy mother of God did I have the BEST dish here. Porcini ravioli with light cream sauce and I swear I though I had died and gone to heaven. And I am so NOT heaven bound. My very picky BF had the skirt steak and loved it as well. The place was PACKED on a snowy, below freezing Wednesday night at 10 pm. We actually had to wait 10 min for a table. Great ambiance- cozy and warm. Had excellent service. And I LOVE to complain. My only complaint here was that there were too many people around and it would be somewhat uncouth to lick my plate. So I refrained.

You might as well bring your date, and both of you bring your iPods along, because you will not be having a conversation, especially on a weekend night. You might even be unlucky enough to sit 6 inches from the little trust fund brat screaming to his date about how great he is who we had to endure (whether or not HE is your neighbor, you WILL be 6 inches from your neighbor). Whomever designed the space graduated last from architecture school, if they graduated at all. The space is small to begin with, but they decided to make a domed ceiling out of concrete, possibly to match the floors made out of concrete and walls made out of, you guessed it, concrete. It all looks very nice and rustic, but I think the designer was absent the day they talked about acoustics. Add all of that up, add in that the place is packed, with standing room only around the (tiny) bar and you might as well be in a nightclub in Ibiza. Which is a shame, becasue the food is great, not outrageously expensive, and generously proportioned. The wine list is fantastic, and will be eagerly explained by one of the owners, who, to be honest, think they are just too cool for school, but do know their wine. I would go back, but only right when they open, before more than 4 or 5 other people get there.