While we're always on the hunt for both the new and the unfamiliar in New York's kitchens, we also have standby favorite restaurants. One place we find ourselves returning to over and over again is Bedford Street's 'Ino, the sliver of a cafe and wine bar specializing in panini, tramezzini, bruschetta and a laundry list of wines (mostly Italian), with a handful available by the glass or half-bottle. Intimacy comes to mind in a space almost entirely lit by candles and because the room is so small, patrons must get up in domino effect when new customers arrive. The menu is made for mixing and matching -- salads and soups, bruschetta topped with various cheeses, meats, vinegars, and vegetables, and of course the panini (hot pressed sandwiches) and tramezzini (crustless sandwiches on white bread).
Gothamist started with the night's special soup, a puree of root vegetables that was hearty and nourishing, but would have benefited from an extra kick of freshly ground pepper. The ricotta fresca bruschetta with oven roasted tomato was delicately creamy with just the right touch of fresh sea salt, and the white bean, tomato, and basil bruschetta was herbaceous with a touch of lemon. Panini offerings mix and match both salty and sweet combinations of Italian meats and cheeses. We opted for the bresaola, asparagus and pecorino peppato panini, where the salty beef was offset by the sweetness of greens and a side salad of eggplant.
'Ino is the perfect stop for a casual lunch, an evening date, or a late night bite when you're on your way home with your wino friends. Service is attentive without being rushed, even when the space is full and passersby are eagerly awaiting a table and conversation is forced to be intimate because of close sitting quarters.
'Ino is located at 21 Bedford Street and open daily from 9 a.m. - 2 a.m. serving brunch on weekends. 212.989.5769.
