Ino

05/06/09

Good Food, Lousy service

by gourmenthunter

I like the food and selections. Good wine to match them too. However, I had the worst service ever. The waiter just ignore you and was kinda discriminative towards colored customers! I was ultimately offended. If you're an eater who cares about the service, you'll not enjoy your meal!

04/18/09

Great food, always a treat

by JeanMc

This little hole in the wall restaurant is so yummy- i always find a friend to go with, and we mix & match our orders... definitely keeps my foodie writer friend happy as well.

• Pros: great food
• Cons: tiny!

11/21/08

best espreso ever

by dmoorjani

This place is one of the best, hidden foodie places in nyc. Even with great places like Clinton St. Bakery, I prefer a quiet but lively brunch here on a sat or sunday anyday over the top brunch places in nyc. Better that that is the fact that Ino uses essse brand coffee for their espressos - that's the best out there.

• Pros: espresso, egg truffle, panini, decor
• Cons: too crowded, have to move tables to sit down

07/18/08

Service

by Oysters11

The food and atmosphere are a must.

It is too bad that a bunch of over inflated kids are providing bad service on the Weekends.

04/22/08

great spot

by pustunka

INO is one of the places you get addicted to. The wine selection is exellent, the staff is polite and knows about what they serve. The only problem I personally find with this place is how noisy it is (it's so hard to hear the specials!) But, I guess, it's the city vibe and its charm too :)))) Truffle egg toast is delicious, paninis are creative and can please any taste. Shortly, the food is simple and has great flavours. I didn't like the presentation of the cheese plate (huge white plate, about 90% of it is empty, it doesn't look attractive at all, and hardly fits on the tiny table), even though the cheeses are delicious. Exellent for really late nights, since they close their kitchen at 2!

• Pros: open late, good service, casual ambiance

04/11/08

Bland

by lf9907

I honestly don't understand what all the hype is about. I went to 'ino on Friday evening with a friend and was surprised to see one two top table open. The waitress told us she would have to check to see if there was a table available. What did she have to check? The place is the size of a postage stamp! It was obvious there was a table open. After making a point to "consult" with the manager, they made a big deal about seating us after making us wait for a few minutes. Not a big deal, but really, the dramatic show was unnecessary. I had the white bean soup and half a pannini - both were bland and COLD. Don't bother with the artichoke, fennel and fontina pannini - absolutely void of flavor. The waitress and the manager kept peeking over my shoulder to check on how we were - imagine someone reading over your shoulder on the train. That is how uncomfortable and annoying it was...and it was constant. Attention to your customers is one thing, loitering is quite another. Don't waste your time or money on this place. The bland food is not worth it; there are much better restaurants in the area

• Pros: Extensive wine list
• Cons: Bland food

03/24/08

POOR SERVICE

by jmurder

Having been to Ino many times before, I went in sunday evening expecting an enjoyable experience. The atmosphere was relaxed and the food was great but the service was a terrible disappointment. If I were to return and see the same gentleman behind the bar, I would leave. He was unfriendly from the start and inattentive throughout the meal. Him and the server kept talking together and when I interrupted them- once to ask for our wine to be poured (it was being kept on ice behind the bar) and second for our credit card to be rung that had been waiting on the bar- they came over only after resuming conversation. He also forgot an order and when my other friend asked for the check- unaware that all the food hadn't arrived b/c it had taken so long- I heard him yell something at the kitchen staff then came over and said in an accusatory manner that we still had food coming. We were baffled and irritated by the rude negligence.

• Pros: Atmosphere. food. wine
• Cons: The server and bartender had NO customer service skills.

03/18/08

Wine and Nutella... need I say more?

by diddybop146

I recently dined at 'ino with a group of friends. We had such a great time due to the relaxed enjoyable atmosphere and delicious food. The wine list was fantastic- the Sangiovese is a great choice, the paninis are delicious- hot and crusty- we're not talking a deli panini here! The wait staff and bartender were very informative and I can't say enough good things about the dessert... nutella panini! Yes, the place is tiny- and if you're waiting for a table (and there are really only a few tables) you're going to feel a little cramped standing at the bar but in my opinion it's well worth it. In fact, I think the size adds to the casual atmosphere and although the music did get a little loud I was still more than capable of holding a conversation. I will definitely be making this place one of my regulars.

• Pros: Large selection of paninis, great wine list, comfortable atmosphere
• Cons: Brushette... would NOT reccomend!

03/03/08

What's happening to New York!?

by canihavesomemoreplease

While always crowded because of its size, this USED TO BE a great place for good wine and food. There must have been a change of management in the last year or two, because it now feels very frat-like and very mainstream... a far cry form the idea of an Italian wine-bar/bistro Awful, loud music blaring (to the point where you have to repeat your conversation 3 times), and an ignorant and arrogant staff (an awful combination of personality traits in the hospitality business) make this place pretty unbearable. And since when did mood-lighting consist of overly bright recessed lighting... recessed lighting should be banned form anything that describes itself as 'cozy'. Middle-America continues it's invasion on what used to be the country's most unique metropolis.

• Pros: Food & beverages are good
• Cons: The rest....

09/05/07

Good date and brunch spot

by mcfoodie

After close to a dozen visits to 'ino in the past year, I can say with confidence that this little village spot has never failed to please. The truffled egg toast is very rich and will draw you back for a second brunch or a late-night snack. The prosecco is probably the best deal on the menu due to the generous helping of the bubbly for a reasonable price. The wait for a table can be extended on the weekends, so pick your night carefully. If it's too packed, AOC Bedford across the street is letting you BYOB all summer...

• Pros: Prosecco, Truffled Egg Toast, Great staff
• Cons: Long waits