Vino Vino

Vino Vino is a small wine bar in TriBeCa, right next to the old El Teddy’s lot. The space is divided by a glass partition, with the retail wine shop on the right and the wine bar on the left. There are comfortable benches with a view into the retail space, with small tables and upholstered stools. At the back of the deep, narrow space is a traditional bar with about 5-6 seats.

A colleague and I visited Vino Vino last night. There were less than 10 people there, leaving the space eerily solemn, but perfect for a quiet conversation. There seemed to be only one server, and it took him quite a while to come to our table, even though he didn’t seem to be busy. However, he was fully knowledgeable about the menu, and gave accurate descriptions of the two Pinot Noirs we wanted to try. We wound up having a glass of both — 2003 Christom Vinyards “Mt. Jefferson Cuvee” ($14) and 2002 Walter Hansel “Estate Cuvee” ($16).

The menu offers about 30 wines by the glass, ranging from $6–20; most are $10–15. The food menu includes a limited selection of cured meats ($9–13 ea.; $14, plate of three), patés ($10, plate of three) and cheeses ($9, plate of three; $15, plate of six). We shared the plate of 6 cheeses, which were excellent — again, well explained by our server, once we could get his attention.

The bill, including two glasses of wine apiece and the cheese plate, was $96 including tax and tip. Although service was spotty, we would definitely go back to Vino Vino, as prices are reasonable, and the space is both comfortable and serene.

Vino Vino (211 West Broadway at Franklin St, TriBeCa)

Food/Drink: ★
Service: ★
Ambiance: ★
Overall: ★