Finally Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and dreams of a four day weekend is blurring up my brain as I try to get through this work week. It’s here in a matter of hours, and the nice comfortable sunny weather that’s forecast invites us to enjoy some good wine and tasty eats al fresco in NYC. Really, it’s just too nice out to eat inside as the weather has been wonderful lately, as it has been for most of the Summer season. Enjoy it now before another bone chilling Winter hits us. Il Vino Wine Bar is just steps from our building and an easy choice to grab a table outside with a bottle of wine to cap off the long work week.
Il Vino is an intimate and cozy little wine bar on the Upper East Side in Yorkville. Nice selection of wines, many from Italy, but also from Spain-USA-Australia, etc. Prices are decent and they also feature happy hour deals on select wines during the week. Also offered is a small tapas style menu. Cheese and fruit plates, olives, puff pasty, along with some terrific pizzas to share, among others. The margherita pizza we had during our last visit was delicious, and prepared so fresh. Definitely a relaxing spot for conversation and chilling out over a glass of good wine. Perfect spot to take a date as a nightcap, or to meet up and start the evening. As for me, it’s all so tempting to drop in for a glass of vino on the way home from a long day at work. Every day. So close to our place it’s dangerous!
Service is friendly overall, and will offer informed suggestions. The location itself is a bit tiny so finding spot to sit is hit or miss. Especially if you want outside seating on a nice evening. Sometimes you have to do “the hover” and jump into a seat as soon as it empties. Some seating on the inside with a fun decor and wine corks embedded in the long communal table. I have enjoyed a few relaxing glasses there on a rainy day.
As I stated, this is a great locals place to take a date, have a pre-dinner glass of vino, or to just decompress and relax after a long day. A pleasant little gem in the uptown area that is not at all pretentious as some wine bars can be.
Now I have an urge to grab a glass or two of wine on the way home. Looks like I’ll be starting the holiday weekend early!
Il Vino Wine Bar – http://www.ilvinowinebar.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/il-vino-wine-bar-new-york
That pizza looks so delicious, Phil! I’ll raise my glass(es) of wine to you and the long weekend ahead. Happy Labor Day!
Hey Jessica!
Nothing like some wine and pizza on a cool evening al fresco!
El Vino looks very inviting…although I prefer to have beer with my pizza. Have a wonderfully long Labor Day weekend Phil. Enjoy!
Hey Mary!
Beer or wine you can’t go wrong pairing with pizza! Love these little spots.
YUMMY PHIL… GREAT SPOTLIGHT… HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FRIDAY AND WEEKEND AHEAD, BEST WISHES , AQUILEANA 🙂
Hey Aquileana!
Hope you have a great weekend too filled with good food and drink!
DE-Freaking-Lish!
I want.
I need.
I must have.
NOW! xxx
Hey Kim!
I always want pizza! So delish! Beer and wine too!
Hey guess what? I’m sitting in an outdoor cafe next to the Grand Canal in Venice, birthplace of pizza. I’m drinking local wine and eating pizza. And it’s all fabulous. Except for the pizza. WTF?
Hey Barb!
Wow – that is pretty cool. Hope you drank enough wine to make it taste better.
Sounds awesome! And so true about the weather–even here in Virginia. So mild–and perfect for grabbing a table outside. Don’t even want to think about winter (although the wine can help for bone chilling temps).
Hope you have a great weekend, Phil!
Hey Coleen!
Heck, at least pizza and wine taste good in winter too!
Margherita pizza is my favorite. The picture looks amazing. Phil, every time I try to tweet one of your posts, I receive the message: the user of this account has been suspended. I know you’re still tweeting, so I don’t know why I’m getting this error message.
With so many great restaurants within walking distance, the city is a dangerous place for waistlines.
Hey Lauren!
It’s my fav too. Simple but tasty. Classic.
Not only that but everything delivers too!
I’m not sure why that happens as my twitter account is fine, and I just sent out a bunch of tweets today.