When it opened, many customers referred to it "that no-name wine bar," but Cole Valley's InoVino is now on the tip of every tongue in the neighborhood that appreciates freshly baked pizzettes, charcuterie, and of course, a decent glass of wine.
InoVino opened in 2013 in the former home of Hama-Ko, a sushi spot that held the space for 28 years. Its immediate success was no surprise: for many years, Eos Wine Bar was the largest node for area wine enthusiasts, but when it closed in 2012, Cole Valley's oenophiles had no place to congregate.
Photo: Cynthia Vega
Claudio Villani, InoVino's owner and wine director, is a certified sommelier who built a reputation at several Tuscan hotels before Mark Pastore, the former owner of Noe Valley's Incanto, offered him a job in San Francisco. After creating what Food & Wine termed "the most ambitious Italian wine list in the city," Villani rose in the ranks of Bay Area sommeliers, eventually becoming the wine director of Perbacco before striking out on his own.
InoVino's seasonal menu includes pasta, cheese plates spanning both Italy and Northern California, and thin-crust pizzettes that arrive rapidly from the oven.
Photo: Walter Thompson/Hoodline
Other offerings are Tuscan-inspired and prepared with fresh, local ingredients, such as burrata bruschetta or an antipasti plate with tuna, blood orange and anchovies. Each afternoon from 4 to 6 pm, InoVino hosts an aperitivo hour, where small bites are paired with wine and vermouth-based cocktail specials.
Cozy, but not cramped, InoVino has space for 30 diners, including seats at a marble counter around what was once the sushi bar. A rack of wine bottles along one wall offers glimpses into Villani's curated collection, which is available in flights, by the glass and in 12-ounce carafes. The restaurant also has several beers on tap.
InoVino's "Cole" antipasti dish. (Photo: Cynthia Vega)
Although the N-Judah passes by several times each hour, InoVino's sidewalk tables are often filled to capacity with customers (and their dogs). Inside the restaurant, which is slightly below street level, diners scarcely notice the deep rumble, which can be strong enough to create ripples in a wine glass.
"Everything here is so wonderful," said a woman sipping a glass of red at a sidewalk table while a dog slept at her feet. "I could come here every night. Wine's good for you, right?"
InoVino (108B Carl St.) is open Monday-Friday from 4 -11pm and Saturday from 3-11pm. For parties of five or more, call (415) 681-3770 to make a reservation.
