Sometimes itis the little things that go a long way in the restaurant business. Creativity goes a long way. Take Vino for example… a new Italian eatery that will soon open at 1652 Elmwood Avenue. I got a sneak peak at the interior this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised (if not shocked) by the incredible transformation that has taken place within the restaurant’s walls. You see, this place used to be Tinney’s Bar and Grill. This was the place where half of the Buff State freshmen used to come to whet their whistles. It was also a place well known for its regulars… a place that never really changed much during its 53 years in business.
Well it’s changed now. Kathleen Cangianiello has stripped the walls, the floors, the ceiling and everything else she could get her hands on in order to completely overhaul the interior of the joint. The only thing she left standing was the old bar; a fixture which needed some serious attention. Now the place has a new look and feel. Flowers sit in vases throughout the dining area, colorful paintings hang on the walls, white linen tablecloths drape over the tables, and a painted chalkboard signals to customers the daily specials. Now that’s creative!
Vino is going to be a place to get traditional home-cooked Italian meals. Whatis so unusual about the place are the prices of the meals. $8.95 for spaghetti with pesto dinnerOe thatis about as high as the menu goes. On top of that, the meal comes with a salad and bread. That’s not bad for a good old-fashioned meal these days.
The chalkboard idea is brilliant. The menu items are scribbled directly onto the painted walls, which adds a sense of permanence to the eatery. Reservations are already being suggested even thought the place has yet to open its doors to business. “People are calling left and right”, Kathleen told me. “We get passer-bys staring in through the window and pulling on the door handle every day. We already have our first party booked as well. People are excited to see us opening in the neighborhood.”
The 40-seat restaurant is scheduled to open June 5th. In the meantime Kathleen is biding her time by enjoying a few family meals in the space before it opens to the public. The upcoming schedule is as follows: Lunches Monday through Friday from 11am to 4pm and dinners Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 10pm. Call ahead for reservations at 716-332-2166.