Mima Vinoteca and Wine Bar

At Mima in Irvington, all that’s old is new again. Both the setting and the menu are classics with a nouvelle twist. You’ll find this Vinoteca halfway down Main Street in Irvington, in the former digs of the Red Hat.  With pressed tin ceilings, iron railings and dark wood moldings, even first-time diners will feel as if they’ve been here before. The staff is upbeat and welcoming and their attitude shines through in the first-rate service.  Diners are greeted with an extensive wine list, with many tempting choices offered for tastings or by the glass.

The menu is brief but long on appeal.   Start out with a dish of Mima’s olives and a selection of cheeses and cured meats such as proscuitto de Parma, porchetto or speck accompanied by ricotta fresca, robiola or tallegio.

Their handmade pastas included spaghettini with shrimp, arugula and san marzono pomodoro and rigatoni with veal bolognese.  Move onto an entree from the list of “carne” or “pesce.” We ordered the “veal involtini” with pine nuts, currants, bread crumbs, escarole and borlotti.  There were braised short ribs, wild salmon and even rabbit for adventurous eaters.  Each offering combines familiar ingredients with a few novel additions.

For dessert, we couldn’t resist the bombolini with ricotta fresca, and powdered sugar.  They turned out to be the Italian version of fresh donut holes sprinkled in powdered sugar, accompanied by a caramel sauce. These will not be easy to forget.

Neither will the entire meal.  As we exited the restaurant another diner turned to me and remarked, “Wasn’t that the best? I’ve eaten here many times and I’ll be back again and again.”

One cautionary note – reservations are necessary and not always easy to get.  I emailed the restaurant on a Monday and they were already booked for the following Saturday. But luckily the receptionist took my number, and when they received a cancellation at the end of the week they called us to confirm.  

So plan ahead and be persistent. You’ll be well rewarded for the effort.

Mima Vinoteca
Kitchen & Wine bar
63 Main Street
Irvington
914.591.1300
http://www.mimarestaurant.com/