Jon & Vinny's

Jon & Vinny's Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Jon & Vinny's is a fun, modern take on the neighborhood Italian joint from restaurateur/chef partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are dished up in a rectangular space outfitted in blond wood. On one side there is a counter facing the open kitchen, followed by a few more tables, while on the other side is a line of wooden booths.

About the Food: Generous shavings of pepato cheese rain down on the shaved zucchini salad with arugula, hazelnuts, fennel and lemon vinaigrette. Don't miss the light and airy meatballs. The pizzas, which are cooked in a gas-powered oven, range from traditional margherita to "El Chaparrito," topped with house-made chorizo, asiago, cilantro, crema and oregano. The pies are a tad too greasy for our taste. Rounding out the menu are bruschetta and polenta preparations, house-made pastas, mains like wood-grilled skirt steak, and a few simple options for kids. Wrap things up with soft-serve ice cream from Straus Family Creamery, various cookies (lemon ricotta, Italian rainbow, etc.) or New York cheesecake.

About the Drinks: The wine list is curated by Helen Johannesen, who oversees the petite retail shop, Helen's Wines, in the back of the restaurant. (Let the pink neon sign spelling "Helens" guide your way to discover the limited-production wines for sale in this refrigerated nook.) There are also several craft beers. Other locations.