Trattoria Di Vino, an Italian wine bar and restaurant on Broadway between 89th Street and 90th Street, has closed to make way for a new vegetarian place. The spot has seen a lot of turnover in the last few years. Docks Oyster Bar, a neighbrohood staple since the late 80’s closed a few years ago. It was replaced by “Academia di Vino”, which morphed into Trattoria di Vino, apparently with the same ownership. West Side Rag reader Francine Cohen (who as the editor in chief of  food site Inside F&B knows her stuff) was a regular there and sent us her laments:

“Aside from the always savory parmesan and prosciutto fritters that always hit the spot (Chef Kevin Garcia brought them uptown from the kitchen at Cesca where they debuted years ago) one could almost always find a seat at the bar, have a couple of terrific glasses of wine and learn about new varietals, relax, work or read a magazine, enjoy a nice conversation with the very friendly bartenders and connect with the people around you.”

Replacing it will be a new restaurant called the Candle Cafe, an offshoot of an organic vegan spot on East 79th Street and Lexington. The menu there is filled with seitan, tempeh, tofu, and all sorts of salads. They also have wine. As the company’s website says:

“We at the Candle Cafe are dedicated to your health through our commitment to excellent vegetarian cuisine. Our inspired creations are comprised of a seasonal array of organic ingredients. This means that the food is grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals which have debilitating consequences for both our farmlands and our health. By supporting organic farming and avoiding animal products, we acknowledge the interconnectedness of environmental, spiritual and physical well-being.”

Photos by Ken. Thanks to Ken, Francine, and Daren for tipping us off to the closing.