Little Italy Says Benvenuto to RoVino Rotisserie & Wine Bar

Officially soft-opened last night is RoVino, the newest addition to Kettner Boulevard's ever-expanding restaurant row. Business partners Tom Tarantino, Antonia Buono and Vincenzo Bruno announced the project in March, when they took over the former Cookbook Tavola Calda space and gave it a complete refresh. Now, the 40-seat restaurant has been revamped with brick, hardwood, hand-painted Italian tile and a black and white photo collage wall.

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, with a reverse happy hour in the works, RoVino’s kitchen is led by classically Italian trained chef David Mendiola, who is overseeing a menu that includes rotisserie chicken, crisp porchetta sandwiches, roasted seasonal specials; plus antipasti, homemade pasta and a whole roasted branzino.

Co-owner Tom Tarantino says diners should expect "Northern Italian meets Southern Italian" from the menu, and hopes to bring a little European feel back to the neighborhood with sidewalk patio seating for alfresco dining and prime people watching along Kettner. The as yet only rosticceria concept in Little Italy will host a special dine-in only night on Saturday, July 9 when a portion of all proceeds from the evening’s service will be donated back to Our Lady Of The Rosary Catholic Church on Columbia Street.

RoVino will be open 11 a.m. 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed on Mondays. All menu items will be available for takeout, while a custom event catering service will be up and running shortly.

Get a full peek at the menus below.

Rovino Lunch Menu

Rovino Main Menu

Rovino Dessert Menu