Profile

Co-owner Jason Minter has lived in the upper reaches of Manhattan since the early ‘80s and, as his producer gig for The Sopranos came to a close, he seized the moment to found the kind of comfy, upmarket neighborhood café he’d always wanted. He furnished a multilevel corner building facing Inwood Hill Park, with views of Riverdale and the Hudson River, with tables and chairs from the show’s Vesuvio restaurant and eclectic finds like a 75-year-old oak bar from the Catskills, plush couches, and a faux fireplace. Wildflowers and a revolving selection of works by local artists complete the look. The chefs have different expertise (one is Moroccan, another specializes in desserts), but share a philosophy of favoring local ingredients, some from the Inwood farmer’s market. The result is simple, zesty Italian offerings that shift daily. Basil pesto oozes out of the sides of a mozzarella and peperonata panino; ciabatta from a Yonkers bakery soaks up a mild chimichurri sauce paired with grilled chicken and provolone. A chickpea salad consists of toasted, crumbled feta and thick slices of radish and cucumber with a lemon-cumin vinaigrette. The same care goes into curating the drinks—organic French-pressed coffee, sparkling juices, wines, and microbrews. — Kate Appleton

Trivia nights, wine tastings, and knitting-group meetings are among the regular events.

Chickpea salad, $7; grilled chicken panino, $12; mozzarella panino, $9.50