‘inoteca

Crestfallen to find this place closed. ‘inoteca has been one of those versatile rendezvous I take friends (groups of any size, esp those visiting NYC) and family. Abruptly noted it was closing doors… curious how/​why.
The wine-​and-​dine Italian options in LES are aplenty, but this one hit it best for me. Great selection of wine, prosciutto/​cheese flights, and pastas. Thanks for the grand memories… rest in peace.

You’re gone. One more «go to spot» erased from the LES landscape. All that is left is memories of octopus, hazelnuts and beets, bruschetta piled with white beans, beautiful ambiance and… wine. So much wine. I can safely say that you inspired my taste for wine and my intrepid foray into the world of Italians, and reds.
I don’t wax poetic about places that often, but ‘inoteca was poetic. And memorable.

I’ve been to ‘inoteca multiple times and always like the food I’ve had… truffle egg toast, beets & hazelnut salad, bruschette. Same for wines. Great place to get lunch or dinner or just a drink.
Love the corner location and the glass window panels that open when the weather’s nice.
Sad to see this place go.

Should’ve been suspicious when they seated the four of us right away on a Saturday night. While we were very happy with our food (charcuterie, bruschettas, eggplant lasagna) the service was awful. We had three different waiters that apparently didn’t bother to endorse our table amongst each other so we had to persistently flag them down. It was cold and drafty. Both the wines we tried to order off their list were unavailable although they did offer a comparable alternative. In short, not your first choice but not a bad runner up either.

I am such a fan of this place. It’s cozy, cute atmosphere makes it a great date spot but also a great place for girlfriends to meet and catch up.
The food here is SUPERB! I’ve been to Italy a few times and I would say the food lives up to the standard in Italy.
I would recommend the truffle egg toast (we got it without caviar but I am sure with caviar would taste just as amazing). I ordered a lasagnette di melanzane (eggplant lasagna). I am a huge fan of eggplant so it was great in my book and not too heavy. My friend ordered orecchiette, heritage pork ragu & grana padano which was somewhat heavy but still pretty good. (I prefer mine though).

Only came here for drinks. They were pretty strong. The sign was deceiving because it said 50% off cocktails for happy hour (4−7pm) which was really just one cocktail. So I got it and I asked for it to be made with tequila which they did with no problem. It was strong and tasted similar to whisky. I forgot the name but it was the first on the menu with the ginger beer. For $ 7 it was a pretty large drink. I don’t know if I would order it again because personally it is not my type of drink but my friend really enjoyed hers. It was good but I prefer sour and spicy drinks. The food smelled delicious but we were not hungry so definitely have to come by again!

I came here with a friend for dinner on Monday night at 7:30pm, and the restaurant was about half full so we had no problem getting a table. I had heard from my friend that ‘inoteca is very similar to my favorite wine bar in Philly (Tria), so I was really excited to try it.
We got a few things to share, and then each got our own entrée.
— Truffled egg toast — A nice, thick square slab of toast topped with cheese and egg, and flavored with truffle oil. Came with chopped up asparagus on the side (also flavored with truffle oil). There’s the option of adding bottarga (a type of fish roe) but we didn’t get that. Overall, very yummy!
— Bruschette — We got three to share: red pepper, eggplant, and ricotta with honey. All three were excellent, especially the ricotta with honey.
— Wagyu panino — By the time I got to this, I was already getting full so I was only able to finish half. Came with a lot of olives and pickled veggies (mainly onions, cabbage, and cauliflower) on the side. The panino was just ok, I was expecting the beef to be a little more tender but it wasn’t bad.
The atmosphere is really chill, good for big groups, dates, or even eating by yourself. Service was also fine. I would definitely come back for the truffled egg toast and the bruschette.

This is now a go-​to spot in LES for me, awesome service, delicious food, and reasonable prices are a winning combo.
Went here on a Saturday night around 8 for dinner with a friend, she loves this place and has never steered me wrong with food so my expectation was pretty high walking in the door. When we entered, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who seated us almost immediately. We ordered the truffled egg toast (incredible), a smoked meat platter (delicious) and the fried brussel sprouts. The toast has been covered by other reviewers, but the brussel sprouts were also a standout. They’re fried to perfection with crispy outer leaves and a tender center, seasoned well with a zesty lemon finish.
We finished with a cheese plate, which was good, but not as good as the rest of the meal. It was more than likely due to the cheeses we chose, but there are dozens of cheeses to choose from so next time we’ll make better choices.
The place has an intimate feel, so I would not recommend large groups even though they have tables to accommodate parties of 8+.
The only downside I can think of is their lack of beer selection, they only have 2 choices.
I will definitely be back at inoteca in the near future, I can’t wait to sample the rest of their menu.

Yeah, i love it.
Really delicious food, cozy ambiance, great service, authentic Italian wine list.
As everyone says, the truffle egg toast is a must, the cured meats are also top notch, and i straight up inhale the brussel sprouts.
I wouldn’t recommend for large groups or huge meals, more of an intimate small group share your plates kind of spot.
It’s one of those places you can tell the waiter: «give me a red wine, i like x and am in the mood for something y… and while you’re at read my mind and pick me out some cheeses will ya» …and they do and it’s perfect.
Been here a few times and service ranged from satisfactory to really great. Can’t complain.

This is the perfect spot to have small plates and wine al fresco in the summer. I noticed someone said the wine selection is limited, which simply isn’t true. They have at least 10 of each white, rose and red by the glass in addition to a few bubblies. The by the bottle list is several pages long. When I wanted a rose but wasn’t sure which, the waiter happily offered to bring me a tasting, which was great.
The truffle egg toast truly is a standout on the menu. We got one slice, a very thick piece of bread, and shared it. A must-​try! The bruschetta is also very good, especially the ricotta with just a touch of honey.

Wine selection is somewhat minimal and the prices are quite reasonable ($ 6 for the Happy Hour special, otherwise, $ 8 – 13). Cheese selection is varied with several goat and sheep options. Score!
But, $ 7 for a small bowl of olives?
Really?!? (Seth & Amy impersonation)
Service was attentive at first, but then dropped off. Kind of a let down, especially since they weren’t *that* busy.
I don’t know if I’d eat dinner here, but wine, cheese and small bites are a good plan. I’d certainly go again on a Monday night.

Visited 4÷18÷2013
The food here is exceptional! Ambiance is great and service is very friendly. Food is reasonably priced. We walked in here on a Thursday evening and the place was packed. We waited about 15 mins for a table but it’s ok because we had a glass of wine while we waited.
We ordered 3 bruschettes for appetizer: caponata di melanzane, gorgonzola and fig and ricotta fresca & miele pepato. All three were very delicious!
For entrée we ordered polpette and orecchiette in pork ragu. The meatballs which came with caramelized onion/​tomato sauce were so tender and the sauce was so rich and sweet. The pork ragu was out of this world. And the ratio of pork to pasta was 2 to 1. The sauce was so flavorful and pork tasted like it had been cooked all day. You can definitely taste the quality of the ingredients they put into their dishes. We will definitely come here again!

came here with a group of 8 other friends for dinner, we had to go with their prix-​fixe and tasting menus since we had so many people. I gotta say I’m really not impressed with their food. I’ve tried everything on the menu (we all shared) and nothing blows my mind.
Here’s what was on the menu:
First course
Tuscan kale w/​roasted pears, walnuts, Ricotta salad
Beets, orange, pecorino, mint and hazelnuts — also salad, my favorite one out of all 3
Rucola, pickled red onions and pecorino — salad again
Affettati — mixed meat platter
Second course
Polpette — meatball?
Rigatonchini w/​cauliflower fondutta — cauliflower and cheese
Lasagnette di melanzane — eggplant lasagna, pretty good
Soppressata, goat cheese and tapenade panino — panini
Smoked mozzarella, grilled zucchini and peperonata panino — panini
Panelle — crunchy bread?
Third course
Affogato — ice cream and expresso
Panna cotta — goat cheese flavored
Nutella panino — more panini with nutella… to much dough!
Assorted cheese — oh i usually like cheese but you guys really picked the worst to plate!
The salads were refreshing and good, but some of my friends thought the fruits were too sour (they had grapefruit and orange mixed in). I thought it was fine for me but I usually like sour stuff. Second course came out and everything was really heavy, lots of bread and cheese… a little tooo much and they weren’t good, thick bread creamy cauliflower and almost flavorless paninis. All I remember from the meal was that I ate a lot of bread/​dough…
For desserts, my favorite was the affogato. That was probably the best part of my dinner, expresso with vanilla ice cream, so good. The rest was ehh, if you like goat cheese you’ll probably like their other desserts more than I do.
Overall the bill came out to be about 50+ per person. I didn’t think the food was anywhere worth that price. I did see some other tables with food that I’d want to try. But I guess I won’t be coming back anytime soon. PS this place get really loud and crowded. I’m just not a fan!

Snacking on small little plates and ordering a bottle? Yea, that’s basically what we do almost every time I come here.
Cute little place I personally like it, but I don’t suggest for people looking to spend the bare minimum and not drink… It’s really a matter of the time of day and how you’re feeling. I’ve had friends who went and hated it thinking it was too classy for them and others love it because its quaint.

Dishes sampled included:
Three Two Three — Rosemary Infused Hendrick’s Gin, Fresh Fruit, Basil, Reduced Balsamic Vinegar, Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
Walnut, Ricotta, Fig-​Mascarpone Bruschetta
Truffled Egg Toast with Bottarga
Cinnamon Peach Bread Pudding with Raspberry Coulis, Raspberry, and Crème Chantilly
With lunch at the Modern Dining Room past (another post, another time) and Blue Hill at Stone Barnes yet to come an unexpected rainstorm left me diving for cover near my friend’s apartment — a dive into something not at all «divey» in the form of ‘inoteca — a spot I’d always wanted to visit but one that for some reason never made the final cut until serendipity intervened, sitting me in front of the large bar where a friendly young fellow named David served me an excellent cocktail, three slices of bruschetta, and two outstanding dishes; one savory and the other sweet.
Beginning first with the savory, much has been written about ‘ino’s Truffled Egg Toast with Bottarga and I’m happy to say all of it is true — the thick brioche more than capable of standing up to the rich egg and cheese topping while a hefty nose of truffles perfumed the palate and rich bottarga added its characteristic brine as snappy fresh asparagus provided a bit of texture and a much needed vegetal tinge to the otherwise rich dish.
Having never intended to order dessert given the rest of the night’s eating agenda it was with reluctance that I even looked the menu yet as soon as I did so I knew I was in trouble — that same luscious bread soaked in cinnamon peach custard and topped with fresh raspberries, a bit of mint, and lightly sweetened crème Chantilly — the third of three rich and carb laden dishes and although not quite as balanced and beautiful as the Egg Toast every bit as delicious; more than enough reason to return to ‘inoteca at a later date… though given the heft of the food (and my lack of control when it comes to eggs and bread pudding) probably not before a four hour meal at Blue Hill at Stone Barnes.

My friends and I originally wanted to go to Mission Chinese Food, but because the wait was so long, we ended up finding ‘inoteca. I must say, we got pretty lucky in picking this restaurant. We just beat the rush and we were seated right away near the door. It was a bit chilly, but eh– I didn’t mind.
We decided to order family style and ended up getting the truffled egg toast with caviar, gorgonzola and fig bruschetta, risotto balls, wagyu beef sandwich, and an orachetti gnocchi. Hopefully I’m not butchering any of the orders, but OMG. I think my favorites were definitely the gorgonzola and fig, the risotto balls were delightful, and the freaking gnocchi. It was so flavorful and just… awesome. The truffle toast was good, but not as good as other reviews have hyped about.
Our server was extremely knowledgeable… he had only been working there for a few months, but he definitely knew what he was talking about. Not to mention, he was really on top of clearing our table and giving us our food while it was still hot.
For dessert, we all shared an affogato which was also nice. I would definitely come back here the next time I’m in the area. Would be a great place to bring a date or have a girls night out.

Came here for brunch around 1pm on a Sunday, expected a crowd but the place was pretty empty. That should’ve been hint #1. The toast looks great but tastes bland. I had to ask for extra pepper to get some flavor.

Came here for brunch with a Google Offer, which included 2 brunch/​lunch entrees and a pitcher of mimosas or prosecco. Wow, let’s just say, my friend and I left brunch pretty buzzed — those mimosas did us in and it was a full pitcher!
Now, onto the food: I ordered the chicken and my friend ordered the porchetta panini… deeelicious! The chicken was baked perfectly and the sauce that the panini came with was tangy and a perfect complement to the porchetta.
Service was also pretty good and we were not treated any differently for having purchased a deal… definitely wouldn’t mind going back to try some of their other brunch items.

We came back again, this time for a late lunch. And I have to say, it’s the simplest things on the menu that continue to amaze me here. For brunch, it was the oatmeal (and the available tables, wha?!). For lunch it was… wait for it… the CHICKEN.
Yes. The boy’s simple chicken with Brussels sprouts was quite simply some of the best chicken I’ve had in a long, long time. According to our waiter, it’s brined overnight, which must have something to do with the incredibly moist and tender meat. And it’s a huge piece of bird — he couldn’t even finish half (more for me!!)
In short — a consistently awesome and classy spot. I heart you, ‘ino. Now, how ’bout opening a satellite location in Hoboken?

Been here now three times this summer/​fall and definitely becoming a favorite standard spot before hitting up The Living Room in the LES.
Sit by the windows if it’s warm, by the bar now that it’s getting colder.
If ordering the bruschette, they are fair-​sized and you’ll want to share. In order of most to least favorite: fagioli, gorgonzola & fig, pesto, tapenade, pepperonatta, alla toscana.
Wagyu beef and octopus were solid and tasty every time. But you could easily nosh on just the assorted affettati over wine with the bruschette and be content.
Not for a HUGE meal, but perfect for light eaters and if you are out with your girl friends. (and since they will admit to being starving later, you have Katz within walking distance for after the last band at Living Room)

Il y a deux adresses à New York. Ce restaurant au 323 de la 3ème Avenue et un autre au 98 Rivington Street.
Je né serai pas long, car je né retournerai pas à cette adresse.
Côté service: rien à dire. Serveurs sympas.
Côté ambiance: on né s’entend pas parler tellement la musique est forte.
Côté assiette: Alors là très très moyen. Nous étions 5 personnes et sur les 5, personne n’a terminé son assiette. Car personne n’a trouvé bon ce qu’il y avait dedans.
Côté note: Hyper cher pour ce que c’est.
Je déconseille. Il y a surement d’autres restaurants italiens dans Manhattan bien meilleur.

Serveurs agressifs qui vous forcent à consommer et à vous anarquer: alors qu’il servait de l’eau à toutes les tables, ils nous ont entourloupé pour nos vendre une bouteille d’eau gazeuse. Je déteste ça! Prix exorbitant en plus.

yum…