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Categories: Wine Bars, Coffee & Tea, Italian
Neighborhood: NolitaBowery (J, M)
Spring St-Lafayette St (6)
Grand St (B, D)
"This place cannot have been done any better. The retail store and wine bar go together like peas and carrots, like peanut butter and jelly,…" read more »
I began writing a more critical review of Epistrophy but then erased it and started over with a four-star rating. Why? Because I remembered the last thing I saw in that restaurant, and it was the BILL. Dinner for two with an appetizer, two entrees and a carafe of wine was $51 before tip. No, it's not the most incredibly sophisticated menu in the world (or the neighborhood), and maybe our waitress was a little bit gawky and awkward, and maybe everything about the place was a little bit 'simple' - but I didn't pay for it, and sometimes that's all that really matters.
If that had been an $80 meal I would have had the right to be less enthusiastic about the place, but the fact is that it's got that really "nice place" feeling without the "nice place" price (most expensive entree is $18).
Orichette pasta w/ cream sauce and pancetta was rich and delicious, ship it. Beef short ribs were basically meat & potatoes and not that special, skip it.
I came to this place on the recommendation of a friend, after I spent the whole day shopping in Soho. I was looking for something cute and casual and this place completely fit the bill. The first time I went I just had a cappuccino, which by the way, was sooooooo creamy and sooooo good. I wanted another and another. The second time I went I had a bit of a bad experience, as the host refused to put two tables together to accomodate my party of three. We left (since one of the three was a lawyer and did not want to deal with such arrogance) and went to Lombardi's instead (which, btw is NOT as good as everyone says...that is a review saved for later).
The third time I went was during the San Gennaro feast. I originally wanted to stroll down Mott and Mulberry and feel like an American in Rome, eating pasta and sipping cappuccino on the sidewalk while enjoying live music and the crisp, cool air. What I actually got was a crowd of ghetto guidos and the stench of fried oreos. Needless to say I abandoned the smoke and spiky hair and headed north up Mott to the quaint Epistrophy. The weather was still comfortable so the doors were open out into the street. The restaurant was full and lively and the service was impeccable. I had the short ribs and roasted potatoes and my friend had the pappardelle. The ribs fell off the bone and melted in my mouth and the potatoes were the perfect accompaniment. The pasta was also good though I personally would have picked the gnocchi.
I ended my meal with another wonderful cappuccino and looked at the menu again to plan what I would have the next time I came.
Cute, informal cafe and wine spot that manages to hold a quaint European charm despite being in one of the most pretentious areas of the city.
House red wine ($6) was delish, but I felt like I over-paid for the "salad" I got (read: grains, mixed with some gray tuna, and a few slices of eggplant and zucchini and olive oil). I would go back for the wine, and maybe try the pasta and paninis.
Super friendly staff--from the bartender to the friendly Italian server that helped me out of my chair like a true gentleman and called me "Miss".
Cash only.
Exquisite menu, wine selection and atmosphere. I reminded me of the intellectual meets artists scenes in europe. A great spot for an interlude.
Honestly, there are so many attractive people in New York City.
And some of them are on Yelp. Like Preeti B.
So on a Friday night, the lovely, intelligent, and creative Preeti B and I decided to take our Yelp friendship to the next level and join the model-esque crowd in SoHo for a friend-date. There are a couple tables outside for al fresco dining but we opted to sit indoors on the comfy couch set amidst bookshelves and exposed brick. The open window was providing a fresh air quality as it was and it was the perfect spot to grab a snack with the nicer weather taking off.
We both love to share food and share we did. The artichoke ravioli and the chicken were perfect choices along with a plate of some cheese and vegetables.
Sadly, that night I decided to "lay off the sauce" as Preeti would say, so I may have missed out on the wine, but I had coffee instead. We enjoyed some appetizers on the comfy couch and girl talked until the sun went down while more model-types poured in.
I would say this is a great spot for a wine conversation catch-up after SoHo shopping or if you're coming during the day, a nice spot to do a coffee date. It is a relaxed environment and thanks to Preeti for suggesting it!
I've walked by this place a million times before and the outside seating area has always been crowded by sunglass-clad hipsters (in a good way), so finally the bf and I decided to have some brunch here. I always thought it was a french spot but I was mistaken. Pretty sure the servers were speaking italian and a lot of items on the menu reflected an italian theme. regardless, we had a decent meal.
first, we sat outside and that is great. i love the worn tables and benches and the little vases of flowers. the people watching is great but the huge truck of overturned rotting limes across the street was not. if you can tune out half of what you see, you'll love it.
second, the service was great. the waiters were very attentive and super nice.
third, the food was meh. it was nothing special but it wasn't horrible either. it was kind of like something i could make at home.
i walked through the interior to use the restroom and i love the how it's decorated. it's all very low key and the bathroom has different music playing in it. i love that for some reason!
so yeah, come for a drink and save the food-space in your stomach for bahn-mi around the corner!
For me, this place is nearly indistinguishable from all the bazillion other cute little places in Soho that serve decent food & drink. It's good. Just nothing special. Like, I would have been entertained if the menu had read:
Crostini--bread, olive tapenade, tomatoes, bread, mozzarella, bread, fresh ricotta, pesto, and bread.
Or if the waiters had taken it upon themselves to speak in epistrophe. See THAT would have been memorable!
Instead, we ordered wine & the charcuterie plate. Which came with too much mortadella. In other words...baloney, baloney, baloney!!
This place is so cutely versatile: girls night, date, hangin with friends, afternoon alone etc etc. If you are interested in trying something new and beyond your comfort zone, this is just the type of place to visit - it's enticing fare w/out pretentious attitudes and ambiance will ease you into expanding your horizons on this undiscovered block. If you are socializing with someone new - there is plenty of eye candy all around this place to spark enticing discourse on the wonders, trials and tribulations of love and life.
I love love love sharing and sampling, so this is definitely the kind of place conducive to such pro-social behavioral habits. The tagliere de verdure (cheese & vegetable) plate was very uniquely dressed with thinly sliced fennel, olives, cherry tomatoes and grilled zucchini. The roasted chicken just melted off the bone and the artichoke ravioli was deliciously luscious. The outdoor tables and open window are just a breath of fresh air...
The wine selection is lovely - if you like it slightly on the drier side, medium-bodied with notes of sweetness (like me!) ... I recommend the Orvieto! :)
Great atmosphere, free wi-fi, nice staff, and tasty food and drink. I came here with a couple friends and we shared the cheese and meat plate and something with asparagus and both were delicious. The house red was tasty too.
Some people will get mad when they read this, but I just going to say it: I'm not a fan of Manhattan's Little Italy. I can't stand how Mulberry Street is full of these super touristy restaurants that have hosts who act like hawkers: "care for some dinner this evening? We're having an all-you-can-eat pasta night"; "Would you like to sit down for some lunch, pretty lady?"; "a glass of wine to relax, miss?" Um... If I really wanted to patronize your business, I would come in myself. You don't have to walk out onto the street and try to pull me in -- leave me alone!
With that said, Epistrophy is a few blocks away from this insanity that is on Mulberry, and it's a welcome little wine bar, a nice respite, and less traveled. The selection of wines that they have is relatively diverse, the ambiance is very cute (brick walls, comfy couches and benches, outdoor seating), and the service is decent -- no one hawking at you here. It's really a perfect place to share a carafe of wine and hang out with friends on a warm summer night.
They also have sandwiches, little plates, and desserts here, too, if you'd like something with your wine. Scenery across the street (lots of graffiti!) is not that quaint, so try to look inward instead of outward when patronizing Epistrophy.
What a fantastic name! Of course, my dad proceeded to butcher it like he does most other names and kept calling it "Apostrophe". He also calls luggage, "buggage". I think he confuses luggage and baggage.
ANYWAY, I digress. I really love this place! The decor is very unique and quaint, and immediately makes you feel at home. I don't understand how they hung up a chair on the wall and made it look so good! My favorite seat is the big couch by the large open window. My ideal sunday afternoon involves walking down to Epistrophy and chatting with friends/girlfriend over glass of wine/cup of Mochaccino; or reading a book accompanied by a steaming cup of green tea, or pretending to get some work done (but really just eating one of their delicious paninis). What is life, if not a series of idealizations strung together?
That's the best part about Epistrophy - It makes your idealizations seem routine. As if life was meant to be that way, every day.
I didn't know this place was a cafe - I must come back during the day.
Why I love wine bars when I don't drink is beyond me! But I love this place. It's so cute and charming! The service didn't stand out, but it wasn't bad. But best of all, I found it very chill and relaxing.
I'd imagine it'd be a great date spot. I came with a large group of friends and had a really good time!
Very cute, beatnik-like wine bar with a great list of wines. The atmosphere is cozy with book cases and dim lighting, but the tables are a little smashed together. Had the bowl of olives - really only had two varieties, but pretty good. Cash only.
I liked almost everything except the girl at the bar, whom we found hard to reach to ask for the check.
I enjoyed my panini&salad and even my bar chair which by the way looked not very comfortable :)
This place for me personally looks like one to spend hours chatting with someone you enjoy doing so. It has atmosphere and style and these things fit well into my definition of a place which is definitely worthy coming back to. I came there really very upset and Epistrophy made me feel better.
Cute lil cafe. I had a yummy panini here with prosciutto and mozzarella. Gotta come back and try the wine :)
I went here for a late brunch after falling asleep at 11am that same morning after a long night of partying (obviously!).
I went there with a few bartenders from the place I DJed that night and we were all sort of out of it, not dressed like what I assumed the normal clientele would be dressed like and while we're not a loud bunch, we were certainly louder than everyone there.
The place was totally hip and French in a way that was not too over the top or screaming "OH HEY THIS PLACE IS FRENCH YOU GUYS." The menu was jazzed up in a weird way that random people may be confused by it. The wait staff definitely knew we were not the average customers of the place and we were getting a lot of stares. I mean, what else are you going to do with a group of 5 hung over people that are ordering wine AND champagne at 2 in the afternoon?
We all got different sandwiches and one of our friends got some lasagna like dish. The food was excellent! We all scarfed down all our food and shared with one another. Even though we all ate everything, we didn't feel full. The portions were perfect. Even after all the wine and champagne, it was a totally perfect meal.
We loved joking with our waitress who seemed very cute and quiet and it was great getting her to open up and laugh and talk with us. I'm definitely bringing friends by when I am in the mood for a salmon and brie sandwich again! (Totally tasty!)
Went here with a girlfriend for a drink before dinner on Bastille Day. Total treat. The wine list is solid, the atmosphere is chill, the bar is cute, the service is good, and the bartender kept hollering, "viva la france!" How can you not love it?
MmmMM~ so cozy and the food was delicious!
Rarely do I look at a menu and want to eat EVERYTHING -- this was one of those places.
I met up with a friend and had a prosciutto and fontina croissant and an omelette with mushroom and beshamel sauce. MMM!!! so yummy. i dont care if it was chock full of carbs - the buttery croissant with the melty fontina cheese and taste of my favorite sliced meat was the BEST! *yummers!*
Brunch with wine at this place on a sunny weekend afternoon definitely hit the spot.
Perhaps because I was virtually the only person in the cafe, I wasn't given any attitude as I sat down to lunch for one. However, as others have stated, the hipster aura cannot be ignored.
I decided on the panino maiale, which has pork, avocado, fontina, tomato, and mayo. It was a pretty good sandwich, and I ate down to the last bite.
One thing that does turn me off is how expensive everything is for what I saw as a pretty lightweight portion. I'm still debating whether to try this place again. We'll see.
Epistrophy also provides an excellent daytime venue for reading/working over espresso beverages/wine or grabbing a bite of a wide array of lunch entrees or panninis. There is ample seating, the music is mellow, and the vibe is relaxed.
One of my favorite wine bars in the city and a great date place. This is a true family-run place,… Read more »
ok - this is hipster heaven, no question about it. I was certain based upon my waiter's mustache and glasses - think Mr. Magoo meets Adolf Hitler plus a look on the face that says, "ok, we'll serve you but you're not cool."
But, all that attitude aside...I had a great mozzarella and tomato panini here, perhaps one of the best I've had in a while. I won't go out of my way to go back to this place next time I'm in the city, but if I were walking down Mott street I'd stop in again.
Love you Mr. Magoo!
I love this place! I happened upon it while shopping in SoHo and found it through my Yelp iPhone app (I was looking for a place with free WiFi). What a gem! It was very European (despite it being 2:30 in the afternoon, there were several people drinking wine, which made me want to join in!), and the atmosphere was trendy, yet inviting. I had a soy cappuccino and a nutella croissant - yum! The cappuccino was small, but still pretty good.
I was served by Mr. Magoo (as Ryan B. called him). He was friendly enough but I definitely felt like he didn't think I was cool enough to be there too long ;). I will definitely be back and try some of the food and maybe get an afternoon glass of vino.
Wine Bar + Free Wi-Fi = place I must come back to in order to write a better review. But my first impression was: OMG this place is awesome.
Go for the ambiance first and the food second.
Spacious, rustic, and relaxed without being pretentious This is the kind of place you could order an espresso and stay for 5 hours with no one batting an eye. They have WiFi which is a plus and the wait staff is over-the-top hip. It's as if they just moved from Ohio and want to strut their stuff. Hilarious.
Gnochetti is the best and is cooked to perfection. The sauce is so-so but enough to inspire repeat visits.
the coffee is great. I liked the sort of Laid back atmosphere.
Not too hip, not too casual, just a comfortable nice cafe you would like it to be.
I haven't had the food there but the waiters were nice. Nice place to go with your friends and chill out.
This is one of my favorite city spots.
I always sort of end up here when I need to sit at a big table with friends and drink wine and feel a good vibe.
The energy in this place is so welcoming and lovely.
I can't resist this place.
Epistrophy,
The first time I experienced you I sat on your lovely and dainty white couch for hours working on my laptop. You were warm, inviting, cozy, and unpretenious. I knew we would get along.
The rustic wooden tables beckoned for me to have a seat and wisk me away to italian enchantment. Your indie rock play list summoned me to dance to Feist, Arcade Fire, and Sufjan. I had to resist your adorable wiles and get back to work. But I gave in when the remnents of my latte ran cold and I ordered the creamed tomato with pesto and egg. No idea what I was ordering, i figured I liked all three and could not go wrong. I wasn't. It came as an almost puree/dip with tiny bits of egg and toasted warm bread on the side and just a tiny sprinkles of crispy chips on top. It was hearty enough for a meal or tasty enough to share as a appetizer.
Your panini press with gorgonzola, ricotta, and prosciutto was rocking too the last time I went.
One time I saw the hot model guy from Love Actually here. It made me like you a tiny bit better (but I don't only like you because of your famous friends, I swear. I like you for you)
I cant wait till the weather is warmer and I can introduce you to my friends and sit outside on your vintage wooden tables and sip lattes. The italian couple who run you are inviting and friendly as heck. You have a good upbringing, I can tell. See you soon my new amico.
Another wine bar in SoHo? Really?
Yes, really. And, yes, you're missing out if you're one to scoff at such places.
Epistrophy is a quiet restaurant seemingly just out of reach of the hustle and bustle of some of the nearby SoHo streets. I've only gone for drinks, but I'm keen to check out their food soon.
The place itself is exceedingly cozy and cute, with amply spaced tables. Lighting is great, the music unobtrusive and pleasant, and the decor relaxed and quaint, but not in a way that seems like they're trying too hard to be country-chic.
Epistrophy is a fantastic bar for an intimate gathering of friends or a date, but I'd recommend getting there earlier rather than later (especially on a premium night, like Thurs-Sat), because it fills up like all SoHo places tend to do. The wine list offers a great selection of glasses, carafes, and bottles mainly from France and Italy, with some dessert wines also on offer. Prices are fair, and the pours generous.
Being a frequent habitue of low-key wine bars, I can tell you that Epistrophy outshines most of the wine bars in the area, and of those there are certainly plenty. Highly recommended.
I love the feeling of this spot. Worn wood, polished concrete floors, tin ceiling, old school desks. Character of old but with a light freshness about it. I've only been for weekend lunch but what with the sunshine, the open casement windows, the school chairs, the bar counter and the long communal wooden table, it's hard not to leave with a warm, positive impression -- even if the food wait was painfully slow (only one guy in the kitchen, say whaaa?!). Lucky for me, time stands still when I'm nursing a hangover so the wait wasn't such a bother.
A very simple menu conveyed in very simple words.
The pear walnut salad was straightforward, fresh, and nicely plated. Servings are quite large; I recommend splitting one with your friend. The juices aren't fresh squeezed but pulpy good nonetheless. The other salads and pastas of those around me looked tasty and of good quantity.
A perfect cafe to sit with your newspaper and enjoy a slow morning. I'd love for this to be my everyday spot...
WARNING: you cannot go here when you are ravenous. You will end up pissed off and that would be unfair to the loveliness of this eatery. If i were in a diff't state of being, I might've made the young server cry for making me wait 40 min for my salad but that, too, would be tragic b/c the women working here seem so gentle and kind that YOU would end up looking like the asshole. So sit back and relax and pretend youre on holiday.
I am not a wine snob. That said, I love this place. The servers are all knowledgeable and friendly - I tell them what I like and don't like and they send over a few bottles to taste. Our table takes all three. And then maybe a few more. I would say it was a learning experience but I've promptly forgotten what we had that night.
I also went there once when I had given up alcohol for lent and had an amazing hot chocolate that you basically had to consume with a spoon. My wine drinking friends were so jealous. I said, "40 days, bitches" and protected my cup with a menacing fist.
Could epistrophy possibly be any cuter or cozier? The furnishings and decor make this place the perfect hybrid space - come for wine or a meal, for casual hanging out or an intimate conversation. Just make sure you leave your watch at home, because epistrophy strives to be the kind of place where things are measured in words spoken or feelings expressed, not in minutes. I'd feel comfortable bringing anyone from a date, to old childhood friends, to my parents here.
The food is casual and full of genial cheer, much like the people who you tend to find at epistrophy. Even when it's crowded, it's never raucous or uncomfortable, and the place retains a light-hearted serenity.
Nice spot seemingly tucked away from the higher profile spots. Nice atmosphere and pavement cafe style feel.
Food was not great. The best thing was the smoked salmon salad which came with arugula, cheese and some sort of radish. Looked good and tasted good.
Pesto pasta was ok. It's difficult to make pesto excellent unless you make it fresh and over-dose on the pine kernels... then it's really good but I'll never be a won over easily with pesto in a restaurant.
The chicken in wine sauce was not good. It was under-seasoned and was lacking something to give it flavour. This was the let down.
Food and service really only gets 2-2.5 stars but I give it 3 for the atmosphere and nice pavement dining with good people watching.
Maybe this is more of a panini place.
Where's the cheese??
I would love to give this spot 5 stars. It *should* deserve it. It easily makes 3 just for the atmosphere, but they really drop the ball when it comes to the menu.
My gripes include:
1) Fruit and cheese plate = 90% fruit, 10% cheese
2) Red wine served at noticeably, overly warm temperatures. Do they keep the bottles above the stove?
3) Boring, bland pasta. Where's my gnocchi?! WTF is gnochetti other than horrible??
4) Only 4 entrees, which are all just mediocre. They got rid of the tasty beef brisket one for reasons unknown.
5) Sometimes your dinner will be rushed because you need to help your roommate personally deliver cases of wine to the extremely gorgeous Patti Hansen & and her daughters. Actually this only happened once, and was far from a problem, but still..
It's so frustrating; all of these problems (except #5) are easily solved but nothing changes. Sigh. Yet I'll keep coming back, just to chill at a place with great music (they keep very current on their mellow indie rock catalog-- The National, Kings of Leon, etc), a relaxed vibe, and good people watching. Plus it's like 3 blocks from my apt and my roommate is a lazy lazy man so choices are limited sometimes. Yes service is slow, but very responsive if you need something and speak up (don't be scared to, Sarah is super friendly).
This is one of my favourite wine bars, even though their selection isn't particularly impressive nor their food anything extraordinary. Not to say it's not good, because it is very good, but it's more for the cool, chic ambiance without the pretentiousness or attitude. Oddly enough, I'm always tempted to break out into French and light a cigarette whenever I'm here.
Cute neighborhood bar. They have some nice food options if you're looking for a fairly lights meal. Comfy place to hang out with friends and sip some prosecco.
We have always walked by this adorable green restaurant and I have been wanting to check it out forever. So, I was definitely looking forward to my early Saturday night dinner here.
Cute downtown, and no frills. We sat outside and had some wine. The food was surprisingly fresh and delicious. It was refreshing to see different types of dishes on the menu such as the baked eggplant appetizer we ordered! I believe it is Sardinian/Italian fare.
I would definitely make it a point to try this green wonder. It is a little jewel in the otherwise disappointing food landscape in Litlle Italy.
Epistrophy has a bar-cum-coffee shop seating arrangement that does wonders for the feel of the place. Just after the door on the left, a well-worn couch with a magazine rack (with a varied arrangement of magazines skewing to the art/fashion genre) and small table. Great little nook for coffee or sharing a carafe of wine. Further into the shop, a bar along with small tables combine for a nice little arrangement of seating options. Up front, it exudes intimacy, while in back and at the bar it's a bit more social, yet without becoming overwhelmingly loud -- all in a pretty modestly sized little place.
The wine list is elegantly simple, broken into old world and new world, red and white, with no more than a few thoughtful selections in each. Though I love wine, sometimes it's great to have my choices narrowed down for me. Thanks Epistrophy. Same goes for the beer list.
Service is friendly and laid-back. No snobbery here and that's what I like about this place. It's cool, yes, but without the in-your-face hipness of spots just a few blocks to the east. It's pleasant to find an accessible, comfortable spot without the attitude and it manages to provide separate zones and well-chosen drinks. I can't ask for much more in a wine bar.
Update on the food to come in 2009.
This is a great little neighborhood (Nolita, not LES) wine bar run by beautiful and sweet Italian siblings. It has a wonderful warm vibe: low lighting, exposed brick, and funky art. It's comfortably Euro, not obnoxiously so like Bread up the street. The long communal tables and and comfy chairs make this an ideal place to meet up with friends for on a low-key night, although lately it has been pretty crowded on weekends.
The wine selection is small but good (though I'm no expert). They also have free WiFi, and recently started serving coffee and brunch during the day. I have not tried many menu items, but crostini is definitely not their forte.
Really really cute cafe. REALLY CUTE! I mean, its so cute that you have to dress cool to come here. The small wooden tables are cute! The cafe is so cute with flowers, nice old antique furnitures. Yet, its filled with really cute, I hate to say it... snobby LP listening hipsters. Not your friendly Portland or Austin vegan hipsters, but your dirty bohemian yuppie new york hipsters. So the food is good, I really enjoyed the green salad and the pastries. I have to say, the waiter was emotionless and that lead me to feel he was been unfriendly. he might have felt he was too cool for school, especially me who was carrying a holga camera. So skip the drama, ignore the asshole, get a glass of wine and enjoy a good Jane Austin or Oscar Wilde novel or poem. The waitress are much nicer. I went back there the next morning to grab a pastry, and the place was deserted. I got out my sketchbook and draw with content. So don't show up this place around 10am or 9am, its mine!
PS: CASH ONLY!
Light fare + multiple bottles of wine + great old/new friends = FUN!
Celebrated a friend's birthday here last week. What a great low-key place to enjoy a few bottles of wine! Not a huge dinner menu, so we ordered some cheese & fruit platters. Easy going, friendly service. Not very busy on the Wednesday night that I was there. Bartender (owner?) chatted up customers and a cute little kid in squeaky sandals. Enjoyed the space & charm.
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