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Epistrophy
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Italian Wine Bars, Coffee & Tea, Italian [Edit]
200 Mott St(between Kenmare St & Spring St)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita
(212) 966-0904
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bowery (J)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)
Grand St (B, D)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
About This Business:
All we can say is unique in their simplicity.
148 reviews for Epistrophy
Review Highlights
"We tried the pesto artichoke ravioli and the gnocchi with..."
(in 6 reviews)
"One of my favorite eateries in SoHo."
(in 19 reviews)
"...and I love love love this rustic but trendy spot in Nolita."
(in 13 reviews)
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148 reviews in English
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Review from Kanchana S.
Manhattan, NY
1/25/2012
We were craving Italian food and walked in here almost by accident. We're so glad we did! The cozy and inviting atmosphere drew us in. Reasonable menu prices made it even more appealing.
We ordered two of the house reds. I enjoyed house made papperdelle with beef while my fiance had the octopus and spaghetti dish. We finished the meal off with probably the best tiramisu desserts I've had. Not incredibly creamy, made with actual lady's fingers, it was almost as if my mom made it which was a definite bonus.
Loved the service. Enjoyed the array of breads they served. They only accept cash which they mention clearly next to the prices of the dishes on the menu.
Would definitely go back if I were in the area again. -
Review from Kimberly Q.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/24/2012
Had food tonight - still four stars. The polpettine starter was quite popular; I ordered it and my two gentleman friends (who ordered the beet salad special) could not be kept away from it. Great sauce for dipping bread, and i don't usually eat bread (IMO, it's merely a vehicle).
For mains, both of my friends had a beef dish, which they devoured quickly, and I had the melanzane (mostly because I felt guilty for starting with veal when my dude friends had salads). We all liked our food a lot - very little dinner conversation, which is weird for us.
Definitely will be a regular spot for me when I'm in NY. (note: still CASH ONLY)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2012
A friend chose this place to meet up at and catch up over some vino. Great crowd and ambiance.… Read more »
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Review from Yuko A.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012
A friend took me here and I'M SO GLAD SHE DID. Also - Good date spot!
I have introduced 3 other people to this place including my very italian boyfriend.
-cute interior & menu
-sexy waiters
-Housemade delicious foccacia
Forget the entrees and get the pastas. they are soo amazing. Orecchiette is my favourite. The pasta with the ground beef (can't remember the name) gets 2nd spot. The handmade gnocchi with mushrooms is 3rd. Anyway, my italian boyfriend who doesn't see why you would pay for pasta (since anyones mama can make it better for free), loved his orecchiette.
Its a little loud, but the atmosphere is great. It's cute, relaxed and the meal sizes are perfect (on the smaller side). This is real italian food. I personally feel like its too cheap. But i'm not about to complain... :D -
Review from Christine G.
New York, NY
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This has become my new neighborhood wine bar. It's cozy, warm and nicely crowded. The little tables make it easier to talk to others. On a cold winter day, it's a fantastic little place to share a bottle of wine and snack on small plates. I've only really been here in the evening to wine and dine with friends but I'm sure inevitably I will meander over to hang out during the daytime. Overall, this place super friendly, reasonably priced and just comforting. It's the chicken soup of neighborhood wine bars.
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Review from Ramon A.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012
We went there for brunch and service was rude, plus they did not give us back the change, kept as a generous tip above 22 % . Food ok but a bit expensive for a tiny sandwitch.
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Review from Shar K.
New York, NY
1/15/2012
Although I am usually generous with my stars, I don't give many places all five. I save the last star for the special places on their best nights. Where everything from the cocktails, to the lighting, to the service, to the spatial distance between the tables are perfect. Per Se didn't get a 5 star from me.
And to be honest, I had a very simple lunch of a salad at Epistrophy. It was fine. It had arugula in it. And scallops, I think.
But this place was the highlight of my week because the girl working there was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. And I've been in this city of beautiful people for a long time.
She was heavenly to look at, and she took my breath away. I consider myself to be relatively confident - but I sat at the bar because it would been impossible for me to interact with her without mixing up my words like a drunk dyslexic woman. If she works here, then that's enough for me. I would give all 5 stars to the gas station her boyfriend used on their last road trip in his classic convertible.
Highly recommend. -
Review from Nicole G.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
For some reason, I can never remember the name of this place to save my life, but my partner and I had a really fantastic lunch there a couple of weeks ago! We just stopped in by chance after we realized the "bakery cafe" that we were going to go to was pretty much a bread bakery with a walk-in deli.
We decided to share two of the paninis-- one had smoked salmon and brie, the other was a pork milanese. We both agreed that the pork milanese was more satisfying, but they were both good and perfectly grilled.
The paninis were ample enough, which was good because the dishes themselves were definitely no-frills-- no sides, no garnishes, just a $10 sandwich, which was fine.
Maybe what I loved most about Epistrophy was its ambience; very bohemian, with mismatched iron and wood chairs, florals and lots of pastels and vintage posters, and heavy red velvet drapes around a stage where they apparently have musicians play every so often. I think it would definitely be fun to go there and see some acoustic. Overall, it was a very low-key, cozy place. -
Review from Evan G.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Browsing for a place to eat on Mott St with a friend of mine one night, we thought we'd found the place we were going to go, and then we passed Epistrophy. We liked the menu we saw posted in the window, but thought we should keep going to our originally planned destination (we were committed!). When we encountered three drunk and ridiculous people outside the place we were headed to, we headed back to Epistrophy.
And I'm not sorry that happened.
We were given a sweet little table next to the bookcase, and I immediately felt comfortable and at home. And then the food came. Yes.
We had a bottle of Hanging Vine pinot noir, which is one of my favorite bottles of wine nowadays. To start, my friend had the lentil soup, which he loved, and I had a fennel salad (fennel surrounding a pocket of arugula and mixed greens with shaved parmesean). My friend wasn't hungry and had the cheese plate, which had some nice options, but nothing OMG-worthy. I had the skate with tomato and olive sauce, which was wonderful. I feared the sauce might be too salty, but it was - no joke - perfect. Skate is a very mild fish to begin with, so I was bit let down by its lack of flavor, but that's the magic of the sauce. Very good.
Service was a bit awkward (little missteps that would then get caught in odd ways - sort of like she woke up while she was sleepwalking), but our server was rather friendly (and had wonderful hair).
Price point is very reasonable. This would be a great place for a date, or simply for meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in awhile. This place, I think, qualifies as a find - and I would definitely bring someone else here. -
Review from Sophia K.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
I've always wanted to visit the place because it looks so cute from the outside and I dig the name.
I finally went pretty recently and it was a nice place. The decor is interesting..you feel like you are walking into someone's grandmothers house from the 1970's, but I guess that is part of the vibe.
Onto the food..We ordered the Sformato Di Zucchine dish which is a zucchini and egg dish served with Sardinian bread. It wasn't amazing but it was good. Also ordered was the Salmon Carpaccio salad which was delicious! The pasta entree didn't disappoint, but the best had to be the short rib special they had. Really tasty and tender.
The reason I don't give this restaurant 4 stars is because the servers were rude. We left a tip of a little over 18% and the waiter actually came back to our table VERY agitated and said that all patrons usually give 20% and up. OK, maybe he had a point but it wasn't as though we left 10 or 15% and it truly was an oversight on our part. The waiter could have been nicer and maybe asked if his service was up to par instead of shaking us down for a few more dollars. I was kind of embarrassed (more for him really) and uncomfortable. I would never come back here or recommend it to my friends, but I had to leave a fair rating for the food. -
Review from Liz R.
San Diego, CA
1/22/2012
Very delicious high quality food. Would highly recommend the meatballs and salads. Everything we tried was excellent
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Review from Jane C.
Long Island City, NY
12/6/2011
If I eat at Epistrophy again - I'm walking in with a butt fulla farts. I've had it with snooty service in NYC! I'm reverting back to childhood tactics, where I employ all sorts of gross humor to get me through a meal (and laugh as I blatantly fart at the table).
Cmon, man. I don't like children - so guess what? I'm not a nanny! I don't like cooking exotic meals - so guess what? I'm not a chef!
If you loathe humankind so much that you can't even be deigned to bring food without the side-of-obnoxious ... why the hell are you a waiter?
Food was good. Decent. The side basket of bread was arguably the best thing I ate. The broasted potatoes were good, too. (Okay, so they've mastered the art of starches)...My pasta was good but rather unremarkable. The bill was not egregious, too, so that's predominantly the 2-stars, above.
"Oh, but you get what you pay for!" My friend used to say - endlessly.
Yeap - I got a mouthful of edible food with an eyeful of snoot. Next time I'm leaving the waiter a boistrous, ripened fart as a tip. -
Review from Sky D.
New York, NY
12/15/2011
Good wine. Great scallop salad. Amazing place.
Cutesie tables outside, warm and cozy atmosphere inside. Coming back ASAP!
LOVE Marco (waiter).
Great for a date! -
Review from Buket T.
Manhattan, NY
1/14/2012
Warm&cozy atmosphere,great for having a conversation with friends&sipping wine.. Even a cup of tea;)
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Review from Tone S.
New York, NY
11/30/2011
Went here for brunch last weekend. The environment was quaint and cozy but the food was just okay. I had the toast, which ended up being a panini. Everyone said their food was "okay". My latte came in a glass, which was weird and not very hot.
No complaints but no thrills either. I had the toast which was pretty fresh and cheap.
Love the look and the environment but the food was just okay. Will consider going back to taste the wine and dinner, maybe it's better? -
Review from Jake L.
Santa Monica, CA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
A cool cash-only wine bar in SoHo.
Good prices for good wine.
A nice feel, has a very vintage feel.
Nothing great about the place and nothing wrong with it either.
Stop in for a glass of wine for yourself and see what you think. I think this is a place that's all about personal taste. -
Review from Charlie S.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/12/2012
Quaint and unassumingly charming. The kind of place you want to love -- and will -- just by walking by and looking inside.
1 Previous Review:
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10/19/2011
A bit scene, but low-key and fun. Good for a drink and small meal.
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Review from Betim D.
Palo Alto, CA
9/11/2011
I've only been to this place twice while I was in Soho and I really liked it, and I would like to go there again in the future.
The ambiance is chill and relaxing. The interior is very creative with a french/italian feel.
Last time I was there as a party of two, and we sat outside in a nice sunny day. We ordered some delicious appetizer that I can't remember, and a couple of drinks -- chimay rouge in a fancy wide glass, and limoncello.
We ended up staying there for good couple of hours as the place was pretty comfy. I highly recommend it! -
Review from Jean S.
Cambridge, MA
1/7/2012
I loved this unique restaurant. Perfect for hanging out. Food is delicious. I loved the breakfast, toast was unlike what you'd suspect- try it and find out! great sandwiches, yummy pastas-. the barstaff are knowledgeable and mix a good cocktail. AND the waitstaff is amazing, especially the girl with the to die for smile and gorgeous blue eyes. She is quick and no nonsense but has a flair for the dramatic. She speaks fluent Italian, but I don't think she is from Italy. Owners are around, want to please. I am going to come back to this place as often as I can. Love the sofa in the corner. Just right for a date!
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Review from lora c.
New York, NY
10/16/2011
I walked by this place about a thousand times before I decided to try it, purely based on the aesthetic and general atmosphere. But I'm pretty disappointed with the experience.
I sat down to full street tables but a mainly empty restaurant It seemed as though only one girl was taking orders, while the other girl stood behind the bar doing nothing (I guess waiting to make drink orders? although with people in the restaurant waiting to be served, surely you have something better to do with your time than just stand around pretending to be busy?). Please note, I'm not usually one to complain about wait times when it comes to ordering because I like to be able to relax and not feel rushed, but it did take quite a while for the original girl who sat me down to make her way back round to my table (even though the girl behind the bar was directly in front of me and could see me waiting).
Anyway, that aside I thought the food would be good and the experience would be redeemed. I ordered the prosciutto and mozzarella omelet which comes with a side of potatoes and salad. The salad was fine, the potatoes were ok (although unnecessary in my opinion) but the omelet was a major downfall. The main complaint is that they didn't even use prosciutto (it was ham). The mozzarella was tasty but not nearly enough of it, and the actual egg part was too heavy going and needed something to break up the flavor, such as basil or spinach. It was all just too much for me and I had to leave half of it unfinished. And for the price ($11.90), I could have just as easily eaten 3 street gyros and experienced a more decent meal. Disappointing!! -
Review from Michael L.
Medford, NY
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
great place to pop in for wine.
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Review from Janine C.
7/23/2011
Epistrophy is mostly about the ambiance. The quirky bookshelf, dim lighting and old tables make for an intimate and charming space. This is a great place to catch up with old friends over some port.
The downside is the small beverage servings for the price. My boyfriend ordered a Moscato which was served in a mini-glass that was about a quarter-filled. Also, they only accept cash.
And finally, you can be sure that whoever ends up serving you is going to be a hipster. Be prepared. And don't try to order Malibu. They WILL judge you. -
Review from Jane A.
New York, NY
7/15/2011
I simply adore Epistrophy, and so I feel extremely lucky to live only a stone's throw away.
I walk by here on a daily basis as I live so close to it, and 95% of the time, I overhear people sitting outside chattering away in French or Italian. I feel suddenly transported to Europe every time during those few seconds that I walk by. As someone who feels like she was European in her past life, this makes me melt :)
What's so great about this place is the vibe. It's perhaps the chillest place I've ever been to in NYC. You can linger and really enjoy your wine/food/conversation without feeling rushed in any way. In fact, when one of the servers saw that I was finishing up my glass of Chianti, he brought me another one on the house!
When you walk in here, you really feel that you're walking into an oasis far far removed from the constant on-the-go can't stop-won't stop mentality of NYC. It gets crowded at night but never obnoxiously so.
Whether you're wanting to sit down with a book during the day, catch up with a friend, or are looking for a chill, unstuffy date place, Epistrophy is the go-to place for whatever you're looking for.
Cute, inviting interior. Unpretentious. Friendly staff. Cool crowd. Yummy, simple food. Love everything about it. -
Review from Candice A.
Brooklyn, NY
6/17/2011
I've been passing this adorable place every time I walked down mott street and happy to have finally eaten there. All I can say is, the place is super cute.
Thats kind of it. Yea.
The food was okay. The crowd was loud. I met up with a friend I havent seen for a long time on a thursday night. Obviously we wanted to chat, but it was more like shouting at one another because everyone else was so loud and there's always a crowd of people standing outside.
Got the artichoke ravioli, that I thought was a little over cooked. And the "fresh tuna and potatoes with sweet balsamic sauce" where the tuna was definitely cooked, barely tasted the sauce, and found it a little heavy as these were hefty, generous chunks of tuna.
This place is like a cool chill out spot, I will admit. but everyone also thinks the same and thus, everyone is kind of there. -
Review from Denise Michelle S.
New York, NY
5/26/2011
Epistrophy is a great place to sit back, relax, enjoy a glass of wine and a light meal. {We've only ever had drinks, dessert or the fruit and cheese plate.}
The atmosphere is so warm an welcoming, you won't ever want to leave. Therein lay the problem. {Productivity people, we need not be incentivized to be lazy as this is not a southern california establishment!}
The best seat is to the left of the entrance, near the windows that open onto Mott street- perfect on a warm spring day.
The staff are entertaining, friendly and quite nice. -
Review from Cris M.
Port Jefferson Station, NY
1/1/2012
Try the pear and whatever hard cheese is on it salad. Wine is a good size for the price. Very good service. Intimate place. love it.
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Review from Kelly R.
10/12/2011
The place is super cute with old furniture and vintage looking wallpaper and paint. I had a tuna panini and it was delicious. This might be because I'm infatuated with the bread in NY-soooo good. The waiters were rather chic looking. The gnocchetti pasta sauce tasted a bit like school lunch sauce. Although the place was chic, the food was rather lacking. The espresso was rather weak.
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Review from SK K.
Wilton, CT
5/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best way to describe this place is Cute!
Having wandered on Mott street for so many years, i was surprised to find out that i had never noticed this place. I met-up with a friend for dinner at this place and found this place packed, with a line waiting outside. Since we were only two, I was lucky to get seated pretty quickly.
Their menu (as well as their website) is unique. It is presented in a copy book format, one you may recall from your childhood if you are older than 30 years!
We ordered the Sformato di zuccini, which was again, cute! and for main dish I ordered the "Panino Con Salmone" which was very good salmon panini.
The seating is pretty tight here, and the furniture collection is like a hodgepodge of seats and sofa's. The service is attentive and helpful, though it took a while for our food to arrive, which is no surprise given they were so busy. -
Review from A A.
Hempstead, NY
4/3/2011
I was into older men.
Well, maybe still am.
They have experiences. At the same time, they are afraid because they know sometimes making mistakes cannot be covered easy.
This Brit guy was interested in me but I couldn't see the particular reason why. He could be my father. AND, for some reason, Me and Brit guys are like Barbara and Rosie. Never get along.
But he picked Epistrophy and looks like a cute place, so I thought he has a good taste.
He surely does. But it's a HUGE turnoff when I see someone in person and look COMPLETELY different, especially looked MUCH older.
So he was one of them.
"How the hell did you age so quick? What kinda black magic is that? Did you smoke coke that hard?"
I wanted to say that but woman self up.
I was raised in a unique environment. ALL dishes I used at my home was fine pottery. NO IKEA allowed, baby.
So to see their cute wedgewood-y, noritake-ish dishes brought me back to the ol' days. It's a HUGE plus. That's simply how the food should be served.
I had Zuppa Del Giorno (soup of the day),
Ravioli Ai Carciofi (artichoke ravioli with fresh basil pesto pinenuts and parmigiano cheese)
Tiramisu.
I highly recommend you to have Ravioli if you like artichoke. It's superb.
Tiramisu.. hmm.. Save your money.
He had some white wine and
Carpaccio Di Salmone Affumicato E Mele smoked salmon arugula, apples, black pepper and parmigiano cheese in extra virgin olive oil THIS WAS A BOMB!
So, he was actually a sweet nice guy. But I am still traumatized how he looks SO different from the photo. AND clearly, we have nothing in common.
The atmosphere was nice, SO romantic, food was nice, but I chose a bad company to go with. -
Review from Carissa B.
Manhattan, NY
7/21/2011
Love the chill atmosphere (went for brunch). It is a bit retro-chic, hipster, and the staff were all very nice and cool.
But not overly, fake nice. I sat at the bar for 30 minutes waiting for my date who was late for brunch. All I had at the bar was water. The bartender, waiters, and manager all made sure I had enough water (I drink a lot of it), without filling it every time I took a sip. They were willing to interact with me, but they could tell that I was waiting for someone and was happy to be left alone to read, so that is what they did. Nothing worse than making small talk with a stranger when you don't feel like it!
Food was great. Love that they only serve espresso drinks, or americanos for coffee drinkers, mimosas were awesome with fresh squeezed OJ.
Highly recommended if you are looking for a place to have a relaxing meal, or just somewhere to hang out and read or catch up with friend for a few hour. -
Review from Morin O.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2011
Limited menu with small-ish portions. Outdoor seating is nice though.
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Review from Asia S.
PRINCE, NY
12/15/2011
Very nice place. The service is very attentive and you feel comfortable like been at home. I love the attention that they put in every little piece. The owner's are very kind. The quality price is fantastic. The atmosphere and the vibe can make you stay there for hours. The music is always good.
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Review from Grace L.
Manhattan, NY
9/28/2011
Overall - Only came for drinks on a Sunday night around midnight; very quiet, dimly-lit and romantic (maybe 10% of the tables were full); very much a relaxed coffee shop atmosphere with bookcases/books and small wooden tables - mostly 2-seaters (can be pushed together) - maybe about a dozen of them; great for a first date or just to catch up with friends; has a bohemian/crunchy feel to it, but great for anyone
Wine - Good assortment of wine; probably 20ish types of red and white respectively for bottles, and about a dozen each for glasses; most are $8 to $10 each and are mainly italian wines; healthy pours; a few cocktail options but focus is on wine -
Review from Emily C.
New York, NY
9/28/2010
I have been to Epistrophy three times in the six weeks I have been in New York and am guilty of ordering the same dish every time. The culprit: the Pappardelle al sugo di carne.
I hope to extend my dining experience here but I have definitely enjoyed (again and again) what I've tasted so far.
The place is as delicious as its food. It's rustic, charming and inviting; completely begging you to stay awhile...and eat some pasta with braised beef tomato sauce!
Again, cash only! The wait staff is extremely patient and will hold your table if you need to go run over to the ATM. There is a BoA on 589 Broadway and a Chase on 770 Lexington. -
Review from Gigi G.
New York, NY
9/12/2011
Love it!! Laid back, friendly, good food & wine.
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Review from Erin E.
Brooklyn, NY
6/18/2011
When I worked in soho, I would go to epistrophy twice a month at the vey least. I liked the wine, the atmosphere and the laid back staff. I was really looking forward to visiting again while I was in town...
However quite unfortunately, a lovely visit was ruined at the last minute by an extremely rude waiter. In the course of our meal, he brought one course of food dishes and the check. Since it is a cash only place, we paid the bill and then planned to leave another 5 on the table to round out the tip (20% all in). However, while we were still sitting at the table, our waiter came back complaining that we had left an insufficient tip since he expected a 20% tip "in order to make money." His patronizing and confrontational attitude immediately escalated this into an argument, at one point even telling us "where the door is" and following us out as we left, shouting to continue the scene.
Despite the dozens of times I have happily eaten (and tipped) at epistrophy, this was such a shocking and unpleasant experience that it is off my list of places to go. I don't need to have a member of the staff "explaining to me how tipping works," particularly when the misunderstanding resulted from how quickly we left extra money on the table. Crass, unnecessary and uninviting. Sorry epistrophy, this outweighs all your positive aspects. -
Review from Dana F.
7/21/2010
Epistrophy is a fantastic little wine bar and coffee shop that also serves up small plates. It's the perfect place to bring a book to read or to go on a low-pressure first date. The ambiance is adorable and cozy - couches in front, small tables in back, bookshelf off to the side with all sorts of little mementos, and good music. The waitstaff, although of the hipster genre, are very nice and friendly. No one rushes you; it seems like they know exactly when you need them to check up on you.
All of the wines are very reasonably priced; the $8 glasses of Rioja (red OR white) are of very good quality for the price.
When the weather is nice, the outdoor seating is the perfect way to people watch!
Cash only.Listed in: An Espresso a Day Keeps the…, Dionysus!
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Review from Susan s.
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here the other night with one of my mother's friends. We were catching up on old times and drinking a little. I had a Paulaner beer and did not have a chance to try the food. Service was decent and the place was pretty packed on the weekend! Sitting outside people watching was great. Especially for my short attention span!. jk
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Review from Grace K.
New York, NY
1/21/2011
Cozy and comfortable atmosphere~
Cappuccino & Chocolate mousse cake are delicious!
Service is good as well. Good place to have a light dinner or coffee.
I will definitely go back for Cappuccino!
CASH ONLY! -
Review from Freya C.
10/3/2010
3.5 stars
This review is just for coffee, like I wanted somewhere just to hang out and catch up with a friend, we'd already eaten elsewhere though.
So this joint is in my neighbourhood, and I've passed the cute little coloured tile tables outside all summer and just never had found the right moment to pop inside. So wanted to grab a quick coffee on the weekend I thought perfect opportunity to check this place out.
I confess I loved the "casually assembled" interior, it wasn't at all busy (Sunday lunchtime so I was surprised) so I got prime pick of the cosy looking sofa in the window around a beautiful vintage oak coffee table.
My friend and I just ordered cappuccinos, which for the occasion were ok, but I thought mine was a little too on the luke-warm side and given how not-busy it was, they seemed to take a while to arrive.
However we were in no rush and the waitresses were a little shy almost, but certainly friendly. We stuck around for a while, admiring the scrap-metal-welded stools at the bar and collection of bric-a-brac picture frames on the walls whilst flicking through design magazines up on wall-mounted rack.
Often this kind of decor feels a bit hipster-contrived to me, but actually I thought everything was "curated" well and I will definitely go back to hang out there, if not just for a convenient coffee next time, I'd like to try to food too! -
Review from Ariel S.
Brooklyn, NY
10/28/2010
You're walking through Nolita with a dear friend looking for a decent, not flashy nor touristy cafe that serves an easy and delicious lunch. Your co-conspirator doesn't want to eat anything that might upset their stomach because they are catching a long flight in a few hours.. You also both have good taste and want to adhere to it- what do you do?
You can't go to Cafe Habana because it will destroy your friends stomach, nor Gitane because its likely too busy (or it still doesn't qualify as middle of the road, or still poses a travel sickness risk), and Bread is too much of a commitment- plus its a beautiful day, so large windows and natural light are key..
Answer: you come to Epistrophy, have a sandwich or a simple plate of pasta and you both focus on more important things like the next time you will be able to have a happy meet up like this one.
