'inoteca Review

July 23, 2003 On the night last week when they added the awning to new neighborhood panino emporium 'inoteca, we hit the joint with the überliterate KL (a self-proclaimed "big fan" of the West Village's 'ino, of which the LES edition serves as the lanky younger brother).


First thought: though bigger than 'ino, this place is still pint-sized. Result: overcrowding. Second thought: experience counts. We frequent many new restaurants, but seldom have we seen a staff as together as this during week two of operation. Points for that. Wedged into the bar (the 40 minute wait for a table too unappetizing), we opted for the $15 porchetta panino, which apparently comes from a special pig raised by nuns in upstate New York that's later hand-slaughtered on the back streets of the LES. (Disclosure: recollected from memory.) Downside: tasted like so much prosciutto to us. Verdict: not worth an hour wait, but deservedly likely to last a hell of a lot longer than the previous occupants of this space.

Dude... a fifteen dollar sandwich?

Posted by: Eliot at July 23, 2003 06:40 PM

Mistakes were made. (Most everything else on the menu is

Posted by: Lock at July 24, 2003 09:51 AM

you lower east side "hipsters" need to GET OVER YOUSELVES. The pork sammy is mammoth, as it is deliscious. As are other items sampled in my two visits since its opening. Just b/c it's new to the nabe doesn't mean you've automatically got to turn your noses up at it!!

Posted by: pepper at July 24, 2003 10:48 AM

I don't think they were, Pepper. They just sound a little unimpressed. And $15 is a lotta money for a sandwich. Ooh -- I better watch ME SELF.

Posted by: shamrock at July 24, 2003 02:03 PM

I think $15 dollars is worth paying for pork from a special pig raised by nuns on a beautiful upstate farm, where said pig would roll around in the mud happily with its fellow porcine friends, as well as worth it for being able to say "I paid $15 for a ham sandwich on the Lower East Side."

Posted by: Jen at July 24, 2003 04:40 PM

Expensive Pork?? Who could pay attention with such a good looking staff... definitely worth the visit alone. Wow. The two blondes (one short and one ridiculously tall) take the cake (and the pork, for that matter). The other girls round out a bevy of beauties that will allow ANYONE to appreciate the lower east side.

Not for nothin', there's also hilarious gay guy named jon (i believe) who will knock your socks off with his charm and good looks.

That said and done, the food is where its at. While the menu proved somewhat challenging....it also provided the neccessary reason to ask for help from the hotties on the waitstaff. Good Service!!!

Posted by: frederico at July 27, 2003 08:02 PM

is it the beautiful farm or is it (the band of) beautiful nuns that make the pork sooo fine?

Posted by: tracy at July 30, 2003 11:32 PM

is it the beautiful farm or is it (the band of) beautiful nuns that make the pork sooo fine?

Posted by: tracy at July 30, 2003 11:32 PM

I can't speak about the Porchetta sandwich (yet) but I can highly recommend the meatballs and all of the salads and sammys are great and very reasonably priced. I think it's a primo spot for groups; ideal for sharing apps and great vino. (and the waifish, non-tatoo covered staff is a nice change of pace) Double thumbs up.

Posted by: Jackson at August 20, 2003 09:51 AM

I think Jen's comment was on the money, and I also think I want to marry her because of her comment.

Posted by: Jason at October 10, 2003 12:01 PM

I WANT JUST TOLK ABAUT MONEY

Posted by: saeed sobhani at January 15, 2004 06:58 PM