Epistrophy

"Here are some of the situations in which we’ve ended up at Epistrophy: drinks with someone who helped us get a job, drinks with someone we were helping get a job, a dinner that was possibly or possibly not a date, a reunion of old friends with assorted dietary restrictions, and brunch when Cafe Habana had an hour-long wait. And then there was the time we walked in with a friend on a Saturday night and ended up taking shots of an Italian liqueur with the bartender and a guy who lives in the apartment upstairs. All of this is to say: Epistrophy, an Italian-ish cafe in Nolita, is useful in many situations. It’s a great place to grab a drink or have a casual low-stakes dinner, while the large tables up front (which you can reserve) are a good move when you’re tasked with planning a eight person dinner on a Saturday night that’s actually reasonably priced, fun, and with food everyone will like. We’ve all been there, and in these cases, Epistrophy is there for you. What else should you know? The space is what you might call “homey” or “lived in” or just really “cafe that’s been open since 2005.” There are books on the shelves. You get the picture. The food is good too, though it’s almost besides the point. The “point” is that Epistrophy is the kind of neighborhood place that you’d want in your neighborhood. Unlike so many other restaurants around here, the people inside Epistrophy aren’t tourists or bloggers taking photos of acai bowls. What a relief. So next time you find yourself needing to plan a drinks meeting/date/lunch/last minute gathering of six people in this part of town, you know what to do. Food Rundown Burrata A ball of burrata, served with some beets and butternut squash (it used to be tomatoes, but things change) and a very thin cracker crisp to layer your cheese on. A perfect dish to share, this one is part of our order every time. Calamari e Funghi Grilled calamari with some mushrooms. If you like those things, this one’s another good appetizer. Quinoa Salad In keeping with the times, Epistrophy has abided by the law that all Nolita restaurants serve a bowl featuring quinoa and brightly-colored things. The pink paste (beet tahini) is kind of a lot to deal with, but it’s a solid dish overall. Kale Salad A kale salad, but topped with pistachios. You know what to do here. Ravioli ai Carciofi Any of the pastas here are a safe bet, and as pastas go, they tend to be on the lighter side. If you’re sharing, the artichoke pesto ravioli is a good way to go. Hanger Steak Didn’t we tell you Epistrophy was good for different situations? If that situation involves a desire to eat steak, know Epistrophy’s is quite good." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Epistrophy is a small cafe that works for big groups, drinks, a quick bite, or even a long dinner with a friend from high school who’s going through a weird time and wants to talk in your general direction for an hour or so. You know, that kind of thing. The menu is Italian (with pastas around $20), and the space looks a charmingly distressed apartment. Think of this place as a neighborhood clubhouse where you'll probably run into some people you've seen on Hinge." - team infatuation

"Epistrophy is a casual neighborhood Italian spot in Nolita where you can eat zucchini fritters on a Monday morning, but it’s also a great first-date spot. You can go the drinks and appetizers route, or easily have a more filling meal involving several kinds of pasta. Grab a little table outside and split a bottle of wine, or stop by for Happy Hour when you don’t want to pay full price for drinks with a relative stranger." - nikko duren

"Epistrophy is a Nolita neighborhood spot that's great for any kind of hang—especially one with someone who suspiciously has a completely different hair color than their online photo. You can go the drinks-and-appetizers route, or you can have a more filling meal involving pasta, hanger steak, and burrata. Grab a little table outside if the weather's nice." - team infatuation

"Epistrophy is a Nolita neighborhood hang above all, but it’s also a great first date spot. You can go the drinks-and-appetizers route, or you can have a more filling meal involving pasta, steak, or burrata. Grab a little table outside and split a bottle of wine, or stop by for Happy Hour when it feels like everyone in the neighborhood who works at a company that's "disrupting" an industry is here." - will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja