epistrophy cafe 200 Mott Street, New York
PRESS KIT Epistrophycafe.com Press Office: Silvana Porcu | silvana@epistrophycafe.com
The early years “The place looks like it’s been there for years and it immediately won our vote for new favorite hangout (And it’s so discrete that when we returned the following night we almost couldn’t find it)”. (Daily Candy NYC, August 30, 2005)
“A Sardinian couple’s ode to Thelonious Monk, with a menu heavy on pasta, panini and salads” (New York Magazine, March 2006)
The present
“Located in the fringes of Soho, this bohemian chic bar and café’s rustic sophistication will charm you immediately”
(Best Spring Bars - Time Out New York, March 24-30, 2011)
epistrophy cafe Good taste, a deep love for details and a friendly atmosphere. Epistrophy Cafe has been growning since 2005, when it opened in Nolita, in the Lower East Side Of Manhattan. It still has those “bistro chairs, dark wooden bar, tin ceiling” (Daily Candy, 2005) but it also slightly transformed its look through a constant evolution that led it to be awarded by popular magazines (“Best spring Bars”, Time Out NY 2011), recognized by hip critics and loved by local customers. The real boost has been the word-of-mouth indeed.
“Epistrophy” is a Thelonious Monk’s tune. As usual, the jazz piano player has chosen a name a little complicated to remember. As usual, as soon as you’re into it, you’ll never forget. By chance, this is what happened to this restaurant in Nolita. You don’t even notice it unless you look inside from the window. Still, as soon as you step in, you’ll want to come again.
Located in 200, Mott Street, NY, Epistrophy Cafe is run by three Italians, all coming from Sardinia: Giorgia Zedda, Luca Fadda and Nicola Paganelli. It has been featured on many U.S and international magazines, and it has also been used as a location for photo sessions by fashion photographers. Epistrophy Cafe also hosts a music festival, held once a year: “E se… / What if…” Festival.
Info and contacts Website: http://www.epistrophycafe.com Email: info@epistrophycafe.com Press: silvana@epistrophycafe.com Phone: (212) 966 0904 Address: 200, Mott Street, NY, NY Hours: Mon-Sun, noon to midnight Italian, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks Cash only, walk-ins welcome, outdoor seating E Se Festival: http://www.esefestival.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EpistrophyCafe Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/epistrophycafe Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/epistrophycafe
Awards and Nominations “Bars with great light” Best Spring Bars - Time Out NY, March 2011
“Where the Locals Eat NY - Winner” Where the Locals Eat - 2010
Nomination for “Best new wine bar” Eat Out Awards - Time Out New York, April 2006
The staff Giorgia Zedda, Luca Fadda, Nicola Paganelli Three friends from Sardinia, sharing a visionary idea in New York Giorgia and Luca got married in 2004. A lawyer and a jazz musician, they have been sharing their love for the United States for a long time. Once in New York, they managed to stay in touch with their Sardinian roots, serving them on some mostly traditional, contemporary revisited, good old recipes.
Nicola Paganelli
Giorgia Zedda & Luca Fadda
Could you imagine a good old recipe without a glass of wine? Not at the Epistrophy. The wine list is drawn up by Nicola, who brought the century-long knowledge and care of a whole family devoted to vineyards, grapes and techniques saved in precious bottles.
Reviews DailyCandy.com, August 2005 NEW YORK - AUGUST 30, 2005
Cafe Couture Cafe Epistrophy Opens Click your heels three times and you’ll find it: Cafe Gitane without the Gauloise attitude; Pink Pony without the unwashed hipster stench. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. The other night while roaming from Chinatown to NoLIta, we caught a glimpse of Epistrophy. Grungy (and gorgeous) Italian newlyweds, Luca Fadda and Giorgia Zedda, were placing finishing touches on the oldworld interior of their new resto: bistro chairs, dark wooden bar, tin ceiling. The place looks like it’s been there for years, and it immediately won our vote for new favorite hangout. (And it’s so discreet that when we returned the following night, we almost couldn’t find it.) Epistrophy was named for the Thelonious Monk jazz tune, probably because they realized no one would be able to say “FaddaZedda” ten times in a row after three glasses of Brunello. For now, it’s operating as a wine bar, but after late September this will be the place for your morning espresso, daily paper, free WiFi, and general loitering. A mostly organic bill of fare (inspired by the couple’s native Sardinia) is on the way, as are music performances and art displays. The idea, according to Fadda, was to “create a little living room.” If that’s the case, there’s no place like home.
Epistrophy, 200 Mott Street, between Spring and Kenmare Streets (212-966-0904).
Time Out New York, September 22, 2005
Eater Manhattan, September 2005 Eater IMtereview: Epistrophy Wednesday, September 21, 2005, by Lockhart
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Tucked away on Mott Street in Nolita is Epistrophy, a cozy new Italian spot that earned a DailyCandy rave upon opening. We checked in with a trusted Eater correspondent who stopped by last night. Wispy3000: it's wonderful CrbdDaddy: did you eat, or just drink? Wispy3000: there were some snacks on the table Wispy3000: i had a piece of proscuitto CrbdDaddy: so not serving food yet? Wispy3000: there was pomegranate on the plate, though CrbdDaddy: !! Wispy3000: in oct., they're supposed to be opened during the day with more food Wispy3000: now, Wispy3000: they do meat/cheese/veggie plates Wispy3000: and some crostini CrbdDaddy: so why is it so great?
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Wednesday, September 21, 2005, by Lockhart
Tucked away on Mott Street in Nolita is Epistrophy, a cozy new Italian spot that earned a DailyCandy rave upon opening. We checked in with a trusted Eater correspondent who stopped by last night.
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Wispy3000: it's wonderful CrbdDaddy: did you eat, or just drink? Wispy3000: there were some snacks on the table Wispy3000: i had a piece of proscuitto CrbdDaddy: so not serving food yet? Wispy3000: there was pomegranate on the plate, though CrbdDaddy: !! Wispy3000: in oct., they're supposed to be opened during the day with more food Wispy3000: now, Wispy3000: they do meat/cheese/veggie plates Wispy3000: and some crostini CrbdDaddy: so why is it so great? Wispy3000: great space Wispy3000: very cool vibe Wispy3000: books and neat things on shelves along the walls Wispy3000: it's cozy Wispy3000: good tables Wispy3000: it's just like, Wispy3000: the perfect spot for a glass of wine and reading, Wispy3000: or some beers and a bunch of friends Wispy3000: it wasn't too boring or too rowdy Wispy3000: and it looks really cool Wispy3000: without trying CrbdDaddy: nice CrbdDaddy: shit name, though Wispy3000: yeah, well Wispy3000: nothing's perfect ! Cafe Couture: Epistrophy [DailyCandy] ! Venue Report: Epistrophy [JoonBlog] RELATED LINKS
Wispy3000: great space Wispy3000: very cool vibe Wispy3000: books and neat things on shelves along the walls Wispy3000: it's cozy Wispy3000: good tables Wispy3000: it's just like, Wispy3000: the perfect spot for a glass of wine and reading, Wispy3000: or some beers and a bunch of friends Wispy3000: it wasn't too boring or too rowdy Wispy3000: and it looks really cool Wispy3000: without trying CrbdDaddy: nice CrbdDaddy: shit name, though Wispy3000: yeah, well Wispy3000: nothing's perfect
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The Joonblog NYC, August 2005
Village Voice, September 2005 YOUR LIVING ROOM, BUT WITH HOT ITALIANS (BY CATERINA ZAPPIA) There's an intimate little wine spot in Nolita? Fat chance. The said cozy, cavernous cellar bar will be discovered within a week or two. A month from now, you'll be grappling for cheese-plate space with some wine-wanking scrub and his "intimo" party of 20. Right now, this is Cantina 194—but is not yet Epistrophy, which opened at the end of August. Till the throngs descend, you can be the super suave bastard among your friends, introducing them to the winsome, neighborhood boîte just down the street from Lombardi's. It's the lounge with the well-priced selection of Italian reds ($6-$10 a glass), hefty wooden boards piled with Sopressata and fresh figs; and attractive Italian clientele, always milling about. Sardinian owners (and comely couple) Luca Fadda and Giorgia Zedda outfitted Epistrophy with all the "handsome den" comforts: dark wood shelves stocked with books, bottles, and a lone old-world globe; kitchen tables burnished to "Shabby Chic" perfection; folding chairs hanging from the wall for extra seating; and artwork from some painter no one's ever heard of. The great score here are the couches and cushions up against the front windows; it's better than sidewalk seating, since there's no fear of getting mowed down from frustrated pedestrians. Fadda and Zedda plan to roll out a more expansive menu of light fare in a month or two, adding easy dishes like carpaccio to the caprese salads and cheese platters already in place, as well as simple breakfasts of croissants and coffee. Expect a few jazz nights thrown in there too—they didn't name the bar after a Thelonious Monk tune for no reason.
New York Magazine, march 2006
BizBash, April/May 2006
The Shuttle Sheet, February 2006
Wasabi, 2008
Glamour Italia
The New York Times, April 9, 2008
Intro (Germany)
New York Look Book
NewYorkCity.com EPISTROPHY Welcome: At a time when the general trend is brevity (monosyllabic names) and well-timed table turnover ("Is there anything else I can get for you?"), the whole concept of Epistrophy flies in the face of marketing surveys and Small Business Association advice. This inspired venue is much like the song for which it is named – an improvisational creation not afraid to go where the spirit takes it. Like Thelonious Monk, owners Luca Fadda and Giorgia Zedda are doing something that at first seems too esoteric to be popular. Upon second look, this place is just what the artist ordered. The façade: The first challenge is to spot the discreet storefront, which consists of a vast expanse of windows inviting one to peep inside to see what is going on. Go ahead and peep. Everything about this place says: Come in, have a g lass of wine, let’s chat. The understated portal – itself a fully-windowed, tea parlor door –opens outward and the visitor is directed inward. The Muses Speak: Still building its chops, Epistrophy approaches the café scene from a countrysidemeets-nouvelle Bohème-meets wine bar point of view. Sit, discuss, muse, drink. Reminiscent of Madrid’s art cafes, where locals, pundits, students and the rest discuss the world and its philosophies, Epistrophy attempts to bring to Nolita a venue where conversation is not about shouting over the thump-thump-buzz of piped in bass-beat music. Bacchus (or Liber Pater) says: Drink more Italian wine. These peninsular Italian selections are enthusiastically poured by beings of striking beauty. After a dizzying day of meetings, seminars and battling tops, it is nice to be greeted by a character from a Caravaggio painting, who hands you a goblet of wine and offers you cheese & fruit. And you won’t have to pay that much for it. What’s for Dinner? We are all waiting to see what happens with the menu. At the moment, it is inspired by the rustic; cheese and fruit plates, salads and crostini. Upcoming changes to the menu promise to highlight the flavors of Sardinia. Expect to find cozy banquettes, inviting vibe, attractive staff and guests, and a lot of great Italian wine. This is a place to watch.
Travel and City Guides Michelin - New York Weekend (French edition)
Zagat 2006/07 and 2007/08
Yelp
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