MONDAY-TUESDAY -- INOTECA

Ease into the week with Italian comfort food and a huge selection of Italian wine @ Inoteca.

FOOD & BOOZE: INOTECA (Rivington St. @ Ludlow)
Site/Menu + Map
Our Take: This place is much larger than Ino, its West Village sister restaurant, but it still gets packed at prime eating hours late in the week and on weekends. Take advantage of the Monday/Tuesday calm for the best of Italian comfort food without the wait. In good weather, they have outdoor tables. And the daily 3am closing time makes this one of the best places for post-drinking food in the city.

Recommendations: Grab a little bit of everything and share with friends. Try the cured meats, cheeses and small plates. And don't forget to push your wine boundaries with the extensive list of mostly reasonably priced Italian bottles. Prosciutto is the cured meat you've heard of, but we'll take speck (a similar Austrian product with a bit more spice) over its famous cousin any day. If you're not into pig but you don't want to give up on affetati (cured meats), try some bresaola (Italian cured beef). Don't worry veggies, the menu is loaded with great vegetarian options from antipasti to salads and sandwiches.

Insider Tip: On quieter nights, the kitchen might close a little early, so if you're going to make this your late night spot, call ahead.

Details: Open weekdays from noon to 3am. Weekends from 10am to 3am. Reservations accepted for 6 or more people. Call 212-614-0473.