New York - July 08, 2003

It's All Relative

'Inoteca Restaurant Opens

There’s no business like family business. Just ask the Versaces, the Jacksons, or the Weinsteins.

Oh. And the Dentons.

See, when Jason Denton opened his button-cute West Village haunt ‘ino (and later Lupa), his younger brother Joe was right by his side. Now Joe’s taking the stage as full-on partner at ‘inoteca, an offshoot of the original ‘ino, which opens today.

Wine is still the name of the game at ‘inoteca, which has a selection of nearly 200 bottles and 25 wines by the glass or half carafe. Nibbles, courtesy of Chef and co-owner Kleinman, include the eminent truffled-egg toast, plus new items from paninis to piattis of melanzana lasagnette and frittata del giorno. Not to be missed: the salumi featuring culatello, a specialty of prosciutto crudo.

With a space three times the size of ‘ino, a downstairs wine cellar, private dining, and outdoor seating, ‘inoteca might just upstage its older brother.

Talk about sibling rivalry.

‘inoteca, 98 Rivington Street, at Ludlow Street (212-614-0473).