’inoteca (CLOSED)

Friends gather at this LES haven and its sister spots, always abuzz with chatter, to share great food and affordable wine. The truffled-egg toast is the signature dish, but salads and antipasti (tender grilled calamari with borlotti beans and fennel; dense, delicious meatballs) are equally compelling when paired with a bottle from the list of small-producer Italian wines. The tables are tightly packed—diners seeking privacy can gather six or more friends and reserve a seat in the downstairs wine cellar. At the Flatiron location, in addition to the usual panini, there are top-notch pastas (al dente calamari-like loops tossed with mussels, tomato and fennel), skewered meats and hearty mains (juicy chicken with chunky panzanella salad).