40 Rivington Street might be the go-to spot for New Yorkers wishing they were in Italy this summer. Soon-to-open Verace NYC will offer Neapolitan-inspired cuisine accompanied by a curated selection of Italian wines.
Verace NYC is owned by business partners Joseph Esposito and Andrea Ingenito, both experienced restaurant owners.
Esposito connected with What Now NY in a phone interview to share more on this new restaurant and his professional background.
Esposito was 17 when his family moved to the United States, leaving behind the neighborhood restaurants they had run in their hometown in Italy. While an ocean away from where he grew up, Esposito is leaning into his roots as a serial restaurateur focusing on Italian cuisine.
Over the last 6 years, Esposito has started several restaurants. He began with Zero Otto Uno Cafè in Hoboken, New Jersey before closing that location to expand to a larger space with 081 Cafè in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
Ingenito owns Osteria Padre Pio in Mamaroneck, New York. Verace NYC will be the first restaurant that Ingenito and Esposito are working on together.
Opening a restaurant in New York City had been a long-time goal for Esposito, and with Verace that dream is becoming a reality. Verace NYC will add to his portfolio of Italian restaurants, but the primary focus of Verace will be on the wine.
“The word ‘verace’ means authentic in Italian, and we chose this name because that is our main focus: authentic Italian foods and wines,” said Esposito. “I’ve been to Tuscany many times to try the wines we will have on our menu. Our goal is to give guests the best taste of every part of Italy.”
Verace NYC recently submitted a liquor license application for the new space at 40 Rivington Street. It indicates that the tavern will be on the ground floor, making it easy for passersby from nearby Sara D. Roosevelt Park to spot the new restaurant.
“I want to give people an experience similar to what it is like when you go to Tuscany and visit a winery,” said Esposito. “Wineries offer a selection of local foods like salami and prosciutto to go along with what you are drinking. For Verace, we will be importing products from the north of Italy, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast and the south of Italy to create small plates to complement our wines.”
Esposito anticipates Verace NYC will open in a few weeks, pending the approval of a few final permits.
Editor’s Note: [This article has been updated with additional information about Verace NYC’s owner Andrea Ingenito.]
