On the Square
Greenville, NC
- On the Square
- Fourth Street Wine, Greenville, NC
- Blue Fin, New York City
- Windows on the World, New York City
- Best Cellars. New York City
- Borgata Casino, Hotel & Spa, Atlantic City
Inez Ribustello got her start in the world of food and wine after moving to New York City from her home state of North Carolina. Though she grew up in the small town of Tarboro, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998 with a degree in journalism and mass communications, Ribustello's dream was to pursue a career in cooking. She chose New York's Institute of Culinary Education to get her started. There, she began to learn about wine, which inspired her to take a job at Best Cellars, the groundbreaking, mid-priced wine store on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Ribustello's career took a huge leap forward when she became an Assistant Cellar Master at the renowned World Trade Center restaurant Windows on the World. In just 10 months, Ribustello was promoted to Beverage Director, putting her in the position as wine buyer for the largest grossing restaurant in North America.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 impacted Ribustello both personally and professionally. Having lost friends, colleagues and her job in the bombing, Ribustello had to face her future. She chose to throw herself into her work and took the position of Beverage Director for Blue Fin Restaurant in the W Hotel-Times Square. At Blue Fin, she created a 500-label wine list, including more than 50 wines by the glass, and developed a cocktail list that received rave reviews from New York magazine.
Having conquered New York, Ribustello's next move was to return to her hometown with her fiancé. Together they decided to open their own restaurant, wine bar and retail store called On the Square.
Inspired by Best Cellars, Ribustello created a user-friendly, non-intimidating wine list, which was well received by people and press in the eastern North Carolina region.
Always trying to conquer the world, Ribustello moved to Atlantic City to build the wine program for Borgata Casino, Hotel & Spa. She helped design and helped maintain wine lists for five fine-dining restaurants in the casino as well as educate a staff of 300. After having been there for 10 months, she procured Wine Spectator's Awards of Excellence for four of the restaurants.
Inez left Atlantic City to come back to her own restaurant and roots as well as to give birth to a darling baby girl, Cynthia. She and her husband oversee every aspect of their restaurant as well as raise a 2-year-old firecracker. Their restaurant, On the Square, just received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for the second year running. Last February, they opened a retail store in Greenville, North Carolina called 4th Street Wine Store and in October, they opened up a wine bar above the store. Check out www.4thstreetwine.com and www.onthesquarenc.com for more information.
Inez is an alumnus of the Institute of Culinary Education's Hall of Fame as well as a successful graduate of the Court of Master Sommelier's Advanced Exam.