Discovering Eataly two weeks ago was definitely a favorite moment of my love for wandering around the city. After leaving the very too-cool-for-school Ace Hotel (Q-Tip does a weekly DJ set there) I walked along 5th avenue to the subway, I passed Cipriani's, or what used to be, I saw a brightly lit coffee shop. I went in. Decadence. Chocolates, lattes, candy, gelato, sugar and sweetness abound.
Then, I realized that this wasn't a one-room cafe, but an enterprise that had taken over the entire former supper club. As I ventured deeper into Eataly, I found a chocolate fountain, a cheese shop, a fish market, a pasta station, high end butcher. Everywhere I turned there was yet another element of this Italian megamarket. The most succulent part was that in the midst of all this was four restaurants: a steakhouse, vegetarian, pizza/pasta and seafood, awesome! Eataly, a play on the word, Italy, opened August 31 to tremendous success. During the first few months there were lines to get in. Even now you must have a reservation for the restaurants, but if you're lucky you'll have a 45 minute wait to be seated.
A few days later, I returned to Eataly, this time to try out the food. I decided to on the La Pizza & Pasta. I'm a tremendous lover of the Margherita style pizza so I wanted to see if Eataly did it any justice. Since I was alone I didn't have to wait. I was seated at the bar, overlooking the gold-tiled brick oven, what a fabulous way to bake pizza!
So, I order the the La Verace which is a similar to the Margherita, this has buffalo mozzarella, basil and Parmesan cheese. A little steep at 18 dollars but it was pretty delicious, I got to see the master pizza makers construct my pizza.
Even as a Broolynite, I've never seen the dough flipping action in real life. There's a first time for everything!
Then, I realized that this wasn't a one-room cafe, but an enterprise that had taken over the entire former supper club. As I ventured deeper into Eataly, I found a chocolate fountain, a cheese shop, a fish market, a pasta station, high end butcher. Everywhere I turned there was yet another element of this Italian megamarket. The most succulent part was that in the midst of all this was four restaurants: a steakhouse, vegetarian, pizza/pasta and seafood, awesome! Eataly, a play on the word, Italy, opened August 31 to tremendous success. During the first few months there were lines to get in. Even now you must have a reservation for the restaurants, but if you're lucky you'll have a 45 minute wait to be seated.
A few days later, I returned to Eataly, this time to try out the food. I decided to on the La Pizza & Pasta. I'm a tremendous lover of the Margherita style pizza so I wanted to see if Eataly did it any justice. Since I was alone I didn't have to wait. I was seated at the bar, overlooking the gold-tiled brick oven, what a fabulous way to bake pizza!
So, I order the the La Verace which is a similar to the Margherita, this has buffalo mozzarella, basil and Parmesan cheese. A little steep at 18 dollars but it was pretty delicious, I got to see the master pizza makers construct my pizza.
Even as a Broolynite, I've never seen the dough flipping action in real life. There's a first time for everything!
There's my pizza going into the fire. Vincent hooked me up.
A masterpiece!
My neighbor chows down on some pasta, he said he's leaving for Mexico in the morning.
I've reached the halfway mark. I was very pleased with this pizza.
And, my Oxtail ragu.
I couldn't have possibly finished all that food, packed to go!
After my dinner I picked up some focaccia. I never knew something could taste so good.
Yup, pricey.
Next time, I'd like to check out the seafood restaurant.
All types of Italian delicacies I've never heard of. It was fun to taste all these new foods.
The pastries at Eataly deserve their own posting, I'll make that a separate trip.
I thought this was R2D2, first glance, of course.
Ciao!
Eataly
200 5th Avenue
Between 23rd and 24th Streets
New York City, 10010
Such a great post! I love your pics, that shot of the pizza and the marbled pastry are my fave. I'm definitely visiting this place when I get back to NY
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