“Life is too short to not drink well.”
Isn’t that the truth? But I would also throw in there eating as well. Because at Eataly there is no shortage of eating and drinking that is going on. So far in the first week of being
open, Eataly has had 120,000 visitors and over 80,000 diners. It was so busy that they made the executive decision to shut down on Monday, December, 9th, in order to “preserve our standards of quality and service.” Eataly was so overwhelmed by the support of Chicago, that they posted on their website:
Dear Chicago,
What a week! We have never felt more welcomed! More than 120,000 visited our new location, more than 80,000 dined with us at our restaurants and more than 30,000 Chicagoans purchased our food and enjoyed cooking it at home. Never, ever has another Eataly been as successful as our new outpost in Chicago…therefore we say: THANK YOU, CHICAGO!
You have understood and grasped our “experiential” concept and our love for all things Italian and local, along with our priority for high quality food, and passion for education.
Because of this deep understanding of our manifesto and what we believe in, we have decided to close the store on Monday, December 9th, in order to preserve our standards of quality and service. We want to pay back your love and passion for Eataly Chicago by providing you the best food and the best service.
See you all bright and early on Tuesday at 8AM at our Caffe Lavazza!
Thanks again Chicago,
The Eataly Team
So what is all the buzz really about? And why are people willing to wait for over an hour just to get a taste of Eataly heaven?
Eataly is an Italian food theme park. Opened by Mario Batali, who was very excited about opening Eataly in Chicago. Batali describes the massive Italian grocery store and bar simply: “The restaurants exist just to show you how to cook,” he says. “And as soon as people understand that it’s just a giant bar, all the problems go away.” At Eataly you will find, pastas, grains, chocolates, sweets, olive oil, meat, sauces, beauty products, and a nutella bar!
Eataly Chicago boasts 23 eateries. On the 1st floor: Il Panino di Eataly, Il Gran Bar Lavazza, Nutella, Lait Gelateria Alpina, Il Gelato di Eataly, La Pasticceria di Luca Montersino, Baffo Ristorante Enoteca. On the 2nd Floor: La Birreria, La Rosticceria, La Piazza with La Mozzarella, Il Crudo, I Salumi e Formaggi and Il Fritto, La Carne, La Pasta, La Pizza, Il Pesce, La Foccacceria, Le Verdure, Caffe Vergnano, Vino Libero and La Scuola.
Take a stroll through Eataly’s markets. Every day, Eataly’s team of bakers, pasta makers and more make fresh food in house. They use the highest quality local ingredients and follow age-old Italian recipes to celebrate Italy in NYC
Take cooking class. Starting in 2014, Chef Lidia Bastianich, will be leading classes each offering a unique culinary experience.
Just look at the map, Eataly is huge and offers goers everything to give them an authentic Italian experience.
“I was looking at a little old lady in her seventies or eighties pushing her cart around,” he continues. “She’s looking at tomato sauce, looking at tomato sauce, picks one up, puts it in her cart. Reaches into her cart, grabs a glass of wine and goes ‘glug, glug, glug’ and moves on. And I go, ‘yes—we have the perfect shopping experience.’”
-Mario Batali
We have heard nothing but raving reviews from friends and family about their experience at Eataly. If you are planning on going, I would recommended going at an off time. During the weekends and after work crowds surround the building hoping to get a slice of Italian heaven and end up waiting for over an hour. Let us know what you think about the new restaurant and market in the comments.
