Photo: Brian Kachejian 2018
Even been to New York City on a stormy day and just don’t feel like walking around in the rain? Have you ever planned a trip to walk around Little Italy and it begins pouring? Who wants to eat a cannolli that’s soaking wet? Well, we discovered an alternative to the Little Italy walking experience. That alternative is an amazing marketplace called Eataly. Don’t get us wrong, we love Little Italy. However, New York’s Eataly is an amazing shopping and dining experience that you don’t want to miss. Furthermore, it does not have to be a rainy day to enjoy this intoxicating food extravaganza. The New York Eataly that is located directly across from the Flatiron Building on fifth avenue and 23rd street first opened its doors on August 10, 2010. Many people in the New York area are still unfamiliar with the place. That is a shame because it is breathtaking from a culinary and cultural perspective.
Upon first entering the Eataly marketplace, I was struck with a smell that reminded me of the old neighborhood pork stores. It was that smell that one could never put a finger on. The aroma of dried meats hanging from the ceiling, fresh mozzarella, imported cheeses, simmering sauces and baked goods all blending together to create a smell of complete happiness.
New York’s Flatiron district Eatlay Marketplace features a combination of six restaurants. The Riso E Risotto restaurant features Northern Italian cuisine. Manzo Restaurant centers around brilliant cuts of beef. Baita Restaurant is located on the 14th floor offering an amazing view of New York City. La Pizza & La Pasta features luscious pasta dishes and pizza to die for. IL Pesce is for seafood lovers featuring the catch of the day and assorted seafood that is sold from their fresh seafood marketplace that is also housed at Eataly. La Piazza is one of the most interesting restaurants as it in centered in the heart of Eataly. The restaurant serves food from all its surrounding counters much like the La Piazza in Central Italy.
La Pizza & La Pasta Restaurant. Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
One does not have to sit down at a restaurant in Eataly to enjoy some food. The New York Eataly marketplace also features many sit down counters that offer quick and incredibly delicious Italian food and pastry for those who want something quick, but life changing. (at least for the moment) Specialty counters at Eataly include Rosticceria e Panini featuring chicken, ribs, fresh breads and everything else under the Sun. Other great counters at Eataly consist of I Cannoli Di Eataly which the name speaks for itself. I had a cannoli with chocolate filling, chocolate iced sides and hazelnuts topped at the edges (see pic below) Simply indescribable, and definitely would put an end to your New Years diet.
I Cannoli Di Eataly Chocalate filled and hazelnut cannoli. Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
The La Pizza market dining room experience is extraordinary.There were so many different varietys of piazza and toppings. The sauce was incredibly fresh with just the right amount of sweetness and spice. New Yorkers know good pizza. This place does it right.
Photo: Brian Kachejian 2018
One of our favorite counters at New York’s Eatlay was La Focaccia. One smell of the baked breads and you will not be able to resist trying one of the flat breads or pieces or focaccia.
Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
If you love fresh beef, pork or chicken, Eatlay has a wonderful supply of choice cuts at the Macelleria counter. The sale of these meats defined that many of the customers shopping at Eataly were local residents doing food shopping.
Macelleria Counter Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
There is nothing like buying fresh fish with a view of the Mediterranean in the background, even if it is only a picture. This seafood looked pretty fresh. It is also the seafood that is served in Eatlay’s market restaurants.
IL Pesce Seafood Counter. Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
If your not a local resident and want to bring home some canned or bottled items that feature Italian delicacies, Eataly features an abundance of grocery items for local residents and tourists.
Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
The most crowed region of the Eataly market experience was the section selling baked goods, fresh coffee and above all else, gelato. From our experiences sampling many of the food items and speaking with people who both worked and shopped at Eataly, one of the most popular items was the gelato.
Baked Goods Section at Eataly. Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
There are two Eatalys in New York City. The one that we visited was located in the Flatiron District across from the Flatiron Building at 200 Fifth Avenue and 23rd street. The Flatiron Eataly is open form 9 am to 11 pm seven days a week. Eataly’s coffee shop opens at 7 in the morning. Eataly’s other New York location is housed downtown at 4 World Trade Center on the third floor.
The easiest way to get to Eataly is by public transportation. The New York City subway stops right at the location. You literally walk out of the subway station and the doors to Eataly are only a few feet away. Just take the N or R subway line and stop at 23rd street. There are also plenty of parking garages in the area. There are other subway lines like the Second Avenue Q train or Lexington Avenue 6 train that will drop you off a few blocks away.
If you are just visiting New York City for a short trip or live in one of the boroughs, we highly recommend taking a visit to the Flatiron District and visiting Eataly. There is nothing like having dinner, buying a gelato, and than sitting outside in Madison Square Park staring at the Flatiron Building on a beautiful sunny day.
