Planning to visit Eataly Chicago? I keep getting asked about tips for this destination lately. Is it worth going? Where should I eat? Is it going to be too crowded? How I can I spend all that time in one place when there are 30,000 other must-do things in 20 square miles of this one city!?
As with all things, we begin by choosing not to panic. Deep breath. Here's my advice to maximize the Eataly amore:
1. GO. It's utterly worth a visit. It's the Disneyland of Italian food -- and not fakey Americanized Italian, but actual all-things-wonderful and authentic Italian. Not only will you learn a lot about the cuisine and culture just by browsing through its departments, it's one of only a tiny handful of places in the US where you can get anything like this experience all under one roof. So seize the pasta and andiamo, my friend.
2. Plan your time. For a first visit, plan at least 2-3 hours total, including a meal, browsing, stopping into a bar, and shopping. Ideally hit it at an off-peak point in the week so you can hop around to your heart's content and not waste any time throwing elbows to get to the gelateria or standing in line. Weekday lunch is a great option. This goes double if there's a huge convention that's descended on McCormick Place while you're visiting.
3. "...Oh, but I don't need to shop there." YES, YOU DO. Cookbooks! Pantry treasures! Wine! Olive oil! Hard-to-find regional pastas! Take home a little something to cook with, and you won't regret it. My favorite find is the truffled red pesto sauce in the canned goods section. Magical.
4. Keep an open mind about your restaurant meal. The pasta and pizza sections are always full, with a line waiting. Instead, I head straight to the seafood. It's never packed, you can get a seat right away, and the food is excellent. The last time I was there, my friend and I sat at the counter where the staff poured us tasting portions of their favorite wines and the chefs gave us a few free little plates of things they were working on.
5. Consider splitting it into two shorter visits. Given all the areas and departments, Eataly can be overwhelming. Splitting it up can ensure you have at least one visit where you aren't rushed and you can discover new things while browsing.
As with all things, we begin by choosing not to panic. Deep breath. Here's my advice to maximize the Eataly amore:
1. GO. It's utterly worth a visit. It's the Disneyland of Italian food -- and not fakey Americanized Italian, but actual all-things-wonderful and authentic Italian. Not only will you learn a lot about the cuisine and culture just by browsing through its departments, it's one of only a tiny handful of places in the US where you can get anything like this experience all under one roof. So seize the pasta and andiamo, my friend.
2. Plan your time. For a first visit, plan at least 2-3 hours total, including a meal, browsing, stopping into a bar, and shopping. Ideally hit it at an off-peak point in the week so you can hop around to your heart's content and not waste any time throwing elbows to get to the gelateria or standing in line. Weekday lunch is a great option. This goes double if there's a huge convention that's descended on McCormick Place while you're visiting.
3. "...Oh, but I don't need to shop there." YES, YOU DO. Cookbooks! Pantry treasures! Wine! Olive oil! Hard-to-find regional pastas! Take home a little something to cook with, and you won't regret it. My favorite find is the truffled red pesto sauce in the canned goods section. Magical.
4. Keep an open mind about your restaurant meal. The pasta and pizza sections are always full, with a line waiting. Instead, I head straight to the seafood. It's never packed, you can get a seat right away, and the food is excellent. The last time I was there, my friend and I sat at the counter where the staff poured us tasting portions of their favorite wines and the chefs gave us a few free little plates of things they were working on.
5. Consider splitting it into two shorter visits. Given all the areas and departments, Eataly can be overwhelming. Splitting it up can ensure you have at least one visit where you aren't rushed and you can discover new things while browsing.