I finally went to Eataly last week! I met my aunt and Ashley at La Piaza for (one of) my birthday celebrations. We ordered prosecco and started our eating tour of Italy with the Grande Piatto Misto di Salumi & Formaggi – “an assortment of the best cheese and salumi of Eataly.” Along with the thinly sliced meats and piles of creamy cheeses came two brown paper packages of rustic Italian bread and a side of orange chutney, fig slices and flavored honey. Perfect food to pick at while catching up.
We were able to take our glasses of prosecco with us as we wandered around Eataly. Various eateries and stops represent the best of Italy while all around you Italian products line the walls. We bought coffee, chocolate, pastry and bread as gifts!
While most of Eataly wasn’t too packed this particular Monday night (I can imagine it gets busy), the sit down restaurants had waits of 20-30 minutes. After checking out all the options, we noticed a few seats at Manzo’s bar. Manzo “is Eataly’s more formal dining experience that celebrates meat from the United States.” It is run by Chef Michael Toscano, a Babbo alum and protégé of Mario Batali. Sitting at the quiet bar with a chatty bartender and an attentive/friendly staff was perfect for our hanging out vibe. While Manzo’s menu focuses on meat, we fell in love with their mozzarella. We also had the agnolotti (a half portion is pictured below) and a lobster tail/scallop special. YUM.
We ended the night with a delicious limoncello cake of some sort, complete with a candle and rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. So sweet.
Eataly was the perfect place to go for a small birthday celebration. Our experience was intimate, fun and lively. It’d be a great spot for a date or when you want to feel European for a bit. I’ll definitely head over to 5th Avenue and 23rd Street when my photos of Italy just aren’t enough. . . Or until I finally get my teleporter fixed.
Ciao! Ciao! {xo celine}
