Eataly impressions??? (Chicago, Rosemont: hotels, home, school)

[edsg25]

was anyone at the opening of Eataly yesterday? I'd be interested in your impressions. We'd really like to go this weekend. We were also thinking at eating at one of the restaurants there instead of someplace else downtown…..any suggestions on that from anyone in the know?

[emathias]

The wait at the pasta and pizza restaurant was 90 minutes last night, and their text-message notification system wasn't working very well. I ate there and had pappardelle with a mushroom ragu, which is one of my favorite dishes, something I make at home fairly often. Personally, I've had much better elsewhere. For example, when Ceres' Table has pappardelle on the menu it's simply divine. Even what I make at home is much better. What they had at Eataly was kind of gummy and the pasta was described by the server as "silky," which good pappardelle is, but in reality it was thick and clumpy. I wouldn't order it again, and kind of regretted ordering it to begin with. My dining companion had some paccheri with seafood. The seafood was good, but the pasta seemed unrefined. We didn't try the pizza, but the pizzas on the tables near us looked very good. For a bottle of water, a ginger ale, a glass of wine that was good and two entrees that were, in my opinion, disappointing, I think $72 (including tax and tip) seems a little steep.

I found the layout a bit confusing, personally. For example, it was difficult to see menus at the various restaurants, and it wasn't always clear whether seating at the various bars was seat-yourself or organized through the nearest host station. There is a lot of great food, though, and the staff was helpful and friendly. I would also have liked to see more baskets for carrying around items for purchase.

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by emathias

The wait at the pasta and pizza restaurant was 90 minutes last night

On a Monday? I'll probably wait a few months before hitting up Eataly.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by emathias

The wait at the pasta and pizza restaurant was 90 minutes last night, and their text-message notification system wasn't working very well. I ate there and had pappardelle with a mushroom ragu, which is one of my favorite dishes, something I make at home fairly often. Personally, I've had much better elsewhere. For example, when Ceres' Table has pappardelle on the menu it's simply divine. Even what I make at home is much better. What they had at Eataly was kind of gummy and the pasta was described by the server as "silky," which good pappardelle is, but in reality it was thick and clumpy. I wouldn't order it again, and kind of regretted ordering it to begin with. My dining companion had some paccheri with seafood. The seafood was good, but the pasta seemed unrefined. We didn't try the pizza, but the pizzas on the tables near us looked very good. For a bottle of water, a ginger ale, a glass of wine that was good and two entrees that were, in my opinion, disappointing, I think $72 (including tax and tip) seems a little steep.

I found the layout a bit confusing, personally. For example, it was difficult to see menus at the various restaurants, and it wasn't always clear whether seating at the various bars was seat-yourself or organized through the nearest host station. There is a lot of great food, though, and the staff was helpful and friendly. I would also have liked to see more baskets for carrying around items for purchase.

thanks so much for your detailed eye witness account; very helpful indeed.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by emathias

The wait at the pasta and pizza restaurant was 90 minutes last night, and their text-message notification system wasn't working very well. I ate there and had pappardelle with a mushroom ragu, which is one of my favorite dishes, something I make at home fairly often. Personally, I've had much better elsewhere. For example, when Ceres' Table has pappardelle on the menu it's simply divine. Even what I make at home is much better. What they had at Eataly was kind of gummy and the pasta was described by the server as "silky," which good pappardelle is, but in reality it was thick and clumpy. I wouldn't order it again, and kind of regretted ordering it to begin with. My dining companion had some paccheri with seafood. The seafood was good, but the pasta seemed unrefined. We didn't try the pizza, but the pizzas on the tables near us looked very good. For a bottle of water, a ginger ale, a glass of wine that was good and two entrees that were, in my opinion, disappointing, I think $72 (including tax and tip) seems a little steep.

I found the layout a bit confusing, personally. For example, it was difficult to see menus at the various restaurants, and it wasn't always clear whether seating at the various bars was seat-yourself or organized through the nearest host station. There is a lot of great food, though, and the staff was helpful and friendly. I would also have liked to see more baskets for carrying around items for purchase.

There is something about the whole "concept" that seems too much Disney / Food Channel and too little old school ...

Believe it or not I ate at Po several times in the 90s and actually met Anne Burrell when she was running the Italian Wine Merchant's kitchen for Mario Batali. It was a forerunner of the Eatly concept and seemed much less tourist driven, but then I guess that was kind of long time ago when Mario was more chef / resturant guy and less TV star...

[williepotatoes]

Originally Posted by chet everett

There is something about the whole "concept" that seems too much Disney / Food Channel and too little old school ...

Believe it or not I ate at Po several times in the 90s and actually met Anne Burrell when she was running the Italian Wine Merchant's kitchen for Mario Batali. It was a forerunner of the Eatly concept and seemed much less tourist driven, but then I guess that was kind of long time ago when Mario was more chef / resturant guy and less TV star...

Batali is the real thing, but I too think that this Disneyland approach might just strike out here. Chicago could be a little too hip for this thing to fly. I wouldn't be be surprised if it turns out to be a tourist-a-palooza type destination.

Batali could always move it to someplace like Indy and call it "the Mall of Italy" or something, if it flops here.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by williepotatoes

Batali is the real thing, but I too think that this Disneyland approach might just strike out here. Chicago could be a little too hip for this thing to fly. I wouldn't be be surprised if it turns out to be a tourist-a-palooza type destination.

Batali could always move it to someplace like Indy and call it "the Mall of Italy" or something, if it flops here.

Maybe he can relocate it to Rosemont, they have all that space near that creepy warehouse of a mall...

[marothisu]

It is pretty Disneyland-ish but I want to check it out anyway. I'm going to give it a month or two before I try and step foot in it. I think it will do fine though and just like in NYC, it will probably become somewhat of a tourist attraction considering it's only the second one in the US.

My impression of it is that it's a nice market, but kind of like the Whole Foods of Italian. There is still a small Italian market near it in L'Appetito with some imported stuff (there's one on Wabash that doesn't get nearly as much traffic as the one at John Hancock).

[williepotatoes]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Maybe he can relocate it to Rosemont, they have all that space near that creepy warehouse of a mall...

Rosemont is one strange land mass, where 4000 people live in a section kind of roped off from public intrusion. The town is home to hotels, hi-rises, convention centers, stadiums and pricy restaurants amongst other developments. Those must be the rewards for having a long standing, imperial mayor who essentially ran all Leyden township like old boss Daley did Chicago.

[marothisu]

I wonder if Chicago has ever tried to, or will try to, annex Rosemont..probably wouldn't work but it would be interesting to know if they've ever tried.