Eataly - Boston
Dec 31st, 2016, 12:04 AM
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Eataly - Boston
This just opened in past couple of months and daughter and boyfriend wanted to go. It was 3 days before Christmas and it was mobbed. But it was fun.
If you park in the Prudential Garage, validated parking is available - it was about $12 for 4 hours. Website says validation is at any vendor - this is wrong. One must take receipt to a parking validation place at Customer Service. Make sure you do it before heading back to garage. And make sure it is the real Prudential Parking (labeled as such), not one of the several other garages nearby.
It is a very open layout with specialty shops, wine bar, snack places and real restaurants all in the open plan. We ate at the pizza/pasta restaurant, and even with the crowds wait at lunch time was just 30 minutes. They text you when table is ready. We all had individual pizzas. They were superior - mine had pancetta, artichokes and olives. Extensive wine menu, many by glass. The boyfriend asked to sample 2 of the "by the glass" wines prior to us buying a bottle, and they were happy to oblige. Even in the crowds, conversation was very possible at lunch - they have done something well with the acoustics.
We spent quite a bit of time at cheese shop where they will happily let you sample a large variety of cheese. Then rather than cut it at counter, you are directed to section of pre-cut (all that day) cheeses. None of the cheeses are inexpensive, but all were excellent and we bought several I had never heard of before.
The fruit/veggie area had average quality produce at much higher prices than elsewhere. But I was able to find the figs I had been looking for. Then off to dried pasta section - many unique pastas, but I am not sure $6-10/pound dried pasta is really worth it, especially if one is going to sauce it. Did buy a bag of crispy breadsticks with rosemary that were amazingly wonderful. Arrangement is that you shop at the various shops and then pay in a central area - so no vendors are handling money and food.
Final stop was the cannoli cart. Sorry North End - but the filling was the absolute best I have ever had.
Summary - I will return when the excitement dies down a bit and at a less crowded time to poke around. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would probably shop there for specialty items about every month - but if I lived in Back Bay Boston I probably could afford to shop there. Most items were imported and appeared to be of top quality. It was a fun atmosphere and without exception staff at little specialty shops was informed and pleasant. I would like to try some of the other restaurants and have another cannoli.
If you park in the Prudential Garage, validated parking is available - it was about $12 for 4 hours. Website says validation is at any vendor - this is wrong. One must take receipt to a parking validation place at Customer Service. Make sure you do it before heading back to garage. And make sure it is the real Prudential Parking (labeled as such), not one of the several other garages nearby.
It is a very open layout with specialty shops, wine bar, snack places and real restaurants all in the open plan. We ate at the pizza/pasta restaurant, and even with the crowds wait at lunch time was just 30 minutes. They text you when table is ready. We all had individual pizzas. They were superior - mine had pancetta, artichokes and olives. Extensive wine menu, many by glass. The boyfriend asked to sample 2 of the "by the glass" wines prior to us buying a bottle, and they were happy to oblige. Even in the crowds, conversation was very possible at lunch - they have done something well with the acoustics.
We spent quite a bit of time at cheese shop where they will happily let you sample a large variety of cheese. Then rather than cut it at counter, you are directed to section of pre-cut (all that day) cheeses. None of the cheeses are inexpensive, but all were excellent and we bought several I had never heard of before.
The fruit/veggie area had average quality produce at much higher prices than elsewhere. But I was able to find the figs I had been looking for. Then off to dried pasta section - many unique pastas, but I am not sure $6-10/pound dried pasta is really worth it, especially if one is going to sauce it. Did buy a bag of crispy breadsticks with rosemary that were amazingly wonderful. Arrangement is that you shop at the various shops and then pay in a central area - so no vendors are handling money and food.
Final stop was the cannoli cart. Sorry North End - but the filling was the absolute best I have ever had.
Summary - I will return when the excitement dies down a bit and at a less crowded time to poke around. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would probably shop there for specialty items about every month - but if I lived in Back Bay Boston I probably could afford to shop there. Most items were imported and appeared to be of top quality. It was a fun atmosphere and without exception staff at little specialty shops was informed and pleasant. I would like to try some of the other restaurants and have another cannoli.
Dec 31st, 2016, 06:18 AM
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Thanks for the review.
I'm waiting until all the new-ness dies down. LOL
I also hope this huge establishment will just augment and not take away from the high-quality little Italian specialty shops in the North End and dotted elsewhere around the Boston area.
Let's see how Eataly rates in Boston's next yearly cannoli competition, next to Mike's, Cafe Paradiso, Bova, Maria's, Modern, etc.
I'm waiting until all the new-ness dies down. LOL
I also hope this huge establishment will just augment and not take away from the high-quality little Italian specialty shops in the North End and dotted elsewhere around the Boston area.
Let's see how Eataly rates in Boston's next yearly cannoli competition, next to Mike's, Cafe Paradiso, Bova, Maria's, Modern, etc.
Dec 31st, 2016, 10:03 AM
#3
Thanks for the review as well. I am glad you mentioned the place in the subject line, because I just received notice of an "Eataly" to open in one of the soon to be constructed and expanded Century City Mall (aka Westfields Century City) in Los Angeles. I was trying to figure out what the concept was . . . sounds like (and perhaps you can clue me in) a new version of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace? In short, a mall within a mall?
Dec 31st, 2016, 11:56 AM
#4
We visited EATALY twice on a recent visit to Boston. We have been to thevone in NY several times and also some in Italy. The Boston EATALYseems smaller than NYC but managed to cover all the important categories. If I lived nearby, I would add it to my regular grocery shopping. They have nice salads to go, fish, meats, cheeses and yes, those cannolis.
Jan 4th, 2017, 03:07 PM
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Feb 2nd, 2017, 04:51 PM
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I say they lose on the Cannoli wars. I found the filling grainy - and we tried three, and the shell over dense and over fried.
We are a Modern Family - fresh filled to order. Lots of tourist go to Mikes and don't know to request a fresh filled and order the funky concoctions in the dessert case.
We are a Modern Family - fresh filled to order. Lots of tourist go to Mikes and don't know to request a fresh filled and order the funky concoctions in the dessert case.
