Eataly Chicago

Another beautiful experience at Eataly! I signed up for the hands-on Neapolitan Pizza making class. It was great! We were greeted with a nice glass of Prosecco and escorted to a beautiful table. There were twelve of us and we were all first timers. Our host was funny, friendly and patient. The dough took the longest to prepare. When we were done playing around with it, it was wrapped in plastic and boxed up. It takes twenty-four hours for a good Italian dough to proof. Thankful and grateful for the restaurant having enough dough prepared for us to each make our own pizza. Of course, we had to shape it, stretch it and top it. I was getting hangry but the second glass of Prosecco helped. Besides, it only takes 90 seconds for the pizza to finish in the 900 degree oven. So much fun!!!

We don't have an Eataly in the DMV yet, so I was excited to finally check this place out while in Chicago. I wasn't disappointed!DC folks in the know will probably make a comparison to Litteri's (Annapolis, think Giolitti's). The difference is, this shop is WAY bigger! Think a two story department store that only sells Italian food and wine, plus has restaurants and other cooking products. It's immense!The store doesn't carry your standard local grocery store products, either. No "Di Cecco" or "San Giorgio" or the like. Everything seems to be very niche, very ... "imported." LOL! But, the quality does look to be on par with the prices.I didn't come here to shop, though (sadly); I was here for lunch. The upstairs restaurant did not disappoint! I ordered the seasonal ravioli, which was stuffed with cheese and served in a light tomato sauce. The pasta was slightly undercooked (think pre-al-dente), but it was still very delicious. You could tell it was handmade.We shared a few dishes at the table, so I can say that the focaccia and burrata are NOT to be missed!! Amazing taste and quality!! I'd easily order them both myself. I tried a bite of the cacio e pepe as well, and that one is also on my "to order" list!Small note, but not to be missed is the imported Molecola. Short version: it's Italian Coca-Cola, but probably better. I love this stuff and I was so excited to see it on the menu. They had other Italian sodas as well, also well worth trying.There were several food stands downstairs too, like a mini-Italian-food-court kind of setup. They had freshly baked pizza, gelato, sandwiches, lunch plates (like micro-charcuterie), and I think one or two other stands. I was there for the upstairs restaurant, so I don't remember every stall, but it looked really appealing!I get that this place is expensive... it's in downtown Chicago right off the Magnificent Mile. It's in a desirable part of town. Also, the food and service quality were superb. So, it's worth it, believe me. They do cooking classes and other events, but I was only here (as a tourist) for lunch. Whatever the case, it's worth checking out!

Meh. It's a very convoluted layout and I had an annoying time finding the restaurant. It's an overwhelming space at first. I find the restaurant and am seated near a window overlooking Doc B's. I order a drink and try to focus on the menu, but it too, is convoluted. Maybe it isn't their fault. I have sensory issues and it's a cavernous space. Every now and then, I throw on my headphones just to buffer some of the noise. I can't decide what to order and come to Yelp to look at photos. I glance once more at the menu and decide I'll order the Pasta Olio as punishment if I haven't made a decision by the time Ashley returns. It turns out to be a true punishment. Someone who was not Ashley brought out a bowl of plain pasta with a base of floating oil and chill powder/flakes on top. I take the first bite and hate it. The reasons are many. The only real flavor was the spice. It burned. I stirred the bowl to get the oil distributed. I realized I was chewing past the point of al dente. It was undercooked. Tough. Sticking in my teeth and reminding me I needed to make a visit for a cleaning. It was also salty. Beyond that, it was flavorless. Like you let your 12 year old make you pancakes for breakfast on Mother's Day. I couldn't eat it. I sent the dish back and Ashley collected my fork with it. I was smiling and polite, pretending that it was just my personal preference. The reality is it was tough and undercooked. As I write this waiting for Ashley to bring me the 2nd iteration, I am using my tongue to pick pasta out of my molars. So far....the drink is good and Ashley is delightful. I hate sending dishes back. In fact, I ordered the exact same dish even though I didn't like it just to avoid the appearance of "she just didn't like the dish she chose". And now I'm worried that they won't taste the dish to confirm it's undercooked, they'll just assume I'm an ignorant buffoon and send me back overcooked pasta. My fate is sealed. I know it. I should have gone with the branzino. Another person who isn't Ashley or the guy who brought the dish the first time returns with an identical dish. My suffering continues except now...I have no fork. By the time Ashley brings the fork and I'm able to confirm that the new pasta is mushy and overcooked, I'm ready for the check. Maybe the pastries will be better.

On a recent visit to Chicago, I stopped in Eataly as I had heard so much about it. The size and scope are a bit overwhelming at first. I did not eat in their restaurant but did get some gelato to go which was very good. I also bought some items to take home to Phoenix to cook later. Impressed with the variety and quality of all products. The vast selections of sauces, dried pastas, fresh cut pastas, olive oils, cheeses and cured meats. Cast wine selection, my favorite limoncello. Also a variety of housewares. And ohhh the desserts looked sooo good! Can't forget those!The service people I encountered were all helpful and friendly. Next time I am back in Chicago I will definitely stop in for a meal.

This was a fun experience. Lots of fresh pasta, cheeses, meats, pizza and more. In addition to ready made items you can indulge in seasonings, personal goods (lotion, hair care, etc) and chocolates, all made in Italy.We got some pasta, pizza, salad and baked goods to go. All were excellent except the pasta was a handful of noodles sort of stuck together which required cutting by a knife.I could have spent a lot of time here checking out the various specialty items if we had more time. I recommend!

This is one of the smaller Eatalys that I have been to, and I wasn't overly shocked by it. Nearly all of the upstairs is the restaurants and wine shop, but the problem was both the escalators and the elevator were broken. Not ideal for handicap or parents. The shopping was a lot smaller than I expected and there were less little stands to grab goods at. This probably isn't an eataly I'd go out of my way for again.

Not only was this place BEAUTIFUL but the food I had was AMAZING!!! The Bruschetta was delicious and my spaghetti was great!! I stopped for gelato as well everything was so good! I loved the experience I had the servers were so kind I will be back!

We visited Eataly in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, and it was a preplanned destination because we were told it was a must-see. The place is bustling and full of energy, which adds to the experience. It's a bit touristy, but the variety and quality of Italian products make it worth a visit.We picked up some pasta made in Italy, which had a great selection. The staff were helpful in recommending different types. The gelato was delicious, with a good range of flavors to try. We particularly enjoyed the pistachio and the classic stracciatella.While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the products justifies it. The atmosphere can get a bit crowded, especially on weekends, but it's part of the charm. If you're in the area and love Italian food, Eataly is definitely worth a stop.

I actually went to Eataly for an event for national prosecco week. I had a really good time! Although i didn't dine in, this event was amazing! I got to taste different types of Prosecco. They also had horderves to try as they walked around all night. Food and drinks, it doesn't get any better. And the food was really tasty. I can't wait until they host another event!

A bit over priced on the food for what you get. Sat at the bar and felt the service was disconnected as a bunch of servers seemed to "share" the bar as opposed to being assigned the bar as a station. Love the shopping here, wine selection is great, love the food quality, ambiance is great, but the prices on prepared food is a bit high.