Lunch yesterday was the Porchetta sandwich at Eataly and it was fantastic. Pricey, but it is big enough to share with someone. A few co-workers had the prime rib sandwich and were raving about it.

In their first move after closing Baffo, Eataly Chicago today will open a second pizza concept. It's called Pizza alla Pala, named after the wooden paddles the puffy central Italian pizzas are served on.

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/6/8/11884 ... -pala-open

Dry aged prime ribeyes (bone-in) are half off today (and today only -- while supplies last). $14.90/pound.

Has anyone had luck at Osteria di Eataly of late? Worth it over just noshing at the pizza, sandwich, beer, or fish corners?

Considering that vs. other walkable options from the Mag Mile with a small party for an upcoming Sunday night - Eataly does take reservations for Sunday evenings, a plus, probably not risking Purple Pig wait. Where else would we go for good Mediterranean / wine bar vibe (other than Nico, known quantity and a bit too far) that takes reservations in that vicinity?

Failure of a meal at Eataly's pizza/pasta restaurant recently. It started off oddly well, we were quoted a 45 minute wait and then got a text less than 3 minutes later saying our table was ready. Curious mistake but since we were hungry, one that we were happy to see. Unfortunately, failure at details was a theme.


It wasn't just that the pizza was burned and never should have left the kitchen, although that was bad enough. The bigger problem was the pizza just wasn't very good. Neapolitan pizza shouldn't be that doughy/chewy and that's a bigger problem that a periodic misfire (looking at nearby tables, our burned pizza appeared to be an aberration).


That unpleasant looking juicy plate of pasta is the pappardelle with mushroom ragu. The pasta itself was actually quite nice and the flavor of the mushrooms was very good. Perhaps if they hadn't given me the dregs from the bottom of the pot, I'd have enjoyed this more.

One basil leaf to share among six slices of pizza? Or maybe two; can't tell what that light green thing to its left is.

Katie wrote:One basil leaf to share among six slices of pizza? Or maybe two; can't tell what that light green thing to its left is.

Good catch. I didn't get that slice. Looks like maybe a piece of artichoke, which is an ingredient on one of their other pizzas (not part of our order).

I thought of this recent post last night while enjoying a date night at Spacca Napoli. Perfect pizza, outstanding customer service, free parking, complimentary cannoli. I had the Don Gennero and it was so good it almost brought a tear to my eye. As did your photo, MarlaCollins’Husband because that is a crime against good pizza.