Welcome to Eataly New York

If you love to cook Italian food at home, then Eataly promises to be the place you'll want to shop. They offer a vast selection of imported Italian food products including dried pasta, olive oils, cheese and charcuterie, candies and chocolates, vinegars, sodas, beer and more. Fresh vegetables, seafood, meat and dairy products are locally procured and promised to be only the finest available. Fresh pasta and bread is made on site daily, along with prepared panini sandwiches, focaccia and rotisserie meats for quick at-home meals. Also at Eataly New York is a cookbook and housewares selection of some of the best books and quality cookware you'll find in the area. "Eataly Vino", their wine store, offers over 700 different wines all exclusively from Italian producers.

Beside its fresh produce, imported Italian foods and prepared foods "to go", Eataly offers many dining options from the casual to the sophisticated within its walls. Full service restaurants include the beef-centric Manzo, Il Pesce for fish, Le Verdure for vegetables, and La Pizza & Pasta for, of course, pizza and pasta. In the center of Eataly is also La Piazza, where you can enjoy the finest cheese and charcuterie complemented with quality Italian wine and beer. Seating at all of these establishments is first-come-first-served except for Manzo, which accepts reservations.

For light snacks, drinks and desserts, there is the Caffe Lavazza - one part espresso bar, one part enoteca. For those with a sweet tooth, they can stop by the Gelateria or Pasticceria for house-made gelato and pastries.

Despite the hype and despite all of the pizazz, not everyone has come out as a fan and supporter of Eataly. Some have compared it to "Italy by way of Disneyland", all sheen and surface flair and no real depth - or true Italian spirit. Critics complain of the confusing, sprawling layout - so big that a downloadable map of Eataly is necessary on their website. Some feel that the house-made products such as gelatos, breads and other specialty items are not worth the high prices charged, and neither is their produce. Critics would prefer the curious to shop at long-standing Italian importers in New York such as Torrisi Italian Specialties, dubbed the "Anit-Eataly" in a thread at Chowhound, or Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto.

It is certainly true that prices at Eataly are high and the crowds can be overwhelming. To make the most of Eataly without fighting the heavy crowds, I would recommend staying away on the weekends or during prime lunch and dinner hours. Then it is much easier to simply browse and even enjoy getting lost for a time, perhaps pausing for an espresso or glass of wine, picking out a few interesting products to try at home, and then move on.

Eataly is located at 200 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010 with entrances on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street. It is open daily, with Cafe Lavazza first open at 8am and most areas of Eataly open until 10pm or 11pm at night.

For a full list of Eataly's hours of operation, check Eataly's location and hours on the official website.

Eataly is near the N, R, and W subway stops at 23rd Street in the Flatiron District of Manhattan.