We got to Eataly just in time to run into the last of the lunch rush. We walked in to an enormous room filled with grocery aisles, specialty departments, tables and chairs, and about a dozen different locations to eat lunch. These range from small and informal bars to large, fancy restaurants.
We sat down on the first two empty seats we saw, which happened to be at “LA ROSTICCERIA,” the roasted meat station. The Eataly website describes this one as “the ultimate destination for meat lovers … offers a complete meal in one spot. Every day, we offer different roasted meat to either purchase by the pound or to enjoy immediately on a sandwich.”
We both ordered the Tuesday special, a sandwich filled with Arista Sausage (made and roasted in-house) and a side of salad. Although the sausage seemed to be sliced meat rather than ground, it was well-seasoned and delicious. House-made bread with olive oil for dipping came with it.
After lunch, Barry elected to wait at the Starbucks down the block (free WiFi) while I wandered happily around the store. Through the small but interesting selection of Italian housewares, the rather pro forma fresh produce section (their hearts aren’t really in it), to the more impressive cheese, meat, seafood, pasta, sweets, bread, gelato, and not one but two coffee bars.
After getting lost in the dry goods aisles, I bought some fresh pasta to take home. This picture shows just a fraction of the selling and eating floor.
Last summer, Mario Batali announced that he would be opening Eataly DC in 2012. However, the Washington Post Going Out Gurus reported in September that plans seem to have changed since then. Stay tuned!
