Eataly Chicago has been on my food bucket list for quite some time now. And during a trip to the city to visit family for the holidays, I was finally able to check it off.
While the two-story Italian mecca—the brainchild of Oscar Farinetti—is admittedly a little bit overwhelming upon first stepping inside the doors, I promise you won’t leave disappointed. We visited Eataly Chicago after spending the afternoon at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s David Bowie Is exhibition and our hungry stomachs demanded we make a beeline for the second floor’s mecca of restaurants.
After a small panic attack (sorry Mom), we decided on the La Carne restaurant and both ordered the steak sandwich lunch special. While we probably could have shared, the sandwich was incredible and the fingerling potatoes that accompanied it were the best I’ve ever had (seriously, what do they do to these potatoes!?).*
We continued our exploration through the coffee bar and wine section before taking more than a few deep breaths in the cheese department. On the first level, be sure not to miss the gelato and Nutella bars before heading out through Eataly’s Italian market. While I’m excited I finally squeezed in a visit, I think it’s going to take a few more trips to fully experience everything Eataly has to offer.
*Apologies that there are no pictures of our Eataly adventure—this was definitely a “hangry” situation and I completely forgot.
Eataly Chicago, The Shops at North Bridge, 43 East Ohio Street in Chicago