Top Notch Newcomer

Eataly is a one-of-a-kind New York experience you will never forget. This 50,000 square-foot operation is part restaurant, part grocery store, part street fair, and part eating circus. Eataly is an inspired venture combining the genius of Mario Batali (in New York) and company founder Oscar Farinetti (in Turin, Italy). This complex comprises several restaurants, a fishmonger, butcher, espresso bar, wine store, cheese store, produce stand, cooking school, gelati stand, kitchenware, and so much more. It is assembled to evoke the atmosphere of a refined country fair, with hundreds of folks shopping, grazing, browsing, and loving every minute of this unique experience. Eataly has excellent, reasonably priced restaurants, an incredible assortment of edibles, good informational signage, and superb eye appeal. The mixture of foodstuffs is part Italian (mostly dry goods) and partly high-quality American. There is even a “vegetable butcher,” who will help prepare vegetarian purchases in a most attractive manner. The wine selection is awesome, and the pastries are addictive. Manzo is the only restaurant in the complex that takes reservations. La Pizza and Pasta is worth a visit for the delicious ten-inch pizzas. Il Pesce has a raw bar and much more in the seafood category. La Birreria is a substantial rooftop brewery and restaurant with a top-quality meat selection. (200Fifth Ave, bet 23rd and24th St, 212/229-2560)  Open daily: market and restaurant hours vary; www.eataly.com.