Best of New York 2011 • Eating

• Eataly

  200 Fifth Ave., at 23rd St. 212-229-2560

  The crowds haven’t thinned since the doors opened, and no wonder: There’s no place more fun to browse, shop, eat, and drink�all at the same time, preferably. So circumnavigate the gawking tourists and make a beeline for the fresh-pasta counter, the bakery with its glistening, puffy focaccia (starting at $1.80 a giant slice, the best bargain in the house), and the gelateria, where organic New York milk is transformed into creamy flavors like pistachio and fior di latte. Stop for a nibble at Dave Pasternack’s crudo bar, or the bruschetta of the day at Le Verdure, the �vegetable restaurant.� Locals can treat the place as their neighborhood pizzeria or their cheese store (you can’t go wrong with burrata or a choice wedge cut from a massive wheel of Parm). And when the out-of-towners come clamoring for a visit�and you know they will�splurge on a meal at Manzo, Eataly’s nose-to-tail carnivore extravaganza.

  See Also: Mario Batali on Eataly

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