Local Flavor – Eataly (Los Angeles)

Mario Battali is a controversial figure in the restaurant community. After years of acolades, awards and many, many restaurant openings, Batalli became the center of unwanted attention when he was accused of sexual misconduct back in 2017. Since then, he has divested his interest in all of the restaurants that were part of the Battali-Bastianich brand (now just Bastianich, after the buyout). Despite his unexcusable personal conduct, his impact on the US restaurant scene is undeniable. After years of opening mostly stand-alone brands (Babbo, Esca, Del Posto, etc.) he launched the Eataly brand in 2010 in New York. Eataly (and there are many of the now) is a restaurant/market concept with a variety of shopping and food options, all under one roof.

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Located in the Century City Mall, the Los Angeles Eataly is accessible either through the mall itself or through the adjacent parking garage. The enterance looks more like a high-end grocery store, than a restaurant. As you weave your way through aisles of olive oil, pasta sauces and and canned goods, you eventually get to the center of the complex. Here you will find large stand-alone stalls for meat, fish, pasta, fruits, vegetables, wine and cheeses.

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Past the markets, you find another section that contains the various restaurant stations within the complex, including pizza, pasta and a cocktail bar. Seating is scattered throughout, and includes a large patio overlooking Santa Monica Blvd.

The menu is impressive, but here are a few of our favorites:

• Featured cocktails: Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Bellini
• Salad: Insalata di Barbabietola (fresh Ricotta with beets, pistachios and citrus)
• Fresh pasta: Tagliatelle al Ragu (braised brisket ragu with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano cheeses), Ravioli di Zucca (butternut squash ravioli, butter, sage and ground Amaretti cookies), Lasagna al Ragu (Bolognese ragu, Bechemal, Gran Padano and Pecorino Romana cheeses)
• Dried pasta: Spaghettoni Cacio e Pepe (pasta with Parmigiano-Reggiano and black pepper)
• Pizza: Quattro Formaggi (Mozzarella di Bufala, Gorgonzola, Gran Padano and Pecorino Romano cheeses, plus basil and EVOO), Tartufo (Mozzarella di Bufala, Porcini mushroom puree, and black truffles), Margherita (tomato sauce, Mozzarella di Bufala, basil and EVOO)

Pair your meal with one of the options from their extensive wine list and finish it off with some dessert from the dessert bar, near the enterance, and/or a coffee from the espresso bar. Overall, just a really fun experience!

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A pasta lesson: One of the things that makes pasta so perfect is how simple it is. Pasta is made of just 2 elements: the combination of durum wheat and water. Carbohydrates satiate and give energy to the body. Pasta itself doesn’t cause weigh gain. It’s the added fats that do. The less fat you add, the better it is for you and the better it tastes. To experience the true flavors of your pasta (those delicious grains), enjoy it al dente!

Recap:

The Eataly is unique to Los Angeles as a combination market/restaurant complex. The food is excellent, but the setting (despite being in a mall) is what really sets it apart. It’s a great place to stop in for lunch if you are in the neighborhood or shopping already. The produce, meats and pastas are next level (although so is the price). We recommend going for the pizza/pasta/wine and just taking it all in.

• Eataly (10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067)
• Web: Eataly.com
• Instagram: @EatalyLA
• Cuisine: Italian
• $$$ ($100 – $200 for two with drinks)
• Overall Rating (w/o price): ★★★☆ (Very Good)
• Four Star Rating (w/ price): ★★☆☆ (Fair)