Is it possible to have a fine meal inside a supermarket? The answer is "Yes," if that market is the ginormous Italian market Eataly. Brought to us by Mario Batali, Joe and Lidia Bastianach, this mecca for Italian goodies is unique to NYC, and quite the experience. If you can brave the crowds, there is Italian gourmet everything, from cheeses, pizzas, salumi, breads, fish, vegetables, coffee, gelato, and much, much more! If you are lucky enough to snag a table at the restaurant Manzo, do it. You won't be disappointed. Grab a bottle of wine, and dine on some fabulous Italian fare, and you will forget you are actually dining inside a supermarket.

I stopped by this past weekend and tried a lovely salad of grilled vegetables. Fresh, pretty, and excellent. Garganelli Alla Finanziera was also truly fabulous. A chocolate hazelnut dessert was a splendid ending to a meal in a market. A super supermarket.

Manzo Ristorante (inside Eataly)
200 5th Avenue (at 23rd Street)
New York, NY 10010
212-229-2180
http://www.newyork.eataly.it/