Italian mega market Eataly officially opened the doors of its fourth Toronto location on Nov. 25 at the Eaton Centre, and the reviews are in.
The much-anticipated marketplace in the mall features two dine-in restaurants — La Pizza & La Pasta and La Piazza — a grocery section for fresh foods, grab-and-go take-out counters, and a wine shop, Vino e Birra To-Go. It spans 25,000 square feet across two floors.
So, what’s the verdict?
It seems a large number of Toronto residents are complaining about an overpriced experience at a time when many have succumbed to the effects of growing inflation in the city.
A recent visitor took to Reddit to mention that “The takeout fresh pasta looked amazing until I realized the small box of raviolis was $25 or so.”
Another patron commented on an Instagram reel sharing similar sentiments. “No thanks. Overpriced food. You walk away feeling hungry.”
These comments align with another Instagrammer’s concerns about how guests won’t get their bang for the buck. “Took a look today. $13 sandwiches for probably $2 of product,” they write.
But the engorged prices are just the tip of the iceberg. Allegations of subpar food are also burdening Eataly’s restaurants’ reputation.
“The sit-down restaurant and café experience is fairly run-of-the-mill. You’re better off going to a local independent Italian spot for a sit-down experience,” a Reddit user chimes in.
Another user describes an unpleasant experience with the food: “The restaurant food there just isn’t good. I had undercooked pasta there. It was crunchy. That’s not a mistake any half-serious Italian restaurant in Toronto would ever make.”
Someone living in Italy actually weighed in, commenting on the tiramisu showcased in the same IG reel above. “I live in Treviso, north of Italy, and this is where tiramisù was born. I’m sure it was delicious, but it’s too much liquid.”
However, speaking of desserts, there is one thing that patrons are impressed with: the pastries.
Customers have been raving about the sweet treats available at the takeout counters, with one Reddit user mentioning, “The pastries in the counter are amazing,” and a second user supporting the claim, saying, “The pastries I’ve had were all good.”
So, is Eataly worth the visit for someone with a sweet tooth craving Italian-inspired confections? It seems like that’s an easy “yes!”
Eataly, which was first introduced in Toronto in 2019, now boasts four locations in the city: Shops at Don Mills, Sherway Gardens, the Manulife Centre, and Eaton Centre.
Eataly is inside the Eaton Centre, located at 220 Yonge St.
Dining and Cooking