Harden's says
The Square Mile continues to up its foodie credentials with the arrival of an Italian 'foodie theme park' from Eataly in April 2021 boasting stores, restaurants, market stalls and coffee shops. Eataly was founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti and now has 35 megastores worldwide, including in Tokyo and New York. A London location has been touted in the past but has not materialised until now. Separate restaurants within the complex include La Terrazza, Pasta e Pizza and Cucine del Mercato.
Harden's survey result
Summary
Oscar Farinetti’s “Italian superstore” near Liverpool Street station – part of his 45-strong global foodhall chain – is a “great place to eat and buy Italian foods”, with a “massive display of Italian wines”. A recent link-up with Milan-based TV chef Carlo Cracco, whose name is now above the flagship restaurant Terra, has done little, however, to change the perception that this is a venue for browsing “interesting Italian products” rather than lingering over a meal – and those who do eat tend to prefer the “very good pizzas from a wood-burning stove” to more ambitious meals that can be “a poor and expensive experience”: “although ingredients are good, cooking is below average”, while “the terrace overlooks the Bishopsgate traffic, so you can soak up the City’s busy atmosphere… police sirens and all”.
Summary
“Big and loud” – this 42,000 sq ft behemoth is part of Oscar Farinetti’s 40+ strong global chain showcasing Italian produce. Many folks “love wandering around and trying all the different snacks available (a great date activity!)” and there seems to be no doubt that “it provides well above-average food”; but there’s also a widespread acceptance that for a lingering meal, it’s “lacking in atmosphere”. Top eat-in option? “Bloody good pizza” with “crisp base and good toppings… why do other places find this so hard?”
Summary
“A great place for anything Italian” – Oscar Farinetti’s “huge” food mall concept has swept the world and its London outpost near Liverpool Street station (a relatively late arrival in 2021) boasts no fewer than 11 restaurants, bars and counters to feed you, alongside shops and stalls where you can pick up goodies to take home. Gastronomically, the sheer scale works against it, so even the flagship Terra elicits comparatively little praise, but the whole enterprise has a pleasant buzz; “staff work hard to please”; and simpler items in particular “benefit from the ready supply of super ingredients”.
Summary
Entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti’s glam food mall concept was a late arrival in London when it opened near Liverpool Street station in May 2021, given that he now has 42 scattered around the world. It offers a “fabulous selection of food and wine”, alongside three restaurants (headed by the flagship Terra, where the dramatic centrepiece grill is apparently fired by wood shipped in from Calabria). Immediately very busy, the offerings include “super pizza”, but, for a sceptical minority, “the whole place looks great but is merely a trap for wealthy, bored customers”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Eataly?
135 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3YD
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £26.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.95 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
135 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3YD
Opening hours
| Monday | 7 am‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am‑11 pm |
| Friday | 7 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am‑10 pm |
Best Italian restaurants nearby
Italian restaurant in City of London
Italian restaurant in Shoreditch
Italian restaurant in London
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Pizza restaurant in London
Japanese restaurant in City
Indian restaurant in City
