Italian 'Culinary Mecca' Comes To Flatiron District

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The founder of the world's largest artisinal Italian gourmet food and wine market is bringing a taste of Italy to the Flatiron District with the help of three of the best-known Italian-American restaurateurs.

Eataly, located at 200 Fifth Avenue (formerly the Toy Building), is decked out with seven restaurants, a café, wine shop, bakery, an on-site cooking school and even a rooftop beer garden.

Oscar Farinetti first opened Eataly in Turin, Italy in 2007 and has now joined up with Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali & Lidia Bastianich of B&B Hospitality Group to bring New Yorkers a "culinary mecca."

Eataly will open its doors on August 31. Here's a look at what to expect:

Seven restaurants including Verdure (vegetable), Il Manzo (meat), Il Pesce (fish), La Pasta (pasta), La Pizza (pizza), I Salumi e I Formaggi (salumi and cheese), and Il Crudo (raw bar).

La Birreria, a 4,500 square-foot open-air rooftop beer garden, is equipped with a copper-clad brewing system and will service beers year-round as well as a variety of pizzas and sausages.

Eataly Wine is a 1,500 square-foot wine shop carrying nearly 1,000 bottles of Italian wine.

At Lavazza Cafe you'll be able to find authentic espressos, cappuccinos and coffee specialties. Next door to the cafe you'll be able to buy freshly ground coffee beans and an assortment of teas.

If you get a hankering for something sweet you can stop in at Luca Montersino where gelato, pastries and several small desserts will be made fresh daily.

The marketplace will offer a variety of cured meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, fresh meats and fish, and handmade pastas. Visitors will also be able to find housewares and books, dried pastas, canned goods, sauces and olive oils.