If the dinner at Gustiamo wasn’t enough, up pops Eataly’s Sabbia at La Birreria (@Eataly, 200 5th Ave., 212-229-2560, www.eataly.com). The space has been transformed into a coastal resort inspired by the waves and breezes of the Italian coastline—think Sardegna, the city of Rimini in Emilia-Romagna and the island of Capri.
The Eataly team took no shortcuts in their design. We are talking cabanas to retreat from the sun when the retractable roof is open, the “Changing Room” decorated server station, umbrellas, nautical flags, beach throws and chairs, the server T-shirts printed to look like Italian waiter jackets and a Vespa perched out front to boot!
If the décor doesn’t make you want to live la dolce vita, the food will. The oyster bar, featuring Island Creek oysters, and the prosecco mignonette will have you swooning for more as you sip on the Sorrento spritz (my fave!). It is prosecco with mint and cucumber, simple syrup and Sorrento lemon juice. This drink is the cocktail of the summer!
The menu features all of the amazing products at Eataly—salumi, pastas and cheeses. Add to that some seared plump shrimp seasoned with oregano, parsley, garlic and lemon zest and fritto misto of assorted fried seafood, Ligurian style. Delizioso!
Get transported to the #SeasideAtSabbia this summer and you can stay there through October, too! Andiamo!