Pizza alla pala, the Roman-style pizza served on a wooden paddle. Photo courtesy Eataly.
Eataly, an international chain of multistory Italian food halls, first announced plans for a Silicon Valley location back in December 2019. Nearly two and a half years later, Eataly will open its doors at Santa Clara's Westfield Valley Fair on June 16.
Celebrating Italian cuisine, Eataly Silicon Valley will combine retail with quick-service counters and two full-service restaurants. Diners can browse specialty goods like olive oils and dried pastas alongside cheese and salumi counters, then sit down at a restaurant for pizza and a Peroni. Italy's best-known foods and drinks are represented by counters selling espresso, gelato and panini all under one roof. The company opened its first store in Torino, Italy, in 2007 and embraces a motto centered on eating, shopping and learning.
A counter for salumi and formaggi, cured meats and cheese. Photo courtesy Eataly.
Eataly Silicon Valley, which spans three stories and 45,000 square feet, will mark the company's ninth location in the United States and second in California after Eataly Los Angeles. Following a $1.1 billion expansion and renovation, Westfield Valley Fair is quickly becoming a food destination with xiao long bao (soup dumpling) specialists Din Tai Fung, Ramen Nagi and trendy desserts including Uncle Tetsu's fluffy Japanese cheesecakes and mochi donuts from Mochill. Mall staples like The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen now stand next to upscale eateries including iChina and its $4,500 virtual reality dinner.
Eataly Silicon Valley's opening celebration will include complimentary tastings and take place at 5 p.m. on June 16. The food hall is also hiring aggressively to staff its massive operation and is hosting job fairs and walk-in interviews.
Eataly Silicon Valley, Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara; Instagram: @eatalysiliconvalley.
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