Inside Birreria, Eataly's Beer Garden, Opening Any Day Now

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In just over a week, the final piece of the giant puzzle that is mega market and food court Eataly will be put into place. Birreria, the restaurant and beer haven on the roof of the Eataly's 5th Avenue building, is scheduled to open to the public by June 3 at the latest. And if all goes well it could open much sooner.

Birreria, which members of the press previewed yesterday, is a full service restaurant serving a "beer forward" menu by chef Alex Pilas. All told it can fit about 200 people (150 when they first debut) and will be open year round, rain or shine, hence that retractable roof and the ample number of heat lamps. It's accessed over by the beer cases just north of Eataly's registers.
What's on tap? Beer, wine, a full bar, and a menu made especially with beer in mind. The wines, and there will be just four, will all be served on tap from barrels fashioned with little chalk boards. They'll offer both Italian and American craft beers as well as three original cask ales brewed on the premises, under the consultation of Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery, Italian brewmasters Teo Musso of Birra Baladin in Turin and Leonardo Di Vincenzo of Birra Del Borgo in Rome, and Eataly's house brewmaster Brook Carretta. One is a traditional American pale ale with thyme accents, another is an English mild ale with chestnuts, and the third is a wheat beer with peppercorns.

The menu will feature four sausages, three braised pork shoulders, one of which will change seasonally, formaggi, salads, and a whole mushroom section "because vegetarians also like beer." Chef Pilas emphasizes they'll serve "simple, simple food."

Though the views don't rival those of A60 in Soho or 230 5th nearby, this is still going to be a hot ticket this summer. Luckily, a few weeks after it opens, they'll start taking reservations for parties of six or more.

Birreria will be open from 11:30 AM - 1 AM daily, with a late night menu starting at 11:30 PM. While the official opening is scheduled for next Friday, they say they may just go ahead and open "any day now."
· A First Look at the Food and Beer From Eataly's La Birreria [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Eataly [~ENY~]