Service was quick, friendly, and efficient ! Food was amazing ! Great ambiance ! Looking forward to my next visit !
Jordan L.
My wife and I have never been to a Michelin star restaurant and now that we live in Chicago, we had plenty of options. For our second baby moon we decided to treat ourselves to an experience at El Ideas. The whole experience was amazing! The location is really unassuming and not in some pretentious building or area. It was such a laid back yet exquisite experience. Guests were allowed to wonder the space and take in the food preparation. You could ask questions of the chefs. It was really neat and nothing like I've ever experienced. Since there are a limited number of reservations the entire staff is really attune to guests needs. I have no complaints about any of the dishes. Some of the standout dishes were the shrimp dish which was an ode to the history of Chicago fried shrimp. The Swedish style meatball cooked in smoked beef tallow with gnocchi was so well balanced. The smoked duck bahn mi and smoke duck pho was amazing . The Lamb dish was out of this world! I'm still in awe of the vanilla shake and fries dessert. It was truly a work of art. The vanilla with the crunchy potato bits and potato and leak soup just worked. I could take one of those every day. This experience is definitely worth it! I hope to be back in the future!
Jonathan Fenderson
Very nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andy Brown
Fun, good vibes, great food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cullen Welch
Unreal taste and experience! It was chill, delicious, and cozy! Best meal we've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamara
Fantastic experience from start to finish and truly unlike any fine dining experience I’ve enjoyed before. Chef Phillip does not just make you food, he welcomes you into his creative space and takes you along on a journey. Every dish has a story, and you along with the rest of the diners that evening are part of it for a couple of hours. It was fascinating to watch a team of three so skillfully arrange dishes, prepare food, and garnish the tiniest details. I also really appreciated the willingness to adapt to dietary restrictions and have a vegan and vegetarian option available for my party. Overall, dining with Chef Phillip was a delight from the very day I reached out to inquire about availability and received a warm and friendly reply by the Chef/owner himself. Highly recommend!Vegetarian options: Made a fully vegan menu for me. It was equally deliciousDietary restrictions: Can adapt to dietary restrictions with advanced notice
Recommended dishes: Sorbet, French Fries and Frosty
Lupe B.
Outstanding food and service. One of my favorite meals ever. The food creative and delicious. Wonderful place really nice service.
I M
Amazing! We went for Valentine’s Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Paprika Glazed Octopus
Ivory M.
Amazing! We went for Valentine's Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish!
Jourdan Patenaude
A wonderful and fun experience. Each course was delicious and being able to stand in the kitchen and talking to the chefs was so fun and memorable. Certainly a special occasion kind of place but one we would go back to!
My partner and I celebrated his birthday here last Sunday and had a wonderful experience. He is a real foodie and has dined at many award winning ( Michelin starred) restaurants. We were both super impressed with the food.. taste, creativity, presentation and high quality. The venue lends itself to interacting with other patrons and the staff. We were encouraged to enter the cooking area to watch the staff at work. Chef Phillip explained each of the dishes. It was elegant and simultaneously casual. Byob is a great option and a way to keep the overall price down. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drew Patenaude
Very unique casual environment for the type of food they serve. I enjoyed myself very much. Could have used one more main protein dish, but didn't leave hungry. Will return in time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vince W.
Outstanding food and service. My third visit actually, and oh what an incredible train ride of flavors, taste and atmospheric greatness. Chef Philip is a powerhouse creative and makes this culinary experience at El Ideas, a great one. Each course is perfectly timed, delivered hot and fresh from the open kitchen. Along with his team, he delivers what I consider to be...one of the best dining experiences ever! BYOB proved to be the perfect addition to this experience, as it allowed myself and dining guest to bring a piece of us and not what the establishment deals as good wine or champagne. Two thumbs up and five GOLD stars from this diner. A definite must experience.
Taylor Mendoza
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs’ unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro’s hospitality adds a personal touch, making the dining experience truly exceptional. A must-visit for those seeking an adventure for your taste buds. Every dish somehow was better than the next. My husband and I cannot rave about the food and welcoming atmosphere they provided to make my birthday extra special. It’s one for the books!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Taylor M.
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs' unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro's hospitality adds a personal touch, making the dining experience truly exceptional. A must-visit for those seeking an adventure for your taste buds. Every dish somehow was better than the next. My husband and I cannot rave about the food and welcoming atmosphere they provided to make my birthday extra special. It's one for the books!
Service was quick, friendly, and efficient ! Food was amazing ! Great ambiance ! Looking forward to my next visit !
My wife and I have never been to a Michelin star restaurant and now that we live in Chicago, we had plenty of options. For our second baby moon we decided to treat ourselves to an experience at El Ideas. The whole experience was amazing! The location is really unassuming and not in some pretentious building or area. It was such a laid back yet exquisite experience. Guests were allowed to wonder the space and take in the food preparation. You could ask questions of the chefs. It was really neat and nothing like I've ever experienced. Since there are a limited number of reservations the entire staff is really attune to guests needs. I have no complaints about any of the dishes. Some of the standout dishes were the shrimp dish which was an ode to the history of Chicago fried shrimp. The Swedish style meatball cooked in smoked beef tallow with gnocchi was so well balanced. The smoked duck bahn mi and smoke duck pho was amazing . The Lamb dish was out of this world! I'm still in awe of the vanilla shake and fries dessert. It was truly a work of art. The vanilla with the crunchy potato bits and potato and leak soup just worked. I could take one of those every day. This experience is definitely worth it! I hope to be back in the future!
Very nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fun, good vibes, great food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unreal taste and experience! It was chill, delicious, and cozy! Best meal we've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic experience from start to finish and truly unlike any fine dining experience I’ve enjoyed before. Chef Phillip does not just make you food, he welcomes you into his creative space and takes you along on a journey. Every dish has a story, and you along with the rest of the diners that evening are part of it for a couple of hours. It was fascinating to watch a team of three so skillfully arrange dishes, prepare food, and garnish the tiniest details. I also really appreciated the willingness to adapt to dietary restrictions and have a vegan and vegetarian option available for my party. Overall, dining with Chef Phillip was a delight from the very day I reached out to inquire about availability and received a warm and friendly reply by the Chef/owner himself. Highly recommend!Vegetarian options: Made a fully vegan menu for me. It was equally deliciousDietary restrictions: Can adapt to dietary restrictions with advanced notice
Recommended dishes: Sorbet, French Fries and Frosty
Outstanding food and service. One of my favorite meals ever. The food creative and delicious. Wonderful place really nice service.
Amazing! We went for Valentine’s Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Paprika Glazed Octopus
Amazing! We went for Valentine's Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish!
A wonderful and fun experience. Each course was delicious and being able to stand in the kitchen and talking to the chefs was so fun and memorable. Certainly a special occasion kind of place but one we would go back to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chefs, Octopus
Restaurantji Recommends
My partner and I celebrated his birthday here last Sunday and had a wonderful experience. He is a real foodie and has dined at many award winning ( Michelin starred) restaurants. We were both super impressed with the food.. taste, creativity, presentation and high quality. The venue lends itself to interacting with other patrons and the staff. We were encouraged to enter the cooking area to watch the staff at work. Chef Phillip explained each of the dishes. It was elegant and simultaneously casual. Byob is a great option and a way to keep the overall price down. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very unique casual environment for the type of food they serve. I enjoyed myself very much. Could have used one more main protein dish, but didn't leave hungry. Will return in time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding food and service. My third visit actually, and oh what an incredible train ride of flavors, taste and atmospheric greatness. Chef Philip is a powerhouse creative and makes this culinary experience at El Ideas, a great one. Each course is perfectly timed, delivered hot and fresh from the open kitchen. Along with his team, he delivers what I consider to be...one of the best dining experiences ever! BYOB proved to be the perfect addition to this experience, as it allowed myself and dining guest to bring a piece of us and not what the establishment deals as good wine or champagne. Two thumbs up and five GOLD stars from this diner. A definite must experience.
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs’ unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro’s hospitality adds a personal touch, making the dining experience truly exceptional. A must-visit for those seeking an adventure for your taste buds. Every dish somehow was better than the next. My husband and I cannot rave about the food and welcoming atmosphere they provided to make my birthday extra special. It’s one for the books!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs' unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro's hospitality adds a personal touch, making the dining experience truly exceptional. A must-visit for those seeking an adventure for your taste buds. Every dish somehow was better than the next. My husband and I cannot rave about the food and welcoming atmosphere they provided to make my birthday extra special. It's one for the books!