Absolutely outstanding. Possibly one of the best meals I have ever had anywhere in the world. Confident and refined, but unfussy and at times playful, we ordered the tasting menu and were blown away. The all natural wine pairing was incredibly interesting and we, in addition, had the NA pairing which is under no circumstances to be missed. We also ordered an extra course which received its own perfect pairing, as well as samples of their in-house schnapps, all of which were immaculate. The design of the interior is also so welcoming and cool, the ambience was amazing. Can't wait to return, many thanks to Hannah who took good care of us!
Lisa
Very much looked forward to dining at Elske. The restaurant is quaint, cozy, everything I love in a dining experience. Much of our food was not at temperature - either being too cold/lukewarm at best and in some cases burnt. The arctic char was very overcooked and yet cool. Overall for such a fantastic restaurant reputation there were a few too many misses to give it more than a 3-4 star review. I stuck with a 4 because I really wanted it to be better. One not food related comment I have to make is that when I went to the bathroom before the meal was served, I had inadvertently dropped my napkin. My dining partner said that the server noticed it, turned around, and didn't bother to bring new one (or take it off the floor) and two bus boys walked passed the dropped napkin and didn't bother to pick it up either. When I got back up the table, a different server had picked it up off the floor and folded it on my side of the table. I don't care that much about germs, do I didn't say anything. But that number of touch points (by 4 employees) to overlook simply replacing a napkin seems very careless. How hard would it have been to bring a fresh napkin when I got back? The drinks? They were 10/10.
Shelby
I've now had the set menu with the wine pairing twice in different seasons and both times, the food was well executed and delicious and the pairings were unique and perfect. I also highly suggest ending your meal with a cocktail or digestif and taking it outside to sip by the fire!
Gary
Every bite was satisfying. A lot of incredible flavor packed into every tiny bite. Also beautiful overall aesthetic.
Ann Marie
Elske felt precious. The servers were serious, not exuding a sense of warmth. The experience was focused on the chef's creation, not on the diner's enjoyment. The menu offered both a tasting menu and a la carte ordering. We choses a la carte. It was difficult to ascertain ahead of time the size of the dishes. They turned out to be quite small. The service was quite slow. The quality of the food was fine.
Victoria
I booked this for my boyfriend's birthday and we were both heavily disappointed by the service. The food was quite lackluster as well and I'm not sure how they have a star. I didn't finish most of my dishes and found it difficult to get through them.
Ivan
The food was absolutely amazing and lived up to every expectation. I came here with my fiancé to celebrate our anniversary, and we were completely blown away by everything this restaurant had to offer. We chose the tasting menu, and every course was rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented. By the end, we were so full—pairing it with wine would've guaranteed we'd need to be rolled out of there! The entire experience felt special and personal. From the service to the ambiance, everything was spot-on. You really can't go wrong dining here—we'll definitely be back!
Jakob
Top tier. Came for my birthday dessert and in traditional family I got 2 desserts and a salty dish. Absolutely fantastic, loved the sunflower dessert paired with the orange wine.
Nick
Great service! We got the tasting menu and my friend needed gluten friendly options and they tweaked the tasting menu to accommodate. There was also one ingredient my friend didn't like in a course so they remade with an ingredient they did like so they could still try to course. Exceptional, customized service!
Susan Sleeper-Smith
This was an amazing dinner. We come to Chicago 7-8 times each year and always sample new restaurants. This was far superior to any restaurant we have eaten at in the last several years. Was innovative and loved the shareable dishes. Will be back again.
Absolutely phenomenal: The food, the drinks, the ambience. I have to say, however, that you have to be able to enjoy a herbal, nordic and liquorice/fennel-heavy palate. Absolutely try the non-alcoholic drinks pairing - it is the best I have had, by far surpassing even 3 star restaurants. The atmosphere is very relaxed, warm and friendly - you certainly can dress up a little, but don't have to. Perfect for either a romantic date with class and without pretentiousness or for a celebrational family dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
B Smith
Upscale in the well-crafted menu, service and bar offerings this is a cozy respite from the world. The outdoor garden and fireplace is closed for the season, but the intimacy indoors suffices. As this space is surrounded by windows I would prefer banquette seating during the upcoming winter. It is pricey so no matter how casually you dress you will be paying for a more formal dining.
Kid-friendliness: Please don't. Space is crowded and child and server safety is a concern.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
Nelson Rodriguez Rivas
i’d give this more of a 3.5/5 than a three if i could.
surprised my bf the other night for our 9th anniversary. over the past few years we’ve been making our way through the michelin stars in chicago (from meh (Sepia, Kasama) to great (Oriole, EL Ideas, Ever)) and have four left. well, three now that we made it to Elske.
pretty much in line with 1-star expectations, but honestly a little lacking on the service front. the reception area through to the overall tasting menu service was just okay to barely audible and mumbly. the whole thing felt pretty informal (which is totally fine) but the restaurant doesn’t really present itself as informal.
the dinner peaked in the first two courses for me (the tea and croquettes were excellent; the cured tuna with fennel was quite nice). by the end, the obligatory and expected beef course was ok. would have rather just had some more croquettes.
the dessert was all a bit boring.
would go back and just do some a la carte items.
disappointed in the bar. asked for an Army and Navy (fairly standard cocktail) and they couldn’t make it. feel like if you already have a small cocktail menu, at least have the items to make a wider set of classic cocktails.
the bathroom also has the most ridiculous, unnecessary, and silly soap dispenser i have ever come across. ?
the space is nice and lively. and it was nice to snuggle up by the fire pit outside for a few minutes before heading home.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Madeleine England
Elske’s got this quiet power, you know? It sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re all wrapped up in flavors you didn’t see coming. The food’s unreal, like a song that hits the low notes just right, and the service? It’s soft but strong, like they’re letting you into a secret.
Anna, the pastry queen—she’s something else. Like, her desserts don’t just taste good; they feel like a moment, like sinking into your favorite hoodie on a cold night. We tried a lot, but two things left me lingering: the celeriac risotto and that sunflower seed parfait. The risotto was smooth, earthy, and comforting, like it knew exactly what you needed. And the parfait? Wow. Sweet, a little dark, with that hint of honey and licorice that just stays with you.
Elske is more than a place to eat—it’s a whole mood.
Dietary restrictions: So many gluten-free options! Didn’t need to alter any dish to accommodate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sunflower Seed Parfait with Sour Honey Bee Pollen and Licorice
David Wirth
A great restaurant that doesn’t shy away from bold flavors and ideas. We did the tasting menu for an anniversary celebration and were blown away by how fun and enjoyable the food was. The food is modern and creative with Danish influence. That being said things trended a little saltier and cured. If that isn’t your specialty the tasting menu might not be the best option. Each dish landed but the lamb tartare was especially delicious. The service was top notch. We opted to do cocktails which didn’t disappoint but reading the non-alcoholic pairings I was a little disappointed I missed out on the unexpected juice creations.
Absolutely outstanding. Possibly one of the best meals I have ever had anywhere in the world. Confident and refined, but unfussy and at times playful, we ordered the tasting menu and were blown away. The all natural wine pairing was incredibly interesting and we, in addition, had the NA pairing which is under no circumstances to be missed. We also ordered an extra course which received its own perfect pairing, as well as samples of their in-house schnapps, all of which were immaculate. The design of the interior is also so welcoming and cool, the ambience was amazing. Can't wait to return, many thanks to Hannah who took good care of us!
Very much looked forward to dining at Elske. The restaurant is quaint, cozy, everything I love in a dining experience. Much of our food was not at temperature - either being too cold/lukewarm at best and in some cases burnt. The arctic char was very overcooked and yet cool. Overall for such a fantastic restaurant reputation there were a few too many misses to give it more than a 3-4 star review. I stuck with a 4 because I really wanted it to be better. One not food related comment I have to make is that when I went to the bathroom before the meal was served, I had inadvertently dropped my napkin. My dining partner said that the server noticed it, turned around, and didn't bother to bring new one (or take it off the floor) and two bus boys walked passed the dropped napkin and didn't bother to pick it up either. When I got back up the table, a different server had picked it up off the floor and folded it on my side of the table. I don't care that much about germs, do I didn't say anything. But that number of touch points (by 4 employees) to overlook simply replacing a napkin seems very careless. How hard would it have been to bring a fresh napkin when I got back? The drinks? They were 10/10.
I've now had the set menu with the wine pairing twice in different seasons and both times, the food was well executed and delicious and the pairings were unique and perfect. I also highly suggest ending your meal with a cocktail or digestif and taking it outside to sip by the fire!
Every bite was satisfying. A lot of incredible flavor packed into every tiny bite. Also beautiful overall aesthetic.
Elske felt precious. The servers were serious, not exuding a sense of warmth. The experience was focused on the chef's creation, not on the diner's enjoyment. The menu offered both a tasting menu and a la carte ordering. We choses a la carte. It was difficult to ascertain ahead of time the size of the dishes. They turned out to be quite small. The service was quite slow. The quality of the food was fine.
I booked this for my boyfriend's birthday and we were both heavily disappointed by the service. The food was quite lackluster as well and I'm not sure how they have a star. I didn't finish most of my dishes and found it difficult to get through them.
The food was absolutely amazing and lived up to every expectation. I came here with my fiancé to celebrate our anniversary, and we were completely blown away by everything this restaurant had to offer. We chose the tasting menu, and every course was rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented. By the end, we were so full—pairing it with wine would've guaranteed we'd need to be rolled out of there! The entire experience felt special and personal. From the service to the ambiance, everything was spot-on. You really can't go wrong dining here—we'll definitely be back!
Top tier. Came for my birthday dessert and in traditional family I got 2 desserts and a salty dish. Absolutely fantastic, loved the sunflower dessert paired with the orange wine.
Great service! We got the tasting menu and my friend needed gluten friendly options and they tweaked the tasting menu to accommodate. There was also one ingredient my friend didn't like in a course so they remade with an ingredient they did like so they could still try to course. Exceptional, customized service!
This was an amazing dinner. We come to Chicago 7-8 times each year and always sample new restaurants. This was far superior to any restaurant we have eaten at in the last several years. Was innovative and loved the shareable dishes. Will be back again.
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolutely phenomenal: The food, the drinks, the ambience. I have to say, however, that you have to be able to enjoy a herbal, nordic and liquorice/fennel-heavy palate. Absolutely try the non-alcoholic drinks pairing - it is the best I have had, by far surpassing even 3 star restaurants. The atmosphere is very relaxed, warm and friendly - you certainly can dress up a little, but don't have to. Perfect for either a romantic date with class and without pretentiousness or for a celebrational family dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Upscale in the well-crafted menu, service and bar offerings this is a cozy respite from the world. The outdoor garden and fireplace is closed for the season, but the intimacy indoors suffices. As this space is surrounded by windows I would prefer banquette seating during the upcoming winter.
It is pricey so no matter how casually you dress you will be paying for a more formal dining.
Kid-friendliness: Please don't. Space is crowded and child and server safety is a concern.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
i’d give this more of a 3.5/5 than a three if i could.
surprised my bf the other night for our 9th anniversary. over the past few years we’ve been making our way through the michelin stars in chicago (from meh (Sepia, Kasama) to great (Oriole, EL Ideas, Ever)) and have four left. well, three now that we made it to Elske.
pretty much in line with 1-star expectations, but honestly a little lacking on the service front. the reception area through to the overall tasting menu service was just okay to barely audible and mumbly. the whole thing felt pretty informal (which is totally fine) but the restaurant doesn’t really present itself as informal.
the dinner peaked in the first two courses for me (the tea and croquettes were excellent; the cured tuna with fennel was quite nice). by the end, the obligatory and expected beef course was ok. would have rather just had some more croquettes.
the dessert was all a bit boring.
would go back and just do some a la carte items.
disappointed in the bar. asked for an Army and Navy (fairly standard cocktail) and they couldn’t make it. feel like if you already have a small cocktail menu, at least have the items to make a wider set of classic cocktails.
the bathroom also has the most ridiculous, unnecessary, and silly soap dispenser i have ever come across. ?
the space is nice and lively. and it was nice to snuggle up by the fire pit outside for a few minutes before heading home.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Elske’s got this quiet power, you know? It sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re all wrapped up in flavors you didn’t see coming. The food’s unreal, like a song that hits the low notes just right, and the service? It’s soft but strong, like they’re letting you into a secret.
Anna, the pastry queen—she’s something else. Like, her desserts don’t just taste good; they feel like a moment, like sinking into your favorite hoodie on a cold night. We tried a lot, but two things left me lingering: the celeriac risotto and that sunflower seed parfait. The risotto was smooth, earthy, and comforting, like it knew exactly what you needed. And the parfait? Wow. Sweet, a little dark, with that hint of honey and licorice that just stays with you.
Elske is more than a place to eat—it’s a whole mood.
Dietary restrictions: So many gluten-free options! Didn’t need to alter any dish to accommodate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sunflower Seed Parfait with Sour Honey Bee Pollen and Licorice
A great restaurant that doesn’t shy away from bold flavors and ideas. We did the tasting menu for an anniversary celebration and were blown away by how fun and enjoyable the food was. The food is modern and creative with Danish influence. That being said things trended a little saltier and cured. If that isn’t your specialty the tasting menu might not be the best option. Each dish landed but the lamb tartare was especially delicious. The service was top notch. We opted to do cocktails which didn’t disappoint but reading the non-alcoholic pairings I was a little disappointed I missed out on the unexpected juice creations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tasting Menu
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