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EL Ideas

4.5 (409 reviews)
Ultra High-EndNew American
Closed • Closed

EL IDEAS · YELP ASSISTANT

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EL IDEAS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Intimate
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - EL Ideas

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Reviews With Photos

Cherries
Aye K.

An incredible michelin-starred experience with a relaxed, intimate vibe. The atmosphere is casual and inviting, with an open kitchen concept that encourages guests to walk around, observe the food prep, and chat with the chefs. It was such a unique and personal touch. If you're more introverted like I am, rest assured you can also enjoy the meal comfortably from your table without feeling pressured to mingle. It's BYOB so you can bring your alcohol (or non-alcohol) drink of choice. They recommend whites or light reds, so we brought a pinot which paired well with the meal. It seems like the menu is constantly evolving with new innovative ideas. Each course felt like a thoughtful surprise, so I'll keep the descriptions brief to avoiding spoiling too much: *Corn (creole style with crab/chicken) *Beef tartare *Halibut with porcini mushroom - a standout dish for me, mainly due to the porcini! *Smoked scallop *Octopus - unbelievably tender *Chicken and waffle - not what you'd expect, and the chicken liver mousse was a fantastic addition *Duck - so tender and full of flavor *French fries & frosty - a playful and nostalgic treat *Cherries - a lovely finish to the meal Every dish was plated beautifully and thoughtfully presented. It's clear the team puts care into not just the flavors, but the entire dining experience. Highly recommend this spot for a memorable meal that balances refinement with warmth and creativity.

Jeannie Y.

El Ideas is torn between two extremes for me. On one hand, I personally didn't like it at all. On the other hand, I can see how it might be perfect for someone with the opposite taste, because the effort and the service were excellent. The first thing that struck me was the appearance of the employees. They looked too casual, and the overall space felt more like walking into a warehouse than a restaurant. It didn't feel inviting, and at times I found myself distracted, thinking about whether hair or other things could end up in the food. That sense of "chaos" took away from the dining experience. Another part I didn't enjoy was being told what to do by the chef. We were instructed to eat certain plates without utensils and even walk around the kitchen to watch them cook. Personally, I don't like being directed on how to eat during a meal. At a restaurant, I prefer to relax and enjoy without following orders. The food itself also wasn't to my taste. The flavors didn't land well, the textures were tough, and while there seemed to be some Japanese influence in the dishes, it didn't feel authentic. The final dessert especially felt childish, as if I wasn't being respected as a diner. On the positive side, the workers were very friendly and attentive, which I did appreciate. However, the location itself looked sketchy and didn't add to the overall impression.

French fries and ice cream
laurence h.

We have eaten numerous times at El Ideas over the last decade or so, every meal has been memorable. Last nights dinner was very good, everything tasted great and the chefs were particularly engaging. BYOB makes El Ideas (along with Schwa) the most cost effective Michelin restaurant/tasting menu in Chicago. That said, I was hungry when I got home. Maybe its my imagination, but it seemed like there was less courses than in the past. There just wasn't enough food this time. We will return!

Beautiful soup
Susan W.

Way off the beaten path, genuinely warm service, casually comfortable special evening ambiance and food that is playful and elegant ...all while you think it tastes like things you've had before, but realize you haven't had anything like this. We loved our special evening here. It started with a shot shared with the other diners and staff poured straight out of the bottle without chasers. The ability to BYOB made for the perfect occasion to crack open a hoarded bottle. All of the food was excellent, but our favorites were the soup, tartare and bread with liver mousse. My descriptions do not do any course justice, but instead of reading this review, get yourself to this restaurant! Chef and team are to be applauded for keeping it about the food and hospitality and not about glitter and hand waving. Thank you! An evening to remember.

Interior
Jim D.

I quite enjoy these off the beaten path, relaxed & inventive one Michelin star restaurants. Of course there's faults but I can count on one hand how many flawless restaurants I've been to. One fault is the price. Tbh the price is two or rarely 3 Michelin star territory. secondly they literally kick you out to prepare for the next seating. Parking can be tricky but doable. Loved the fact that twas byob & they offered to change glassware as well as produce aerators for wine or ice buckets for champagne. Biggest compliments go to inventive dishes such as the French fry frosty, pasta dish & the fact that you're able to literally go into the kitchen & converse with the chefs during service

Kelly D.

Very unique experience with a fantastic staff!! The food makes this experience worth every penny but the staff sure does go above and beyond to make it worth even more. Intimate quiet setting makes it also great for a special date night or a celebration

Nick P.

This was a unique Michelin restaurant. Parking can be limited if you decide to drive. When you walk in, it's not luxurious or sumptuous looking, this makes you feel like you're at a friend's house. You're just hanging out, letting your friends cook for you. They took my coat and hanged it up for me. Seating is limited. Food was very creative, innovative, and tasty. The menu changes so it'll never be the same as the past year's except for the shake and fries course. That one will always stay on. Dress code is casual/dressy but at least make yourself look presentable. Definitely do better than a t shirt. The staff was very friendly and service was great.

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2 months ago

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5 months ago

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1 year ago

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20 days ago

Pretty good loved the food very tasty very fun place very authentic. A place you can bring your family too great service great ambiance

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5 months ago

Affordable prices with high-quality food. Loved the ambiance and the tasty menu options.

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11 months ago

Delicious! Some of the best food we've had and such a great vibe. Truly an exceptional meal from exceptionally talented staff.

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Ask the Community - EL Ideas

I can't see anything about the menu. How do I see what they serve?

It's a chef's menu, you don't know what will be served until you get there.

Can a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) option be accommodated?

You can email them, they're quite nice about this stuff

Do you leave the restaurant full or are the portions too small?

You'll leave full

Is there a minimum age restriction for guests coming to this place?

I've heard 25 but don't quote me

View All 5 Questions

Girl & The Goat

Girl & The Goat

4.4(10.8k reviews)
2.5 mi•West Loop, Near West Side
•$$$

Yes, please. I would like a reservation for each day of the week. Creative menu with skill in the…read morekitchen. Be sure to call for reservations. Lots of energy in the dining are.

My husband and I were here in 2018 and it was phenomenal. When we had an opportunity to visit…read moreChicago again, my husband made reservations here for their Tiniest Goat menu and experience. This menu was anything but tiny and delivered big on EXPERIENCE. Last time, we saw Chef Izard expediting the line and everything ran like a well-oiled machine. This time, Chef Izard wasn't here but her restaurant still ran with the same precision and impeccable eye for quality of food, service, and ambiance. Our server was Luis (and his team) and we sat at the kitchen bar. We were greeted with genuine warmth and a champagne toast. We will remember Luis and will ask for him again. The menu items on this six-course Tiniest Goat experience were ANYTHING but tiny. The flavors were even BEYOND what we'd come to expect having eaten here previously and at Chef Izard's LA rooftop dining experience. The menu items were a fusion of Chicagoat, Asian, and California fresh! The braised goat with persimmons was an unexpected delight, as was every single course. We've had great goat empanadas here before. My husband lived in the DR before where he'd thought he had the best goat ever, but Chef Izard's team surpassed his high expectations. Chef Preston was personable and made the experience unlike we'd had before in the best possible ways. It was interactive. We got to experience firsthand what we saw last time only closer up, which was a team that works exceptionally well with each other AND truly loves what they do. They were also having fun and kind to one another. Well Done, BRAVO!

Photos
Girl & The Goat
Girl & The Goat
Girl & The Goat

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Eden - seasonal dinner dishes

Eden

4.5(458 reviews)
5.6 mi•Avondale
•$$$
Locally sourced ingredients
Vegetarian friendly

I'm so glad I finally went here! This has been on my list for forever and I planned it for my…read morebirthday dinner. The service was outstanding and they were very attentive. They were also really good with allergies in my family has a lot so that was really helpful and made us feel good with the kitchen. We tried a lot of different dishes! We got the tater tots, the focaccia, the arugula salad, the market salad, and the carrots to share. Then I tried the burger and the chicken. Finally, we had the strawberry shortcake and the cookies with malted milk and they also gave me some confetti cookies with a candle! Tater tots were fine, but in my opinion, nothing crazy although I did love the carrots and all of the salads are extremely fresh since everything is farm to table and locally sourced. They even have a greenhouse on campus that you can tour during the day. The burger was amazing- very unique flavors and again tasted so fresh! I also loved the chicken. The cookies and malted milk was insane. The only miss was the strawberry shortcake- really big basil flavor and just was too much. It's kind of in a random location so I would have to really plan to go here, but I love that they changed their menu constantly and I definitely want to try brunch! They also gave me a birthday menu for my birthday and I thought that was a great touch! Just a super relaxing place and my whole family loved it. Cocktails were great too and again used all natural flowers & herbs!

What an amazing place! We were a party of six celebrating a few birthdays and everyone enjoyed…read moretheir meals. They were very sensitive to my gluten-free needs. Some people had brunch and some enjoyed lunch. I had the green coconut curry, and it was amazingly delicious. Just the right amount of heat. The fruit salad side dish had a very good variety of different fruits. Everyone loved the potatoes. When I asked if they were gluten-free, they informed they were not but they'd see what they could do. They came out later with a huge bowl of gluten-free potatoes. So delicious and they really went the extra mile. Other things I love about this restaurant is that they use local produce and I believe they have their own garden as well. They also had a meal that day that you could order and would benefit a local nonprofit. Highly recommend this place! Not only was the ambience great but they have several rooms, two of which you can reserve for a private party, and they also do weddings in a larger area on the property. Leslie, if you go to the back where they have one of their bathrooms, they have several small gift items available.

Photos
Eden - Roasted Duck Lasagna with
béchamel, ricotta, cara cara, pear saba, and pecorino jus - featured in our Chicago Restaurant Week Dinner Menu

Roasted Duck Lasagna with béchamel, ricotta, cara cara, pear saba, and pecorino jus - featured in our Chicago Restaurant Week Dinner Menu

Eden - Short Rib Pastrami Reuben 
with swiss, sauerkraut, spicy remoulade and housemade rye country bread - featured in Chicago Restaurant Week

Short Rib Pastrami Reuben with swiss, sauerkraut, spicy remoulade and housemade rye country bread - featured in Chicago Restaurant Week

Eden - Roasted half chicken

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Roasted half chicken

Boka

Boka

4.3(1.9k reviews)
4.1 mi•Lincoln Park
•$$$$

Boka was a special dining experience. The restaurant offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere, and the…read morestaff were wonderful. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful with their recommendations. We opted in for the vegetarian tasting menu. Each course was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Nothing felt like an afterthought, and the menu offered an impressive variety of flavors and textures. We were super full at the end. The restaurant also prepared a special birthday menu with all the great dishes the chef made for us that day. Some of our favorites included the Cherry Tomato Tart, Smoked Turnip, Chestnut Ravioli, and Roasted Maitake Mushroom with Meyer lemon and black truffle. The Chocolate Tart and Elderflower Panna Cotta were the perfect finishing touches along with the birthday ice cream popsicle. Overall, Boka felt intimate, elevated, and impeccably executed. It was clear that tremendous thought went into every dish. This was a truly memorable meal, and we will be back :).

I got a bar seat reservation for the missus and I (two) at 7:15pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The…read morefront desk was courteous - they give you a key for your bags (looks like an ancient key) as part of bag check, and led us to our table at the leftmost side of the bar. The bar seating itself wasn't super crowded - but every booth and table looked like it was taken, so that was interesting. On my way to the bathroom I saw their numerous michelin years of guide and stars. It's noticeably missing 2026 - and after having dined here, I kind of get why. For a drink I got the local Eris Pedestrian cider. We debated getting the chef menu ($195/each) , but we ended up ordering a la carte: chicken liver mousse ($9/each, we ordered two), roasted veal sweetbreads ($30), black truffle chicken ($43), and roasted dry aged pork loin ($51). We later ordered a financiers for dessert (forgot the price). We were full after eating everything that we ordered, but given the lack of quality of the cuts of meat, the small portion sizes, and the extremely high cost, it's hard for me to recommend this place. If this is what Michelin star-quality food tastes like (at least in Chicago), the Michelin evaluators here have either no actual taste buds, or are awarding stars for "vibes" only. The vibes are fine - don't get me wrong - but the food here isn't anything worth writing home about. Dish by dish: mousse was decent, the veal was kinda dry, the chicken was very dry, and the pork loin, while decent, wasn't as special as we thought it'd be. Financiers was kinda sweet but it was actually the only part of the meal I truly enjoyed the bites of. The post-meal truffle thing was too sweet for the missus so I ate both. The cider was... Pedestrian, as the name implies. Definitely the most fitting name for the drink. The bathrooms are down the stairs - so it's terrible for those in wheelchairs or that are mobility challenged. The bathrooms themselves are high-quality - which is part of the experience, but idk if it's "worthy" of adding stars to a mediocre food experience.

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Boka
Boka
Boka - Chocolate Angel Food Cake

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Chocolate Angel Food Cake

Yardbird Table & Bar

Yardbird Table & Bar

3.8(473 reviews)
3.7 mi•Near North Side
•$$
Full bar
Gluten-free friendly

Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!

We chose Yardbird because of their gluten-free options, and making a reservation through OpenTable…read morewas super easy! The restaurant itself is beautiful! Very hip and trendy, with a great atmosphere and a two-story layout. The upstairs area looked like it would be perfect for larger groups or private gatherings. Unfortunately, the service didn't quite match the atmosphere. We were a party of six and arrived before the big dinner rush, so it wasn't particularly busy when we ordered. Our server was very quiet and not especially engaging. I was seated toward the end of the table, and rather than walking over to take my order or answer questions, she spoke to me from across the table. I personally enjoy being able to have a conversation with my server, especially when I have questions about gluten-free options, and it was awkward trying to communicate across five other people. Our food took approximately 35 minutes to arrive after ordering, which seemed excessive considering how quiet the restaurant was when we placed our order. Interestingly, the staff assisting with clearing tables and refilling water were much friendlier and more personable than our actual server. The GF Fried chicken was good, crispy but lacked flavor. I did not care for the GF waffles, and the syrup was underwhelming. Others enjoyed their meal, the fish and chips and short ribs were well liked. One thing worth mentioning: Yardbird automatically adds a 20% gratuity for parties of six. We all had separate checks, and when paying through the QR code, the payment system also prompted for an additional tip. If you're not paying attention, it would be easy to tip twice, so definitely double-check before submitting payment. The restaurant is on the pricier side, although the portions are generous. Overall, I loved the atmosphere and appreciated having gluten-free options, but the service and overall experience fell a little short of expectations. I'm glad we tried it, but I'm not sure it's somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit again.

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Yardbird Table & Bar
Yardbird Table & Bar
Yardbird Table & Bar

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Maxwells Trading - Clay Pot Mushroom Rice - Yamagata koshihikari, shiitake, maitake, chestnut & blue oyster mushrooms

Maxwells Trading

4.5(230 reviews)
2.1 mi•Near West Side, West Loop

OVERVIEW: My favorite meal we had this visit!!! Everything was full of flavor and well-executed…read more Service was seamless and the vibes were cozy modern farm-to-table. We ate family-style, as recommended, so we could try several things. Not a single dish disappointed. I would 100% visit again whenever I revisit Chicago! FOOD RATINGS: - Prosciutto & Gnocco Fritto (4/5): Incredible dish to start off with. Our server recommended it and she did not guide us wrong! The puffy fried bread with the creamy cheese, salty prosciutto, and sweet jam was a beautiful flavor bomb. - Scallion griddle bread (5/5): I could have eaten like 10 of these. Like a scallion pancake but thicker, fluffier, and so hot and buttery! - Japanese eggplant (3/5): Thought this would be more of a dip but it was just large chunks of eggplant. Still great flavor and would order again! - French onion dip (5/5): The best dip we tried. The truffle oil was a nice touch. I could have licked the bowl. - Clay pot mushroom rice (5/5): Generously portioned and sooo good with the crispy rice. I loved the yuzu kosho, house-made sriracha, and soy sauce on the side as toppings. If you love mushrooms you have to try this. - Leek stuffed pappardelle (5/5): I've never seen stuffed pappardelle before, but this was amazing! Definitely hand-crafted and such an amazing flavor combo. - Turbot fish (4/5): A lighter, more subtle entrée dish. Flaky and tender fish. - Apple cinnamon butter cake (4/5): So full but had to try it. Warm and cozy.

Maxwell trading was a food experience. I enjoyed the flavors and textures of the food along with…read moreambiance. It was upscale and a great spot to check out. I was slightly disappointed with the balance of the meals though (more on this below). FOOD: we had the roasted chicken, broccoli "beef" (made with tofu skin), hummus, bread, martinis, brownie sundae, salad. Highlight was the chicken-- cooked perfectly and very good. While the bread was FABULOUS, the hummus was quite filled with oil which is not to my liking. The salad was filled with variety. The broccoli beef was overly sweet and the "beef" (which we were told was tofu) was just tofu skin and was not abundant, making this really not an entree style dish and would be better marketed as an appetizer. Other than the broccoli "beef" falling flat, the meal was enjoyable and I appreciated the intention that was clear in the menu. AMBIANCE: very upscale and nice, a great spot to check out as a nice night activity. SERVICE: attentive, professional

Photos
Maxwells Trading - Bar and seating area

Bar and seating area

Maxwells Trading - Brownie sundae with caramelized bananas

Brownie sundae with caramelized bananas

Maxwells Trading - Exterior

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Exterior

EL Ideas - newamerican - Updated November 2026

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