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    EL Ideas

    4.5 (408 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American
    Open 6:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    EL Ideas Photos

    Business Info

    EL IDEAS ATMOSPHERE

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

    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.

    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

    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

    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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    20 days ago

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    3 months ago

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

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    9 months ago

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    9 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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    Page 1 of 11

    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

    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    3.3 miThe Loop
    $$

    This was my second visit to The Dearborn, and the food and service were both on point. We ordered…read morethe salmon tataki, fish and chips, Wellington burger, and Midwest fried chicken. Everything was well prepared, but the fried chicken was the standout, especially with the hot sauce adding another level of flavor. The staff stayed attentive throughout dinner and even replaced our plates between rounds, which was a level of service I wasn't expecting. I also respected seeing the owner personally making the rounds, stopping at every table to check on the guests and the food. Calm atmosphere, solid hospitality, and a kitchen that delivers.

    OMG! Walk, run, sprint here to get the FISH N CHIPS THAT ACTUALLY BEAT BOBBY FLAY. The executive…read morechef and now chef partner, Aaron Cuschieri, is absolutely amazingly talented. I am used to really good fish and chips... I've never had better fish and chips than Tom Douglas's Mr. Fish in Seattle, UNTIL NOW!!!! Wow, wow wow wow! Do not pass GO, do not read the menu, just order the darn fish and chips! It might be a whole heart attack on a plate... But it doesn't matter... You can walk all of Chicago and burn it off. I decided to work out before I came here for this big splurge and I'm so glad I did. I can see that this is the theater district... And you could come here before a show fish and chips and have the best night of your entire life! I can't wait to try more of this chef's food! I'm BEYOND INSPIRED! ps great beers here toooooi!

    Photos
    The Dearborn - $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    The Dearborn - New Spring Menu

    New Spring Menu

    The Dearborn - Spring desserts

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    Spring desserts

    Eden - seasonal dinner dishes

    Eden

    4.5(457 reviews)
    5.6 miAvondale
    $$$
    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

    Daisies - Stracci

    Daisies

    4.3(810 reviews)
    4.3 miLogan Square
    $$

    Celebrating an engagement and birthday, most of our party was from out of town. Reservations with…read morea considerable payment to hold the reservation was made. We waited 20 minutes past the reservation as the table before us was not vacated. We were given a table in the back with zero airconditioning on a hot, humid day with box fans. Everyone was sweating - horrible ambiance. Food was sold to us as family style - portion size was NOT family size and not enough for our party. Nevertheless, the food did not warrant us torder more of it- we did enjoy the overpriced tomato and the fritto misto. Skip the onion dip - not great. We enjoyed the capellacci while the cavetelli and the spaghetti alla chitarra was just ok. The gelato was the highlight of the night but honestly we couldn't wait to leave the restaurant. It was extremely disappointing to not have been consultated as to whether we wanted to wait for our original table in the main dining room instead of seating us in the back by the bathrooms. I havent seen family members in months as everyone lives on different coasts - this essentially ruined the whole experience. The food was not memorable enough to counteract the seating issue. Given that you pay a reservation fee, either put a time restriction on your tables or space your reservation times better but never use a space that lacks air flow.

    Absolutely wonderful experience! Daisies has a cute interior that is warm and intimate, and their…read morestaff follows suit. Our server helped with some suggestions and questions and was incredibly kind in her help. Everything is a based on a farm to table concept, which is apparent in the taste of the food. To start, our party got the potted carrots and THE overpriced tomato. Nice appetizer portion for a party of 4. For our mains, I opted to get the stracci and my partner the cavatelli. I was incredibly satisfied by both plates. Both were fresh and delicious. The restaurant does get busy and fill quickly. While waiting for our party for our reservation, we saw multiple people unable to dine due to the popularity of the restaurant. Highly recommend booking in advance!

    Photos
    Daisies - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Daisies - Pappardelle

    Pappardelle

    Daisies - Dining

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    Dining

    Tala House - homemade focaccia baked daily - served with salsa macha, chili oil & manchego cheese

    Tala House

    4.7(117 reviews)
    7.7 miAndersonville, Ravenswood, Uptown

    It wasn't until Ash said it that I realized it had been 20 years since our days at Children's…read moreMemorial and Zig Zag Kitchen! So when I needed someplace fabulous to celebrate my daughter's birthday, I immediately thought of Ash. Over the years, we worked together on parties, luncheons, and fundraisers. It was such a fun time in my life, although I had some very demanding people I had to answer to! No matter what I threw his way, Ash made me look good every single time. Twenty years later, he did it again. I made sure to take pictures because hopefully I can post them! I had the Halibut Scottato, and it was outstanding. My daughter had the Aleppo Chicken. I rarely eat chicken, but hers looked so good I had to have a bite. Excellent. Then there was the focaccia bread with this special oil. Oh. My. Goodness. It was so good that my daughter was hoping her entrée would hurry up and come because she wanted that bread all to herself! She kept talking about how good it was in her Oprah voice: "I LOVE BREAD!" And we can't forget the lavender lemonade--so good! Even the cheesecake at the end of the meal was superb. The food was phenomenal, but somehow, the service was even better. One piece of advice: make reservations. It may not look crowded when you first arrive, but that changes very quickly. You can tell Tala House already has its loyal customers--and after this experience, we're adding ourselves to that list. Walk in? No. We're not doing that. When you find a place with beautiful ambiance, great décor, phenomenal food, and exceptional service, you don't just visit once. You become a regular. Thank you so much to Tala House for making my daughter's birthday so special. She loved everything about the experience, and that made this mom very happy. And Ash--20 years later, you're still making me look good.

    Amazing hospitality and ambiance at this Andersonville gem! Each of the dishes are packed full of…read moreflavor and the menu is amazing for sharing with friends! Tuna tostada & watermelon salad are great starters to share and all of the mains are excellent. Pro Tip: patio does not take reservations but WORTH the wait!

    Photos
    Tala House - Inside/entrance

    Inside/entrance

    Tala House - Filet Mignon with green beans

    Filet Mignon with green beans

    Tala House - Homemade labneh and shishito peppers.  BFF #1 left no crumbs behind

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    Homemade labneh and shishito peppers. BFF #1 left no crumbs behind

    Boka

    Boka

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    4.1 miLincoln 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.

    Photos
    Boka
    Boka
    Boka - Chocolate Angel Food Cake

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    Chocolate Angel Food Cake

    EL Ideas - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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