Rigatoni alla vodka and the grilled cheese toastie was fantastic. So delicious and perfectly cooked. For the price, the portion sizes were hefty and we were stuffed to the brim afterwards. The only thing I would mention is that the lighting in the restaurant is too dark for me liking but that might be the vibe of most Chicago restaurants. Service was fantastic though and tiramisu is a much try! read more

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Elina's has been on my list for a while and it was a great experience. Service was awesome, knowledgable and friendly server. Cute date night spot. Love that they give table bread! Meatball: 4/5 Cesar salad: 4/5 Chicken parm: 4/5 Vodka pasta/: 4.5/5 read more

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I have been hearing a lot about Elina's and was excited to try it out recently. I enjoyed my meal but thought the service and vibes were just ok. It all just felt a little too trendy and "instagrammable" to me. We started with some wine, the Caesar salad, and the baked clams. Wine was good, Caesar salad was fantastic, and clams were ok - the bacon didn't really work for me and there was way too many breadcrumbs, it felt like they totally drowned out the clams. We saw other guests with bread that looked good but didn't see it on the menu, so my date asked the waitress if bread came out with dinner or if we needed to order it. She looked at me and said "Now YOU must've been looking us up on Instagram!! Yes it's our special surprise... the bread comes out with dinner!" Special Surprise Bread was comically gimmicky to me, and for the record we hadn't seen anything on instagram the people next to us just had it and it looked good! And to top it all off, it wasn't even that good at all!! It was very basic white bread with some marinara sauce on top, could've been frozen bread heated up in the oven. It was fine, can't complain about free bread, but clearly the instagram allegations got to me... For our main course, we had chicken parm and the vodka rigatoni. Chicken parm isn't my favorite to begin with, but it was pretty good. I liked that the piece of chicken was thin and the breading was delicious. Vodka rigatoni was probably my favorite part, very tasty. The ambiance overall was nice, very small and intimate dining room. Overall, I enjoyed my meal but didn't love it. Service was ok and ambiance was nice. read more

Elina's - Baked Clams Casino - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is one of my favorite Italian spots in Chicago! Every plate was devoured. Even the eggplant side was to die for! The waiter was the best and even helped us with a wine chiller for our flowers. The place is beautiful and very romantic. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I will never not write a good review for Elina's when I visit here. Best restaurant, best food, best patio, best staff. Overall obsessed. If you order any two things please let it be the eggplant parmesan and the truffle mushroom pasta. Truly phenomenal. read more

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Always a great meal every time I visit Elina's. The staff is friendly, provide great recommendations, and course out the meal perfectly. Everything is fresh and consistently great with each visit. The indoor space is cozy and the back patio is a fun summer change up. The espresso martinis and cocktail program as a whole is also a win. A great team and menu that continues to exceed expectations read more

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Wow this place was so delicious! Really great prices for the service, ambiance, and quality of the food. Everything had very distinct flavors. Will for sure be back! The vibe is upscale but relaxed. Hear lots of things about the fish so that's on my list for next time read more

We came to Elinas while in Chicago for a few days. Celebrating my birthday with Italian food always, and this restaurant did not disappoint. Complimentary starters included silky salami, pickled artichokes, garlic bread and cheese bread basket. Perfect to hold us over for the main dishes that we ordered. For our mains we ordered the chicken Parmesan and the rigatoni alla vodka to share. As dishes are served family style, these two dishes were plenty for me and hubby. We even had some leftovers! The chicken parm was thinly battered and crispy on the outside. Both my husband and I agreed it was delicious and paired wonderfully with the rigatoni. The rigatoni with its spot on sauce was topped with some tasty breadcrumbs. I can see why both of these dishes are their most popular ones. Cait, our waitress, surprised us with a celebratory cannoli on the house. I shared it with my hubby and we both agreed that it's the best cannoli we've ever had. Its outer shell is dipped in chocolate, filled with a delicious lemon ricotta filling, and dipped in crushed pistachios. We're still talking about that cannoli. Huge thanks to Cait for the above and beyond service. She really made our night with her recommendations and taking such amazing care of us. If you're looking for some of the best Italian food in Chicago and an intimate, romantic setting, Elina's is your place. Highly recommend making a reservation, as there are only ten tables inside and this place gets booked up fast. We will definitely return next time we're in the Windy City. read more

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Great food, but service fell short of expectations. The chopped salad was exceptional, the meatball was delicious, and the vodka rigatoni had some of the best sauce I've had in the city. The chicken parmigiana was nice and crispy and even better than Monteverde's. I really wanted to give this place five stars, but unfortunately, the service didn't quite measure up to other Italian restaurants in Chicago at a similar price point. Given the ambiance and price, I would have expected our waiter to be a bit warmer and more attentive. Our meatball arrived cold (although the meat itself was incredible), but our waiter never checked in between the first course and the mains, so we didn't have an opportunity to mention it. I would be more understanding of the lack of attentiveness on an especially busy night, but we had a later reservation, and the restaurant wasn't particularly crowded for a Friday night. The orecchiette was also a bit bland for my taste, though others at the table enjoyed it. To his credit, our waiter did bring out a birthday treat for the guest of honor, which was a thoughtful way to end the meal. Ultimately, I'd like to chalk the experience up to our waiter having an off day, which is completely understandable. read more

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I was really excited to try Elina's while I was in town for work. I was able to grab a last minute reservation on the patio. The inside has more of a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere, while the patio is a little more casual and cute. We started with a hugo spritz and a margarita, and they brought out complimentary bread and salami. We really enjoyed the pizza bread! We split the rigatoni alla vodka, meatballs, chicken parmesan, and mozzarella sandwich. Everything was really good, but the pasta definitely stole the show. It was so creamy with the perfect amount of kick, and the breadcrumbs added a good crunch. The only thing that threw me off was the bill. I had asked if I could get my check separate because I was traveling for work, but our waiter said they don't do separate checks. That was a little disappointing, but overall the food was great. read more

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Let me start with the service! Everyone from walking in greeted me to my table, it is a small space inside but it gives a family feel. Or can be really cozy for date night. I was offered a taste of a couple of wines to help me decide and our server was very knowledgeable and helpful. Then comes the food! The bread basket was a good start, think mini pizza slice. And if you do anything else just make sure you add the pasta! 100/10! And we shared the chicken parm which was pretty tasty but the pasta stole the show! read more

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The competition for best Vodka Pasta in Chicago introduces another contender... Elina's. Quite honestly, this is nothing new. People have been raving about this one for years, across platforms, and I just now got around to trying it. I'm coming to learn that I'm more of a purist when it comes to Vodka sauce, and now prefer a slightly darker, velvety sauce over these ultra-thick, light, overly-buttery interpretations... primarily due to the way it makes me feel after. However, I can say this one is BOMB if that's what you're in the mood for. The bread crumbs on top are perfection. Don't sleep on the Angel Hair Crab or the Orecchiette either! My bf is THE Orecchiette connoisseur and I took him here specifically to review Elina's. It's a creamer/richer one and it is fantastic. I will say that I have never felt worse after a meal in Chicago - I don't know if that was from the combo of dishes I tried? Will definitely omit the fried grilled cheese from the order next time lol. Lastly, the ribs are a must!!! This is another menu item I haven't seen reviewed much. Need to come back but still recovering from this food coma. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Reserved a table for 2 but was offered whatever seating was left at the bar Despite that our server was really nice and took good care of us The vibes are dark, moody, new school Italian spot that is cosplaying an older spot lol Calamari is usually my test for a great Italian spot but this one was not my fav. The batter is reminiscent of tempura but it was not giving what it needed to and I wish there was more squid than shrimp. The sauces that came with it were good though What saved this meal was the vodka pasta and the eggplant parm The vodka pasta had the most perfect al dente texture that I still think of The eggplant parm was a great new take on an old school classic with lasagna like layers and a crispy bottom Order family style and try a little bit of everything read more

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The food was good! The Caesar salad was huge and delicious. The little free bread and pickled veg with what I believe was prosciutto was a nice touch to the wait for the made to order pasta. I loved the decor and lighting preferences with the over waxed candlesticks and mood lighting. The music was vibey and fit the mood of the evening. The service was neat. The waiter who brought my food was very friendly and the bartender, was very polite yet not as... attentive as I was expecting or I'm used to. Not a bad thing! Not deducting points for that. I am deducting points though because there was a gnat in my water and I'm not sure where it came from. It through me off guard cause I was mid gulp and it was there just floating along. I didn't make a fuss about it or bring it to the wait staff's attention because, at that point what could they do? Was my thinking. But other than that, nice experience. 7.5/10 would recommend. read more

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Elina feels like home in the best possible way--like my mom's Italian cooking, but elevated and polished. From the moment you sit down, they bring out the freshest, thinnest salami--silky, delicate, and impossible to stop eating. The Caesar salad was absolute perfection, with just the right hint of tang that kept every bite bright and balanced. The rigatoni alla vodka was cooked perfectly al dente, coated in a rich, comforting sauce that hits every note you want. And the chicken parm? Pounded thin, beautifully crisp, and cooked flawlessly--no heaviness, just pure Italian comfort done right. Warm, soulful, and executed with precision. Elina isn't just a meal--it's a feeling. This is Italian food that reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Elina's was a good dinner experience. It's very close to my neighborhood so I wanted to love it. I can't say that, but it was good. We checked last minute for an early dinner on a Thursday evening and easily got seated at the bar for 2. This was like 630/645pm. The place got even more crowded over time. The bartender/waiter was really nice. So appreciated him. Overall the restaurant is pretty small. But anyway, on to the food. So... appetizers. They give you a couple of complementary starters. Some garlic bread and pizza bread. Garlic bread wasn't that good. Pizza bread was better. Then there were these eggplant circles (that look like pepperoni, but aren't). That was nice. What we actually ordered was a cesar salad. It was also OK. I feel it didn't have the expected tart flavor you get from that. It did look very fresh and you get a good amount. For the main, we shared an eggplant parm. It doesn't come with any pasta or anything. Oh that's one disappointment is that they don't have any gluten free pasta substitutes, so I couldn't have any of the pastas. The eggplant was good. Less breading that some places, but it was nicely done. Lot of layers, flavors, cheese, etc. It was a decent size portion that was good to share. Lastly, idk why we got this, but had a cannoli. It was good as cannoli's go - I think we got tempted when he said they make them fresh on-site. Anyway, it was good. If they had gf pasta, I'd definitely come back to try some of the other dishes. read more

Amazing food and service. I think this is the most underrated restaurant in the city-- how is everyone not talking about it? Our server was wonderful and made the dining experience extremely memorable. We enjoyed the baked clams to start and then shared the vodka rigatoni and the angel hair scampi. The scampi was one of the best things I've ever tasted and I'd go back again and again for it. Also, our waiter brought out free cannolis at the end of the meal which was the cherry on top of an already amazing dining experience! The restaurant is small and getting a reservation requires planning but it isn't impossible! Definitely worth it. read more

Elina's - Clams - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great spot! Very cute vibes, our waiter was very friendly and everything came out quickly! They recommend 3-4 dishes per two ppl, but the portion sizes are massive and I would not recommend that unless you want tons of leftovers. We definitely overspent and over ordered sadly. To start we got calamari, baked clams and a Caesar. The clams and calamari were wonderful. The clams are huge and came with 9. They had so much flavor! The Caesar was a miss for me. It was fine but something was a bit off with the Caesar dressing. For my main I got the vodka rigatoni. The portion size is huge. It was good, some pieces were over cooked and hard but overall it was good. Nothing crazy, standard vodka pasta. If you're in the mood for Italian and big portions this is a great spot! read more

Elina's - Vodka rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Elina's in Chicago's West Town is hands-down one of the best Italian-American spots I've ever experienced--easily deserving every single one of those 5 stars! From the moment we stepped inside, the vibe was perfect: intimate, cozy, and effortlessly stylish with warm wood tones, leather seating, and just the right amount of Sinatra playing overhead. It feels special without being stuffy--ideal for a date night, celebration, or just treating yourself. The food is outstanding and hits all the right notes for classic, comforting Italian done with real care and skill. We started with the Italian chopped salad (crisp, fresh, and addictive), then dove into the legendary vodka rigatoni--creamy, perfectly balanced, with that ideal kick--and the chicken parmesan, which was crispy, cheesy, and ridiculously satisfying. Portions are generous enough to share (or not!), and everything tasted homemade in the best way. Service was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable without hovering. Our server made great recommendations and kept the evening flowing smoothly. The whole team made us feel genuinely welcome. If you're craving top-notch red-sauce Italian in a buzzy yet intimate setting, Elina's is a must. We're already planning our return--highly recommend reserving ahead, as this gem fills up fast! 5/5 stars all around. Worth every penny and more. read more

My son's water glass was chipped and the sharp rim sliced his finger. The waitress said sorry and gave him a bandaid because it was bleeding. No manager was called over. As far as the food... the chicken was not crispy and was extremely dry. The steak was very hard to cut and chew. I'd say it was a very disappointing night... read more

The best dining experience I had in Chicago! Managed to book a spot at the bar for NYE dinner. The restaurant was beautifully decorated for the holiday. Amazing cocktail menu AND they have blue cheese olives for dirty martinis the complimentary bread service was a lovely treat-- both breads were tasty and my boyfriend and I devoured the salami. We split the rigatoni vodka and chicken parm. One of the best vodka sauces I've had in my life- loved the extra crunch with the breadcrumbs. The chicken parm was so tender and we adored the sauce. Service was impeccable! Everyone was so attentive. I hope to come back some day! read more

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Food here was really good. We ordered the rigatoni vodka, chicken parm and the eggplant agrodolce. Would definitely reccomend coming here for a nice dinner. read more

Came here again to celebrate my sister's birthday. We had a really good time! Honestly the vodka pasta is incredible and great as is but the truffle pasta just wasn't good, it almost tasted like plastic? That being said, our waiter did everything to make sure we were satisfied from bringing over salt pepper spices and cheese to help the taste of the truffle pasta to giving us limoncello shots and a free dessert for the birthday girl. Service is always great here and the ambiance was perfect for the holidays. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food here was amazing, but what really did it for me was the customer service! 10/10!! I got the clams, vodka rigatoni, steak, and broccoli. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. They even gave complimentary shots and tiramisu at the end. Will definitely be coming back read more

Elina's - Clams - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had an amazing time at Elina's. This is my friend's favorite restaurant so I was very excited to try it and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is fairly small so a reservation is a must (bar seating is reservations) nevertheless we were able to get a resy pretty quickly. The staff is incredibly friendly and food comes out very quickly which is a huge plus. My limencello drink was fine - I should have tried something from the wine menu, so I'll do that next time. The food was incredible. The vodka pasta was absolutely amazing and a must try. We also got the Caesar salad which was very very good. The clams were a bit of a miss so I would recommend skipping those. They bread crumbs on top were seeping in oil/very greasy. I'm excited to go back. We got 2 drinks, two appetizers and one entree and the the total was about $120 read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We saw lots of recommendations for this spot on TikTok and made reservations on a Tuesday at 4:30pm, right when they open. Upon arrival, there were already three parties waiting in front of us. Once open, they sat us quickly and brought out some appetizers. These included two different versions of bread, salami, and pickled eggplant. The server suggested 3-5 plates for a part of two so we ordered the Caesar salad & two pastas. The croutons in the salad were the perfect combination of crispy and fluffy and the powdery Parmesan on top ensured a perfect bite each time. The scampi had a strong crab flavor and the vodka pasta was irresistibly creamy. We reached a point of fullness but struggled to stop ourselves from taking more bites. We ended up with leftovers that were just as delicious the next day. read more

Elina's - Cesar salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went back to Elina's when family was visiting in town. Sat on the patio for the first time , which was very nice (beware of the ants on the table). Food was great as always. Even the bread service at the beginning was amazing. I recommend the rigatoni alla vodka. It's popular for a reason! Took off a star because I found them to be very particular. Tried to order an appetizer before the main and they said it all had to be ordered at once. Also at the end we tried to split the bill three ways and they could only split it two ways. Overall, great experience. I will be back 100% read more

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We had arrived to our reservation quite early and were sat in the backyard outdoors setting with summer sitting. while waiting for rest of the party to arrive we ordered drinks and Mozzarella En Carozza We ordered egg plant parmesan, and rigatoni with vodka for dinner and it was amazing. Parmesan was breaded very well, one of the best I have had. read more

Elina's - Eggplant parmesan - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Reserved a table for 2 but ended up getting seated at the bar (the restaurant is very intimate and cozy). The food was delicious, namely the rigatoni alla vodka which I would revisit solely for. Table bread and chicken parm were nice as well, but would skip on the caesar salad. read more

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They are amazing! From their positive attitude, their friendly atmosphere, and kind accommodations! My friends and I were on a girls trip and they made it feel so welcoming to be in Chicago! We are so grateful for their kindness and superior service!! Would recommend to anyone going to the area! read more

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Incredible service and staff! Elina's is a top spot that I keep coming back to. I love trying new things on the menu and am never disappointed. Great cocktails and n/a options too! read more

Music playlist is always a vibe here. The rigatoni allá vodka here is the best in the city. Service is always exceptional, I adore this place! read more

Great food and great service! I think this may be a bit overhyped but everything was really good. The rigatoni was really tasty but the bolognese lacked a bit of seasoning. Caesar was fantastic and bread service was as well (more restaurants should absolutely do this!). Our server was really fast and attentive. Tables are incredibly close together inside - we were basically eating on top of another couple. Would definitely recommend the patio instead. read more

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Really cozy little Italian spot in west town! It's hard to get a reservation but you should have luck walking in and grabbing a seat at the bar. Really loved the vodka rigatoni and the Caesar salad, but the clams casino were a bit salty and there were small bits of shell mixed in with the breading which made it scary to chew, so would maybe skip this one. The bread service with pickled eggplant and salami was also delightful! Will definitely be back to try more on the menu. Food: 4/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 4.5/5 read more

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I come here at least once a month! By far my favorite restaurant in Chicago! Perfect date spot and incredible food. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a fabulous little Italian spot with superb wait staff and remarkable food!! My dinner guests and I couldn't decide what to eat, so; we got a Caesar salad, an order of meatballs, eggplant Parmesan, and penne à la vodka - all to share-and still took food home. Thank you all for a wonderful experience and keep up the great job. Ciao! read more

This was a fantastic Italian restaurant. I loved how the inside looked and it was the perfect mood for a December evening. The food came out really fast for how busy it was! Before I talk about the food, I want to commend our waiter. He was very accommodating with our dietary restrictions as vegetarians and some nut allergies. He was very friendly overall, and I hope he sees this! It's a shame I can't remember his name. To start, the appetizers, the garlic and pizza bread and the chopped salad without salami, were soo delicious. As the main course, the rigatoni alla vodka was amazing. 10/10 recommend getting. My group also got the truffle based pasta that was on the menu for 12/24, but it was too truffle-y for us, so that same waiter added some Parmesan, salt, and pepper flakes to improve the taste for us! It made the dish much better. For dessert, we got some tiramisu and it was amazing! A bit boozy but still tasty. I'd recommend going family style so you can try as many items on the menu! I'd love to come back here again! read more

Elina's - Rigatoni alla Vodka & truffle pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is hands down my fav Italian restaurant in the city. You can't go wrong with ordering anything on the menu but my favorite is the vodka rigatoni. The vibes are intimate and cozy perfect for a date night or a GNO. I highly recommend. read more

Elina's - Vodka rigatoni and meatball - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've passed by this cute Italian spot so many times and finally went last week with a friend. The space is intimate and cute with Italian American crooners like Frank Sinatra in the background. It was very much a girls' night and date night kind of spot. My friend and I split the meatballs, caesar salad, and rigatoni a la vodka. All were phenomenal! I'm typically not a huge caesar salad person, but this one was really good! Service was spot on too. Great spot! read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends were ravinggg about Elina's and it did not disappoint! For a table of 5, we got: fritto misto, eggplant agrodolce, baked clams casino, Caesar salad, rigatoni alla vodka x2, penne bolognese, cherry pepper ribs and shrimp scampi. They also gave complimentary bread, pickled eggplants and salami. Holy cow, everything was sooo good and the portions were all pretty generous so we had SO much leftover lol. My favorites would be the baked clams casino, cherry pepper ribs and rigatoni alla vodka. The clams were sooo flavorful and had great texture, the cherry pepper ribs were tender and delicious as hell. There was a burst of liquid in every bite of the rigatoni alla vodka lol idk how to describe it but I've never had pasta like that before and it was A1 hahaha. The ambiance is moody, fun, a little more on the casual side than fancy. I love everything about Elina's!! The service was also fantastic, very friendly and attentive. The food came out at different times in a very organized way. I would 1000% recommend trying it out and for SURE get the cherry pepper ribs out of everything haha read more

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