Great date night! We stopped by at 6pm on a Saturday to put our names in for 2 seats at the bar. By 7:15, our table was ready! It's BYOB with no corkage (as of 11/14/21). Besides wanting to try the entire menu, we settled on the chicken parm, cherry ribs, vodka rigatoni with 1 a la carte meatball and the angle hair scampi with crab. Including the bread and spread you get complimentary I'd give everything a 10/10! I wasn't as excited for the angel hair pasta and ribs but they did not disappoint. To end dinner we got a cannoli - yum! We plan to go back and I want to try a few different items - chopped salad, baked clams, eggplant parm, ect read more

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Absolutely loved my experience! Sat at the bar and both the service and atmosphere were fantastic! Really enjoyed our cocktails (Negroni and espresso martini) and all the food was delicious! Definitely want to go back at try the eggplant. read more

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Great new Italian place- (BYOB)!! loved the warm ambiance, service was friendly and most importantly the food was delicious. The menu is small and intimate just like their restaurant and my fiancé and I were able to pretty much order 60% of the menu just to try it all! We took home a lot of leftovers but don't regret ordering all that food. Every dish was executed so well. Dinner started out with complimentary focaccia and garlic bread with fresh salami and picked vegetable. They can put that focaccia bread on the menu and I will order it every time! Must have- cherry pepper ribs (the meat falls off the bone and that sauce!), Chopped salad with pickled peppers and crispy salami (aka delicious bacon bits), Baked clams casino with breadcrumbs, chicken parmesan, rigatoni a la vodka (wowww)! You can skip- the vesuvio potatoes and the Fritto Misto. The Fritto Misto was okay- I've had better fried/batter Fritto Misto. The potatoes- they are potatoes...the rest of their dishes are so delicious I didn't need a side to accompany any of the entree's. We will definitely come back to try the rest of their dishes and excited for this new restaurant! read more

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The future is bright for Elina's! I ran into owner/chef Eric Safin a couple of weeks ago after exiting neighboring Vinnie's (Chicago's best subs). At the end of a brief conversation, he said, "I'd love to cook for you." Tonight was the night! Elina's comfortable space features exposed brick, green tufted banquettes, and tightly-spaced tables. My wife really liked the table settings; the vintage china is an eclectic assortment that might have been purchased from local thrift stores. Food: wonderful! We started with a chopped salad with super fresh greens, bits of crispy salami, and pickled peppers. My main was a flavorful shrimp scampi, my wife had the many-layered eggplant parmiagiana. Both were scrumptious and large enough that we took some home. Service was good, prices are reasonable, and for the time being, Elina's is BYO which I love. I'm looking forward to returning! read more

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I have been fighting for a year to get reservations here and for good reason. It has been hyped up as Chicago's own Carbone to rival NYC's. While I've never had the NYC version I can say this place was worth every penny and minute spent on the reservation site! Everything is served family style which is really nice. There were only 2 people in my party so it was suggested to order 3 items off the menu and more if we were super hungry. I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka (house favorite), Caesar salad and chicken Parmesan(house favorite) which was the perfect amount of food. The restaurant offers a wonderful breadbasket, salami, and pickled beets complimentary. The rigatoni was to die for. The bread crumbs on top made it all so much more richer and the noodles fill and hold the sauce perfectly. As for the chicken Parmesan it was cooked well being thin and having the perfect bite to it. The Caesar salad was amazing as well. I loved the dressing and the abundant amount of cheese. The croutons were warm and fresh which added to my love of the salad. Inside the restaurant it is very cozy and romantic (and quite dark) which I think adds to the ambiance and aesthetic. All in all, I think Elina's is a must go if you're able to get a reservation or lucky enough to get walk up seating! read more

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Came here from a tiktok that said Elina's was created by someone who had worked at Carbone, and it was simply mouthwatering.. I would come back for the free garlic bread alone. The spicy vodka rigatoni could use some more sauce, but was still to die for. We were seated outside at first but it did get a bit cold despite the patio heating, but it was a very cozy and intimate environment. To top it off, it was extremely affordable and I was shocked when I got the check for only around $60-70 for a drink, 2 main courses and dessert. read more

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This is hands down one of my most favorite restaurants in Chicago but I came to ask one question and one question only of Elina's (if they read their reviews)... Why do the meatballs always sell out? I can understand this happening with certain pieces of fish or more rare/ needing to be fresh menu items... but meatballs? What are you guys putting in them that you only can make a limited quantity every night? It's confounding to me... I have been to this place probably 20 times and have only had the meatballs maybe 5 times. I bring out of town guests here and we get there and bam, no meatballs. Are you guys running an Hermes Birkin scheme with the meatballs? Is there a rare beef in the meatballs that can only be sourced once a week? I need to know and I am kindly asking you to fix this please . read more

Great neighborhood Italian spot with simple, well executed classics and an intimate ambiance. Rigatoni alla vodka was as good as it looks, meatballs also excellent, and the huge croutons in the Caesar salad were very buttery but also delicious. Great value for what you get too with complimentary bread and salami. read more

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This place was everything I had hoped for and more. The service was impeccable- as was the food. It was very gloomy and rainy outside and the restaurant itself was warm and cozy and it was the perfect weather for Italian food. We ordered the Caesar Salad (I would order this again just for the croutons), as well as the Mozzarella Sandwhich thing for apps. They also brought out mozzarella bread and salami! We also ordered the meatballs (to die for) and the chicken parm which was cooked perfectly. We obviously had to try the Vodka Rigatoni and I was blown away. Truly some of the best vodka sauce I have ever had. I was getting so full but I didn't want to stop eating. We finished the meal with the cannoli which was the perfect way to end the meal. The portion sizes were very large and fairly priced. I think for the 3 mains, 2 apps, 1 dessert, and 3 glasses of wine we each paid around $90! This place is a must try! read more

Elina's - Rigatoni Vodka, Chicken Parm, Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Elina's has fantastic, moody, intimate atmosphere with dishes that really shine with bold flavors. The only downside is that the space is quite tight at the tables, which some folks may really not enjoy. The bread at the beginning is so good! Caesar salad is rich, well dressed, and the real deal. Rigatoni all vodka is a must order. It's just a really solid, creamy vodka sauce pasta. Eggplant agrodolce is a must order as well. The outside of these eggplant pieces are a light fried crispiness that balances so well with the inner softness of the eggplant, all brought together with this slightly sweet, tangy, savory agrodolce sauce that's outstanding. I love it so much. Their table red wine is really good, though I'm no wine expert. It's got a nice balance. Very slight sweetness, not very acidic or tannic. Easy drink and the price is great. Branzino is a great fish choice. Chicken parmesan is big and amazing. For dessert I've had the tiramisu, which I really really like. I'm not typically a tiramisu fan, but the coffee flavor isn't overpowering and it's got a light sweetness that makes me want to just keep eating and eating it. read more

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All in, great homemade pastas. Sizable portions, and the price isn't too outrageous. The starter garlic bread and salami were delicious - honestly, a highlight of the meal. The rigatoni was tasty and what you would expect in a rigatoni. Not mind blowingly out of this world, but dependable. And sometimes, that's all you need. The atmosphere is wonderful - homey and they play soft Italian music in the background. So wonderful. Service was a bit too quick and recommend asking to clear a plate before doing so. We still had bites left of our salad, bread, and plates, but not a huge deal. Just felt rushed. Would recommend checking this place out! read more

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Food: 5/5 This is my favorite Italian in Chicago. Their food is exactly the same as Carbone and doesn't miss. We ordered the caesar salad which was enough for the three of us. The garlic bread croutons are to die for and the dressing tastes amazing. The table side bread is very delicious you get both garlic bread and a pizza like bread. The pizza like bread was fluffy and fresh. Everything we ordered was super fresh and served hot! We ordered the spicy rigatoni which is a Carbone copy and SO GOOD. The perfect amount of sauce and the perfect amount of spice. The chicken parmesan we ordered was cooked perfectly. The portions are huge and are definitely worth the price. Service: 5/5 We arrived right when Elina's opened and were able to snag a seat at the bar. There is limited seating and reservations can be hard to get so I would recommend going right when they open or making a reservation well in advance. The bartenders were friendly and provided thoughtful answers to the questions we had. Ambiance: 5/5 Elinas is beautifully decorated and has an amazing old school Italian vibe while still being trendy. The low lighting is such a great dinner vibe and they play good music. read more

Elina's - Table Bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finnnaaallllyyy got a reservation here at 5:45pm on a Tuesday. I had wondered why it took me so long to get a spot here and realized why when I came in. The restaurant is small - there is no more than 12 tables in the place along with the bar. That being said, make a reservation early or if you're a pair of two, try and walk in and sit at the bar - it is open seating. For appetizers we ordered: Fritto Misto (4/10) - too much breading and very oily. Caesar Salad (6/10) - amazing croutons and good flavor but drenched in dressing. Baked Clams (2/10) - greasy - I did not care for this at all. Mozzarella en Carozza (5/10) - how bad can a crispy mozzarella sandwich really be? This wasn't bad I was just tired of oily fried apps at this point. FREE house bread (10/10) - came with olives and meat. Best app and it was the one we didn't pay for. For dinner: Rigatoni alla Vodka (1000/10) - absolutely to die for and what the restaurant is known for. I still dream about this at night (and during the day). Fusilli alla Norcina - (8/10) really good but my least favorite of the pastas. Creamy but still light. Really good sausage. Penne & Prosciutto - (9/10) another amazing pasta dish. So creamy and tasty. Noodles perfectly al dente. All in all - SKIP on the apps and enjoy the free bread. Indulge on all the pasta!! I will come back here, sit at the bar, order a glass of wine, eat my free bread and a whole Rigatoni to myself. read more

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Finally made it to Elina's and what a great experience! We had a party of 4 so got to try many of the dishes to share. Rigatoni & chicken parm obviously but don't sleep on the cherry pepper ribs (our serves suggestion and he was spot on)! read more

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Usually love this place and have spent tons of money here. My bf and I decided to get takeout and I asked him to get the focaccia bread that they usually serve when you sit inside, so he went to pickup our order and asked if he could order the bread as well and offered to pay for two orders of it beings as we were dining out not in... the rude lady at the front told him no because they only serve it if you sit inside.ITS BREAD. Absolutely ridiculous especially when someone is OFFERING to purchase it. Unbelievable and left a bad taste in our mouth. Will not return after that. One star. read more

Great Food, I got the spicy vodka rigatoni and easily one of the best if not the best in the city. Also had the mozzarella "sandwich" really good too, and the best part is that the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food that you are getting.. also very nice intimate setting great for date night! read more

The food was great when I dined in. This is a $17 Caesar salad ordered online... do not order to go. read more

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

Elinas has absolutely taken the cake for my new favorite Italian restaurant in the city. This place is a MUST try! Baked Clams were absolutely wonderful, classic Cesar salad, with the complementary bread / meat. Everything was served family style giving a very traditional Italian feel, our main course was the vodka pasta which was AMAZING I ate the entire plate before remembering to snap a picture. Espresso martini 10/10 as well such a fun place to go for a date night, will definitely be back. read more

Elina's - Caesar Salad and Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was ok, best dish to me was pepper ribs. Food wasn't memorable. Service was great . Ambiance lively and busy. We sat at the bar. Ordered food immediately. Came mostly for the vodka pasta and was not impressed. Ribs needed to be evenly coated. Sweet sauce was all at the bottoms maybe just drizzled read more

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Everything. Everything. Favorite Italian in Chicago. Calamari was perfectly breaded and the sauce was perfect. Clams were delicious. Grandmas bread I could eat a whole loaf. Pickled eggplant wow. Trust me. Eggplant parmigiana was the best I've ever had. Gotta get the vodka sauce. *slightly overhyped* The best meatball I've had besides my nonnas, but it goes toe to toe. And the ribs. Do not sleep on them. Best rib I've ever had. Tiramisu and cannoli for dessert. Both delicious. Gotta do it. Can't disappoint. Ambiance! Perfect! Hard as hell to get a reservation, but I know why now. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While the food was decent, our reservation was at 7:30pm and it was close to 9 before we got our entrees. There were other tables that arrived much later than ours that were served first. Overall disappointing, read more

Reservation was at 9:15; we showed up around 9:08, and our table was prepped and ready for us. They have a great wine selection, and a short-but-sweet, perfectly executed dinner menu. Highly recommend the cesar salad, baked clams, and rigatoni alla vodka (obviously). We were looking forward to the meatballs but they were 86'd - a fan favourite I guess! So, we were forced to pivot and select the ribs, which I can't recommend enough! Very tender, fall-off-the bone meat with a zesty and sweet sauce - delicious! The vibes were immaculate, pairing just right with the flavourful food and excellent customer service. Great spot! read more

Elina's - the interior of a restaurant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food and cocktails. The ambiance is a throw back to the small Italian place, you always love going to. Servings are plentiful enough to share and you will still be bringing leftovers home with you! Delicious!!! read more

This restaurant had such good food and cocktails. The portions are huge & the wait staff is very kind. Hard to tell it's open with the construction but it definitely is A must try! read more

A but difficult to get a reservation but I see why now. They don't open until 5:30pm and is a pretty small spot...they definitely pack in tables about as close as possible. However, the food definitely lives up to the hype. We started with the chopped salad which was a good portion for 2 or 3 to share. My favorite chopped salad I've ever had! It also came with complimentary tomato focaccia, garlic bread and salami which were all wonderful...and even better for free. Lastly we got the cherry pepper ribs and rigatoni alla vodka to split. Both were fantastic and recommendations from our waiter (who was great as well). Not a large menu but didn't have one bad thing. Looking to come back again soon (if I can get reservations!) read more

Elina's - Cherry Pepper Ribs & Rigatoni alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Foods presentation was great, but lacked flavor overall. The chicken was dry, and the scallops weren't cooked properly. The best part of the meal overall was the meatballs, but they ran out after us. Had to ask for the bread service and got attitude from the server after. read more

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This was a truly wonderful meal! My friend and I enjoyed everything we ordered. We split the chopped salad (fresh greens with a bright dressing and crispy salami), chicken parmesan (very thin and crispy), and rigatoni alla vodka (creamy and delicious). Everything was to perfection. We also enjoyed the complimentary bread service (two pieces of garlic bread and two pieces of what seemed to be pizza bread). Our only complaint would be that due to the small restaurant size, the tables are seated VERY close together. It was a bit uncomfortable -- especially when we got up to leave. Otherwise, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal here and will definitely be back. read more

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

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Sorry to hyped. For the price I can make 10x better more then younger generation. Descent food.

might be my favorite italian spot in chicago and there are quite a few italian spots to choose from! the vodka rigatoni was to die for as well as the lobster scampi! the meatballs were so delicious! they have cute match boxes you can take and the ambiance is so charming with the taper candles. it is quite small in there so i would recommend getting a reservation or going early! the service was great and we will definitely be going back here !! read more

Space is small and it is crammed with tables. During our meal, we had to move our table to make room for people that were to be sitting next to us. We also had to move our table again when we finished our meal and were getting ready to leave. The complimentary bread was good, and our eggplant parmesan was a generous portion. The vodka pasta was nothing special. Overall, the experience was underwhelming but they are very generous with their portion sizes. read more

Well, it's only taken about a year for this place to no longer care about it's customers because they're now popular and successful. Certainly the owners know how precarious the restaurant business is. You keep alienating customers . . . eventually there are less customers. This was are go-to favorite Italian place last year. Took friends there every chance we could. Ordered takeout almost every Friday. We just went a couple weeks ago with friends. It was their 1st time here and my wife & I had really talked the place up. Unfortunately every aspect of Elina's has gone down. Food and service has really declined. My party of 4 was really disappointed. The food wasn't as good and they changed part of the menu in not a good way. The service was rushed and with a poor attitude. We ordered appetizers which appropriately came out first. Then our party ordered 4 pastas and two entrees. Inexplicably all 6 dishes came out at once. Including an expensive Dover Sole for two. How do expect 2 people to eat all of that without all of it becoming cold and inedible. The pasta congealed and the fish was ice cold. We can't be expected to play beat the clock with all that food at once. It's literally called "primi" and "secondi". Let me translate for them: 1st and 2nd. Not everything all at once! We were also disappointed they took the filet off the menu. They replaced it with a 40oz ribeye. I go out to dinner with vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and some people that just don't want steak. Now, how can anyone order a steak without getting the entire table to commit to also having steak? They can't. The pasta which used to be their main draw was also average. I hope they turn things around and start caring again. We've sworn to never dine in again or recommend to friends. We might still order take out of only Rigatoni Alla Vodka occasionally, because that's really the only thing they've got going for them. It's a real shame. read more

Chicago has a lot of great Italian restaurants and therefore, sets the bar pretty high in terms of what is exceptional Italian vs enjoyable. Elina's has a two week waiting period and great reviews which set the bar pretty high. I ended up rating it 3/5 because i thought it was okay. The ambience was cute and the place was small. We had a reservation and still were seated at the bar which makes me think there is really no space for walk ins at the bar. Our server was nice and service was fine- not the best I've ever had Food: -complimentary bread, salami and pickles: first, the bread was amazing. The focaccia was warm and delicious! The garlic bread was also great. The salami was pretty standard- enjoyable but nothing to rave about. The pickles were soft and mushy but the flavor was good; I was hoping for more of a crunch when I think pickles or something bring pickled. PASTAS: -rigatoni a la vodka: this was the best dish of the night. The sauce was creamy and rich, in my personal opinion I was hoping for a bigger kick of spice and more sauce to dip bread in. But the pasta was cooked perfect and this was a win. -fusilli bolognese: this reminded me more of Alfredo sauce meets pesto. It was a great flavor but due to the shape of the pasta some bites were more salty and pepper heavy. But again this was still enjoyable Mains or secondi: -chicken Parmesan: this was a real upset for me. I do prefer my chicken parm to be thin but this was so thin that the chicken became stringy and chewy. Also it was less crispy than I like- this was a big upset for me in our meal. -Silvio's meatballs: again another meh dish. The were plain and the sauce was okay (I didn't even want to dip the bread in it). They are moist and cooked great but I felt they were plain, simple and nothing special- wouldn't order again. The BYOB is 10$ a person but was great especially since we brought a nice bottle of wine Overall, the food was just okay. I don't know when we will be returning. read more

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Another Italian restaurant in West Town area?? How do these places keep being delicious on their own right!?Food is tasty, but I must be in the minority group who does not feel this is the best meal I've EVER had in Chicago. But delicious! I have wanted to snag a reservation for quite some time and it has finally been my time to shine. Exciting! It's a really small space, which explains why it's difficult to come by. There is a bar area that's first come first serve and I would chance it if I ever decided to come back (pre 7pm if you don't want to wait). The complimentary starts are bomb. There's a bread basket which is a mixture of garlic bread, which is just standard fare, and some pizza-type bread that was a huge hit! The salami and pickled eggplant were very fun and welcomed. For starter we chose the baked clams, which I really loved. The perfect hot temperature, the beautiful shell casing, the BREADCRUMBS!!! Would get these over and over again. For pastas we chose the crowd favorite rigatoni alla vodka, which was textbook execution. Al dente, silky smooth sauce, slight tang to break up the richness, and the addition of the Calabrian breadcrumbs really tied it up with a gorgeous bow for me. I am obsessed with angel hair pasta, so that was a no brainer. Angel hair with crab, lemon and parsley? DUH! Y'all it was bomb. The broccoli was the perfect side, with the charred flavor really coming through in a nice way. I felt like I was picking up on some really interesting flavors of not just lemon but maybe some anchovies? Great elevated side. WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID: We were both so incredibly sick after this meal. Not food poisoning or anything serious, just deeply sick in the stomach for hours after.. probably due to the sheer amount of butter that is found in these dishes is all I could come up with. It's for that reason i'm not sure if I will be able to return, but the flavors were on point without a doubt. read more

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Favorite Italian in the city...by far! Hesitant to even write this review because it feels like such a hidden gem. I have been a few times and every time the food has been so fantastic. Each time I went with a friend and we split the following: - Cesar Salad (8.5/10) -- really good a little more anchovy forward than I'm used to but filling for two and tasty, Branzino (100/10) -- absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection, Crab Scampi (9/10), Eggplant Parmesan (10/10) -- best I've had! The ambience is romantic/candlelit but also good for a celebratory dinner/catch up with a friend. House Wine is $9 a glass and it's good quality bottles, not cheap stuff. read more

Elina's - Crab Scampi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We experienced severe food poisoning after eating the crab angel hair pasta. It may have been due to the seafood not being fresh. While we really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant, unfortunately, we're scarred forever read more

my quest... for cravable eggplant parm ends here! the caramelized texture of the eggplant and just the right amount of cheese plus not too tangy or salty sauce makes this the winner! i admittedly almost finished the serving for 2 haha. the broccoli side was not as amazing - it was oddly on the sour side... also, i had hoped for more/additional veggie options -- particularly for salads/sides. great service and i had a beautiful red wine (that i can't recall at the moment). read more

Remember to ask these abusive restaurants to remove their BS "service fees". you are NOT required to pay it. The food was good, not super memorable. service was not the most attentive. read more

had to leave Chicago with the bang it deserved and Elinas made that possible - can I get a CARBONEEEE DUPEEE? if you don't know what Carbone is...you're a nobody. that's a tik tok reference. plz get it - this places main chef like worked with the carbon chef or whatever so it's a chicago version of the famous nyc restaurant even with the same famous pizza and garlic bread baskets!!! they come with pickled eggplant (never had and I LOVED, pickled taste but soft) and a dried meat that saltiness paired perfectly with it the bread and eggplant - we got the spicy vodka rigatoni and it was perfectly Al dente, you could tell they make their own pasta. I would want more sauce but I can acknowledge the real genuine quality of this dish - the steak came with a garginzola on top, sweet glaze, and chives that all paired absolutely so well together. I'm someone who likes to take their food apart... so this is a huge compliment from me - got the frito misto and the green dipping sauce redeemed the dish. the fried seafood was super super puffy which was a great texture but it was a bit much after a few bites and the dense dense puffy breading drowned out the fish flavor. chill w the breading and you've got a killer appetizer right there - ambience is adorable and the service was lovely. Didn't feel rushed at all and they honored reservation time! read more

Elina's - Spicy Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went to elinas last week and loved it!!! We ordered: Fritto Misto : calamari & shrimp : so delicious! The breading was very light, the tartar sauce was the best & the shrimp was gigantic Fusilli alla norcina: sweet sausage & broccolini: so delicious! Definitely a portion for 2, so order some meat & share everything. The pasta had a little heat to it, just enough to make it taste even better! Shrimp scampi : Also a shareable meal! Shrimp was delicious, the bread with it was super moist & tasty. For drinks we got the Kerner wine (my new white favorite now!) and old fashion (which my bf said was delicious). Great atmosphere, great people, very intimate place! It's hard to get a reservation but they open at 5:30 and I recommend going as soon as they open & getting a seat at the bar! read more

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Elina's was to die for!! Some of the best pasta and calamari I've ever had. And the Chicken Parm was cooked perfectly!!! Highly recommend and will be coming back!! read more

Elina's - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois