This place is freaking awesome. Such a cute vibe, server was really sweet and everyone was very nice and competent. The food itself was to die for. Everything we had was amazing. I'm already dying to go back. Highlights- charcuterie/ cheese board, roasted beets, hamachi crudo, grilled Camembert, and goat cheese cheesecake. read more

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Food was amazing, we really enjoyed the gnocchi and the scallops. We had incredible outdoor service on their beautiful patio. We are so excited to go back! read more

Undoubtedly one of my favorite spots in Lakeview. Everything has been wonderful from the aesthetic to the accommodating service to the bites and drinks. The one thing that could be improved is the portion size, not to sound terribly piggy :) some of the cocktails are quite tiny, albeit lovely. I'd give this more of a 9/10 but feel that 4/5 stars (so 8/10) would be too low. So... 5/5 read more

What a great find in Southport! We made a 5:30p res on a Thursday and it was pretty empty. We sat at the bar and was met with friendly service and suggestions. My fiancé and I got cocktails to start and ended with glasses of wine to pair with our meal. Happy Hour deals on wines and snacks M-Th 4:30-6p! Food: we ordered 5 dishes and had leftovers to take home. - Ricotta Gnocci: 5/5 wow this dish mixed with truffle is out of this world. Very rich and delicious. - Octopus: 5/5 tender AF and flavorful - Brussels Sprouts: 5/5 they got the crisp right as well as making it taste rich with the egg on top - Bucatini 3.5/5 compared to the other dishes this fish felt bland. More clams pls. - Burrata Pizza 3.5/5 they got the crust/dough right, I'll tell you that; but we were expecting more burrata... :( Will be back for the toasts as well as the profiteroles! Would love the cacio e pepe back on the menu! ;) read more

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Just held my engagement brunch here and it was fantastic! The staff were all so kind and accommodating! My guests gave plenty of compliments about the food and drink and the whole set up is just wonderful for a cocktail style event. I've previously gone for date nights here and highly recommend the mushroom gnocchi and the profiteroles! read more

Ella Elli has practically ruined my life because I cannot eat anywhere else. The food is AMAZING, particularly the mushroom toast and Brussel sprouts. The service is incredible, the ambiance is stunning and clean, and the recommendations are not only honest but very well suited to what you will enjoy. I love the rosemary gimlet and might come just for the drink alone! read more

Amazing food, beautiful setting, warm ambiance. I was recommend this restaurant by a friend and it did not disappoint! I came here for a friend's birthday dinner and we all ordered plates to share. Everything was incredible but there are a few must-try's in my option and one of them is the mushroom toast. PLEASE GET THE MUSHROOM TOAST. If you love mushrooms and a creamy sauce, you can't skip this as a starter. Other honorable mentions include the crispy Brussels sprouts, ricotta gnocchi, Mediterranean sea bass, scallops, and profiteroles for dessert. We all loved all of the above mentioned dishes and ordered two desserts to share which included profiteroles and goats milk cheesecake however, for those of you who do not like the strong and pungent taste of goats milk, I would skip the cheesecake as it may seem like a bit much. I had a bite and enjoyed it but not as much as the profiterole. Service was great, very attentive but not overbearing. All in all this was an excellent dinner and I am definitely looking forward to coming back. read more

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Ella is my hands down favorite Lakeview restaurant. They have awesome people that work there a high quality food and wine. I go to some Michelin star restaurants and compare their food to Ella. I wandered into this place when looking for a place open later in Lakeview (if you live there, you know it's a challenge after 7:30). It turned out to be their first week open! I moved away from the area and still travel to Ella for the food and people. They are famous for their truffle gnocchi. If you haven't had it, you need to try it. The ricotta makes a difference. If you have had it, graduate into their octopus, lamb, and burger. You won't be disappointed. The wine list is solid: there's always something excellent by the glass. I love that they have short pours for days where i don't want to dive right into a full glass. The recommendation for dessert is to drink it with a Pink Squirrel (made with real icecream). If you really want something less boozy, get the profiteroles with molten esspresso chocolate (they are so good!). Enjoy this Lakeview gem! read more

Ella Elli - Ravioli - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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An updated review. We literally just finished my birthday dinner at Ella Elli and I realized that this is one of my favorite spots all of a sudden. We didn't stay for dessert (because I've been planning on going to Snow Junkie since they reopened for the season on my birthday and they are my favorite place to grab a treat) but that isn't to say I wasn't craving more profiteroles. Our server was Nick again - a very friendly and charismatic gentleman who seems to have a passion for food and wine. He made his recommendations as he had last time, small banter that made us chuckle, and timely service without the pressure to spend money. We got there just before Happy Hour ended and had the cocktail (a cherry soda), the happy hour red (which was smooth), and the lamb sausage flatbread which is big enough for one person as a meal. They also offered a white wine, rose, another flatbread and two toasts options as happy hour specials. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. We also ordered the beet salad (a must try if you like beets, persimmons, and goat cheese). My partner doesn't like beets and did not like this but I enjoyed what he refused to touch. I ordered the gnocchi which was extremely comforting and filling. The gnocchi was more of a body-pillow shape than pillow shape but it just added to the hand made-ness of it all. The mushrooms were I believe the same they use on the mushroom toast, plus truffles. Partner had the Maine Lobster which came as a lobster salad. He enjoyed it but I didn't try it due to an allergy. Overall, a great experience. First updated review on Yelp I've felt the need to post. read more

Ella Elli - Aperol Flip - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cannot recommend this place highly enough. Phenomenal & unique food, friendly service, and great ambiance. We celebrated our anniversary here last night and were also given complimentary glasses of champagne. It's also somewhat shared plate style, which I love. We started with the sparkling peach drink for me and stroll on Southport drink for my husband. Both were great. We ordered the truffled ricotta gnocchi, pea carbonara salad with crispy prosciutto, grilled octopus with black rice, and the scallops. The octopus was incredibly tender. The ricotta gnocchi was so unique (and who doesn't love a touch of truffle?). We got the sorbetti duo for dessert (made fresh in house, peach & wildberry). So refreshing and delicious. The beet and goat cheese ravioli also sounded good, but we didn't try it. You must try this place!! A new favorite of ours. We will definitely be back. read more

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My mom & I had a very nice dinner here Friday. The restaurant has a cozy but trendy ambiance, furthered by the roaring fireplace on such a chilly night. The cocktails were nice, as was our first dish, the avocado toast. It wasn't particularly special, but it was very tasty. The Brussels's sprouts that followed WERE, however, something special! These were our favorite! I'm a vegetarian and my mom doesn't like sausage, so we got it without. I can't imagine it would have added anything. The cheese and the egg mixed into the crispy sprouts was perfect. Next up was the burrata and tomato flatbread. First let me say I don't get the new trend of putting burrata on everything. It's glory is the soft, creamy inside and cooking it removes that as far as I can tell. The flatbread crust was perfect and the cheese, more a fresh mozzarella given it was cooked, was yummy. The crowning achievement was the impossibly sweet tomatoes. The cauliflower was a bit of a disappointment. The sauce was good, but the cauliflower had no real flavor. We both really like cauliflower and it seemed like the dish really didn't appreciate and play to the natural flavors. The goat cheese & beet ravioli were good, too, and I absolutely hate beets. The sauce on top was really nice and flavorful, very balanced. The one thing it needed was more goat cheese. Though I didn't get that strong dirt taste I associate with beets, neither did I taste the goat cheese. It really needed more, and as the first word in the name of the dish it deserved to be better represented. That would take it from a good dish to a great dish. We ended out meal with a goat milk cheese cake, which we were told was mostly a regular cheese cake with some goat's milk for tang. Neither of us could taste that tang, but the cheesecake was very good, and had one of the best crusts I think I've ever tasted! It was a good night in spite of our annoyingly gimmicky server's rote and insincere spiels (no I don't need an "emergency cocktail" and when a dish is described as a "love note to the season" it's hard not to roll my eyes right to someone's face). I'm sure he's a lovely person, but being genuine really goes much farther. read more

Can never go wrong here! I love the intimate feel and warm atmosphere, plus the service is amazing! read more

Ella Elli - Brussels sprouts pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is one of my new favorite restaurants in Chicago! The atmosphere is lively, and the aesthetics are so charming. The Brussels sprouts and the octopus are musts to order. Great service, amazing cocktails, and a fun restaurant to go to for any occasion or celebration! read more

Came here for brunch during restaurant week and WOW! The decor is so cute & we had wonderful wait staff! The espresso martini was probably the best espresso martini I've had! The croque monsieur toast was incredible! My friend ordered the brunch flatbread & I can't say I wasn't jealous! Definitely will return! read more

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Good food, good vibe, good prices. Will definitely come back for dinner or a drink in the neighborhood.

The vibe here is immaculate. If you are looking for a romantic/intimate setting this is your place. I sat at the bar and the bartenders and servers were very attentive and charming. The drinks were amazing. I ordered both the Rosemary Gimlet and the D'eux Mele. I would recommend trying the Ricotta Gnocchi was one of my favorite dishes. I will be coming back. read more

The one dish that wowed us was the roasted potatoes with creme fraiche and mustard seed. That was incredibly delicious. Service was very good. Our waiter was wonderful. Food: Didn't care for my octopus--rubbery and prep did nothing for it. The carpaccio was missing something to compliment it. So just bleh. Drinks were nice as was the flat bread pizza. Nothing here to bring me back....but those potatoes! read more

Ella Elli - Rubbery octopus. Served with potatoes..meh - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I hadn't dined here for almost 3 years, and decided to try it out again last night. All in all, I was very underwhelmed. We started with the mushroom toast, which was not good at all. The mushrooms were whole (too big for a slice of toast, and very chewy) and the sauce was overly creamy. This was a major pass. Next, we ordered the mushroom gnocchi and carbonara (these were yummy, but nothing with a wow-factor). They were pretty rich, basic pasta dishes. You can find better pasta dishes elsewhere. For our entrees, we ordered the steak (had very little flavor and the cauliflower on the side was not good) and the branzino (I ordered the sea bass, but was brought branzino as the fish instead... not sure what happened here). The cherry tomatoes on the side were lovely with the fish. This was probably the best dish of the night, but still underwhelming. I won't be back. read more

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This is a fantastic restaurant right off the Southport corridor. The interior is very refined and elegant. Although small, there's a variety of seating options for eating/drinking: couches, ottomans, tables, & bar. The food was very tasty and rich albeit quite heavy. My favorites were the toasts. They really could be a standalone meal which really justified the $10 price tag. Highly recommend going here. It's a great date night spot if you're looking for something swanky but not intimidating. read more

Ella Elli - Smoked salmon toast with capers - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came for Sunday brunch w reservations. Still had to wait. Staff inquired if we would like coffee, tea, water while we waited. Booth was comfortable and dispelled noise surrounding. Great mild Bloody Marys, eggs Benedict, burger was outstanding, bread board w prix fix had bagel, choc bun, cinnamon donut. Service excellent. read more

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Ella Elli is excellent. I've been twice and have been happy with everything both times. I've been seated on the patio both times, so can't really speak to the restaurant's ambiance (though I've liked what I could see, and the patio is quite nice). Portion sizes are larger than at many shared-plate style restaurants; 2 per person will be more than enough. My favorite dish is the Confit Potato, which is cheesy and delicious. It seems like they swap out the ingredients seasonally, so I will say that I liked the October 2021 iteration more than the June 2022 iteration. On my most recent visit, we also tried the Grilled Artichoke (good, would probably skip next time), the crispy brussels sprouts (excellent, and the meat was all on top, which made it easy for me as a vegetarian to avoid it), the tomato pizza (simple but fantastic), and the ricotta gnocchi (yum!). The meat-eaters at the table also enjoyed two seafood dishes. read more

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That was amazing. Ordered Brussels sprout pizza, mushroom toast, grilled Brie. The pizza was one of the best I have had. No joke if you want amazing food try this place. Outstanding service! read more

Dined here with My friend Kevin before my big trip and we had a Grand Time! I Absolutely Adore the Decor, which was surprising to me because I don't particularly care for the grey slate palate. The large bay windows and oversized banquets made me feel like we were dining in our own private mansion dining room and made the dinner all the more luxurious. We were close to the front door but didn't feel any breeze from outside or any chatter from waiting patrons. For drinks, we had a Hemingway (Flor de Cana, Pamplemouse, Lazzaroni Maraschino, Grapefruit) and the Piquant (Chili infused Aperol, Deaths Door Gin, Cava, Lemon). Both were aromatic and we laughed with joy that we color-coordinated our drinks (he likes bourbon and I like mezcal, so that rarely happens). The menu is meant for sharing and that was fine by us! The Charcuterie board had a unique variety of meats, cheeses, and the house-made jam and olives were my favorite. The Peas Carbonara was fragrant, crisp, and delicate- the mix of black pepper, mascarpon, prosciutto, fresh peas, and cured egg yolk flakes on top was a sculpture I happily dived into and finished quite quickly. The Heirloom tomato dish with charred watermelon, feta snow, and basil was salty-sweet heaven on a plate. Any place that has Grilled Octopus on the menu is a must try for me and the plump octopus with crispy potatoes and salsa verde was Delish! It's been a while since I had scallops, and the Scallops with summer succotash and piquillo pepper hot sauce was a good selection (per our server) for the final dish to share. The three scallops were hefty in size and light in flavor- really soaking up the succotash and hot sauce, becoming a Wonderful Fall menu item. Kevin has the Profiteroles with French vanilla ice cream and espresso chocolate, and he enjoyed every bite. The profiteroles were light, the ice cream smooth, and the drizzled espresso chocolate was decadent. I was almost too full for dessert but I had to try the Almond cake with orange mascarpone, stone fruit and sprinkled honey. I was delighted I find the peaches firm and fresh and the cake was spongy and tasted like a cloud plucked from above :) For my dessert drink I chose the Mezcal Penicillina (Mezcal, Ginger Liqueur, Grapefruit Cordial, Lime) and it was the Perfect Nightcap. We spent almost 3 hours dining and talking, never felt rushed or in need of anything extra. Quite a Lovely Night! read more

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Late RW review.. Overall, our dinner was fine and their RW menu offering was a good deal imo. We had the beef carpaccio, crispy brussels sprouts, crispy grain salad, ricotta gnocchi, lamb scottadito, scallops, nutella mousse and profiteroles. My favorites were the crispy grain salad, ricotta gnocchi and scallops. The salad was flavorful and had a lot of textures going on. The ricotta gnocchi was fluffy, had plenty of mushrooms and was quite filling. The scallops were simply prepared but cooked nicely. I thought the brussels sprouts dish was dressed with too much sweet sauce and the lamb was too salty. The desserts were a good portion and were just okay. Some good dishes and some mediocre ones. It was nice to try out a new restaurant, but I probably wouldn't come back. read more

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Wow what a fantastic place! I came here with my husband after we got married at city hall. We decided to come for a first dinner. From the food to the service it was second to none. We ordered a bottle of champagne which was sweet and delightful. Our server was very attentive, she explained the menu to us and kept our glasses full. After dinner, we closed the tab and had a couple more drinks and the bar. The bar tenders were very helpful and we felt welcomed and cozy enjoying our drinks. The server was kind enough to take our picture. We loved it here and will be coming back every year for our anniversary! read more

Ella Elli - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. We walked in and it was dimly lit with a loungey fireplace area , and the booth we sat in had a wreath on the window . It was a romantic but upbeat vibe. We got a bunch of shared plates between four people. Starters: beef carpaccio, and lamb sausage pizza Sides: potatoes and Brussel sprouts Mains: white fish, lamb , and gnocchi dessert: panna cotta Drinks: the mezcal drink stole the show We absolutely loved the potatoes , Brussels, lamb and gnocchi. Would highly recommend all of those. The lamb was our favorite and the potatoes were a close second. Gnocchi was also fantastic but really rich. Good to share . The only two items we wouldn't recommend again were the beef carpaccio and the panna cotta. Both were relatively bland. Overall, we really enjoyed this place and would come back. Would be a good place for just drinks too as the lounge was adorable . They also have a rewards program online so sign up before you go! It's nothing monumental but we did get $10 for spending $280 ish in our group of 4 read more

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The brunch here was probably the best i've ever had. I loved that you could do a prix fixe menu that let you get a brunch appetizer + main course, mostly because that meant I got to try both the avocado toast (a MUST TRY) and the homemade bagel sandwich. I also loved the bottle of champagne with a selection of juices; I need to know what the berry flavored one was because it was incredible. Literally the only small complaint any of us had about the food was that the potatoes on the breakfast flatbread seemed a little unnecessary, but my husband just ate them on the side and was more than happy with that solution :) The wait staff was friendly and attentive, and the inside of the restaurant itself was gorgeous. A huge sitting area and fireplace made it feel really cozy, especially on a cold Sat morning. Will definitely be back to try their dinner menu. read more

I have had this restaurant bookmarked for a while and couldn't wait to visit. This place is great! Atmosphere is chill and romantic, and the staff is also really friendly. We ordered several dishes because we wanted to try everything and I'm glad we did! We ordered all their pasta dishes and the amount of flavor each dish had was outstanding. They have delicious high quality plates, and great service. Can't wait to return; Highly recommend it! read more

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Surprisingly VERY VERY good. One of only two restaurants on Southport and Roscoe that are actually worth it. This and Coda the Italian place. Staff are very friendly and kind, which means a lot! read more

Some of the best food I've had in Chicago. Must tries: mushroom toast, Catalan octopus, the beet ravioli, and you must end with the profiteroles. It was simply an outstanding meal! read more

Ella Elli - Profiteroles. - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh my gosh I love Ella Elli! I went for the first time for brunch during restaurant week. We attempted to book a reso online but they were no longer available- the host over the phone said if we arrived at 10 they'd try to accomodate us in the lounge area and could put us on a list for a table. But we arrived at 10 and were one of maybe 5 parties there- thus were seated right away. I'm a sucker for sleek design and this place did not disappoint. If I could have my kitchen look like this I'd never leave home. Gold accents with lots of lush velvet and textured fabrics- heavenly and luxe, without looking too stuffy- had a nice open air feeling about it. But the important stuff now- food. Again, I dined with the prix fixe brunch menu. I ordered the Salmon Toast for my first course, andthe eggs benedict for my second. I tested out my partner's bakery board and also her brioche french toast too, of course. The food was great- I especially liked the croissant on the bakery board which seemed like a high-end version of fried fair food- it was not heavy though, just sweet and fluffy with some fruit chunks in it that added a layer of interest. My salmon toast was also incredible, and left me wanting for much more. The presentation was on point, too. Of all the options, the eggs benedict was the least exciting, but it was still better than average! I enjoyed the sundried tomatoes on it for a different flavor. The meal came with a complimentary rose sangria which we were nervous would be too heavy for brunch (given its name including sangria) but it turned out to be very light and refreshing. I probably wouldn't have been happy if I'd paid for the glass on the normal menu, because it wasn't much in terms of a bang-for-your-buck kind of drink, but it was a nice taster between courses. Long story short, if you have an occasion to spend a little more money with someone special in a place that feels very swanky without being stuffy, come here. Please. read more

I went here on a girls date and its perfect for a ladies night out/date night. Cozy vibes, great food, and the service is kind and well paced. read more

Service: 5 Cleanliness: 5 On a Friday night (8:45PM) we waited about 15-20mins for a table out on the patio, not too bad. We were able to order drinks ahead of time and sit in their lounge area while we waited. Everyone was super welcoming and accommodating. Just a great vibe. Now the thing I hate most about 'low-lit' bars and lounges is the level of music they play. Ella Elli was set at a perfect volume inside where you're not pressed leaning into the personal space of your friend just to hold a casual conversation. I mean hey, their tagline is "A conversation over food & wine" yaaas. Love it. Food: 5 The only thing we had was the combo board of Cheese & Meats board ($27) with their side pairing of pickled veggies and bread. YUM. The four of us weren't too hungry so we opted for a board as a snack alongside our drinks. It was the perfect amount for 4 people. Each item you could tell was delicately picked and sliced, our favorites were the cranberry spread and lavender infused cheese. Drinks: 5 Pink Squirrel - is the perfect dessert drink. A boozy milkshake as we called it. Perfect for someone (like me) who isn't a big alcohol drinker and can only take so much. Raspberry Sour - if you like the balance between milky and sour, this one is for you! I also loved it and my friend did too. Would I come back? Yes, in a heartbeat. Perfect for couples & friends. read more

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Great, Great food and amazing service. I had to make a reservation about a week in advance, but it was well worth it. They have a great menu and the staff was super nice and friendly. If you want a great meal check this place out. read more

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The patio is pretty small, but we had a nice table inside by the window. Everything was socially distanced and I felt pretty safe about it (Covid times are weird). The cocktails here are amazing. I love their cocktail list. I really feel like there's some thing for everyone. For dinner we shared some steak tartare, the sturgeon (fish) and also an order of salad. The steak tartare really hit the spot, the salad dressing was good but not overpowering and huge chunky croutons were delicious. The fish was cooked just perfectly. Plus the interior is also very cute. read more

Ella Elli - This was a Flip cocktail with Gin, lemon, blueberry, egg white and it was amazing. So good. - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVED this space. Beautiful decor, charming and elegant all at once. Really good scene for a girls night dinner or a date night. FYI, totally not a family place (ie leave the kids at home) The food was amazing, plenty of vegetarian options, we actually could not even decide between them! The carrots were really good, the cauliflower was ok, I could have done without them, the grain salad was also really delicious. The mushroom and avocado toasts were SOOOO good! The gnocchi was also quite decadant Really really enjoyed my meal here....and highly recommend it. read more

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Food is absolutely delicious. The interior is so elegant and gorgeous - you feel like you're dining in a millionaire's private airport lounge. Service was a little overbearing (we got checked up on every 15 minutes and dishes were whisked off when we were still working on the last bits), and certain dish portions are small, but otherwise the entire dining experience was near perfect. An ideal spot for a range of occasions - parents in town, date night, casual catching up with friends. Cocktails are fantastic but the glasses are pretty small. Probably the tiniest glass of cocktail I've had at a restaurant. Food run-down: Cauliflower with salsa verde, lemon and shallot: not mind-blowing, but still a comforting dish of roasted cauliflowers, fragrant with a hint of tang from the lemon. Cacio e pepe: creamy, luscious spaghetti swirled in yolky, cheesy goodness, I like the generous kick of Szechuan pepper. Beef with roasted onion soubise, blistered greens, saba: exceptional steak, skin was crispy and the meat tender, but pricey ($27!) for the mere three pieces of steak. read more

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Great ambience and service. I loved the Jubilee cocktail. My favorite dishes were the octopus (cooked perfectly and served over potatoes) and gnocchi (long gnocchi pieces in a rich sauce with mushrooms and shaved parmesan). My husband really liked the avocado toast - it's one big piece with a poached egg on top, perfect for two people to share. The one slight disappointment was the tartare - the beef was closer to brown rather than the bright red I expected, so it made me wonder how fresh it was. read more

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a hidden gem. We discovered this lovely place during the neighborhood restaurant week. Even tho it was a limited menu the choices were interesting. the place had a warm ambiance with a supper club vibe. the service was impeccable. wish I had his name but if you see a guy with a dope manicure he's the one. all the food was great, but the star of the meal was the sea bass. crispy skin and moist flaky fish. I mean the back of the house rocks. what a joy to find such a 4 star near me. highly recommend. read more

Some of the BEST food I've ever had and the service was beyond amazing with funny staff who know there stuff. One of the best dinners I've ever had, along with the food it was the perfect atmosphere to share with friends for a good night out. Definitely coming back next time i vacation here! read more