So many gluten free and dairy free options and beautiful, intimate outdoor seating! Great spot for a date!

A big shout out to Ella Elli and their Christopher St. James who helped my wife and I have a memorable meal here to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. It happened to be a special five course meal featuring South America. The food, service and ambiance were fantastic! Many thanks!! read more

Ella Elli - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went here for restaurant week and I can pleasantly say that I was surprised how good everything was. Let me first say, the ambience of the restaurant was superb. From booths to love seats, to couches and tables. It was all very comfy and intimate. We chose to sit at the bar in a love seat. Comfy as if we were in a private booth, but also gave as easy access to chat with our neighbors at the bar. Service was great. Bartender was attentive and provided clean plates with each course (we didn't really need) but it was nice for him to offer. Food was 4.5 out of 5 for me. Beef tartare and the Brussels sprouts were my fav. The mushroom toast and both desserts were delicious! The rigatoni was good but a bit spicy and a tad heavier than the other items but it was still great! We were slightly disappointed with the burger. We saw people raving over it but it had too much horseradish for our liking personally. If they have a rotating menu, I would definitely come back. I think the chef did a great job with his presentation of the dishes. read more

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Great. I'm loving the mushroom gnocchi. I have had this four times. It's my favorite dish on the menu. Very tasty. Lots of good vegetable options. I enjoyed the confit potatoes, a little bit rich and heavy, but good dressings & toppings. Quiet, yet elevated neighborhood spot. read more

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Amazing food , really nice environment!! Must try spot in Chicago . The food was excellent! Service was good too. ,Very friendly . read more

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I came here awhile ago and wasn't impressed, but decided to give it another go recently and unfortunately nothing has changed my mind. The food is shockingly mediocre despite the presentation and when considering the high prices I just can't recommend. I've tried a variety of things across the menu including drinks and there's just something missing in literally every single item. The flavors just aren't there. Everything *looks* lovely, but they lack substance and flavor. The interiors are nice and feel particularly cozy during a cold winter night. The service was ok--a little slow and not quite competent in providing recommendations outside generic "this item tastes good" and "this is a classic dish". I expect more from a higher end place like this. read more

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Everything was absolutely amazing. Came in for restaurant week with a girlfriend and we each choose different item to try as much as possible. Every single dish knocked it out of the park. The space is low lit, intimate and open but not so loud you couldn't hold a conversation. Our server was great and provided customer favorites, my only complaint would be it took her 15 minutes to greet us after being seated. Would absolutely return and recommend! read more

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Ella Elli was one of our first visits when we moved to Chicago four years ago. It made a great impression then, and continues to today. Even during the pandemic, they have many wonderful options on both their drink and food menus. We've enjoyed so much from them, they never disappoint. Recently, we went just for a few cocktails. There are no shortage of spots in Chicago that make memorable cocktails, but you shouldn't sleep on Ella Elli. I want to point out the Blueberry Mint Fizz. Not something I typically get (I usually go for the classics or a spicier drink), this was absolutely perfect. Not only was the flavor tremendous, but the mouthfeel from the egg whites was about as good as I've ever had in a cocktail. Get it while you can! I wish their hours were a bit better - sometimes you want a cocktail at 1pm. Otherwise, you're not going to be disappointed at Ella Elli. read more

Ella Elli - Blueberry Fizz - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My 1st Restaurant Week Brunch. I excited based on the menu & posts on Instagram, especially after hearing that the owner is same group as Tuco & Blondie! However, I was a bit disappointed with the service and food, compared to my expectations. At the time I went, I've gone to 4 restaurant week dinners and my experiences have been great thus far. Expecting to continue this, the vibe at Ella Elli was on point! Walking in, 2 hosts welcomed me in, one which was already holding the menu and was ready! I spotted my friend sitting & waiting at the pretty fireplace so we got seated immediately! The bar seating, furniture, colors were all perfect for a Saturday brunch! It started off great! My server was super boring though. When I say boring, he did bare minimum and had a monotone voice that didn't sound friendly at all! My friend and I have been busy chatting our life away because we haven't seen each other in awhile, and he kept coming back to take our order. I've already seen my Yelp friend's review so I knew exactly what I wanted based on her photo. I got their rose sangria, avocado toast, shrimp and grits. Rose sangria- call it a Rose and fruits. It didn't taste like "sangria" at all. It tasted like a watered down rose with raspberry and leaves. It looked super pretty, but that was about it. Avocado toast- this was good! I loved everything seasoning on it. The poached egg was a bit cold for me. My friend requested it to be hard; it came out the way she asked. Unfortunately, this was all I've liked. Shrimp & grits- looks better than it's taste. Shrimp was tad bit undercooked. My friend was grossed out by the shrimp head so I had to de-head it for her (haha). The size was good! Dessert- we looked at thee menu but nothing sounded like what we were interested in so we didn't order any. Would I go back? Hmm. Only if someone really wanted to. I wouldn't initiate it myself. read more

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I've yet to make my way in for dinner, but brunch has been impressive. It's cliché to say, but the ingredients seem so fresh. The quality and care the kitchen puts into each dish really shines through. I suggest sitting at the bar. Not just to get your drinks faster, but the bartenders are really cool. Service is always outstanding. The menu is limited, but that allows Ella Elli to focus and be intentional about the details. I'm tempted to rate 5 stars, but I'll hold off until I check out dinner. SN: Looks like my profiterole pics may not link to this review. Find them. Order them. Enjoy. read more

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Wonderful! We loved the food, the ambiance, and our server who gave us fantastic menu suggestions. The cocktails were also out of this world. We'll be back. read more

The monthly 20 wines for $20 is one of my favorite things we're doing on a regular basis here in Chicago. It's a great deal, the wines are way different than what we'd normally choose on our own, and the staff knows what they're talking about. Bobby, the GM, is so friendly and helpful. They put out a nice spread of snacks to help you balance the wine and not get crazy. The best part? It's limited to maybe 50 people, so you have ample time to get to each of the stations and try any of the wines you'd like to buy. The provided cards help you keep track of it all really well. Bonus: they're all affordable! Usually $15-$40/bottle. read more

Ella Elli - So many wines! - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall: Great place for after-dinner drinks if you're looking to be a little fancier on Southport. The good: Great, great drinks. Our bartender was very friendly and mixed well. The ambiance and décor were nice but not overwhelming, and led to a relaxing balance of elegance that you won't find nearby. The not-so-good: If you're at the tail ends of the bar the kitchen is right there. When it's busy that can be a good thing, but when it's slow it's the cleaning crew with mops and pans clanging, which is obviously not ideal. The prices are pretty high for the food menu. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Drinks: 9/10 read more

Ella Elli - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Restaurant week menu was so perfect! We tried every dish on the menu and thoroughly enjoyed the flavors, textures, presentation, service and atmosphere of the restaurant. The pastas were my favorite! read more

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Love the food creations and the drinks. Worth the visit. Reasonable prices for the quality. Would be back read more

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

I used to live so close to Ella elli - and I wish I had come here when I still lived there so I could go back often! This place exceeded my expectations. The menu was diverse and reasonably priced for a dinner like this. The inside was moody and perfect for a date nights. Favorites were the sunchoke, mushroom gnocchi, and sea bass! Everything is so flavorful! If you don't like things that are super sweet, I'd slip on both the desserts we ordered. People in my party really liked it but it was not my favorite personally. read more

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I came here for brunch with my cousin and her family. Picture an idyllic bistro with ambiance and charm. The charcuterie plate was savored by all of us. I've ordered the Shakshouka at their sister location; so my choice was that and the signature Easter cocktail. The guys at the table enjoyed the entree with eggs, confit potatoes and slabs of bacon. Overall it was a nice brunch with the fam on a beautiful day in Chicago! read more

The weekend wine tasting 20 for $20 was a fantastic deal and a great weekend activity!

Food is solid. Not the absolute best I've had but solid. The reason this place is the bomb is the combination of food and atmosphere though. And the uniqueness of the treatment of some of the dishes. The beef tartare served with the tendon crisps was something else. Artichokes were also fabulous as were the olives. Pasta was good not great. read more

Very delicious meal! Small plates- gnocchi, beets, Brussel sprouts and onion bread. All great but I don't need the beats again. I'm the other things? I could def eat those again !! read more

Ordered Brussels sprouts with sunny side egg, ricotta mushroom Gnocchi, grilled octopus over purple rice, and the profiteroles ice cream dessert! Brussels sprouts is a bit bitter but the sauce is really flavorful. Ricotta gnocchi is handmade, super soft and creamy. It's truffle and ricotta flavored. Grilled octopus is very tender, purple rice with celery and cilantro added some Asian flavor combinations. The Profiteroles with vanilla bean ice cream and hot chocolate, super refreshing as the ending. 5 star for the innovative combination of flavors and well prepared and fresh ingredients, and of course nice service and perfect vibe. read more

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One of the best places I've dined this year!! Perfect for a night with a group or a date night. The lamb and Brussels sprouts were our faves. Really enjoyed the tequila drink as well. Will be back to try some of the pasta! read more

Olive oil poached halibut comes with a really nice sauce and potatoes and crab, but overall wouldn't crave this dish or go back for it. Carrots were really average (and didn't love the celery pieces that came with it) but loved all components of the charcuterie board. Cheesecake with berries was delicious and refreshing. read more

Ella Elli - Poached halibut (ok), carrots (not good), charcuterie board (good), cheesecake (good) - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hehe finally got to eat here! I made a reservation on Open Table for 5:30pm yesterday but was running late. There weren't any available times on the app for 3 people so I called and they happily changed my reservation. Ambiance: The patio is fresh and simple. We were highly considering sitting outside but once we saw the inside, we were sold on sitting in there. I originally requested to sit in a booth (which they actually read my note and accompanied my request!) but there's so many good seats that we opted for a high table/booth. The whole restaurant is chic and elegant from the bar area to the lounge seating. Service: Our waiter Will was a delight to have serving us! He explained the menu and answered our questions. It was also nice that our dishes were cleared up fast and they changed them once in between. Food: Everything was pretty great. The flavors were all there and we enjoyed how the dishes were cooked and seasoned. We ordered- Crispy Brussels sprouts: love the egg on top! I do wish they were a little softer though. Slightly harder as opposed to crunchy. Ricotta Gnocchi: *a table favorite* I never knew gnocchi could be not basic until now. It was so soft with some chewiness. Everything about it was perfect! Maine Lobster: this came as a fresh salad so the pieces weren't too big. My least favorite dish but overall was still pretty good. Grilled Octopus: K, T, and I love octopus so this order was a must. It was one tentacle but big enough to split. Love love the texture and flavor of this dish. Lamb Sausage flatbread: an add-on since we were still kind of hungry. Good enough to fill us up without being too heavy. Yummy! It's recommended to order two dishes per person but these five were enough for us! The rosé of the day was good. We didn't get a chance to order dessert but I plan to come back! read more

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Food was excellent - loved cheese board, artichoke app, harissa chicken, lamb. Side booths are awesome. Service incredible. Highly recommend. read more

Honestly, Ella Elli was an overall great experience. My girlfriend and I came here after making reservations on Reserve for 9PM on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we did have to wait 15 minutes before being seated, however they have a lounge area and bar to chill at. It was quite busy at this time, so that wasn't the most ideal situation as the restaurant isn't the largest. Nonetheless, the service was A+, and the food did not disappoint! We shared 3 plates: Confit Potatoes, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and The Cacio e Pepe. All three plates were absolutely outstanding! Our personal fav was the Brussels Sprouts - I would 100% recommend those. Lastly, for desert we had the Almond Cake, which was perfect - from the fruit to the flavor - i would highly recommend this! We also shared the Brandy Alexander desert cocktail - which was basically like a milkshake - yummy! I 100% recommend any and everyone to go here and try it out. The ambiance is stellar, the service, and the food... What more can you ask for? read more

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Love the food here! Service was great too! We ordered gnocchi, the Brussels sprouts, hamburger and each dish was wonderful!

We went to Ella Elli last year for Chicago Restaurant Week 2020. My girls and I decided to have our Sunday brunch there and were not disappointed at all! I believe we had $25 brunch I was organising pictures on my phone and found Ella Elli food pictures so decided to share. lol We got: - avocado toast - butchers board - shrimp and grits All food was delicious! We also got some mimosas. Of course! What a brunch without mimosa!! Lol Staff is friendly and I loved atmosphere. Great spot for girls brunch or a date night for sure. Recommend I was so disappointed that I couldn't book a table for Chicago Restaurant Week 2021. Everything was fully booked 2 weeks in advance. No complains. Great spot. Huge demand. read more

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Really enjoyed our dinner and drinks sitting at the "loveseat" style bar seats. It's a unique seating style that I had never seen before, but it certainly worked just fine for my wife and me. Most of the dishes seem to be on the smaller side, but the pizza was substantial if you are looking to get a little more bang for your buck. The cherry agrodolce was a sweet and savory appetizer that we enjoyed. The sweet corn agnolotti was DELICIOUS, but definitely a small dish. This isn't a typical Italian restaurant where you get a heaping pile of pasta. I'm taking off a star for execution on the pizza. It was somewhat hastily made, and the ingredients did not spread anywhere near the edges of the pizza so you were left with a lot of plain dough. read more

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We had an engagement party for our son & his fiancé here a couple of weeks ago and it was fabulous! Kristina and the entire staff were absolutely incredible, couldn't have been more accommodating and the food was delicious! Everyone was so impressed with their service, food and how helpful they were. The ambiance is lovely & romantic with sitting areas with sofas & comfy chairs and booths as well as a fully stocked bar. They made this a party to remember! read more

I was very pleased with my experience here. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. I felt a tad rushed during my dinner, but I am sure that was because it was a Friday evening and they had reservations after me. The tomato and burrata pizza was my favorite (my boyfriend also would agree it was his fav). read more

Ella Elli - Tomato and burrata pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fancy for fancy's sake. That's it. My 25-year-old self would've loved to take a first date here. My wife and I couldn't stop laughing at how out of place we were. Southport needs a fancy place, I guess (right?), and this is it. With 20+ years in the neighborhood, we thought a little fancy night might be our thing for a date night. Eh, not really. Even the server was too cool for words. We just miss the old Southport, which is how we can feel out of place here in our own backyard. So here's the rub: If you like fancy, you're in the right place. They do fancy well. You'll impress your date and get into his/her pants. Score. Done. If you're past the pretext of exaggerated ritz, go across the street to Lange's. That's what we did and had a blast for WAY LESS MONEY. Oh, and the food? Yeah. Edible. read more

Ella Elli is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food and service is always impeccable and the ambiance cannot be beat. On Saturday I attended the Taylor Swift brunch and it was a wonderful experience. The menu was creatively put together with custom on theme cocktails and brunch options. Ella Elli took it one step further and had friendship bracelets for each guest. I had the "steak it off" which consisted of steak, eggs and potatoes. It was delicious and the steak was perfectly cooked. Ella always delivers on a theme dinner between the it's the monthly wine dinners or pop up brunches - the Taylor Swift brunch did not disappoint! read more

Really nice indoor ambiance with what looks like a nice bar area for drinks. We made reservations and were easily seated in a nice nook area by the fireplace. Aesthetically the interior is beautifully decorated to feel intimate and upscale. The tapas style menu was unique enough to feel interest yet still approachable for the masses. Most of the dishes we ordered were delicious with the winners being the gnocchi, beef tartar and seabass. While the seabass itself was ordinary, the fresh blistered tomatoes/chili/caper veggies they had accompanying the dish was a really great mix of salt/fat/acid/heat and completely satisfying. The beef tartar had great flavor with a unique use of tendon fried until you can use it as an eating vessel with the tartare. Gnocchi was creamy, soft and delicate! The only let down was the confit potato which was undersalted - perhaps an oversight we could have pointed out but didn't. The flavors in the potato dish was also just very underwhelming and uninteresting compared to the other dishes. Dessert was solid with the profiteroles which had a delicious mocha chocolate sauce on top. Would recommend to friends who are looking for a more upscale environment and enjoy American/Italian fusion tapas. read more

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We had a wonderful restaurant week dinner here tonight! It was a gorgeous day today and so we ate outside on their little patio. The waiters all wore masks and were great about social distancing. We did the restaurant week menu and it was really delicious and the dishes were plated really nicely. I especially loved the ricotta gnocchi and the profiterole dessert, and my husband liked the squid ink pasta and the pavlova dessert. It was a great place for a date night, especially after the year we have all had. I really enjoyed it and I would love to go again sometime. read more

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Visited with my family for a very lovely dinner. I used Reserve and added a preference for booth seating, which they kindly obliged. As noted in my previous review, I love the decor - sleek and trendy with an overarching gray palette. But first things first - as soon as we sat down, we put in an order for drinks. I got the raspberry sour, which was very good. My mom got the Hemmingway, which was a little too citrusy for my tastes but she really liked it. Next, we ordered the mushroom toast, which was delicious. And then we split the brussel sprout dish, which I'd also recommend. For the main course, my mom and I split the scallops - I thought this dish was just ok. A little gritty. And for dessert I ordered the pink squirrel, while my dad got the almond cake. Both were good but I've had better. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and had a sense of humor. Because we split most of the meal, the final bill wasn't too crazy but the price fairly matched the experience and the food. read more

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Very nice neighborhood restaurant serving small plates in a modern intimate setting. While better for a date night or for a couples outing, it works for larger groups as well. The menu is pretty limited but that is just fine because they cooked everything extremely well. Each dish was flavorful and visually appealing. For "small plates", the portions were very adequate and everyone left full. Our service was a bit slow but nothing to fuss about; however, it could have been more efficient. While the food menu being limited, the limited bar offerings was disappointing. A nice wine selection, but spirits and beers had rather small options (one gin. one - I have more than that in my home). Overall, a great evening out and very nice dining experience. read more

we sat at the bar. warm ambience, creative menu, attentive service. Leo and the bar staff all super. we enjoyed it.

Had dinner at Ella Elli last weekend and just forgot to finish this up. We went here with a big group of friends and overall it was a decent time. As vegetarians, they did have quite a few appetizer options and I think we ended up trying many of them. A number of them were decent. We had the focaccia, the mushroom toast, and French onion toast. We also had the brussel sprouts, and so forth. I think the one friend that took charge didn't know what she was doing and just ordered everything with bread. It was fine. It's difficult to coordinate things well when there's a group. So anyway, in the mains, there was really only margarita pizza, so I got that and shared around a bit. This was probably a bit of a step down, even from the apps. Some of the items other people ordered looked pretty good, but hey, that's what we had. Overall good service, though for the price, I would expect no less. Overall, fun evening. read more

One of my favorite places. the food is fantastic, had the sea bass tonight, it was cook perfect. The big reason I love this place is the staff, our server Luke could not have been more welcoming. Remembered us when we sat down and just gave us such a wonderful dining experience. Next time need to leave some space for dessert read more