I've been wanting to try The Elm for quite a while now since I've heard so many good things. So I decided to stop in during lunch and wow, I was impressed. From the atmosphere, to the decor to the food, everything just felt right. They currently have their winter menu right now and I ended up ordering the Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wrap with sweet potato fries. Definitely a healthier bite on their menu but it was still packed with so much flavor and the perfect buffalo kick. For appetizers I ordered the Tempura Shrimp and I really liked that ALL the food came out steaming hot. I didn't catch our waitress's name but she was informative and kind from the beginning. She even told us they host comedy shows there, which is such a nice touch. I will definitely be returning, especially once warmer Chicago days arrive and their patio can fully be enjoyed. read more

The Elm - Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Sweet Potato Fries - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

We dined over the weekend. Reservations are online and honored which is a huge plus. The rooftop is scenic and our waiter was attentive and quick. Drinks look like they are updated seasonally with classics remaining. The food is well seasoned and prepared; however, the salmon was not fresh at all. It had a very pungent "fishy" odor, so much I tasted it in my drink. Messaged management first, but they didn't respond. read more

The Elm - Steak - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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Came here on a weekend night with a reservation and was originally a bit worried as the table was in the rooftop patio, but the area turned out to be quite warm. - Baked Crab Cakes - I really enjoyed these crab cakes especially because they were very well moisturized and not too dry. I also liked the vinaigrette and the corn on the side which went very well with the crab meat. - Salmon Wontons - I was actually not a big fan of these wontons as I thought the salmon didn't have a lot of flavor and was quite fishy. The other ingredients on top of it unfortunately didn't help much in covering the flavors. - Seared Scallops - I haven't had scallops in a long time and I thought these scallops were absolutely delicious. The scallops themselves were semi-raw in the center but seared to perfection on the outside with a bit of a sweet char. I also loved the root vegetables sitting over the pilaf as it soaked in all the seafood flavor. This dish was also humongous and definitely left me very full afterwards. Solid dinner spot in La Grange! read more

The Elm - Seared Scallops - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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Happy Hour Review! Visited The Elm for their weekday happy hour and sat at the bar. The inside is very large with multiple seating sections, a private event space, (2) large bars, and a shaded rooftop area. For drinks, we got The Bentini & No 23. Both were really delicious and summery but a bit spirit forward. We also ordered the Whipped Goat Cheese Ricotta. The portion was larger than I expected and we had leftover cheese even with the (6) toasts given. The flavor was good but rather one note. Our bartender was friendly but at times, no one was behind the bar with 5-6 people sitting there. Overall, you couldn't beat the happy hour prices! None of the portions were reduced with the happy hour price which was great. read more

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Overrated Over priced mediocre food. Place is huge and loud trying to be a downtown restaurant...third time there and done giving it a chance read more

Great food and beautiful restaurant! I highly recommend the pork belly tacos. I might come back and just get 2 orders of those especially since they're $10 during happy hour. We also got the braised short ribs and cheddar burger. Both were tasty but kind of average, not the best dish I've ever had. For the short ribs, I think $36 is too expensive, but it tasted good. Notably, I think it took over 30 minutes for our food to come out which is why I took away a star. The staff is great, but not a fan of how long I had to wait. read more

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Food was average. Not bad but nothing that stands out about it. I ordered the carbonara and it was just bland. Again not bad, just nothing popped about it. The cocktails were good though. We went with a large group and the location and ambiance of the place is great. Terrible parking and traffic on a Saturday night so give yourself extra time for that. read more

The Elm is excellent. It is our go-to for date nights and we take all of our guests who come into town. Great service, lovely people. The food is really good! They've got a lovely rooftop that almost always has their fire pits on. Best espresso martinis in town! read more

The Elm - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

Stopped in for a birthday party. We were quickly greeted and seated. Wasn't too busy for a Sunday afternoon which was nice. I ordered the elm cheeseburger and we ordered a couple of sides for the table including the pear and Brie flatbread along with the calamari. Food came out super quick. The waitress was also super nice and changed my grandmas wine bc she ordered the wrong glass. Calamari was fried perfectly and added a bit of lemon and the sauce isn't your traditional cocktail sauce it was more of a sweet jam type texture which I enjoyed. Flatbread also hit with the sweet and salty flavors on each bite. I ordered the cheeseburger medium and it was spot on. Sweet potato fries were nice and soft almost felt baked rather than fried. Would like to hit up the rooftop bar they have next time! read more

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We came here for lunch. It wasn't too busy and we sat on the rooftop. The restaurant was huge. It looks beautifully decorated inside. We ordered the cornbread, fried calamari, and pear and brie flatbread for appetizers. I ordered the lobster roll for my main dish. I am not a fan of cornbread. I thought it was ok. My coworkers love it. The fried calamari was good. I like the pear on the flatbread because they put arugula and balsamic reduction on it. The lobster roll was pretty good. I like their sweet potato fries. My coworker ordered the brownie a la mode. I didn't like that one it was too sweet for me. I would not recommend that. The service was good. The waiter returned to check if we needed any refills on our drinks. The only thing I would not recommend is sitting on the rooftop in the afternoon with the sun shining down. We were all sweating while we ate. I sat by the wall, and there was no wind coming in at all. I would rather sit indoor on a warm and sunny day. read more

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Great drinks and food - didn't have to go to the city to get a good vibe restaurant. It has indoors and a rooftop, the roof top was nice. read more

The Elm - Great spot - delicious drinks & food. Didn't have to go to the city to get a good vibe. - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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Food was excellent. I had the Elm salad with grilled chicken. It was lovely. I also had the Beltini cocktail, which was perfect. We had good service. We sat outside on the enclosed patio. The only takeaway for a star was that one of the chairs for our party or 6 was insanely close to the heat lamp, so it was uncomfortable for her to sit there. My husband moved it back for her. I think the wait staff should have been attentive to that. They also did shut the heat lamp off once our ticket had been paid, and I just felt that was kind of a bad look for a higher end restaurant. It certainly gave the message of "we'd like you to leave now." Other than that, it was good, albeit overpriced. My husband and son ordered a steak sandwich and ny strip. The ny strip did not have a price on the menu, just listed as mp. I don't think that is customary to do that for beef, just fish. read more

Pretty good food and poor service in a very loud environment. I came here for a date night and could barely hear my wife, despite being just two feet away from her. Seriously one of the loudest restaurants I've ever been to. I had the chicken sandwich and thought it was pretty darn good. The staff took my wife's knife and fork that she had used on her appetizer, but never brought a new one when she received her risotto. Since I got the sandwich, I just handed mine over so she wouldn't have to shovel risotto with her hands. The staff never came by to offer drink refills. The add a 3% service charge to your bill for... reasons. I appreciate that the food was good, but The Elm leaves a lot to be desired. read more

Very chill ambient place, good drinks. Our server Katie was a delight. The short ribs were cooked to perfection. Will definitely be returning. read more

Let me start by saying ambiance is amazing. Food is just mediocre at best. This is my 3rd time here and I won't be going back. We were wrapping up our dinner and had just paid our bill and the hostess came up to us and asked if we were ordering more food or drink because they have a nice bar we could move to. Now when I tell you we weren't there two hours at that point and as I said we had just paid our bill when we were told to move. When one of us told the hostess we wouldn't return because of this rude behavior she continued to be rude and condescending and turned and walked away. Honestly I've never been impressed with the food but this sealed the deal for never giving them another chance. Rude and snotty is the best way to describe the hostess. Many other restaurants with really good food to go to throughout Lagrange. read more

When my husband was looking for the perfect place to hold a dinner to celebrate my birthday, he knew what he was looking for; specifically, chill vibe, terrific food and outstanding service. So naturally he thought of The Elm. They did not disappoint The food was not only delicious, but beautifully plated, and our guests loved it. We chose on of their private roomdThe atmosphere was The service was great They served the birthday cake beautifully. If you are looking for a venue for a special occasion, you can call of the search The Elm is the right spot. Enjoy! read more

Great place to get lunch or dinner in downtown LaGrange. It's about the nicest place there is and the prices are actually worth it for quality. The Elm is known for having a bar on the rooftop. Maybe it's the best seat around here. You can rave about the atmosphere, but don't forget about the drinks and food though. Came at lunch when it wasn't as busy. It was still busy of course. That's a pretty good sign. Got seats at the bar. The drinks and food are kind of expensive, but the quality makes it worth it though. Sangria is $12, the cheapest option. This is made with brandy, orange liquor, and choice of red or white wine. Refreshing. The food menu is meaty but there's choices for vegetarians. It used to have a Beyond Burger. Sucks they got rid of it. This had vegan cheddar along with avocado and onions. Instead they got rid of a lot of the burgers. So fuck that. It's $12 for the Korean Roasted Brussels Sprouts. This is seasoned with gochugharu, kabali, and sesame seeds, lightly spicy but it's still plain though. Appetizers besides this are greasy or meaty. They also have a happy hour but it's only on certain drinks and appetizers, not a lot it seems. Had some pretty great drinks and food. It was worth the price. The menu is known for the burgers and other meaty items, but there's also things for vegans and vegetarians. read more

The Elm - Sangria And Roasted Brussels Sprouts - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

Amazing Rooftop patio, even in the winter! Their rooms are big and very well decorated for special ocasions.

Seated early for a Friday night. Food options were good, just a tad bit expensive. Decent food for the price and service was decently fast. Ambiance was really cute and loved the vibes of the place. read more

The Elm - Chicken Sandwich Risotto - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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Personally, it was okay. It has a contemporary feel with fabricated wood floors which makes it very loud, Also, the temperature was rather on the cool side so I kept my jacket over my shoulders. I don't eat fish so my food selections were limited. There is a very small parking lot next to the restaurant and a small public parking lot across the street. That might seem like plenty of parking but alas, parking on a Friday evening was horrible. Outdoor seating ~ weather permitting. read more

I am a food and wine freak. Also a member of the Downtown Chicago Foodie Group. We are out constantly sampling the best of the best downtown River North and West Loop places on a daily basis. Like Davanti and Ella's in Western Springs, the Elm in downtown LaGrange is a great addition to the near west suburban restaurant buildout. The November 5th, 2025 rooftop wine tasting was definitely one of the better wine tastings. The vibe was much better than the recent Il Mio tasting in Downers Grove. The owner of Il Mio is always unpleasant, but the choice of food and the Planeta wines were on the money. In short, the high value (only $30 a ticket) wine tasting at the Elm offered a fabulous city type rooftop atmosphere, great location, very nice choice of accompanying food, GREAT staff, convenient parking and ok wine. WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THESE EVENTS AT THE ELM. Davanti and Ella's in the very nearby Western Springs should also schedule more of these events. It was also attended by a large number of attractive and well dressed women, a very unusual dynamic for the suburbs. read more

I had the chance to stop here for lunch yesterday and here's my review of The Elm. Aesthetically and visually speaking, The Elm is VERY impressive with their HUGE, GIANTIC, LARGE dinning space. I can't help but only think, "how much are they paying in rent to keep this place running? Jeesh it's fricking big." With that said, I was escorted from the in building dinning space to the upstairs enclosed roof top with even more space. The atmosphere is hip with a city vibe and it's a cool brunch spot. The service was prompt and my waitress was pleasant and made my visit enjoyable. I did a quick scan of the lunch menu and for this day I went with the baked crab cakes and blackened mahi sandwich. It was an extremely windy day and the choice to sit us outside on of rooftop was puzzling to me, as I found myself fighting to keep the menus on the table and there were multiple times where other patron's menus and things were flying off the table due to the high winds. First came the baked crab cakes and they were your stand carb cakes with sauce. It was good and cooked and seasoned perfectly. Next up was the main event, the whole f'n show, the blacked mahi sandwich with french fries. The fries were piping hot and crunchy. Very good. The sandwich, visually speaking was stunning and what you'd expect from a gourmet fish sandwich. I went in for my first bite and it was a notch too salty for my taste and the fish was so juicy that it made a mess of my bun, plate, and hands. Ugh, it was just not an enjoyable eating experience for me and the sandwich was a miss. Salty, messy, and just OK was my experience. Overall, The Elm is very impressive with their ambiance and vibes but the sandwich for me was less than to be desired. I'd like to give The Elm another go around because they knocked it out of the park with their service and ambiance but if their food is any indication of how things are to come then they are going to have a very difficult time paying that rent bill. read more

The atmosphere is wonderful, comfortable seating on the covered rooftop. It is an awesome change of pace versus sitting outside along Lagrange Road. However, the food is absolutely horrible. I mean, really, I cannot stress this enough. Almost every single person at our table of 8 disliked their food. Our waiter was great and was actually the Elm's saving grace. We started with Whipped Goat Cheese Ricotta which came with ciabatta. I am not fond of anything goat cheese, and the apricot glaze did not help anything. We also had the crab cakes. I was not able to try due to my vegetarianism, but the pescatarian husband enjoyed them enough. The price tags for both were a bit outrageous, though. ($16 and $22) The drinks were okay, but numerous people were not satisfied with their Whiskey Smash. The margarita was fine enough, but I actually preferred the Fourth Wheel I initially started with. This was surprising, as I actually usually cannot stand gin. Due to there not being many options for vegetarians other than salads or a risotto, I ordered a side of parsnips and butternut squash for $12. Definitely an adequate portion, but I wouldn't order it again. I didn't finish it and it was my main. The husband ordered the Elm Cheddar Burger since he can go back and forth with his pescatarianism, but said it was just okay. My sister in law sent her ricotta back. Good thing I didn't order that! My other sister in law ordered the Short Rib. She was not a lover of it. Fish tacos others ordered went unfinished. We would come back for the rooftop and drinks, but not for the food. read more

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This downtown LaGrange hot spot is big on decor with lively roof top seating along with private dining rooms and a main floor bar with seating. There's also a main floor patio area. It's a beautiful place to bring friends and hang out. Craft cocktails, and good beer selection and wine list. However the menu falls short IMO. Our $11 Parmesan truffle fries reminded me of the same fries served at diners, needed salt and were tasteless. Other items underwhelming and the garnish in my drink was grossly old. Shrimp tempura and calamari were good. Our service has always been good. But for the prices, I expect better. read more

The Elm - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

I dined in yesterday evening. Atmosphere was great, lighting, etc. was on point. Service was awful. I don't know that I would ever want to go back based on my experience. The Server was blatantly rude. I didn't ask for a manager because I was on a date and I continuously tried to push through this experience in a positive way. We started out with drinks. She asked us if we wanted an appetizer. I ordered the Asian salad although it didn't say it had cheese on it. I asked the Server if it add cheese and I also told her I don't eat cheese and most dairy. My Day ordered the brie and pear flatbread. The flatbread came out about 10 minutes later. I still hadn't received my salad that I ordered when she asked if we wanted anything for first course and I mentioned I don't eat cheese so I definitely wouldn't be having any of the flatbread the flatbread would be his starter and I would have the salad. When I saw her, I asked her when my salad is ready. May I have it she looked puzzled. I was more puzzled because as the server you are timing, our meals and making these judgment calls. I guess I should add that very shortly after she took our appetizer order. She came back and asked if we were ready to order main course. My date wanted me to wait a few minutes because he thought I wasn't ready but because that wasn't the first time she had came and asked about Maine course I went ahead and ordered. I would assume that she would time everything appropriately no matter when we gave her the complete order. My salad hen came so my dad asked another Server about the salad in the middle of him asking. I told him not to worry about it that when she came to the table, we'd ask her again because by now it's been about 15 minutes since I ordered a salad. The Server sees us talking to him about the salad and she walks up and she asked me. Do you still want the salad? This is also at the same time that the food came out. I told her no because I wanted the salad for first course. She proceeded to tell me that the way I ordered she thought I wanted it whenever. This upset me so badly because if you're not gonna be accountable for the job that you do, you should not do the job. There's no way on God's green earth that I gave any impression that I didn't want to Sally any other time than when she said is there an appetizer or something the two of you would like to start with? Talk about not owning that you messed up. So now that the food is there and the salad is there I told her I will keep the salad. The salad was absolutely delicious. The main course scallop dish was delicious. We get a dessert menu. We look at the menu. She comes by and ask us what we want for dessert. I ask him had he decided. The server is standing at the table when he said " you go ahead and order and I will piggyback off of what you order and make a decision" I ordered before I could order my after dinner beverage, and without him ever being able to order, she like literally scurried away from the table. It was so weird this Server never enjoyed taking care of us from the moment we sat down and I don't understand why. What were you basing this on? This wasn't a first date. We are an interracial couple. We have money and we will spend it wherever we please. This was super disgusting. We dine in downtown Lagrange weekly and have never had this unpleasant uninviting disgusting level of service. I felt like a member of the Owner's family was taken care of me and the only reason she still had her job was because she was related to them. There's no way that I'm the first person that she has given this level of service to. Sad sad sad! Again, great, great food great atmosphere worst service. I've had in an extremely long time and we rarely cook. And we don't eat fast food! And I always take pictures, but I didn't take pictures because this was just bad read more

We went for Easter brunch and though the food was excellent I was not happy with the choices. Four of us wound up getting the rigatoni. First time I ever had that for Easter. Some kind of lamb or ham would've been appreciated. But I have to say the rigatoni was very tasty and my friends fish tacos looked really good. Might go back for their regular menu. read more

This was my third visit to the Elm. They market themselves as a neighborhood spot with a big city vibe. I would say that this is spot on, the ambience is great and it is quite a space. I would love to try out the rooftop bar during the summertime, but the dining room we were sat in was very cozy. There were not too many people seated around us so it was easy to chat, but I could see how it would get very loud if the restaurant was crowded. It took a bit for a server to come to our table, but the service was top notch from there. I came for dinner with a friend and we took it very slow. We ordered our drinks; I had the On Borrowed Thyme and my friend had the Winter Christmas Margarita. Both were very tasty! We shared the Golden Fig Bruschetta - delicious and the figs were a great pairing with the burrata and prosciutto. We both ordered the Elm Cheddar Burger with sweet potato fries. I love a good burger with a sauce and man the aioli did not disappoint. Great on the burger and for dipping the fries in. The burger had two patties, but I expected them to be a bit thinner. I like these types of burgers because they are often juicer, but this was not the case here. The burger itself was a bit dry and overdone. The taste was there but it just needed something more. I also expected the cheddar to have been melted on the burger. Instead, it was just two slices added between each patty. I don't think you get the full effect without the cheese melted. There are quite a few local restaurants that feature the burger with two thin patties, but I think that this burger could use some work. Especially at $18. I would definitely come back to the Elm, but would likely pass on the burger. Great ambience and attentive service, but a bit on the expensive side. Would definitely like to try out their happy hour and the live music on Thursdays! read more

The Elm - The Elm Cheddar Burger - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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I gave it two stars only because the ambiance is very nice. The food is unimpressive and the staff is so rude that I will never go back. We ordered 2 bottles of wine, 3 appetizers and a meal. We were basically asked to leave in less than two hours even though there were open tables and no one waiting. We were actually getting ready to leave when this happened. When I said that I would never come back because of the way we were treated the hostess or what ever she was was snotty and dismissive. Save your money folks, nothing here is worth the price. read more

A friend and I decided to have an early dinner at the Elm on a Thursday. We were in luck--- $5 house wine and most appetizers were 1/2 price until 6:00! Our waiter was very helpful, attentive and friendly. We chose to share the pear Brie flatbread, the pork belly tacos and the beet salad. All of those selections were excellent. The description of the beet salad was a bit misleading. The salad was to have mixed or spring greens but instead was presented with just spinach. I like spinach but it doesn't like me so I pick around it. The golden and red beets, walnuts, pears and feta cheese of the salad were very tasty! We loved the pork belly tacos. The corn tortillas were fresh, soft and delicate. The savory filling had a perfect balance of sweet, tangy and rich! The flat bread was good but we would have preferred a little more crispness to the crust. We were happy to see that the Elm collaborates with Tate's the local ice cream shop. The bourbon pecan cake was okay but the bourbon pecan ice cream was so satisfying! The peaches and cream ice cream was smooth and fresh but really lacked peachy flavor. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice ----comfortable spacious booths, good music, and clean modern decor. A real plus ----- house wines for $7, $5 during happy hour. The red wine was very good . I heard that customers should take a hard pass on the house white wine! I will be back for lunch or a real dinner! read more

The food is delicious and unique. I had the scallops which were cooked Perfectly! It is expensive, City prices. The service is good and it's a lively environment. The outdoor patio area has a bar with a TV, dining table and a seating area around a fireplace. It's beautiful and open in the summer but the nice surprise is that they enclose the area in the winter and it's so cozy yet elegant. The holiday decor is beautiful as well! read more

The Elm used to have really good food, but our recent visit there was mediocre. Pork chop was pretty good. The salmon was OK, but nothing special. Appetizer of pork belly mini tacos was pathetic: couldn't really find the meat. It was little, tasteless lumps. They could do better. read more

The ambiance in the Elm was very minimal and classy. The servers were all kind to my large party and were extremely helpful to everything that we needed. I will be back! read more

The Elm - Upper party room/bar area. - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

We were in the area and used Yelp to find a place for dinner. We decided on The Elm and were very pleased. The service was top notch, the food was excellent. There were lots of choices on the menu. The rooftop was a super nice place to have our meal. read more

I've never had a bad experience here. Whether it's date night, GNO, or a family get together, The Elm is the perfect location to gather. The rooftop patio offers a great ambiance and I appreciate that you can make reservations to sit at the couches. As for drinks, my husband and I love how fresh the margarita tastes. For food, we've ordered the burger, filet, tacos, and short ribs on multiple occasions and were never disappointed. I can't recommend this place enough read more

Where do I start... absolutely love this place. Was recommended by my good friends. Finally made my way over and am so mad I waited so long. Came with a friend we sat on the covered rooftop at a four top. Super cute rooftop. Definitely Instagramable. Very nice bar. Nice seats by a gas lit fire. The inside also is super cute. Absolutely love the decor! Service was excellent. Food was fantastic. I ate the Pork Chops my friend had the Short Rib. We both didn't want to drink so had the Pina Colada mocktails. They were delish! I absolutely will be back!!! read more

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Came here for the first time on a Thursday evening for dinner. Glad I made reservations five days ahead of time. This area of downtown Lagrange is saturated in restaurants and shops therefore finding street parking is very very difficult. If you do find it for the most part it is free. This place is totally busy and completely packed whether indoors or outdoors on the rooftop or even by the bar. The Decour is very trendy yet clean and welcoming. The service was super friendly and very helpful and we were never rushed. Food portions were fair considering the local competition and the environment of Lagrange now being an upper middle class to high class neighborhood. I would definitely come back and try more items on the menu as nothing was disappointing. It was definitely a good experience as we dined on the rooftop and incredible evening weather to close out summer and welcome fall. read more

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Mostly static, the menu is not optimized. Servers can be repurposed. The community would rather this place be replaced with a large fancy condo building. Food was stale and bland. Rooftop had Nice views, but just made me long for more condos. read more

Classy, elegant and incredibly delicious food! Loved the rooftop, was perfect choice for a business dinner. Easy street parking in downtown Lagrange. The rooftop doesn't have a view but it's so nicely done . Great for a date night or girls night out. Very Instagramable!! We had signature cocktails and beer along with crab cakes, shrimp tapas and beet salad. Main course was risotto with salmon, burgers and shrimp pasta. Everything was excellent. Our server was polite and attentive. I will be back soon!! read more

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The food was great everyone enjoyed their food. I had the fish tacos they were so flavorful and fresh lightly breaded just how I like them, they came with a side so I choose sweet potato fries and they were so delicious strange combo but good. That pomegranate margarita was a star I'm hoping it's not seasonal because I will be back for that in the summer it will be a perfect rooftop drink. read more

The Elm - Turkey sandwich, tomato soup, chicken Parmesan sandwich with sweet potato fries, fish tacos - New American Near Me - La Grange, Illinois

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I absolutely loved the short rib and the kimchi fried rice was a real stand-out dish! The Brussels sprouts were just the right amount of crunchy! The service was excellent--I felt taken care of the whole table even amongst a table of 12 on Mother's Day. My Diet Coke was always full! The rooftop is beautiful--the ambience was perfect for a sunny spring day. read more

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