Reviews - Elske

A curtain at the door to stop the draft would be very helpful. Dining at the bar was freezing and drafty. The kitchen did a good job accommodating my food intol... read more A curtain at the door to stop the draft would be very helpful. Dining at the bar was freezing and drafty. The kitchen did a good job accommodating my food intolerances. We had the pre fix menu. Overall everything was good but didn’t blow my socks off.

The food and service were outstanding. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, and the timing of our meal was spot on. Overall, it was a delightful experience. read more The food and service were outstanding. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, and the timing of our meal was spot on. Overall, it was a delightful experience.

This was an incredible meal. The tasting menu was so good paired with wines. Pescetarian accommodations were super easy and I ended up with one of the best riso... read more This was an incredible meal. The tasting menu was so good paired with wines. Pescetarian accommodations were super easy and I ended up with one of the best risottos I’ve ever had and a delicious mushroom tart. The frozen anise jelly with mint and the yeast ice cream with apples, puffed tapioca and date molasses was a perfect finale.

We just had a couple of drinks and a snack at the bar before our reservations elsewhere. Service was amazing. Monica really knows what she is doing in making ou... read more We just had a couple of drinks and a snack at the bar before our reservations elsewhere. Service was amazing. Monica really knows what she is doing in making our drinks. She was able to go off menu when I couldn 't find what I was looking for on the menu. Wonderful experience.

Absolutely fantastic! The food is delicious, and the service is outstanding. I really appreciate how the menu changes regularly, offering new dishes to explore.... read more Absolutely fantastic! The food is delicious, and the service is outstanding. I really appreciate how the menu changes regularly, offering new dishes to explore. However, I really hope they never remove the charred leeks from the menu, as they are my all-time favorite! And the playful desserts are a delightful touch that keeps me coming back for more!

Elske, which means "to love" in Danish, is a must-visit culinary destination in Chicago's West Loop. Its inviting entrance, featuring a cozy courtyard fireplace... read more Elske, which means "to love" in Danish, is a must-visit culinary destination in Chicago's West Loop. Its inviting entrance, featuring a cozy courtyard fireplace and a candle-lit door, sets the perfect ambiance for a memorable dining experience. The open kitchen, a personal favorite of mine, showcases the remarkable culinary talents of David and Anna Posey. Their modern American cuisine, enriched with Danish touches, beautifully balances simplicity and seasonal flavors. Elske has earned significant acclaim, proudly holding a Michelin Star every year since 2017, up to 2023. The Poseys, known for their impressive culinary prowess, have also received numerous honors from prestigious organizations like the James Beard Awards and the Jean Banchet Awards. Anna Posey, an exceptional pastry chef, has been recognized with the Jean Banchet Award for Pastry Chef of the Year, while Executive Chef David Posey has a noteworthy background, including a Michelin Star for Blackbird Restaurant and being a finalist for the James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef. Elske provides both a thoughtfully curated tasting menu and à la carte options, celebrating their love for gastronomy. Dining here transcends food; it’s a heartfelt experience crafted by a passionate culinary duo whose dedication is evident in every dish. They truly embody the meaning of their name!

We were fortunate enough to have our wedding at Elske Oct 2023. The day could not have been better because of everything the staff did for us. Renee, the restau... read more We were fortunate enough to have our wedding at Elske Oct 2023. The day could not have been better because of everything the staff did for us. Renee, the restaurant manager, was excellent so kind, accommodating, and professional! The service, food, and drinks were great! Our guests had so much fun, and we really can't thank or recommend Elske enough! Oh and the cake was fantastic too!

This was my first experience with a tasting menu, and Elske in particular. The service from the moment we walked in was welcoming and cordial. Every member of t... read more This was my first experience with a tasting menu, and Elske in particular. The service from the moment we walked in was welcoming and cordial. Every member of the staff was happy to help and answer questions about the dishes and the overall restaurant operations. Beyond that though the food was unbelievable. Every course and item was perfect for taking your time and letting all of the flavors hit you and work in concert. This is absolutely a recommendation to anyone looking to try something new and engaging.

Tried the tasting menu, food was alright. Not exceptional, some dishes were rather bland. My favourite was the duck liver tart and the swordfish. Service was aw... read more Tried the tasting menu, food was alright. Not exceptional, some dishes were rather bland. My favourite was the duck liver tart and the swordfish. Service was awesome though, so is the ambience.

Absolutely outstanding. Delicious small plates dishes made with a twist. Celeriac puree and cauliflower risotto is absolutely delicious read more Absolutely outstanding. Delicious small plates dishes made with a twist. Celeriac puree and cauliflower risotto is absolutely delicious

What a great meal! We made the tasting menu with wine pairing and I highly recommend it. The food was absolutely delicious. The fish was all cooked for perfecti... read more What a great meal! We made the tasting menu with wine pairing and I highly recommend it. The food was absolutely delicious. The fish was all cooked for perfection and also fresh. The lamb was probably the tenderest lamb I've ever eaten. all the flavors worked nicely and I wish I had the recipe for carrot mol because I want to put it on everything. The tea from smoked fruit and vegetables was also a highlight and I can try to turn it around because it was like nothing else I ever tasted and I want more. I love it when a tasting menu leaves me full enough to be more than satisfied at the end, but not crowded and fall into a food coma. Very happy that I chose my birthday dinner, and I hope I can dine here sooner than later!

Elske offers a modern and inviting dining experience that's ideal for a date night or a relaxed dinner. If you're choosing the tasting menu, the juice pairing i... read more Elske offers a modern and inviting dining experience that's ideal for a date night or a relaxed dinner. If you're choosing the tasting menu, the juice pairing is a delightful addition. Each juice is thoughtfully curated to complement the dishes. Our group really enjoyed the progression of flavors and found ourselves comfortably satisfied by the end of the meal.

Unique Delicious! Everything about Elske was impressive. I walked in having pregnancy dietary restrictions, and figured I wouldn’t be able to do the tasting men... read more Unique Delicious! Everything about Elske was impressive. I walked in having pregnancy dietary restrictions, and figured I wouldn’t be able to do the tasting menu (and would opt for a la carte) as many items had raw, partially cooked or organ meat. I was pleasantly surprised when they were able to offer substitutions that fit my needs! Everything was superb, the dessert was stand out to me. And the NA cocktails were some of the best I have ever had. I hope to go back and dine by their outdoor fireplace when the weather is nicer!

Home away from home. Elske is the most comforting experience and reminds me of my years living in Denmark. Elske is in my book the #1 restaurant in Chicago. The... read more Home away from home. Elske is the most comforting experience and reminds me of my years living in Denmark. Elske is in my book the #1 restaurant in Chicago. The food quality, environment, and staff just are the absolute best. I felt taken care of and comforted by our waitress without her presence being too on top of the table. The food and wine explanations were fantastic. The meat options at elske are always immaculate. However this round the beets won the award for Best plate. There is nothing more Scandinavian then great root veg and Elske out performs even some of those restaurants I went to in Copenhagen. Gosh darn I love Elske.

This was the best meal I've ever experienced at a restaurant. We opted for the 10-course tasting menu, which included a vegetarian course. Every dish and cockta... read more This was the best meal I've ever experienced at a restaurant. We opted for the 10-course tasting menu, which included a vegetarian course. Every dish and cocktail was absolutely delightful, and I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant. The photo features the Celeriac risotto with apple, hazelnuts, and black truffle, as well as the Charred leeks with vinaigrette, clothbound cheddar, toasted oats, and black olive.

Elske offered one of the most exceptional dining experiences I’ve ever encountered. Every dish was a masterpiece, and the flavors were nothing short of amazing.... read more Elske offered one of the most exceptional dining experiences I’ve ever encountered. Every dish was a masterpiece, and the flavors were nothing short of amazing. I can’t imagine how this restaurant could be any more perfect!

We had fond memories of an excellent meal we had eaten at this restaurant a few pre-covid years ago and were eager to return. This time, we found the food while... read more We had fond memories of an excellent meal we had eaten at this restaurant a few pre-covid years ago and were eager to return. This time, we found the food while still good overall, but not particularly memorable. Service was good in a crowded environment, but the noise level made it hard to have conversations. It was very expensive even for someone used to eating in the expensive restaurants in NYC.

Elske is perfection. From the moment we arrived, until the one we, sadly, had to leave, everything just clicked. The outdoor fireplace is such a beautiful touch... read more Elske is perfection. From the moment we arrived, until the one we, sadly, had to leave, everything just clicked. The outdoor fireplace is such a beautiful touch, and it's great to relax before, or after, (or both) dinner and enjoy the space. We didn't mention we were celebrating a special occasion, but, the staff picked up on it, and helped us celebrate. The food, ambiance and staff are all exceptional.

We were really excited to dine at Elske and it was actually meant to be the highlight of our Michelin dining tour (we did 7 in a week) while we were in Chicago... read more We were really excited to dine at Elske and it was actually meant to be the highlight of our Michelin dining tour (we did 7 in a week) while we were in Chicago so it was sad for us to admit that we were incredibly disappointed. We are huge fans of Nordic dining and have been to many well respected restaurants and always felt that the flavors and attention to details were never lacking. This cannot be said about Elske. In terms of ambience and the actual restaurant itself, it's beautiful and inviting. Host team was incredibly polite and our server started out okay and then basically turned into a robot of okay order, do you like the food. Nothing more. To be honest, an amazing server can make your experience wonderful but what we are always interested in is the food above all else. This is where the disappointment began and ended. The dishes one after the other were uninventive, flavorless and lacked any sense of creativity which is completely unacceptable for a Michelin restaurant. To give an example, one of the dishes was an endive salad. The plate came with 8 upside down endive leaves over a small mixture of dry walnuts and raisins. No flavor whatsoever and I am a huge fan of enjoying the quality of the ingredients as God intended them to taste. But this was something bizarre. Two other plates that stood out as disappointments. A pasta with macaroni noodles that felt like it came out of a box and too much Parmesan cheese because they didn't know how else to give the dish flavor and a risotto that reminded me of something my nephew would maybe put together. Taste okay, details... incredibly strange. Julienned fresh apple sticks on top of a hot risotto just sitting there. One great thing, the wine list. Every wine we ordered was fantastic although there was no recommendations from our server and it was the only thing not made in house. Makes sense. All in all, a very disappointing experience. We didn't order dessert...

We had the tasting menu and it was delicious! We especially liked the lamb dish. Will come back again soon to try other dishes. read more We had the tasting menu and it was delicious! We especially liked the lamb dish. Will come back again soon to try other dishes.

A solid meal every time. Make life simple and do the tasting menu. Food is always on pt. Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 read more A solid meal every time. Make life simple and do the tasting menu. Food is always on pt. Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4

WOW we loved this meal. Honestly one of the best tasting menus we’ve ever had. The wine pairings were DEFINITELY the best we’ve ever had. We can’t wait to come... read more WOW we loved this meal. Honestly one of the best tasting menus we’ve ever had. The wine pairings were DEFINITELY the best we’ve ever had. We can’t wait to come back, what a gem! Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Price per person: $100+

My wife and I just had dinner at Elske for Valentine's day and ordered from the a la carte menu. We found the food, atmosphere, and service to be fantastic, and... read more My wife and I just had dinner at Elske for Valentine's day and ordered from the a la carte menu. We found the food, atmosphere, and service to be fantastic, and Lauren, the restaurant's manager, is a superstar! I highly recommend the duck dish when you go. It was one of the best I have ever had! Enjoy! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5