As the name implies, EL Ideas elevates dishes for delicious, complex flavors, with elegant plating. The staff and environment are friendly- giving the feeling of attending a dinner party where fellow patrons may soon become new friends. Highly recommend for an approachable experience with fine dining. Perfect for dates, catching up with old friends, or a fun intimate dinner with loved ones. read more

EL Ideas - Menu - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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El Ideas is a wonderful concept and the food does take the experience to the next level. My favorite course was the fried potatoes and vanilla frosty. The show that goes along with it, will have you out of your seat. The flavors remind me of when I was in high school and we'd dip our french fries into our school cafeteria frosty. This amped up version will bring a smile to your face. My favorite dishes of the night: oyster and artichoke hearts, squid and chorizo (it could have had more squid), El Ideas' version of Nachos. These gastronomic masterpieces are why so many travel a far to have the experience. Bill, the host, did a fantastic job. Even handing me a mini-spatula so I could forgo licking the plate for the strawberry-red pepper sauce that was out of this world. This little attention to detail helped me appreciate his attention to the customer. The downside, while Chef Foss and the rest of the team invites you to the kitchen, I felt un-welcomed. Maybe I came at a bad time during the 2.5 hour meal. Chefs should be happy when a patron asks about how they came up with a dish or how it is prepared; especially when you're paying the gratuity up front. read more

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Absolutely incredible meal, service and experience. I now want all you can eat szechuan duck, venison tenderloin and potato ice cream! Note that parking is a bit challenging. read more

El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs' unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro's hospitality adds a personal touch, making the dining experience truly exceptional. A must-visit for those seeking an adventure for your taste buds. Every dish somehow was better than the next. My husband and I cannot rave about the food and welcoming atmosphere they provided to make my birthday extra special. It's one for the books! read more

Wonderful change from your usual Michelin experience. Fun, creative, delicious and true to their mission of delivering a "dinner party" atmosphere. read more

Open for pick-up during the pandemic! I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now (years) and I thought that it would be fun to try their take-out menu. We had Uncle Bill's bronco buckin' shrimp & grits and the Barbecued short ribs which came with their French fries and frosty reimagined. My favorite was definitely the short ribs. And the french fries and frosty was fun to assemble. read more

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Finally had the chance to go to el ideas. We had the pleasure of dining at the chefs table. Really fun experience in a laid back environment. The concept of open kitchen dinner party is fun. Chef foss and his crew served up dish after dish of fun show casing specific ingredients. Each dish was simple yet creative and bold with taste. The milkshake is one of the dishes that will always remain on the menu at el. Overall, definitely worth the visit! read more

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Amazing! We went for Valentine's Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish! read more

Traveling with wife for the Memorial weekend. Came here with a lot of anticipation because of the Michelin Star as well as the story behind the concept which sounded really appealing. Always loved chefs who create something for themselves and strive to be innovative. However, actual dining experience was a letdown to say the very least. The menu featured really cheap ingredients and a large number of fried items (sometimes consecutively). The Caesar Explosion was pretty tasteless. The oyster in a duck consume jello was OK but the ingredients did not "talk" with one another. The fried crab meat was no better than the same dish you get from a food truck. So on and so forth. I get the chef's intent to be creative and different, but sometimes combining a good piece of steak with barbeque sauce simply does not work. You have to admit, if something never catches on, there might be a good reason for it. I don't think barbeque sauce on waygu steak will ever take off. Maybe it's a matter of our specific taste, but the menu just felt lazy and poorly planned. Maybe it's because of the limited staff there (only two chefs to make an elaborate 10-course meal... the math simply does not add up). Maybe it's because of the frequent menu rotations which cost them the consistency and we somehow drew the shortest straw. Or maybe, we simply did not get the chef's greatness - it's a genuine possibility that the chef wanted to offer something that is completely out of the ordinary that night and, for a great chef who does not give two f**ks about what the patrons think, this was one of them "take it or leave it" deals. Gotta say, while we are okay with experimental, we are not so cool with tasteless or laziness. Especially when the bill was close to $250 pp. Anyone would expect much more from this experience and I believe the chef knows that. And I think he can do so much better than this. read more

EL Ideas - bland chicken w even more bland wilted lettuce & a ball of fried dressing. And eat this atrocity without using your hand or any utensils - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was quick, friendly, and efficient ! Food was amazing ! Great ambiance ! Looking forward to my next visit ! read more

Wow! A complete hidden gem. We loved everything about this place. The food was incredible, loved the casual but extremely elevated ambiance...I had the pescatarian menu and it was fabulous! It was a special date night and one we will always remember. Highly recommend!! read more

The best tasting menu in "Chicago" This is truly a amazing experience, to experience. I will truly rate this a 5 star tasting menu. The chef and his team are truly professional skilled and the front of the house manger is very professional. The food was outstanding, service was perfect. El Ideas will become my regular stop for my future trips to Chicago. I am very happy I choose them for a tasting experience. The chef and his team show you the love and passion they have for food. read more

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We were here for our 7th anniversary and we are so glad that we came to EL ideas for our celebration. It was a super delicious and fun dining experience that made our day so memorable. The food was amazing and creative of course but the more important thing was the family/friend vibe that EL ideas was able to create. We got to chat with our neighboring couple (who was also celebrating their 7th anniversary!), the chefs and the manager and felt like we were at a dinner party at a friend's place. We are so grateful for the fabulous evening. Thank you Chefs Foss and Oliveros. P.S. We took the CTA to get here so it sort of fit the EL concept? :) read more

EL Ideas - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here on a surprise date with my fella. From where the car dropped us off...I was really, really confused! Once we were inside, it all made so much more sense. The staff was so warm and welcoming, yay! I soon found out what we were in store for; a 13 course meal! WHAT?! I was a little nervous (not a big seafood lover), but really enjoyed the entire experience. All of the plates were complex and far beyond anything I could make at home. So fun! Have any dietary issues? They can work with it! I can't do much dairy, so they created alternatives along the way that were so tasty. My favorite part of the whole experience? The relaxed atmosphere! It's BYOB. There's no dress code. The chefs are in t-shirts and they encourage you to walk around and chat with them between courses. It's 5 star food, 5 star service, 5 star tableware quality, and the warmth of being in someone's 20-seat dining room. Highly recommend as the menu is always evolving! Instagrammers will have tons to photograph. read more

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My SO did real good planning our 5 year anniversary trip to Chicago, but the highlight of it was surprising me with reservations at EL Ideas. Since he did all the planning, I was left in the dark about what EL Ideas was all about and I'm glad he kept that way because it is a fun and unique experience. By experience, you don't just show up to eat a multi course meal. Instead, you're encouraged to mingle with everyone, and yes that includes the staff. I love that curiosity is encouraged within reason. Yes you may come hang out in the kitchen area but not right where someone might be frying or stirring something magical. Before dinner begins, Chef Foss will start off with an intro about the restaurant and its concept. Before I knew it we were served our first course of the night: Wagyu beef, miso sea bean, curried tomato, uni & caviar. It was beautifully plated and I was thrown off at the next piece of instruction, "do not use hands or utensils to eat". It's a good thing I was wearing long lasting lipstick so I didn't have to worry about my lipstick getting all over the plate. I have to say, I am glad we were told to eat like this because you will want to savor every bit of this first course shamelessly! The other fun course of the night was the sixth course. One of the couples dining that night volunteered to serve everyone a parfait, and told us to not touch it until after Chef Foss's instructions. He describe this parfait was inspired by dipping french fries into ice cream (a childhood favorite of mine!) and at the count of 3, to dive our spoons in. Once we all did that, a poof of fog spurts out of the parfait. So fun! I'm sure you can find a clip of this on IG, but you have to experience it in the moment. Anyways, this parfait consists of potato leek fries, liquid nitro, and vanilla ice cream soup. You still get the warm and slight crunch of fries yet the cold and creaminess of the ice cream. Very nicely done. Fun, amazing food, great hip hop music, laid back ambiance, and BYOB with no corkage fee, EL Ideas is a great Michelin restaurant for any occasion. ********** Also, if you are still curious what else I ate that night, here it is: 2. Chilled cucumber avocado soup, poached lobster, blossoms, coriander, lobster oil 3. Shrimp & corn ice cream with cojita cheese 4. Halibut with wasabi puree, ricotta, peas, powdered wasabi 5. Cold smoked scallop, camomille milk, porcini, lilies 7. Savory pancake, smoked mussels, pickled peppers, garlic scape 8. Cured pig head salad walnut pesto, black truffle crepe with truffle cream cheese mustard 9. Done in 3 ways: Seared and fried blossoms in saffron, lamb 10. Foie, peaches, gingerbread crumbs 11. Blueberry yuzu and compote 12. Cherries (Garcia), pistacio, balsamic vinegar read more

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A dining experience unlike anything else I have had before. An small setting with open access to the chef and the kitchen made the experience much more intimate and meaningful. The courses were varied and absolutely exquisite. They took you around an inspired journey around the world. One of the best meals I have ever had. Highly recommend a visit here. I will definitely be coming again. read more

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EL Ideas markets itself as a BYOB Michelin starred restaurant minus the frills, where dinner should feel more like a warm family gathering rather than a distant dinner night out on the town. To this end, they achieved this environment and then some, providing amazing, thoughtful plates while remaining rooted to their ideals. We were seated promptly at a table within a few steps from the kitchen, where everyone from their tables could see, hear, and smell the magic happening. The chef encouraged us at the beginning of dinner to get up and join them in the kitchen (up to a point so that we did not intrude the process), and see them at work up close and personal; no need to hide behind any walls. This would not be the only time the chef spoke to us, as every time a new dish made its way to our table, he introduced it with an anecdote about the genesis of it, to the final creation on the plate. It was a personal touch that is much appreciated, and not seen in many restaurants, including those labeled as fine dining. As for the food, my wife, our friend, and I were giddy and full of excitement the days leading up to dinner, and thankfully, our feelings were not misplaced! Dinner started with a couple of beautifully plated and flavorful dishes with the crab and salmon. The crab was Halloween themed in its colors, and in the flavoring, the papaya and carrot elevated the freshness of the crab, giving the dish texture but keeping it light. The follow up dish, a smoked salmon, built upon the light and fresh aspects of the opener. It was a great dish with the beet and pumpernickel making a good contrast to the salmon. Dinner reached a plateau before ramping up again for the next few dishes. The monkfish was okay for my tastes, the chicken and eggs, visually, was not as appetizing or interesting as other dishes, although the flavor was good, and the foie gras was good as well, but not a standout. Immediately after the foie gras, we ate a small bite that seemed as a palate cleanser in the form of a fancy Twix; flavors are unorthodox, but worked extremely well, providing a sweet and salty one-two punch to the palate that prepared me for what was to come. The last 3 dishes of dinner are easily the best of the dinner as well, the last course ending it all with a resounding bang! The main protein of our dinner was a perfectly cooked lamb surrounded by a supporting cast of flavors that kept transforming every mouthful on my tongue depending on what ended up on my fork. It was an exquisite, ever-changing dish with the date and lamb combo in particular making an angelic duet to my taste buds. Following that up, the second to last meal was an inspiring take on dipping fries in a milkshake, a classic savory and sweet combo, with potatoes and leek soup making the fries, and liquid nitrogen reverse poached ice cream making the milkshake. Sounds like something from a mad scientist, but all elements of the dish worked together well, as it tasted as described, but done with a fascinating and intricate twist. Finally, we got to the gingerbread rooibos, the grand finale and apex of dinner. This was the best dish of the night, as the marriage of citrus and sweet was executed perfectly. The citrus of the candied peach and caramelized pomegranate cut through the sweetness of the rooibos and chocolate in particular, bringing a masterful balance to the entirety of the plate. The problem I had with it was that it marked the end of my meal, and I could not have any more of it. In summary, EL Ideas was worth the price of admission, and provided my wife, our friend, and me a memorable dinner. I highly recommend trying it, as the flavors were on point, the service was even better, and best of all, you can bring your own wine or spirit of choice! read more

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This is one of the funnest, best restaurants I have eaten at. The environment is set up like a dinner party - they allow you to go back to the kitchen and watch the chefs and also encourage the customers to speak with each other. All the tables in the restaurant are served the dishes at the same time, so it's an interesting experience. The coolest and best dish was this dish based off how his daughter eats fries with milkshakes. I was worried since I'm not the biggest fan of this combination but it was surprisingly very good despite tasting like, quite literally, fries and milkshakes. Restaurant is also BYOB, which definitely helps. The pacing of the menu is also very good - not too rushed but not too long, probably 2-2.5 hours. read more

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Unlike other fine dining restaurants, the goal of EL Ideas is to create an environment resembling a dinner party with friends. But instead of crowding strangers together at a communal table, EL Ideas provides conventional seating and achieves its goal through a casual approach that encourages guests to wander into the kitchen. This works really well, allowing the extroverts to gather by the prep table and converse, while the introverts and lovers can have a private experience at their own seats. The meal gets off to an eclectic start from the first course, which was wagyu beef served with a sauce but no utensils, and the instruction not to use your fingers. Once you've licked your meal off your plate it's hard to be stuffy. The environment is spacious and trendy, the music an eclectic mix that isn't too loud, and the chefs and servers are all welcoming and conversational. The only aspect of EL Ideas I can't be wholly enthusiastic about is the food. We had twelve courses, and almost every single course contained at least one really wonderful ingredient. But almost every single course included many other ingredients that rarely seemed to combine to create a result greater than the individual parts. In this respect it reminded me of 42 Grams, where a tremendous amount of work had obviously gone into the dozens of exotic components and preparations, but didn't quite justify the end result. The exception was "French Fries and Ice Cream," a truly stunning course that I would rank with some of the greatest molecular gastronomy ever produced at Moto. An old-fashioned malt shop glass was filled with a frozen concoction resembling a vanilla shake, with a liquid nitrogen frozen cap. When we plunged our spoons into the top, a geyser of vapor erupted, caused by the hot potato soup in the bottom. The combination of hot and cold, soft and crunchy, sweet and salty was absolutely sublime. And yes, it tasted like a vanilla shake with french fries in it. This one course was worth the price of admission. EL Ideas is BYOB, with individual ice buckets at each table. I suggest bringing a Blanc de Noir Champagne, which will match nearly all the food. If you want a second bottle, a lighter red would work best, such as a Burgundy. read more

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Food was delicious and for the price I think it was well worth it. My first tasting menu experience, and it was a good one.

First review of 2019! I have been wanting to try EL Ideas for ages and this Michelin star spot did not disappoint as my final, fancy meal of 2018. So darn delicious! First things first with EL Ideas, it's a casual Michelin star spot. It's not as chill as Schwa but not as proper as Alinea...it's a nice medium. The staff is incredibly friendly....every. single. human. there. Legit! Every dish was creative, beautifully plated, total art for the eyes and then to feast on for your mouth. I don't want to give too much away so you can experience each dish fully for yourself (and each course was truly fantastic) but my top 3 courses: *French Fries & Ice Cream - creative & fun for sure, but the flavors just bounced off each other in this. I used to dip my fries in my shake from Mickey D's when I was a kid and this was just that but incredibly elevated. My favorite dish of the night fo' sheezey. *Sun Choke, Cheddar, Scallion, Bellota Ham - so basically a classy take on a potato skin. This was so unexpected and in the best way possible. Dear EL Ideas, can you please mass produce this for me? I would like this for dinner every night for the rest of my life. Thanks. *Scallop Pastry, Black Truffle, King Crab & Cauliflower - I mean...look at the ingredient list and then let me know if you need to know more. Just divine. Every element on it's own was fabulous and then all together, mind blown. BYOB which is always welcome at Michelin star tasting menus! Ran me $205 per person so I was all about some cheap boos to pair with their fancy eats. Glad I finally tried EL Ideas and I'd definitely go again! read more

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Front of house: "Please make sure you don't track snow into the restaurant", this would be fine if I didn't have to walk through a snow bank to get from my car to the entrance. We are holding dinner for a group of patrons that are arriving late. 30 minutes after reservation started we where finally served. We finished our BYOB bottle of champagne while we waited since we where really hungry. All but the dishwasher disappeared without ever saying goodbye, thanks or acknowledging the patrons. While they mentioned this at the beginning the lack of attentiveness doesn't seem inline with a high end establishment charging this level of price. Feels like the staff attitude, is hey we have our Michelin Star drop your cash, you all can just deal with it. Kitchen: Given the delay is service the kitchen ended up serving appetizer dishes with that were cold and coagulated sauces. We specifically requested a pescatarian menu for my wife. The first dish included duck which she took a few bites of unknowingly since they did not provide descriptions prior to being served. We did not complain but re-iterate when the second dish came out. No acknowledgement of their error was ever made. read more

Unique, inviting, and casual atmosphere. The staff here were very friendly--chefs included, who actually invite you to interact with them as they prepare your food. It's also BYOB which is surprising for a michelin-starred restaurant, but I'm not complaining! No corkage fee, so you can bring as many drinks as you like. Everything is also pre-paid online before you come, so there's no fuss of paying/tipping at the end of your meal. Each course of the meal is served all at once to all the tables here--so depending on how quickly you eat, the whole process can be too fast or too slow for you (or maybe just right?). For us it was a bit slow--the entire meal took 3 hours! That's probably record length for a meal for us, because we both eat really fast. We chose the 9:30PM dinner (you have 2 options between the 5:30PM and 9:30PM), so we didn't leave until 12:30AM! Besides the timing of it all, the food was presented nicely and was delicious. We left full and satisfied. read more

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What a great experience! My wife is celiac and they couldn't be more accommodating. Food, service all great. Thank you Chef Foss for being so nice to my wife and myself. read more

I know a lot of people seek out menus and pictures of their food, this is something I religiously do before going to a restaurant. What I learned about this one was part of the fun was the unknown and guessing what they were plating. So if you have an open mind and pallet go have some fun, you won't leave disappointed! This was by far the most amazing culinary experience I have ever had. Not only did each dish taste amazing but you get to actually watch the chefs prepare it. Being able to watch was probably one of the best parts. They don't exactly tell you what it is as they make it and leave you guessing until you rush back to your table (because you're literally welcomed into the kitchen to see all the action!) as they are ready to serve,leaving you to anticipate every flavor. It was fun and delicious experience everyone should experience at least once! They will also substitute and accommodate most dislikes and food allergy's to the best of their ability just be sure to let them know ahead of time, they were easy to contact by email! This is a BYOB Restaurant, and only serves water (or coffee at the end) so be sure to utilize their recommended wine store(on their website) or bring your own wine or beer! read more

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We came here for my husbands 30th birthday and it definitely did not disappoint. They even had a nice card wishing him a happy birthday and rhinestone glasses with 30 on them! I would say I liked almost every single item that was served on the menu. The dishes I didn't love were due to preference and not preparation.They encourage you to go talk to the chefs and you can watch how the dishes are put together! My favorite dish was the French fries and ice cream because it was so fun , innovative, and tasted so good! All the dishes use seasonal ingredients and present them in a way that puts it in a new perspective experimenting with different textures. It's not a restaurant you go to everyday but it is a wonderful experience that you should journey out to atleast once! read more

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Loved the interaction with the chefs, amazing food and the ambiance. The waiter was extremely kind and thoughtful. We had pescatarian options which we enjoyed throughly. Thank you read more

This was phenomenal and so much fun. I've never had a tasting menu experience that was more fun or more memorable. I think my main advice is to BYOB (we did bubbles, white and red), and bring an open mind. This is also the first tasting menu I've ever had that was as substantial, as in, I didn't get college girl wasted on accident due to more booze than food. Yes, some of the dishes were admittedly pretty much a bite or two, but there were almost as many that were much heartier than you've come to expect. I love that you don't get the menu until the end. Printed over a map of the EL, it's probably the most Chicago thing ever. Here are my highlights of this tasting menu from last weekend. Salt cod fritter with watermelon and eggplant: I don't think I'll ever be able to eat regular fish and chips again! This was so good. French fries and ice cream - a tribute to the chef's children, little girls who like to dip their french fries in ice cream. The ice cream was made with liquid nitrogen, and the fries at the bottom of the shake of were still hot. So good and so different and fun. Squab is delicious. Who knew? The strip was great too. So many hits on this menu and not a single thing I didn't like. I don't consider myself to be the most adventurous eater, so don't let yourself miss out on an amazingly fun experience just because you don't want to eat something you don't love or don't know what it is. I promise you, these flavor combinations will make you love something you never thought you could. read more

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**FUNNEST DINNER WE'VE HAD IN CHICAGO** Man, Chicago has some fantastic food choices. We couldn't decide: TRU, Alinea, or maybe El Ideas? All different, but after further thought, we were sold on the "supper club", BYOB, and no dress code concept. We were charged $145 for each person (excluding tax and gratuity) seven days beforehand. Taxi (via über) was around $20 one way. GOOD FOR: ========== - SOCIAL and gregarious (triple word score) people - People who enjoy excellent food without the PRETENTIOUSNESS, formal jackets, and a fully staffed crew. - RISKY and adventurous (you don't know what you're getting until you're there). - Interaction with your fellow diners and chefs. - PHOTOGRAPHERS, I mean those who like taking pictures of food: yes, that means all the Asians are welcomed. NOT GOOD FOR: ============= - If you are easily offended listening to N.W.A. or any 90's hip hop (It was played in the kitchen and I immensely enjoyed the experience). - ROMANCE or a quiet first date. It's an interactive environment. So you might be somewhat disappointed if your date ends up talking to me the entire night. I announced the dessert dish to the diners towards the end of the night with the executive chef. Fun, right? El Ideas is not for everyone, but it was for us. BRING YOUR OWN WINE PRO TIP: Wine pairings are as follows: we recommend starting with a sparkling wine, whether it be a Champagne, dry Cava, or even a sparkling white. For a white option, stick with medium-bodied whites with a bit of acidity. For a red option, medium-bodied reds like a red burgundy, pinot noir, or even a red blend would work best. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for those who want to have a fun and interactive dinner. read more

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For food its very good but not phemomenal - but lots of great Chicago places that are its equal - the BYOB kind of fun - at these prices you expect excellent service- here you get a surly waiter - the corkage consists of a $2 corkscrew being thrown on yiur table and having to beg for fresh glasses when a new bottle is opened - you get to look in the kitchen but there's no real interaction read more

ELegance of the highest order. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or nothing at all, Chef Phillip Foss and his charming staff will ELevate your tastebuds to new levels of culinary grandeur. But be warned: a rez for 2 at this avant-garde Douglas Park establishment will ELiminate most of your monthly food budget. This Michelin-starred gem is carefully hidden on a dead end street that'll make first-timers think "wait....are we in the right place?" Walk inside and you'll see a clever sign indicating you've arrived at your ELysian foodie destination. The BYOB restaurant seats a max of 24 guests with an open kitchen, where diners are encouraged to mingle with the cooks as they prep the next dish. Tables were set tastefully and the ambient music was...surprisingly metal! \m/ Kind of like a hard rock version of Alinea, but without all the ELitism. As we began the nearly *3 hour* edible expedition (which consisted of ELeven unique courses, plus one amuse-bouche) I was positively brimming with excitement. Each dish is explained below in more ELaborate detail: :popcorn: the leadoff was a simple yet effective hors d'oeuvre, consisting of a popped kernel resting on popcorn cream with Ossetra caviar. It came on a clear glass plate with no utensils; we were instructed to lick the plate clean. No need to stand on ceremony! :orange: the next offering was actually one of my favorites, as it focused on a color instead of a flavor matching. Raw salmon was accentuated by crispy bottarga and fish roe. Deftly-rolled carrot peels and a compressed carrot purée completed the outstanding presentation, topped off with an edible marigold blossom. The black plating provided some excellent visual contrast. :fish fry: an upscale take on fried fish, served on a custom piece of slate. A small fingerling potato (along with homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce) was paired with crispy fish skin and something resembling black peppercorn. Chef Foss explained that the tiny black dots weren't pepper....they were the fish's eyes. Woah. :black cod: the next fishy dishy centered around a piece of fresh cod. Joining it were an ELongated strand of pickled yellow beet, avocado mousse, grapefruit wedges + gel, powdered pistachio, and sorrel. A splendid masquerade of tastes and textures made this course a winner. :foie: plate #5 gets my runner-up vote for best dish of the evening. The foie gras was carefully freeze-dried and accompanied by rhubarb, white asparagus, a rosé verjus, and masago arare (rice cracker beads). Topped with a bright pink geranium, the foie was superbly rich without overshadowing the delicate sweetness of the rhubarb or the tenderness of the white asparagus. Expertly executed. :french fries & ice cream: ever dipped a french fry in a Wendy's frosty? This is the fine dining equivalent of that. In a traditional milkshake glass from bottom to top was warm leek soup, ridged french fries, and vanilla ice cream doused in liquid nitrogen. We were instructed to dip our spoons at the same time, thereby breaking the layer of N2 and causing everything to meld. Hot + cold, sweet + salty, a marvelous ELixir of juxtaposing flavors was the clear winner of the night. :octopus: item number seven was a relatively straightforward dish of baby octopus, masterfully cooked with hearts of palm and black garlic, adorned with a splash of chicory and saffron. :rib: the 8th weapon in Phil's culinary arsenal was another entry you won't see ELsewhere--instead of typical beef ribs, he BBQ'd a rib from the massive Amazonian fish known as 'pacu' or tambaqui. Plated with baked beans, baby bok choy, and a coffee/tamarind flourish. :cannelloni: a dainty tube pasta, filled with veal shank, covered with black truffle and sprinkled with parmesan. A single-bite delight. :wagyu: the evening's final savory course (and 10th overall) came with a certificate of authenticity. We were told the cow's parents' names and birthplace before devouring pieces of their prized Japanese calf. Superbly seared, it was joined by a green strawberry and brussel sprout, covered with a fine dusting of maitake. :apple: a refreshing green apple sorbet served over julienned granny smith apples, on top of peanut brittle and accented by parsnip and thyme. Pleasantly light. :chocolate trio: the 12th and final dish was a series of small sweet bites including nougat and banana, with crushed cashews and candied red chili. Finished with an exquisite tri-color chocolate garnish. Chef Foss would periodically address us diners and ELucidate on each course's origins, notable features, etc. He's so much more than a gifted culinary artist, he's a genuinely cool guy and an ELoquent speaker. I got to high five him! Bread = 5+ Circuses = 5+ Phillip Foss and his EL Ideas team kick A$$. The opulent food will ELectrify your senses, and the candidness of the kitchen staff may take some diners out of their ELement. Me? I was absolutely ELated (and still am!) read more

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I hit two birds with one stone by dining at EL Ideas -- my first Michelin star restaurant and my first chef's table experience. I was in complete awe during the entire dining experience from start to finish. The restaurant is about 20 minutes away from the city in the Douglas Park neighborhood. The directions on their website are very descriptive and made the restaurant easy to find. When I think of a Michelin star restaurant (at least that ones that I've watched on the Chef's Table series on Netflix), I think stuffy, being dolled up, no photography allowed, and pretentiousness -- which I've experienced at non-Michelin star restaurants. However, EL Ideas is none of that, and that's what the head chef and owner Phillip Foss embraces. 90s, Y2K and maintsteam music (WITH explicit content) blasting, an interactive and casual environment, photography recommended (I was even cued to get my camera ready for one of the courses), and a fun dining experience all around. It's also BYOB (they only provide ice water, so bring your sodas and juices as well) with no corkage fee. Reservations are accepted through their online booking system and the charges (including tax and gratuity) are paid in full at the time of booking. My fiance and I felt so welcome while sitting inside the kitchen at the chef's table.The chefs personally explained each course to us before announcing it to the dining area. Guests are welcome to come into the kitchen to see the process for each course. We enjoyed all of our 13 dishes and it was a really wonderful dinner for us. read more

EL Ideas - 9 out of our 13 courses - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I( its about 200 dollars per person when u make reservation ask to sit at chefs table/ it's an open kitchen u can walk up to the kitchen talk to the chefs take pictures and really interact with the food) I was very skeptical when I got to the neighborhood of the location I did not believe it that this was the place. I loved the decor of the restaurant simple chic. I was so amazed of how awesome the team worked together on serving and accommodating everyone at the restaurant. No wonder they have a Michelin star. Everyone works so hard as a team including the chefs to serve and to clean after the meal was served. I loved the service I was so delighted on how I was treated like a queen by everyone. I had so much fun taking pictures of the dishes being prepared and for talking to the chefs of their beautiful creations. I was having a such enjoyable evening. The food was good not the best I had. The meats were cooked but too tuff to chew like the Secretowas so tuff and over cooked I was shocked I was like how does a restaurant of this caliber not know how to cook pork while I was watching the chef cook the pork In my head I was like stop overcrowding the pan and stop cooking the pork it's done! I did not care for the scallop dish the chicken liver was way to gamey and the bread stick made it difficult to eat. Chawanmushiwas really basic and bland The food is better at temporis. The only thing here at El Ideas is the great service the new innovation and creativity in chemistry done to the food. It is a lot of fun but not for the price for the food. You can bring your own ViNO At no cork fee which is good like people here were really getting wasted and having fun great hangout spot. I really enjoy the fun and the service the food could have been betteR. I was so surprise to see this restaurant was the dishes and utensils right in front of you like they recycle them right on the spot so my OCD got the best of me creeping out about germs I know all the restaurants do the same but I do t get to see them wash the dishes not drying the utensils right in front of the customers warning EL IDEAS will charge up front so when you get your email from your reservation confirmation make sure you read it all the way to the bottom. El Ideas does charge you 20o/o service fee plus Chicago tax. It is about $205.00 per person. El Ideas is BYB cork free so that's is good for the Vino aficionados. Over all is a good fun experience so you can also get to work as a server just for the fun when the shake is done. I had a good time. There is parking around there but I would Uber because it is not a good area to be around. read more

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This is definitely a unique michelin star restaurant! Right when you walk in, there is a very casual vibe. Everyone there is so friendly right from the second you walk in! We sat at the chef's table and had a chance to interact with Chef Foss a lot throughout the meal! It is nice even if you aren't at the chef's table though because everyone is allowed to come to the kitchen and mingle with the chef and the other guests! Each dish is announced out loud to every and then every begins eating that dish at the same time. It is a community feel! There are ice cream and fries on the menu, which was a highlight! Who doesn't like ice cream and fries?! read more

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Came with a group of 4. It's a pretty small venue but we loved the vibe (12/10 for vibe). You can walk to different areas to explore the area which was very nice. It was BYOB which reduced cost a bit. Service was outstanding, right up there with vibe in terms of excellence - my wife had a low battery on her phone and the server noticed this and placed it on a wireless charger without being asked, we were all very impressed. The only reason for a lower review is the value for the cost of the meal. We thought the food was above average but definitely not worth the cost to us. The dishes were certainly fun and creative but ultimately the flavor needs to be there. For the same cost, there are several other restaurants we would have rather gone to. read more

We booked two months out for a Friday night reservation. Boy was it worth it.This was one of best dining experiences of my life. The creations, set up, playlist, service and the fact that you can BYOB was more than you could ever ask for. We were served 12 courses, which included two desserts. I admittedly left satisfied, but not tipping over, ready to pop full. The offerings were a bit eclectic in that they were unique spins on some items and others you would never otherwise try or pair with other ingredients. I dined on everything from leeks to razor clams, to antelope to lard. The Uni was delivered with the lick your plate requirement. While it is one of the few times you can lick the plate in fine dining without being given the side eye, it still felt weird. But, admittedly, some of the other items were so good, I wanted to lick the remnants of the plates or bowls but I had to keep reminding myself the window of opportunity had past. I loved the plates and everything about this place. It was well worth the $190 price tag. Can't wait to go back again. read more

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For the first course, there was no utensils. Everyone had to go into their plate face first. Fun, experimental, and inviting. Truly an experience read more

The service here was excellent and attentive. Though the food was good, though I guess I expected a little more for a Michelin star. The interactive dish "fries and a frosty" was unique, fun, and tasty, but I can't say the other dishes really stood out for me. An extra star for stellar service. read more

Outstanding food and service. One of my favorite meals ever. The food creative and delicious. Wonderful place really nice service.

Wow. EL ideas really was quite an experience and blew me away. Each dish of their tasting menu told a beautiful story, and hit my palette surprisingly. My favorite dish was the chef's take on a childhood favorite: french fries and ice cream. Most of us would relate to dipping our french fries in soft-serve ice cream as children. At EL ideas, the team did a fabulous take on this childhood classic: sweet potatoes, leek, and vanilla ice cream, with liquid nitrogen that fills the air once a spoon is inserted into the glass. I left full, satisfied, inspired, and wanting to stay longer. The experience was priceless. The tasting menu is $155/person, which is really fair for the Chicago market of fine dining. EL ideas really is redefining fine dining, and I'm looking forward to future visits. read more

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