Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Eli's Ark

    4.5 (336 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Eli's Ark Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Eli's Ark

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Panda ice cream
    Sam W.

    The ice cream was delicious, and the cute animals made it even better! The staff was friendly and helpful.

    Cora C.

    Came in before closing and the staff was patient and very quick with our order. The interior was cute and clean. They have homemade specialty flavors with the cutest animals faces. Everything we tried was amazing. Prices were very reasonable too!

    Mint chocolate chip ice cream
    Clarissa C.

    Guys this place is so adorbs!! This was one of my first saved dessert places in Chicago purely for the fact that I LOVE cute things. The cuter, the better!! Step aside clean modern aesthetics! I want my future house to have pastel furniture and pastel exteriors and cutesy tootsy everything. I had the mint chocolate stracciatella ice cream, and you have the option to make your scoop into an animal, ranging from koala, monkey, pig, and unicorn to capybara. I'm OBSESSED with capybaras, owing tribute to the song on tiktok "Capybaraaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara capybara. Capybaraaaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara." (You get it I'll stop now). The ice cream scoop was SO generous, and it was refreshing. The capybara design was so incredibly adorable, so aptly designed. We were one of the first customers at 1pm on a Saturday, so there was no wait time and the staff were very friendly! There is a bathroom in here, and they let you try flavors before buying!

    Mark T.

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The only thing I post on Instagram with any regularity is my cat. All those ice cream cones that look like various animals? Cute, no doubt, and same for the names of flavors. However, I eat for enjoyment of food, not likes on social media. After sampling the 'You Pecan Do It,' 'I got Ube,' and a "Miso Mon Cherie," The ube has mild ube flavors, and the Miso Mon Cherie was spectacularly chocolatey, seemingly having very dark chocolate. I opted for the pecan flavor, not because there was anything wrong with the others, simply that's where my mood was. I got the smallest size, with a cone on top, for 'ice cream hands' is only fun on TV. ' In a word, I found the ice cream underwhelming. The pecan pieces were too small to make a notable impact, and the ice cream itself lacked that creamy, luscious goodness that makes ice cream so great. Not that it was bad per se, but not very enjoyable. The same thing goes for the macaron. I asked to be surprised, and I think I was given a raspberry, but am unsure. What I can tell you is this once lacked the textures that makes macaron fantastic, without the necessary contrast of textures. In terms of value, I felt that ~$4 for the smaller size is reasonable. On that note, I want to point out that while their menu seems simple, it can bring some confusion. A single scoop can be done in the style of an animal without additional cost, but 'piggybacking' does cost extra? What is 'piggybacking' anyway? As I said, confusing. The vibe inside is clean and modern, however, I feel they have plenty of unused space that could be taken up by more tables (though, to be fair, it was not very busy that night). Final verdict: The product at Eli's Ark decidedly did not hit the spot. In a situation where I find myself preferring ice cream from the grocer's (store brand, to boot), a return visit is not in the cards.

    Semira A.

    Eli's ark is peak cuteness! This little gelato shop has lots of flavors to choose from. My favorites are "I got ube" and "mango tango". The ube flavor is probably my favorite ube desert in the city, they have to be using some high quality ube in their mix. The mango is also super fresh tasting. The service is always great with my gelato served up with a smile. The decor is simple yet inviting. A perfect spot for the family.

    Capybara in mint flavor ice cream!
    Melanie T.

    I love the cute animal gelato! You get to pick your size and then your animal. You have the option of a cup or cone and I like there are many different sizes to choose from. It's nice to have the option of a small size that actually is a small portion! Sometimes ice cream spots serve massive portions and I don't want that commitment if I'm already full from dinner. The price for the small portion was also really reasonable. They also let you sample their flavors and they have lots of unique options. The ones I tried were fruity and more subtle in flavor which was nice, so not too sweet. I ended up getting their mint chocolate ice cream in the form of a cute capybara! So cute and perfect small size in a cup.

    Myra Z.

    Cute animal ice cream! The staff is very friendly. Nice place to chat and catch up with friends over a little sweet treat. Each cone has a good amount of ice cream. They have some fun ice cream flavors. Kids would love this place.

    Jessica T.

    Some good tasting gelato! I love the variety of flavors, and the animals are cute too. I would definitely come back and recommend this place.

    Linda Y.

    I've had this place bookmarked for so long now and finally made my way over which I am questioning why it took me so long. This is hands down the cutest ice cream spot in town. I love that no matter which flavor you get, you can pick your little animal. It's so tempting to stack so many flavors but I limited myself to 1. I got the Ube gelato which I personally think is the best Ube icecream/gelato that I've ever had. The flavor was so prominent and it was so creamy. You can also get your ice cream in a cup if you don't want a cone. I'm already thinking about which animal to get next!

    Aditi D.

    Cutest dessert spot ever! I got the pig-shaped soft serve with the Pretty in Pink flavor (yakult + strawberry + rose) -- so refreshing and unique. My friend's koala soft serve was just as adorable. They also offer 4 non-dairy flavors and are super accommodating about it, which I really appreciated. Fun vibe, great service, and desserts that are as delicious as they are Instagram-worthy.

    Claire T.

    If, like me, you have been craving animal shaped gelato your whole life, boy do I have the place for you. Eli's Ark. This place is so stinking cute. A variety of unique flavors and designs. Well priced, nothing crazy. I got the ube, and my friend (vegan) got the vegan chocolate. Lots of vegan choices! They were very nice and did such a perfect job making our animal gelatos. I will be sure to come back and bring friends!

    Ube icecream
    Anita P.

    Capybara icecream was sooooo adorable! They have tons of animals to choose from and a lot of pretty unique icecream flavors as well. My go to is the ube for sure:)

    Brianne C.

    My friend found Eli's Ark on Instagram so on my next visit we went looking for it. During a Thursday afternoon the shop was pretty calm, only a few other guests at the same time. The adorable shaping of the different animals from gelato and things like cookies, nuts, or marshmallows was a fun touch. I tried Dulce de Banana in the shape of a monkey. I liked the flavor of the gelato! We also picked out some macarons to try later. They had a lot of fun flavors, a mix of fruity options and other dessert options. The texture of the macarons was good and we liked some flavors more than others.

    Ube unicorn  @dangit.all

    See all

    Photo of Lauren M.
    202
    14
    53

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    The Ube Ice cream is sooo good! Also liked their macaroons. Got two scoops on a waffle cone with a Koala and a pig character super cute!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Big B.
    1
    55
    17

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cayenne C.
    2
    140
    100

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Heather P.
    283
    59
    58

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alissa M.
    11
    49
    184

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hli M.
    102
    38
    51

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shaleen P.
    100
    43
    32

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M H.
    1
    192
    159

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 5 of 9

    Eli's Ark Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Eli's Ark

    How's the parking situation?

    Just hope you're lucky! We actually just had someone stay in the car, parked somewhere that wasn't a spot while we ran in really quick because there was no close street parking

    Are there dairy free options?

    Yes, there are a few dairy free options

    Is it vegan?

    I believe they do offer vegan options.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Lula Cafe - Classic Lula Breakfast Burrito

    Lula Cafe

    4.3(2.5k reviews)
    2.1 miLogan Square
    $$

    Got a delivery order and the magic I felt years ago is still alive and well…read more Breakfast burrito - 5/5. I have a dairy intolerance I sacrifice for special occasions, and this burrito was a worthy one. Crispy shell, gooey cheesy egg. Mouthwatering. Doesn't need the verde sauce, but a nice complement for a flavor change up. Spicy peanut noodles - 4/5. Fun and interesting. Great udon. Good flavor profile. Not spicy. Buttermilk pancakes - 3.5/5. Solid pancakes. Incredible maple syrup. Pasta yiayia - 4/5. Strange good. Cinnamon is wild. Nice pasta cook. Ordered through the website via Toast. Delivery fee is a lot at $10. $1.50 goes to Toast, not sure about the rest. Plan to do Uber Eats directly next time.

    Ok so Lula brunch goes just as hard as the dinner! I've tried the breakfast burrito, matcha…read morebostock, coconut financier, the tineka, the baked French feta, and the carrot cake. The breakfast burrito is 100% worth the hype. Such buttery fluffy soft eggs w a ton of cheese & the most flavorful sauces (my personal fave was the red sauce)! This thing is massive - I had half and saved the other half for later. The pastries were 10/10 no notes. Very fresh, perfect textures, not overly sweet. The tineka was a flavor bomb! The bread was phenomenal. There's some type of sweet n slightly spicy chutney(?) that really gave it a pop of flavor. The slaw that comes w it was amazing as well. The carrot cake was so moist, perfectly spiced, and the right amount of sweet. Critique: while the baked French feta was good, I think this is the most overpriced dish for what is essentially a small block of feta with some sourdough and a couple pieces of olives and cucumbers. Also, the sourdough was kinda too hard and crunchy for my liking. This is the only dish I don't recommend.

    Photos
    Lula Cafe - Bar and interior

    Bar and interior

    Lula Cafe - Classic Lula Breakfast Burrito avocado, tomato, potato, cheddar, green chile soffritto, and soft scrambled eggs

    Classic Lula Breakfast Burrito avocado, tomato, potato, cheddar, green chile soffritto, and soft scrambled eggs

    Lula Cafe - Oysters

    See all

    Oysters

    Monteverde

    Monteverde

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    2.3 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Wow just wow. Our favorite restaurant in Chicago by far and will be absolutely mandatory every time…read morewe come visit. Ham e burrata was perfect and everything complimented each other within the dish. Just wish I had more. The jam balanced out the saltiness from the ham and the cheese was great. If a restaurant has merch from a certain dish then you should def be ordering it. Got the corn pasta and ragu as well. Both good but liked the corn more. The ricotta shooter was also packed with flavor. Overall, loved every part of the meal and will definitely be back!

    As a big Top Chef fan, I have a running list of some of the restaurants owned by the "cheftestants"…read moreand judges that I want to check out, so I decided to make a reservation at Monteverde for a belated anniversary dinner while in town recently. Executive chef Bailey Sullivan was on Season 22 of Top Chef and the co-owner also competed in one of the earlier seasons. Nate and I arrived a bit before our 9 pm reservation but were seated by our scheduled time. The restaurant was super busy and very loud! We were quite close to the tables next to us, so if you're looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience, this probably isn't it. We ordered the heirloom tomato salad, sweet corn chitarra pasta, a side of wilted escarole, and the chocolate tart for dessert. We also got a complimentary mozzarella shooter as an anniversary treat, which was incredible. The food was delicious, but my favorite dish was definitely the heirloom tomato salad, with seasonally fresh tomatoes, peaches, mint pistachio pesto, and stracciatella. It was so flavorful and bright and I could eat this every day. It was a good portion to split between the two of us, but I'd probably order this just for myself if I came back and it was on the menu (it was that good). The pasta was a nice balance of savory and sweet from the fresh corn, and I loved the texture of the bronze die extruded pasta. Service was great, with waters being refilled promptly and empty plates removed quickly. I loved this meal, and would recommend to anyone who likes delicious pasta in a lively, bustling environment.

    Photos
    Monteverde - Interior

    Interior

    Monteverde - Oma's Green Mountain Salad

    Oma's Green Mountain Salad

    Monteverde - Vanilla Panna cotta

    See all

    Vanilla Panna cotta

    Pierrot Gourmet

    Pierrot Gourmet

    4.1(740 reviews)
    2.7 miNear North Side
    $$

    Literally the cutest café. This was my favorite breakfast spot while visiting Chicago…read more The second I walked in, I was obsessed. The green and white color palette immediately reminded me of Ralph's Coffee. It felt classic and polished but still charming. Everyone working there had a smile on their face, and the warmth felt so genuine and comforting, especially first thing in the morning. They had such a huge selection of pastries and cakes that it was honestly hard to choose. I ended up getting the cake shaped like a cherry because it looked so interesting. It was a black cherry cake and I paired it with a cappuccino. It was the perfect combination. The cake was beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked. We also ordered the breakfast burrito, which came with a small side salad. It was fine, but not the standout for me. If I came back, which I would, I would probably stick to the pastries and coffee and try more of their baked goods instead. Service was amazing. The ambience was adorable. I loved how all the silverware, plating, and dinnerware matched that perfect green tone. Every detail felt intentional. It was just perfect.

    We had a toddler date with a friend and her son here at the cafe at the Peninsula. They had some…read morelimited-time St. Patrick's Day specials that caught my friend's eye, including the Pot of Gold, a special dessert only available for the weekend. The food was really excellent, as was the service. But it was ridiculously priced. The reuben sandwich was $28. It was a great sandwich, very lean, but you could get a sandwich as good for half the cost elsewhere. They only have a couple of kid's items, but my friend requested buttered noodles for her kid rather than the cheesy noodles. I got the hibiscus drink and lavender lemonade, both non-alcoholic, and they were very good. My little one especially liked the hibiscus. And we ordered the appetizer of whipped ricotta and honey; my daughter liked this more than anything else we ordered. We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, but ordered to go. The pot of gold was really good. There were little "gold nuggets" on it and that was my daughter's favorite part; good thing since I didn't realize it had a layer with Bailey's in it. It was very rich, and the cauldron was really thick chocolate (and actually was a struggle to get into, a bit!). The restaurant is small but it didn't feel crowded. We never felt rushed or unwelcome, and we were there for a couple hours (longer than I realized; it took an unusually long time to make two reuben sandwiches). Their pastries are really nice but somewhat expensive, like the rest of the menu. It was a nice, sophisticated experience.

    Photos
    Pierrot Gourmet
    Pierrot Gourmet
    Pierrot Gourmet

    See all

    Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets - Soft serve

    Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets

    4.5(710 reviews)
    5.7 miEdgewater
    $

    Lickity Split might be the best dessert in Chicago -- and certainly the best custard. Even a simple…read morevanilla or chocolate will be the richest and creamiest you've ever tasted. Their sundaes and concretes are huge hits as well. The retro parlor decor brings an extra charm to this corner staple. With tons of old-fashioned candies, soda fountain stools, and bright colors, it will warm you up even on a winter night. In the summer, it's worth the wait in line, and there are some benches out front to enjoy treats outside. I can't wait for my next excuse to come back!

    Lickity Split often makes the short list of best ice cream shops in Chicago, and after stopping by…read morerecently, I can absolutely say it's for good reason! Every time I've passed by, it's usually got a line going out the door so I wouldn't count on a visit being quick. That said, the staff worked fast and were super nice. The interior had a major nostalgia factor, with every kind of retro, old-fashioned candy you could think of filling the space! I saw treats that I haven't seen in decades. As for the frozen treats, they're beautiful in their simplicity. This place is not Jeni's, and they're not trying to be. There were only three custard flavors with seemingly every kind of traditional candy, sundae, and fruit topping available. I heard great things about the concretes in particular and opted for the OMG, which was a peanut butter lover's dream! I ordered it with a swirled vanilla and chocolate custard base, and every bite had chunks of brownie bites and butterfinger pieces. The junior was plenty big and I felt like a pretty good value. If you're in the Edgewater area and craving a sweet treat, I highly recommend paying a visit to this shop regardless of the season!

    Photos
    Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets - Vanilla custard on a cake cone

    Vanilla custard on a cake cone

    Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets
    Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets - Custard

    See all

    Custard

    Black Dog Gelato - Merchandise

    Black Dog Gelato

    4.2(687 reviews)
    0.9 miUkrainian Village, West Town
    $$

    I realized it's been many years since my last review. It's still my favorite go to gelato spot…read more Small, cute ambiance. It's changed a lot the past couple years. It has gotten a larger menu with drinks & sandwiches too. More of a something for everyone vibe than before. Still have their fun flavors, cashew caramel goat cheese, but more classics now too. Lots of attentive servers ready to dish out your favorites. Day old pints on sale in the freezer with gelato pie & other goodies. Outside patio & counter seating with 3 seats available.

    The Black Dog Gelato is such a cute neighborhood dessert spot. When we went around 10 PM on a…read moreFriday night, luckily it wasn't too crowded, so service was friendly and quick. They didn't have a huge flavor selection, but they covered the basics (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, hazelnut etc). I chose the pistachio and it was so good and really satisfied my sweet tooth. They did samples when I visited, so I tried the goat cheese caramel, but it was a bit too tangy for my taste. There isn't much indoor seating, but they have cute, little patio seating just outside. Parking isn't ideal if you're coming from a long ways away, but I'm guessing a lot of their customers live close by to walk to it. We may have to visit again before we leave, but high recommend!

    Photos
    Black Dog Gelato - Blueberry French Toast

    Blueberry French Toast

    Black Dog Gelato
    Black Dog Gelato - Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel  Seasonal Flavor @dangit.all

    See all

    Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel Seasonal Flavor @dangit.all

    Margie's Candies - More treats

    Margie's Candies

    4.1(657 reviews)
    3.5 miNorth Center, Lakeview
    $

    I had a super special date at Margie's with my 2 year old, and we had the best time ever. What I…read morelove about Margie's is that it's frozen in time. It's pretty small inside, there are only a few tables. A server comes to your table to place your order, which I feel like never happens at ice cream shops anymore! The menu is huge! There were multiple sections to banana splits, sundaes, and shakes. We decided to go with something simple. My son ordered 2 scoops of cookies n cream ice cream (with sprinkles of course) and I got moose tracks! The ice cream is the real deal. Our server was super sweet, and we were in and out of there in probably 30-45 minutes. We had the best time and will definitely be back this summer.

    We heard that Margie's Candies had some seriously good sundaes, so obviously we had to check the…read moreplace out. (The fact that the joint's been around for over 100 years doesn't hurt either.) It's a small restaurant but we managed to snag a cozy table near the back. We'd already spent most of the day eating, so we decided to share the Atomic Fudge Sundae. It's a fairly enormous concoction. I found it interesting that the hot fudge was served on the side, but it's actually pretty smart because you get control how much (or how little) sauce you get. The ice cream is the highlight. It's creamy and rich, and it's got a really nice flavor, too. The hot fudge was less impressive, but that might be because I had already eaten a Ghirardelli sundae earlier in the day and their hot fudge just can't be beat. The service was super friendly and the atmosphere was kitschy and fun. It's a cool place.

    Photos
    Margie's Candies
    Margie's Candies - Coco Loco sundae

    Coco Loco sundae

    Margie's Candies

    See all

    Eli's Ark - gelato - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...