Without hesitation this is our favorite restaurant in RI. We have lived here for over 35 years and it used to be Alforno - always. New Rivers is very good, Little Moss in Dartmouth is great, Vanda is delicious. Ella's is a step above. The flavor pairings on the main menu are exceptional. Don't miss the Vegan Dreaming. Order it with a protein - chicken, duck or scallops - it's un-real good. The veal chop, the venison, the halibut, the scallops, the chicken and grits - all of them - dear god so good. And get dessert from the special menu. I promise whatever the chef has dreamed up will be both delicious and memorable. Don't miss it. read more

I have been going to Ella's for years and have always recommended them for anyone looking for great food... however after this last weekend - never again. While the food has remained consistently great- the service and the attitude of the staff has seriously deteriorated. Do not attempt to go without a reservation. You will be met with a quick dismal with no apologies or please try us again. We even attempted to sit at the bar which is usually first come first serve and had 4 empty seats at this particular time but we were sternly told by the owners husband they were reserved and we would have to wait at least 90 minutes for a seat. I am a regular customer for years but there was no recognition or appreciation for my return business. Finally, as we exited the "hostess" who quickly turned us away when we first entered, glared at us - obviously upset we took it upon ourselves to look in the bar area. So if you want good food in an unfriendly atmosphere- this is your place. As for me - I'll pass. read more

Over the past several years I have found the top restaurants I used to love have suffered In food quality and service. I took my wife there last night and I was beyond impressed. She had Halibut and I had the duck. Both dishes were fantastic ! The cook and the sauces with both complimented each one. The service expert wait staff and Ella even went to each table to ask us how we liked them. For fine dining I would have trouble eating anywhere else. read more

I recently went to Ella's after hearing some very good things about the restaurant, but unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. We started in the lounge and ordered a couple of martinis. It took about five minutes before the bartender really acknowledged us, and it seemed like there was only one bartender trying to take care of the entire restaurant. When my martini finally arrived, it was noticeably under-poured--about an inch below the top of the glass. That wasn't a great first impression, but I decided to give the restaurant a chance. I ordered the miso salmon but asked if the black rice could be substituted. I was told, rather emphatically, that the person in the kitchen is not a cook but a chef, and that the chef's dishes are "exquisite" and are what they are. I understand having a chef's vision and wanting to preserve the integrity of a dish, but I was surprised that they wouldn't make a simple substitution. I was told that the only way to change anything was to order another item from the menu, at an additional charge. That approach just didn't sit well with me. At most of the restaurants I frequent, especially at this price point, there is usually some willingness to accommodate a reasonable request. It also struck me as unusual that a chef wouldn't be willing to make a minor adjustment to a dish. At that point, I decided to order a small appetizer, finish my half-poured martini, and try my luck somewhere else. Fortunately, the night was saved by a visit to an Italian restaurant up the road. What a difference! The experience was fantastic. They were happy to tweak a pasta dish for me and even added anchovies, which were absolutely outstanding. The guys are from Italy, and the food and hospitality reflected that. I have no doubt that the chef at Ella's is talented and that there are people who really enjoy the restaurant. I went there because I had heard some very good things, but I had also heard some negative reviews and wanted to see for myself. Unfortunately, my experience confirmed some of those concerns. For me, a great restaurant is about more than the food. It's the combination of food, service, hospitality, and the willingness to make a guest feel welcome. Ella's missed the mark for me on this visit. The Italian on the other hand, turned what started as a disappointing evening into a great one. read more

Ella's Fine Food & Drink - French Near Me - Westerly, Rhode Island

Unfortunately, after wanting to try Ella's for years, I finally had the opportunity and left feeling very disappointed. The chicken breast I ordered was bland and appeared undercooked. On top of that, I felt completely forgotten by the staff after waiting 30 + minutes. I had really been looking forward to trying this restaurant, so the experience was especially disappointing. Unfortunately, the food and service did not live up to my expectations. read more

Absolutely a sublime dining experience. The staff were so gracious and the atmosphere was quietly elegant. My husband had the venison, which was cooked to perfection, and the shrimp and grits were divine. Their list of cocktails was also extensive, and their house made ginger ale was delightful. We both recommend heartily & highly!! read more

We went for happy hour on a busy Friday. The host and bartender were fabulous. I ordered the chop salad and was visually and taste wise so disappointed. It was a small bed of warm shredded lettuce with small, if all pieces of bacon, no nothing. When I questioned the bacon and other parts of a chopped salad, I was told that it was just to be a garnish. Seriously? However, the dessert seemed to redeem the unpleasantness of the salad. read more

Exceptional food and service. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Best Happy Hour in SW Rhode Island (and SE Connecticut)! This place is a gem. Just go! See you there! read more

The Chicken Parm honestly this is f@&*^%+ great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! p.s. halibut is absolutely awesome too wow !!!!!! read more

The food is excellent and the staff is exceptional as well. They are all kind, courteous and friendly. We went for Valentine's Day dinner and loved it for our first time visit. One side note... I did think the white wine list needed more choices. The pork chop was cooked to perfection and the rigatoni sauce was quite tasty. We loved the sweet and spicy calamari with a rice flower batter coating. Please visit them and see for yourself. read more

Elegant dining experience on a Saturday night for dinner and drinks. The four of us shared a bottle of champagne to celebrate a 20 year anniversary. We started with the muscles appetizer in curry sauce, which was good. For dinner we had the pan seared scallops, pork, chop and fig, Grilled shrimp with grits, and mama's chicken, all were delicious! For dessert, we shared the chocolate cake and dessert special, which was pumpkin cheesecake. Both two were delicious service was exceptional and we will definitely be back to dine here again. read more

See all

Few restaurants live up to the hype. Ella's clearly did this from great service, great cocktail options & wine choices. Food is always the star here. The curry mussels and the lamb chops were exceptional. The salmon tartar was the sleep from presentation to taste. A must restaurant if in the area. read more

See all

It's taken me some time to put my feelings surrounding our experience at Ella's Fine Food & Drink into words. It wasn't bad. It was fine. Not in the Capital Fine Dining way, just fine. But the whole experience was unsettling in a way that's really given me something to think about. I generally refuse to feel "out of place" at a restaurant. My money is green, just like anyone else's. Having worked extensively in Fine Dining, I know how the white tablecloth operation goes, but I also know that a customer is a customer. Everyone belongs. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong at Ella's. Some of the things I felt at Ella's: - Patronized - Chided - Overwhelmed - Underwhelmed - Interrupted - Fleeced - Eager to leave Some notable firsts I experienced at Ella's: (Drink) Never before in my life have I ordered a classic cocktail & then subsequently been made to list every ingredient, every quantity, & every step to making the cocktail. (Food) Never before in my life have I asked a server for salt after tasting my dish. I had to at Ella's. Also the asparagus was raw. Verdict: There are plenty of incredible dining options in Rhode Island, & even in Westerly, that I can't imagine ever coming back to Ella's. If I want to dine "Fine" & feel "Fine" in southern Rhody, I'll go to Ocean House. read more

ellas was my favorite in town until Friday ! We were treated horribly disrespectful by a woman who presented herself as a manager and the extremely rude bartender. Sadly we will never go back and will never use it for friends or family gatherings again. They obviously do not need our business! We all had burgers in the bar ordered medium All were cold nd raw in the middle, returned to ask for them to be cooked. They returned the same! We ate the chips paid the bill and left! I tried asking the " manager" why they would treat guests like that in a very calm nice manner when leaving,. Her response " just doing my job! read more

We were looking for somewhere to have dinner in Westerly and decided to try Ella's. After an average meal with a very high price tag, my advice to others is to skip Ella's and try somewhere else in town. We started our meal with a cocktail (French Connection) and a mocktail. The cocktail was very small without the creative flavor I expected. The mocktail was light and refreshing. We got focaccia as an appetizer, which was very tasty. For the main course we got the Pig and the Fig, which the pork was actually quite under seasoned and boring but the potato was fantastic, and the scallops (wonderful!). So overall some of the food is quite wonderful but some things were kind of a miss. For the price of the food, my expectation is for it all to be wonderful. The other part of the dinner that has me not eager to return is the overall tone and feeling the staff left us with. As soon as we walked in, we felt unwelcome, like we were not the type of guests they usually have. I was at a table of four, all of us are in our late twenties/early thirties. We were dressed casual/business casual (no different than any other patrons there) so I would say there was nothing notable about us except perhaps we were a bit younger? When we were shown to our table, the maitre d seemed unsure if they wanted to lead the way or follow behind which ended up being a bit awkward. The server insisted on telling us that "the ladies order first here" and was overall hyper vigilant during our meal, which is usually a good thing but it felt like they were looking for something to scold us about. I do not mean to say this person was unfriendly or unprofessional, but they seemed like a strict aunt that didn't want any trouble in their house. Overall, we felt condescended during our meal and were glad we were too full for dessert because we were ready to leave! Ella's claims to be a fine dining restaurant and I think it is. So long as your expectation of that is exactly how they do it, you should have a pleasant evening. read more

See all

I love everything about Ella's. The menu is diverse. The food is excellent- I've been 6 times and never had a bad meal. The service is extremely good - the co-owner does laps around the dining room and checks in periodically. The chef/other co-owner often comes out to check on tables. My favorite restaurant in the area by far. If you look at the bad reviews, they are all about the same experience. Someone brought a fussy infant there and was asked to leave. Their new policy is children 8 and over are welcome. Frankly, I appreciate that. It's not Applebee's. read more

It was overall a disappointment, not the deliciousness I was hoping for, and extremely slow service

What a lovely find ! We were staying at Burlingaine State park and didn't want to go to Mystic like we normally do for great restaurants. Pleasantly surprised at the amazing menu with a world class chef. A place for foodies! Great Paloma! We had the miso salmon with forbidden black rice. So delicious and a lovely environment as well. Will definitely return! read more

What a lovely restaurant that serves great food . Everything from the service which was impeccable to the food & atmosphere was top notch. The flavor combinations from the appetizers to dessert were amazing. Kudos to the chef for providing & serving amazing food & to Kristin our server who was so knowledgeable about the food/menu items, as well as the waitstaff & host that made you feel welcomed & personable. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. The duck a deuce faons was excellent. read more

Great spot for a birthday dinner or date night. Menu is on the pricey side but the food is delicious. The staff is very accommodating and I would definitely come back again. read more

See all

Amazing food, great atmosphere, excellent service. Celebrated my son's 16th birthday with a party of 8. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent. Shout out to Mia, our server, for making our evening so great. My son loves lamb and it's hard to find on the menu. Their Moroccan Spice Lamb is his new favorite. The lamb brought us here but it's the full menu that will bring us back. Everything we had was so good and everything we didn't get to order looked just as good. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!! read more

This has to be the best meal I have had in my life. The morrocan lamb was absolutely amazing and the special tuna tacos should be on the menu all the time. Our server Mia was very delightful and attentive would definitely recommend. read more

If you're looking for True Culinary Artistry in presentation. Absolutely impeccable service- and a refined palettes Paradise- Look NO further! This restaurant will exceed your every desire and engage you, satisfying every facet of the most extreme critics Dream dining experience. Creativity in presentation and perfection in complimentary flavor blending. Our Thursday evening menu offered an excellent variety of choices in options. From house made breads to their specialty desserts and the surprise finisher after the bill for fare. Our server was SO much more... His descriptions of each of our inquiring mind's gastronomic queries was spot on and his recommendations absolute truth, Brett is a Star! Even the pickiest of our party was a member of the clean plate club. Portions were generous enough to share and yet still have plenty to satisfy your desire for that dish which teased you into wanting it in the first place. This was a real full sensory dining experience- of the highest order. 6 out of 5 stars, here, can we give our chef a Medal? read more

See all

We dined at Ella's restaurant this summer and the food was exquisite, the servers were attentive yet not intrusive, and the ambience was very appealing. Be sure to make reservations long in advance. read more

We had a fabulous dinner at Ella's tonight where every bit you take is an experience! It was our wedding anniversary, and we were looking forward to celebrating. Tuna tacos like we never tasted before, Duck Udon with international fair, finishing with an expresso coffee dessert in a cup.....what...yes...so delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Ambiance was really fancy and perfect for a date night. We loved our service and being told what was good from one of the owners who greeted us and sat us down. One of the things I needed to try was the curry mussels appetizer - which the chef owner had beat Bobby Flay with! It was fantastic! I highly recommend going to this restaurant for a special night. read more

See all

What an incredible meal! The staff were all very attentive and helpful with wine pairings/recommendations. The duck was cooked to perfection, though, the chocolate mousse dessert was an absolute knockout - incredibly silky with the perfect tang of fresh raspberries. Not to mention the presentation of each dish was artfully crafted with precision and were lovely to behold upon sight. Chef Jeanie welcomed us graciously in person after the meal and we could not help oozing compliments. 10/10 will return here. read more

See all

My wife and I enjoyed a near perfect meal at Ella's one rainy evening. We heard the service and food were amazing at Ella's and it did not disappoint. Only a few things detracted from an otherwise wonderful experience! Our starters included fresh baked bread and the 'Fog' cheese board. I fell in love with Humbolt Fog thanks to the wonderful folks at Constantino's Venda Ravoli on the Hill, so to find it as the centerpoint of a delicious cheese board brought us joy. For dinner, I had the grilled tuna steak while my wife had the steak frites. My fish dinner was perfectly cooked and the accompanying vegetables incredibly tasty. My wife's steak was perfectly cooked, though the fries had a bit too much truffle oil overpowering everything. Truffle oil is a controversial item to begin with, and overuse can lead to unpleasant chemical flavors. Our desert was also delicious, a big bowl of fresh sorbet and some peanut butter chocolate bites. The second misstep came with our espresso drinks, which were watery and loaded with grounds. We were unsure if it was pour over coffee or the machine broke? but they shouldn't have served such disappointing coffee! Otherwise, we had an amazing meal and will head to Ella's again! read more

We were celebrating our 49th Anniversary and the evening was outstanding! We started in the bar for happy hour cocktails and appetizers. Excellent bartender and great food and drink. Tremendous value! Then went to dinner in the dining room and the outstanding service and food continued. I had the Foie Gras Club just perfect! For the entree Duck a Deux Facons was delicious and cook just as ordered. My wife had the Humble Fog Goat Cheese appetizer and the nightly special Halibut. Both were great. Dessert we had blueberry tart that was also very good. Recommend for a really great evening and / or special night out. We also visited The Perfect Caper in Punta Gorda this past winter (their sister restaurant) and it was also very good although Ella's is a tad better. July 28, 2022 read more

It's been a while since I was last at Ella's and they have gotten better with time. This visit was spot on. The dining room decor is very classy, The service was professional and the dining was superb. We started with the salmon tartare and the fried mushroom appetizer. The tartare was served with a rice paper crisp, sort of like a papadam . The fried mushroom was a deep fried maitaki over a smear of a whipped goat cheese. Fabulous. For the main course we had the miso salmon and the crabby scallops.. . Another wow! The highlight of both entrees was that they were served over a bed of black rice. This is a sensational carbohydrate, chewy like wild rice and Chef Jean dresses it up to a flavor extravaganza ! Loved it. Ella's has a simple wine list with a couple of Balkan wines that you won't find everywhere. As noted, it's been a while since we visited but we will back again soon. read more

Wow! Unbelievable experience with fabulous food, attentive service, a greeting from the chef.

Excellent service & food from start to finish. Had the Halibut Special (Signature Dish) Crabby Scallops, Burger with fries, & for dessert delicious "Dreamsicle" Cheesecake which was a special. 5+ stars read more

See all

We had an excellent food experience. We were really overwhelmed by the quality and flavor of the food. The highlight for me was the sweetbread appetizer but everything was prepared perfectly. I thought the value was good as well. Only issue that I had was that they still are a bit COVID paranoid. I was put off by the fact that they required proof of vaccination and a mask on entry. I haven't seen this anywhere else we go in RI. We were visiting Westport that weekend and made reservations way ahead of the visit. These policies should be noted on their website versus being told last minute on the call to confirm your reservation. read more

Ella's is absolutely fabulous. It's the kind of place that if you had one restaurant you would want to go to for the very best time in your life. It would be Ella's. The food is out of this world. The ambience is pleasant and the wait staff is beyond reproach. We go back time and time again. read more

One of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. Westerly, RI? YES! The food was spectacular. The pistachio creme brûlée was beyond amazing. I live in Alaska, but shall return!!! read more

I wanted to love Ella's. I was almost certain I would, based on some of the great things I'd heard about it. Unfortunately, our experience here was a mixed bag- some of it good, some of it bad, some of it bordering on bizarre. First, the good! Most of the food we ordered was great. I had the wagyu burger with fries, and it was perfectly cooked. We ordered olives and focaccia bread appetizers, and they were both a hit. My partner had the duck frites with jumbo asparagus, and it was surprisingly bland, but outside of that everyone was happy with their meals. The dining room is nice, with tasteful artwork on the walls and a relaxing atmosphere. Now the bad (and bizarre)- I don't want just say "the service was bad" because that doesn't adequately explain what went wrong here. To be clear, our waiter was very pleasant and friendly- it's more that, on the whole, Ella's ~vibe~ is missing the mark, and is in some ways contradictory. It's obvious that they are trying to be a Capital F Fine Dining Restaurant™. It says so right in the name, which may be your first indication that they very much want you to know that they are a Fine Dining Restaurant. Not only do they take women's orders first at the table, they will tell you that they are deliberately taking the women's orders first, so there is no confusion as to How They Do Things There. There are no hats allowed in the dining room, according to the host, who is wearing sneakers. To ensure that we were enjoying our Fine Dining Experience, we were visited by our waiter in approximately four to five minute intervals, sometimes including a thorough wipe of the table, whether or not we were in the middle of a conversation. (We racked up quite a check-in tally, considering our food took about an hour to come out.) There is a $2.50 "plate fee" (not to be confused with their $5.00 split plate fee), which, despite inquiring, we were unable to get to the bottom of what exactly that is all about. I don't consider myself an authority on what fine dining should or should not be. I'm a restaurant layman. That being said, I know that in some of the nicest restaurants I've eaten in, subtlety has been key. I think Ella's would do well to reel it in a little bit, drop the thinly veiled pretentiousness, and let the food and atmosphere speak for itself. read more

Great menu. We thoroughly enjoyed our selections. Food was delicious. Service is excellent and the ambiance is relaxing and warm. Very happy it's close by. read more

This past weekend my family and I went to Ella's to celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary. My husband and I are frequent patrons of the establishment. We recently had our first child and, like we do often in Boston, where we live full-time, we brought our son to the restaurant. We made sure to call ahead to confirm bringing our child and his stroller was ok. My mother even stopped in to the restaurant the day before to reconfirm this point. We were told there was absolutely no issue. However, when we arrived you would have thought we brought in the plague. We were purposefully seated in a non-accommodating table and were watched like hawks until, 10 minutes in, our son started babbling and we were told by the GM that it was "time to take a walk." At this point we all got up and left. The GM likes to wield the little power he has like a tyrant, thinking he will elevate the status of his restaurant by being cruel. Instead of educating his staff to inform patrons that baby's are not welcome, he would rather have the family come in to the restaurant and embarrass them (see other reviews with similar facts and outcomes). Quality hospitality and dining is about being welcoming and accommodating. This GM does not know how to run a business. If you are looking for fine dining in the Westerly area visit the numerous restaurants at the Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn. Not only is their food far superior, they have class and treat their guests, and their entire families, accordingly. read more

The restaurant and owner/cook are DISGUSTING. We had a 5pm reservation for 6, and informed them we were bringing a 9 month old. The wait staff were very friendly when we arrived , bringing out a high chair for the baby. After 2 rounds of drinks and appetizers, the waitress informed us that the baby was being too loud, even though they were laughing and not crying. We were very aware of the baby's sound level, and would have gone outside if he was too loud. Additionally, the dining room was only half full, and we were seated away from most people. It was the cook who was upset about the baby, yet didn't have the decency to tell us herself, and made her staff do it, while she hid in the kitchen. Even before this rude event, it was clear the quality of this restaurant has gone downhill. The tomato salad and appetizers, were flavorless, the tomatoes tasting as if they were from stop and shop and the calamari chewy. It's quite obvious why the cook is only a James Beard nominee, and has never actually won. Dining at this restaurant not only supports a cook who is a terrible human being, but someone who has clearly lost their sense of flavor and better suited to working in a chain restaurant. read more

Excellent food served by courteous, helpful staff in a friendly place. Good wine list, excellent burger.