You get used to overpriced food choices in Aspen but Ellina annoyed me in a particularly unpleasant way. Their two main courses that we ordered -- rabbit and pork chop -- were both undercooked, impossible to chew and tasteless. The only flavor came from the sauce used in both dishes. While there are plenty of servers around, for about 15 minutes when I waited to report the problem without touching the food, no one came up to ask me if they can do anything to fix the problem. Why two stars? The ambiance is pleasant and the appetizers are of decent 3* quality. read more

We went in off season, so it was REALLY quiet. The ahi appetizer was plate licking good, but our mains were not as spectacular. The haddock was very good, but the pea ravioli was not at all subtle. It was all pea, all the time - there should have been a wider variety of ingredients. It was like a trip down memory lane to mushy peas for dinner as a toddler. The service was very good, and the atmosphere is fine. Nothing earth shattering in the decor. read more

Stellar Northern Italian meal. Wasn't sure what to expect in a town of fabulous people and a captive audience, but Ellina delivered. Ambience very in-the-know LA, service a bit pretentious, crowd exceedingly affluent. Food - exceptional. Our favorites: pumpkin ravioli with duck confit. Steelhead trout with roasted cippoline onions. Colorado lamb chops with smoked tomato ragout. Rockin'. read more

bruschetta - poached egg, artichoke hearts black truffle, also pork belly appetizer - a little heavy but melts in your mouth whole bass - farmed in denver apparently and very well prepared (maybe they could have offered to remove the bone, but no real gripes - taste was fantastic) also enjoyed a great barolo recommended by the sommelier - Jill all in all a fantastic meal - would def go back for a special occasion or nice meal on the trip - it's def upscale food wise and atmosphere thoroughly enjoyed read more

On a recent trip to Aspen my boyfriend and I visited several local restaurants and found Ellina to be far superior! The first time we went we sat outside and were served by a very informative waiter who gave us an earful about the place! Former chef, Dena Marino (she duked it out against Masaharu Morimoto on an episode of Iron Chef), recently left to pursue other endeavors in Miami and her sous chef has taken over the kitchen. Many of the staff members are from D19, which is now closed. Dena Marino was the chef there too. (D19 was our favorite Aspen eatery before it closed). Outdoor seating does not take reservations, but if you get there on the early side it is easier to get a table (dinner service starts at 5:30 I believe). The artichoke bruschetta is one of the most delish dishes I've ever tasted- a must try at this restaurant! As for entrees, the fillet and the duck are both winners as well! We will be returning on our next trip to Aspen! read more

Downstairs with stone lined walls -- this is a good restaurant. We heard the chef left and the sous chef took over recently. The sous chef /new chef is doing a good job. The bread was made today, always a good sign. Wine list extensive -- we shared Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc and Argiolas Cannonau among the 4 of us. Ahi appetizer very fresh. Ravioli with English spring peas was very good, salmon a little overdone and maybe a day old, but loved the lentils and the accompanying sauce. I would return, but this place could still reach another level. 4.5 stars tonight. read more

We dined at Ellina during January 2012 and were satisfied with mostly everything we tried. This restaurant would certainly be placed among the best of any other normal towns dining establishments but because its located in Aspen, its got some pretty fierce local competition. The restaurant is mostly underground with stone walls and an interesting lighting schema. They did their very best appointing the space to make it warm and inviting but I'm not fond of eating in a basement, especially with so many expansive views of the mountains available at other locations. Because of the competition and finicky tourist population in Aspen proper, a good percentage of restaurants seem to come and go more quickly than usual. I dined at this same location two years prior enjoying completely different cuisine. Hopefully Ellina sticks so I can try it again during my next visit! read more

Meh... I was not impressed... We had a reservation and arrived promptly, yet we still had to wait about 10 minutes to get seated. Now, this would not be an issue if there was a waiting area. Waiting outside was not an option since it was super cold and snowing, so we ended up waiting in the amazingly crowded bar area near the coat check and restrooms. After we finally got seated, the place was ridiculously loud! haha I know I sound like an old lady, but I'm really not exaggerating. Our food was pretty ok. But, our waiter was excellent! Despite the crowds, our food came out really fast and our waiter checked on us several times. And, well Aspen is basically west Hollywood with snow, so people watching was certainly interesting :p Oh! One last thing! Their wine selection is VERY extensive! Big props for that! read more

Cool little restaurant in the heart of Aspen's high-end shopping area. The food was excellent, and the service was even better! They appeared to be a bit short-staffed the night we went, but the sommelier stepped in, and she was totally awesome!! Not only did she recommend some great wines, but she helped us with our food order and put up with our drunken shenanigans. Food-wise, this is what we had. Between four of us, we ordered an appetizer and entree each, but shared everything family-style so that we could taste everything. APPETIZERS: Seared Octopus - AMAZING. I'm normally not a fan with anything that's got suction cups all over little spindly legs, but this is a must-try. Kurobuta Pork Belly - how could pork belly not be amazing? all that fat cannot go wrong. this one did not disappoint. Artichoke Heart Bruschetta - this is not your typical chopped-tomato-and-olive-oil-on-top-of-toasted-bread. the creamy parmagiano sauce and poached egg gave this such a unique and delicious flavor. We really loved this one! Foie Gras - this one was probably our least favorite. Given that foie gras is now banned in California, we were excited to order this. This was served seared which is usually delicious but our piece was not as plump as we've had elsewhere. MAIN ENTREES: Veal Scaloppini - Generous portions, and served with a big serving of potatoes. The veal was really tender and awesome. Pepper Fettucini - Basically what it sounds like. Creamy fettucini with pepper, with crumbled bacon, pretty basic. Smaller portion, if you're not all that hungry. Oven-Roasted Rabbit - Not something that's universally available, so we decided to take the plunge. Pretty good, although hard for me to think about what I'm actually eating. Pork Tenderloin - Pretty straightforward, what you would expect for a pork dish. DESSERT: Molten Chocolate Cake - sadly by the time we had pigged out on all of the above, we only had room to share one dessert. This was delicious, with the molten chocolate middle, and a unique twist - a "patty" of pistachio ice cream under the chocolate cake. Thumbs up for the combination of flavors - a perfect end to our (rather gluttonous) dinner. read more

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful evening! The ladies of Les Dames d'Aspen enjoyed everything. As usual the food was perfect, the staff ahead of everything, and the wine a perfect match to the food! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have been to this restaurant many times. I don't think I can ever get bored of the caviatelli. We all ordered it last night! The best gelatto in town too! The staff will definitely see me soon! read more

I'm so stuffed, I can barely write this, so I will keep it short. Must-try the artichoke heart bruschetta with poached egg and black truffle shavings. This dish alone is 5-stars. The Colorado lamb chops were bone-lickin' good. Velvety cabernet. I could have passed on the pear cake, but my dinner mates liked it. Thumbs-up on the service. read more

I eat at Ellina monthly, throughout the year, and it is the most consistently excellent restaurant in Aspen. The food quality is extremely high, the menu is interesting and varied and the dishes are absolutely delicious. The service is welcoming and friendly. You'll find locals dining at the bar and celebrating special occasions in the cozy dining room. The owner (and sommelier) takes great pride in the restaurant and in her award winning wine list and is happy to chat about all things wine and Italy. Ellina is a must-dine experience for any visitor to Aspen. read more

Ellina I had heard just opened recently, and I am in Aspen visiting my cousin. She has been wanting to go to this restaurant for a few weeks now and finally she was able to get wined and dined with a very eclectic group of people. There were 5 of us, all ordering cocktails and all drinking a nice bottle of wine. I had a dirty martini with 3 olives and was incredibly put back after biting into my olive (my favorite part of my martinis) and bit hard into a pit. I was not super excited about that aspect, however my martini was great- just the right amount of dirty and just the right amount of vodka. Between the 5 of us we ordered 3 appetizers. The foie gros and mission fig puree, the cured meats and pickled vegetables, and the octopus. The octopus was by far the best appetizer on the table. We could have ordered one less, because the portion sizes were larger then I would have expected. The mission fig puree was also excellent. For my main dish I had the scallops. My boyfriend had the trout, my cousin had the squash ravioli, and the two others both had the pork loin. I didn't try the pork loin, but I am not a huge fan of pork. My scallops were large, and very good, and paired with small shaved fried onions and a cranberry jasmine rice. The trout was the best thing on the table. It was absolutely delicious. Lots of flavor, and a perfect sized fish. The ravioli's looked good, and my cousin said they were great... The overall meal was definitely an experience. The space where Ellina is, was very interesting and fun. The atmosphere is filled with wine drinkers and foodie's. Everything was great, except for the fact that service was slow and I could barely hear the person next to me. So if you are looking for a romantic night out with your hubby in Aspen, definitely go before the crowd, and or after...Other then that...if you are willing to spend a little more (and arm and a leg) for dinner...Then GO! read more

How can I give 3.5 stars? We went there this past weekend and the food was good and the service was friendly and attentive. We had our baby with us and they were welcoming and accommodating. I started with the Limoncello Drop which was tasty. The appetizer of octopus over risotto was very meaty. The risotto was so so but I really liked the octopus. For my main course, I opted for the squash ravioli with duck confit. The duck was pretty good. One of my ravioli seemed a litte dry but the other 2 pieces were better. Not sure what that was about. One downer was that they charge for bread. Good thing we didn't ask for one for our baby! :D The setting is pretty cool - basement and a little cozy. read more

A MUST visit when looking to dine in Aspen. This is the one restaurant that delivers consistent quality in food, drinks, service and ambiance. The menu offers something for everyone. You will be happy no matter what you select. read more

Called to cancel a reservation (made only 45 minutes prior) because we decided to stay in. I tried calling a few times afterwards to get a takeout order to bring home. She had said it was a slow night so I called a third time, thinking they must not have been by the phone. A woman picks up the phone and says "you called me like four times, are you sure you still want it?" What? Who the hell says that to a customer? Obviously I want it, that's why I'm calling. If that was the owner, I don't see a bright future for this place -- very petty and vindictive, and just a poor attitude to have. I will not be visiting this place in the future. Maybe answer your phone instead of ignoring it and then getting angry about it? With all the great restaurants in Aspen I see no reason to support a cranky Clark's. read more

Many Gluten free options. I had the sushi appetizer, rack of lamb with cherry port. Flourless chocolate cake for dessert! Yes- this was my 1st time here! read more

What a great spot..food and service are exceptional...especially their Sommelier Jill Jill is not only personable but knowledgeable which isn't an easy task, with sooooo many wines to chooses from. read more

Marvelous food and great atmosphere. They play all the right notes and I look forward to singing this song with them again. !! Halibut ceviche, gnocchi, seared ahi tuna Yum!!! Didn't stay for dessert because lers face it Paradise Bakery has THE best ice cream and cookies in Aspen. read more

We ate at Ellina last night and it was fantastic! The food was wonderful and the service was great. It's high season in Aspen and the restaurant was full. If they were understaffed, we didn't notice. It was a really nice evening! read more

My husband and I absolutely love Ellina - it's a must every time we visit. The food is phenomenal and they have amazing wines - especially French and Italians, our favorites. Beautiful dining room, fun bar and lovely outdoor dining in summer. Service is always spot on as well. What more could you ask for?? read more

As others have said, the artichoke bruschetta is worth the price of admission alone. Went there twice over a week's time, and the service was excellent (although we weren't dining at peak times). Bar service/sommelier was great, and the food was very good- lots of local ingredients prepared in interesting ways. Would absolutely recommend this place, and can't stop thinking about the bruschetta. read more

This is our third visit to Ellina. We always sat at the bar and this time we sat in the dining room. The service was pretty spotty at best. The food is always fantastic. Don't miss the brushetta, the grilled octopus, the beet salad and even the pastas are great. Wines are way overpriced. Marked up beyond the heavens. But the sommelier is very knowledgable and friendly. The totally agro gay maitre'd with the perpetual scowl on his face kind of needs to get beyond whatever it is that's eating him. read more

We really enjoyed this restaurant. The lighting and decor is so romantic and modern. From start to finish, we were treated like a million bucks. My husband had ordered iced tea (the only thing he loves to drink at dinner) but they only have hot tea. Our waiter surprised us by bringing a glass of ice out and a pot of tea for him to have his treasured iced tea haha The tea he chose had jasmine petals in it and it was amazing. For dinner, I ordered the sea bass and my hubby ordered the lamp chops and both dishes were just divine! Mine was cooked to perfection and the lamp chops were too. The veggies were very, very good. It's been a few weeks so I can't recall all the specifics of the food but we know we thoroughly enjoyed it all. We are going back to Aspen closer to summer and there are other restaurants we want to try but there's a good chance we would eat here again. :) :) read more

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Tonight was a very special night for us - every day of vacation is so precious. Unfortunately we were a party of 2 competing against much bigger parties. We waited entirely too long to receive our meal while watching the larger parties getting the focus of attention and timely food delivery. We have been here several times during the same holiday week before with a very different outcome. Disappointing this time. Yes, the food was excellent but I was hardly hungry by the time it came filling up on bread, wine and the appetizers which did come out timely. I would like to talk to the owner directly about this disappointing experience. read more

Ellina - New American Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Ellina is a charming Aspen restaurant great for a family vibe or a date. It's not super loud and there's lots of room between the tables. Perfect for post-skiing. I love the rocky walls- very chic. The whole menu looks delicious, so it was hard to decide. There are lots of interesting sauces and spins on dishes. My brother started with French onion soup- he said it was cooked to perfection. I started with the braised artichoke heart bruschetta, which had poached egg, creamy parmigiano, and truffles. It was very unique and aesthetically pleasing, but extremely overpriced- shared it with my mother and it was TINY. It was quite rich, though. And then we had the Colorado lamb chops as well as the pepper fettuccini with crispy pancetta, poached egg, and carbonara. The carbonara is a local favorite and had thick pieces of bacon in it. The lamb was a bit fatty. It got pretty loud towards the end, but that's expected. My mother and I shared the apple tart for dessert and it was extremely sweet and rich. I would give Ellina 4 stars because it has excellent service, good energy, and delicious food. The dessert was overpriced- two tiny cakes for $14 each- ridiculous. read more

The best meal we've had in Aspen this year. We started off with the artichoke heart bruschetta, which was phenomenally flavored along with perfectly crispy and tasty calamari. Portions were moderate. We weren't too hungry so a few of us split meals and we kind of regretted it after tasting the entree's. The short rib was superb and shredded itself on its own. So tender and flavorful! The carbonara pasta was probably the most perfectly cooked pasta I've ever tasted too. Finally, the desserts finished the meal perfectly. You cannot leave without the caramel cheesecake and the mousse. Can't wait to come back! Prices are moderately high. read more

Great atmosphere! Amazing homemade pastas and Artichoke Bruschetta was delicious! I had the mushroom ravioli and would definitely order it again! Everyone in my party had the homemade pastas and was very satisfied with their dishes. The black pepper fettuccine was a table favorite:) Will definitely be coming back on our next trip to Aspen!! read more

We had the most delighting dinner at this place. I was truly impressed and touched by the service. EVERY WAITER would say hello and be eager to help with the menu - we really felt welcome and taken care of. We got lots of good recommendations for our wine and food, and everything we ordered was delicious. I'm a fan! Another good note about the service - they reserved a lovely spot for us at the patio and held it even though we were almost 30 min late (yes, our bad): mind you it was Sat night and the place was were very busy. read more

Great ambience, amazing Colorado lamb chops and a huge wine selection .. Nestled underground in an authentic setting this was a great dining experience. the chocolate lava cake was delicious also. read more

Ellina - New American Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Fantastic meal and evening at Ellina! Ambiance is lovely, quiet enough to talk and hear each other. We started with two appetizers-octopus in a succulent sauce and the fried calamari, then salad with blue cheese and walnuts, and for the main course the halibut on top of cannoli beans and chorizo. The flavors were amazing. Each dish that we had was beautifully presented and delicious. I have not been to Ellina in years and it is a winner.I highly recommend it. Happy dining! Laurie G read more

Lovely meal last night the chef was so accommodating even so thoughtful as to put an additional item that is very healthy for me when I had requested just the fish as I could not have the accompaniments that it was prepared with! Waiter came back out to say the chef wanted to add a plain veg for me and then he added the extra healthy item so thoughtful and fabulously delicious! We had also a celiac in our group and they did not bat an eye!!! So wonderful and all our meals were just perfect all plates were cleared but no one felt over full - really a class act and happy to have been back! Food and service are outstanding! read more

Winter greens with pear and goat cheese lamb (medium rare) was PERFECT. Husband got the capellini and loved it. Def worth the $$$ and we will come back again. Didn't care for the mosale mule-like cocktail but wine was superb. read more

Cocktails, food, wine, service, atmosphere...all amazing! Cannot wait to go back. Certainly one of Aspen's best restaurants. Thanks, Ellina!

Our dinner at Ellina was a highlight of our trip to Aspen. The calamari was unbelievable! Atmosphere is cool and the service was top notch. We will be back the next time we attend a Belly Up show. read more

Service stinks management doesn't care. Took 50 minutes to get appetizer. Wine lady was rude. Told me didn't have wine I ordered but would give higher priced bottle for same except turned it it was priced less but was supposed to be a 2012 and was a 2013. Then next bottle I wanted she was out of then told those were only 2 on list out of but wouldn't offer anything off higher priced bottles and didn't care that meant I wouldn't order a second bottle. And to top it off it took her 20 minutes to bring the first bottle. The food was good and this place apparently has so many customers they just don't need to be nice so they are snobby and demeaning to most. read more

We waited almost two hours for our food, and when we complained to the manager she told us that "this was not a fast food restaurant". We have lived in this town for 27 years and this is one of the worst experiences we have ever received in an Aspen restaurant. Not only did the manager not care, but as the saying goes..."the fish stinks from the head down", the waiters were just like her. We will never waste our time with the service and the non caring attitudes of this restaurant. read more

A disatre of restaurant, terrible attention, in my meal there were several pieces of glass and they did not attend to me from the management did not have any details read more

Ellina - New American Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Really good food. The artichoke with truffle is excellent. The raw tuna with black rice is another favorite. Warm and cozy atmosphere. Great wine list. read more

Food and service were both outstanding! We were a group of 7 and our waitress Honey could not have been more gracious and helpful. She was the best. Will definitely be back - HIGHLY recommend! read more