We went for a special event - "Friends in Town" with Ron McKinlay, so it was a different menu than their standard. That said, it was one of my favorite meals ever. The space is warm and cozy. The outdoor area has a big fireplace and really makes you feel welcome. Service was friendly but unintrusive. The chefs explained each dish as they came out. The menu for the event was focused on lamb. Every dish had deep, crisp flavors. The consommé, for example, had this great combination of rich lamb flavor but also bright, crunchy peas. The chawanmushi was our favorite. Lots of different layers of textures and flavors. I'm glad we were able to attend this unique, one off menu. Hoping to go back for their regular menu someday. read more

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I did the Elske vegetarian tasting menu and our service and meal were both fantastic! The flavors were so unique and while I did feel full I didn't feel too heavy after the meal! read more

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Elske is one of Chicago's many Michelin one-stars, but its the only Scandinavian style one I've tried with a star. Those of us from Los Angeles will think of our westside favorite Destroyer, and Elske delivers that in a Michelin setting. The juice pairing, extremely affordable at $30, was probably my favorite pairing at any restaurant. Definitely recommend the tasting menu, and the dessert, although I was too full by the end to add on any extras. I will say I came to Elske as a second dinner, after going to The Aviary and rushing through their atrocious tasting and drink menu. My stomach wasn't fully empty, and my patience was minimal after being forced to wait for five tiny bites at The Aviary for three hours, and I am quite impressed Elske was everything I was looking for to make the night a save. The interior of the restaurant is a cute homely Scandinavian home, complete with wooden sparse furniture like Ikea, and a huge outdoor fireplace that only further emphasizes the feeling of being "home". Service was phenomenal, and subtle, and leftovers get wrapped up in a cute giftbag-esque takeaway. Loved Elske, would definitely come back. read more

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Medium size table. I had the bar table experience. Worst bar tables i have experienced, very uncomfortable to sit for the duration of the meal. For Michelin star restaurant high paying restaurant will not expect this. Veg tasting menu experienced with juice pairing. Rating out of 5. The food gener was not my typical taste so did not enjoy as much. Juices 3/5 - there were 5 juices out of which only 2 I liked it other 3 were different taste i can not enjoy it. Mushroom patties - 4/5 Mushroom soup - 2/5 Dessert - 4/5 Risotto-2.5/5 Pie shaped main course - 2/5 read more

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This was my first taste of Nordic food, and while I'm still not entirely sure how to define it, the experience was fantastic! I have to give a major shout-out for the vibes. The restaurant is incredibly inviting, boasting a cozy fireplace and a modern, warm outdoor seating area perfect for waiting. Inside, the seating is beautiful, facing a semi-open kitchen and an open patio that would be ideal for summer nights. Chicken Nuggets - 3.5 stars: These were perfectly round, crispy on the outside, and tender inside. I heard these are an off-menu special you can sometimes order by request. They were a bit plain; I was told they are much better when prepared with truffle flavor. Oat Porridge Bread - 5 stars ($12): This was an absolute star--the perfect boule. Crunchy crust and incredibly soft on the inside. So delicious! Char - 3.5 stars ($32): Smoked char served with shishito peppers, pickled onion, and saltines. The char was perfectly cooked, but the overall taste felt a little odd, perhaps due to what seemed like a succotash on top. Annatto Zucca - 4 stars ($28): I was initially skeptical of this butternut squash pasta, as I often find squash too sweet in pasta dishes. However, this one was delicious, and the pasta texture was spot-on--fresh and chewy. Lamb - 3.5 stars ($40): This dish reminded me a bit of a French preparation with the rich gravy. It was beautiful, and I loved the ramps, but I felt the lamb itself was too chewy. Sunflower Seed Parfait - 4.5 stars ($16): This is their signature dessert. It doesn't look or taste like sunflower, but it was delicious nonetheless. Consistency and shape reminded me of a mousse, with a Biscoff-like crumble. Chanterelle Panna Cotta - 3 stars ($16): It visually resembled mushrooms but had no mushroom flavor. Unfortunately, it was too sweet for my liking. read more

I can't even begin to list out how horrible our experience was. 4 of us have dined at Michelin restaurants around the world and in Chicago too - this place wasn't even at par with a normal dining out experience. In our party of 4, we had 1 person who is vegan and 1 person who is vegetarian gluten-free (me). We called about 3 times speaking with different staff, including the manager, to make sure they could accommodate us for my birthday dinner. They assured us they could. We were otherwise going to go back to Next for their Massimo Bottura menu after having tried it in Italy! First, we have an inexperienced server who essentially tells us the chef is asking us to simply order the two vegetarian salads on the menu instead of trying the tasting menu (opposite of what they told us on the phone). We realized the salads weren't even both gluten-free and vegan. They finally did accommodate the tasting menu but would bring out a duck item as "gluten-free" for the person who is vegetarian gluten-free and insist it was being served to the right person - I never said I was pescatarian. And do they really want to convince me that I should be eating duck when I'm telling them I'm vegetarian!? There were so many issues with this place -- the plates the food was being served on was chipped (see photo), they refused to give us a fork when requested asking us to use our hands (that can be a suggestion, not forced upon us), oh and when we asked for an extra napkin they got into an argument as to why we need it!? And we could never find a server to refill our water glasses, the people bringing out our dishes didn't know what they were serving when we asked a question. Michelin or not, I wouldn't even return here for a regular meal. All that being said, the flavors and preparations were actually quite nice. The chef is clearly talented but needs good management staff to help on operations. read more

Elske - Chipped plate being used to serve a $1,000 dinner - Scandinavian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ambiance and service were excellent. The tartare was very special. This visit was considerably better than my first. read more

I picked this place to go to for my husband's birthday this year and we are glad we chose it. The type of food that they have is a Scandinavian Norwegian feel about it, and the food was very unique and super good. You were able to choose from the chefs tasting menu or pick and choose in an à la carte style . The service was really good and our server was very knowledgeable about the food and the wine that they had and helped us decide how many plates to order for two people and it was just enough . The decor is very clean and fit the theme with the food that was being served. We loved all of the food in the wine pairing suggestions and we highly recommend checking this place out if you're ever in Chicago and we will definitely be back because it was amazing! read more

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Elske is such an inviting restaurant, with a warm and beautiful décor. The outdoor patio is perfect for this weather, and I appreciated that the inside wasn't too cold since the doors were open toward the patio. Service was excellent--quiet, polite, and attentive in a way that made the atmosphere feel peaceful rather than noisy. I liked that they carried themselves with a softer presence. The food was refreshing, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. Each plate was sumptuous and full of flavor, and the last course was especially memorable and refreshing. One detail that really impressed me was how attentive they were--without us even mentioning it, they noticed the cod had been prepared too salty and proactively took care of it by refunding us. That level of care shows how much they value their guests. Overall, Elske delivered both in food and experience. With its inviting space, excellent service, and thoughtful dishes, I'd definitely return. read more

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Elske was comfortable, somewhat informal in a good way, but otherwise mediocre. Food: 3.5/5 - Some items were a hit, some were good, some were...weird? We knew what they were trying to do (I think?) but the execution was off. At this price point, nothing was terrible but the whole meal seemed fragmented and random. The lamb was flavorful but tough - the knife they gave me was as sharp as a butter knife so I had to strain to cut through it. The broth at the start was good but didn't fit with the other portions. I kept thinking "What is going on here?" It felt like they just plated random dishes together and hoped we'd "get it". I will say they seemed to shine with their fish dishes. The non-alcoholic martini was really good as well. We were neither overly thrilled nor disappointed. The highlights were the fish and the duck. Service: 2/5 - Just felt like they were phoning it in. Our waitress didn't seem to know anything about the food. I asked about one of the fish plates and she had to go check. She was friendly but just aloof. It was service like you'd get at a diner. Friendly but that's about it. Eventually she just came over to fill waters while others brought us our plates. None of the staff seemed invested in the customer experience, they were just bringing food and leaving. Ambience: 4/5 - Clean lines, modern, comfortable. On our particular night we had a group behind us that brought the volume way up. Not the restaurant's fault but by the time we left, this felt like an average nice restaurant, not one worth 140 bucks a person. Maybe we missed the point, maybe we didn't. Glad we went but we probably wouldn't go back. read more

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What an experience. The layout was awesome, the food was amazing, but the service was just okay. I am a sucker for open kitchen concept. I enjoy watching the chefs craft amazing plates. We did not try the tasting menu, but ordered multiple plates. I was surprised by a smoke trout pancake. The staff brought out each plate strategically. Everyone was great but the service was weird. It's hard to describe because they did everything they were supposed to do, but I did not feel fully welcomed once I left. read more

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Went here on a Saturday at 5 pm. Prepaid and ready for the experience. Inside: loved the whole decor. Simple, minimal, very much my aesthetic. They have a patio that's very welcoming with a wood burning fireplace that would be perfect for summer evenings (so, think about asking to sit here if you dine here). Food. Wow! Very good. The inner fat kid in me rejoiced. Pics attached. I did the juice pairing also. My opinion is that it is good and a great accompaniment to the food ! Plus get the whole experience !!! Service: downside of eating here. Our particular waitress mumbled a lot, I had to ask her to repeat what she said. She got annoyed a few times. No smiles. Don't get me wrong, she was 'efficient' but not warm at all. I'm not expecting to be asked my life story or the song of my people but wow, I saw her staring blankly into space a few times (an existential crises ?! ). Would I return ? Mmmmmyes. To sit in the patio and dine on some entrees, not the set menu this time AND specifically ask to not have that waitress read more

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Overall, Elske is a really solid dinner option. The decor is modern and minimalistic, yet the space is warm and inviting. There was not a single empty table in the house so it was quite a lively atmosphere, although unfortunately, it was quite loud and I found it difficult to hear the explanation of the dishes being set on our table or the wines being poured. Thankfully, there's a printed menu that describes most of the dishes as well as the wine pairing. The dishes were mostly good. There were a couple of standouts and a couple of misses on the set menu. Although it lists 9 items, a bunch of them are small items that are combined together. In total, there are 5 courses. The standout dishes were the duck liver tart - so rich and decadent, but perfectly balanced with the toasted buckwheat crust and dusted with dehydrated ramp powder. We both thought this was the best dish of the evening. I'm not a dessert guy, but I thought the toasted soy panna cotta was absolutely stunning - not too sweet and some unique flavor combinations that all really worked well together. The grilled striploin was delicious as well. I personally wasn't a fan of the confit cod dish. My cod was overly salty and very fishy. Overall, it's a great introduction to the style of food. Next time, we'd definitely do the a la carte menu though. The wine pairings featured mostly natural wines. I should've asked, but I wish that was explained somewhere or mentioned when we asked for the pairings. Overall, the pairing just wasn't worth it and we'd skip that next time. read more

Great place to go to celebrate an occasion! My husband surprised me for dinner here did my birthday and we loved it! They were able to accommodate a vegetarian menu and I chose to do a wine pairing which was fantastic! This was one of the best wine pairings I've ever done. We enjoyed all the courses but especially the maitake mushroom, sweet potato with the most delicious bread, risotto, and the dessert was phenomenal! The ambience is more lively and not as intimate but we still had a great experience! read more

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"ELSKE" offers a Michelin Starred dining experience based on a Culinary Exploration of Scandinavian cuisine. The Ambiance is a little less Scandinavian than the food, but the restaurant is still welcoming. When one thinks of the Great Dining Experiences of the World, one does not often include the cuisines of Sweden, Norway & Denmark in the mix. But these countries produce some of the best food on Earth. It emulates the Natural Purity and Freshness of Japanese food. The rich tanginess of German and Dutch food. The commitment to seafood that makes Italian, Spanish, Greek & Chinese food so renowned, and the warm homeness that make American Southern cuisine and Central European Meals are so sought after. And if the food itself is not as recognized as being an integral part of the American food landscape then think of this - Scandinavians gave us the 'Smorgasbord' - or basically - The Buffet. Now, just imagine a world Without any Buffets. It's unthinkable. Being half Swedish myself, I have a large place in my heart for the fundamentals of Scandinavian Cuisine. From 'Gravadlax' to 'Caviar' - and from 'Pickled Herring' to 'Raw Oysters' to the complexities of 'Press-Sylta' ('head-cheese'), and the omnipresent sweet & tangy side-dish of 'Lingonberries' that is served with Everything - Scandinavian food is hearty, healthy, delicious, and unpretentious. Even the Swedish Pastries & Cakes (like the 'Princess-Torte' is amazing, yet un-proclaimed. "ELSKE" offers a Michelin Starred dining experience based on this untapped Culinary Exploration of Scandinavian cuisine. After WW2, American Restaurants displayed a Surge of menus that had at least Some Nordic dishes on them. For those of us who are old enough to remember restaurant staples like the "Lazy-Susan", a circular 'mini-tables on wheels' that could spin, in order to deliver it's serving bowls right in front of the hungry diner. Also, dishes like 'Pickled Herring', 'Gravlax', salted 'Salmon-Eggs', "Vinegared-Beets', and flat 'Rye-Cracker-Bread', ALL Became popular for a time. But THE MOST POPULAR SCANDANAVIAN food tradition that America adopted was the "Smorgasbord" a buffet-like display of ALL of the dishes being offered that day. So - what did I like here most, during my recent visit to "Elske"? Of course we all ordered the "Tasting Menu", so we only tried the "Fan Favorites". Still, there were a few stand-outs: the Lamb tartare with pickles served on Swedish Rye 'Hard-Tack', - the Halibut with cockles, summer apples, and celery, - the Duck liver tart, - the 'Frikadeller' sausage in brown butter, - the coffee-sponge cake and gjetost (a Norwegian sweet burnt goat-cheese) - and the Milk chocolate custard with black garlic caramel. All of that said, was it worth it? Can a single meal that barely fills you up be worth that $125 (the tasting) + $60 (the wine pairing fee) per person that it costs. And my answer is - "Who The Hell Knows!" - I enjoyed it. I even enjoyed it enough to write an article about it. But in the big picture, people are starving out there. Wars are raging. My friend has cancer. I'm Older Now than I was yesterday. What Right do I have dropping half a grand for me & my girlfriend to stuff food into our faces? But I guess that this is a bigger question than I can be properly answer in a YELP Review. So - Suffice to say - "was my meal at 'Elske' worth it? YES - EVERY PENNY! read more

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This dinner was awesome and we're looking forward to going back. We came originally for the chef menu but were unable to get it due to a grapefruit allergy that they didn't have a substitute for. Regardless the food we chose was really tasty. The lamb didn't even need a knife we were able to cut it with just our fork! The flavors were beautiful and different than the usual meals and flavors that other restaurants have. The ambiance is super nice too. It definitely feels upscale and cozy. It's a smaller space, so there was a short wait for our reservation, but it was still a good experience. read more

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This place doesn't disappoint, this is my third time we have eaten here and both my husband and I are in full agreement which is rare. Elske delivers just different and unexpected flavors while still being objectively delicious. We always order a few fish/seafood dishes and they are always impressive, they made me mmmm over shrimp mousse and I don't like shrimp! Service is always solid, and you need someone knowledgeable to navigate some of the menu and they are helpful. Reservations are usually easy to come by, but it's always been busy when we've dined. And the crowd is a mix of boisterous groups and intimate pairs, you really need to lean in to talk. Also for the caliber of food not crazily priced either--recommend for a date night, celebration, or random Thursday. If you're driving parking is a crap shoot, we've had to circle 15min and walk a couple blocks, but last time we found a spot right away. read more

Elske delivers a remarkable representation of Scandinavian cuisine -- refined, balanced, and deeply comforting. In my experience, it's the best Scandinavian restaurant in the U.S. Each dish reflects precision and creativity while staying true to Nordic simplicity and purity of flavors. The ambiance perfectly complements the food: minimalistic, elegant, and calm, with an inviting outdoor area centered around a cozy fireplace that adds a warm, intimate touch. read more

First and foremost, I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. My best friend aka my partner in crime decided to make a reservation for my birthday. Kudos for the invite and our date night while in Chicago. As we arrived, I was amazed by the simplicity of the restaurant arrangement. They have an open kitchen concept where you can see the chefs cooking and prepping the food for you as well as a half in half out ambience when it came to seating arrangements. Our table was half in and half out, which was fine as the night wasn't too cold as had initially thought. Upon looking at the menu, we both decided to order the set tasting menu and we were pleasantly surprised as well as the juiced pairing that went along with it. First course: Tea of lightly, smoked fruits and vegetables - once we tasted it, we drank it like a consome. We tasted some earthy notes and I'm not sure if they used a mushroom of sorts in their veggie medley. Lamb Tartare with Gunde's pickles and remoulade on rosette - light and crispy - two bites Chicken croquette w/parsley - my favorite even though it kept me wanting more with how small the bite was. It was paired with a white grape, yeast and anise juice. It was light. Second course: Tuna with smoked tomato, buckwheat and marigold paired with a Watermelon, salted pepper, green tea juice infusion - reminded me of watermelon candy (the mexican kind) The tuna was thinly sliced and sort of hid under the tomatoes when it came to presentation, however, when having a full bite with the buckwheat and marigold, it was divine. Third course: Halibut with clams, summer apples and celery ... I'm not a fan of celery, but this did indeed work well. I noticed the celery leaves were still a bit bitter for my palate, but I can see how it worked with the halibut and clams. I couldn't taste the summer apples, but I did enjoy the dish. earl gray, orange, clove and apricot - tasted light and crisp Fourth course: Duck Liver tart with salted ramp and toasted buckwheat - Oh Em Gee! Superb! Grilled Striploin and beef sausage with cabbage condiments - The Sirloin was amazing, but the sausage itself was a tad bit dry so we couldn't enjoy it as much as we had hoped to. Beet, pomegranate, shiitake, lapsang souchong - didn't impress us much so we only took a sip or two. Dessert: Frozen anise jelly with mint - which looks like a cube, but definitely very palate pleasing. Kombu panna cotta with blueberries and lavender - which to be fair, even though I'm not a blueberry type of person, it was luscious. I took out the blueberries, but ate the rest of the panna cotta including the boba/jelly inclusions in this small dish. Asian pear, hops, sunchoke - it was basically a cider because of the hops, but it was delicious. Thank you to the staff for bringing out a slice of birthday cake! It definitely hit the spot. It tasted like an ice cream cake!!!!!! Overall, I'd go back again when I have the chance to visit the Windy City! read more

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First off beautiful setting. A garden I want to live in, elevated rustic clean lines, inviting. I sat at the bar and had a wonderful time chatting and eating like I met an old friend. Each dish was truly delicious. The smoked fruit and vegetables tea was so unique and blew me away. The cured sole cracker was a highlight. Light and tangy, not fishy at all. The lamb was cooked to perfection and some of the most tender lamb I have ever had. Simple, just well cooked with a little course salt which is all you need when the meat is that good. Dessert was everything I hoped for. The frozen skyr was tangy, herby not too sweet with caramel offsetting the tang perfectly. The crumbles gave a fun crunch. I had heard so much about the sunflower parfait that I added that on and it did not disappoint! Would have never gone out of my way for it without previous reviews and so glad I did. Can't wait to return. read more

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came here for my boyfriend's birthday back in December and loooved it! so cozy & intimate, and the good was delicious. course 1 - tea of lightly smoked fruits & vegetables: so unique. sweet but also smokey and a great palate starter - lamb tartare with pickles and remoulade on rosette: first time trying lamb tartare! one of my favorite bites. lamb flavor perfectly subtilized by the pickles & sauce - chicken croquette with parsley: creamy, crispy and warm course 2 - cured tuna with fennel, guajillo and tonnato: unique plating! a little too salty for my taste but the flavor was food course 3 - smoked sturgeon with carrot, citrus and shio kombu: fish was very soft and paired well with the citrusy, foamy sauce course 4 - duck liver tart with salted ramp and toasted buckwheat: also uniquely made & delicious! not overly gamey - grilled striploin and beef sausage with cabbage condiments: striploin was cooked perfectly + was so tender! cabbage was also so good, tasted almost black bean-y? course 5 - frozen anise jelly with mint & coffee semifreddo with caramelized breadcrumbs, apple and rosehip: as someone who doesn't like desserts/sweets, this was the perfect dessert! - complimentary slice of cake for birthday read more

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The tasting menu provides high level cooking, creativity and bold flavors. The juice and wine dual pairing is a lovely way for a party of 2 to have a liquid complement, as the juices are house made and divine. Overall, I learned I'm just not the biggest fan of Danish food, but the experience is fantastic so I feel comfortable with a 4-star rating despite personally being low on my list of Chicago tasting menus to re-try. Food: The lamb lartare with Gunde's pickles and remoulade on rosette absolutely blew me away. A culinary perfection in texture, flavors, and technique. But all 8 of the other dishes landed at "solid" for me, crafte d with finesse but just didn't land for me. Juice pairing: Must-get. While the wines are solid, I kept favoring the juices in our taste-off and loved how much effort went into each of them. Service: Personable and light touch, yet constantly aware to swoop in at a moment's notice. A high wire balancing act difficult to achieve. read more

Great, simple food, prepared well. Austere design. When I visited a few years ago, they had the fireplace outside going, with blankets and furs for people wanting some Hygge in the snow. This time, the outdoor area was empty. We didn't get the tasting menu, but that looked like a great option and not terribly expensive. Drinks were a little underwhelming. read more

Celebrated a good friends birthday here and had an ok time! The space is quaint but the tasting menu was just alright. There were definitely some dishes that stood out like the duck liver tart which was pretty to look at but the menu itself did not seem very balanced. When we got to the meats in the later half of the menu was very disappointed as the wagyu was very chewy. The wine pairings were actually pretty delightful and funky and the cocktails were also good. Price point is more affordable than other tasting menus but it is also less courses. read more

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Incredibly delicious food! Def on fancier end of pricing, but if is well worth it. We had the attic char (cooked perfectly), the meat balls (yum!), sunchokes with lentil crepe, fermented black bean agnolotti w morel mushrooms (favorite!) Leave room for deserts ! The sunflower seed thing and the chocolate mousse were both perfection. The whole meal tasted like summer, and the restaurant is designed beautifully with indoor, outdoor and open window seating. Of course, service was excellent. They let us enjoy our meal but attentive to our needs. read more

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While atmosphere is great but unfortunately for the price I paid, the food could be more tastier

A hit-and-miss experience. Nice atmosphere. Clean. Probably nicer in the summer. We ordered the tasting menu. There were several highlights - Cured hiramasa was interesting and well executed. Cod and mackerel were good too. The lamb dish (three preparations of lamb) ranged from excellent to almost inedible. The duck liver tart should not have been served in the way it was. Something has to be done about dessert. Overall, a letdown given the Michelin star and the price. I recommend reading the review by Scott M. It describes well how we felt about our visit even though we dined weeks apart from his group. read more

I was really excited to try Elske - the tasting menu looked interesting and it's on the more affordable side for tasting menus / Michelin star restaurants in Chicago! We went to celebrate my dad's birthday and they gave us an extra dessert to celebrate which was really nice! The ambience of the restaurant is nice as well. Overall, my main reason for the 3 stars is primarily due to the food. It was decent but nothing was really impressive or that tasty. At the price you're paying and with a Michelin star, I'd expect a bit more from the food. read more

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Elske, borrowing its name from the Danish word "to love," a culinary hot spot in Chicago's West Loop, beckons with an enchanting entrance--a courtyard fireplace and candle-lit door--setting the tone for a special dinner. The open kitchen, my love language, reveals the culinary mastery of David and Anna Posey. Their modern American cuisine, infused with Danish influences, is a harmonious dance of simplicity and seasonality. The accolades speak volumes, with a Michelin Star gracing Elske every year from 2017 to 2023. The Poseys, a culinary power couple, have garnered recognition from the James Beard Awards, Jean Banchet Awards, and more. Anna Posey, the pastry virtuoso, has earned accolades like the Jean Banchet Award for Pastry Chef of the Year. David Posey, the Executive Chef, boasts a rich history, including a Michelin Star for Blackbird Restaurant and a James Beard Award Finalist for Rising Star Chef. Elske offers a curated tasting menu as well as à la carte options. The offerings are a celebration of love for gastronomy. This is not just dining; it's love shared to others made by a culinary duo whose passion and skill are evident in every dish. I'd say they got the name right! read more

Elske - Scandinavian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food! I thought I didn't like swordfish. Turns out I never had great swordfish - until now. It was just WoW. The whole set menu was delightful. The staff were very nice but chill - the exact balance of energy you need for this kind of meal. My partner and I still had a glass of wine leftover at the end, so we finished it outside by their amazing fireplace. read more

Elske is a restaurant that satisfied all my senses in the most pleasant way. The food was more delicious then it looked, as hard as that is to believe because the plating was truly works of art. When eating I was so consumed and immersed in my meal I felt like I was on another planet. Yeah, I get it...this review may seem a little dramatic and over the top. But so was my experience here. Whenever I am in Chicago I will be visiting Elske. Also shout out to the amazing bartender that served me! Don't believe me? Try them out. You can thank me later! read more

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We arrived early and got a cocktail, the bramble was amazing. After that we got the tasting menu and wine pairing. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and paired the wines perfectly with each plate. Service was great and atmosphere was impeccable. The chairs were kind of weak. Feeling like the discount bin from IKEA and a colonial chair from an old house, not the most comfortable for a fine dining experience. I ended up in a weird shrugging position the whole meal. The shining star are the desserts. Throw a dart at the menu. Anything will be amazing, but the star of the show was the meringue read more

Elske - Steak and rolls - Scandinavian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is the true star here--each dish a unique parade of flavors. Service was solid throughout, and the wine director stood out with both deep knowledge and engaging, personal stories about the wines. Our server was attentive, though not quite as well-versed in the granular details of the menu as one might expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Still, that's a very minor quibble in what was otherwise a truly memorable dining experience. read more

I had chosen to dine at Elske while planning my "divorcee vacation" to Chicago. This was the big one. Treating myself to a tasting at Elske was one of the main highlights to my trip. Michelin starred since 2017 and a James Beard Finalist? Bet. This was the splurge and as you'll read/see, it was so worth it. If I may be honest, I personally felt somewhat intimidated walking in, but this was my divorcee celebration, I was going to enjoy this. Any anxieties I may have had were quickly forgotten after I met my server and the staff. My server was so warm and attentive. I already knew what I wanted and immediately requested the dinner tasting with the NA Juice pairing. Every course of the tasting came out in a perfectly timed succinctness presented and explained by various members of the front and back of the house. Of course it was delicious. It's a perfectly balanced tasting of Danish cooking methods with locally sourced ingredients. The accolades for this restaurant have their own section on the website. The NA Juice tasting paired wonderfully and was delightful. I was glad to have this option available to me as a non-drinker. This was such a unique and creative tasting. Before this tasting, I'd of never thought I'd love frozen anise jelly. My palate had the opportunity to try foods and preparations of foods in variations I had never tasted. Every bite cooked with precision and care. I was so full that when my server surprised me with a dessert I unfortunately had to request it to go. If that act wasn't kind enough, my server left a note congratulating me on my divorce and that these next years will be my best. This was so kind. I had already paid and there was no reason to do this, but they did. That made the entire experience for me. Incredible staff, amazing food. read more

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3.5 Obviously this is an entirely subjective review - but we were disappointed. We did the tasting menu with wine pairing. Nothing was bad but nothing stood out. The service and the food were fine, but for us - the flavors seemed really muted with a few exceptions. The tomatoes in the tuna and tomato dish tasted like summer. Fresh, delicious. The steak had a nice char & flavor. The dessert was an explosion of summer berries (although the lavender was a bit heavy handed for us - tasted a bit like soap on top of our berries). The ambiance is great, very open & relaxed feel. read more

Worst experience at a Michelin rated restaurant, hands down. Food was decent, service was extremely lacking.

I was extremely satisfied with my meal here. Only thing from tasting menu I didn't care for was the duck tart. Waitress was a sweetheart. Service was simple, but don't mistake that for bad the servers placed for food explained the dish & didn't linger which was welcome. The cabbage was the highlight of the meal. I was nervous having never experiencing Scandinavian but it was extremely approachable. If possible I'd opt for a seat on the most western side as you'll be between the gorgeous fireplace on one side & the kitchen on the other albeit a small views. One course came with a decent sized piece of bread so I doubt you'll leave here hungry. In closing it's definitely not the best tasting menu but it also is one of the cheapest. read more

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My husband and I went for dinner on a Saturday night. I had booked a reservation about a month in advance. The ambiance is definitely elevated casual. I really loved the vibe of this restaurant. It was too cold to sit outside but their courtyard/fireplace sitting area was super cute and I bet it's a hit during fall/warmer Winter days. Service was excellent. Everyone was attentive and friendly. The food: standout dishes for me were the sunchoke tortellini, Belgian endive, and roasted leeks. I wasn't sure what we were getting into as this was our first time experiencing Scandinavian food. Everything was so flavorful and all the ingredients seemed to be well thought out. I would be interested in trying out their Summer menu so I'm sure we'll definitely be back. read more

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Elske is nothing short of a love letter to contemporary American cuisine with a Danish twist. We did the set menu as a birthday dinner but you can also order a la carte! The Set menu in itself was so meticulously curated and timed out that every new dish/course that was served had me absolutely floored. The showstoppers for me were the Øllebrød dessert (nutty and almost tangy and topped with milk ice cream) and the Duck liver tart which was so velvety and rich I was closing my eyes just trying to savor it. This was hands down the best restaurant I've ever dined at in Chicago and it was an experience that I won't soon forget. We also got a complimentary vanilla birthday cake! read more

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i'd give this more of a 3.5/5 than a three if i could. surprised my bf the other night for our 9th anniversary. over the past few years we've been making our way through the michelin stars in chicago (from meh (Sepia, Kasama) to great (Oriole, EL Ideas, Ever)) and have four left. well, three now that we made it to Elske. pretty much in line with 1-star expectations, but honestly a little lacking on the service front. the reception area through to the overall tasting menu service was just okay to barely audible and mumbly. the whole thing felt pretty informal (which is totally fine) but the restaurant doesn't really present itself as informal. the dinner peaked in the first two courses for me (the tea and croquettes were excellent; the cured tuna with fennel was quite nice). by the end, the obligatory and expected beef course was ok. would have rather just had some more croquettes. the dessert was all a bit boring. would go back and just do some a la carte items. disappointed in the bar. asked for an Army and Navy (fairly standard cocktail) and they couldn't make it. feel like if you already have a small cocktail menu, at least have the items to make a wider set of classic cocktails. the bathroom also has the most ridiculous, unnecessary, and silly soap dispenser i have ever come across. the space is nice and lively. and it was nice to snuggle up by the fire pit outside for a few minutes before heading home. read more

Elske - Scandinavian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois