Always a delight! The Elm is your place if you are looking for something delightfully unexpected in Bloomington. Seasonal menus, beautiful plates, and an amazing bar (and coffee bar). We have been coming for years and just tried brunch today and it was 10/10! Spring menu highlight: the cabbage is phenomenal! We ordered for the table to share as a last minute decision and it was the star of the show Brunch: Latke was so yummy and the sauce was horseradish cream goodness Chilaquiles and smash burger both got an A+ Staff is always on point. read more

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'Welcome to Bloomington's fine dining restaurant,' said our young college age server. The interior is clean, modern & spacious. Tables are well spaced for private conversations. The noise level was low and the lighting was neither bright nor dark. The atmosphere is cold & pretentious. From the limited menu, I ordered spaghetti with mussels, salmon with summer squash and flatiron steak & frites. Why the server had to educate me the meaning of frites, I'm not sure, because I simply asked if the entrees came with any extra sides. The mussels that accompanied the spaghetti were not fully cooked. Mussels should be fully cooked. The salmon was overcooked, which made it dry & chewy. The steak was medium as requested but the meat quality was subpar. Flatiron cut is supposed to be very tender & flavorful, but either the meat was old or prepared by inexperienced hands. Neighborhood street parking is free. For me fine dining is reserved for special occasions. I randomly found The Elm because it was open until 10pm for a late supper due to a late arrival. The food preparation was amateur and the experience was poor due to our server who went out of her way educate me, assumed I didn't know any French terms, and tried too hard to earn her tip. Speak gracefully & succinctly with a courteous tone. Any hint of pretention can insult the customer & spoil the appetite. The only thing 'fine dining' about the meal was the bill. I've had much better quality steak & seafood at famous chop houses in large cities for the same price. I do not recommend The Elm. read more

The Elm is "one of one" in Bloomington, really no place like it. From service to decor to the food, The Elm stands out. Went for dinner on a non-football weekend night and had great service. Helpful guidance on menu choices and super attentive without being a bother. The room and bar are handsomely decked out, with comfortable, well-spaced tables and banquettes and booths. Makes for a fun setting. The food is seasonal and local -- lots of corn and squash this time of year. The chicken roulettes are excellent, as was the beet salad with Calabrian honey and whipped feta -- a nice sweet/hot combo. The steak frites was perfectly cooked to medium rare as requested, and accompanied by scalloped potato fries. Don't miss the desserts, either. The sweet corn creme brûlée with popped sorghum was totally new to me and delish. The chocolate medley was also excellent. Kudos for well-made cocktails too. Great experience and 100% different from everything else in town. A little NYC in IN. read more

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Elm absolutely delivered on every level. We tried the halibut, lamb ribs, and their signature pull-apart milk bread with herbed butter--and every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The lamb was perfectly tender, richly seasoned, and paired well with bright, fresh sides. The halibut was delicate and artfully plated with vibrant greens and a silky sauce. And that milk bread? Pillowy, golden, and served with some of the best butter I've ever had. The ambiance was refined yet welcoming--perfect for a special night out or an upscale casual dinner. Service was attentive and warm without being overbearing. In my opinion, this is one of the best dining experiences in Bloomington. A must-visit for locals and visitors alike. read more

The Elm - Halibut - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Amazing dinner! All our dishes were executed beautifully, incredibly well thought out menu. Ashley was our server for the second time and makes amazing recommendations and is so fun and attentive! Beautiful restaurant in a quiet neighborhood! Can't wait to come back when they change their menu again! Well done! read more

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Bloomington has stepped up to an amazing dining experience with The Elm's 14th Menu. Service - Outstanding. The Dining Staff - Outstanding. The Cuisine and CDC, just amazing. I truly can't wait to see what Menu 15 brings but I honestly won't wait till then. read more

The Elm - Burrata Gnocchi in a Sweet Corn sauce - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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My favorite high-end restaurant in Bloomington! Deceivingly located in the middle of a residential area, however as soon as you step inside, it's as if you're in a major metropolitan area like Chicago or New York! The menu is seasonal - from creative cocktails and mocktails, to farm-to-table gourmet entrees, you will find something that will tickle your palate! Excellent, attentive, friendly service. An absolute treat when I visit my college kid (which she of course loves the fine-dining when momma comes to visit), granted it's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're in the mood to "treat yo' self" as my kids say, this is definitely the place! read more

We had reservations and were seated right away next to the kitchen. It was not loud as you would expect, and there were windows so we could watch everything. Very cool! The food was delicious of course. Ashley, our server, was very knowledgeable. I ordered the monkfish (which I had never had before) and two drinks, "Speaking Terms" and an espresso martini with dessert. We loved our time at the Elm and have been talking about going once a season so we can try each menu they come out with! read more

The Elm - Monkfish with fennel slaw and cauliflower purée - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Very Expensive terrible dinner and cocktails. Worst espresso martini I've ever had, and one cocktail that was undrinkable. Two in the party ordered a chicken dish that was rubbery with a lot of fat and skin. The pasta dish was OK and a vegetarian dish was good. Overall not worth what was paid. Go somewhere else if you're looking for a nice dinner worth your money. read more

Meh, underwhelming and uninspiring menu. Had the Tuna Tar Tar.. Steak Frites $65!! , Monk Fish and Short Rib Pasta. The food came out warm and the monk fish was under cooked. Excellent cocktail list and good service. The downstairs room is vibrant while the upstairs setting is lacking any sort of ambiance. I would not return. read more

Love this place. This is by far the best restaurant I visited at Bloomington. The restaurant is pretty new and considered one place for fine dining. What I heard this is one of the 2 restaurant for fine dining at Bloomingtoon. We made reservation earlier. The restaurant is nicely decorated and can accommodate large group. It has high ceiling and nice bar. Parking is on the street. There is plenty item on the menu and I hear they source them locally except seafood and if I am not mistaken the menu change sometimes. As group we ordered many items from the menu. I like the Pork, duck, Salmon nd ribeye. The clam is also yummy. They are all cooked nicely. read more

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A must try if you live in or are visiting the area! The restaurant itself is very cozy and has a relaxing atmosphere. Our waitress, Ashley, was incredibly knowledgeable of the menu and made great recommendations that fit the allergy needs at our table. Their menu is seasonal so I will definitely be returning to try their next menu. Chef Dan stopped by our table and introduced himself to us, which added to our overall experience and made it so much more personal! The food and drinks were incredible! Everything we ordered was delicious and perfectly portioned for one. I got the Thyme Signature cocktail and loved it but would steer clear if you aren't a fan of beets (it includes beets - something I personally love). For my entree I got the mushroom agnolotti and I would order again! The pomegranate and chocolate cake was rich, but the perfect size so it wasn't too much. Our waitress also mentioned that they do special menus for New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. This is a great spot for date night or dinner with friends. I will definitely be returning! read more

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Good food the worst possible parking in Bloomington. I hope at some point this place will get a location with more accommodations.

When visiting Bloomington you must visit The Elm. Period. We are repeat offenders, reservations are made long before we arrive. I'll repeat what others have said. Wonderful decor, fantastic service, comfortable dining seating, and it also looked like a younger crowd was enjoying the bar area. The food here is creative and inspired. Our foursome was impressed with the depth of flavors and unique takes. I absolutely loved the smoked potato agnolotti and will attempt this at home. Until next time... read more

Overall a great experience. We ordered charcuterie and the milk bread to start. Charcuterie was delicious, especially the mystery green sauce on the board. The milk bread was pretty disappointing. They definitely overworked the dough in order to provide a mini pull apart loaf, but the ramp butter was amazing. Table ordered 2 potato salads to share. One had an egg poached right, but the other was way over cooked (which I prefer) but they advised to use the yolk as an additional dressing which wasn't possible with that cook temp. We ordered 2 ribeyes, the halibut, and a cauliflower. All mains were delicious as were all the cocktails. Service and ambiance are a much needed addition to Bloomington's food scene, especially if you're looking to avoid the mediocre college food downtown. We are certainly looking forward to the summer menu! read more

The Elm - Caramelized Cauliflower - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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The Elm is quite a hit or miss experience. Cocktails are always good. Service is spectacular, but the food is somewhat pretentious rather than simply delicious. Really think you need to place more emphasis on the taste of your food and the visual appeal. Had the eggplant on your summer menu,absolutely awful ...had the carrots the current menu, the taste was adequate, but I had three tiny wilted pieces of spinach and carrots that look like they had been made the day before ..they were cracked, wilted and gray. I expected fresh vibrant, spinach, and young carrots. I should add that I've also had some very delightful meals there ..... but my expectations are that I will have consistently good meals there. read more

Loved the atmosphere and service was stellar. The food, however, was mediocre. The "escarole cesar" had romaine instead (fine with me) but was something I could have easily made at home for 1/4 the price. Entrees as well were not interesting and overpriced. I actually left 2/3 of the veggie burger on the plate because it was so bland. Pasta dishes were small (4-5 ravioli-type pastas for an entree) and below average in flavor. read more

Waitress Mary was lovely. Booth with a view of the kitchen was interesting. Menu mains seemed very limited. Monochrome monkfish was visually very unappealing, but tasted okay. Butternut risotto was fine. read more

Food: 1/5. I gave them a little credit for trying to use local ingredients. Service 0/5: does not reflect upscale dining. Whatever they are training the staffs there, needs work. read more

This was my first time at The Elm for my birthday dinner. I had the goat cheese salad, which was phenomenal. The sourdough was okay, the butter and blackberry jam really carried. I ordered the lamb kebab, which has a very large portion. The rice had absolutely zero flavor, despite the slight orange hue. The green sauce was insanely spicy, and I handle spice well. My boyfriend ordered the ribeye medium-well, and it came out medium/medium-rare. Amanda was an amazing server and answered all my questions. The inside was nicer than what I saw in the pictures, and very clean and quiet. I can't wait to go back and try their new menu! read more

The Elm - Lamb Kebab - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Are we in Chicago or Bloomington? On a whim I ordered the duck. Holy smokes. DEE-licious! Service was great. read more

The Elm - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Wow. We went while they had their summer menu (don't care for fall menu as much) and both our entrees were outstanding. Had the arancini for appetizer and WOW again! the cocktails were to die for. Ambience is better than any place in town! Service excellent and we weren't called "you guys" (UGH) or asked "so how's it tasting?" as all the other wait staff in town seem to. This is a really great restaurant and we'll definitely go back. read more

My partner and I visited The Elm for my birthday last night ! I've read reviews of how walking inside takes you away from Bloomington. I definitely felt like I should walk back outside and see some skyscrapers or at least city buildings. We we're seared at one of the two person seats, next to the window into the kitchen. I love that we had the option to close the blind or not. As a former restaurant worker and long time food service worker, I could definitely put myself in their shoes. The air of the place was just great - quiet and dignified is what I would call it. The server was friendly; however, it took us awhile to get our drinks and for him to come back after we received our dessert menu. The food was also spectacular ! I order the cacio e pepe and it was wonderful. It has the perfect amount of pepper and left me feeling satisfied ! My partner ordered the veggie burger and he said it was "definitely a $15 burger - maybe more". Which means something coming from him. I thought the bread on the burger was to die for ! And those chips ! I would love to know how they were seasoned because they had such a good flavor and the perfext crunch. My drink was the staycation - generally I like the more tropical/creamy drinks. So it was a no-brainer that I ordered it. I would have preferred more of a citrus taste. I think the kiwi got lost under the taste of tequila. It was still very good, though ! Lastly, the chocolate mousse cake was the perfect way to end the evening. Those peanuts were caramelized to perfection ! The flavor went incredibly well with the mousse. I'm a sucker for mousse, anyway. Definitely recommend ! We will be returning - and I can't wait to see the autumn menu ! read more

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I cannot BELIEVE I haven't reviewed the Elm yet! My husband and I have been coming here since they opened. Each new fresh menu iteration has unique yet fun themed items. The ambience is modern with photography from the owner's husband & a clean chic feel to the place. The current menu spring 2024 seems to have some fun Asian infusion to it. Having lived in Hawaii for three years I thoroughly enjoyed my meal last night. The theme of my meal was definitely smoke and mirrors, including my opening Smokey mezcal cocktail, a Japanese egg salad terrain with smoky umami notes and even my oysters had some Nori which paired well with my smoky cocktail. I ended with the milk Japanese pull apart bread for dessert with fresh homemade butter and a Ben Rye DonnaFugata from Italy digestif. (A bit pricey but enjoyable) My bartenders were extremely knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks. I was impressed with the training program for new employees. As a new pescatarian (7 months) my favorite part about this restaurant is the plethora of vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options. They usually always have a wide range of prices regarding menu items. You can definitely go in as a college student & order a $20 risotto or you can throw down 40 bucks on a nice steak or fresh fish. The parking situation can be a little hairy so definitely give yourself extra time or just Uber or ride a bike as it's nestled in a neighborhood. The morning coffee and pastry program is starting to amp up, and I hear they have a wider selection of pastries now including bao buns & croissants. There is something for everyone at this neighborhood spot that definitely brings the Bloomington community together. Cheers! read more

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Bloomington is sooooo lucky to have The Elm. Such a gorgeous and cozy atmosphere with an incredibly put together and lovely staff. These dishes were featured on their Summer 2024 menu. I am from Bloomington but just come in to town to visit my family now and to have a meal represent the season of Indiana but more so Bloomington was unexpected but oh so special! The Indiana Panzanella was truly Indiana on a plate and I will remember that one and crave it forever. The Sweet Corn Creme Brûlée was like going to the state fair and the reason I wanted to finally get my family over to The Elm. Shout out to the pastry chef and Stephen the bartender for the Zero Proof recommendation. 10/10 did not disappoint and I can't wait to go back! read more

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is no stars an option? our waitress denied my fully 21 id and would not serve our whole table of 21 year olds alchohol. I pulled up my phone to show proof of my passport and every social media app and she said she will come back later if we just want food. That was crazy. So rude and wasn't willing to admit she was wrong. crazy!!! read more

Got a seat quickly, this place is much bigger than it seems. The drinks were very good with unique ingredients. The food! My husband got steak and fries (amazing) and I got the pork chop and beans-let ke tell you, it reminding me of ham and beans at my grandmas house. The pork was cooked perfectly as well as his steak. So good! GO! Just go! You will not be disappointed! read more

Gorgeous interior - very cool modern vibe! Service was top notch. We ordered some apps to split, and shared a number of plates including the seasonal ravioli which was honestly one of the best things I've ever tasted. Portions were good, presentation was impressive. Rivals Vida in Indianapolis. read more

The Elm - First floor dining area - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Unique delicious seasonal food and drink offerings. Staff equally fantastic. Of all the great Bloomington options, this one is at the top of the list. read more

Good Scotch (OBAN), oysters with vinegar, duck con fit (a little salty but tasty), prosecco just acidic enough for duck, well presented. Mary and staff not intrusive but helpful and conscience. Al fresco dining watching passersby. This is our "go to place" for special dining. Recommended without reservation. Can't wait for fall menu. read more

When I say this is my FAVORITE place to eat in Bloomington, that is an understatement. I'm obsessed with the aesthetic, food, drinks, customer service etc - the list doesn't end. I hosted my rehearsal dinner for my wedding on the Mezzanine and the event team went above and beyond (shoutout to Emma and the rest of her team). All my my guests were blown away with the service, decor, food & drinks. I could have not asked for a more perfect location. They change their menu seasonal - always something new to try and beautifully plated. I could go on and on about some of my favorite items - currently Steak & Egg, & The Fried Chicken Sandwich (a staple - you must try it). The burrata, beef tartare, and brussel sprouts (please bring these back) so yummy. They have beautiful seasonal cocktails, delicious wine and a great beer selection. Pro tip: save room for dessert. Everything is literally the definition of chefs kiss! I continue to be amazed every time I visit and try new items. This is where I take all of my out of town guests when they come to visit and my first choice every date night! read more

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The food is just gawd-awful. Sad, since it started out really good. But they quickly went so far downhill, they are basically in valley of poorly cooked, greasy, over-salted yuck. This assessment isn't from just one visit. This is from several visits I made, as well as talking to family members and friends who tragically tried to eat there. Under-cooked chicken, oily, rancid potato chips. It's just the worst. And the people who work there don't seem to care. I strongly recommend that you don't fall for the over-priced fanciness of the place. Avoid it - there are so many good restaurants in town! read more

We had a great date night with wonderful cocktails and delicious dishes. Get the bread! Seems like such a weird thing to order but it really hit the spot. The pasta was so delicate and flavorful. The restaurant itself has a nice mood - it is spacious and the bar area is quiet but still feels lively. Our servers were helpful in walking through the menu and suggesting good cocktails. A great night out! read more

The Elm - Fresh pasta with butternut squash and sage - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Wow! Top 3 dinners we've had this year! The food did not have your typical run of the mill flavors rather much deeper, complex, and profound... simply delicious. Service was amazing and ambience very warm, yet sophisticated. We ordered from their Fall menu and we loved everything. Will absolutely return!!! read more

The server was nice, but didn't really listen and had to ask several times for the same thing. The shrimp we ordered as an add on was Raw! We sent it back and then it just tasted charred. The burger was ok, but definitely not worth the price tag. read more

Perfect setting outside on a Sunday morning. Dogs allowed. Service was great! Forgot what I ate, but my whole party of 6 loved their food.

Marco was absolutely amazing, I love coming back to see what the new items on the menu are. Such a beautiful, top notch restaurant with wonderful service. Can't wait to come back! read more

The Elm - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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The Elm has all of the makings of a fantastic restaurant. I had to wait quite a while for my food, and there were plenty of open tables. My pork two-ways entree had elements of brilliance to it, but I felt despite being cooked perfectly the pork belly lacked seasoning. It's a personal thing, but the tart green chile sauce was a bit overwhelming. And the parsnip puree, which was really something else, should have filled up the side of the plate. Instead it was a tiny smear. All of the staff we encountered were pleasant enough. The decor is absolutely stellar. I would give this 4.75 stars but Yelp can't handle decimal points. My negatives are: inconsistent seasoning, small portion sizes, and a really bad parking situation (which is not their fault). read more

Step inside and you're instantly transported out of Bloomington. You can imagine yourself in a big city for the night. The restaurant is open, modern industrial architecture. Each table has a lit candle. We were seated upstairs, to drink I got the choconut (seasonal) it was strong and delicious. Bread service is a must, because the butter is to die for! The house made chips are also something great to try. My friends ordered the gnocchi & I got the Pepe pasta (heavy on the pepper if you're into it!). Definitely has a little zinger kick of flavor! Next time I'll order dessert too. I walked in on a guy in the bathroom but eh whatcha gonna do. Tried to go back this morning for coffee & pastries but they were closed :( at noon?! On a Saturday?! So idk what's up with that read more

The Elm - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This was a wonderful and delicious dinner experience, high quality ingredients and fantastic service, very reminiscent of high end dining in San Francisco Bay Area where we live, thank you for a superb dinner! read more