There’s nothing Chicago craves more than a new establishment to gather with your nearest and dearest. When Caitlin and Danielle were asked to preview the menu at Ella Elli, the Doll duo headed over to Lakeview to experience the 75-seat restaurant. This charming lounge and dining space is sleek and modern with a 1920’s romantic vibrancy. The Dolls have deemed this establishment as a dream date night spot.
The decor is full of luxe touches such as velvet chairs, a roaring fireplace and touches of metallic throughout. There are beautiful booths that you can cosy into and enjoy your company. The acoustics in the booths allow you to hear your date perfectly and drown out and hustle and bustle from the establishment.
Ella Elli is, in a word, welcoming. The work we created at Grip was designed to reflect the importance of comfort and service that this space embodies,” says Grip President and CEO Kevin McConkey. “Ella Elli is not a restaurant, but a few hours of total and complete happiness. We are honored to be a part of something that, by design, was created to promote enjoyment. Something we could all use a little more of.”
4 Star Executive Chef Matt Eversman, alongside Executive Chef Nolan Narut, has created a menu of globally-inspired dishes featuring charcuterie and toasts, vegetables and salads, pizzas and pastas, meats and fish and desserts. Here are a few of our favorites:
Roasted Carrots with crème fraiche, harissa and pickled celery
Crispy Grain Salad with goat cheese and shaved vegetables
Steak Tarttar with parmigiano-reggiano and pumpernickel
Ricotta Gnocchi with truffle and roasted mushrooms
Scallops with buttermilk polenta, guajillo butter and fennel
Lamb Scottadito with herbed yogurt and harissa
Ella Elli will be open seven nights a week for dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant group also owns Tuco & Blondie, another great spot to check out!
All photos of Caitlin & Danielle were taken by our friend and photographer, Alexandra Gerard. Follow her on INSTA @itsyagrlgerry!