About:
Elske means love in Danish, a nod to both David Posey’s Danish mother and the fact that the couple got engaged in Copenhagen. “Our travels in Denmark have really influenced us,” Chef Posey said. “We like that clean, simple aesthetic.”
The dining room — all crisp lines, minimalist décor and soft lighting — is anchored by a wide open kitchen on one side and a small patio with a working fireplace on the other. Combined with the friendly service, it creates the impression that you’re eating in a supremely tasteful Scandinavian friend’s weekend home.
Safety precautions
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep cleaned daily
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
Lucky to get in before the hibernation. What’s not to love?
The food and service were excellent. Each dish was better than the previous and the level of attention and detail to the food and drinks and service is impeccable.
Fabulous food! Sadly Mediocre service. Like every other restaurant these days :(
The food was inconsistent, certain dishes were visually beautiful and interesting tasting and others such as the beef course as part of the set menu was disappointingly dry and fatty similar to what you get served in the cafeteria.
It’s a beautiful space with a nice courtyard.
The black bean agnolotti was the best thing on the menu and it wasn't even on the tasting menu. Truly disappointed with 80% of the tasting menu and the value doesn't feel worth it. The short rib course is extremely tough and hard to chew. Really disappointed, had high expectations.
Outstanding food, great drinks and superb service.
Great experience! Everything is excellent!
We sat outside and had the tasting menu which was excellent. I don't eat beef so had the pescatarian option. Our only suggestion would be to provide cushions for the chairs. The metal chairs can be a bit hard. Our server, Laura H., was fabulous - very knowledgeable about the wines and food options.
I've been to Elske a number of times and each time has been a great experience. Whether a table of five or just two it was a memorable time. I even used Elske's pickup service during Covid and the food and service was just as good. Don't miss a chance to go there.
Everything was lovely and the food was really great overall! I removed one star because one of the dishes we ordered (the soft scramble) was really off-putting. Would've given it 5 -stars had we not ordered it. Everything else was great and I would recommend and go back!
1st family gathering since beginning of pandemic. We wanted to take our family to a really special place with super amazing food served in a somewhat casual, approachable atmosphere. Elske is that place. The menu is smart and the presentation is fantastic. A husband and wife chef team focusing separately on savory and sweet; every dish is a celebration of its ingredients; served by a really professional team of lovely servers, moving silently and swiftly between kitchen and table.
Perfect meal from start to finish… as always!!
Beautiful atmosphere, excellent cocktails
I would not say that the tasting menu is a must but if you do...the striped bass with wasabi tobiku is sooooo good. And the beef short rib tasted like a whole pot roast in your mouth. And the vegetable yea was perplexing but so satisfying
Wonderful dining experience for our anniversary. The staff was wonderful. Definitely order A la carte everything can be made vegetarian as well which was a nice surprise. All the food was well thought out and we got to try lots of new flavor combinations. Thank you so much Elske we will be back!
Delicious, often innovative food-pairings, relaxing atmosphere and lovely waitstaff. Good wine pairings with the set menu.
Really enjoyed the warm and hospitable service and the welcoming environment with candles and flowers and indoor/outdoor space. There were several dishes that wowed us (halibut with hollandaise foam, fermented black bean agnolotti, sunflower and bee pollen dessert), and a few that needed a bit more iterating but have lots of potential to be great (soft scrambled egg dish, tartare). There is a lot of care and precision in the service and food while totally eschewing stuffiness.
My favorite restaurant. Outstanding and unique food and exceptional service.
It was great to return after 15 months, be remembered and welcomed, and enjoy the perfect service and outstanding food. We have already booked another table. Thank you!
Amazing food
Surprising yet absolutely delicious food. Every ingredient has a purpose and makes a difference in the palate. Combinations are unusual but combine perfectly. Meat gets some crispy acidic fruits, fish gets mushroomy comfort and everything pairs perfectly. Drinks are great and atmosphere is everything you would expect from a high end Scandinavian style. Great restaurant.
Overall experience was good. Though food was way over salted on a bunch of dishes.
Do not skip on dessert! The parfait is worth going for alone.
Birthday celebration for my wife.
Fabulous meal! Food, drinks, staff and space all top notch. The sunflower seed parfait is a must - beautiful, delicious and so unusual. Highly recommend Elske.
Fantastic restaurant, where we enjoyed the perfect anniversary dinner. Every course was extremely creative, delicious, and physically beautiful. The staff was wonderful, and they were able to accommodate my rather idiosyncratic dietary restrictions.
Just plain awesome - the wine pairings were outstanding with the tasting menu. Really fantastic flavors. We really enjoyed this after being cooped up for so long.
The food and our server Monika was amazing!!!
Great food and great service. The desserts were generally good too, but felt like they deviate from the general vibe the rest of the meal had, and offer something more standard, in american terms. Maybe that's what people want, and that's alright. I'd prefer something more like the rest of the meal, or even to substitute the dessert for another savory dish, those were really great.
The service was very good and friendly.
Outstanding experience and my favorite spot in Chicago.
Wonderful dining experience. The patio is beautiful and the ambient noise level is great. The food was inventive, well prepared and a tremendous value. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. A great restaurant
Amazing food, cool atmosphere. Bridget, the server was outstanding! Set menu and ala carte dishes were incredible. Overall, an unforgettable experience. Definitely going back for more!...
A bucket list meal. Absolutely stunning all the way through. The menu is explorative and fun, and will keep you entertained throughout the entire experience. Cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
Great! Super fun to try the tasting menu! Loved the short rib and rhubarb dessert
Amazing dining experience and incredible ambiance
Best chef in Chicago. Try the tartare.
The bomb all round.
The ambiance and food were incredible! We got the tasting menu with the wine pairing and highly recommend it.
Outstanding food and service, will for sure be back!
Truly our favorite restaurant in Chicago. The set menu and wine pairings are amazing!
I love the garden and the ambience but wonder by they keep
a large fire burning in the fireplace when it was 85 degrees and
we were quite close to it Servce,Wine Selection outstanding
I ordered soft shell crab and it was much spicier and hot than I expected
I can't wait to go back
FAQs
Elske is rated 4.8 stars by 359 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. Due to local restrictions, this restaurant may not be accepting reservations at the moment.
