Ella Elli

“A criminally underrated restaurant on the Southport corridor imo.”

A criminally underrated restaurant on the Southport corridor imo. If you’re looking for a cozy date night option with good food and a great wine selection, this is your spot. The service was so attentive. The bartender, Bear, was super knowledgeable about the entire menu and recommended some really great dishes. Highly recommend everyone try the artichokes and the rigatoni.

Cameron Marter

Jan 2026

“Perfect cozy elegant spot for a nice dinner.”

Perfect cozy elegant spot for a nice dinner. Beautifully curated menu. The charred octopus was SO tender. My personal favorite was the Lamb Scottadito.

Betsy Melchers

Dec 2025

“I celebrated my birthday here with family on a Monday, and as always, Ella Elli delivered a top-notch experience.”

I celebrated my birthday here with family on a Monday, and as always, Ella Elli delivered a top-notch experience. From the food and cocktails to the attentive service, everything was spot on. Our server was incredibly kind—answering questions, pacing each course perfectly, and impressively balancing bar duties while still giving our table thoughtful attention. Other staff were equally attentive, quickly clearing plates and bringing fresh settings without us ever having to ask. We enjoyed a wonderful spread: the rosemary gimlet, creamy mushroom toast, grilled cauliflower, artichokes, crispy grain salad, ceviche, sea bass, cacio e pepe, lamb rigatoni, and profiteroles. To top it off, they surprised me with the gooey cake and salted vanilla ice cream, complete with a candle to mark the occasion. Ella Elli is consistently excellent and makes any visit feel special. Highly recommend—whether with family, friends, a date, or even solo.

Anirudh Dhingra

Sep 2025

“This place is amazing!”

This place is amazing!! The food was incredible, and our server Bear treated us amazing! Definitely can’t recommend this place enough!

Gurpreet Badiesha

Sep 2025

“Stumbled onto this place for happy hour..”

Stumbled onto this place for happy hour... We are long time patrons of Crosby's but decided to try their sister restaurant next door for happy hour and wound up staying for dinner! The menu is small but curated and everything we tried was outstanding. Even our happy hour cocktails were beautifully prepared and presented. We had the focaccia, ceviche, cheese plate, cacio e pepe and my husband had a burger that he said was the best he has had in years. Our server was knowledgeable and very accommodating and the manager came out a few times to explain what we were having and how it was made. We were very impressed and will definitely be back.

andrea b

Aug 2025

“Phenomenal. Great experience as a solo diner and a beautiful space. I can’t believe I’ve been...”

Phenomenal. Great experience as a solo diner and a beautiful space. I can’t believe I’ve been driving 20 minutes away for a cocktail. What an amazing menu and talented bartending staff right around the corner! Food was great /// I wish I could have eaten more. Had the artichokes and the gnocchi — SO good!!! Dishes are small enough for one person but large enough to split for two. I had to bring leftovers home. I wish I had room for dessert. Looked like an amazing menu. Thank you to “Bear” the bartender. Couldn’t spell his name but he made me an amazing Vesper and then another amazing dirty martini. Also … another thing that’s great are the prices! Woah! Very reasonable especially for Lakeview. Get it Ella Elli ✨✨✨

Natalie Frakes

Jul 2025

“My boyfriend and I come here fairly often but we dined with Jasmine as our server and she was phenomenal.”

My boyfriend and I come here fairly often but we dined with Jasmine as our server and she was phenomenal. Greeted us with the brightest smile and gave us all the time we wanted to sit and enjoy each food item. My only complaint is I wish this place was bigger because they deserve a line out the door. Don’t forget to end your night with an espresso martini, definitely the best in the city!!

Chloe Frankowski

Jun 2025

“Delicious food and great environment.”

Delicious food and great environment. Our server was attentive and friendly. Love coming here for dinner, drinks, or just a snack!

Michael Falkner

Jun 2025

“Attended a baby shower & everything was lovely.”

Attended a baby shower & everything was lovely. Great food, charming atmosphere & phenomenal service. Mgr & waitress went out of their way to accommodate my gluten free diet. Highly recommend!

Maureen Chiappetta

May 2025

“Ella Elli was SO good.”

Ella Elli was SO good. WHEW. I’m not even going to waste time. Let’s get right into it. This was my second time at Ella Elli. This time I went for 2024 Restaurant Week Dinner. It was 5 courses. The first course was a little welcome snack. Chile… I wanted them to bring me back a whole BOWL of that wafer with the dip. I don’t even remember what it was, but 10 out of 10. A perfect way to start. My friend is vegan so they brought out a skewer with some beets and citrus. So good. The vegan curated RW dinner was such a nice touch, and the dishes were still complex, not just salad. Then they brought out the second course. I had the focaccia and my friend had the heirloom carrots. When I say I LICKED the plate clean of that goat cheese dip with that tapenade. I know they put that plate right back on the shelf WITH THE REST OF THE CLEAN PLATES! SO good. 12 out of 10. The drinks we had were so good. Over the course of night we drank the Oaxacan Garden, The Say Less, and the Trade Route. So delicious all 3. 10 out of 10 baby. The third course was a little heavier, and perhaps my favorite of the meal. I had the clam bucatini with bacon lardons which I swear to g*d was some of the best pasta i've ever had in my life. Like chile I was starting to get full. 😂😂😂😂 uh oh! the pasta was so rich and flavorful and the flavor had DEPTH. That’s so hard to achieve in these restaurants, but it was complex and truly MOUTH WATERING. I think it was the bacon fat, truly. It tasted so expensive. 20 out of 10 and was definitely the star of the show for me. My friend had the Brussels sprouts which were also delicious. I would have liked them a little sweeter, maybe with some sweet miso or peanut sauce, but still very tasty and would easily order again. Really enjoyed this course. Whewwww I was already full then the main course came 😭 I had the short rib with this IMMACULATE creamy Parmesan risotto. The perfect size portion. If it had been any bigger I would have exploded no cap. Lord it was so good and rich with flavor. Wow i'm really thinking back as i type this out like.. it was so good woah 💀 15 out of 10. My friend had the cauliflower steak which the restaurant graciously added as a vegan option to the menu. I did not get to try it but it looked good. Dessert was truly when I got greedy 💀 that apple bourbon goat’s milk cheesecake… listen. I would do things for that cheesecake! I gobbled it down so quick, and ordered another 2 portions to go. I ate the to-go portion right there in the restaurant, as you can see. I just could not help myself it was so good. I simply could not wait to get home. It was so DAMN good. Anyways, 30 out of 10 for Ella Elli. The food is delicious, the space is beautiful, and the cadence was spot on. Bonus points for having a well-thought out vegan selection of RW items. The space also has a very apparent queer energy, which was super nice since both me and my date are part of the rainbow mafia chile! Our waitress was Kelly. 10 out of 10 vibes. PAY KELLY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Overall an incredible experience to eat 5 delectable courses for $59. I will be back and QUICK. Update— retuned for what has to be my 4th or 5th visit. The ceviche and pizza were 10/10!!!! And of course had to snag another goats milk cheesecake. 🫦

Chris Eyo

Apr 2025

“Excellent service, our servers were very attentive in changing over serving ware after each dish and clearing the table.”

Excellent service, our servers were very attentive in changing over serving ware after each dish and clearing the table. Walked in on a Thursday evening and was seated straight away. We got the sweet potatoes, cacio e pepe, and lamb chops. Very reasonable prices for high end small plates and drinks. Can’t recommend enough if you’re in the area!

bk

Apr 2025

“Came here with friends for Chicago restaurant week.”

Came here with friends for Chicago restaurant week. The ambience was beautiful, the service, friendly and attentive, and the food delicious! The gnocchi and short rib were exceptional! We enjoyed everything and would definitely return.

Sherron Farmer

Feb 2025