Elske
Welcome to Elske, a Scandinavian restaurant located in the heart of Chicago at 1350 W Randolph St. This trendy and upscale eatery offers a unique dining experience with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative dishes.
Elske not only takes reservations but also offers delivery and takeout options for those looking to enjoy their delicious cuisine at home. With a variety of pescatarian and vegetarian options, Elske caters to a wide range of dietary preferences.
The restaurant is known for its intimate and classy atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends. The full bar serves up craft cocktails and an extensive wine list to complement your meal.
With gender-neutral restrooms, free Wi-Fi, and private dining options, Elske goes above and beyond to ensure a comfortable dining experience for all guests. While not suitable for children or dogs, Elske does offer covered outdoor seating for those looking to dine al fresco.
Overall, Elske is a must-visit for those looking to experience contemporary Scandinavian cuisine in a stylish setting. From the moment you step through the doors, you'll be greeted with exceptional service and mouthwatering dishes that will leave you craving more.
Elske Menu
Location
Address: 1350 W Randolph St Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 733-1314
Business info
- Takes ReservationsYes
- DeliveryNo
- TakeoutNo
- Pescatarian OptionsYes
- Many Vegetarian OptionsYes
- Wheelchair accessibleYes
- Accepts Credit CardsYes
- Accepts Android PayNo
- Accepts Apple PayNo
- Accepts CryptocurrencyNo
- Outdoor SeatingYes
- Trendy, Intimate, Classy, UpscaleYes
- Moderate NoiseYes
- Good for GroupsYes
- Good for DinnerYes
- Street ParkingYes
- Waiter ServiceYes
- Free Wi-FiYes
- Full BarYes
- Private DiningYes
- Gender-neutral restroomsYes
- Offers CateringNo
- Not Good For KidsNo
- Dogs Not AllowedNo
- TVNo
- Covered Outdoor SeatingNo
- Bike ParkingYes
Last Reviews
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Author: Jamal J.
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
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Author: Eric F.
"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!
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Author: Sally S.
This was an amazing dinner. Fine dining but the service and servers made the tasting menu and wine pairings very approachable. My husband took me for my birthday. The vibe was intimate but not stuffy and it was a wonderful way to celebrate!
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Author: Lindsay S.
My husband surprised me with dinner reservations to this restaurant on our first night in Chicago. The food was fantastic, the service was spectacular and the ambience was great! I love open-kitchen restaurants. It was enjoyable to watch the kitchen staff all working together to produce some delicious dishes! I thoroughly appreciated that everyone who delivered our plates, explained what it was and asked if we had any questions We will definitely be back!