My husband and I enjoyed our first gatherer style dinner last night - the 18 course Deer menu. Â The experience exceeded our expectations. Chef Regan and her team brought the feeling of the forest and farm alive with great authenticity. Â Â
Our favorite courses were: Â the salmon roe shooter, the bird's nest, acorn gnocchi, terrarium of 'earth', smoked salmon, quail egg with potato puree, Â mushroom tea with music, and a knockout rice and curry bite. Â Special mention to the palate cleansing spruce soda with birch tree straws which was oh so refreshing.
We loved the use of fowl eggs - quail, duck...all delicacies and creatively paired.
The foraged leaf tea in the owl cups was delicious and just plain cute. Â
The sommalier was gracious and smart. His wine list covetable. We had an amazing German Rhinehessen Pinot Noir -- who knew? It was delicious with the meat courses. Â
The communal table seating was fine - thankfully, our dining companions were a lovely couple that were wonderful and not overwhelming. Â We are new parents in need of some down time. We really wanted to just dine in peace and take in the experience of each course. The communal setting could be hit or miss.
The few missteps here and there were charming. It didn't bother us one bit. Â However, one immediate change that should be implemented is to have the staff greet the table with a small aperitif or at least offer a cocktail.
We arrived 20 minutes early out of respect to the other diners and the staff - the last couple was about 15 minutes late which was not a problem. But it took a very long time to get our first drink once we were all seated. That was an unnecessary miss. Â We imbibed too much Pelligrino during the 40 minute wait.
So, please have mercy on your guests and get them a drink while they wait especially if they're considerate enough to arrive early.
It was a pleasure to experience Chef Regan's artistry through Elizabeth and to watch her accomplished team bring each of her personalized vignettes to life. Â
We will be back this summer!
man, i had to think hard between 3 and a 3.5. I will go back just to make sure.
Reservation process was incredibly pleasant.
The ambiance, interior - fabulous. this place would have fit well in amsterdam or berlin.
service. very good but certainly not as impressive as the type of restaurant they want to emulate.
food. be easy on my tender taste buds baby....the ginger snap with its strength and sweetness, like clipping someone's tongue and then offering a long waited for french kiss.
Other dishes...beautiful presentation ...only a couple of many dishes were absolutely impressive. Others nice but i have had better....much better, within the same category.
the short rib at the end - man, that mama was heavy.
the kitchen looked impeccable...so clean...felt like no dust there.
in fairness, we went with our son, and i was a bit feeling guilty putting a 10 year old kid through a few hours of wait. he did not like anything...and i wish i had put the money towards a fancy lego for him.
i sincerely wish them success...i am delighted they are in chicago....and will go there at least once more...just to be for sure, for sure.
A wonderful, creative dining experience with most courses being an A+. Â It truly is a dining theater & the star is the owner/chef. We order wine by the bottle because we knew we would like it. Our table mates did the tastings & weren't pleased by a few choices. I thought I would get nuts sitting for so long but I was sad to see it end.
I did the deer menu.
A meal at Elizabeth is like dining in a fairy tale. I experienced the Deer menu with my husband and two friends. We were enchanted and thrilled with the whole evening. There is no one in the country doing what chef Regan is doing. Many of the dishes took my breath away. The next day, as I was contemplating the meal I thought that it was so beautiful and the sensibility of it was such that it could only have been done at the hands of a woman. The more I thought about it though, I realized that it wasn't just the sensibilities of a woman, it was the sensibilities of Iliana Regan. No one else could have created that meal. Iliana has created something new and beautiful while using age old and cutting edge kitchen approaches. I am certain that the rage of foraging will continue to grow and I am also certain that as it does, no one else will do what Iliana is doing. No one could. There is a magic to the food Iliana is creating and that magic extends to the space that houses Elizabeth and to the staff that makes up the team that serves and runs the restaurant. It is a special magic that comes along but a few times in one's lifetime. You should go and experience it but only if you believe in beauty and magic.
Review Source:I'm firmly in the "ok" category on Elizabeth. The service was great, the decor is adorable - sort of like eating in an Anthropologie store. The food, for my vegetarian self, was over priced and largely fine.
We went for the Owl meal, and the meat eaters in my group (that was everyone else) really loved the meat courses they were served. Unfortunately, the substitutions for vegetarians was just more of whatever else was on the plate - so more leaves, an extra mushroom or two, another radish. Nothing that was super impressive to start. Even the meat eaters confirmed that the animals were the best part of the meal. By the end of it, I was sort of wondering where the $125 we spent on my meal went.
Not every restaurant is made for every eater - and that's totally fine. Frankly, I would prefer if they just said they can't accommodate vegetarians and left it at that.
Meat eaters seemed happy though. So, points for that.
Our party of three ate the Diamond menu at Elizabeth this past weekend for my friend's birthday. Heading into the meal, we were a bit intimidated by the thought of having 24 courses and sitting at a communal table. Â Our concerns were not warranted; the amount of food was not overwhelming, and the communal dining set-up added, rather than deterred, from our experience.
As expected, the restaurant is very cozy and decorated in a cutesy, homey way. Â Our party of three was seated at the table closest to the kitchen, with space for a fourth, single diner to be seated with us. Â He was placed on the end, next to the birthday girl and across from me and my other friend. Â In other words, there was no way for him to not join our conversation. Â His presence was comfortable, not awkward (though I'm sure with the wrong personality types, it could have been) and added to our evening. Â The other four diners at our table were one party, and the two groups did not interact, which again was not awkward.
I won't spend considerable time describing each course since I believe that the Fall menu is no longer being served. Â However, I will say that many of the dishes were absolutely fabulous and several were misses. Â In general, the less molecular gastronomy dishes were our favorites while the more molecular gastronomy dishes were among some of the strike-outs. Â The highlights were:
-the Dry Aged Ribeye with Tongue: a generous portion served towards the end of the meal, this was best beef I've ever tasted
-the Foie Gras: the accompanying homemade brioche was phenomenal. Â I think this or the ribeye was my favorite dish
-the Loup de Mer: Â the fish was incredibly tasty, but I could have done without the gelee, which can easily be picked around
-the Hand Course: a scallop wrapped in proscuitto. Â I thought this was a unique presentation and very tasty, though my friend's proscuitto was so chewy she had difficulty eating this dish and said it was one of her least favorites.
The Pumpkin Experiment, the Beet Sorbet, and the Arugula Salad Sponge were unanimous strike-outs, at least among our group. Â
Service was excellent. Â We all commented on the number of chefs and servers given that they "only" serve 26 meals a night. Â Of course, given that few, if any, of the courses are duplicated across the three menus, it isn't surprising the amount of man power that would be needed in the kitchen. Â Iliana is gracious, regularly interacting throughout the meal.
We started with pre-dinner champagne cocktails to commemorate my friend's birthday, and were a bit surprised by the $19 price tag at the end of the meal. We also opted for the wine pairings, which were generous. Â We tried about 11 wines, more white than red, which made sense given the number of seafood dishes and helped my head the next morning.
I'd love to head back to Elizabeth to try the Owl and Deer menus. Â The Diamond menu, with wine pairings, is fairly expensive (~$330). Â That's about the same as what I paid at Alinea except with short wine pours and no misses on dishes.
The fairly steep price, as well as the handful of strike-outs with several courses, is the reason for the four-star rating. Â All in all, Elizabeth was a fabulous dining experience with a little room for improvement. Â I'd recommend it to many and look forward to returning for the other menus.
I can't call myself a 'foodie' given the detail of some of the reviews below, but I was lucky to get 2 tickets for the Deer menu last night and thought I would put my .02 in. Â Illiana makes a great hostess, and even though I can't say like some below that every single course was amazing my taste-wise, the presentation was always beautiful! Â My companion is a picky-eater, but the chefs were happy to oblige, and the experience was exceptional. Â We agreed we'd visit again and try the other menus. Â We were both incredulous to find a place like this in Lincoln Square? Â Very nice :)
Review Source:My wife and I planned a three day Christmas present to ourselves in Chicago. We wanted to see The Nutcracker, Million Dollar Quartet, stay at the Park Hyatt and have one fabulous meal.
I attempted to get reservations at some of the standard top restaurants (per yelp) but as it was mid November, everybody was booked until March. Everybody but this new place called Elizabeth.
We jumped at the opportunity to get a Diamond table and upon hearing there were two more seats available we invited a couple local friends.
I must say it was one of the finest dining experiences I've ever had. I won't go into the individual dishes as they've been covered in earlier reviews and there are better pictures than I took.
What I will say is that I tasted and experienced many dishes that I have never experienced before. After many years as a hedonistic foodie, that's what I look for. Also, the communal seating was wonderful. We all exchanged contact information and agreed to get back together the next time we were in Chicago. The ambience, servers and proprietor were awesome.
We were seated with a couple celebrating their 8th anniversary and we got to hear their entire story of how they met, fell in love and built their lives.
This is an amazing place and if you have an opportunity to dine here, by all means jump at it.
Also, get the best seating you can afford.
I would consider myself a "mild" foodie. I don't love experiences that are so uptight you feel uncomfortable. I also like most foods, but not all. Elizabeth is fit for the biggest foodie right down to the "mild" foodie. With a small space (I believe the restaurant seats 24 people), Elizabeth turns out amazing courses over a progression that leaves you full, yet somehow wanting more. Her approach is very down-to-earth. Her dishes, while small bites, fill you up in the end. Her unique flavor combinations leave you sated. The wine pairings and cocktails are also a wonderful experience. The service is friendly and respectful - definitely not pretentious. My only suggestion is that since the tables are family style, go with a group of 4 or more. That way you don't feel obligated to talk to the people sitting next to you and you can enjoy your meal amongst friends/family.
Review Source:I want to give Elizabeth 3.5 stars.
I did the Diamond Menu with 3 others. Seated at a table for 8 people, so were were with two other couples.
A lot of the courses in the Diamond menu are great, the Apple Pie/American Caviar, Foraged Mushroom and Juniper, the Terrarium, Bacon Ice Cream Cone. The Raccoon was excellent. Â I felt the courses that followed concept of the foraged/gathering were the best items in the 20 course menu. The menu progressively got less interesting as it moved away from the foraged concept., but overall not bad.
The wine pairings were for the most part excellent.
What my group and I were confused about:
Why does Elizabeth have 3 menus, apparently splitting up its best dishes across them?
The only other place I've been to in Chicago that charged as much as Elizabeth does for its 20 course is Alinea. Which, the last time I was there, for the last course, Grant Achatz himself came out to my table, created an abstract art piece complete with chocolate pouring out into squares. He pulled out a smoking meteor looking chocolate block and smashed it on our table. And it was unbelievably good.
We also got to sit at our own private table and didn't get sass on the phone about dietary restrictions for a person in my group.
I'm all for the more casual high end dining experience a la Schwa or El Ideas. But, their lower prices/casual service reflect what you're getting. I feel Elizabeth's price ultimately didn't.
Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but I was not impressed. Â I was BURSTING with excitement to try because what restaurant on Yelp has all 5 stars???
I went with a group and we did the deer menu. Â
I absolutely loved the decor in the place. Â It really went with the theme. Â Bright, white, farm-y, open, clean....
First, I dont mind the communal seating, but over the course of the night, it really made the meal drag out. Â Anyone that has ate at a prix fix before knows that the more people you have, the longer your meal will be. Â I dont mind waiting for my friend to finish their deer sausage, but I dont really have the patience to wait for every John, Dick and Harry to lap up their food on the plates. Â We also had to get up in the middle of our dinner and switch tables because the owl group was done??? Â It was weird. Â I wasnt a fan.
The service was good. Â I didnt like that they didnt really explain the drinks. Â I would have liked to see a price list. Â
The food. Â Well, I was not impressed. Â First, the first 10 or so courses were really small, quaint, meh? Â I was like, huh? Â Honestly, I am not going to go into details, but you can look up the menu. Â Then it was rich, built on rich. Â It was just overwhelming. Â The first part was like we were eating like birds and then the next was like a feast. Â Each course definitely didnt build on the one before. Â It was like a disconnect. Â One second we are wafting flowers and some sort of dirt like tea, the next eating curtled cheese and fried frog legs, followed with some heavy venison, then a salmon roll, followed by a very weird, chewy rice krispy served on a shot glass upside down??? Â It was weird. Â I didnt get it. Â Also, the plating was ANNOYING. Â They would put things in a bowl that you had to cut and you couldnt ergonomically get to things easily. Â Yes, it looks nice, but the point is to eat it. Â One of my favorite things was the potato soup with the breadsticks. Â Simple and small, kind of sad considering the lengthy menu. Â The absolute worse thing on the menu was the last bite. Â The porcini mushroom caramel. Â It was disgusting. Â Bad texture, bad flavor, bad note to end on. Â
It took us 4.5 hours to dine here on a Sunday night...that is RIDICULOUS. Â There were periods where we would sit and wait and wait for a dish to come out.
I did think it was super great that the chef came and explained that her trapper friend caught the raccoon we were eating, however it was not worth the price...at all. Â But I think I should give her props to explaining everything and engaging with the customers. Â
Hold your breath and wait for the next thing to happen. Â Sorry Elizabeth...it just didnt do it for me. Â Not to mention at the end of our meal, we didnt know if we were done. Â It took about 15 mins to get the final bill. Â Then everyone in there was cleaning the kitchen. Â Um, hello, I would like to get out of here, can that wait???
I have to say this place is absolutely incredible. Â In many ways it will be compare dto Alinea, but I have to say that the similarities begin and end only with how inventive the menu is. Â In such a small space with only three tables and one seating per night, you can't help but feel like you are being treated to an exclusive, and remarkable meal. Â In all ways its lives up to expectations. Â Totally surprising, fresh, and whimsical in ways beyond the imagination, this restaurant is WHY people go out to eat. Â I can't recommend it enough. Â Kudos to the chef and staff. Â One big thing for me is the fact that I have a real hard time with mushrooms. Â For me, its the texture. Â I was nervous about the Deer menu inspired by woodland finds, but the mushroom flavors were completely beyond anything I could have preconceived (tea, caramel, and other surprises). Â Thank you, Chef, for changing my life! Â Loved the egg "custard" and duck. Â Also loved trying raccoon!
Review Source:I went back for Diamond last night. Probably the best meal of my life.
The single best bite I've ever had was the foie gras with creme de cassis with a homemade brioche, a peppercorn encrustation and beet powder. I made it into 5 bites so I could relive it for like 5 minutes.
The hamachi with fermented leek was also amazing.
The raccoon bolognese was not at all gamey, and this was a worry for me.
We ate a course with our hand in a fist as a dish - and this heightened the memorability of it.
Diamond is not for the faint of heart -- 24 courses, almost 4.5 hours, very generous pours again on the wine pairings. There were extremely interesting ones like a 1992 Kalin Cellars Reserve that was very complex on the entry and smooth on the finish.
I can't stress enough that you need to go here. We'll be going back soon for the Owl menu to complete the fall trio.
We were lucky enough to this past weekend try out Elizabeth's Owl menu. Â First of all, I cannot wait to go back and try the Deer and the Diamond. Â Actually, I would like to move in, the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming!
We are big fans of El Ideas and Elizabeth showcases a similar mood, which I love, due to the casual interactive experience. Â
(Side note - we ate at NEXT the weekend before (Kyoto menu) and it was aight, I would come to Elizabeth 10 more times before going back to NEXT.)
Since the menu changes all the time, I won't bother to talk about it. Â Just know that every course was lick the plate fantastic. Â I don't have anything bad to say. Â That's surprising even to me! Â Wine pairings are also a great deal and are very generous pours. Â Scott (the somalier) is very knowledgeable in a non-stuffy way. Â Don't forget to also order some drinks from the drunk trunk. Â Yes, the DRUNK TRUNK, their portable bar.
I was helping to plate in the kitchen and was actually welcomed there EVERY time that I would come over to take pictures. Â Â I would be handed over a pair of tongs or a spoon and instructed on what to do. Â I was the only one in the restaurant desiring this experience, so I would encourage you to try it. Â Chef Iliana runs a very tight ship in the kitchen, but she was taking her time to explain and show me things in the kitchen! Â How amazing!
Will be making reservations tonight to go back!
see my blog for pics of all the courses (diamond menu). between a soccer store and a tire shop on a very unassuming stretch of north western avenue in lincoln square is a virtually unmarked door. people pass by it everyday likely thinking nothing of it or assuming it is a vacant space. those in the culinary know, however, are quickly realizing that behind that door is one of chicago's most exciting new dining destinations. the restaurant is called elizabeth, and is chef iliana regan's first establishment. prior to opening elizabeth last month, regan worked in some of chicago's finest restaurants (trio, alinea, tru, schwa, l2o) in both front of the house and kitchen roles before starting what she called one sister in 2010. one sister was an underground dining project where chef regan severed strangers multicourse meals out of her small lakeview apartment. this is how she met the investors who would help her to open elizabeth, which is named for her sister that passed away. regan's cooking can be described as modernist, but what really sets it apart is that a large part of what she serves she has grown or foraged herself.
going into the meal, i was certainly excited, but had some reservations about elizabeth. was i trying the restaurant too early? was the concept of three separate menus too ambitious? would carrie and i be comfortable dining with strangers at a communal table? would it be worth the relatively high price? to be perfectly honest, these concerns completely vanished within the first half hour at the table, and i ultimately came away from the experience happier and more satisfied than i could have ever expected. while each of the 22 presentations wasn't incredible from a taste standpoint, most of them were, and the dishes that weren't at least offered up new ingredients/flavors/combinations or were simply just fun to eat. also, considering the small staff size and incredible number of different dishes prepared nightly (almost 50!), i am amazed to report that aside from maybe some under seasoned lobster there were really no technical issues as everything arrived perfectly cooked and at proper temperature. it is also worth noting that the kitchen was a mere eight feet behind me at most, and not once did i hear any any clatter or commotion. aside from a few breaks in between courses that were longer than optimal, the kitchen at elizabeth is operating at a level that is stunning for a restaurant that has been open for just a month. as for the service, carrie and i were very impressed with the way scott noorman handled the room and the wine. while it was very clear that the man knows a ton about wine, he went about things in a very friendly and down to earth manner. i especially appreciated the way he made a point to include us in the conversation about wine even though i am sure it was quite obvious that we were the least knowledgeable at the table on the subject.
i usually end my posts by stating if i would return to a restaurant or not. sometimes the question is hypothetical as an actual return in the near future is often not practical for geographic or monetary reasons (plus my list of restaurants in this country to try is impossibly long) . i want to be clear here that this is not one of those times when i am speaking hypothetically. our overall experience at elizabeth currently ranks in my top ten meals of all time, and only my two meals at alinea and an extended tasting at l2o compare as far as chicago restaurants are concerned. the fact that elizabeth has only been open a month is unbelievable to me, and i cannot wait to return next year at some point to see if chef regan's cooking reaches even higher heights.
Huge disappointment. Â Our expectations were high and we were hungry when we came--big mistake. After 2 hours and perhaps 5 courses, the only thing we could think of was how great it would be to have a hot dog--we were that starved. While some of the dishes were quite good (like the truffled potatoes), and presentations were creative, most others were completely uninspired. I appreciate the gatherer approach, but believe good food should consist of more than twigs and flowers, especially when you're paying close to $250/person--at the very least, the tastes should be exciting enough to make you want to come back--not the case here. Stick with Schwa and Alinea if you want to be blown away--would avoid this place for now, they may get their act together later, as the chef does show signs of having talent
Review Source:We had been looking forward to dining at Elizabeth for several weeks. We walked through the unassuming front door, and were warmly greeted by the staff. The room was intimate and cozy -- the decor reminded me of Anthropologie. I knew that for the next several hours I would be in loving hands.
Unfortunately, moments after sitting down, one of the people in our party took ill and had to leave*. What could have been a disastrous evening, turned out  fine -- better than fine -- as Chef Regan kindly offered us an upgrade on our wine pairings to make up for our disappointment at our friend having to leave. Sommelier Scott did a marvelous job with pairings, providing us with a wide range of types and regions, and I was pleasantly surprised more than once. Furthermore, he was conversational when talking with us about the wines, rather than spouting a bunch of wine jargon as can feel like the case sometimes when doing pairings. I appreciated his willingness to talk with us about the selections and share his thoughts on why he picked what he did.
We enjoyed the Owl menu, which is billed on Daily Candy as displaying Chef Regan's "whimsical style." And, that was certainly the case. There were echos of Alinea in courses imploring the use of all senses.However, unlike Alinea, the air at Elizabeth isn't the least bit stuffy. Like another restaurant that I love, EL Ideas, Elizabeth makes delicious, artful food that is accessible. The plating was among the most creative I've seen, and the experience, aside from our friend having to leave, we really enjoyed the night. It was a fun evening, and I would certainly return.
There are three communal tables, one for each of the menus, and by the end of the night there's potential for guests to be mixing and chatting, just as you might at a dinner party.
Rest assured, we'll be back. Next time for the Deer menu.
*I should note that our friend getting sick had absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant!
Spectacular fine dining with amazing food and without any pretense. We thoroughly enjoyed our Owl menu, the shortest menu, which in the end was plenty of food. We were four at a table of 8, and while our conversation was mostly amongst ourselves, I could see that couples became friends with their tablemates. We all agreed that the range of flavors, ingredients, preparations and overall progression of the meal created a truly symphonic culinary experience. The chef and her staff were exemplary.
The standouts on our menu for me were the Maitake mushroom, cauliflower, sweetbread and cheese course right in the middle of the menu and the pumpkin, apple and gravlax course.
My last One Sister dinner was one of the best meals I've ever had (The Spring Menu). Â Obviously I was quite excited to see what Chef Iliana Regan would do with a full kitchen and a staff to work with at Elizabeth, but as our reservation drew near, it struck me that there was a chance the menu wouldn't live up to my high expectations. Â After all, it is a pretty ambitious project: three 10-20 course tasting menus with no overlapping dishes and they were only a few weeks into service.
I had the pleasure of eating the Diamond menu, the longest menu of the three offered. From start to finish, the magical presence of Mother Nature mixed with creativity peppered with molecular techniques kept my mouth happy and my taste buds jumping for joy with anticipation for the next course.
Chef Regan, once again, succeeded in crafting many courses that were truly mind-blowing. Â A few standout courses:
-Foraged matsutake mushrooms and juniper powder on top of cinnamon custard. The textures and flavors were unlike anything I had experienced before -- anywhere.
-Loup de mer with apple cider gelee and sunchoke puree. I used my finger to get every bit of this dish.
-Hamachi with fermented leek and fish sauce caramel. This dish packs a giant flavor punch. Plate licking good.
Service is a highlight I rarely discuss, but the staff does a great job of welcoming and pampering you from beginning to end. It's fine dining service in a casual environment. Wine pairings are also not to be missed. Scott Noorman has a passion for wine and it shows.
I'm happy to say that the transition from One Sister, Inc. to Elizabeth Restaurant seems flawless for Chef Regan. Again, I was a huge fan of the underground dinners she once held in her home and the food hasn't let down at her newest "home" in Lincoln Square.
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FChicagoist.com&s=17853d004551e685d046f2e6924670a8c6c9be8c7de712a2587570f273eb3f82" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Chicagoist.com</a> just said, "Elizabeth feels like Alinea went on a camping trip." Â While I'm not sure you can compare Alinea with any restaurant in the country, I think this quote does Elizabeth justice. Â Elizabeth has elements of molecular gastronomy but there is a more natural, earthy, and rustic component to it. Â From the minute you arrive, you are transcended into an intimate, small cabin in the woods. Â Even the coat hanger is made of deer horns. Â While not every course on the Deer Menu was a hit, I enjoyed the meal as a whole and thought certain courses like the Pines & Acorns, Queen Anne's Lace & Carrots, Salmon Cannoli, and Bear Rice Crispy were phenomenal. Â Elizabeth is unique, highly innovative, and appeals to natural woodland ingredients. Â My only criticism is that I thought the price point was a little off. Â For two people with wine pairings, expect to pay over $500.
Review Source:I took a good friend here last night for the diamond menu as a birthday present. I was wowed from start to finish.
We walked from the brown line stop and were surprised to find the restaurant in an unassuming strip mall, a few doors north of a shop selling the gaudiest dresses the world has ever seen.
Inside, the space was calm and welcoming, and very intimate. We shared a table with another group of two who arrived late -- in the meantime, the chef treated us to a dish from one of the other menus, and the sommelier Scott suggested his champagne cocktail, which was delicious. We then went with the wine pairings for the meal, which were perfect and interesting. He was incredibly informative: I felt like I left knowing quite a bit more about wines than I did when I arrived.
From then on, it was course after course of delicious and fascinating food, with the charming, soft-spoken and humble chef Regan describing each of the twenty courses in just the right amount of detail, and answering any questions we had. Flowers and leaves featured in some dishes, and played a supporting role in others. There were many ingredients I'd never heard of before, never mind tasted. The service-ware suited the dishes perfectly, and some of the dishes were so cute we asked where they came from (e.g. the owl mugs).
There wasn't a single dish which was a miss for me. Some of the highlights were the apple pie and american caviar; apple cider, sunchoke and loup de mer; lobster, liver and flowers. I think the carrot tea was a treat from another menu, and was also delicious.
This is an incredible restaurant, and I'm glad I got to experience it so early in its life.
I've been meaning for while to start sharing reviews on Yelp and after a wonderful experience at Elizabeth last night, decided it was time. Â Upon walking in the door, you're transported from a busy stretch of Western to a welcoming and warm space. Â The wait staff is friendly and the sommelier is knowledgeable and helpful. Â The wine pairings were spot-on and generous. Â Although beer is not yet available, my non-wine drinking husband was offered a Spanish cider which he really enjoyed. Â I was a bit concerned after the amuse bouche and first course that the entire meal would be a bit too "precious" but technique and focus on an amazing assortment of ingredients prevailed and we were left with a delicious, sometimes challenging (in the best sense) meal. Â One of my favorite courses included sweetbreads, lobster mushrooms, pickled cauliflower, and homemade mascarpone. Â We had the Owl menu last night, which was just an incredible value. Â I can't wait to move up to the Deer menu!
Review Source:"Fairytales can come true, it can happen to you."
Last night I had the pleasure, the blessing, and honor of dining at Elizabeth. Â It was almost as if Chef Regan opened her home to us, like a continuation of One Sister. Â The warmness, the relaxed, cozy, rustic atmosphere was all so perfect. Â Think cuisine nearly on the level of Alinea, but the atmosphere of a small cabin or home in the woods---tea party style. Â I knew it was going to be whimsical...
Upon entering, you are immediately in the dining area. Â There is no bar or waiting area. Â You are greeted with a smile and you immediately notice the intimacy of the restaurant. Â The furthest seat in the restaurant is only 15 or 20 feet from the kitchen. Â It works well like this, because togetherness is encouraged. Â This may just be my favorite execution of communal dining, because it is so relaxed, it isn't loud.
As soon as I sat down and got comfortable, I was offered complimentary still or sparkling water. Â I was then greeted by the sommelier and beverage options were explained to me---offered were wines by the glass, several mixed drinks, and of course, a pairing menu. Â For the Owl Menu, the pairing was $45, which I personally thought was an incredible value. Â I was given a taste of the champagne so as to be not left out (a few other people had drinks and single glasses already), so that was a nice little bonus.
From the moment I tasted the amuse-bouche of an apple consommé with cauliflower and caviar, I knew that the meal truly was going to rustic and farm to table.  My mouth was all like, OMG APPLE.  That apple consommé was so fresh, so tasty.  Every course was excellent.  The chicken + quail egg + truffle was also extremely rememberable.  As was the pumpkin + salmon dish.  Dessert of cocoa cookies with maple drizzle came out hot .
Iliana's competencies do not lie just in foraging and sourcing organic and farm to table ingredients. Â That is clearly the steel mill of this beautiful little place, but she's definitely firing on all other cylinders, too. Â She is totally a conceptualizer and executer as well. Â This is truly experience based dining on par with the bests in the city. Â Textures and plating are excellent. Â Curry granola is a great example of good texture. Â Atmosphere is just incredible as I said earlier.
A special mention of the Sommelier. Â I forgot to get his name but he too was great. Â Pairings were well thought out and more than tolerable for someone like myself who doesn't know anything about wine. Â I'm not into reds, usually, and these were rather well tasting considering my unsophisticated palate. Â For $45, pairings were extremely generous - I had to limit myself and couldn't even finish every glass.
There is no doubt in my mind this place will soon be Michelin starred and among the hardest restaurants to get into in the city. Â I plan on trying every menu at least once and could see myself dining there twice a year for the Owl menu. Â I suspect the food to closely follow current crops and for this to be a hallmark of the restaurant into the future---more than any other place.
This place is truly magical and marks the arrival of a unique, foraged and organic rustic-modern restaurant in the city. Â Chef Regan is giving the greats a run for their money. Â Get in there while you can because soon...it's going to take you months. Â Don't sleep on this one.
I always have trouble writing reviews for experience based restaurants because there's always that indescribable non-verbal feeling you get when you go to one, so the best thing to do is just feel it for yourself. Â Exactly as Tomo Fujita, a famous guitar teacher at Berklee in Boston teaches his students - you need to just feel it.
Tomo, my friends, is right on.
Thank you again to Chef Regan & her staff.
I dined at Elizabeth last night and it didn't disappoint. Â I was very pleasantly surprised at everything. Â The restaurant is small and the kitchen is right in the back so you can see the chefs working. Â It's light and airy and very warm and welcoming. There are 3 tables of 8 and the dining is communal. Â Â We met some wonderful people at our table. Â We had the Owl menu which is the smallest of the three menus with 10 courses. Â Everything was wonderful but some dishes such as the corn ravioli, corn bread and hen and egg were so delicious. Â The desert was a pear and hazelnut dish that was so wonderful. Â I didn't have the wine pairings, but my son did and he said they fit well. Â The staff was very attentive and warm and friendly. Â Since it was communal dining, the table was served when all 8 people were present and it took about 3 hours for the entire meal. Â It didn't seem like a long time though as we had great food, good company and a wonderful setting. Â
I would definitely come back and try the deer or diamond menu. Â Definitely do try this wonderful new restaurant if you have the chance....it won't disappoint.
An article on Chicagoist described Elizabeth as Alinea on a camping trip. I think that sentence sums things up more nicely than I ever could.
Head chef Iliana Regan, who gained fame for her One Sister underground dinners, manages to put her whimsical personality into many of the dishes. There are three menus - Owl, Deer, and Diamond. Each tasting menu is unique, as opposed to many restaurants that simply remove items from larger menus to make smaller ones. We chose the longest (diamond) and were not disappointed. The apple cider, sunchoke, and loup de mare was amazing, and my favorite was the shrimp noodle with toasted kale. We will definitely be back to try one of the different menus!
Tonight I had the privilege of attending Friends & Family night for Iliana Regan's Elizabeth Restaurant (due to having won a contest). Elizabeth will be opening to the public this Wednesday. Iliana had been serving mind blowing, extravagant multi-course dinners out of her apartment as One Sister - Chicago's premier underground dining experience. Now she has finally landed her first restaurant, Elizabeth - named in honor of her sister who passed away at a young age. Â
Elizabeth occupies the former space of the restaurant Prix Fixe and Iliana did an amazing job with renovations; it looks absolutely beautiful. One of the aspects that makes Iliana's dinners so special is that she grows, forages, fishes and hunts for a large portion of the ingredients used in her dishes. She had wanted her restaurant to be reminiscent of a cabin in the woods and Elizabeth conveys this ambiance in an authentic and tasteful manner with all sorts of fun and interesting decor such as the coat rack utilizing antlers as hooks.
Elizabeth will be featuring three tasting menus (each of different lengths, areas of emphasis and price points); the menus will change with the seasons. The Owl menu (farm to table emphasis) contains 8 to 10 courses, the Deer menu (woodland influence) 12 to 15 and the Diamond (gastronomic) 20 to 25. Elizabeth has joined the growing ranks of small, high caliber restaurants selling "tickets" rather than taking reservations (they use the same system as Alinea and Next). There are three communal tables at Elizabeth, each seating eight; one table for each of the three menus.
Elizabeth is one of those restaurants where in addition to receiving some of the best food you will ever taste, dinner is far more than just an incredible meal - it is an experience (the restaurant it most reminds me of is El Ideas). You can enjoy haute cuisine but in a fun, casual atmosphere. This is a case where having communal tables add, rather than detracts from the experience; One Sister also had a communal table and by mid meal guests often had become friends with one another. The kitchen is open, the staff friendly and Iliana herself come tableside at the start of each course and describes the dish. In addition to being passionate, she is really humble, down to earth and approachable. Â Her food is so unique and interesting; throughout your meal you will sample a vast array of wonderful flavor combinations and ingredients. The plating is artistic and it s such a whimsical experience. A nice selection of music plays in the background.
Tonight I partook in the Owl menu. Even though they are still in dress rehearsal mode there was not a single dud and a few of the courses were out of this world. My favorites included the amuse bouche of a boozy tasting apple pie bubble tea, a chicken dish with a quail egg and shaved black truffle, a shellfish course featuring lobster and clam, and the caramelized pear dessert with hazelnut ice cream. I will be returning in about a week and a half to enjoy the longer Deer menu and already cannot wait to come back! Iliana is truly a natural chef ; she is so talented and has done such an incredible job preparing for the grand opening of Elizabeth it is hard finding much to critique. About the only potential negatives I noticed were at times the restaurant did seem a bit loud and if one has a large appetite the shorter tasting menu (while a decent amount of food), may not completely fill one up. Perhaps adding a bread basket or some type of starchy food to the two shorter menus might help those with heartier appetites leave fully satiated.
Elizabeth appears posed to rapidly ascend to the upper echelon of the highly competitive Chicago dining scene and will soon literally become a "hot ticket." The potent combination of an uber -talented and friendly chef, great staff, highly unique and interesting menus, Â fresh top quality ingredients and nice space is tough to beat. Iliana did a remarkable job cooking out of her small apartment kitchen with One Sister and now has a real kitchen and team of staff supporting her; she is sure to thrive. Elizabeth has Michelin star potential and I look forward to seeing Elizabeth grow and evolve; I plan to be a regular and highly recommend.
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