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EL ideas Chicago Reviews
I've been to El Ideas twice now and it think it's a truly
I've been to El Ideas twice now and it think it's a truly wonderful experience. It's a small restaurant, fairly casual (the owner is your hostess and server) and it's BYOB. Food wise, I think you definitely leave somewhat satisf
El Ideas is torn between two extremes for me.
On one hand, I personally didn't like it at all. On the other hand, I can see how it might be perfect for someone with the opposite taste, because the effort and the service were excellent. The first thing that struck me was the appearance of t
I'd describe the experience as fun and extremely unique,
I'd describe the experience as fun and extremely unique, more so than very memorably delicious, but there were a few real winners in the march of courses. I'll note first that this was the least stuffy 'fancy' restaurant I'd
An incredible michelin-starred experience with a relaxed,
An incredible michelin-starred experience with a relaxed, intimate vibe. The atmosphere is casual and inviting, with an open kitchen concept that encourages guests to walk around, observe the food prep, and chat with the chefs. It was such a unique a
This is one of the best Michelin rated restaurants in the
This is one of the best Michelin rated restaurants in the city. It is super unique because you can walk around and get right up on the cooking area in the kitchen. It's also BYOB, which helps a lot with the price. I highly recommend recommend th
Very unique experience with a fantastic staff!! The food
Very unique experience with a fantastic staff!! The food makes this experience worth every penny but the staff sure does go above and beyond to make it worth even more. Intimate quiet setting makes it also great for a special date night or a celebrat
I still have my signed menu from the multicourse menu that
I still have my signed menu from the multicourse menu that I experienced and it's because I love remembering my time dining with you. - Some of the dishes that I loved were "shrimp", "cauliflower", "soy milk", and &
Absolutely incredible meal, service and experience.
I now want all you can eat szechuan duck, venison tenderloin and potato ice cream! Note that parking is a bit challenging.
Wonderful change from your usual Michelin experience.
Fun, creative, delicious and true to their mission of delivering a "dinner party" atmosphere.
We have eaten numerous times at El Ideas over the last
We have eaten numerous times at El Ideas over the last decade or so, every meal has been memorable. Last nights dinner was very good, everything tasted great and the chefs were particularly engaging. BYOB makes El Ideas (along with Schwa) the most co
Went here in May for my wife's birthday dinner.
El Ideas was absolutely outstanding. We took a taxi here as it is pretty off the beaten path in Douglass, and pulling up, the place is just a building - no signs or anything, which gave it a nice surprise for the birthday, as my wife had no idea whe
Great food, great experience.
Chef made an exception for my wife and I on her birthday and we had one of the best dinners of our lives. Recommended for anyone who wants a unique dining experience. Unlike anything I've tried before and definitely something I'd like to t
What a great experience! My wife is celiac and they
What a great experience! My wife is celiac and they couldn't be more accommodating. Food, service all great. Thank you Chef Foss for being so nice to my wife and myself.
Creative
The French fry frosty is an extremely fun dish. Love the fact that you can enter the kitchen area & explore & talk to the chefs. It’s also byob & they change out glasses for you as well as providing ice buckets. Food was good, nothing w
I quite enjoy these off the beaten path, relaxed &
I quite enjoy these off the beaten path, relaxed & inventive one Michelin star restaurants. Of course there's faults but I can count on one hand how many flawless restaurants I've been to. One fault is the price. Tbh the price is two or rarely 3
An all time best meal.
I have no complaints, at all. I will offer two pieces of advice that could maybe be slightly clearer and aid in one's overall experience. First, when they say to bring your own beverage, that does not mean just alcohol. The restaurant serves water, w
We were celebrating my husband's birthday last night at EL
We were celebrating my husband's birthday last night at EL ideas and it was an incredible night out! The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming; when they state they want you to walk around and talk to the chef and other guests; they mean it! Both che
For food its very good but not phemomenal - but lots of
For food its very good but not phemomenal - but lots of great Chicago places that are its equal - the BYOB kind of fun - at these prices you expect excellent service- here you get a surly waiter - the corkage consists of a $2 corkscrew being thrown
Absolutely delicious food and amazing service, I would
Absolutely delicious food and amazing service, I would absolutely come back to this place
The restaurant uses fresh ingredients, and the chef's
The restaurant uses fresh ingredients, and the chef's cooking skills are very exquisite. Every dish is so delicious that I can't stop thinking about it. I will definitely come back next time.
The creativity and innovation that permeate every dish are
The creativity and innovation that permeate every dish are nothing short of extraordinary. Each course is a masterpiece, carefully crafted with meticulous attention to detail and bursting with flavor. The use of unexpected ingredients and imaginative
Service was quick, friendly, and efficient ! Food was
Service was quick, friendly, and efficient ! Food was amazing ! Great ambiance ! Looking forward to my next visit !
My wife and I have never been to a Michelin star restaurant
My wife and I have never been to a Michelin star restaurant and now that we live in Chicago, we had plenty of options. For our second baby moon we decided to treat ourselves to an experience at El Ideas. The whole experience was amazing! The locat
Outstanding food and service.
One of my favorite meals ever. The food creative and delicious. Wonderful place really nice service.
Amazing! We went for Valentine's Day and everything was
Amazing! We went for Valentine's Day and everything was stellar. Front of the house and the chefs were warm and welcoming and the food was unique but accessible and delicious from start to finish!
Outstanding food and service.
My third visit actually, and oh what an incredible train ride of flavors, taste and atmospheric greatness. Chef Philip is a powerhouse creative and makes this culinary experience at El Ideas, a great one. Each course is perfectly timed, delivered h
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a
El Ideas is a culinary gem where every dish is a masterpiece. The incredible food at El Ideas is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the chefs' unparalleled skill and creativity. Chefs Phillip and Alejandro's hospitality adds a personal touch, making t
El Ideas is BYOB - so come prepared with whatever wine or
El Ideas is BYOB - so come prepared with whatever wine or bubbly you would like to drink. If you happen to forget, you can order something through UberEATS on the way there (that's what I did!). I would strongly recommend using a ride share, as parki
Came here for me and my partner's anniversary and had a
Came here for me and my partner's anniversary and had a really wonderful time. We were able to sit in the kitchen area, which was particularly fun being close to the action and within our own little nook of the space. The food was phenomenal across t
A wonderful experience
An amazing dinning experience. Phillip Foss, his wife, and the rest of his crew do an amazing job in delighting guests with their food, service, and ambience. We visited El Ideas over a decade ago and went back again recently and it was as fun and
Such a fun tasting menu experience, with the only downside
Such a fun tasting menu experience, with the only downside being able to find the restaurant in the first place! This is the perfect dining experience for a date night or a celebration with a small group. The setting is small and intimate with a few
For the first course, there was no utensils.
Everyone had to go into their plate face first. Fun, experimental, and inviting. Truly an experience
10/10It is a bit of a hole in the wall location, but what
10/10It is a bit of a hole in the wall location, but what the building "glitz" factor lacks in pizazz, the chefs and food more than make up for in flavor and character.My group of 4 made a reservation for the 8 course menu and enjoyed every
Loved loved loved this small BYOB gastronomic treasure!!!
Loved loved loved this small BYOB gastronomic treasure!!! Each chef presented their creation. Each was unique and personal. It was extremely artful as a composition with each piece connected to the others. Really fun and personal. Great work from gr
Came with a group of 4.
It's a pretty small venue but we loved the vibe (12/10 for vibe). You can walk to different areas to explore the area which was very nice. It was BYOB which reduced cost a bit. Service was outstanding, right up there with vibe in terms of excellen
My favorite tasting menu restaurant.
Tasty and Creative. gastromolecular dishes. And it's BYOB! The staff are super down to earth and even let you interact with them and the kitchen. I love that the head chef comes out to explain all the foods and incorporates ideas he got from cooking
Connect with users posting reservations for EL ideas Chicago
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with EL ideas Chicago. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to EL ideas Chicago at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the EL ideas Chicago page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* PerceptiveWash44, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's $200 bid.
* PerceptiveWash44 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to PerceptiveWash44 for any questions Peter may have as PerceptiveWash44 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* PerceptiveWash44 now uses their connections at EL ideas Chicago to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If PerceptiveWash44 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, PerceptiveWash44 receives the $200 reward which is credited to PerceptiveWash44's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at EL ideas Chicago!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
