EL ideas
Chicago
Recensioner
Outstanding experience start to finish. Chef Philip and his team did a great job with each dish providing different taste, texture and flavor. All delicious. My favorite was the halibut and wagyu beef, fabulously fresh and bursting with unique ingredients and preparation. We brought Byob and sparkling rose wine which brought the flavors of the food well. Otherwise ice water was provided and service was impeccable. You can converse with kitchen staff, video them etc so just part of the great experience. Bathrooms very clean, the neighborhood and parking lot around the restaurant is little sketchy so don’t drive your $100k vehicle. uber or just drive your modest vehicle: ). The meal is paid in advance to secure your reservation so the entire process was seamless.
6/7 We recently celebrated our 46th Wedding Anniversary at the acclaimed Michelin Star El Ideas and recently listed 2026 James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant. The food was amazing! From the famously known first course that you lick off the plate to the favorite French Fries & Frosty. Owner and Executive Chef Phillip has put together a star-studded staff of Michelin experienced Chefs to help him elevate your dining experience with each Chef leaving their impressions through the menu tasting course. Shout out to Froy who keeps them running like a well-oiled and caffeinated machine. One young and upcoming Chef Emily recently won the Beyond Hunger Healthy Chef Challenge. All the Chefs lend a helping hand in serving each table…the inspiration and ingredients are explained before you take a bite. There is no front or back house. Very informal and very enjoyable as you are encouraged to leave your seat and check out the workings of the kitchen and witness the artful work of each plating. El Ideas is a must for a nice enjoyable evening with a delicious meal to go along with. Warning…come prepared to have fun!
This year my husband and I have dined here twice. Both times were incredible. First time we came out for a dinner date and had a wonderful private experience with just the two of us. We loved the intimate atmosphere of this fine establishment, so much so that we asked Chef Phillip and the crew to host us for a birthday party. This was such a special celebration and they made everyone feel special. We had children in our group (youngest was 8) and every team member must have answered 100s of questions from the children! This dining experience will be forever in our memories and I thank El Ideas for this! Ps, the food is absolutely a work art. So creative and different from anything you’ve tried before.
For the third time, I am a raving fan. This engaging restaurant challenges you to consider what fine dining truly means. Chef Phillip and team create the feel of a dinner party while delivering an exceptional 10 course meal with thoughtful service. I enjoyed another birthday dinner here and especially l love that this place is BYO which is a bonus. Enjoy a Michelin star experience with zero arrogance.
Had a great time at El Ideas! (Dinner started with a lickable dish)! Small, cozy, open kitchen. Fun to watch Chef Foss orchestrate the chefs as they prepared each dish simultaneously for every guest. Quality and quantity of the food was exactly what you would expect for a many year Michelin starred restaurant. Well done! Bonus.....BYOB to create your own wine pairings!
