CHIReview
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Elske
Included In
Much like getting married or going to your high school reunion to show off the fact that you’re successful and own a tie clip, eating at Elske isn’t something that you do on a whim. You don’t just stumble in here for a casual weeknight meal. If you’re coming here, you have something to celebrate, or otherwise want a special date night and are ready to spend well above average. But you know what? Just like wearing that tie clip to your high school reunion, you’ll be damned glad you did.
While it’s not on the same level of fanciness or expensiveness level of places like Oriole or Esme, we appreciate the upscale middle ground that Elske manages to fill. It’s both serious and fun, like your new, younger boss who had three drinks at the last company happy hour.
The menu is based around inventive Danish food, and you can go one of two ways: a la carte or tasting menu with an optional wine pairing, and there won’t be any crossover between the two. You’ll be happy, but we recommend going the tasting menu route. The price ends up close to the same, and unless you’re really set on ordering particular dishes from the a la carte menu, you’re better off in the kitchen’s hands.
The food itself is full of familiar items joined together in unfamiliar combinations - like soft scrambled eggs with chicken confit, for example. It’s a common theme throughout the menu all the way down to desserts like frozen fennel candy with mint.
The space is what you might expect from a Scandinavian restaurant, meaning it’s bright, airy, and open, like an Ikea you actually want to be at. There’s also a nice outdoor fireplace area where you can grab a drink before or after dinner if the weather manages to crack 60 degrees. Music is always noticeable but it’s never too loud to be distracting, and the dynamics make Elske both cool and nice without being pretentious. Overall, it’s why Elske is perfect for your next fancy date night. Tie clips optional.