Elske
A young couple’s modern Midwestern marvel.
GO HERE: for a taste of some of the most exciting cooking happening right now. Husband and wife David and Anna Posey bring their many talents—he is the former chef of Chicago’s iconic Blackbird; she is the one-time pastry chef of the Publican—to an airy West Loop space all their own.
ORDER THE: tasting menu, very reasonably priced at $85, if you have only one chance to eat here. This might start with an intensely smoky vegetable “tea,” then meander through a slice of supremely smooth duck-liver tart, and end with one of Anna’s mysteriously modern-looking-yet-homey-tasting desserts. À la carte offerings, such as soft-scrambled eggs with confit chicken thigh, make it easy to pop into Elske for a casual dinner (if you can resist ordering all the desserts).
THE VIBE IS: Scandi-minimal, but with charm. Think black Windsor chairs, polished wood tables, and understated ceramics, complemented by personal touches like the plant wallpaper in the bathroom (drawn by Anna) and the painting behind the bar (from David’s brother).
ONLY IN CHICAGO…: would the large outdoor patio be in service all year—complete with animal pelts, a roaring fireplace, and hot cocktails in the bitter winter.
GETTING IN: is relatively painless; Elske takes reservations. Bonus points for the large private dining room upstairs and the spacious patio.
