EL Ideas

Imagine Shaggy (from Scooby-Doo) opened a restaurant. It includes a dish you lick off the plate and their signature dessert, based off dipping fries into a Frosty at Wendy's. There is an emotional support mannequin. It's BYOB. You are welcome to wander into the kitchen at any point to see what is going on and chat with the chefs as the next course is being prepped. The front door has a big, beat-up sign that says "Get the EL in here".

Now imagine it has a Michelin star.

Welcome to EL Ideas.

This place has been around for 13 years and for good reason. They know who they are. They aren't trying to be anyone else. And their food is freaking delicious. Kudos to Michelin for recognizing such a counter-(Michelin)-culture place. Their star is fully deserved.

Everything about EL Ideas screams different. They aren't trying for the typical "living room", "You're in our home" vibe. Their vibe is more like "Meet us around the back and have dinner with the chefs after service." It's a breath of fresh air in the fine dining space. While they may not be breaking down any creative doors, the dishes are elevated, imaginative, tasty and enjoyable.

And they clearly enjoy what they do. It's fun. Relaxed. Welcoming. The front of house is run by a guy in sneakers who remembers your name and may as well pull up a chair, he's so easygoing. He has been there since they opened. In the back, it's Shaggy (OK, his name is Chef Phillip Foss), a sous chef and a prep cook (dishwasher). Everyone know what they're doing and the place clearly runs like clockwork. Each dish has multiple components and is well-thought out. Introduced by the chef who created it, including the sous chef's Caribbean scallop dish which was stellar. 

The first dish is served without utensils. "Years ago, someone asked if they could lick the plate. And we thought to ourselves, 'Why not make everyone do that?' So grip it and lick it!!"

Their "Chicago dog" (actually a lobster roll) was innovative and smart. The components were introduced one by one, concluding with "and NO fucking ketchup!!"

(This is not your father's Michelin restaurant.)

Their signature dish is a dessert that they call you into the kitchen for. "This was inspired by me watching my daughters dip french fries into a Wendy's Frosty." Hot potato leek soup, twice fried potatoes, liquid nitrogen vanilla ice cream. I have a video of the presentation in the photos below. So different and weird and delicious. They'll never be able to remove this one from the menu. 

I can't recommend this place enough. Not because it's the best food I've ever had. Or the service was off the charts. Nor for any reason I would typically commend a restaurant to you. In fact, I recommend this place to you specifically because it is NOT a typical Michelin restaurant.

What it is is irreverent, solid and just a dang good time. I can't imagine anyone at all not enjoying this spot.

Well done, Shaggy.