Service was very knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient. Atmosphere was fun very loud, though , and food was really well done. On the food side, we went a la carte and had 5 different course plus bread. We're moderate eaters and this was too much for us which, unfortunately, meant no dessert for me. All of the food was beautifully presented and well-prepared. Standout dishes were the Snapper and the Pork Collar. If I had to find fault, I'd say two things. First, in the section we were seated, they pack you in pretty tight. It's not a cheap dinner so a little bit of space would be nice. One of the wines we had was the Omero Pinot Noir. I will definitely be making another trip here. Electric atmosphere as one enters the large but loud dining space. We travel to Scandinavia frequently so we are very fond of this cuisine. Aged Gouda with tomato-vanilla jam and crackers was simply perfect. Pan Fried Red Snapper- absolutely lovely. Skin nice and crispy, flavors blended well and sorrel and brown butter delicious Grilled Octopus disappointing. Tough and the side of spiced tofu was texturally strange. Had higher expectations based on food served so far. As we wait we realize how loud and frenetic the restaurant is. We are the table right next to the kitchen so perhaps it is the fast pace of the staff walking by that leads to a sense of discomfort. The noise is however an issue. Scrambled Eggs were initially substituted by the Yeasted lil Rigotoni. It was definitely better than the scrambled eggs when they did come out. Cured Pork Collar was an unusual presentation and the shaved cauliflower made it feel akin the eating Chinese spare ribs. Sadly the cheese set expectation so high that the rest of the meal was on a vertical slide from there. Perhaps the Snapper kept the culinary suspense and taste going. The highlight was the perhaps the surprise birthday cake they brought out.... Perhaps as we are visiting one of our favorite culinary town - we decided perhaps we would end the evening with the world famous deep dish. We were still hungry but believe the waiter saw the pizza website on my husbands phone. As an attempt to make the evening end on a better note- it was an excellent effort. We will end our degustation quest for the evening. We did greatly appreciate the valet and his umbrella. A great place for real food lovers. Every single bite was WOW!!!!! We had the à la carte - smoked trout, grilled octopus, cured pork. Aesthetically clean minimalist decor feels beautiful, with open kitchen for great ambiance. Very good service with right level of friendliness. Would highly recommend this restaurant. Elske was highly recommended by our daughter, and we weren't disappointed. We went with the tasting menu and wine pairings. It was a bit pricey, but definitely a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. The combination was imaginative and delightful. The serving staff was very attentive, and the dining room was cozy. I loved the owner's Danish porcelain dishes from his grandmother. I definitely want to go back, order off the regular menu, and sit by the fire in the courtyard. I didn't get the tasting menu. I went for the a la carte menu. I got the scallop and watermelon salad. The scallop was poached perfectly, and it was not fishy. The ponzu was reduced so it wasn't as watery as the usual ponzu we have in Japanese food. The water Mellon was a genius touch. It elevated the whole dish. I also ordered the skate. I didn't see the sorrel, but I saw the de-hydrated broccoli and creamed spinach. The flavor of the dish came from the brown butter sauce. I had the chocolate cake for desert. The cake came with shiso ice-cream. The shies ice-cream tasted so floral. It was the best ice-cream I have ever had. The blue berries were de-hydrated. They gave this desert some crunchiness. I appreciate the technique and the craftsmanship that go into those dishes. But the portion of the food is so small. You are going to walk away hungry. I know I did. If you're feeling adventurous and love food I highly recommend making your way to Elske. Reservations are a must. We got the tasting menu and it was by far the best food experience of my life. Everything was so tasty and the staff were amazing. My water was never under half full and they explain everything so well. We cannot wait to come back for more! We were able to reserve a table for 4 on a Saturday evening. Due to the weather we choose inside rather than the lovely patio. Even the valet was stellar. He was hospitable, accommodating and helpful. This was only to be surpassed by the staff on arrival and waitstaff all evening. We opted the ala carte menu rather than the tasting. There were enough of us to choose multiple plates as recommended covering almost the entire ala carte menu. All were excellent, but a few to highlight: Smoked fjord trout with beets, Pan fried skate with broccoli-creamed spinach Grilled octopus with cucumber, red currants, and spice tofu Pork 'secreto' with roasted peppers, cauliflower, and white sesame and a special offering of Wagyu ribeye Desserts: Warm sweet woodruff custard with cherry, tapioca, and currants Fried rosette, vanilla custard, and hearth-roasted pear butter Smoked walnut pudding, chocolate, berry vinegar, and fig leaf oil The service was outstanding from beginning to end. Elske has minimalist décor and soft lighting,wide open kitchen on one side and a small patio with a working fireplace on the other. I chose the tasting menu which they accommodated to a pescatarian version and my favorite dishes were the mushroom terrine and the halibut. The food is innovative, but never precious or pretentious. The environment is neither upscale nor casual, but welcoming to all. The service is disarming and attentive. When in Chicago again, this will be the first place I book. Elske has distilled the dining experience into beauty, utility, and comfort -- only love of what one is doing creates that.