Great Food and Drink, Bar None.
Elate Restaurant at
Hotel Felix Chicago.

Have you ever had really good bar food? I mean food so good that it makes the hair stand straight up on your skin? Well that was my recent experience at Elate restaurant on a cold and blustery winter evening. There are a lot of hotel restaurant bars that really try hard to bring it with cuisine and make it well for upscale clientele; but few get it right and Executive Chef Randal Jacobs (formerly of De la Costa) has hit the mark.

The soothing interior of this 80-seat restaurant made of all organic materials brings a comfortable yet sophisticated experience to the River North neighborhood of Chicago. Offering affordable full-service dining, Chef Randal Jacobs serves approachable market-driven cuisine accompanied by boutique wines and creative cocktails crafted by Peter Vestinos.

Happy hour, which is from 4:30pm until 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, takes on a whole new and refined meaning here. If the 1/2 off bar menu doesn't tempt you, then perhaps the hot cocktail menu will light a spark. Start with a cocktail named for the hotel itself; The Felix which is a delightfully refreshing blend of VeeV Acai, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, and Orange Juice garnished with fresh lemon and flamed orange peel. If an old-school cocktail is what you seek, then look no further than the Smoked Manhattan. This ain't your daddy's Manhattan cocktail for this one is a smooth blend of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth and Bitters served in a Talisker rinsed glass. Since it's still a bit nippy here in the Windy City, why not take the chill off with a Winter Margarita, made with El Mayor Reposada Tequila, Blood Orange juice, garnished with fresh lime and finished with Agave Nectar and a sage leaf. Speaking of heat, try kicking it up a notch with a Jalapeno Watermelon Caiporska, a spicy sweet concoction of Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, muddled watermelon and lime, garnished with a blend of jalapeno pepper and sugar. Since the Hotel Felix is all about elegance, do it right with a sweetly seductive cocktail by the name of Sugar Plum. This classy number is made with Pearl Plum Vodka, Acai Juice, lemon, simple syrup, Champagne and finished with a sugared rim.

While waiting for the cocktail buzz to kick in, move on to the snacks; OH BOY WHAT A PARTY FOR THE TASTEBUDS! If you are looking for something light just to "munch" on, then I suggest the "Ruffles" & Truffles; which are crispy house made potato chips with a uretheral truffle cream dip. If you prefer a little spice and smoke, then try the Beijing style Hibachi Chicken wings, but don't for the Oxtail Egg rolls; the concept was clever but the blandness of the oxtail inside paired with kimchi and pineapple chili sauce...not so much. Want comfort food in two bites? Then try the Fried Dough; a small round of crispy fried dough served with a refreshing green pesto sauce.

Meeting friends for a little light meal after work? Then you must all sample the various small and large plates on the menu meant for sharing with friends. Start with Spinach Salad Skewer...yet, salad on a skewer, with a molten egg, crema and a crispy chicharron, makes a nice presentation and the dressing is outstanding. More of a traditonal bar food type in your group? Have them try the Elate Burger, topped with crispy applewood smoked bacon and a side of yummy creamed leeks. Seafood lovers are welcome at Elate with an entree of Slow Baked Organic Salmon with citrus sections, rocket lettuce and pesto sauce. Or, Maine Diver Scallops, with a perfect crunchy char on top served with Sweetbreads, Fuji Apples and finished with a yellow Thai Curry. Meatlovers will rave over the Grilled Short Rib topped with crispy fries smothered with gravy and garnished with parsley and lemon. The short rib had a well balanced flavor, the meat was incredibly tender and though the fries were covered with gravy, they were still very crispy and hot! Elate did not forget about chicken lovers like myself, Chef Randall brought game to his Mustard Glazed Chicken. The savory and juicy chicken was served with a wonderful pumpernickel bread pudding and the black trumpet mushrooms were tender and moist, however the dish was lost on the rainbow chard, which was too raw for my taste and the sauce on the chicken was flavorful but a bit too sweet.

Grand finales are certainly grand on this menu, if you have room that is! The three to try are the Reese's Peanut Butter Pot de Creme topped with Vanilla Salt, Elate's Chocolate Cake plate with chunks of chocolate cake, a scoop of Burnt Caramel Ice Cream and topped with Almonds, Bananas and chocolate cake batter frosting, then finally, a beautiful end to a wonderful meal, a crisp cool, refreshing Lime Curd Napolian Crisp.

Even if you are not staying at the Hotel Felix (though you might need to after a great meal there!), one should still go check out the menu and happy hour cocktails. Elate was definitely worth the wait!

-Donna Binbek

111 W Huron
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 202-9900
www.elatechicago.com

Hours:
Mon-Thu 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fri 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sat 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sun 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

$3 Bar Menu
Snack on our Elate Burger, BBQ Chicken Pizza or Green Chili Pork! Offered at the lobby and restaurant bars Monday-Friday from 4:30-6:30pm

Elate offers $25 for an entree off the breakfast menu and bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.

Grilled Short Rib with Smothered Fries, Parsley and Lemon

Spinach Salad Skewer with Molten Egg, Chicharron
& Crema