Best Casual Restaurants in Logan Square

Loved the food combination. Sat at the counter and the team was very chill and attentive to the details. The flavors and spices (the spices!) stood out from each small plate. Doubled down on the tacos and margaritas because you only get so many opportunities to catch lighting in a bottle. Dope experience overall.

This was our first visit. The service was superb in all aspects. The food is inventive and well prepared. Not all dishes were fully successful but all displayed creativity. The deserts wrere wonderful. The ambience was very comfortable and inviting. All staff. were friendly and welcoming. A word of caution. The City of Chicago in their infinite wisdom has installed bike lanes on Milwaukee Ave. and effectively reduced street parking by 50 percent. There is valet parking next door and save yourself aggravation by using it.

Due to a glut of options, there are few places in Chicago that spark the “when are we coming back?” conversation before the main course is finished. This is one of those places. The dishes were comfortable yet complex, making you realize, there’s a talent-level in the kitchen that makes them impossible to replicate. Each bite from first course through dessert was exceptional, which is a feat considering we were last seating on a Tuesday night. What made the experience was the service. Lauren S. was welcoming and informative without being pushy. She deftly answered all of our questions that felt like she was guiding us through the menu based on her expertise not her opinion. This included steering us away from certain dishes when she understood our flavor profiles, and explaining things without ruining the surprise. Her attention to little things without feeling crowded made us realize what front of house talent does to heighten the experience. The only knock was the nitty-picky things on the space. The bathroom was a bit disheveled, there was a crud on the handle of a fork (nothing on the tongs, I checked before using it). Extremely minor unless you’re judging for Micheline stars. Simply put, where it matters everything is well thought out from concept to execution. If you can get in, it’s an absolute no-brainer.

Pizza Portofino is one of my favorite spots in the city. The garlic bread and truffle pizza (request hot honey, trust me) are GAME CHANGER. I went with a few friends and we all agreed that they both redefined garlic bread and pizza (at least in Illinois) respectively. Great service and great vibes!

Love Elina’s and have been often because the vibes, service, and food is top notch. Definitely a great date night. Intimate and cozy!