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Essence Restaurant + Bar, Elkhart, IN

Essence Restaurant + Bar

4.9
4.9
392 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for fine wines
A culinary playground centered around unwavering hospitality and creatively curated cuisine, wine and spirits.

Welcome home.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (574) 327-6143
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Juan Rodriguez

What 392 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.8Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Indiana

    Best Overall

  • Indiana

    Best Food

  • Indiana

    Best Service

  • Indiana

    Best Ambience

  • Indiana

    Best Value

  • Indiana

    Innovative

  • Indiana

    American

  • South Bend

    Best Overall

  • South Bend

    Best Food

  • South Bend

    Best Service

  • South Bend

    Best Ambience

  • South Bend

    Best Value

  • South Bend

    Healthy

  • South Bend

    Hot spot

  • South Bend

    Neighbourhood gem

  • South Bend

    Great for fine wines

  • South Bend

    Romantic

  • South Bend

    Good for special occasions

  • South Bend

    Lively

  • South Bend

    American

  • South Bend

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Essence Restaurant + Bar offers an extraordinary dining experience in Elkhart. Guests rave about its "phenomenal food" and "exceptional service," with owner Brad personally ensuring each visit is memorable. The menu features creative dishes like wild boar and Iberico pork, complemented by a "welcoming atmosphere" and a "graceful ambiance," perfect for special occasions.

392 Reviews
  1. Coletin

    Indiana

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing night at the Essence & Carissa along with the staff treated us like royalty. They set the standard for hospitality & for amazing food! You won’t be disappointed!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Paulina

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful place! Wonderful staff! Food was AMAZING! We tried the sweet potato and flautas for starters and both were very good! The sweet potato definitely was a larger portion and more than enough for everyone. Entree wise we ordered 2 filets and 2 waygu burgers. Both were fantastic! The filet was definitely probably the best steak I’ve had in my life, as well as the green beans with bone marrow drizzle. Found our new date night spot and it’s centrally located too right downtown

    Is this helpful?

  3. Don

    Indiana

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the time we arrived we were treated like family greeted, seated and waited on quickly. Our server Christina was knowledgeable of the menu and answered all questions thoroughly. As always a wonderful dining experience truly a gem for the city of Elkhart.

    Is this helpful?

  4. J Darrell

    Indiana

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Again this evening was a Master Class in Excellence. My son was intently observing the quality of the service, ambiance, and food as a learning of what excellence looked, sounds and tastes like. He was so pleasantly surprised by the dessert! Thank you all for your continued attention to detail and your hospitality. To see it through my son’s eyes was so rewarding. I trust the staff know how meaningful they make these experiences for us. Deeply grateful.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dana

    Indiana

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was great. Service was exceptional. Wonderful evening out.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Bill

    Naples

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding high quality restaurant, excellent and unique meals. A really extensive wine and liquor selection. We’ll be back!!!

    1 person found this helpful

  7. mayra

    Indiana

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptional!!! The atmosphere, the servers, and the services amazing! The food is absolutely phenomenal from taste to detail.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Cayla

    Indiana

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love it here. We have come for every special occasion and Brad and the team always exceed expectations. They know how to make one feel special!

    1 person found this helpful

  9. Larry

    VIP

    Indiana

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Verynicde dining experiance from cocktails to completion. The service was above average and selections cooked wonderfully. The pricing is high for our area, but enjoyed the experience.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Neil

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 12 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Very friendly staff, almost too friendly. Food overall was good, but don't get the filet. Cut closer to a roast beef texture, and first time it came out while ordered medium, came out almost well done. Staff was very quick to replace, and while done as ordered, meat just wasn't close to what it should be for a filet. 2nd time dining here, 1st time was better overall. Will likely try again some day but don't order the filet.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Essence Restaurant + Bar is rated 4.9 stars by 392 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
Google Map for Essence Restaurant + Bar

333 Nibco Pkwy, Elkhart, IN 46516-3565

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    Elkhart
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Executive Chef
    Juan Rodriguez
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Vegan
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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